Chapter 22 High-Salary Recruitment
Inside the makeshift meeting room set up in a simple tent at Chang'an Banquet, Ye Lu was squatting on the ground adjusting the angle of the reflector, with several unopened boxes of props piled up beside him. The assistant director approached, holding the clapperboard in his hand, his face full of anticipation.
Old Meng: "Director Ye, I need to discuss something with you—we only have five or six days left to finish filming our scenes here, and the sets in Hengdian are all booked. How about... we wrap up a day early? It's so hard to even buy beer in this godforsaken place!"
Ye Lu rubbed his aching neck and glanced at the bare mountain peaks outside the window: "Okay, anyway, that main scene will be filmed tomorrow, and the rest are just some empty shots." Suddenly his phone vibrated, and the screen displayed the caller ID of "Huang Yifei's agent, Brother Lin"!
Ye Lu answered the phone: "Hello? Brother Lin? What's up?"
On the other end of the phone, the agent, Brother Lin, spoke with professional enthusiasm: "Director Ye! I apologize for bothering you! I am Huang Yifei's agent, Lin Xiang. Ms. Yifei read your script for 'Chang'an Banquet' and really wanted to play the role of 'Grandma Zhou'—the old lady who sells wild mountain products in the play. She only has three scenes, but she said, 'Such a good play, I have to act it myself!'"
Ye Lu's hand trembled, and the reflector crashed to his feet with a "bang": "Huh? Huang...Huang Yinghou?!" He turned to look at the assistant director who was setting up the stunt doubles' wires, and the other man's eyes widened as well.
"Brother Lin, are you sure you're not mistaken? We're just a small, run-down production team with an investment of a few million; we even rent the studio..."
Lin Xiang chuckled: "Director Ye, Sister Yifei personally reviewed the storyboard you sent—she said that 'the dishes embody intangible cultural heritage, which is precisely the traditional culture she loves.' She not only wants to act in it, but also said she'd like to invite a friend to help you write a theme song that fits the storyline."
Ye Lu swallowed hard. "Wait... she's really not joking? Our place is in a remote area... does she have any dietary restrictions? Our kitchen is small, and the chef is only good at making boxed lunches..."
Lin Xiang: "Sister Yifei said she has no dietary restrictions and will eat anything Su Yingxue makes. That's settled! We'll come over at noon."
After hanging up the phone, Ye Lu stared at the "Call Ended" message on the screen for three seconds, then suddenly slapped his thigh and rushed into the conference room.
Ye Lu shouted in a booming voice: "Everyone assemble! Emergency meeting!"
The makeshift canteen/meeting room was crowded with prop masters, makeup artists, and lighting technicians on plastic stools. Su Yingxue, wearing an apron, stood on the outskirts of the crowd, clutching half a handful of chopped scallions in her hand.
Lighting technician Xiao Wang rubbed his hands excitedly: "Director! Really? Actress Huang is coming? I saw her from afar at the film festival last time! Her aura! Stronger than the wind on this mountain!"
Makeup artist Ah Zhen flipped through old photos on her phone: "I remember when she won the Best Actress award twenty years ago, her film 'Spring Dream' broke so many people's hearts... Director Ye, she would have been absolutely amazing as 'Grandma Zhou'!"
Stuntman Zhang scratched his head: "Well... won't she find the equipment too rudimentary when she comes to this shabby place to film? We even borrowed our lighting panel..."
Su Yingxue raised her hand: "Director, I have a practical question... does she... does she have any dietary restrictions? Today I'm planning to make braised prawns, with pork rib and lotus root soup and stir-fried baby bok choy..."
Ye Lu sighed, "That's the problem! Sister Lin said she doesn't have any dietary restrictions, and she likes everything you make!"
The crowd erupted in uproar.
Suddenly, Shen Yu and Zhu Xiaoxiao were heard whispering in the corner.
Shen Yu nudged Zhu Xiaoxiao: "Hey, do you know that last time Actress Huang asked Su Yingxue about cooking? She even had her assistant ask for Su Yingxue's previous recipes..."
Zhu Xiaoxiao blinked: "Could it be... that Su Yingxue is Huang Yinghou's illegitimate daughter?" She suddenly realized something. "No, no, I heard Brother Lin mention that his young master has anorexia, he vomits everything he eats..."
