Chapter 256 Another One
During the Qingming Festival, the water towns in the south of the Yangtze River are covered with drizzles and a thin layer of fog covers the sky and the earth.
Liu Shishi stood gracefully in the picturesque haziness, wearing a simple and elegant moon-white cheongsam.
The fabric is embroidered with light blue orchid patterns, just like a solitary orchid in a valley. The outfit appears solemn yet elegant.
Her jet-black hair was tied into a low bun, pinned with an ancient and lustrous white jade hairpin, and two small pearls hung on her earlobes. Her whole body exuded a gentle temperament.
Song Ci stood beside her, wearing a dark gray suit, looking tall and steady.
The two walked side by side, along the path paved with bluestone slabs wet by the drizzle, following the elders of the Song family, and slowly walked towards the ancestral hall.
The Song Family Ancestral Hall is located in a spacious courtyard, with blue bricks and black tiles, and is simple and heavy.
The vermilion lacquered door is inlaid with copper nails, and a plaque is hung on the lintel, with four large gold-plated characters "Song Family Ancestral Hall" inscribed on it. The strokes are powerful and majestic.
Two stone lions stand majestically in front of the gate, as if guarding this ancient building.
Many clansmen, young and old, men and women, had already gathered in front of the ancestral hall, bustling with people.
Song Ci's clan members in his hometown of Suzhou are prosperous, with four generations living under one roof. Today's ancestor worship ceremony is particularly lively, with a strong family atmosphere everywhere.
Inside the ancestral hall, incense was burning and candlelight was flickering. In the hall, tablets of the Song family's ancestors were enshrined in neat rows and looked solemn and dignified.
As the future eldest daughter-in-law and clan member, Liu Shishi had a special status. As soon as she appeared, she attracted the attention of many clan members.
Several older women came forward to greet her, their words full of respect and intimacy.
Liu Shishi smiled and responded softly. Her manners were proper, gentle and elegant, showing her demeanor as a great person, which made people feel good about her.
The ancestor worship ceremony began on time at nine o'clock in the morning.
As the patriarch of the Song family, Grandpa Song began by reciting the sacrificial text.
"On the auspicious day of Qingming Festival, the descendants of the Song family respectfully offer wine and food to the spirits of their ancestors:
A tribute to the Song family for their long-lasting blessings and ancestral virtues.
The second sacrifice is for the prosperous Song family and its business.
The Song family has a pure family tradition and outstanding virtues. "
After his grandparents, father and mother offered incense, Song Ci, as the eldest son, followed closely with his fiancée Liu Shishi. They knelt respectfully in front of the ancestral tablets, held up a stick of incense in both hands and prayed in a low voice.
Liu Shishi followed closely beside Song Ci, walking lightly and with a dignified posture. She took the incense handed to her by the maid, and gently inserted it into the incense burner together with her fiancé. Then she bowed deeply, silently expressing her respect and prayers for the ancestors of the Song family in her heart.
The clan ancestor worship ceremony in the Jiangnan region is complicated and solemn. From burning incense, toasting to bowing, every step must be carried out strictly in accordance with ancient etiquette.
After the eldest branch, members of each branch came forward to pay homage in turn. The ancestral hall was solemn and orderly.
Liu Shishi stood beside Song Ci, her eyes scanning every detail in the ancestral hall, paying special attention to the actions of her grandmother and future mother-in-law Liu Xiaoxian, feeling filled with emotion.
Soon she will shoulder the heavy responsibility of the Song family like her two elders, give birth to children for Mr. Song, pass on the descendants, and become the backbone of this big family.
After the ancestor worship ceremony, the sky was still gloomy, a characteristic of the Qingming Festival, and the air was filled with the smell of moist earth and the scent of burnt incense, candles and paper money.
Liu Shishi and Song Ci returned to their temporary residence in their hometown, an elegant attic courtyard with pavilions, terraces, pavilions and waterside pavilions, which has the charm of the Jiangnan water town.
"Grandpa and grandma will stay here for a while. Mom and dad will stay with us for one more night and will go back tomorrow morning." Song Ci said as he went into the house and started packing.
They were mainly local specialties given by the elders. Although he had everything he needed in Peking, it was difficult to refuse the sincere kindness of the clan elders.
"Master, what's wrong with you?"
Seeing that his fiancée was absent-minded when she returned from the ancestral hall, and just sat quietly by the bed after coming back, not as lively and agile as before, Song Ci sat down beside her, holding Miss Liu's soft hand, with a look of concern.
Liu Shishi came back to her senses and shook her head slightly: "I'm fine, just thinking about something." But her eyes were still a little wandering, as if she was still immersed in her own thoughts.
"What are you thinking about? Is there something on your mind?"
Miss Liu hesitated to speak, but under her fiancé's inquiring gaze, she answered truthfully:
"Just now, several elders in the clan urged me to give you a son. They said that the eldest branch of the Song family is the legitimate heir, but now it is only one heir. If I don't give birth to a son, the eldest branch of the Song family will be extinct."
