Chapter 167: First Encounter with the Tian Xianma

The evening after tomorrow, Xu Yuexin went to Donglaishun early, ordered the hot‑pot base and a few of the more famous dishes, then waited for Wang Chaoyin and the Gongti officials to arrive.

These days many state‑owned units do not do business with individuals.

Take Gongti as an example; previously the concerts held here were all organized by government cultural troupes and art troupes.

The 1980 star‑studded Gongti concert was also held under the name of a public unit.

If one wants to organize a concert in one's own name, one really has to make an effort.

"Yuexin, sorry to keep you waiting."

Before long, a voice from the doorway—Wang Chaoyin's—awoke Xu Yuexin from his reverie.

Xu Yuexin looked up and saw Wang Chaoyin entering the Donglaishun gate, accompanied by a thin, sharp‑looking, capable middle‑aged man.

"No, I just arrived as well."

Xu Yuexin stood up and offered a polite greeting.

Wang Chaoyin began to introduce the two parties.

"This is the great writer I told you about, Comrade Xu Yuexin; his works have sold over ten million copies in total."

"This is Xu Ying, Director Xu, last year's municipal model worker."

"Hello, Director Xu."

"Hello, hello, pleased to meet you, great writer comrade."

"Not at all, Director Xu, you're really being courteous…"

…

After the warm and friendly small talk, the three of them each took a seat.

At that moment, the waiter brought out sliced lamb, sliced roast duck, and the meat and vegetables for the hot pot, and the three began to eat while chatting.

"Old Xu, this time Yuexin invited you over mainly to discuss venue leasing."

"I know, we already talked about it over the phone, it's a good thing."

Xu Ying smiled politely, "Of course, if you must point out any obstacle, it's that our venue has never taken on business from individuals before; it's always dealt with organizations."

What does the other side mean? It doesn't sound like a refusal.

Xu Yuexin thought briefly and felt that Xu Ying was still open to handling the concert.

As for the difficulty mentioned later, that's also factual; they probably raised it to get an appropriate response from him.

"There shouldn't be any rule prohibiting an individual from leasing the venue, right?"

"No, there isn't, it's just that there's no precedent."

"Then let me become that precedent; any problems that arise during the event will be my personal responsibility."

"That clause can be added to the contract."

"As for the ability to bear the consequences, I'm not lacking either."

"To be a bit unabashed, in the two or three years I've been writing I've managed to save some money."

"Excellent, hearing you say that puts my mind at ease."

In just two or three short sentences, Xu Yuexin reached agreement with Xu Ying.

Because, as Xu Yuexin told Xu Ying, what he was worried about was simply the fear that after setting a precedent, an accident at the venue might lead to liability.

As long as Xu Ying can put his mind at ease, the problem can be solved.

Wang Chaoyin saw the two reach consensus and a smile appeared on his face.

"Come on, don't just keep talking, eat the dishes."

He lifted his chopsticks and beckoned Xu Yuexin and Xu Ying.

During the meal, Xu Yuexin and Xu Ying settled the venue‑leasing matters.

They rented it for two days and two nights; the first day would be used to set up the concert site, and the concert would start the following afternoon, scheduled for twenty days later.

The total rent was 3,000 yuan; Gongti would handle the arrangement of all facilities except the sound equipment, and Xu Yuexin would first pay them 1,000 yuan to purchase the facilities, with any excess or shortfall adjusted later.

Even when converted by purchasing‑power standards, Gongti's current rent is still much lower than that of later eras.

Xu Yuexin thought this was because there are few events now and a lack of competitors, causing venue rents to stay low.

After the meal, Xu Yuexin went to the counter to pay, and at that moment Xu Ying insisted on covering his share.

Xu Yuexin couldn't argue with Xu Ying, so he let him handle it.

"Director Xu has always handled matters strictly by official procedure."

On the way back, when only he and Xu Yuexin remained, Wang Chaoyin said, "When we dined together before, he was the same."

"I see…"

Xu Yuexin nodded, thinking he quite admired this person.

He also liked dealing with people who stick to principles.

After finalizing things with Gongti, Xu Yuexin went to Unity Lake the next day to tell Chen Yixue the good news.

"That quickly?"

Chen Yixue sounded rather surprised; she had thought it would take much longer.

"Yes, I told the venue that I'll take responsibility for any problems."

Xu Yuexin said briskly, "Next we sign the contract and prepare the concert."

"Make a list of your requirements for sound equipment and other gear and give it to me; I'll go purchase them later."

If it weren't for that "I'll take responsibility" line, the venue issue probably wouldn't have been resolved so quickly. He truly is a man of responsibility…

Chen Yixue listened quietly beside Xu Yuexin, her expression immersed in admiration.

"There shouldn't be any accidents; even if there are, the two of us will share the responsibility."

After he finished, Chen Yixue voiced her stance.

"Hey, as long as the event planning is done well, there won't be any accidents."

Xu Yuexin said lightly, "You quickly make the list."

Chen Yixue nodded, stood up from the sofa, walked toward the bedroom, took out paper and pen, returned to Xu Yuexin's side and began writing carefully, occasionally pausing to think.

"These are what we need to buy; take a look."

"The items in parentheses are backup models; if the ones I want are unavailable, we'll buy the backups."

A moment later, Chen Yixue handed the list to Xu Yuexin and said.

