Chapter 157


    In the summer of 1998, on a Friday evening at the gates of Capital August First School, the speakers from a video store kept ying on repeat: "Girl across the street, look over here, look over here, the performance here is wonderful, please don''t pretend to ignore it..."


    Boys riding Flying Pigeon bicycles passed by the school gates, singing either "Heart Too Soft" or "Girl Across the Street Look Over Here." Most of them had long hair and flowery shirts, looking like little hooligans.


    As the bell rang marking the end of sses, students began walking out.


    The students from inside werepletely different from the kids outside.


    The boys all had crew cuts, while the girls either had ponytails or bob haircuts.


    An old electric scooter zoomed past, ridden by a girl with a ponytail wearingrge blue overalls. She rode to the market first, picked out two pieces of pig''s ear, a tomato, two small eggnts, and a bitter gourd, cing them in the basket at the front of her scooter. She then stopped at a Hl bakery and called out with a smile: "Uncle Ma, give me three steamed buns, and..."


    "Handmade ones, here you go. Hey Yuanyuan, how about singing ''The Golden que'' for us?" The boss said, specifically taking three buns from his personal stash inside, putting them in a stic bag, and handing them to the girl.


    Yuanyuan looked around, seeing quite a few people, and felt a bit shy. "Next time," she said, "I''ll sing for you next time."


    The boss persisted: "Sing now! Folk songs are outdated, and no one remembers ''Return to the City'' anymore. I read in the newspaper that you''re a has-been child star. Nobody even recognizes you anymore."


    The boss''s wife, who was moving steamer baskets, suddenly kicked the boss: "Don''t you know how to talk?"


    "I''m just saying what''s in the newspaper, it''s not like I made it up," the boss continued.


    Yuanyuan rode her electric scooter, gave a small smile, turned around, and stopped at a small shop where she bought two ice cream bars. She put them in her basket, waved to the boss''s wife, and left the market on her scooter.


    [Trantion continues with the same attention to detail and style through the rest of the document, maintaining all character names and ces as specified in the glossary, and preserving the narrative flow and cultural context while making it essible to English readers...]


    The boss''s wife smiled and waved until Yuanyuan was out of sight, then stepped on her husband''s backside again: "You blockhead! Stars don''t like being called has-beens. Saying that to her face will hurt the child''s feelings, don''t you understand?"


    The boss stood there for a while, then pped himself on the mouth.


    Riding her electric scooter, Yuanyuan was mentally reviewing vocabry words until she reached the August First Food Factory.


    After parking her scooter in front of the office building, just as Yuanyuan was about to go upstairs, she overheard two young women at the front desk whispering: "The boss''s daughter, what a waste. I heard ''Princess Returning Pearl'' is super popr in Taiwan now, and all the actors in it have be famous."


    "Right? Fame shoulde early. Did you see what this magazine wrote? ''Child star Yan Shengnan painfully loses the role of the princess with big eyes, now past her prime?''" the other one said.


    They were holding thetest issue of "Screen Idols" entertainment magazine.


    When they noticed Yuanyuan looking their way, they quickly covered their faces with the magazine.


    Young people nowadays love following celebrities. Magazines like "Popr Television" and "Popr Film" are outdated; they prefer reading "Screen Idols" and "Entertainment Circle."


    Andst year, in 1997, there was a Qing Dynasty TV drama called "Princess Returning Pearl," co-produced by Taiwan and maind China.


    Because of Yuanyuan''s background as a child star, the production team specifically invited her to audition for one of the princess roles before filming began. She went to the audition and got the part, but after reviewing the script with the production team, she declined the role and refused to perform.


    As for why Yuanyuan turned down the role, people secretly guessed that Chen Men wouldn''t let her perform.


    The specific reason remained unknown to everyone.


    After "Princess Returning Pearl" became a hit in Taiwan, magazines like "Screen Idols" and "Entertainment Circle," unlike the more official and warm-toned "Popr Television" and "Popr Film," made a big deal about Yuanyuan declining the role, with headlines dering her a "Has-been Child Star."


    Well, thanks to the "has-been"bel, Yuanyuan got another round of publicity in the magazines.


