Entertainment: 1990

Chapter 53 Meeting Again
The next day.

The book signing event was officially held at the Working People's Cultural Palace. To Zhang Yan's surprise, Feng Xiaogang specially sent two flower baskets through a third party.

This person is indeed very thorough in handling matters.

No wonder he, a graphic designer with no background, was able to secure a place in Wang Shuo's circle.

At 8:30, Zhang Yan sat down behind his desk and saw that there was already a long queue. He asked the staff member next to him, "Are there more genuine people or imposters today?"

Although we do promotions in advance in each place, it is inevitable that the response will be lukewarm. At this time, we need to spend money to hire people to create a lively atmosphere.

After all, people have a herd mentality. If the line is too short, people who want an autograph might hesitate or even give up.

"It's all true. Firstly, your books are already selling very well in Beijing, and secondly, people in Beijing are used to all kinds of book signings and are happy to join in the fun."

Another reason is that there are many wealthy people in the capital who don't care about such a small amount.

However, every advantage has its disadvantages.

Sure enough, as soon as Zhang Yan set up his stall, a group of troublemakers arrived. It was unclear whether they were scholars of "Dream of the Red Chamber" or fans of the classics, but they held up signs and banners and shouted loudly to protest Zhang Yan's desecration of the classics.

Zhang Yan looked around curiously and noticed that there were people holding up posters of the 87 TV series, which made him chuckle.

When the TV series first aired, it was condemned as heresy by many fans and scholars of "Dream of the Red Chamber," especially the plot about Qin Keqing's death in the Tianxiang Tower, which aroused great indignation among many people.

As a result, it has become part of the 'classic' in just a few years.

I wonder if, in another ten years or so, someone will also elevate themselves to a divine status as the 'originator of time travel'.

Once it was confirmed that these people were just shouting slogans and did not do anything else to disrupt the book signing, the staff were on high alert for a while, but then let them be.

There were a lot of people today, so Zhang Yan was working at full speed, maintaining a professional smile while writing furiously, finishing one person in about forty-five seconds on average.

By noon, nearly 300 people had signed up, and there was still a long queue behind them—a scene I had never witnessed before.

Perhaps we should thank the protests and demonstrations by the Red Devil fan groups, which helped attract the attention of many passersby.

Normally, we would take a break at noon, and then decide whether to pack up and leave or continue signing books around 3 or 4 pm, depending on the progress of the signings.

But this time the situation is special, and it's the last stop.

So Zhang Yan and his staff discussed it and decided to continue the autograph session, while also giving the 'sponsors' a free advertisement.

So the staff unloaded six boxes of Bright Dairy instant noodles from the truck and placed them next to the autograph table, indicating that in order to give back to the enthusiasm of his fans in Beijing, Mr. Zhang decided to lose money to gain publicity.

Anyone who purchases the novel between 12:00 and 2:00 will receive a free pack of Bright Dairy instant noodles, in addition to Zhang Yan's autograph.

The three types of meat sauce instant noodles sold out as soon as they were launched, and Guangming Flour Mill, remembering its benefactor, directly sponsored twenty boxes of instant noodles for Zhang Yan's book signing tour.

At first, everyone was eager to try it, but as time went on, people started to hate it. So now there are still six and a half boxes left, which are just enough to be scattered in Beijing.

This not only reduced Zhang Yan's burden and earned him a good reputation, but also helped promote Bright Dairy instant noodles, achieving three goals at once.

Moreover, the gimmick of offering instant noodles for a limited time can avoid a lot of unnecessary small talk, further improving the efficiency of the autograph session.

Zhang Yan himself faced even greater work pressure.

"What would you like to write?"

What flavor would you like?

In one go, he signed over a hundred more books, switching from his right hand to his left when his right hand went numb, and from his left hand to his right when his left hand went numb. He didn't even bother to recognize whether the person in front of him was male or female.

"Teacher Zhang."

"What would you like to write?"

"me……"

Hearing the hesitant voice, Zhang Yan subconsciously looked up and realized that the person in front of him was an acquaintance: "Tao Hong?"

To be precise, it was Xiao Tao Hong, the little girl on the swimming team.

"Teacher Zhang."

Tao Hong breathed a sigh of relief when she saw that Zhang Yan recognized her, after all, the two had not seen each other for almost half a year and had only exchanged letters once in between.

Seeing that there was still a long queue behind him, Zhang Yan said to Tao Hong, "If you're not in a hurry, why don't you sit down and rest for a while, and we can talk later, okay?"

"Okay, okay!"

Tao Hong seemed very happy. Without the staff's invitation, she went to get a stool and sat down not far from Zhang Yan.

After the news spread that buying a book would come with a signed copy and a free pack of instant noodles, many more people flocked to join in the fun.