Xu Yuexin took the list, glanced at it, and thought most models shouldn't be hard to purchase.

Even the scarce ones should be obtainable at the Friendship Store.

As Xu Yuexin took the list, Chen Yixue picked up an apple and a kitchen knife from the coffee table and began peeling the apple for him.

While Xu Yuexin finished looking at the list, Chen Yixue was still diligently peeling. "Hey, when did I start getting this kind of treatment?"

Xu Yuexin laughed at the sight.

Da Yizi was already a stunningly beautiful woman, and when she focused on work she exuded an even more dignified and serene beauty.

Seeing Da Yizi now slightly bowing her head to peel the apple, Xu Yuexin was instantly captivated and couldn't bear to look away.

"Stop looking."

After peeling, Da Yizi handed the apple to Xu Yuexin, her gaze gentle, and said, "Eat it."

"I'll watch while I eat."

Xu Yuexin smiled, took the apple, and, his hand passing through the thin silk nightgown, squeezed Da Yizi's supple thigh.

"An unchangeable flaw."

Da Yizi made a disdainful face but didn't move away as before, "You're twenty‑two now; be more steady."

"Let emotion arise, but stop at propriety."

Xu Yuexin brushed it off nonchalantly.

Da Yizi looked at him with deep doubt: "Has he ever spoken to me politely?"

After finishing the apple, Xu Yuexin and Da Yizi discussed the upcoming concert's precautions.

The two agreed that maintaining order among the staff on site was the most important.

Among all orders, the most trouble‑prone was the order during the dispersal.

When the concert ends it will be late at night, making transportation difficult, and autumn evenings are rather cold.

How to handle this issue is the top priority of the whole concert planning.

"I have a solution for that."

"I'll contact the city bus group district and rent their buses to transport people; that should work."

After discussing with Da Yizi for a while, Xu Yuexin slapped his thigh and said.

Of course this time he slapped his own thigh.

"That's a good idea."

Da Yizi immediately agreed, "Do you need me to go with you?"

"No need, I can go alone to find them."

Xu Yuexin said.

In the days that followed, Xu Yuexin threw himself into full‑speed work.

Signing contracts, purchasing equipment, reporting the event to the Public Security Bureau, contacting the bus company for rentals…

Xu Yuexin completed these tasks at top speed, taking just over a dozen days.

Da Yizi was meanwhile coordinating the concert's backup dancers and made progress.

"The dance troupe of the Wuhan Song and Dance Theatre is good; I'd like to invite them to accompany the performance."

While meeting Xu Yuexin, Da Yizi said, "We've exchanged telegrams with them a few times, but nothing's settled yet."

"Is it stuck on cost, or scheduling?"

"Neither. The main issue is that this is a private event; we can't issue an Introduction Letter, so they can't book a hotel in Jingcheng."

"Then it's easy; they can stay at my place."

Xu Yuexin replied indifferently.

Currently there are hotels that don't require an Introduction Letter, but only if the group isn't too large.

For large‑group accommodations like this, an Introduction Letter is still required.

At this point, Xu Yuexin's Guogongfu can be put to use.

The entire Four Halls Layout courtyard, with dozens of rooms combined, can easily house all the senior dancers of the troupe.

"Indeed, your place is that big."

Da Yizi agreed, "So I should tell them the lodging issue is solved?"

"Go ahead."

Xu Yuexin nodded, "When they're about to arrive, let me know, and I'll go to the station to pick them up."

"It shows how much we value them."

"Alright."

Da Yizi said.

……

A few days later, Xu Yuexin received a call from Da Yizi; she said the backup dance team would arrive at the train station at two p. m.

Since Da Yizi was doing the final rehearsal before going on stage, he would go alone to meet the dancers.

Xu Yuexin gladly accepted the task.

After ending the call with Da Yizi, Xu Yuexin changed into a newly bought black Coat, polished his leather shoes to a shine, then put on the Bvlgari sunglasses he had brought back from Xiangjiang, preparing to head to the train station.

To meet the dance troupe's flower‑like young ladies, his outfit must be bright and flashy.

Moreover, if he remembers correctly, Liu Tianxian's mother Liu Xiaoli should be at the Song and Dance Theatre in WH City at this hour.

It would be great if she were on the backup‑dancer list.

Xu Yuexin thought to himself secretly.

The main reason is that the concert's backup dancers were entirely decided by Da Yizi, and he has never had any connection with the Wuhan side, so a sudden recommendation would seem abrupt.

Otherwise, whatever he says would have to mention Mother Liu Xiaoli's name.

Right before departure, Xu Yuexin made a sign out of cardboard, fetched a brush, and wrote on it a greeting for comrades from the Wuhan Song and Dance Theatre.

These days there are no mobile phones, let alone online communication; people meet strangers this way.

Xu Yuexin tucked the sign under his armpit, and after arriving at the train station walked to the exit and raised the sign.

Although it wasn't yet two o'clock, trains these days are unreliable, so it's better to raise it early to avoid missing the girls.

The big clock on the station square ticked forward, and soon it was two o'clock.

More and more travelers emerged from the exit, clearly the new train had arrived.

Xu Yuexin mustered his spirit, lifted the sign high, and then saw about seven or eight girls escorted by companions walking out of the station, the one leading them looking very familiar.

Mother Liu Xiaoli.

She really came! Xu Yuexin inhaled deeply and said.

(End of chapter)