Chapter 412: Who Should Be the Female Lead?

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"Cover their faces and run?"

Li Yue heard the phrase and took two seconds to grasp its meaning, then her eyes lit up instantly.

Driving someone out might feel satisfying, but making them so ashamed they dare not show their face? Just thinking about it was thrilling!

Not just Li Yue, even Li Zhongfa perked up; he whispered to Li Ye: "How exactly are you going to make them cover their faces and run? Just so we're clear—no illegal stuff."

"Why do you always think I'm the bad guy?" Li Ye said unhappily. "I'm a cultured person. I believe in civility and the law."

Li Zhongfa glanced at his own grandson and sneered: "I've watched you for decades since you were a kid—I can tell what you're about to do just by the way you shift your ass. My grandson isn't a bad person, but anyone who says you don't know how to play dirty is blind."

"Giggle giggle giggle giggle"

Seeing her sister Li Yue laugh, Li Ye stopped wasting time with them and waved his hand to summon Pei Wenhui over.

When Xiao Hui arrived, Li Ye gave her a serious instruction: "Go call Ah Qiang right now, on my behalf, and tell those film studios I have a screenplay ready to shoot."

"Budget can be negotiated freely—I just have one requirement: I must see the movie within a month."

"I don't fully understand this, but I'll do my best."

Pei Wenhui didn't immediately grasp it and cautiously explained: "A month might be too tight—film production in mainland China involves complicated procedures, especially since the screenplay must be reviewed."

"And selecting actors and crew, preparing everything—it all takes time. Mainland actors are extremely serious; unlike in Hong Kong, where they can shoot a movie in ten or twenty days."

In the 80s and 90s, Hong Kong films were indeed made quickly, while mainland productions were far slower—their attitudes and mindsets were completely different.

Li Ye waved his hand: "Xiao Hui, you still don't understand the mainland. We're good at concentrating resources to accomplish big tasks—if something's big enough, we go all out, fast. Hey, Xiao Hui, do you know what's the biggest thing right now?"

Pei Wenhui had lived on the mainland for over a year—she knew exactly what was the biggest.

The task assigned from above was unquestionably the biggest; foreign exchange might not be the biggest, but it would definitely rank in the top three.

"Understood, Mr. Li. I'll call them right away and ask each studio to propose their shooting schedule—we'll pick the most reasonable one."

Pei Wenhui hurried out the door. She might not fully understand Li Ye's intent, but she could certainly grasp the idea of comparing options and choosing the best.

After Pei Wenhui left, Li Zhongfa, utterly confused, asked Li Ye: "What does your asking Pei Wenhui to make a movie have to do with making them cover their faces and run?"

It wasn't surprising the old man couldn't figure it out—he'd never experienced the multimedia era of the future, so finally Li Ye could put on a small show of brilliance before his formidable grandfather.

Li Ye said calmly: "Grandpa, a martyr's wife never remarried. She cared for her in-laws until their deaths, adopted a child abandoned by its parents, and raised that child to attend the nation's best university. Don't you think this story… is full of positive energy?"

The term "positive energy" was new to Li Zhongfa, but he instantly understood its meaning.

A martyr's wife caring for her in-laws, adopting an abandoned infant, and raising that child to university—each of these alone aligned perfectly with the social values the authorities were currently promoting.

When all three are combined in one person, isn't this story worth making a film to promote?

And this isn't even a story—it's a living, breathing reality right in front of us!

But as he saw his sister Li Yue and grandfather Li Zhongfa frozen in silence, Li Ye wasn't done.

"And Sister, think about this: the adopted son who'd spent his first Shiji years hating his biological parents later, under the moral persuasion of his workplace leaders and friends, generously forgave them."

"And he even gives them eight yuan a month for support. Do you think anyone could still use this against him?"

Li Yue shook her head repeatedly, firmly saying: "No! Absolutely not!"

Li Ye asked: "Then, Sister, are you still upset about those eight yuan?"

Li Yue shook her head again, smiling: "Not at all. I'd even be willing to raise it a bit."

Eight yuan? What's that? I'm happy to give it.

"Don't raise it. Eight yuan is plenty. Give more, and the audience will curse you for being too soft-hearted."

Li Ye rejected Li Yue's "generosity," then pointed outside: "Once the movie's made, I'll screen it outdoors right outside your door in Zhongguancun—two showings a day."

"I'll blast it through loudspeakers right at your house. I don't believe they can still live there. If they really can…"

Li Ye slowly shook his head, smirking: "If even this can't defeat them, maybe we should just give up. A man without shame is invincible—we're too timid to compete."

After speaking, Li Ye felt his idea was truly brilliant.

And Li Zhongfa and Li Yue were staring at him intensely, as if trying to see flowers bloom on his face.

Hmm, Li Ye was handsome—so handsome that flowers blooming on his face wouldn't be surprising.

But after staring at Li Ye for a long while, Li Zhongfa sneered: "You say you have a thin skin? I can't see it at all."

Li Zhongfa tilted his head slightly, as if recalling something: "Back when I was fifteen, I joined the army and thought—given my skills and courage, wouldn't everyone have to listen to me?"

