Great Power Reclamation

Chapter 2911 Taking a video of my goddaughter Park Soo-ah
Ye Yuze found this girl quite interesting; she was innocent and a little silly, but very persistent in pursuing her dreams, and her eyes would light up when she talked about singing and dancing.

She didn't know Ye Yuze's true identity, only regarding him as a somewhat serious but seemingly good-tempered Chinese elder who needed companionship.

Ye Yuze's mischievous side resurfaced. He would occasionally tease her on purpose:

"Xiaoya, you said kimchi is the origin of the universe, so should all your kimchi jars be patented?"

Park Soo-ah would think very carefully and then try to explain:

“No, Mr. Ye, kimchi is just... just a food we really like. Like Peking duck..."

"What about dumplings?"

"...(Looking down and fiddling with his fingers) Mr. Ye, I'm sorry..."

"Haha, just kidding! Come on, I'll take you to eat real Chinese food, and I'll cook it myself!"

Ye Yuze actually borrowed the hotel kitchen and showed her his skills in making simple scrambled eggs with tomatoes and braised pork.

The little girl's eyes widened as she ate, and she exclaimed repeatedly, "Masida! (Delicious)!"

The way they looked at Ye Yuze was practically filled with adoration.

Ye Yuze greatly appreciated this pure worship and dependence.

His children are all grown up and successful in their careers, so he rarely needs to worry about them. He hasn't felt this way of being an elder and being relied upon by the younger generation in a long time.

After spending a few days together, Ye Yuze increasingly felt that this girl was not a bad person at heart, but she was a bit too cautious and timid due to the Korean entertainment industry system, and had lost the liveliness that should be present at her age.

One day after dinner, Park Soo-ah asked very carefully:

“Mr. Ye, tomorrow… will you still need me? The company said that if…” She didn’t finish her sentence before her face turned red again.

Ye Yuze understood; this was a test to see if the "service" was about to expire. He looked at the girl before him, who resembled a frightened deer, and sighed inwardly. That bastard Yang Geyong, always coming up with terrible ideas.

He put down his teacup and said very seriously, "Xiaoya, what do you think of me?"

Park Soo-ah nodded quickly: "Mr. Ye is very good! He's amazing, he can cook delicious food, and he knows a lot..."

"How about I adopt you as my goddaughter?" Ye Yuze said with a smile, making a surprising statement.

“Mo…Morag? (What?)” Park Soo-ah was completely dumbfounded, and she was so shocked that she forgot how to speak Chinese.

“I said, I’ll recognize you as my goddaughter,” Ye Yuze repeated.

"From now on, don't attend any of your company's messy social events. Focus on practicing and learning Chinese. Don't you want to be a star? Your sugar daddy will help you."

Park Soo-ah's mind completely went blank. This plot development was entirely beyond her comprehension. This Chinese tycoon's unconventional behavior was utterly mind-blowing.

The next day, when Yang Geyong and Li Damei called to "inquire" about Ye Yuze's "exchange" progress with great satisfaction, they heard this shocking news.

"What?! Goddaughter?!" Yang Geyong's voice rose eight octaves on the other end of the phone.

"Old Ye, are you getting dementia? I brought you a bed warmer and you turned it into a daughter?! When did you develop this hobby?"

Ye Yuze said irritably into the phone, "Get the hell out of here! Do I need to report to you about what I'm doing? Such a good girl, led astray by you filthy bastards! I'm rescuing a fallen girl... ugh, I mean guiding a lost sheep!"

Li Damei, who was listening nearby, didn't know whether to laugh or cry. She took the phone and said, "Mr. Ye, is this... appropriate? Xiuya is, after all, a JYP trainee..."

"JYP? Is that really that good?"

Ye Yuze said calmly, "Here's what you do: contact them in Samsung's name, or in my name. Tell them I'm interested in Park Soo-ah and want to invest in a movie with her as the lead. It has to be a blockbuster, with excellent production quality, and I've already reviewed the script. Money is not a problem."

Yang Geyong: "...Old Ye, are you going to enter the Korean entertainment industry for the sake of your goddaughter?"

Ye Yuze: "What? Is that not allowed? My goddaughter wants to be a star, so I'm investing in a movie to support her. What's the problem? I'll also let her see how deep the waters are in your entertainment industry. Remember, the script must be positive, and no messy kissing or bed scenes allowed! Anyone who dares to write anything like that, I'll make sure they never get another role!"

Yang Geyong and Li Damei looked at each other on the other end of the phone, completely speechless.

They originally wanted to give Ye Yuze a "gentle haven" gift, but when they opened the gift, Ye Yuze immediately registered her in the household register and even wanted to invest in a "toy" for his new daughter to play with!

This old rascal's thinking is truly like a gazelle's horns hanging from a tree, leaving no trace.

Soon, a small earthquake struck the South Korean entertainment industry. A mysterious new company was established, announcing a huge investment in a multinational blockbuster, and the female lead turned out to be a completely unknown trainee who hadn't even debuted yet—Park Soo-ah!
JYP Entertainment executives were going crazy; this was like a windfall! Their attitude towards Park Soo-ah instantly changed from "a dispensable trainee" to "a precious princess who needs to be worshipped."

