Chapter 45 (Variety Show)
Seeing that Shen Qingtang was about to refuse, Su Rong also advised, "Qingtang, just accept it. These are what you deserve." It's just a few property deeds.
If someone told her that a few property deeds could restore Guan'er's legs and allow her to stand up again, she wouldn't feel the slightest bit heartache giving them away, even if the number were doubled.
Qin Sumiao also smiled and said, "Sister Chen, Grandma has a lot of assets, so you can rest assured and accept them. If you want to lease or sell these properties, you can ask me to manage them."
Seeing that everyone insisted, Shen Qingtang had no choice but to accept it.
Old Huang smiled and looked at Shen Qingtang with utmost sincerity, inviting him, "Young friend Shen, what are your thoughts on our Chinese Medicine Association?"
Although the question was somewhat abrupt, Shen Qingtang answered honestly, "It's pretty good." Her words weren't just flattery. The Chinese Medicine Association brings together Chinese medicine doctors from all over the country, and not only regularly organizes people to go to mountainous areas to provide free medical consultations for people over sixty, but also visits some impoverished farmers during holidays.
Even junior TCM practitioners can ask questions in the forum, connect with experienced practitioners, and enjoy a harmonious exchange atmosphere.
The cost of her last flight to Yancheng was reimbursed by the Beijing Traditional Chinese Medicine Association, so she had a good impression of it.
Hearing Shen Qingtang's words, Huang Linli nodded in satisfaction and said, "I wonder if you would be interested in becoming the vice president of the Chinese Medicine Practitioners Association? The next general meeting is coming up, and I would like to recommend you."
Upon hearing this, Sun Yun widened his eyes and said, "Master, this is probably not in accordance with the rules, is it?" According to the previous regulations, if one wants to run for the vice president of the general association, one must first be a member of the association and serve as the president of a branch association for three years before being eligible to decline.
Huang Linli shook his head and said, "We should recruit talents without being bound by conventions. Don't let these rules and regulations limit us." He paused for two seconds and said, "Moreover, this was not something I initiated alone."
Sun Yun's lips twitched as he finally understood what the other party meant. In layman's terms, Shen Qingtang was simply too outstanding, and if they didn't act quickly, they would become members of another association.
Moreover, there are more than just one or two old men with this idea.
Although Huang Minmi didn't understand the intricacies of the situation, she knew that becoming the vice president was a good thing. So she looked at Shen Qingtang and kept persuading her, "Sister Shen, please agree. Once you become the vice president, I can attend your classes for free every month, and then I'll be able to treat more patients."
Each vice president is required to teach a medical course, either in person locally or online if the location is outside the local area. This high-caliber curriculum is what makes countless TCM practitioners willingly join the TCM Association and pay hefty membership fees.
Qin Guanlan also encouraged her, "Qingtang, you can give it a try."
Shen Qingtang nodded and looked at Huang Linli, saying, "Then I'll trouble Elder Huang." In fact, she also wanted to find a successor for the secret technique of the Ghost Doctor's Thirteen Needles. If it disappeared into the long river of history, she didn't know how many patients' treatments would be delayed.
Soon, news that Qin Guanlan was able to stand up again reached Bai Rou's ears.
Known for her good temper, she got so angry that she smashed her two favorite coffee cups in her room.
Looking at the broken glass on the floor, Qin Rongyun gestured to the two trembling maids beside her to quickly clean it up, and said, "Mom, why are you so angry?"
Raising his voice, he said, "Isn't it a happy thing that my brother's legs have been healed?" At the same time, a faint sense of relief rose in his heart.
If that's the case, would the older brother forgive him for the fact that his legs are crippled?
Bai Rou saw through Qin Rongyun's thoughts at a glance. After waving the two maids out, she gave Qin Rongyun a cold look and said, "Xiaoyun, when will you stop being so childish? You've been going against Qin Guanlan at the company these past few days. Do you think he's forgotten? Do you really think he's that magnanimous?"
