Chapter 186 The Butterfly Effect After Appearing on Television

The interview went smoothly, mostly consisting of questions and answers, quite different from later interview programs.

Well, it's not that I'm praising the interview programs of later generations, but this interview just seems a bit monotonous.

It's fortunate that there weren't many entertainment programs in those days; being able to watch TV was a dream for many people.

Near the end, the reporter suddenly asked, "Could you also interview the family?"

This wasn't part of the pre-communication process.

Madam Fu was also undecided and turned to look at her family.

The reporter then explained, "Actually, I just wanted to know what the family's attitude was towards Mr. Leman starting to learn calligraphy after retiring."

This wasn't a difficult question; everyone took turns expressing their support.

They all said pretty much the same thing; they were all in support.

This concludes the interview.

Before leaving, the reporter told them that the interview would be broadcast next Saturday night.

After seeing them off, Madam Fu began to feel uneasy.

"How come it's so fast? It's going to air next Saturday. I'm not mentally prepared yet."

Tang Mingli reassured her, "Grandma, don't worry, we watched the whole thing. You did very well, your demeanor was natural, and your speech was elegant. There's absolutely nothing wrong with you."

"Really?"

Fu's mother chimed in, "Really, just relax and wait for the show to air. When it does, you'll be the most glamorous old lady in the compound."

After hearing this, Madam Fu chuckled.

Everyone has a bit of vanity.

After changing her mindset, Madam Fu, who initially felt that next Saturday would go by too quickly, suddenly felt that this week was exceptionally long.

Sunrise and sunset, day after day of anticipation, finally the day the program aired arrived.

On this day, the Fu family waited in front of the television early in the morning.

Actually, it wasn't just them; many families in the compound were also eagerly awaiting the broadcast of this episode.

Although the Fu family kept a low profile, they lived in the same compound, and quite a few people saw the TV crew carrying cameras into their home that day. Upon further questioning, they naturally learned what had happened.

At that time, being on television was no different from wearing a red flower on an award stage; both were extremely honorable things.

Madam Fu's glory is the glory of the Fu family, and the glory of the Fu family is also the glory of the compound. Everyone in the compound feels honored to share in this glory.

As the intro music began, the Fu family members sitting in front of the television instinctively held their breath.

Even the most boisterous Fu Yu stared wide-eyed at the television.

When Madam Fu's face appeared on the television screen, little Fu Yu was utterly shocked. She kept glancing at the television and then at Madam Fu sitting next to her.

Tang Mingli noticed her daughter's actions and said with a smile, "Grandma is on TV!"

How did you get up there?

The TV was so small, and Grandma was so tall.

This stumped Tang Mingli.

My daughter is only two years old. Is the knowledge she has already reached insufficient?

Ugh, I need to go to Xinhua Bookstore and buy some related books when I have time.

However, she didn't show any hesitation. Instead, she smiled and discussed with her daughter, "How about we wait for Dad to call back and ask him together?"

Passing the problem on to her husband is also a sign of a wife's wit.

Fu Yu naturally agreed.

"Dad is the best. Dad knows everything."

Tang Mingli was very pleased to see her daughter admiring her father so much.

That's good. In a family, there always needs to be someone who's down-to-earth and someone who's connected to the everyday.

Attention returned to the television.

The Fu family witnessed the entire interview process, but when it was edited and presented on television, they found that the originally mundane interview was actually quite exciting and even a bit inspiring.

During the interview, when the host asked Mrs. Fu why she started learning calligraphy at such a young age, after Mrs. Fu answered, the host added a lot more, elevating the discussion to a much higher level.

Although he only began learning calligraphy in his seventies, he eventually achieved success through diligent practice. He also used his skills to make significant contributions to charity and public welfare.

At the end of the program, the host also emphasized how important family support is to a person's success.

...

After watching the one-hour program, Mrs. Fu's mind was filled with the host's comments about her.

Calligrapher and philanthropist.

How does holding a solo calligraphy exhibition make someone a calligrapher?

But how does donating exhibition proceeds to the China Children's Foundation make someone a philanthropist?

Madam Fu's head was buzzing; she couldn't understand what was going on at all.

Of all the people in the room, it was Old Master Fu who was the first to break the silence.

He exclaimed, "My wife is really something!"

His expression was full of pride.

Mrs. Fu was feeling guilty, and when she heard her husband say that, she immediately said to him, "Don't be silly, the host is talking nonsense."

Tang Mingli doesn't think so.

"Grandma, you've won awards in calligraphy competitions, held solo calligraphy exhibitions, and your calligraphy is even better than those people in the calligraphy association. How come you can't be called a calligrapher?"

To be fair, Grandma's handwriting is really good, and without realizing it, the gap between the two of them has widened considerably.

She started practicing earlier than Nian Nian, and they also enrolled in the same class to learn from Teacher Chen.

Perhaps this is the difference between having talent and not having talent, Tang Mingli said with great acceptance.

She continued, "As for philanthropists, there's even less reason for them to feel guilty. My family regularly donates money to charitable foundations."

Furthermore, they plan to donate a large sum of money next.

Madam Fu said, "That was donated by you."

“Although the money was transferred from my account, you still supported us and contributed money. Besides, we are family, and we don’t distinguish between each other.”

Madam Fu is about to be persuaded.

Just then, the phone rang at home.

At first, everyone thought it was Fu Ci calling back, but when they answered, it was Tang Mingli's aunt Li Hong who answered.

Li Hong's voice was excited on the other end of the phone, "Mingli, I saw you on TV tonight. How could you not tell us beforehand that you were going to be on TV? Luckily, the clothing store is closed, and I have nothing to do every night, so I watch TV, otherwise I would have missed it."

