Chapter 256: Made Sister Xue Cry

Last night, after seeing Sister Xue home, Wei Ming gently kissed her outside the alley.

But it was only a quick peck—there were still passersby around.

Today, Wei Ming didn't wander around; he spread out his manuscript paper, picked up his pen, and prepared to get down to real work. Only in the afternoon, when he felt the time was right, did he leave.

Last night, the two had agreed to meet for dinner at De Da Western Restaurant on Sichuan Middle Road, a century-old classic Western restaurant.

Wei Ming had written about this restaurant when portraying Jiang Limin's undercover days in the Magic Capital, but this was his first time visiting; if anything felt off, he could revise it later.

He arrived first and immediately asked the staff about the restaurant's history, learning that during the timeline of "The Righteous Path Is Full of Sorrow," the restaurant should have been on Tanggu Road. Wei Ming quickly noted it down to correct later.

Just then, Sister Xue arrived, and the staff inside clearly brightened at the sight.

It was already November, past Start of Winter, but Gong Ying wasn't dressed heavily—her figure was slender and graceful, prioritizing style over warmth. Add to that her face, famous from "Mass Cinema," and it was impossible not to draw attention.

Wei Ming quickly pulled her inside and up to the second floor. She was beautiful, but he worried: "Aren't you cold?"

Gong Ying removed her hat: "Not cold—I'm wearing thermal underwear underneath."

Wei Ming doubted it and planned to check her thermal wear himself when they returned to the guesthouse.

"What exactly did Ah Long send you?" Wei Ming asked after they sat down.

Gong Ying smiled lightly: "A wooden carving—of Ying's face. She treasures it so much, she sleeps hugging it."

It seemed their relationship was all but settled, and Wei Ming was genuinely happy.

After ordering, Wei Ming asked: "Aren't you curious about what I'm giving you?"

Gong Ying: "Gifts don't matter. Just you being here makes me happy."

Long-distance days are hard. Now, at least they'd have about a month together, and since his role wasn't heavy, he could spare time to truly be with him.

Wei Ming deliberately didn't mention his birthday—he planned to surprise her tomorrow. If she hadn't prepared a gift, he could ask for anything he wanted.

But he had prepared a gift for Gong Ying and invited her to accompany him back to the guesthouse to retrieve it.

Gong Ying hesitated slightly. Though she knew Xiao Wei had ulterior motives, she still nodded.

At the same moment, another Western restaurant.

Inside the McDonald's on Bugis Street in Tsim Sha Tsui, Zhou Hui Min and several close female classmates were celebrating her 13th birthday.

This was Hong Kong's first McDonald's, opened in 1975, with booming business—and high prices.

In the past, Zhou Hui Min would never have treated classmates here, but times had changed—her allowance was now ample.

Now, Ah Min was a moody teenage girl in the second year of middle school.

When she first entered junior high, she hadn't had many friends—her family was poor, and she felt insecure.

Now, she was the most popular girl in class, without exception.

Several girls took pride in being invited to her birthday, while many boys, excluded, pounded their chests in despair, devising all sorts of schemes.

Through sports like basketball, Ah Min had shed her baby fat; her face grew more refined and beautiful, her height already surpassed 1. meters, her legs long and proportionate—and still growing.

She was also a key member of the school choir, played piano, drew well, and was nearly perfect—except her academic performance wasn't outstanding.

Crucially, she even knew the big star Ah Lun and had gotten autographed photos for several classmates.

And she credited all this change to Ah Ming, her excellent pen pal.

Today, she brought a camera from home and planned to ask the staff to take a group photo to mail to Ah Ming, making him guess which girl was her.

Though she'd never met his British ex-girlfriend, she figured she wasn't any worse.

Just then, a classmate named Ah Xiang asked: "Ah Min, why are you eating so little? Isn't it good?"

"No, Mom's also throwing me a birthday party, so I need to save some room," Ah Min said, holding a fry. She genuinely loved it and planned to pack some for Mom and Ghost Uncle.

Ah Xiang added: "Ah Jie asked me to give you a letter. Here."

Ah Min guessed what it was and pushed it back: "What's this? Give it back to him—I'm not dating right now."

Ah Xiang was Ah Jie's fangirl and insisted: "But Ah Jie says he just wants to be your pen pal—nothing else."

Ah Min laughed: "I already have a pen pal. I don't need another. Ah Xiang, if you keep pushing this, I'll have to think Ah Jie matters more to you than I do."

