Chapter 94: 90: A Family by the Spring Chapter 94: Does This Feeling Resemble the Emperor Selecting Concubines?

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Protagonist:

Lin Xiyu

「Seen through the crack in the door....... 」

Guben didn't give her a chance to quibble: "My eyesight is 1.5, I see people very clearly, and back then you looked like a puffed-up little wild cat, fierce and fierce, very interesting, leaving a deep impression."

"You're the little wild cat."

Lin Xiyu puffed up again, baring her claws as if to scratch him.

"Not pretending anymore?"

Guben turned his hand and grasped her soft little hand into his palm.

"I wasn't pretending......."

Lin Xiyu stubbornly insisted: "That person was just too unskilled."

"Someone who hangs around bars and underground gambling dens......."

Guben smiled and asked back: "A little hooligan who fights and brawls, and you say he's too unskilled?"

"You know him?"

"I don't."

"Then how do you know his identity?"

Lin Xiyu was truly surprised this time.

"Have you ever thought about one thing?"

Guben's eyes were deep, and he smiled meaningfully: "He was beaten so badly by you, why didn't he take revenge? Do you think that after you taught him a lesson, he would turn over a new leaf and let you go on his own initiative?"

"Uh."

Lin Xiyu shivered back to her senses and cried out in surprise: "Could it be you, secretly helping me, warning him not to come provoke me again......."

"Not bad, not too stupid."

Guben tapped her head, speaking teasingly: "I also count as doing a good deed without leaving my name, helping you for so long, finally able to collect some interest."

"So petty......"

Lin Xiyu didn't take it seriously, muttering softly: "Helping someone and still wanting interest."

Guben suddenly leaned down and kissed her on the lips.

"Ah."

Lin Xiyu didn't expect him to be so bold, daring to kiss her in front of so many people.

After a brief shock, her cheeks turned visibly red.

"Collecting some interest first."

Guben ignored the strange looks around him, fondling her cheeks dotingly.

"You go now, go quickly."

Lin Xiyu was both shy and annoyed, pushing him away: "Stop standing here, it's affecting me reciting my lines."

"You're annoyed just like that?"

Guben stood still, letting Lin Xiyu use all her strength, but she couldn't drive him away.

"Standing here like a utility pole, not thinking you're an eyesore......"

She felt a bit frustrated and gloomily thought, why could she easily knock down a little hooligan, but couldn't move him at all.

Could this guy be a pretender hiding his strength?!

Not looking like he has scholarly refinement and gentle manners on the surface?

——

Daming Lake South Gate, Lotus Pond.

Director Du attached great importance to the afternoon filming, borrowing ten female students from the Department of Performing Arts at the Arts Academy.

The stylist was busy to the point of flying, rushing here and there, finally finishing everyone's styling before two o'clock.

Ten beauties in ancient costumes, plump and slender, graceful and charming, walked past the camera one by one, their light and ethereal figures making people's hearts sway.

"Tsk tsk......"

The assistant director feasted his eyes, smacking his lips and sighing: "This feeling is almost like the emperor selecting concubines."

"Xiyu, it's your turn."

Li Yan ignored his chatter and gestured for Lin Xiyu to start.

Lin Xiyu understood, waving her round fan, parting flowers and brushing willows, walking slowly from the edge of the Lotus Pond.

The floor-length skirt hem swayed gently with her steps.

Through the camera, the rippling lotus flowers by Daming Lake were not as peerlessly charming as the girl's smile when she looked back.

"Beautiful beyond words."

Li Yan's breath caught; as a woman, at this moment, she was also dazzled by the girl's radiance.

"Alright, the main wife Madam is making her entrance."

The assistant director couldn't help but want to be snarky again.

"Recite your lines......"

Li Yan made a shushing gesture with her hand to stop his chatter.

Lin Xiyu understood her lip movements, smiled at the camera, and recited the lines she had memorized by heart, not missing a single word.

"Daming Lake is the mother lake of the people of Jinan; the Old City District was built around the lake, and the waters of Daming Lake have nourished generation after generation of Jinan people."

"The Sage of Poetry Du Fu once wrote in 'Accompanying Li Beihai at the Lidai Pavilion': 'This pavilion by the sea is ancient; Jinan is full of famous scholars.'"

"The God of Poetry Su Shi, with a timeless verse, wrote of the autumn scenery on Daming Lake at dusk, with wind and smoke coming and going time and again, expressing his unique appreciation for the scenery of Daming Lake."

"And one of the Eight Great Prose Masters of the Tang and Song, Zeng Gong wrote in his poem: 'I love the cool breeze and bright moon of late evening; amid the fragrance of purple lotuses, I listen to the sound of the spring.'"