Hearing this, Qin Rongyun felt a surge of irritation: "It wasn't my idea to join the company in the first place."
"You forced me to go! I don't want to go to the company anymore." Anyway, he couldn't understand those proposals and reports at all, but he accurately sensed the veiled mockery.
Hearing Qin Rongyun utter such childish and irresponsible words, Bai Rou felt nothing but disappointment. Pressing her forehead, where veins were bulging, she threatened, "If you don't want to go, then don't go. And never set foot in the company again."
Qin Rongyun said with a happy expression, "That's great! I'm going back to the entertainment industry."
Bai Rou: "..."
Suddenly, she had the urge to strangle the person in front of her and stuff him back into her stomach.
*
The days passed as Shen Qingtang was successfully appointed as the vice president of the Chinese Medicine Practitioners Association.
Three months later, Qin Sumiao looked at Shen Qingtang who was returning home late, her eyes darting away and her words hesitant.
"Qin Xiaomei, just say what you need to say." Shen Qingtang has been very busy lately. Through the research and development of ancient formulas, she has launched new products such as the Body Strengthening Pill, Vajra Pill, Dragon Elephant Pill, Creation Pill, and Pregnancy Pill. She has also opened acupuncture courses at the General Association and has to teach online classes three times a week.
As her fame grew, many patients traveled long distances to seek her medical help. If Qin Guanlan hadn't called her every day at the same time to remind her to eat, she would have definitely forgotten about it.
Of course, the other doctors at the clinic would also remember to remind him, but it seemed that Doctor Shen would only listen to one person.
So their daily two phone calls became an unspoken rule, and if Shen Qingtang didn't receive one, she would call back to inquire about the situation.
However, this will happen once or twice a week.
At times like this, Qi Yi and Qi Er couldn't help but sigh, "It has to be Brother Qin, he really knows how to date."
Although Shen Qingtang and Qin Guanlan's relationship has not been officially confirmed yet, everyone knows that it is only a matter of time before it is revealed, and they are just waiting for the right moment.
Upon hearing Shen Qingtang's question, Qin Sumiao no longer hesitated and went straight to the point: "Sister Shen, it seems that your family members haven't been doing well lately, and they've returned to China."
Qin Sumiao was attending a class reunion tonight. As usual, she and her classmates reminisced about the cultural landscape of M University, the fun things that happened during their school years, and complained about the local food and the strict professors. Suddenly, someone mentioned that Shen Qinglan seemed to be having a hard time lately.
The overseas Chinese community isn't huge, but it's not small either, and everyone has some impression of Shen Qinglan. Some people study abroad simply because their parents send them overseas to get a taste of the world and enhance their resume; others, like Shen Qinglan, are diligent and ambitious.
Only a minority of students manage to get into the Berriley School of Music at M University through their own hard work.
I heard that this music school is very discriminatory against Chinese people, and it's almost as difficult to get in as to peel off a layer of skin. However, my sister Shen Qingtang tore up my acceptance letter.
Even if bystanders heard about this, they would think the other person was extremely unlucky.
Fortunately, the flu was spreading in the US at that time, and the start of the school year was postponed by a week, so Shen Qinglan had another chance to reprint a copy and successfully enrolled.
She thought she would finally graduate and get a job in her dream band, but unexpectedly, the other party accidentally signed a dual contract, turning her from a violinist in the band into a member of a girl group, still as a dancer.
She seemed to have been plagued by bad luck, constantly being criticized from the moment she appeared on the scene. At the same time, she was also exposed for a series of scandals, including acting like a diva, drunk driving, and profiting from being associated with popular celebrities and their on-screen couples. Many people had a very negative impression of her, which even affected the normal lives of her family.
Her younger brother got into a fight at school to protect her and was expelled. Her parents' jobs were also suspended, and they were forced to take leave.