Hearing this, the other girls all turned to look at Ah Xiang.

Ah Xiang thought: Of course Ah Jie matters more to me than you—but if I say that, I'll be ostracized by the girls. She awkwardly tucked the letter away.

Because of this little incident, Ah Min lost interest and skipped the group photo, just packing some McDonald's burgers to take home for Mom and Ghost Uncle.

As for their suggestion to night-walk Tsim Sha Tsui, Ah Min firmly refused—she'd heard there were plenty of gangsters there.

When she got home, the lights were off—her mother hadn't returned yet. Since Haoli Lai expanded, business had grown better, and Mom always worked late. Ah Min even wondered if she'd forgotten her birthday.

Ah Min went to her room, opened her drawer, and found a Rubik's Cube, along with Ah Ming's solution guide—complete with diagrams—thoroughly thoughtful.

Using his method, she could now solve the cube easily. She'd heard his sister Ah Hong had devised it—what a clever girl.

She guessed the Rubik's Cube she'd mailed had arrived by now, but she didn't know when his reply would come.

Just then, the lights went out.

"Ah? Power outage?" Ah Min sighed. This happened often in public housing—if they had to cut power, they always started with them.

As Ah Min was about to go find candles, she suddenly saw her mother appear holding a birthday cake, lit with thirteen thin candles.

Behind her were Ghost Uncle and Brother Bin.

Ah Min was torn between laughter and tears—she hadn't expected Mom to pull off such a surprise.

"Ah Min, hurry up and blow out the candles and make a wish," Ghost Uncle reminded the tearful girl.

Ah Min stepped forward, clasped her hands, blew out all the candles at once—meaning her wish would surely come true.

Mom asked: "What did Ah Min wish for?"

Ah Min shook her head: "If I say it, it won't come true."

Ghost Uncle grinned: "Must be wishing for Mom's good health and Haoli Lai to get rich."

Zhou Hui Min felt embarrassed—she'd actually wished to meet Ah Ming in the coming year.

She quickly changed the subject: "Oh, by the way, I bought some McDonald's burgers for you—hope you like them."

"Just foreign meat buns," Ghost Uncle said dismissively—they had meat buns at their shop too.

But after eating one, Ghost Uncle admitted: "Actually, it's pretty good."

Then Mom and Liu Bin each took a bite. Though not hot anymore, it was decent—meat, vegetables, sugar, bread. One was enough to fill you up—a perfect choice for Hong Kong's fast-paced life.

Ghost Uncle asked: "This is called McDonald's, right?"

Zhou Hui Min: "Yes."

"How's the business?" Ghost Uncle asked.

"Great. When we went, it was packed—mostly young people and kids. Kids even got toys."

Ghost Uncle asked: "What about the price?"

Zhou Hui Min recalled and told him. Ghost Uncle and Liu Bin exchanged glances—this had serious profit potential!

After leaving the Zhou household, Ghost Uncle told Liu Bin to find out everything about McDonald's tomorrow.

"Come in."

After coaxing Gong Ying into the guesthouse, Wei Ming hurriedly shut the door.

Gong Ying had warned him: "I'm just sitting for a bit—I'm recognized by the staff."

Wei Ming sat on the bed: "Of course."

Gong Ying shifted uncomfortably and asked: "Where's your gift?"

Wei Ming pointed to the table.

Gong Ying saw a stack of manuscript paper: "What's this?"

Wei Ming: "A script I'm about to write—the female lead is you."

"Me?"

"I wrote her exactly as you are—gentle yet resilient, deeply touching. Whoever produces it, whoever directs it—the lead must be you." Wei Ming stood, gently placing his hands on Gong Ying's shoulders. Firmly.

Gong Ying looked at Xiao Wei with gratitude—such a good younger brother, spoiling her so much, she was practically his exclusive leading lady.

"Can I read it?" she asked, staring at the title on the cover: "Mother, Love Me Once More." This lead again seemed to be a mother—and it sounded heart-wrenching.

Wei Ming: "It's not written yet—just character outlines and plot points. Nothing substantial. Let me tell you the story's background."

"Mm." Gong Ying nodded obediently—she loved listening.

Wei Ming suddenly lifted Sister Xue into his arms: "It's cold. Let's talk under the covers."

He wanted to check her thermal underwear.