"And the lines by the Jin dynasty poet Yuan Haowen: 'A cup of wine on Daming Lake; yesterday's embroidered red between the brows and lashes,' vividly depict the hazy beauty of boating on the lotus pond."

——

"Boating on the lotus pond......."

Director Du watched the filming effect through the camera; when he heard the four words 'boating on the lotus pond,' a flash of inspiration struck his mind, and he had a new idea.

"Xiao Bin......"

He stroked his chin and looked at Guben, smiling like a cunning fox: "Instead of just standing by the side, why not change into ancient costume and participate on the spot?"

"Wear ancient costume? Me?"

Guben was stunned upon hearing this and resisted from the bottom of his heart.

"Look how good-looking Xiyu looks in it."

Director Du threw out bait with a smiling face: "Don't you want to sit with her on a small boat on Daming Lake and perform a tale of talented scholars and beautiful ladies boating on the lotus pond?"

"Boating on the lotus pond?"

Guben narrowed his eyes, contemplating the possibility of this matter.

"If you don't want to, I'll find someone else."

Director Du deliberately set a trap for him, using a tone of coaxing a child: "Xiyu is so beautiful; there are plenty of people who want to get close to her."

"Hehe, Director Du, do you think I can do it?"

The assistant director shamelessly smiled, using actual action to demonstrate what it means for a toad to want to eat swan meat.

"You can't."

Director Du disdainfully glanced at him: "Xiao Bin is unwilling; hurry up and find a few more male students from the film academy, pick ones with outstanding looks, to act opposite Xiyu."

"No need for so much trouble."

Guben indeed took the bait, interrupting him: "It's just sitting on a boat drifting on the lake for a few circles, I can do it......"

"Xiao Zou, come and change his clothes."

Director Du couldn't help but turn up the corners of his mouth, revealing a smile of success.

"Hehe, Director, did I act well?"

The assistant director, while the stylist was changing Guben's clothes, came up to Director Du to flatter and curry favor: "The two of us are in perfect sync; I saw it at a glance—you want to push Xiao Bin onto the camera, using Gu Lao's name to boost our ratings."

"What did you see?"

Director Du's old face darkened, and he scolded in displeasure: "Am I, this director, such a person without principles? Using any means for ratings? If it weren't for Xiao Bin's good conditions and great suitability for this role, even if he is the current Leader's grandson, I wouldn't let him participate and ruin our program."

"Cough cough."

The assistant director's flattery backfired; he gained no benefit but instead stirred up trouble.

"Hurry up......"

Director Du couldn't stand his lack of tact and disdainfully pushed him: "Go borrow a small boat and come back; don't stand here in the way."

"Yes, sir."

The assistant director had been in the entertainment industry for a long time and had long cultivated an invincible thick skin.

Director Du scolded him, but he wasn't angry; imitating the singing tone of a eunuch in Qing dynasty palace dramas, he made a gesture of obeying orders.

"Go quickly."

Director Du helplessly rubbed his forehead, barely holding back from kicking him again.

"This servant takes his leave."

The assistant director's acting bug took over; he flicked two non-existent sleeves, and before Director Du could kick him, he rushed toward the dock like a gust of wind.

——

The small boat was borrowed back.

Guben changed into ancient costume and boated on the lake with Lin Xiyu; talented scholar and beautiful lady played the zither and painted, recited poetry and composed fu—just as expected, the effect was surprisingly good.

Director Du looked through the camera lens, grinning from ear to ear.

Without guessing, he could also imagine how big a reaction this episode would cause after it was broadcast.

The documentary 'Quancheng Water People' became a sensation; thanks to this film, the Old Man would surely win the award for Best Documentary Director of the year soon.

"Ai ai, this couple really makes people envious."

Li Yan's thoughts were different from Director Du's; her focus was entirely on this couple with a tacit understanding: "Look at them, their gazes are stuck together and almost pulling silk; that clingy feeling makes even me jealous."

"Stop being envious."

Cameraman reminded her responsibly: "Next we're filming calligraphy; have you found a good person for the brush calligraphy? Who will write it?"

"That's not my business."

Li Yan simply pushed it off: "Let the assistant director have a headache over it; since he's the assistant, serving people's work should be left to him."

"Write brush calligraphy?"

Guben happened to hear the two's words and looked over from the boat: "I can recommend someone to you; guaranteed to write well, with deep foundation, more than enough for your program."

"Who?"

Li Yan's eyes lit up, instantly interested: "You put it that way, I even want to give him a special interview."

"You all know this person......"

Guben swished open his folding fan and fanned himself very leisurely: "But whether I can invite him and whether he accepts the interview, I can't guarantee......"

"We all know him?"

Cameraman was completely baffled, unable to guess what he was thinking.

"Little Bin."

Li Yan couldn't wait: "Stop keeping us in suspense, tell us quickly."

