Chapter 43
Seeing that they had decided to register a company, Director Lu smiled broadly and said to Luo Zhengzheng, "President Luo, once you have your own company, don't forget me if you have any script. I'll be there whenever you call."
Among so many investors, he still preferred to work with Luo Zhengzheng. Even Chen Ze had to take a backseat.
Having made so many films, he must have some savings. It was not impossible for him to invest in a movie or TV series himself.
But which truly capable director would finance their own film? It was usually investors vying to fund their projects, which was how they demonstrated their abilities.
Chen Ze crossed his legs, picked up a piece of cantaloupe and ate it. After finishing, he said, "Director Lu, this is going too far. You're always available whenever she calls? Are you not going to take care of our Wanhua Entertainment's productions? You can't just make all the films for Luo Zhengzheng because she has plenty of funding, can you?"
Luo Zhengzheng didn't want to discourage him, but his words were too irritating, so she said, "With Director Lu's current status, I believe that as long as he says he wants to make a movie, plenty of people will invest in it. Why would he lack funds? He chooses to make my movie instead of Wanhua Entertainment's, isn't it because my script is more attractive to him, and your script is too boring?"
Chen Ze really wanted to say "bullshit," but after glancing at Gu Shi beside him, he wisely kept quiet and said, "Do you think your eye for books is better than mine?" Why was that so unbelievable?
Director Lu chipped in from the side, "I only shoot scripts that I like. None of the scripts you have are of interest to me."
Chen Ze became withdrawn. Ultimately it was because the other party didn't like the script on his side.
Seeing his sullen expression, Gu Shi said, "What else did you think it was?"
Chen Ze fell silent, secretly pondering which directors could make the film he was working on. He refused to believe that without Zhang the butcher, people would still be eating hairy pigs.
With the Lunar New Year approaching, Gu Boyuan didn't plan to spend it in the capital this year. Celebrating the Lunar New Year in the capital every year was getting boring, and besides, people came to visit every day. Normally, after a busy year, they just wanted to rest, but the endless stream of guests was getting to him. He said goodbye to his sons and then went on a trip with Ye Li.
With all the elders of the family off on vacation, the house was quiet and deserted. Naturally, Luo Zhengzheng didn't want to stay in the capital for the New Year, so she took her husband and son back to maternal home to celebrate with them.
During Lunar New Year, many young people who work outside the village have returned, making it a lively and bustling place. Every day, villagers came to visit Luo Zhengzheng and took a look at her CEO husband to satisfy their growing curiosity. Gu Shi patiently let them satisfy their curiosity.
Recently, Luo Zhengzheng had a new worry.
Since the premiere of "Home and Country," Yuan Mei called on the whole village to watch it since she knew that the TV series was invested in by her daughter. Every night at eight o'clock, all the villagers, young and old, would sit in front of the TV to watch it. Since Luo Zhengzheng and her partner had built a school and roads for the village, they also wanted to do their part to help the children. It was just a TV series. Anyway, they would watch the TV, so why not watch the TV series that the lass Zhengzheng invested in?
As they watched, they became obsessed with the TV series. Without anyone urging them, they spontaneously and regularly sat in front of the TV to watch it.
When Luo Zhengzheng returned, people would come over from time to time and ask her to spoil the plot.
Not only did the aunties and grandmas in the village ask her to spoil the plot, even Ms. Yuan Mei from her own family would block her every day, asking her to spoil the plot.
Was Luo Zhengzheng someone who would easily abandon her principles? Of course not.
Even with her own mother, she adhered to her principle of not spoiling the plot. The joy of watching a show lies in not knowing what will happen next. That suspenseful feeling was captivating. Knowing the plot in advance would diminish the excitement of watching, and she might gradually lose interest altogether. Of course, she wouldn't ruin her future.
Yuan Mei glared at her and was about to turn hostile: "This lass, tell me. I won't tell anyone else. What's the big deal? You cook dinner tonight. I want to watch TV, not serving."
