Chapter 48: The Mysterious Guest Arrives
"Big sister." Shen Qinglan subconsciously answered Shen Qingtang's question, but she froze as soon as the words left her mouth. Looking at the smile on Shen Qingtang's face, she turned her head away embarrassedly and picked up the paper cups next to her to pour herself three or four cups.
The viewers in the live stream chat were also sending comments as they watched this scene.
It seems that Shen Qinglan still considers Shen Qingtang her older sister.
This is the power of blood ties.
[Sob sob, I suddenly felt a little touched seeing this scene.]
Me too. I miss my sister so much. Even though she often bullies me, she also protects me a lot.
[Add one, my sister is also very good to me.]
...
After drinking several cups of "water," Shen Qinglan suddenly felt dizzy and her face flushed.
Strange... This water tastes sweet and sour, and it also smells like alcohol.
Hearing Shen Qinglan's question, the aunt next to her chuckled and explained, "Young lady, this is homemade rice wine from our Xiahe Village. If you like it, drink more. It's just that it has a strong aftereffect, but with your alcohol tolerance, it's definitely not a problem."
Hearing the woman's incredibly hearty tone, Shen Qinglan realized that she had been drinking wine, not water. She couldn't help but smile wryly and said, "But I can't hold my liquor."
The moment she finished speaking, she collapsed onto the dining table with a loud crash, like a plate shattering. Everyone at the table was startled and looked at Shen Qingtang in disbelief, asking, "Doctor Shen, what happened to your sister?"
Shen Qingtang reached out and checked the other woman's pulse, then touched her forehead, and said with an extremely helpless smile, "She's fine, she's just drunk."
However, the other person behaved quite well when drunk. Unlike other drunk people who act crazy, he quietly fell asleep, his face flushed like an apple.
Upon hearing this, the onlookers breathed a sigh of relief.
The woman next to her looked extremely remorseful: "It's all my fault. I didn't stop her at all. I thought she had a high alcohol tolerance because she liked drinking so much."
Shen Qingtang waved her hand and said, "Aunt Li, it's alright." Xiao Hua came over obediently and said, "Sister Shen, let Aunt Li and I help Sister Qinglan go inside to sleep." After all, it was late autumn, and the cold wind was blowing, so it was still quite chilly.
Shen Qingtang patted the little girl's head and said, "Xiaohua, thank you."
The viewers in the live stream were still immersed in the touching story of Shen Qinglan finally calling her "sister" and shedding tears of emotion, but the next second they saw her fall asleep drunk, leaving them feeling both amused and exasperated.
[This alcohol tolerance is a bit too low]
[Haha, this is the rice wine from my hometown, always low in alcohol but strong in the long run. I was tricked into buying it.]
[That's right, thankfully he was just drunk and asleep, and didn't cause any trouble.]
[A person's drinking habits reflect their character, and I feel that Shen Qinglan is actually a pretty good person.]
"Not bad my foot! She was driving drunk!"
[Can't Kuroko open her eyes and see? How can she drive like this? In her dreams?]
[Previously, they spread rumors that the other party was arrogant; now they're spreading rumors that the other party was drunk driving. Luckily, they know the truth, otherwise they would have really misunderstood Shen Qinglan.]
I used to be a fan of Shen Qinglan, and I've wanted to say this for a long time: these marketing accounts are just making things up. Shen Qinglan has never been paired with anyone in a romantic relationship.
[The guy himself is a nobody, so it's uncertain who will drive traffic to the other party.]
[That's right, the production team must have done a background check beforehand. How could they really let someone with bad character appear on the show?]
[Add one, the director is a shrewd old man; he won't let his show risk being censored or canceled.]
...
Before long, all the bad things that had been done about Shen Qinglan were washed away. Unfortunately, Shen Qinglan was fast asleep and had no idea.
This was the first time she had slept so soundly since entering the entertainment industry by signing a dual contract, and her heart was filled with peace and tranquility.
After dinner was almost finished, some people who lived far away helped collect the vegetables and wash the dishes before leaving one after another.