"Fine."

Guben seized the opportunity to return a favor: "Sister Yan rarely asks me for something, I have to give her this face."

"You little brat, you're too slippery."

Li Yan smiled and glared at him: "Daring to take advantage of Sister."

"Little Bin, do you have a suitable candidate?"

Director Du saw the three of them talking happily and couldn't resist butting in.

"That's right."

Guben pointed at himself with his folding fan, smiling teasingly: "Actually, this person is far away yet right before your eyes, it's me..."

Just as everyone thought he was talking about himself, they heard him draw out his tone and utter two words in utter shock—Grandfather.

"Your grandfather?!"

Director Du caught his breath, eyes shining with surprise: "Gu Lao?"

"Gu Lao knows how to write with a brush?"

Li Yan barely concealed her shock: "Never heard of it, didn't he join the army from childhood, fight on the front lines, and only retire after liberation?"

"Not only does he know, he's very skilled."

Guben detected the meaning behind Li Yan's words and felt it necessary to defend his grandfather: "Who says soldiers are all uncouth? Although Grandfather joined the army young, he read and wrote plenty in the unit, and his calligraphy is vigorous and dynamic, with his own style."

"Sorry, I'm just ignorant..."

Li Yan was embarrassed, smiling sheepishly: "I didn't mean to look down on soldiers, I'm just amazed, never heard Gu Lao knew brush calligraphy, and none of his treasures have ever circulated outside."

"What do you know?"

Director Du went all out for the documentary, shamelessly flattering: "Gu Lao practices calligraphy as a hobby, to cultivate his temperament, unlike some people who are shallow, making a big fuss once they know a bit of brush and ink, afraid others won't know how much they weigh..."

"No, no."

Guben smiled and interrupted him: "Actually, Grandfather's purpose in practicing calligraphy wasn't pure; his original intention was to pursue Grandmother..."

"Pfft."

Director Du spat out a mouthful of spit.

"There's such a thing?"

Li Yan's gossip flame ignited instantly: "Tell us, Gu Lao's romantic affairs when he was young."

"This part must be recorded."

Cameraman chimed in happily: "Audiences will definitely love watching."

"Want to know? Go ask Grandfather yourself."

Guben dangled another mystery: "Grandfather's romantic affairs, I as a junior dare not speak recklessly."

"Little Bin, I'm entrusting this to you."

Director Du thickened his face and smiled with fox-like cunning: "Trouble you, please be sure to invite Gu Lao out of retirement to guest on our show."

"Fine."

Guben had his own plans and agreed readily: "I'll go back now to see if Grandfather is home."

"Want me to go back with you?"

Director Du feared Gu Lao wouldn't come, his heart fluttering anxiously.

"No need."

Guben was confident: "Director, rest assured, Grandfather is easy to talk to; just tell him filming a promotional video contributes to Jinan's tourism economy, and he'll surely come."

"Gu Lao is truly a great person."

Director Du rushed to flatter: "Don't ride your bike, let the driver take you back."

"Okay."

Guben thought Grandfather would also need a car, so without affectation he readily agreed.

—

Gu Lao came quickly, just as his grandson said, agreeing without any hesitation.

When an old man dressed in moon-white practice clothes, with a gaunt face, appeared by Daming Lake, Director Du wiped the corner of his eye excitedly, almost shedding tears.

"Grandfather."

Guben voiced Director Du's thoughts for him: "Whether this documentary becomes a hit depends on you."

"Hahaha."

Gu Lao was happy to hear it; facing the camera, he first performed a set of Taiji Fist with ease, and once his tendons and bones were loosened, under the admiring gazes of the juniors, he took a brush as thick as a cup rim, dipped it in lake water, and wrote on the blue stone slabs.

One stroke at a time, flowing like clouds and water, vigorous and powerful!

"Good calligraphy!"

Director Du's eyes lit up, clapping and cheering nonstop.

"This is Grandfather's special skill."

Guben, harboring his own little scheme, deliberately coaxed Grandfather to be happy: "Just this cup-rim-thick big brush, an ordinary person can't control it."

"Hahaha."

Grandfather was indeed very happy, continuing to wield the brush and splash ink, writing three lines of poetry in one breath on the blue stone slabs.

"Talented beyond measure, three springs of the city, characters spit pearls and jade, water a single pool; how many poets have lived through history, Jinan has been a city of poetry since ancient times."

"Jinan's spring loves the clear skies, swings outside the building, orioles outside the willows, as if in Jiangnan's land of gold and silk, walking the streets only lacking the sound of flower sellers."

Viewing mountains and waters, my body is free; wherever I go, I write poems with fresh inspiration. Day after day, my small boat drifts among lotus flowers, and I long to remain a man of Jinan forever.