After hearing this, Song Ci kissed his fiancée's beautiful cheek softly and comforted her in a gentle voice: "It's a different era now. Men and women are equal now. I like both sons and daughters. It's fine to let fate take its course when it comes to children. There's no need to force it."
Liu Shishi still shook her head, her expression solemn, with an inexplicable trace of anxiety: "Although gender equality is promoted now, in the minds of the older generation, boys are still favored over girls.
If I don't give you a son in the future, your people will look down on me. Besides, your assets worth hundreds of billions will have to be inherited by someone in the future, and your daughters will eventually get married."
Song Ci wanted to say that his daughter could also inherit the family business, but seeing that Miss Liu was so stubborn and was struggling with herself, he could only agree with her and said, "Shibao, let's have two children in the future, a boy and a girl, and everything will be smooth and happy."
Liu Shishi looked innocent and nodded seriously: "One son and one daughter are fine, but we have to have a son after all."
After saying this, he clasped his hands together, closed his eyes, and prayed sincerely, muttering to himself: "Song's ancestors, please bless me, Liu Shishi, to give Song Ci a son as her first child, so that the Song family's eldest branch can be passed on smoothly."
Song Ci sighed helplessly, not knowing what kind of magic potion those ignorant women in the clan had fed Xiao Qingmei.
The couple are still young and are not in a hurry to have children, so there is no need to rush into these things now.
He felt that his fiancée was a little crazy, and he had to help her get out of her chaotic thoughts.
"Shishi, what's the point of just praying? If you want to have a son, you have to take action."
"Ah!" With a cry of surprise, Liu Shishi was thrown onto the bed by Song Ci. Her cheeks flushed. She turned her face slightly to avoid the burning gaze of her fiancé and responded softly:
"Yi Yi, I want to give you a son, but not now. Can I wait a few years?"
Song Ci chuckled and kissed Miss Liu's earlobe gently. The warm breath she exhaled made her tremble: "If you don't give birth now, don't think about these things."
The laughter echoed in the room, breaking the original dullness and successfully helping Master Liu get rid of her anxiety.
At this moment, Tangren's No. 1 sister was unfortunately unable to attend the "Myth" audition due to attending the Qingming Festival to worship ancestors, and the audition for the leading female role was in full swing.
The crew's open audition was held at the headquarters of Eastern Film Emperor Films, where most of the female stars in the entertainment industry gathered.
Some wore gorgeous gowns, while others chose simple and elegant outfits. Everyone's eyes were shining with desire for the role, wanting to be noticed by the interviewer and soar to the sky.
As the artistic director of the drama, Cheng Long sat on the jury together with director Jiang Jiajun, producer Lu Chao and producer Zhang Zhao.
There were thick resumes and scripts in front of them, and a few cups of cold coffee on the table.
As soon as the audition began, the atmosphere was extremely intense. The actresses took turns to go on stage, showing off their talents and presenting themselves. Everyone tried their best to impress the judges and get the role within just a few minutes.
As time went by, the judges gradually showed signs of fatigue. After a long period of high concentration and repeated judging, a trace of fatigue appeared in their eyes.
Cheng Long rubbed his temples. The number of people who came to audition today was beyond his expectations. "The girls in front of me are all very good, but I always feel like they are still a little short."
Director Jiang Jiajun nodded hurriedly. He represented Emperor Entertainment, and Artist Director Huo Wenxi had already greeted him before he came.
He was trying his best to help Bai Bing, who had not yet had her turn to audition, to get the leading female role. At this moment, Jackie Chan said that the female artist who had auditioned before was not good enough, which was exactly what he wanted.
"Don't worry, I think there will be good candidates later." Zhang Zhao's steady voice came out. He had a lot of ideas about this audition, and the person he supported had not appeared yet.
The audition lasted from 8:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. After a few hours, the judges kept watching and commenting, their eyes began to wander, and the pens in their hands unconsciously moved across the resumes.
At this moment, the door of the audition room was pushed open again, and a tall figure appeared at the door. The auditionee was wearing a simple black dress, with long hair draped over her shoulders, and a confident and calm smile on her face.
Cheng Long sat up slightly, glanced down at the resume, and whispered the girl's name: "Bai Bing."
The four interviewers understood clearly that this was the female candidate strongly recommended by Emperor Entertainment Group. A hint of interest flashed in their eyes, and they wanted to see how good this girl was.
Bai Bing stepped forward, bowed slightly to the judges, and then began to perform as requested.
She has a solid foundation in delivering lines, her pronunciation is clear and powerful, and her emotional expression is delicate and subtle. Especially in a martial arts scene, her movements are clean and neat, and very brilliant. It is obvious that she has done sufficient preparation.