By seven or eight o'clock in the evening, only a few neighboring households remained. Shen Qingtang looked at the twinkling stars in the night sky, blinked, and asked, "Grandma Chen, you said you needed my help with something, can you tell me now?"
Grandma Chen rubbed her hands together somewhat helplessly and asked, "Dr. Chen, do you remember the little girl I brought over earlier?"
"You mean Ah Ling?" Shen Qingtang had a very good memory; she could remember thousands of kinds of medicinal herbs, so naturally she could remember a little child.
This Ah Ling is nearly sixteen years old and has just entered high school. Both her parents have passed away, and she has been raised by her grandmother. Last year, her grandmother unfortunately passed away, leaving her all alone and making life very difficult. However, according to Grandma Chen, she has excellent grades and has always been the top student in her class.
Perhaps due to inadequate nutrition, the girl was thin and lacked energy. Compared to her peers, her eyes were full of defensiveness and vigilance, like a cautious little rabbit that could survive in the jaws of a ferocious beast.
"Not bad." Grandma Chen nodded, very pleased that Shen Qingtang remembered her.
She said, "Ah Ling's grandma is my best friend. Before she left, she told me to take care of Ah Ling. She's a girl with such good grades, she's bound to go to university in the future. But she wanted to drop out of school without saying a word because her family didn't have money. Luckily, my daughter Xiao Hua heard about this and I talked to her homeroom teacher, and we managed to persuade her to stay."
“A few days ago, she told me again that she didn’t want to go to school and wanted to find a factory job. Dr. Shen, you know our family’s situation. We’ve talked to her several times and said we’re willing to help her pay her tuition and fees. The village committee has also organized a donation.”
"But..." As she said the last part, Grandma Chen's expression became more and more distressed: "Sigh, she's just too proud, just like her grandmother. She doesn't want our money, nor does she want to owe us any favors."
Grandma Chen's daughter-in-law, Xu Cuihua, spoke up: "Dr. Chen, A-Ling is a good girl, and we don't want her to go astray. There are plenty of hooligans in those factories. What if she gets scammed? Please find a way to help A-Ling."
Little Flower tugged at Shen Qingtang's sleeve and said in a childish voice, "Sister Shen, please help me."
Shen Qingtang frowned slightly, guessing as she asked, "So... you want me to persuade A-Ling to accept help?"
Grandma Chen and her family all nodded in unison, their eyes sparkling with anticipation.
Shen Qingtang shook her head and said, "I probably can't do it."
Xiao Hua said anxiously, "Sister Chen, why are you unwilling to help? Sister A Ling idolizes you."
Some viewers in the live stream criticized Shen Qingtang for her ruthlessness after seeing this.
Shen Qingtang said, "It's not that I'm unwilling, but Ah Ling's pride is too high, and she won't accept this approach."
How strong can a little girl's pride be? Shen Qingtang didn't know, but she once saw a little girl who, because others thought she was dirty and refused to give her a ride, walked all the way to the city gate by herself without asking for a single word.
Thinking of this example in her mind, Shen Qingtang was slightly taken aback, and a sense of doubt arose in her heart.
Could this be something she saw in that ancient book?
Other viewers in the live stream also realized what was happening and began to defend the streamer.
Sister Chen is right, Ah Ling definitely won't accept this approach.
I knew Sister Shen wasn't such a cold-hearted person.
[As expected of a doctor, he thought of everything so thoroughly.]
Please think of a way to help Ah Ling!
...
Xu Cuihua was stunned for a moment, then looked at Shen Qingtang and asked, "What should we do then?"
Shen Qingtang pursed her lips and said, "Ask Ah Ling if she is willing to come to my clinic as an apprentice. Our Renxin Clinic can cover her tuition and monthly living expenses, but..." Shen Qingtang paused for two seconds and said, "But I also have conditions. Ah Ling can only apply for the major of Traditional Chinese Medicine in the future, and she must come to my clinic for internship every winter and summer vacation."