Park Soo-ah herself felt as if she were in a dream. Looking at her godfather Ye Yuze, who had a kind face (in her eyes), and then at the thick, well-made movie script in her hand, she felt that her whole life had been turned upside down.

Ye Yuze also specifically instructed: "Act well, don't embarrass me. If you don't act well, you'll have to go back to school obediently."

“Yes! Dad! (Godfather!)” Park Soo-ah bowed deeply with excitement, her Chinese much more fluent this time.
"I will definitely try my best! Casahamida! (Thank you!)"

Ye Yuze nodded in satisfaction and walked away with his hands behind his back. He thought to himself that this investment would probably result in a loss, but it didn't matter; as long as he was happy. He treated it like playing house with children.

When the news reached the United States, Ye Feng called to tease, "Dad, I heard you adopted a goddaughter in South Korea and spent a fortune on her... oh no, for your goddaughter? Does Mom know?"

Ye Yuze laughed and scolded, "Get lost! I'm an upright and honest person! If your mother knew she had such a beautiful Korean goddaughter, she'd be overjoyed! Besides, I'm supporting the Asian entertainment industry and promoting cultural export! Do you understand?"

After hanging up the phone, Ye Yuze looked at the night view of the Han River outside the window, a mischievous smile appearing on his lips.

My trip to South Korea is getting more and more interesting. Even though the kimchi was awful, the whole thing was pretty fun.

At this moment, Yang Geyong was shaking his head and sighing at Li Damei: "It's over. Old Ye's detached and ascetic attitude seems to be a sign of getting old. He can't do this kind of thing anymore."

Li Damei, however, looked in Ye Yuze's direction, her eyes sparkling with a different kind of light.

She seemed to understand this unfathomable "Uncle Ye" even better now. His strength lay not only in his wealth and methods, but also in his way of dealing with things that was beyond the imagination of ordinary people, yet also revealed a certain childlike innocence and open-mindedness.

The news that Ye Yuze was going to invest in a movie to promote his goddaughter Park Soo-ah was like a bomb dropped into the calm Han River, instantly causing a huge stir in the Korean entertainment industry.

Directors, screenwriters, and production companies flocked to the Samsung chairman's office, submitting project proposals and scripts like snowflakes (since Ye Yuze was too lazy to handle them, Li Damei's team temporarily took over the screening).

Yang Geyong, with his penchant for stirring up trouble, even went so far as to instigate Li Damei:
"Let's pick a few of South Korea's top screenwriters and have them write. Let's see what flaws Old Ye can find. It'll be fun!"

Li Damei agreed, so she had her secretary select several famous screenwriters who had won the Baeksang Arts Awards and the Blue Dragon Film Awards, and present their outlines and parts of their scripts to Ye Yuze for review.

The first screenwriter, who specializes in historical dramas, submitted a grand story about King Sejong creating the Korean alphabet. It vaguely mentions that some aspects of the culture were inspired by the Central Plains culture, but the overall tone remains "national self-reliance" and "cultural originality".

Ye Yuze flipped through a few pages, then curled his lip: "Short-sighted, only focusing on their own little corner. And this timid and hesitant manner, wanting to speak but not daring to say it outright, afraid of offending people? Pass!"

The second screenwriter, known for romantic dramas, wrote a love story about a Korean royal chef and a princess from the Ming Dynasty who fall in love through food. While it does mention many ingredients and techniques from China, the core is all about romance, with the food becoming a mere backdrop.

Ye Yuze frowned as he watched: "Am I filming a culinary heritage or a melodramatic romance? This imperial chef is thinking about romance all the time, he can barely hold a spatula! Nonsense! Pass!"

The third screenwriter, a rising star and unconventional talent, took a different approach and wrote a fantasy story:
A modern Korean chef travels back to ancient times and discovers that kimchi, Korean set meals, and even soju were brought by aliens! The story is wildly imaginative and completely avoids any questions about historical origins.

Ye Yuze almost threw the script away after reading it:
"What is this nonsense? Aliens? Why doesn't he just say it's God who taught them? There's no historical basis at all! Pass! Pass them all!" After rejecting the ideas of several top screenwriters, Ye Yuze's patience ran out.

He finally understood that expecting a South Korean screenwriter to objectively narrate the origins of food culture was basically like asking a fox to guard a chicken coop—impossible!

He made a phone call back to China, directly to an old friend in the propaganda department of the military reclamation city:
"Old Zhang, find me a reliable screenwriter. He needs to know history, food, have a penchant for research, and also have a good sense of humor! Hurry up, charter a plane and send him to Seoul!"

A few days later, a screenwriter named Mr. Wang, who wore thick-rimmed glasses, had messy hair, and carried a huge backpack (stuffed with photocopies of various ancient books and snacks), was "airdropped" in front of Ye Yuze.