After the performance, there was silence in the room. Cheng Long and the other three judges looked at each other and saw satisfaction in each other's eyes.
Jiang Jiajun took the lead in applauding and praised Bai Bing highly, wanting to take advantage of the opportunity to convince the three men to choose Bai Bing as the leading female role.
But Zhang Zhao and Lu Chao just listened quietly and never expressed their opinions. They were satisfied, but whether to use infantry or not was another matter.
Chenglong is also an old fox. He knows that the final decision is made by a few investors and he is just a figurehead, so he will never express his opinion lightly.
After waiting for a long time, Jiang Jiajun did not get any positive response from the other judges. He waved his hand helplessly, signaling Bai Bing to leave and wait for news: "Next one."
As the staff continued to call out numbers, another pure and beautiful girl walked into the audition room gracefully.
The little girl was very polite, her smile was very sweet, and her voice was clear and pleasant: "Hello, teachers. My name is Jingtian."
Before Jiang Jiajun and Zhang Zhao had time to speak, the taciturn Lu Chao spoke first: "Jingtian, right? Tell me about your understanding of the role of the heroine, Princess Yu Shu."
Jingtian was not at all nervous. He seemed to have a plan in mind and spoke eloquently, analyzing Princess Yushu's personality traits, growth background, etc.
"Well said!" Lu Chao nodded and praised seriously, then turned his eyes to Zhang Zhao, saying meaningfully: "Mr. Zhang, what do you think of Jingtian?"
Zhang Zhao was slightly surprised, and then he realized that the person behind Jingtian not only spent a lot of money to deal with Tengda Culture, but also settled Dongying at the same time.
That's why producer Lu Chao kept talking to her and giving hints to himself.
Recalling that three days ago, Jing Tian’s agent Sister Zhao contacted him, hoping that Tengda Culture could help Jing Tian get the leading female role in "The Myth" and offered a condition that he could not refuse.
The other company, Xingguang Canlan Company, directly paid a 30% premium to acquire Tengda Culture's investment share in the drama, and will also split the future profits of the drama 50-50. That's how rich they are.
It was a sure-win deal, and Tengda Culture had no role requirements for the drama, so Zhang Zhao naturally agreed.
But he also cautiously stated to Sister Zhao in advance that if the other two producers, Emperor Entertainment Group and Dongying Film, rejected Jingtian, he would be powerless.
Sister Zhao said at the time that as long as Zhang Zhao tried his best, it would be fine. Now it seems that the other party has obviously made preparations for both situations. While contacting Tengda Culture, he also reached an agreement with Dongying.
Zhang Zhao cleared his throat and made his position clear: "Jingtian has a great image and temperament, and she understands the role very well. I think she is completely suitable for the role of the leading actress."
Jiang Jiajun was stunned. He never expected that things would take such a sudden turn for the worse. He, the director, hadn't even said a word yet, but for no apparent reason, these two people were acting in a double act.
Zhang Zhao and Lu Chao sang the same tune and cooperated well. Anyone with a discerning eye could see that they were both trying to promote Jing Tian.
Jiang Jiajun was unwilling to compromise like this, and looked at Cheng Long with a pleading look: "It's not enough to just talk about it on paper, we still have to see how well he performs. Teacher Cheng Long, what do you think?"
Seeing that Tengda Culture and Dongying have reached an agreement, Chenglong will not be foolish enough to wade into this muddy water and offend people for no reason.
So he turned a blind eye and said ambiguously: "Acting skills are easy to talk about. Young people can hone their skills more."
Lu Chao took advantage of the situation and made the decision directly and forcefully: "Okay, since Teacher Chenglong has no objection, Mr. Zhang, Director Jiang, let's just decide on the candidate."
Zhang Zhao naturally followed suit and said, "I think it's okay! Director Jiang, it's been a long time, and there is only one suitable person. There is no need to hesitate any longer. Decide on the candidate as soon as possible and put your mind at ease."
"Okay, since both Mr. Lu and Mr. Zhang think she's suitable, let's choose her as the female lead, Yu Shu."
Jiang Jiajun smiled bitterly. The other two producers were in the same boat, but Chenglong stood by and watched. It was difficult for him to stand on his own and it was difficult for him to bring up Bai Bing again.
The most crucial thing is that Emperor Entertainment’s support for Bai Bing is not firm enough, otherwise it would not have held this audition.
When Jing Tian heard this, he smiled happily and said, "Thank you, teachers."
Zhang Zhao looked at the happy little girl and felt that this scene was familiar. He seemed to see his chairman's wife in the same situation back then.
Under the spotlight, with the power behind him, he easily won important roles, making half of the female artists in the entertainment industry serve as his foil.
Thinking of this, I can't help but feel sad for all the female stars. There is not enough resources in the domestic entertainment industry, Shishi, and now there comes Tian Tian who also has a strong background. It's really hard for those female artists who have prepared seriously and are full of expectations.
(End of this chapter)
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