"This..." Grandma Chen hesitated. She wasn't worried that Shen Qingtang's words were just empty promises, but she didn't know what A-Ling thought.
Shen Qingtang saw through the other party's thoughts and waved her hand, saying, "Grandma Chen, you should ask A-Ling first. These things require mutual consent."
Xu Cuihua nodded in agreement, saying, "I think Dr. Shen's idea is quite good. This is what those big hospitals call targeted talent training, right?"
Shen Qingtang smiled slightly and nodded, saying, "Not bad."
After saying that, she went into the small room inside and patted Shen Qinglan's face, saying, "Qinglan?"
"Hmm? What's wrong?" Shen Qinglan, still half asleep, struggled to open her eyes.
"Let's go home and sleep." Hearing this, Shen Qinglan felt the effects of the alcohol subside a little, yawned, and said, "Okay."
Because Shen Qinglan's eyes were not fully open, Shen Qingtang thought for a moment, then squatted down and carried her on his back.
The starry sky was bright tonight, and the pure moonlight shone on the country road. The sounds of small animals chirping filled the air, and Shen Qingtang walked steadily with each step.
When the audience in the live broadcast room saw this scene, they felt warm in their hearts for some reason, as if a warm current was flowing through their limbs.
How heartwarming!
[It brought tears to my eyes; it reminded me of playing with my sister when I was little.]
Shen Qinglan is so lucky to have such a sister!
She can cook, she has medical skills, and she's also very perceptive.
[Waaaaah, I want a sister like that too!]
[Sister Chen, Sister Chen, do you need a younger sister from Chengdu?]
Sister Shen, Sister Shen, do you need a younger sister from a distant city?
...
Early the next morning, Grandma Chen hurriedly brought Ah Ling to Shen Qingtang and said excitedly, "Dr. Shen, Ah Ling has agreed! She has agreed!"
Shen Qingtang looked at the tall, thin girl with pigtails in front of her, reached out and patted her head, and calmly stated her conditions.
"...If you agree, I will have someone come and draw up a contract with you immediately. If you breach the contract, you will have to pay a compensation of one million. Are you really sure?"
Ah Ling's eyes lit up as she nodded repeatedly, saying, "Sister Chen, I've thought it through, and I'm willing to agree." She had tossed and turned all night, carefully considering the pros and cons.
She had always aspired to be a person who saves lives like Shen Qingtang, so she had no objection to studying traditional Chinese medicine. More importantly, she could also intern at Renxin Medical Clinic during winter and summer vacations, which was a great learning opportunity for her.
She thought that since her grandmother passed away, her fate would be similar to that of the other girls in the village.
They go to work in factories, get married and have children, and stay in this small mountain village forever, never to leave again.
In terms of this kindness alone, it wouldn't be an exaggeration to say that Shen Qingtang was her second parent.
Watching the old woman and the young girl leave happily, Shen Qinglan asked, puzzled, while brushing her teeth, "Sister, why did you set such harsh conditions? Why didn't you just sponsor her directly?"
Shen Qinglan fell asleep last night, and no one knows why.
Shen Qingtang shook her head and said, "Of course I can support her financially, but I can't support her for the rest of her life."
"Give a man a fish and you feed him for a day; teach a man to fish and you feed him for a lifetime."
Hearing this, Shen Qinglan blinked, a feeling of being touched stirred within her, and said, "Sister, you're right."
Upon hearing this, the viewers in the live stream fell into deep thought, especially the passersby who had come from Shen Ruowan's live stream.
As luck would have it, Shen Ruowan's itinerary today was to support charity by visiting the children at the welfare home, and she had also prepared down jackets for winter and delicious brand-name chocolates.
But watching those children skillfully strike a pose with a well-behaved yet stiff smile for the camera, waving the brand logo in their hands, and comparing it with what Shen Qingtang was doing, I felt a pang of unease.
Is this really charity work? Why do I smell the stench of hypocrisy and decay?
What's the difference between those poor, disabled children and those with pretentious personas, designer bags, and luxury cars?
These are all props used only when taking photos.