Even after all six boxes of instant noodles were distributed, many people still chose to continue queuing. Including those who rushed over after get off work, it didn't finally come to an end until almost 7:30 when it was getting dark.

After signing the last person's name, Zhang Yan couldn't lift his arms anymore. Just as he was about to stand up and stretch, he suddenly noticed that there was someone sitting next to him.

"Ouch!"

He then remembered that there was still a little Tao Hong, and quickly said, "I'm so sorry, I was so busy that I was completely overwhelmed—I'm sorry to have kept you waiting for so long."

"No, I think it's quite interesting."

Tao Hong wasn't just being polite. Seeing so many people lining up to buy books, she admired Zhang Yan even more, and felt proud and honored to be able to stay by his side.

Seeing the girl's attitude, Zhang Yan reluctantly raised his right arm to glance at his watch and asked, "What time is your swimming team's curfew? How about we go get something to eat first, and I'll take you back later?"

"I'll be back before 10 o'clock!"

The team rule was actually before 9 o'clock, but Tao Hong deliberately reported it an hour late.

So Zhang Yan said a few words to the staff and then took Tao Hong to a nearby Cantonese restaurant.

In the early 90s, workers' monthly salaries were generally only one or two hundred yuan. A Cantonese restaurant where a meal could easily cost four or five hundred yuan was definitely considered a high-end restaurant in Beijing.

Of course, while the prices are high, the services and decor are also relatively upscale.

Seeing that Tao Hong looked a little awkward after sitting down, Zhang Yan spread his hands flat on the table and said with feigned helplessness, "I have trouble even holding chopsticks now. I heard that Cantonese restaurants specialize in all kinds of soups. In a little while, I'll just gulp it down from the bowl. You can't laugh at me."

As he spoke, he used his chin to prop up the plate on the table.

Tao Hong burst out laughing upon seeing this, then quickly covered her mouth in embarrassment, saying, "I...I didn't mean it..."

Not knowing how to explain, she suddenly thought of something and blurted out, "Teacher Zhang, how about I give you a massage?"

As soon as she said it, she realized it was a bit abrupt, and quickly explained, "When our synchronized swimming team has a lot of training, we often experience muscle soreness, so we've all learned special techniques to massage each other."

"This……"

Seeing the little girl's eagerness to try, and knowing that his arms were indeed numb and sore, Zhang Yan said, "Let's change to a private room, otherwise it'll be too embarrassing in public."

Tao Hong naturally didn't object, so the two moved to a private room.

The young girl was indeed an athlete; she had real strength in her hands, squeezing Zhang Yan until he grimaced in pain. If it weren't for his pride as a man, he probably would have cried out in pain long ago.

"Teacher Zhang, our coach said that where there is pain, there is blockage, and where there is flow, there is no pain. You have to pinch until it hurts to stretch your muscles and bones."

"Yes, yes."

Zhang Yan had barely uttered two words when he gasped, then quickly shut his mouth to suppress his breath.

When he pinched the trapezius muscle between his neck and shoulder, Zhang Yan was so "satisfied" that he rolled his eyes and leaned forward as if he wanted to lie directly on the table.

Tao Hong carefully straightened his head and let him lean against the center of her chest.

Zhang Yan froze.

Although he had been indulging in debauchery ever since the seal was broken, he hadn't really thought about the little girl behind him, who was about the same age as his younger sister.

"what!"

At this moment, Tao Hong also realized that something was wrong, and quickly took half a step back, saying awkwardly, "I used to massage my teammates, so... I'm sorry, I'm sorry!"

Whether intentional or not, Zhang Yan had no intention of continuing this awkward topic, and asked with a smile as if nothing had happened, "Your scenes should be starting to be filmed soon, right?"

Because the location was an outdoor swimming pool, and considering the weather, Ma Huiwu specifically scheduled the third case, the "swimmer drowning incident," for last during filming.

Originally, Tao Hong's face was as red as a tablecloth because of the misunderstanding, but she breathed a sigh of relief when Zhang Yan took the initiative to change the subject and said, "The director said that we can join the crew on June 1st."

"Then you should do your best then."

"Definitely!"

Tao Hong nodded vigorously and said, "I think acting class is really interesting."

Zhang Yan laughed and said, "If you really think acting is interesting, you can also take the art exam. Although acting is also a career that relies on youth, it is more promising than being an athlete. At least you don't have to be soaking in the water and freezing cold all day long."

Tao Hong was taken aback: "Me? Can I do it?"

"Why not! When we were casting for the female lead, there was a girl named Tao Hong who auditioned. She was a junior at the Central Academy of Drama, and I think her qualifications weren't as good as yours."

Hearing Zhang Yan speak with such certainty, Tao Hong's eyes gradually lit up: "Teacher Zhang, I'll listen to you!"

(End of this chapter)