"I said my original name was Zhaodi, and Little Lang and Little Wang are the brother and sister I brought in. I must have them," Yuanyuan said.
In life, children have their own difficulties, and adults have theirs. The good intentions of adults are often incomprehensible from a child's perspective.
Was Yan Zhao really not good to his two sons? Of course not. He worked outside all day, with little time at home. Being good to his sons wasn't enough; he had to be good to Chen Meilan so that she would be good to his sons.
So Yan Zhao's behavior wasn't favoritism towards Yuanyuan. Being good to Yuanyuan was the smartest approach in their marital relationship.
Ningning had misunderstood, while Yuanyuan genuinely liked her brother and sister.
Hearing her daughter say this, Chen Meilan felt relieved. She said, "You did the right thing. It's better to have more children in the family. Little Wang can help you play music, Little Lang can sleep with you every night. Ningning doesn't have that, right?"
Yuanyuan nodded seriously and explained to Chen Meilan, "Actually, I didn't want her last night, but she said she wanted to tell me a little secret."
Little Wang abruptly turned off the radio: "What secret?"
The little rascal, pretending not to listen, but hearing everything.
"She said our Xiping Film Studio needs a little singer for a movie, and she's going for a singing audition today," Yuanyuan said.
Ningning's vocal condition was quite average; she was mainly good at playing piano because of her mother's strict upbringing.
But she was still a child after all. Because of her pretty looks and good overall conditions, Qin Yu had always wanted to groom her daughter into a child star, and was looking for opportunities everywhere.
Chen Meilan sensed her daughter's intention: "So do you want to go too?"
Little Wang blurted out: "Why don't you go? You sing much better than Ningning."
Yuanyuan might not believe her mother's praise, but Little Wang had never directly complimented her before. This was the first time, and the little girl suddenly felt confident: "Really?"
"Of course it's true, I hear you singing next door every night," Little Wang couldn't help saying.
Chen Meilan understood her daughter. Because she had been despised by Yan Xishan since childhood, although she sang well, she always lacked confidence in herself. So she said, "If you really want to go, Mom will take you. It doesn't matter if you're not chosen. We all love hearing you sing, okay?"
Yuanyuan hesitated for a moment, then nodded firmly: "Mm-hmm."
But it was already five in the afternoon, and Ningning hadn't told Yuanyuan the address of the film studio.
Yuanyuan was quite worried, afraid they might not make it in time.
However, her mother now seemed particularly clever, clever in a way Yuanyuan couldn't have imagined.
She first ran to Yan Dawei's house next door. Qin Yu and her daughter weren't there, but Yan Dawei was.
Then she asked Yan Dawei for the latest issue of "Popular Cinema," flipped through it, closed it, and said, "It's not far from us, just over on Jinnan Road. Let's go quickly."
It turned out the advertisement for selecting young singers was published in "Popular Cinema."
They hired a motorized tricycle, and like a string of mice marrying off a daughter, Chen Meilan rushed to Jinnan Road according to the address.
It was in a village in the city just outside the Xiping Film Production Studio, a very ordinary run-down courtyard. The door read: "Let the World Be Filled with Love" Production Team.
Chen Meilan got off the vehicle with the children.
At first glance, she knew this was the place for selecting young actors.
Because just as they got off, Qin Yu was coming out of the courtyard holding Ningning's hand.
Qin Yu was quite surprised and stopped in her tracks: "Meilan, you brought Yuanyuan to sign up too?"
She seemed a bit embarrassed: "It's just a small screen test. They say there will be a stage performance later, but Yuanyuan is still too shy to go on stage at the moment, so I didn't notify you. It's good you're here, take Yuanyuan in for a try. Ningning wasn't selected, maybe Yuanyuan will be?"
Chen Meilan, on the other hand, felt that Qin Yu knew Yuanyuan's ability well and was afraid that if she came, Ningning wouldn't be selected, so she deliberately didn't call Yuanyuan.
She was clear about this in her heart, but being in a hurry now, she didn't say anything: "Let's go in and try."
This was an open selection. A small stage was set up in the middle of the courtyard, with a row of tables in front. However, there were only a few people left, and it was almost over.
Chen Meilan looked around and saw a familiar movie actor from the future who once played a eunuch very well, but she didn't know him, so she was too shy to strike up a conversation.
She asked a staff member who was packing up the microphones: "Comrade, can we register? My child can sing too."
The staff member looked up, shook his head and said: "The selection is over. The directing team has already decided on the candidates. You should go home."
"Why don't you listen? My child really sings very well," Chen Meilan said.
"Oh, we told you to come early but you didn't. It's almost six o'clock now, and the directing team is about to get off work," the staff member said. "It really won't work. Please leave quickly."
"Where's the director? Can I go talk to him?" Chen Meilan asked again.
The staff member got a bit angry: "It really won't work. Comrade, please go back. We're getting off work too. Go, go, goodbye."
It seemed Yuanyuan had come for nothing.
Little Wang was quite resourceful. He looked around and pointed at a room: "Look, there are a lot of people in that room. Is the director in there?"