Luo Zhengzheng felt that Ms. Yuan Mei was being unreasonable. Fine, she’ll cook then. It was not like she couldn't cook.
No matter what she said, even if she goes on strike, she just wouldn't give her any spoilers. Not only will she not give her any spoilers, but she'll also complain about her on VB.
"In my memory, my mom, Ms. Yuan, has always been a gentle, virtuous, and hardworking woman. But this time, bringing President Gu and son home for the Lunar New Year had completely changed my impression of her.
Home and Country is a very good show. Everyone in the country knows it. Ms. Yuan is also watching Home and Country and has encouraged everyone in the village, young and old, to watch it together. I’m deeply moved. She is truly a wonderful mother.
When a daughter brings the son-in-law and grandson back to maternal home, we are always warmly received.
Now Ms. Yuan had asked me to tell her the plot of Home and Country’s later episode, but I naturally cannot agree to her request.
She used every trick in the book to force me to agree to her request. First, she tried to please me, and when that failed, she tried to morally blackmail me by contacting everyone in the village. When that also failed, she threatened me.
Therefore, Ms. Yuan turned against me, went on strike and stopped cooking dinner for us, and even stopped caring about the son-in-law whom she had always praised.
I can cook, but my mom, who's obsessed with the TV drama, is like a child. Even her almost three-year-old grandson is more obedient and well-behaved than her, which gives me a real headache.”
She was editing the VB post by her bedside. Gu Shi naturally saw it but didn't look at what she was editing until she finished sending the VB post. After reading it, he left her a comment: "Naughty, be careful that mother-in-law finds out."
Luo Zhengzheng saw his comment and kicked his leg: "Why are you getting involved?"
Gu Shi looked at her and chuckled, "You post VB, so I'll naturally warm up the atmosphere for you."
Luo Zhengzheng looked at him and warned, "You could try to liven things up, but you can't tell my mom about this, or I'm doomed."
She had wanted to complain about Ms. Yuan online for a long time, but it wasn't until today, when Ms. Yuan went on strike and refused to cook for the whole family, that she finally couldn't help but complain about her online.
Gu Shi said with a mocking smile, "I thought you weren't afraid of mother-in-law finding out. Since you're afraid of her finding out, why did you still do it against the grain? Can I say you're quite bold?"
Luo Zhengzheng looked guilty: "...Don't worry, as long as you don't tell her, she won't know."
Gu Shi held his phone and gave her a meaningful look: "Take another look at VB."
Luo Zhengzheng clicked on VB and was immediately surprised: "When did that brat Luo Can start following my VB? He already knows! How long until my mom finds out?" Should she be glad her mom doesn't use VB?
Luo Zhengzheng quickly closed VB, dialed Luo Can's mobile phone number, and after the call was connected, she hurriedly said, "You are not allowed to tell Mom about me complaining about her online, or you're dead."
Luo Can's voice came through the phone: "I'm sitting right next to Mom, and I've already told her. She even saw it herself."
Then she heard Ms. Yuan's voice coming from inside: "Luo Zhengzheng, are you asking for trouble? Criticizing me online?"
Luo Zhengzheng quickly hung up the phone and then looked at Gu Shi pitifully: "Will I be able to have a peaceful New Year?"
Gu Shi patted her head, comforting his wife who was afraid of being scolded by her mom for being naughty: "Don't be afraid, your husband and son will protect you."
Luo Zhengzheng's eyes lit up: "That's right, I have my son as a magic talisman. Whenever mom scolds me, brings her grandson over. How could she bear to scold the mother of such an obedient and adorable grandson?"
Gu Shi: "......" So, was the husband useless now?
Luo Zhengzheng mentally praised herself for her cleverness, saying while looking at her phone, "A son is a mother's overcoat, a mother with a son is a treasure..."
While everyone else was on holiday for the Lunar New Year, Liu Hanyue had taken on a role in a drama series and was still filming on set. When she saw Luo Zhengzheng's VB post, she chuckled: "Auntie is so cute. It's you, the daughter who's causing so much trouble - not even give the spoilers when mom wants it."