To make matters worse, seeing Shen Qinglan's career crumbling, her group's manager sold her off cheaply to a domestic entertainment agency. This company wanted to squeeze every last drop of attention out of her, continuously releasing negative information about her in an attempt to generate buzz and then reap the rewards.
Don't assume that only celebrities with massive online followings can monetize their fanbase; entertainment companies can also profit from haters, turning them into a source of organic online traffic. Of course, if this method is used, the artist becomes like disposable fuel—once it's burned out, it's gone.
In better cases, the artist can pay compensation to terminate the contract and leave the industry; in worse cases, they can only drag things out with their management company and never gain their freedom.
Recalling what Qin Sumiao had told her, Shen Qingtang felt as if a heavy stone was pressing on her heart. After a long period of contemplation, she dialed Zhang Xining's number.
"Xining, didn't you say last time that a friend wanted to invite me to a variety show? I can go, but I have one condition."
"I want to bring my sister Shen Qinglan on this show."
*
Inside Sydney International Airport.
Shen Qinglan sat in her chair, watching the passing travelers, and subconsciously pulled her black hat brim down further. Shen Ningyue, wearing the same mask and hat, noticed her second sister's tension and panic, and squeezed her hand tightly, saying, "Second sister, don't be afraid, I will protect you."
Xu Ying handed over a steaming cup of milk, saying, "Xiao Lan, have something to drink first to calm your nerves. Your dad will be joining us soon."
Shen Qinglan blinked, and a tear fell uncontrollably. Her eyes were red and filled with guilt as she said, "Mom, I've dragged you down." If it weren't for her, how could their family's originally happy and peaceful life have been disrupted? She choked up as she said, "Actually, you didn't need to come back to China with me."
Xu Ying shook her head and said, "I returned to China because I couldn't get used to living in the US, so I wanted to go back, and it would also be a good opportunity to take care of you."
Shen Ningyue also craned her neck and said, "Sister, all our school does is feed us steak and potatoes all day long. I'm about to throw up. I want to go back to China and eat Chinese food."
"And..." he blinked and said, "Second sister, I want to be with you, to live with you."
Xu Ying gently patted Shen Qinglan's shoulder and said, "Home is where family is."
The supportive and understanding attitude of her family made Shen Qinglan feel as sweet as if she had drunk a cup of honey water. But this wonderful feeling vanished without a trace after she got off the plane and received her first phone call from her new agent.
Seeing Shen Qinglan's frozen expression, Xu Ying asked with concern, "Xiao Tang, what's wrong?"
"No...it's nothing, they just arranged for me to record a variety show."
"What kind of variety show is it?" Xu Ying's heart jumped into her throat. She knew that there were some large-scale prank variety shows in China that often used all sorts of methods to make female celebrities show skin in order to boost ratings.
Shen Qinglan saw through Xu Ying's thoughts at a glance and shook her head, saying, "It's a regular variety show called 'My Sisters'."
Upon hearing this, Shen Ningyue couldn't wait to express her opinion: "Sister, isn't this variety show quite famous? I heard that they're going to invite my cousin Shen Ruowan too."
Shen Qinglan forced a stiff and pale expression and said, "Perhaps that's why the production team wants me and Shen Qingtang to appear on the show together, to serve as a control group for Shen Ruowan."
Xu Ying hadn't heard Shen Qingtang's name in a long time, and her heart skipped a beat. She really wanted to ask how the other person was doing, but she suppressed the urge and said, "Can we cancel?"
Shen Qinglan shook her head and said with a wry smile, "No, this is a mandatory contract, unless Shen Qingtang is unwilling to participate." But she quickly rejected the idea.
Could someone as ignorant and incompetent as the other party voluntarily turn down such a famous variety show? After saying this, she felt even more regretful that she had so carelessly signed that dual contract.