Indeed, several people were sitting in the room, fanning themselves with big fans and chatting, with large teapots in their hands.
In her previous life, Chen Meilan didn't pay much attention to the entertainment industry, but she recognized a few directors from TV.
She knew them, but they didn't know her.
Although the Xiping Film Studio carried half the sky of China's film industry in the 1980s, with famous films like "Red Sorghum", "Yellow Earth", and "Codename American Leopard" all coming from there, she looked around and didn't recognize any of the directors among those people.
Chen Meilan was naturally a very shy person, but today, for her daughter's sake, she was prepared to give it a shot. She was going to go in and recommend herself. It didn't matter if Yuanyuan was selected or not; she wanted to show Yuanyuan that she was a mother willing to fight for her.
However, just as Chen Meilan was putting on her best smile, ready to go and face another rejection from the directors, suddenly she heard Yuanyuan's singing voice from behind her.
"The moon comes out, bright and clear, bright and clear..."
The little girl sang as she walked to the temporary stage set up in the middle of the courtyard, continuing to sing: "I think of my brother in the deep mountains. Brother is like the moon walking in the sky, walking in the sky... Can you hear sister calling brother?"
In that instant, not to mention that the group chatting in the room all stopped talking.
Chen Meilan stood at the door, listening to her daughter's voice as smooth as silk, the echo lingering. She turned back with tears in her eyes.
In her previous life, Yuanyuan, apart from liking to make money, was absolutely non-competitive in other aspects, especially in singing or performing on stage. She would only quietly watch Erniu sing and dance, refusing to go on stage no matter who asked her.
Because she had been discouraged by her two fathers, she was born with low self-esteem and felt she wasn't good enough.
But now that her mother had shown just a tiny bit of courage,
Yuanyuan showed a bravery that made Chen Meilan barely recognize her.
"Hey, why don't we use this one? I think this girl's voice is better," someone in the room said.
Another person also said: "Director Teng, this girl's vocal condition is good. It's comfortable to listen to. I think she's suitable. Look how confident she is singing, her stage presence is good too."
The one called Director Teng sat and listened for a while, then slapped his thigh: "Let's change to this one. Notify her parents to bring her for a recording later."
When the staff member saw Chen Meilan again, he had a sheet of music in his hand and a changed expression: "This is the sheet music. Take it home and practice well. It's best to find a vocal teacher to teach her. Come for a test recording at 10 am next Saturday. The little girl is not bad. This opportunity was earned by herself."
Chen Meilan inquired a bit and suddenly realized that not only was she very familiar with this song, but it was also a well-known, popular song.
"Let the World Be Filled with Love" was actually a very popular song released last year. Now it was being recorded as the theme song for the movie of the same name. The main singer was a famous vocalist, and Yuanyuan would be providing the child's voice to accompany the male singer.
Her little Yuanyuan was going to sing with a famous vocalist.
The motorized tricycle entered the village. It was dinner time, and Qin Yu and Ningning were looking out anxiously at the door.
"Meilan, how did it go? Yuanyuan..."
"Yuanyuan was selected," Chen Meilan said calmly.
The expression on Qin Yu's face immediately changed to a rather pleasant one.
She hurriedly explained, "At the time, the director's team said this song might be used for the gala performance. Our Yuanyuan's stage presence and movements weren't up to par yet, and she was also too timid, so I didn't call her. Please don't take it to heart."
"It's fine. If her stage presence isn't good, that's because she hasn't had a good teacher. I'll just find her a new instructor," Chen Meilan said calmly.
Qin Yu became anxious, "Oh no, don't do that! Zhaodi—I mean, Yuanyuan's abilities, I understand better than anyone. I'll teach her myself."
But Chen Meilan was no longer listening to her. She turned and entered the house with the children.
Qin Yu, getting desperate, started knocking on the door. "Meilan, please open up. Let's talk about this, okay?"
After all, Qin Yu was Yuanyuan's teacher, and they were supposed to start rehearsals next Saturday. Yuanyuan, holding the song list and biting her lip, was a bit worried. "Mom, if Teacher Qin doesn't teach me, I won't be able to learn the song. What should we do?"
Outside, Qin Yu was still pleading, "Meilan, please open the door. Let me explain properly. I really didn't mean it that way. Oh my, how did I end up in this lose-lose situation?"
Chen Meilan busied herself in the kitchen, and for a long while, didn't make a sound.
The next day was when the Dongfang Group was supposed to pay Chen Meilan's construction team their mid-term payment. Qin Yu's side remained silent, but Yan Dawei, who had only received the money that morning, brought it over to Chen Meilan by noon.
This sum was the portion Chen Meilan had advanced, and with this payment, she had broken even. The remaining final payment would be her profit.
After receiving the money, Chen Meilan asked Yuanyuan, "Sweetie, do you want to change to a different teacher, or do you want Teacher Qin to continue teaching you?"
Before Yuanyuan could answer, Little Wang snorted, "Teacher Qin only favors her Ningning. She definitely won't teach Yuanyuan properly. You should find Yuanyuan a new teacher."