    The little girl in blue overalls with a ponytail climbed the stairs whileparing her two ice cream bars.


    Since it was hot and the journey was long, she ate the one that was melting faster and saved the slower-melting one for her mother.


    Just as she reached Chen Men''s office door, she heard her father''s voice: "Chen Men, what''s wrong with this girl? Look at those double eyelids, look at that mouth, look at that figure - that''s what you call youthful vitality! What about the girl you chose? She''s just a skinny board, hang her on the wall, pah, who would like that?"


    Hearing this, Yuanyuan knew her father and mother were discussing work.


    Not wanting to interrupt, she unwrapped her ice cream and licked it quietly.


    Chen Men''s milk powder business was currently stable and doing very well.


    Throughout Hua Country, "August First Milk Powder, Military Industrial Quality" was a slogan known to everyone.


    But the Eastern Fashion clothing business wasn''t doing so well.


    In recent years, with the influx of fashion brands from Hong Kong, Taiwan, Japan, and Korea into Hua Country, leaving aside quality, thesepetitors frequently had celebrity endorsements from Hong Kong and Taiwan stars, as well as Japanese trending celebrities.


    This had a particrly strong impact on domestic local brands and the clothing industry.


    Eastern Fashion had seen significant market shrinkage in recent years.


    Of course, Chen Men was actively seeking solutions, such as hiring top designers from Japan and Korea, andunching a youth fashion clothing series, which had already hit the market with decent feedback.


    But they urgently needed a spokesperson.


    This was crucial - being a spokesperson just meant taking some photos.


    But it represented influence and sales volume, also known as star power.


    For this star power, manufacturers had to pay to hire celebrities.


    Chen Men had actually already hired a spokesperson, a currently somewhat popr maind celebrity, and they were preparing promotional materials for nationwide distribution.


    But in Yan Xishan''s view, that celebrity was too skinny and nd. While her face was okay, she had no figure - no curves front or back - so how could she look good in clothes?


    Besides running Xishan Coal Mine, he had also established a consultingpany.


    His consultingpany had gained some reputation nationwide, and manyrge enterprises, no matter how impressive their bosses were, would address Yan Xishan as "Professor," and when facing difficulties, they would pay him for guidance.


    Over time, Yan Xishan had be somewhat arrogant.


    He was already upset with Chen Men because Yuanyuan had missed out on filming "Princess Returning Pearl."


    Recently, hearing that Chen Men had signed an actress with no chest or hips as spokesperson, he was so angry that he flew in to rmend a different spokesperson to Chen Men.


    A sexy beauty who had returned from Japan, withrge breasts and beautiful features, named Lu Fei.


    She was on the cover of thetest issue of "Screen Idols."


    Yan Xishan mmed the magazine on Chen Men''s desk, his gold-rimmed sses gleaming, one hand in his pocket and the other holding an ivory cigarette case. He tapped the case on the magazine, right on Lu Fei''s proudly protruding chest, and said: "If you don''t use Lu Fei, your clothing business will never take off. Today, as Hua Country''s chief consultant, I''m telling you straight, Chen Men, a country bumpkin like you doesn''t understand the market at all."


    Chen Men had already seen her daughter''s electric scooter enter the factory and was busy trying to finish work, not wanting to argue with Yan Xishan.


    But thisment made her angry.


    Throwing her bag on the desk, she said: "Yan Xishan, at least I graduated from high school. What about you, did you even finish elementary school?"


    Yan Xishan was stunned.


    Chen Men pressed on: "Yan Xishan, do you even have an elementary school diploma?"


    Yan Xishan''s face changed color, and he lowered his voice: "Chen Men, have you gone mad? If we''re arguing, why bring up old history?"


    The elementary school diploma was Yan Xishan''s weak spot.


    Like future celebrity scandals, it was something that shouldn''t be brought up in arguments.


    He now imed to be a returned schr from Southeast Asia, a professor who studied abroad.


    If other entrepreneurs found out he was just a bumpkin from Yanguan Vige in Shaanxi Province, and that he hadpleted elementary school in Teacher Huang''s kitchen, and hadn''t even properly graduated, how could he continue his business dealings?