Charity as seen through the camera lens clearly comes at the cost of crushing children's self-esteem. Are those clothes and chocolates really what they need?
The number of viewers in Shen Ruowan's live stream began to decline sharply, while the number of viewers in Shen Qingtang's live stream rose again, and some people began to spontaneously give gifts, with [user qin] giving the most gifts.
*
"Sister Chen, congratulations on being the top recipient of the most donations in the live stream so far. As a result, you have a special privilege: you can invite a group of guests to visit your courtyard for the next episode."
Upon hearing this, Shen Qinglan couldn't help but show a surprised expression: "What? Our live stream has the highest number of donations?"
She was clearly just a nobody, practically an ordinary person, so how could she receive so many gifts? She was secretly alarmed. Could it be that Shen Ruowan's persona as a popular young actress was also fabricated? Was she really that weak?
She never expected that a wealthy fan would appear in her live stream.
The assistant director replied with a smile, "Qinglan, I can tell you that not only that, but you also have the most online viewers in the live stream."
"Many people enjoy watching your live streams."
After he finished speaking, his gaze involuntarily turned to Shen Qingtang.
While the whitewashing of Shen Qinglan's past scandals has attracted fans to some extent, Shen Qingtang's unique personal charm is the main reason.
Now, "Sister Chen, do you need a younger sister?" has become a popular meme on mainstream short video platforms.
Compared to Shen Qinglan's disbelief, Shen Qingtang maintained a calm expression. She quickly grasped the key phrase "director's assistant" and looked at Shen Qinglan, asking, "Qinglan, which group would you like to invite?"
Without hesitation, Shen Qinglan said, "Why don't we ask the movie queen?" Although she and Shen Ruowan were both members of the Shen family, their relationship was just so-so.
Instead of insisting on inviting them, it would be better to invite a group of award-winning actresses. She had seen their movies before, so it would be a dream come true for her as a fan.
Upon hearing this answer, the assistant director couldn't help but feel a pang of regret, but still nodded and said, "Okay, I'll go and invite them right away."
The chat room erupted in excitement.
Why not invite Sister Xiaowan? Aren't you all family?
[Is it because they're afraid Sister Wan will steal the spotlight and traffic?]
After all, Sister Wan is so beautiful; she's a famous "truth serum."
...
Such comments kept popping up, making the viewers in Shen Qingtang's live stream roll their eyes.
Didn't you all say you're family? Even though we see each other every day, do you really think we'll still be on the show together?
[Hilarious! The number of viewers in Shen Ruowan's live stream isn't even half of what we have here. Who's afraid of whom stealing the traffic?]
Are the fans making such a fuss because they're afraid no one will watch the next live stream?
...After this episode, Shen Qingtang gained countless fans and was also very combative, making Shen Ruowan's fans afraid to speak as arrogantly as before.
As the director predicted, after the first episode was recorded, "My Sisters" achieved a viewership rating of over 1, crushing other variety shows in the same period and showing a clear lead.
Among them are popular children's variety shows and popular romance shows from previous years. After the first episode aired, several sponsors came knocking on the door. In particular, Shen Qingtang's personal segment went viral, and the director couldn't stop smiling.
Who was it that recommended Shen Qingtang, this precious darling, to appear on the variety show? It turns out it was her boss!
No wonder he's a big boss! He certainly has a keen eye for talent.
A week later, the second episode of the variety show was recorded as scheduled.
The citizens Xiang Ruanxiang and her non-celebrity sister Xiang Ying set off in the morning, reportedly with a mystery guest.
The production team is known for creating suspense, and even during the live broadcast, their faces were blurred. However, judging from the respectful attitude towards the Ruan Xiang sisters and their superior, upright posture, they seem to be someone of considerable importance.
Of course, some people scoffed at the production team's approach.
No matter how mysterious or powerful someone is, can they be more powerful than Qin Guanlan, a bigwig in the financial world?
These words immediately garnered a lot of support. It should be noted that Qin Guanlan was not only born into a top-tier wealthy family, but also runs the Qin Group. A few months ago, he successfully secured an oil acquisition deal, and his approach of lowering prices domestically and raising prices abroad was highly praised. People lauded his patriotism and said he had finally gotten his revenge.
