1990s: Spring Water Family

Chapter 114 To get a wife, you have to please Grandma!

The days passed by in a busy and fulfilling way, and before we knew it, the end of the month had arrived. The search for the famous springs had come to an end, and the filming was also nearing its conclusion.

Before the documentary wrapped up filming, admission notices from various prestigious universities were sent out one after another, and Lin Xiyu also received her own admission notice—the English Department of East China Normal University.

Director Du and the others were very happy for her, and deliberately scheduled the last day of filming at her maternal grandmother's house, ostensibly to give her a memorable day.

-

No. 9 Donghua Street.

On the day of the shoot, relatives who had heard the news came to visit.

Wang Fan, Li Liang, and Wu Meng also came to join in the fun, and the small courtyard was packed with people.

It's worth mentioning that Xu Weiguo, who had almost severed ties with his mother-in-law since Lin Xiyu was kicked out of the Xu family, also came with his ex-wife's daughter, Xu Jie.

The moment the father and daughter appeared in the courtyard, the noisy courtyard suddenly fell silent.

Lin Xiyu kept a cold expression on her pretty face and remained silent.

"Second Aunt, what's going on?"

My cousin stared wide-eyed at the two uninvited guests, her disgust evident in her eyes: "Why did you invite outsiders to our family gathering?"

"Xu Jie had never seen a documentary filmed before, so she wanted to come and see what was going on."

Lin Xiyu's biological mother, Chen Xiulan, looked slightly uneasy when her niece questioned her on the spot.

"What are you looking at?"

My cousin scoffed dismissively: "She's just trying to stir up trouble because Xi Yu is popular, isn't she?"

"That was all when I was a child."

Chen Xiulan explained awkwardly, "So many years have passed, and Lao Xu and Xu Jie don't care anymore. I was thinking that after Donghua Street is demolished, Xiyu will have to go back to live there for a while, so I wanted her to meet with Xu Jie in advance, talk things out, and get along better at home in the future."

"I bother."

My cousin spat in annoyance: "You talk as if they've been wronged."

"Leilei, how can you talk like that?"

Out of consideration for her younger sister's feelings, the aunt coldly reprimanded, "Your maternal grandmother is the one who calls the shots in this family. You can't cause trouble like this."

"Since you're already here, please come in and have some water."

Grandma, mindful of the bigger picture and not wanting to be ridiculed by outsiders, felt uncomfortable and greeted them with a smile, maintaining the demeanor of the head of the family.

"I want to drink plum juice."

Xu Yi is a clever little guy. He happily jumped into his grandmother's arms, licking his little face and acting cute.

"There's some in the kitchen, take it yourself."

Grandma pinched his nose, her eyes full of affection.

"Time for some plum juice! Time for some plum juice!"

Xu Yi jumped up happily and slipped into the kitchen.

Who are those two people?

Wu Meng had never met Xu Weiguo and his daughter, but her status as a guest did not prevent her from inquiring about gossip.

Two dung beetles

My cousin was feeling down and desperately needed to vent, and Wu Meng's presence was exactly what she wanted.

She mentally gave the father and daughter a good scolding, and verbally she was equally scathing, relentlessly criticizing them with barbs.

"Ugh? Those two are disgusting!"

Because her grandmother was there, she didn't dare to speak loudly, but Wu Meng still heard everything clearly.

Seeing that her expression had changed, Wang Fan also came over to listen to the gossip.

The news spread quickly, and soon Gu Bin and Li Liang both knew about it.

Gu Binjun's face darkened, and a sharp, cold glint flashed in his eyes.

-

The production team shouldn't meddle in other people's family affairs, so Director Du and the others wisely pretended not to see anything and quietly reduced their presence.

They didn't want to cause trouble, but some people just had no idea and deliberately went up to them.

"Director, do you need a cameo role? Do you think I'm suitable?"

Xu Jie, dressed in a floral dress and looking like a peacock, approached Director Du.

"hiss."

Director Du looked at her deathly pale face, and his eyes twitched involuntarily.

"She must have put two pounds of powder on her face, right?"

Wang Fan was sharp-tongued and didn't hold back in insulting people: "You look like a female ghost. Don't come out and scare people in broad daylight."

"puff."

My cousin couldn't help but burst out laughing.

"Hahaha."

Wu Meng slapped her thigh and laughed so hard she almost fell over: "Wang Fan, your analogy is so apt, it's hilarious!"

"What are you laughing laughing?"

Xu Jie turned around and glared at her irritably.

"I just laughed, what can you do to me?"

Wu Meng stood up for her best friend, hands on her hips, her attitude arrogant.

"stop fighting."