Luo Zhengzheng was replying to Luo Can's comment. She had just seen the kid comment under her VB: "Sis, Mom said you're too tight-lipped, she wants to loosen your muscles."
She replied, "Don't worry, I have a treasure."
After replying to Luo Can's comment, she saw Liu Hanyue's comment, replying, "I said I wouldn't spoil anything. Tomorrow I'm planning to play the Empty City Stratagem with Gu Shi."
Liu Hanyue asked her, "What do you mean?"
Luo Zhengzheng: "If she doesn't cook, I'll starve myself and her son-in-law. I'm determined to fight against unfair spoilers to the end."
Liu Hanyue: "Having a daughter like you is too hard for Auntie."
Luo Zhengzheng was about to reply when Gu Shi tugged at her arm: "It's getting late, you should rest."
Luo Zhengzheng checked the time: "It's only a little past nine."
Gu Shi said, "Mother-in-law won't make breakfast for us tomorrow morning, so we need to get up early to prepare it. Let's go to bed early."
Luo Zhengzheng looked at him amusedly: "You don't really think Mom won't make us breakfast tomorrow, do you? Don't worry, she'd rather let me and Luo Can go hungry than let you, the son-in-law, go hungry. You're such a good son-in-law."
Gu Shi pulled her down to lie down: "Even so, let's get up early and try to get lenient treatment. Considering you got up early to make breakfast, mother-in-law might be lenient with you."
Luo Zhengzheng: "......"
Just after six in the morning, Gu Shi turned on the light and woke Luo Zhengzheng. Luo Zhengzheng opened her eyes groggily, picked up her phone and looked at it: "Why did you wake me up so early? Let me sleep a little longer."
This person pulled her to tousle around last night, and then woke her up early this morning. Was he even human?
Gu Shi got up and dressed: "Eat breakfast and then come back upstairs to sleep for a while. Hurry up and get up to cook. I'll help you burn firewood."
Luo Zhengzheng sat up lazily: "I think you want to play with firewood. What kind of hobby is this of yours, liking to start fires?"
Gu Shi glanced at her helplessly. When did he ever like playing with firewood? He was doing something important, helping mother-in-law cook. She made it sound like he was just playing around.
The two of them quietly put on their clothes, turned on the light at the bottom of the stairs, and went to the kitchen.
Luo Zhengzheng looked at the clean and bright kitchen, and blew on her cold hands: "Shall we make some porridge?" After saying that, she washed the pot and started pouring water into it.
Gu Shi had already sat down and started a fire on his own initiative.
After pouring the water, it was time to wash the rice.
While rinsing the rice, Luo Zhengzheng looked up and suddenly found her mom, Ms. Yuan, standing at the kitchen door, which startled her.
She patted her chest and said, "Mom, you scared me! It's not even dawn yet. Why did you get up so early? Go back to sleep."
Little Chengjia was still asleep when her mom got up. If her mom scolded her, what talisman could she possibly have to defend herself?
Yuan Mei glanced at son-in-law before saying to the troublesome daughter with a dark face, "I thought your boldness was very high, but it seems it’s not that much."
Luo Zhengzheng chuckled twice, about to speak, when Gu Shi said, "Mom, she knows she was wrong, so she got up early to make breakfast to apologize to you."
Yuan Mei looked at son-in-law and her expression softened slightly: "Gu Shi, don't speak up for her. Don't I know what kind of person she is?"
Gu Shi looked at Luo Zhengzheng, signaling her to be quick-witted.
Luo Zhengzheng caught his hint and quickly said, "Mom, what Gu Shi said is true. You said you wouldn't cook, and I was afraid you'd go hungry, so I got up early to make breakfast. I was wrong. I shouldn't have complained about you online."
Yuan Mei smiled, looked at her, and said, "Then tell me, did the two main characters in that TV series end up together?"
Luo Zhengzheng: "......"