Gong Ying's face flushed to her ears: "Talk properly—don't touch me."

"Relax—I'm touching in a systematic way," Wei Ming said, placing her on the bed, pulling the covers over them, and beginning.

"The story starts when I was helping my family find my little aunt. This summer, I..."

Wei Ming began with the letter from Song Lian, then introduced the tragic, mad mother He Hua. In telling it, he added rich details—all prepared for his new script—highly emotional.

Soon, Sister Xue was crying. Wei Ming immediately stopped his hands.

"Sorry, Sister. Did I go too far?"

Gong Ying gently patted his arm, eyes wet: "No—it's the story. That mother is so pitiful. Will she lose her child forever?"

Seeing she wasn't crying because of his roughness, Wei Ming sighed in relief—and his hand resumed its mischief.

"In reality, the story ends here. But in my script, I won't let it end so tragically—I want to give the audience hope."

Gong Ying agreed wholeheartedly: "Yes. Reality is hard enough. The movie shouldn't be that cruel."

Wei Ming thought: Not cruel? Impossible!

As the first major tearjerker of the 1980s, this film made hundreds of millions of Chinese cry. Now, with Wei Ming writing the script, he'd make it even better than the original.

The original's emotional scenes were crude. He'd refine them—make them more subtle, more plausible—so that even decades later, the film would still move people to tears.

Not like the Taiwanese version, which, after a few years, lost its power—leaving only the song "Only Mother Is Best."

"Xue-jie, shall I sing you another song?"

Gong Ying pressed down the hand growing bolder beneath the quilt: "I… I want to go back. Tomorrow. Tomorrow I have no scenes—I'll spend the whole day with you."

Wei Ming: "Go back? Back to Shangyingchang or home?"

"Back to Shangyingchang," Gong Ying thought for a moment. There, bathing was more convenient. She needed a bath and fresh undergarments.

Wei Ming said "Fine," but asked again: "Do you want me to accompany you back, or do you want to go alone?"

"I can go back by myself."

Wei Ming: "I'm still not reassured. Let me take you back."

"Alright."

"So, do you want to walk back, take the bus, or hail a taxi?" Wei Ming asked slowly.

Gong Ying finally understood—he was stalling. That naughty boy wanted to exhaust her completely so she couldn't leave, and then he could have his way.

Gong Ying gathered her strength, forced open the quilt, climbed out of bed, and struggled to put on her clothes.

"Let's take a taxi," she said, her eyes glistening.

Wei Ming loved her like this—he wanted to tease her, yet couldn't bear to.

But he understood: this was a guesthouse, not his home. Doing such things in a guesthouse was truly scandalous for a woman of this era.

I really need a home in Shanghai. Tomorrow—I'll go look for an apartment tomorrow.

The next day.

Liu Bin, Gao Li Lai's highest-educated and top strategist, had been busy investigating McDonald's and quickly reported to Gui Bo.

"McDonald's is the number one fast-food brand in America and the world, with over six thousand outlets globally. I saw in the newspaper that McDonald's just opened another branch in Hong Kong—their thousandth overseas store. Their annual global revenue is billions—U. . dollars!"

Hearing these figures, Old Wei, who had long dreamed of buying property in Hong Kong, exclaimed excitedly: "I knew it! Though it looks simple, it's perfect for urban white-collar workers—very promising."

Liu Bin nodded: "I also heard that KFC, the world's second-largest fast-food brand, once entered Hong Kong but pulled out after two years—apparently the taste wasn't accepted."

"What's KFC? Selling chicken?"

"Yes, mainly fried chicken, also burgers," Liu Bin said.

Gui Bo thought for a moment: "Bin, you're a college student—if you applied to McDonald's, do you think they'd hire you?"

Liu Bin perked up: "Uncle Gui, are you asking me to go undercover?"

Gui Bo couldn't help reminiscing: Back in his day, they were called Special Operations— infiltrating the Japanese, infiltrating the Nationalists. Who would've thought the world had changed so much that now they wanted to infiltrate a fast-food restaurant? He felt ashamed before General Chen.

November 10 was Zhou Hui's birthday; November 11 was Wei Ming's turn. He wondered if Xue-jie even knew.

Early that morning, she came to the guesthouse to find him—Wei Ming hadn't gotten up yet.

Hearing Xue-jie knock at the door, Wei Ming opened it wearing only his underwear.

(End of Chapter)