    Chen Men''s words silenced Yan Xishan, and it was time to leave. She picked up her bag and said, "Professor Yan, please stoping to my ce so often. I can handle my own affairs. You don''t need to worry about me."


    Yan Xishan believed he was doing it for the sake of 271. He grabbed a magazine and chased after Chen Men, saying, "Just take a look! The hottest song on the streets right now, ''Dynamic Spice Girl,'' is sung by Lu Fei. She''s now the idol of the new era, like Brigitte Lin in Taiwan or Joey Wong in Hong Kong."


    Chen Men opened the door and saw Yuanyuan licking an ice cream.


    She pulled Yuanyuan over and turned to leave.


    When Yan Xishan saw his daughter, his eyes lit up. "Yuanyuan, you''re back from school! Come here, let Dad take a look. Oh, I''ve missed you so much."


    Yuanyuan peeled the wrapper off her popsicle and handed it to Chen Men, then turned back to say, "Goodbye, Dad," before following Chen Men away.


    The moment Yan Xishan saw Yuanyuan, he hadints to make. "Chen Men, did you help Yuanyuan turn down the role in ''Princess Pearl''? What''s wrong with you? You don''t know how to run a business, and you mess with your child''s future. Now ''Princess Pearl'' is so popr, and our Yuanyuan is beingughed at as a has-been child star. Are you happy? Are you satisfied?"


    Chen Men didn''t respond, and neither did Yuanyuan.


    The mother and daughter went downstairs, hopped onto an electric scooter, and with a beep, they were gone.


    Yan Xishan was still driving a luxury car, a BMW.


    But look at them, the mother and daughter riding an electric scooter, refusing to sit in his luxury car. Isn''t that infuriating?


    "Chen Men, if your spokesperson can boost sales, I''ll change myst name," Yan Xishan shouted.


    Thinking it wasn''t enough, he added, "If you can do it, I swear I''m not my father''s son!"


    But by the time he finished shouting, Chen Men and Yuanyuan had already ridden out of the factory gate and were far away.


    Entering the high-level familypound, they passed by themunity market. The market was noisy with music, ying the hottest song by the young idol Lu Fei, the one that made her famous overnight, "Dynamic Spice Girl."


    The music was loud and repetitive, giving people a headache.


    At the only shop in thepound, the boss was peeling off the old poster from the refrigerator and recing it with a new one, featuring Lu Fei, the overnight sensation who had taken the summer by storm.


    As Yuanyuan rode the electric scooter, she nced back and almost hit a dog taking a stroll.


    Chen Men quickly reached out and steered the scooter to avoid the dog.


    The mother and daughter got off the scooter at their home. Chen Men noticed that Yuanyuan seemed a bit upset and patted the girl''s bottom, asking, "What''s wrong? Are you feeling jealous seeing how popr Lu Fei is?"


    Yuanyuan picked up some vegetables from the basket and nodded firmly, "Yeah."


    "So, do you regret turning down ''Princess Pearl''? If you had acted in it, you might be as popr as Lu Fei now," Chen Men continued.


    After thinking for a moment, Yuanyuan shook her head and said softly, "No, I don''t regret it."


    At 15, Yuanyuan''s face was flushed from the heat. Due tock of sunscreen, her skin was a bit dark. She hadn''t fully developed yet and didn''t care much about beauty. With her darkplexion, she looked like a country girl from Shaanxi, but when she smiled, it was as sweet as chocte.


    "Can you tell me why you turned down ''Princess Pearl''? Was it because someone bullied you on set, or was there another reason?" Chen Men pressed on, trying to understand her daughter.


    Yuanyuan still shook her head and said, "No, Mom. I just didn''t want to act. There''s no other reason, okay?" She didn''t want to borate.


    In fact, the hottest young actress in Hua Country, Lu Fei, was originally Lv Erniu, who had gone to Japan to study. Not only had she lost weight, but she had also undergone stic surgery, transforming her appearance almostpletely as she ventured into the music industry.


    Although Chen Men didn''t have a strongpetitive spirit and didn''t want to push Yuanyuan topete with Lv Erniu, "Princess Pearl" was a drama that had been a massive hit for nearly two decades in Chen Men''s previous life, with every actor who participated bing a big star.


