Chapter 55: Chapter 54: Song Jianxi’s Thoughts

After signing the novel’s copyright.

Chen Pingsheng called Zhao Liying again.

Next up was adapting the novel into a screenplay, then casting, and finally, the actual location shooting.

This process would probably take about one or two months.

In a couple of days, Tengying Entertainment would formally release news to the public, announcing its solitary investment in the production of “Hua Qiangu”.

The lead actress was set to be Zhao Liying, with Yang Jiancheng directing.

The budget for production was set at one hundred million, which stirred quite a ripple in the entertainment circle once the news broke.

The reason for releasing the news so quickly was, firstly, to build momentum for the newly established Tengying Entertainment.

Secondly, it was to facilitate the upcoming casting process because, after all, the successful filming of a TV drama involves the collaboration of hundreds of crew members behind the scenes.

It was by no means an easy task.

“What company is Tengying Entertainment? How come I’ve never heard of it before?”

“They’re investing over a hundred million to shoot a period romance, and Zhao Liying is directly set as the lead. Isn’t this company established just for her?”

“Who knows, you think we could go audition for a minor role in this new drama?”

In the Capital City’s Hengdian.

Dressed as a beggar, Bai Xin sat on the ground without any grace, and Song Wu beside her was equally ragged.

Both were noticeably excited.

Neither knew that Tengying Entertainment belonged to someone they knew; they were just hoping to try their luck.

If one could land an important supporting role in an S+ project, it would mean at least a few thousand per episode for future jobs.

Indeed, actors’ jobs were priced per episode.

The rates just differed.

The hardest were the extras; no matter how many roles they took on, it was barely enough to get by each month.

Song Wu still lacked the courage to ask her brother-in-law for help; she wanted to give it another shot, hoping that maybe some major production would notice her.

Bai Xin, on the other hand, was already scheming.

She hadn’t caught a ride with the uncle these past days and, according to senior Song Wu, the uncle’s businesses were all in Shijingshan.

Now showing up daily within the Second Ring Road, could it be that Tengying was his venture?

It wasn’t at all impossible.

He certainly was the first to extensively promote Zhao Liying.

She took out her phone to search for the uncle’s WeChat.

The Bit-Part Joker: “Uncle, seen the news? Zhao Liying is going to be in Hua Qiangu?”

“Yeah, I have.”

Please Work Hard For The Rest Of Your Life: “That’s my investment!”

The Bit-Part Joker: “Tch… Uncle, you’re really something. If it weren’t for what senior Song Wu said, I’d have never guessed you’re the hidden big BOSS.”

“Uncle, what are you up to right now?”

“Cleaning, wiping the windows.”

Bai Xin was astonished, were big shots really so down-to-earth?

“Let go of that broom and let me do it.”

“Okay, come on over then, Guomao Building, 12th floor…”

Bai Xin: “…”

This big shot was really grounded. She hadn’t noticed before, but now she felt like he was just like those unpretentious Guangdong uncles.

Simplicity often concealed a sparkling gold aura.

Charm, more often than not, was hidden behind a man.

If she didn’t seize this chance, she might as well quit the entertainment industry.

Bai Xin mentioned it to Song Wu, who was briefly stunned.

Tengying, Tengying.

Why hadn’t she connected the dots before?

This company was opened by her brother-in-law, who now had the means to do so.

She just hadn’t expected things to develop so quickly.

Back then, she was a talented student from the Beijing Film Academy and her brother-in-law was just a guy doing the most menial jobs in society.

Now that she had graduated, he had become a big boss in the entertainment circle.

With a flick of his wrist, he invested hundreds of millions.

The gap in status was as vast as the ocean.

Song Wu wanted to lower her proud head, but didn’t know how to face him alone.

Eventually, she didn’t follow Bai Xin over.

But after Bai Xin left, she sent her sister a tearful message.

“Sis, I miss you.”

The one who scolded her the most was Song Yanxi, yet she was also the only one who cherished her the most.

Song Yanxi: “If you miss your sister, come home and visit.”

Listening to Chen Pingsheng, Song Yanxi bought Zhao Liying a lavishly decorated 500 square meter mansion in Shijingshan.

The price was 9.8 million—a form of relational investment.

It made things convenient between the two families in the future, being so close.

Her silly little sister, even when her brother-in-law was already investing heavily in the actress he once helped to prominence, was still stubbornly challenging him.

Was it so hard to ask for help?

When her brother-in-law had no money or background, didn’t he have to nod and bow even to a lowly city manager?

Now that he was rich, most of society’s rules began to give his family the green light.

Like restrictions on buying houses.

Or car license quotas.

Children need the right household registration for school–for the school district housing.

To get into a hospital, you need to make an appointment and wait.