Shen Yu's eyes widened: "Wait! Isn't Huang Yinghou's phone wallpaper a picture of a young man?" She lowered her voice: "Could it be that she's trying to find a partner for her son? Su Yingxue is so capable, she can cook and act too."
As they talked, they glanced at Su Yingxue's apron...
Outside the door, assistant Xiao Liu suddenly pushed it open and shouted, "The movie queen's car is here!"
A group of people quickly gathered around. Su Yingxue pulled Xu Qingqing, who wanted to watch the excitement, saying, "Sigh, sigh, cooking is the priority. We'll come see the movie queen later!"
Huang Yifei had just stepped out of the car. Everyone looked up in unison, and someone exclaimed in a low voice, "Best Actress! It really is a Best Actress!"
Huang Yifei raised her hand to block Ye Lu from directly in front of her, and was about to say something polite when her gaze locked onto the direction of the kitchen: "Enough with the small talk. I've read the script, we'll check the lighting later."
Then she walked straight to the kitchen and called out, "Which of you is Su Yingxue?"
The prop master pointed to the kitchen: "There it is! They're making shrimp!"
Huang Yifei strode through the crowd, while Ye Lu's "welcome speech" stuck in his throat, his face turning green.
In the makeshift kitchen outside the film studio, prawns sizzled in an iron pot, oil bubbling everywhere. Su Yingxue stood on tiptoe, reaching for a jar of chili peppers on the shelf, the pot emitting a rich aroma. Suddenly, a tall figure burst in—Huang Yifei, dressed in a simple white shirt and jeans, with sharp features and an imposing presence despite being nearly fifty, followed by an assistant carrying a script.
Huang Yifei stood at the kitchen door, staring at Su Yingxue's back as she stir-fried shrimp. His voice was clear and bright: "Su Yingxue, would you be interested in cooking for us? The monthly salary is 50,000." He paused, then added: "If you can cure my son's anorexia, I'll give you an extra 100,000 bonus."
The entire room fell silent. Ye Lu's lips twitched violently as he grabbed Huang Yifei's sleeve.
Ye Lu's face flushed red: "Sister Huang! The first thing you said when you came over was to poach my chef?!"
Su Yingxue's hand trembled, and she almost dropped the spatula. Turning her head, she replied, "Huh? But... I only know how to cook simple home-style dishes..."
Huang Yifei stared into her eyes earnestly: "My son loves home-cooked meals." Turning to Ye Lu, she said, "Director Ye, your crew needs a resident chef? I'll pay double the market price, and I'll help you find another chef!"
The surrounding extras erupted in commotion.
Xiao Zhang, who was playing a beggar, waved his hand exaggeratedly: "Su Yingxue, how could we live without you! We've only been enjoying a few good days!"
Xiao Wang, who plays a palace maid: "That's right, your cooking is the most delicious in this remote mountain village!"
Ye Lu quickly waved his hand in refusal: "That won't do! We signed a contract! Su Yingxue is our crew's dedicated chef, we can't just poach her like that!"
The assistant director, looking at the goddess-like actress Huang, suddenly added a witty remark: "Director, didn't you say back then that you didn't know if it would taste good, and only paid me for a month as a temporary worker? That month is almost up."
The atmosphere froze instantly upon hearing this. Huang Yifei, however, laughed, a hearty laugh tinged with a hint of slyness.
Huang Yifei: "Oh, Director Ye, so Miss Su is a temporary worker!" He turned to look at Su Yingxue, his eyes sincere. "Well then, I won't poach her"—he took a contract from his assistant. "But I sincerely invite you to come to my house as a guest chef for a month. The monthly salary is 50,000, room and board included, plus a 100,000 'anorexia cure bonus'."
She blinked: "Just consider it a favor to me. My son, Chuan'er... he really needs a 'chef' like you."
Su Yingxue hesitated for a moment, then turned to look at Ye Lu, who scratched his head, about to speak.
Huang Yifei added, "If it's inconvenient for you, that's okay. The driver is on his way and should arrive in about an hour. I'll have him come over and have a boxed lunch first. I'll still pay for it!"
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