"What does Yuanyuan think?" Chen Meilan asked again.
Yuanyuan replied, "I'd rather have Teacher Qin continue teaching me. She always said I sang better than Ningning. I didn't believe her before, but now I do."
"Don't you understand? She gives all the good opportunities to Ningning, not to you," Little Wang felt Yuanyuan was being a bit slow. "She's extremely biased."
"If I just work harder and more seriously than Ningning, won't that be enough?" Yuanyuan retorted. "The director wasn't planning to choose me originally, but because I sang well, they did, didn't they?"
Little Wang was getting frustrated. "Auntie, look at your Yuanyuan, she won't listen to reason."
Chen Meilan turned to the little boy and said, "But haven't you noticed? Yuanyuan never dared to compare herself to Ningning before, but now she does?"
"But Teacher Qin will definitely show favoritism," Little Wang insisted.
"Then let her work hard enough that Teacher Qin doesn't dare to be biased," Chen Meilan said.
Seeing that he couldn't persuade Chen Meilan, Little Wang turned to Yuanyuan with a serious face, "I'll be watching closely. I can't do anything if Teacher Qin doesn't teach seriously, but if you don't study hard and always think you're not good enough, you're not my sister."
"You admitted it! You admitted I'm your sister!" Yuanyuan started jumping up and down excitedly. "Little Wang brother now acknowledges me as his sister!"
Little Wang, despite his frustration, couldn't help but smile. Could being his sister really make Yuanyuan this happy?
Chen Meilan's view on this matter was as follows: Not just Qin Yu, but all people have their own self-interests and various flaws.
Qin Yu was a woman who particularly liked to compare herself to others and was very ambitious, which is why she could become a strong woman in the future.
There was only a week left before the recording, and Qin Yu knew Yuanyuan best. The song still needed to be taught by Qin Yu.
If they were to change teachers, now wasn't the time.
In learning, the teacher is certainly important, but the child's willingness to work hard and strive is even more crucial.
Why was Lv Erniu, who was both ugly and fat in her previous life, able to become famous? Besides being willing to learn, she was more willing to strive. She would climb back on stage three times after being booed off by judges three times during competitions. She would enthusiastically go for the eleventh interview after being rejected ten times.
Losing weight, getting plastic surgery, being called a "head-changing freak" but insisting she only had two wisdom teeth removed—not only thick-skinned but also as fierce as a wolf and as tough as a warrior—that's how she finally became a famous singer.
Although Chen Meilan didn't want her daughter to become a singer in the future, she wanted her to learn that even in adversity, one must know how to fight for oneself.
Like in her previous life, saying nothing, keeping everything bottled up inside, not fighting for herself—wasn't that just needlessly suffering?
Moreover, it would have been fine if Yuanyuan hadn't been selected, but now that she had been chosen, if she really became famous in the future, that would be Qin Yu's golden ticket. Once she made Yuanyuan's name known, more children would come to learn music from her, and she could start her music school earlier.
For this reason alone, Qin Yu would certainly teach the song well.
In the past few days, to help Yuanyuan cram, Qin Yu had sent Ningning back to her parents' home and was giving private lessons.
While Yuanyuan was learning music there, Little Wang and Little Lang acted as small supervisors, listening to Yuanyuan sing. In the blink of an eye, it was September 1st, and the two older children were about to start school. Chen Meilan made a special trip to the mall, buying a Superman backpack for Little Wang and a She-Ra backpack for Yuanyuan.
She was just about to help the children wash their backpacks, having just filled a basin with water, when she heard laughter outside, and an old lady came in.
It was actually Zhou Xueqin's mother.
The past few times she had come sneakily, impossible to catch, but today she actually came openly?
Looking at that smiling face, wasn't it thicker than a city wall?
Hearing the old lady's voice, Little Wang dashed back from next door in a flash.
Standing at the courtyard gate, he looked wary.
And Zhou's Mother? She actually got straight to the point, smiling as she asked Chen Meilan, "Are those two good-for-nothing kids of mine doing well at your place?"
Seeing that Chen Meilan didn't respond, she continued, "Yan Zhao probably doesn't even want those two children himself, right? Look at how complete your household is now, Meilan. And Yan Zhao being a police officer too. Without those two useless ones of mine, wouldn't this be such a perfect family? Isn't Yan Zhao quite unhappy about having to bring along two children?"
Chen Meilan let out a cold laugh, thinking to herself how clever this old lady was.
Not to mention why she had come.
In a remarriage, it's harder to be a father than a mother, because children always feel that their mother won't abandon them, but the same isn't necessarily true for their father.
Take Little Wang and Little Lang, for example. Seeing how good Yan Zhao was to Yuanyuan, they couldn't understand their father's intentions. Hearing the old lady speak like this, wouldn't they think their father really resented them?
At this moment, Little Wang's face was full of worry.
Originally, Chen Meilan had wanted to call Yan Zhao, but now, she decided to have a good talk with Zhou's Mother.
At the very least, she needed to let Little Wang and Little Lang know that their father truly loved them in his heart.