Until you reach this step, you can’t even begin to imagine that such things are a mere formality in the face of money and background.

People who want to make money with them will naturally solve these basic life obstacles for them.

Song Wu turned off her cellphone, wiped away the remaining tears from the corners of her eyes, and then got up to drive to her sister’s place.

Although Song Yanxi was pregnant, she didn’t have the slightest intent to slow down.

At Tengsheng, she only needed to manage the finances, and the monthly routine of steadily opening new stores continued.

It didn’t require much of her attention.

Water Cloud Space was different–it was a new venture, and the investment was not small.

Zhou Chun and the others had just arrived in Capital City, without any foundation.

Yet she herself was not accustomed to being a wealthy lady for long, and her friends were still those former colleagues like Du Juan.

She couldn’t possibly attract a group of wealthy ladies for support.

Water Cloud Space was bound to lose money in the first few months.

Fortunately, her man seemed to have foreseen all this and allocated one million in working capital in advance.

When Song Wu arrived, Song Yanxi was in the teahouse at Water Cloud Space.

Her foolish little sister had grown haggard since graduating, living innocently off her earnings at school.

But once she entered society and began to bear the pressures of survival, even the proudest little peacock had to learn to be humble.

That’s right, learn to be humble.

Song Yanxi was already showing the demeanor of a domineering lady boss, and she believed her sister needed to be scolded when necessary.

“How was it, did you meet your brother-in-law?”

“I did,” Song Wu replied, a bit embarrassed, nodding her head.

“What do you think?”

Song Yanxi handed her a cup of freshly brewed warm tea, “Aside from managing Tengsheng Fruit, your brother-in-law now has to run an entertainment company. Even so, he prefers to drive for hours every day to come home on time. Have you ever thought about why?”

“He’s good to you, sis.”

“Exactly, because he’s good to me,” said Song Yanxi. “Everyone says there’s a cloud of beauties in your entertainment circle, and when your brother-in-law said he was starting an entertainment company, I was a bit worried at first, but then I realized, he’s been working hard for so many years to earn money with the sole purpose of giving our mother and daughter a good living condition and environment. He is gradually fulfilling his promises, and I can’t just do nothing. I must run Water Cloud Space well and strive together with him–that is the life of a good couple. Either you share poverty together, or you share wealth and glory.”

“But you, silly girl, all you knew before was to dislike this about him, and that about him. Have you ever thought that I, your sister, grew up in the countryside just like you, and though our parents are both from Capital City, they only have the most ordinary Capital City household registration. Besides leaving you a hundred square meter house in the future, what else can they give you?”

“What right do you have to look down on your brother-in-law who could make hundreds of thousands a year selling durian on the streets?”

Song Yanxi felt her sister had been spoiled by their mother.

Although they too were just a common household in the vast Capital City, she still acted high and mighty.

Compared to her current situation in the entertainment industry, Song Yanxi was more worried about her sister’s future marriage.

With such values, how could she find a truly good family that wouldn’t despise her for being poor and wouldn’t be jealous of her wealth?

With such values, it was highly likely she wouldn’t have a good marital fate.

If she married, she’d probably end up divorced.

If you can’t share in hardship, how can you enjoy prosperity together?

Not to mention true heartfelt companionship.

For Song Yanxi, changing her sister’s financial situation would be too easy.

If her family could amass one property at Wanliu Academy, then in the future, they could accumulate several Siheyuan in Capital City.

Just give one to you, and would you ever have to worry about food and drink in this lifetime?

Just like what her man did for his own relatives.

Opened a small store on the busiest street in Shijingshan for his eldest sister.

Opened a top-tier beauty salon in Capital City for his younger sister.

Doing what they could within their means.

Parents plan for their children’s future with far-reaching consideration.

The same goes for these closest relatives.

Truly good relatives never just simply give you a house and a car.

After an obliging change in financial status, they no longer care about anything else.

She hoped her silly little sister would change her values in dealing with people and her view of marriage in the future.

If a woman’s marriage isn’t happy,

No matter how many or how valuable the houses are, they are just additional empty shells to cry in.

Only when you find someone who truly loves you and truly cares for you,

Will a woman be happy.

Unfortunately, too many people fail to see this point.

They directly measure a man’s feelings for them by the house, car, and dowry.

More than a test,

It’s like setting up a safety net from the beginning.

Ensuring they don’t end up with nothing if they divorce, hoping the man will remain devoted after becoming successful.

That’s truly wishful thinking.

Song Yanxi believed that without the willingness to give first, selfishly asking for more would only annoy others.

Her daughter, in the future, will certainly not demand a match of equal social status.

She will seek sincere intentions from others.

Character is above everything else.

Unfortunately, Song Wu simply failed to see all this.

In the future, she was likely to suffer a great deal.