Seeing her daughter's remorseful expression, Xu Ying patted her head and comforted her, "Since you can't turn it down, then just do your best in the recording. Be nice to Qing Tang, and don't keep arguing on camera."
Shen Ningyue, clinging to a sliver of hope, said, "I've heard that participating in variety shows is the best way to clear your name and gain fans." Her eyes sparkled as she added, "Second sister, maybe you'll become an overnight sensation once it airs."
Upon hearing this, Shen Qinglan simply smiled and said nothing more.
She was no longer a newcomer to the entertainment industry, so she understood that these variety show production teams had a goal of making her famous before the show even aired. As an unknown nobody, she wouldn't get many shots in the edited final cut.
The only few shots he might have are of him arguing with Shen Qingtang, which would be convenient for the production team to promote the show and attract viewers.
In short, despite participating in a well-known variety show, she was nothing more than cannon fodder.
Thinking of this, her forehead started throbbing again.
"My Sisters" is a reality show on Cherry TV that focuses on women's growth and inspiration. It explores and sparks social discussion and reflection by observing and comparing the relationship between three pairs of sisters in a family.
Because the show has always used the format of "celebrity older sister + ordinary younger sister" or "celebrity younger sister + ordinary older sister", it has a certain audience base. It managed to carve out a niche market when various children's variety shows, dating variety shows, and survival variety shows were all on the rise. It was the kind of show whose ratings remained almost the same from the start to the end.
This model of being able to film, broadcast, and generate revenue has allowed "My Sisters" to successfully reach its fifth season.
According to official announcements and spoilers, this season's recording format will undergo a complete transformation, adopting a combination of live streaming and pre-recorded broadcasts. Viewers with time can enter the live stream to watch in real time, while those without time can wait for the full episodes to air a week later.
In the past, the three groups of guests recorded their stories at their own homes, but this year there has been a slight change. I heard that one group will unfortunately be sent to live in the countryside (determined by drawing lots).
Furthermore, it is rumored that top actress Shen Ruowan and national film queen Xiang Ruanxiang will also participate.
The former is well-known among the younger generation, while the latter is a powerful actress who, although nearly 35, is an undisputed national film queen in annual film and television reviews, with an audience spanning three generations.
It's fair to say that the fifth season of "My Sisters" was a hit even before it aired, with over 10,000 people having pre-ordered the show.
Of course, many people speculated about the guest list for the third group. Without exception, viewers believed that all the guests were big names, so when the production team announced the lineup, many were stunned and expressed their bewilderment in the comments section.
—Who exactly are Shen Qinglan and Shen Qingtang?
It was the fangirl who was the most perceptive. She keenly noticed the surname "Chen" and, through an interview clip of Shen Ruowan from a variety show, uncovered her relationship with Shen Qingtang's cousins.
Finally, following the clues, I found Shen Qinglan's information and then, based on the information provided by the program team, I used a VPN to search for it.
It turns out that Shen Qinglan was a member of a mediocre girl group abroad. She wasn't particularly talented and always dragged the group down. She also had a history of being arrogant, drunk driving, and deliberately creating a romantic pairing with other celebrities.
For various reasons, he was abandoned by his original management company and sold the remaining five years of his contract to a small domestic management company.
Upon learning this news, the audience was outraged and questioned the production team why they would allow such a celebrity to appear on the show.
Not only is he low-profile and unknown, but more importantly, his character is also questionable. Did he get in through connections? Why didn't they invite so many suitable female celebrities?
The reactions from Shen Ruowan and Xiang Ruanxiang's fans were even more intense. They felt that having someone like Shen Qinglan on the same show lowered the level and class of their idols, sparking a boycott online and demanding that the guest be replaced.
Seeing this, fans from other groups immediately went to the official Weibo account's comment section to leave messages, frantically recommending their own idols, hoping to seize this opportunity.
So, a seemingly ordinary Weibo post announcing the guest lineup for the premiere somehow managed to garner 100,000 reposts, 200,000 likes, and 50,000 comments, leaving the staff of "My Family Program" completely stunned.