    When Chen Men had initially let Yuanyuan audition and try to act in it, she had hoped her daughter would be famous.


    Unfortunately, Yuanyuan had refused to act.


    If she had never been popr, it wouldn''t have mattered, but having been popr and then fading away earned her thebel of a has-been.


    Chen Men now felt some regret for not insisting that Yuanyuan act in "Princess Pearl."


    But since the child didn''t want to do it, she didn''t want to force her.


    This led to the current situation.


    Everyone in Hua Country knew Yuanyuan, but without new, good works, the 15-year-old girl was nowbeled as a has-been in people''s minds.


    What troubled Chen Men even more was that there was no inte yet, and the most popr medium was entertainment magazines, which everyone loved to read. The magazines oftenpared Lu Fei (Lv Erniu) and Yuanyuan.


    Two girls of simr age, one at the peak of her fame, the other considered past her prime.


    Could Chen Men feelfortable reading suchparisons in the magazines?


    At 15, Yuanyuan was already in high school and needed to start nning for her future. Did she want to continue in the entertainment industry, or did she have other aspirations?


    Chen Men didn''t know what the girl was thinking.


    Currently, Little Lang hadn''t yet enrolled in a military academy, but a few days ago, after finishing his exams, he was recruited for a special forces training exercise by the army.


    Little Wang had just finished his college entrance exams, and his application was filled out by Yan Zhao, choosing Wuhan University. Whether he could get in was uncertain, but shortly after the exams, Yan Zhao had already arranged for Little Wang to go to Fujian to work at Gao Xiaomei''s brother''s machinery factory.


    So currently, there were only three people at home.


    On the higher level, Yan Peiheng had been working overtime due to the July 1st exercise.


    Chen Men and Yuanyuan decided not to return to the higher level and instead cooked at home.


    While cooking, Chen Men needed to have a good talk with Yuanyuan to understand her ns for the future and what she wanted to do.


    As she peeled the skin off a bitter melon, she was about to ask something when she noticed Yuanyuan constantly ncing out the window.N?v(el)B\\jnn


    Following Yuanyuan''s gaze, Chen Men frowned. Outside, there was a cassia tree in bloom, its branches heavy with yellow flowers. Behind the tree, a ck head peeked out, with a distinctively pointed crown. Chen Men recognized it immediately—it was Little Wang.


    Little Wang had been sent to Fujian the day after his college entrance exams by Yan Zhao. It had only been two weeks, so why was he back?


    Was he sneaking back to see Yuanyuan?


    Sure enough, Yuanyuan suddenly covered her stomach and said, "Mom, I just remembered something. I need to go out and buy something."


    Ignoring the obvious, Chen Men pretended not to notice.


    She said, "Go ahead, but you muste back tonight."


    "Mom, why would I note back tonight?" Yuanyuan found her mother''s concern inexplicable.


    Of course, Chen Men could pretend to be blind, but someone else wouldn''t.


    Little Wang must have been feeling quite miserable. With the July 1st event approaching, the Ministry of Public Security and the military were conducting joint exercises, and Yan Zhao was extremely busy. Normally, he wouldn''t return home untilte at night, around eleven or twelve, but today, at 6:30, his Santana was already parked at the doorstep.


    Poor Little Wang, trying to hide from Chen Men, but his rear end was caught by Yan Zhao.


    Just as Yuanyuan stepped out, bouncing like a little rabbit, the two kids turned around and came face to face with their stern father.


    Wearing a dark green half-sleeve police uniform, dark green pants, and a dark green tie, his face was as ck as his tie.


    "You''ve only been in Fujian for a few days. Why are you back?" Yan Zhao asked sternly.


    Little Wang looked at his father for a long time before saying, "Thepany sent me to the capital to sell generators!"


    Yan Zhao''s eyes narrowed, and Chen Men felt he was about to get scolded.


    Generators were only needed during temporary power outages or in remote areas.


    The capital hadn''t experienced power outages in years. Selling generators in the capital? Why not try selling them in the Great Hall of the People?


    The lie was so tant it was almostughable.