Li Liang nudged her arm from behind and whispered, "This isn't your own home. You can't just do whatever you want here. It'll only make things worse if you cause a scene."

"I just can't stand her seductive ways."

Wu Meng grumbled irritably, "It looks like scribbles. Who are you trying to seduce? Director Du's eye for talent isn't that bad. He can see through anyone. If you want a cameo role, you'll have to wait until your next life."

"She arrived at the wrong time."

Wang Fan added fuel to the fire: "When shooting night scenes, you can play a ghost."

"puff."

My cousin couldn't hold it in and spat out a mouthful of water.

"That's absolutely right."

Wu Meng chimed in, "Wang Fan, I was so naive before, I didn't realize you were so humorous."

"You've fallen for me?"

Wang Fan raised an eyebrow and gave her a flirtatious wink: "It's not too late to wake up now. Dump Li Liang and follow me from now on."

"Just say so if you want to die."

Li Liangjun's face darkened, and he grabbed him by the neck from behind.

“You guys come over here, it’s time for the interview.”

At that moment, Li Yan smiled and waved to the boys and girls.

"coming."

Wang Fan escaped unharmed, broke free from Li Liang's control, and quickly ran away.

Wu Meng and Li Liang followed closely behind, and Xu Jie also shamelessly came along.

"Come on, young people who are about to enter university, take out your admission notices, raise them together, and say a few words to the camera."

Director Du provided on-site filming guidance: "Before 'I'm here,' add the name of your respective university. For example, Xiaobin, you say Fudan University; Xiyu, you say East China Normal University, and so on. After everyone has said the name of their university, say 'We're here,' understand?"

"understood."

The boys and girls answered in unison.

"Okay, let's begin."

Director Du waved his hand with satisfaction, and the five people gathered in a circle, holding up their respective admission notices to face the camera.

Hey, hey, you there!

The assistant director looked at the camera, then suddenly frowned and impatiently shooed someone away: "Get out of the way, don't interfere with the filming."

Xu Jie's lips twitched, and she awkwardly left the filming area.

My cousin scoffed, speechless at her shamelessness.

Lin Xiyu remained calm and composed, not even bothering to spare her a single glance.

Xu Jie gritted her teeth, a hint of jealousy flashing in her eyes.

"Again, look at the camera."

Director Du gave the order again, shouting in a strong voice, "Action!"

The boys and girls worked in perfect unison, and upon hearing the command, simultaneously held up their admission notices and arranged them in a semi-circular shape in front of the camera. "Fudan University."

East China Normal University.

"Soochow University".

"Nanjing Army Academy"

Shanghai International Studies University.

"we are coming!"

With the greeting "We're here!", the boys smiled broadly, radiating youthful energy.

"Card!"

Director Du waved his hand in satisfaction, and filming was over.

"Wang Fan, you're something else!"

Taking advantage of the opportunity, Li Yan leaned over and snatched the admission notice from Wang Fan's hand: "Your grades are pretty good. You got into a foreign language university."

"That is."

Just as Wang Fan was about to show off, Li Liang took over the scar.

"He didn't get in through the entrance exam. His dad paid him to get in. It's not a legitimate foreign language university at all. It's a private school in name only, used for getting a degree abroad."

What's wrong with private schools?

Wang Fan didn't care: "If my dad hadn't insisted that I get a degree, I wouldn't have bothered going to university. It would have been a waste of time. I'd rather open more branches of my renovation company and make money faster in business."

"They're obsessed with money."

Li Liang looked disgusted: "All you ever talk about is money, you reek of money."

"I'd even like money if it smelled bad."

Wang Fan glanced at his cousin, who was watching the show with amusement, and found an accomplice for himself: "Sister Lei, don't you think so?"

"Yes."

My cousin was really helpful; her answer was decisive and clear.

"Hahaha."

Wang Fan laughed triumphantly: "I knew it! Sister Lei and I are kindred spirits, soulmates. Just because Sister Lei is so kind to me, I'll give you a 20% raise on your commission this month."

"thank you boss."

My cousin quickly chimed in, afraid he'd regret it if she was even a minute late: "Everyone can testify, I'm getting my cut at the end of the month."

"I bear witness."

Lin Xiyu was the first to respond.

“I will also testify.”

Wu Meng joined in the commotion, not forgetting to raise Li Liang's hand as well.

Is running a renovation company profitable?

Li Yan found it amusing and joined in with a smile, saying, "Could I also work part-time at your place and do some business to earn some extra money?"

"Sure, it has to be done."

Wang Fan took out a handful of flyers from his bag and handed one to each member of the production crew, including Director Du: "Our own decoration company offers an 88% discount to anyone introduced by an acquaintance. The discount is a rebate, which can be returned in cash. You can discuss the specific amount with the business manager."