The production team ignored the topic, seemingly trying to downplay it, while others jumped on the bandwagon, even climbing into the top ten trending searches.
The three-hour drive meant the live stream content was dull, consisting mainly of traveling, so many people flocked to Shen Qingtang's live stream.
In preparation for this reception, Shen Qingtang asked Shen Qinglan to go to the market and buy some chicken, duck, fish and meat.
Shen Qingtang didn't buy from nearby farmhouses because her reputation as Doctor Shen was so widespread that no matter which farm she went to, they would refuse to accept money and insist on delivering it to her.
Having no other choice, Shen Qingtang had to hand the task over to Shen Qinglan. As a city dweller, Shen Qinglan found the whole thing quite amusing.
Following the menu provided by Shen Qingtang, she not only bought the vegetables but also brought back a small, tan-colored dog that barked loudly enough to be heard for miles around.
Shen Qinglan excitedly boasted, "Sister, when I went grocery shopping, someone gave me a little mongrel puppy. It's only three months old. Isn't it cute?"
Rural dogs typically only have one litter in their lifetime, and most are worthless. Keeping them is a waste of food, so they are either given away or abandoned.
Shen Qingtang turned off the tap, dried her hands, and came out, saying, "Let me check it out first."
Shen Qinglan stared at her with some surprise and asked, "Sister, you can even diagnose animal diseases?"
Shen Qingtang slightly raised her eyebrows and said, "Understanding one thing leads to understanding all things, and the essence remains the same despite all changes." After carefully examining the puppy, she said, "The puppy is very healthy and has no problems."
Shen Qinglan finally relaxed, touching her chest and saying, "That's good."
Shen Qingtang carried the groceries she had bought into the house, while Shen Qinglan found a rope and used some planks to build a makeshift wooden house for the puppy.
She hummed a tune that wasn't in sync with the music, then felt a sudden itch in her hands and looked at the assistant director, asking, "Do you have a violin here?"
A hint of surprise flashed across the assistant director's eyes, but he still nodded and said, "Yes."
A brown violin was quickly handed to Shen Qinglan, who plucked the strings with great interest.
In fact, ever since she entered the entertainment industry and was forced to take on a dance role that she was not good at, the immense psychological pressure has made her indifferent to, and even disgusted with, her once favorite instrument.
Deep down, she even felt that if she hadn't insisted on joining her beloved band, her life wouldn't have become so terrible.
But life in the rural courtyard allowed her to release this enormous psychological pressure.
Many viewers in the live stream began to look down on Shen Qinglan as she played the zither.
[This is a violin, it's heartbreaking to see it ruined like this.]
Although the violin used by the production team was only an entry-level instrument, costing less than 300,000 yuan, Shen Qinglan's actions were still excessive.
Why pretend if you can't play the violin?
[Exactly, is she trying to cultivate a persona of a musically gifted woman?]
………
Of course, some people also refuted and defended it.
[Aren't musical instruments meant to be used? Why are you making such a fuss?]
[Mind your own business, don't you understand?]
The production team has no objections, so what are you complaining about?
We're just online friends at most, can you please not cross the line?
...
Just as the people in the live stream were arguing excitedly, Shen Qinglan had already gotten into position and started spinning.
The familiar and upbeat melody, as smooth as a chocolate waterfall, is breathtaking.
The way she sang and played the violin made her look like a shining piece of gold.
The live stream chat was flooded with comments.
[It's like listening to celestial music, instantly brightening my ears! This is so beautiful!]
Who just said Shen Qinglan can't play the violin? Step forward now!
[This is so good! My mom asked me why I was kneeling to watch the live stream.]
Wow, I'm quite impressed!
【No, sis, if you have that kind of talent, why would you want to be a dancer?】
This is a problem with the company's positioning; even Shen Qinglan can't change it.
Is the company's girl group planner out of their mind? They're not digging out their real gems to use!
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