The assistant director frowned so deeply that he looked like he could trap two flies between his brows as he looked at the wave of backlash online.
He looked at the director with a worried expression and said, "Director, do we really have to change the person now?"
In fact, he wasn't optimistic about Shen Qinglan appearing on the show from the start, for reasons that are well-known. Although her pretty face was acceptable, she had too little fame and too many scandals. He had also seen some of her interviews and concluded that she didn't have any talent for variety shows, so she wouldn't bring any extra viewership.
Originally, the guests they selected were a group that brought their own adorable little ones.
But for some reason, the big boss personally called and sent the person over, repeatedly instructing them that if the other party's sister needed anything, they must do everything they could to meet her needs and must treat her with utmost courtesy.
When he heard this, the assistant director almost wanted to twist his ear off. He originally thought Shen Qinglan was the big boss's mistress, but it turned out that she was involved with his non-celebrity sister.
The entertainment industry is truly as chaotic as it's rumored to be.
But if they change the guest now, the original guest's schedule is already full. Where are they going to find a replacement?
Keep in mind, there's only a week left until the show premieres!
Unlike the assistant director's flustered appearance, the chief director looked at the "outraged" comment section with a leisurely demeanor, even taking a sip of chrysanthemum tea and saying with a glint of shrewdness in his eyes: "What's there to change? This is the guest I want."
"The ratings for the first episode will definitely break 1." After all, even negative publicity generates traffic.
Upon hearing this, the assistant director's mouth gaped open as if he were about to swallow an egg. Looking at Shen Qinglan's photo, a hint of sympathy suddenly rose in his eyes.
When the first episode airs... no, when the first episode is broadcast live, this person will probably be bombarded with criticism.
The assistant director's concerns were not unfounded, after all, this is a reality TV show.
In other words, your every move will be magnified by the camera, and among those who are full of malice, whether you are eating and drinking, walking and talking, you will be verbally abused mercilessly.
On the other side, when everyone in the villa heard that Shen Qingtang was going to be on the variety show "My Sisters", their hearts skipped a beat and their eyes were filled with disbelief.
"Sister Shen, are you really going to participate in the variety show? You...you don't need to make such a big sacrifice, do you?" Qin Su Miao paused slightly, feeling a little regretful for telling Shen Qinglan about her recent situation.
Qin Guanlan frowned slightly, revealing his disapproval: "I can have someone negotiate to get Shen Qinglan's management contract for you, and give her some good resources."
“Yes, yes.” Su Rong nodded repeatedly. “I know a lot of screenwriters and program producers. I’ll ask your sister which direction she wants to develop in. I’ll just throw in more money.”
Su Rong's words, spoken with an air of wealth and arrogance, also represent the consistent principles of the wealthy. After all, most things that can be solved with money aren't really problems, and it's hardly worth exposing one's privacy and appearing on television to become the subject of public judgment over such a trivial matter.
Qi Yi and Qi Er also advised, "Sister Chen, your Renxin Medical Clinic is so busy, can you really get away?"
Shen Qingtang blinked and said, "The apprentices who were trained before have all passed the formal examination. Fang Ze's medical skills are not weak. He is already able to handle things on his own. I can let go of the Renxin Medical Hall. I have also recorded the online courses from the General Association in advance."
She understood everyone's concerns and explained, "I can indeed compensate Qinglan by providing her with resources and helping her terminate her contract with her agency. But if she leaves the entertainment industry like this, the stain on her reputation will never be washed away."
Although the original owner hadn't had much in-depth contact with Shen Qinglan, she knew her true nature—she was a well-behaved and sensible child.
Those rumors were obviously untrue, so she wanted to use this variety show to clear her name and clarify things. She was willing to support her no matter what path she chose afterward.
-----------------------
Author's Note: Activating the Variety Show Mode
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