"But later I had to obey a cultured man. I just couldn't understand: this cultured guy couldn't shoot straight, couldn't fight with a bayonet, couldn't ambush, assault, or hold a defensive line—how could I possibly lose to him?"

"Now I get it," Li Zhongfa grinned. "Cultured men are the ones who do evil without shedding a drop of blood—and they still wear innocent faces."

Li Ye was speechless. He'd come up with such a great plan, only to get this kind of evaluation?

Worse, every time Grandpa Li Zhongfa spoke, Li Yue nodded along like a head-bobbing doll, echoing his words.

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Sigh—do blood relatives really enjoy tormenting the youngest child in the family?

"You say I do bad things? Fine, I won't do them anymore."

Li Ye got angry, swept his sleeve, and walked out. He didn't believe these two would fail to come back for him.

Sure enough, soon after, Li Zhongfa quietly crept back.

Li Ye felt smug, thinking: You old comrade, you're finally bowing down to my carrot, aren't you?

But what Li Zhongfa said next shocked Li Ye.

"Xiao Ye, do you think a movie set during the War of Resistance would have any… positive energy?"

Li Ye: "."

"Of course it would! Make one about a few young people joining the army to fight for a new China, getting separated after fierce battles, then persistently building the nation—only to reunite by accident. That kind of story is full of positive energy."

"Mm, mm, mm, you're right."

Li Zhongfa nodded vigorously: "Write a screenplay first. Bring it to me—I'll give you some feedback."

Li Zhongfa walked off with his hands behind his back, his steps steady, as if he held everything under control.

But Li Ye, now stuck with the task, felt a toothache—because the female lead… was hard to write!

Should the female medic be the protagonist? Or the female guerrilla fighter?

Could it be dual female leads?

Grandma was a ruthless woman who'd killed traitors!

After receiving Li Yue's call for advice, Wu Juying told her granddaughter some important points over the phone that same afternoon.

But most of what Wu Juying told Li Yue was still "plan carefully before acting"—avoid unnecessary confrontations, don't provoke pointless arguments.

But some arguments absolutely must be taken—otherwise, they'll think you're a pushover, easy to cut and chop.

Since Li Ye had also told Li Yue to endure for a month and wait for his big weapon to crush them, Li Yue actually decided to hold back.

She even discussed it with Yang Yumin: take a step back, and the sky will open wide.

"Yumin, don't argue with them these days. Every time you argue, they find your weak spot. Learn from those lazy men who won't even pick up a tipped-over oil bottle."

"If they really go to your workplace, just say your wife is too strong—you can't control her."

Yang Yumin felt bitter and said quietly: "This is putting you through hardship. Maybe I should just chase them away myself!"

"No, you don't see things as clearly as Grandpa does," Li Yue smiled. "Think about it—why are there so many unfilial daughters-in-law, but so few unfilial sons?"

Sometimes, the domineering daughter-in-law is simply saying what her husband can't say, and doing what he can't do.

If it fails? It's just: "Don't take it personally—it's just a woman."

Yang Yumin's eyes welled up. He didn't say "thank you" or "you're suffering," just nodded hard.

"Alright. I'll endure."

But after Li Yue and Yang Yumin saw off their guests and returned home, they found their two elder brothers cleaning out the main house.

The main house was the best room—always occupied by Yang Huahua and Yang Yujiao. Later, Yang Huahua had offered to give it to Li Yue and Yang Yumin as their bridal room, but Li Yue declined; instead, they chose the east wing as their wedding room.

But what were these two Jia brothers up to?

They were hauling out Yang Yujiao's clothes and tossing her textbooks around carelessly.

Seeing Yang Yujiao standing helplessly at the doorway of what used to be her room, Li Yue's anger flared instantly.

"Hey, you two—cleaning Yujiao's room? No need to trouble you! Even though she's young, she handles all household chores perfectly. We don't need your help. Thanks anyway!"

The two brothers and their wives looked at Li Yue's cold, stern face but didn't start a fight right away. Instead, they said matter-of-factly: "The main house can't be lived in by a child—it must be for our father and mother. We're just helping tidy up. You don't need to interfere."

"I don't interfere? Why shouldn't I?"

The two brothers and their wife froze, displeased: "You're a new bride—you're too aggressive. This is our business. We'll discuss it with Yumin. None of your concern."

"None of my concern? I paid for this house! Who are you?"

Li Yue raised her voice eightfold—neighbors in nearby courtyards could surely hear it, and it deafened the Jia family for a moment.

She paid for it. She paid for this house.

If a new bride hadn't paid, shouting like this would be seen as tyrannical and unreasonable.

But if she did pay? Then shouting like this was perfectly justified.

Originally, Yang Yumin had used his manuscript fee to buy the courtyard, but the money wasn't enough—he'd planned to buy a smaller one. But Li Yue found a better house and "lent" him five hundred yuan.

Later, after Yang Huahua opened her noodle shop and earned money, she repaid Li Yue the five hundred. But outsiders didn't know this.

Now that she shouted it out, as long as Yang Huahua and her sons didn't contradict her, the impact would be devastating.

(End of Chapter)

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