He must have watched that program and was so excited to see his relative on TV that he called me that very night.

Tang Mingli explained, "How could I possibly call to inform them? It would sound like I'm showing off."

“It might be something to brag about to others, but we’re relatives, so we definitely have to share this honor.”

Tang Mingli smiled and said, "I'll remember that. I'll definitely share it if something like this happens again."

“That’s right.” Li Hong said excitedly, “Do you know how excited I was when I saw Grandma on the TV screen? I jumped up and down and immediately called your uncle over to watch with me. It was so exciting to watch! Grandma is really amazing. Tomorrow I must dress up nicely and go out, I can’t let my in-laws down.”

Tang Mingli couldn't help but laugh again upon hearing this.

"It's not that exaggerated, it's just being on TV."

"Just on TV? My God, not just anyone can be on TV. After tonight, half of Guangcheng will know about you."

That's true," Tang Mingli frowned slightly.

She only appeared on TV for about ten seconds tonight.

Li Hong chattered on and on, and finally asked Tang Mingli to help her convey her congratulations to the old lady.

After hanging up the phone, Tang Mingli explained to her in-laws, "My aunt saw us on TV and got quite excited."

Mrs. Fu chimed in, "That's normal. I would be very excited if I saw your aunt on TV too."

Upon hearing this, everyone immediately thought that other relatives would likely be surprised and excited as well.

Realizing what this would bring, Madam Fu and Old Madam Fu exchanged a helpless glance.

The phone rang again the next second.

Now no one guessed it was Fu Ci, but rather which relative or friend it might be.

Madam Fu took a deep breath and volunteered, "I'll take them."

The call connected, and just as I had guessed, it was indeed a relative calling.

Faced with the compliments and praise on the other end of the phone, Madam Fu blushed.

However, after receiving such calls and hearing such compliments one after another, Madam Fu gradually became immune to them.

After answering five phone calls from relatives in one go, Mrs. Fu was a little tired and joked, "Do you think we should just unplug the phone line tonight?"

No sooner had he finished speaking than the phone rang again.

Mrs. Fu is almost overwhelmed by the sound of the telephone ringing.

Tang Mingli could tell that her grandmother was indeed tired, so she took over the work.

“I’ll pick you up. If your relatives ask, just say you’re already asleep.”

Both Mrs. Fu and Madam Fu thought it was a good idea.

Tang Mingli took a deep breath and, with a look of grim determination, forcefully picked up the microphone.

"Hello."

The tone of his voice was heavy and serious, startling Fu Ci on the other end of the phone. He asked with concern, "What's wrong?"

Hearing her husband's voice, Tang Mingli breathed a sigh of relief and quickly told the others, "It's Fu Ci."

The three elders immediately breathed a sigh of relief.

Tang Mingli immediately explained to her husband, "It's nothing, it's nothing. I just received several phone calls from relatives and friends tonight, and I'm a little tired."

"It's not a holiday today, why are so many people making phone calls?"

Tang Mingli didn't answer, but asked in surprise, "You forgot?"

"What have I forgotten?" Fu Ci tried hard to recall, a sense of unease rising in his heart.

I've been so busy lately, especially these last few days, running around all the time because of the house.

Her husband's words made Tang Mingli certain that he had indeed forgotten.

She sighed and helped him remember: "Today is Saturday."

When Saturday was mentioned, Fu Ci suddenly remembered and said with annoyance, "I really forgot."

Tang Mingli understood her husband's frustration.

Unlike in later years, if you miss a TV program now, you miss it and there's no website to find the video and watch it again.

Unfortunately, some programs are rebroadcast, but this one isn't.

In other words, missing out on Fu Ci was a truly and utterly missed opportunity, and one can only imagine the frustration it caused.

She comforted her husband, "It's okay, it's just an interview, and you already knew the content beforehand."

"How can it be no problem?" Because of his negligence, he missed his family members appearing on television.

Fu Ci, feeling annoyed but also a little aggrieved, said, "I've been so busy lately."

Hearing that aggrieved tone, Tang Mingli's nose tingled with emotion.

"I know you've worked hard."

To comfort her husband's wounded heart, she quickly pulled her daughter over.

"Come here, baby, it's Daddy on the phone."

Upon hearing that it was her father, Fu Yu immediately reached out her chubby little hand to grab the microphone.

But her hands were too small; she couldn't hold on at all without Tang Mingli's help.

Fu Yu pressed her little face against the microphone and called out "Daddy" in a childish voice over the phone.

That one word, "Dad," truly healed all of Fu Ci's bitterness, regret, and grievances in an instant.

"Baby, do you miss Daddy?"

Fu Yu answered with great effort: "Yes."

The old father's heart melted at the sound of that heartfelt cry.

However, the next second, Fu Yu threw out a big problem in a childish voice.

"Dad, how did you manage to fit Grandma, Grandma, and Mom into the TV?"

Fu Ci paused for two seconds, unable to answer, and could only resort to delaying tactics.

"Honey, this is a bit complicated to explain. Daddy's been busy all day and I'm a little tired. How about I explain it to you when I get home?"

Fu Yu was also well-behaved and didn't make a fuss about needing to know the answer immediately.

"Okay, then I'll wait for Dad to come back."

"Good girl."

While praising his daughter, Fu Ci thought to himself that he needed to find some time to learn a little about the principles of television imaging.

However, when the daughter sweetly said, "I know Daddy is the best,"

Fu Ci, who was being adored by his daughter, was startled.

No, he had to find a time to understand this issue properly and then explain it to his daughter when he got back.

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Author's Note: I'd like to give out some red envelopes in this chapter [Let me see!]