"Tsk, tsk."

Li Yan shook out the flyers, jokingly saying, "Look at this, the abacus beads are practically jumping onto my face."

"Cash back on discounts counts as commission."

As a business manager, my cousin felt obligated to support her boss: "Renovating a house costs at least ten thousand yuan. With an 88% discount, I can easily earn a thousand or so yuan in commission per sale."

"Renovating a house is so expensive!"

Li Yan looked surprised: "Ten thousand yuan? I thought it was just painting the walls and laying the floor, nothing that complicated."

"That's basic renovation. There's no need to hire a renovation company for flooring. When you buy the floor tiles, the seller can find someone to lay them."

My cousin has been working in the renovation industry for a month and has already figured out the ropes: "We do luxury renovations, the all-inclusive kind. You don't know until you're in this business that there are so many rich people. Big bosses who live in villas spend hundreds of thousands on renovations alone. They spend money like water without batting an eye."

"Are there really people this rich in Jinan?"

Wu Meng was stunned, her beautiful eyes wide open.

"Yes, of course we have it. How could we not?"

My cousin pointed at Wang Fan and smiled teasingly: "Isn't there one right here? He's always in front of you, and you haven't noticed?"

"My family can't do it."

Wang Fan rarely showed humility: "I'm only at a mid-level in the local area. If I go to Beijing, I won't even be able to get close to the rich."

"Otherwise, everyone would want to go to Beijing."

Wu Meng's eyes shone with longing: "That's ancient Chang'an, where gold was everywhere."

"Being a migrant worker in Beijing is not as easy as you might imagine."

Li Yan poured cold water on her enthusiasm: "When I first graduated, I was just like you, eager to go to a big city. I worked at Beijing TV for a while."

"The cost of living in Beijing is too high. Rent and taxis are ridiculously expensive. The little money I earn in a month isn't even enough to support myself, let alone get a Beijing hukou (household registration). It's too difficult, harder than climbing to heaven."

-

"Sister Yan's salary at the TV station is already considered high."

Wu Meng's face fell, and she instantly lost her spirit: "Even you say so, which shows how difficult it really is. Forget it, I give up and stop fantasizing."

"If you want to go to Beijing, it's not impossible."

Lin Xiyu interjected, giving her a knowing look: "Don't forget, your Li Liang's ambition is to join the Guard of Honor. If he gets accepted, it's not impossible for him to stay in Beijing."

"Hey, what does it matter to me whether he goes or not?"

Wu Meng blushed deeply when she heard her say "your Li Liang".

"Aren't you two getting engaged soon?"

Lin Xiyu continued to tease her: "If it's not yours, then it must belong to someone else?"

"Getting engaged quickly" and "getting engaged" are two different things.

Wu Meng blushed and retorted, "As long as I'm not engaged, I'm still a free person and not tied down."

"Li Liang, she's telling you this."

Lin Xiyu then took the opportunity to tease Li Liang: "Hurry up and buy her a ring. She's annoyed that you're too slow and is deliberately trying to provoke you."

"Grandma Sanjin has already bought it."

Li Liang stated very seriously, "I will give it to her on the day of the engagement."

"Wow"

Lin Xiyu deliberately drew out her words and teased with a smile, "You've already bought all three gold pieces? Looks like some people can't wait and want to wear them right away."

"You're the one who wants to wear it!"

Wu Meng blushed and said, "Don't just talk about me. Aren't you eagerly hoping to get engaged yourself, wishing you could tie someone down right now?"

"I do not have."

Lin Xiyu's ears turned red, and she decisively denied it.

"You may have."

Gu Bin suddenly spoke, uttering a startling statement: "You can get engaged anytime you want."

"What nonsense are you talking about?"

Lin Xiyu's ears burned: "Who wants to get engaged to you?"

"Can't you?"

Gu Bin's gaze was intense: "Actually, I've been waiting for this day for a long time."

Wow, is this a marriage proposal?

Wu Meng quickly caught up with the rhythm and cheered enthusiastically: "Say yes to him, let's have an engagement banquet together."

"Stop it."

Lin Xiyu blushed and said, "It's not even close to being a done deal yet, don't listen to his nonsense."

"It's unjust."

Gu Bin clutched his chest and protested, "I'm not making things up. Don't you dare badmouth me in front of Grandma. I've worked so hard to build up this high-class image in her eyes, and I can't let you ruin it with just one sentence."

"Go and try to please Grandma."

Lin Xiyu laughed in exasperation: "You talk like she's your own grandmother. In your eyes, she's more important than me."

"If you want to get a wife, you have to please your maternal grandmother."

Gu Bin nodded seriously: "Only if she agrees can I enter the family openly and have a proper status."