"Don't worry, Mr. Ye!" Teacher Wang pushed up his glasses, his eyes gleaming with the light of an academic research fanatic.

"I know the history of food culture dissemination, especially between China and South Korea, and China and Japan, inside and out! I guarantee that every detail is historically verifiable and well-documented! It's absolutely positive and will definitely boost our morale!"

Seeing this, Ye Yuze laughed: "That's right! That's the spirit! Just write whatever you want, the theme is—tracing the origins of food, sharing civilization."

"The key point is this: what are the origins of many so-called 'traditional Korean foods,' how were they passed down, and how did they evolve? It needs to be humorous and entertaining, but it can't be made up!"

Teacher Wang slapped his thigh: "Yes, sir! Just you wait and see!"

So, Teacher Wang went into seclusion. His room was filled with photocopies of "Essential Techniques for the Common People," "The Suiyuan Menu," "A History of Chinese Diet," "History of Goryeo," "Annals of the Joseon Dynasty," as well as various local chronicles, agricultural books, and medical books.

He spent his days buried in old papers and takeout (Ye Yuze specially ordered meals for him from Huaxia Restaurant), his eyes bloodshot, writing furiously.

Two weeks later, the first draft of the script was completed, and the tentative title was "A Taste of Fate".

Ye Yuze, Yang Geyong, Li Damei, and the curious Park Soo-ah sat together listening to Teacher Wang explain the plot outline.

Teacher Wang was talking animatedly, pointing at the PowerPoint presentation on the projector (he had even made the PowerPoint!):

"Act One: During the Silla period, envoys to Tang China brought back the technique of steaming cakes from China, which evolved into today's rice cakes! See, it's recorded in the Tang Huiyao!"

"Act Two: The Goryeo Dynasty – How the soy sauce and yellow soybean paste brewing techniques introduced from the Song Dynasty became the soul of Korean cuisine! This is evidenced in the 'Illustrated History of Goryeo'!"

"Act Three: The Joseon Dynasty, with chili peppers brought by Ming Dynasty reinforcements! This completely changed the history of Korean kimchi! Before chili peppers, kimchi was called 'zū,' which was a type of salted vegetable! It's clearly written in the Annals of the Joseon Dynasty, Sejong Annals!"

"The most important part, Act Four!" Teacher Wang excitedly tapped the whiteboard. "Dumplings! During the Mongol period, how did 'bianshi' (the Yuan Dynasty's name for dumplings) evolve in the Goryeo court and among the common people, as the Mongol army and Semu people introduced them to Goryeo?"

"The method of making 'bianshi' is recorded in detail in the Yuan Dynasty Korean-Chinese textbook 'Park Tongsa Eonhae'! This is irrefutable evidence! Look at the illustration, it is clearly a dumpling!"

The PowerPoint presentation included photos of ancient books and clear line drawings, providing conclusive evidence.

Yang Geyong was dumbfounded and nudged Ye Yuze: "Damn, Lao Ye, did you invite a history professor instead of a screenwriter? The research is top-notch!"

Lee Dae-mi's expression was somewhat complicated. As a Korean, hearing that her country's proud cuisine was being traced back to China bit by bit left her with a bitter taste in her mouth.

But she had to admit that Teacher Wang's quotations were all factual and irrefutable.

Park Soo-ah listened intently, her mouth slightly agape, as if she had just attended a vivid and interesting history lesson. She realized that there were so many stories behind the things she ate every day!

Ye Yuze nodded in satisfaction: "Great! That's exactly the effect I wanted! Let the facts speak for themselves, and present it in a humorous way. For example, we could design a plot."

"When ancient Korean chefs first saw chili peppers, they screamed in terror, thinking they were poison. But then the 'it smells so good' phenomenon kicked in!"

Teacher Wang nodded vigorously: "Yes, yes, yes! Boss Ye's insight is brilliant! I've also designed some comedic characters, such as a royal chef apprentice who always forgets the recipe and makes all sorts of jokes. Miss Xiuya will play this apprentice. Her growth story is clear, and she's adorable!"

The script outline was basically finalized. Ye Yuze made the final decision: "Follow this line of thought and refine it! Increase the investment! We need to capture the historical feel and the allure of the food! The props and costumes must be meticulously researched! Don't give me any bloopers like Tang Dynasty people eating chili peppers!"

The news has caused a real uproar in South Korean public opinion.

Previously, when Ye Yuze invested in the film, everyone just envied Park Soo-ah's good luck. But now that the film's theme and some content have been leaked, it has immediately caused a huge uproar.

Major media outlets ran sensational headlines: "Chinese Tycoon Invests in Film, Claiming Korean Cuisine Originated in China?", "Cultural Plunder? Samsung Chairman's Backing?", "'Dumpling Origin' Controversy Brings to the Screen, What's the Intention?"

The internet was filled with angry comments: "Damn it! This is an insult to our culture!"

"We strongly boycott this movie!"

"Park Soo-ah is a traitor!" "Why would Samsung Chairman Lee approve such a project?"

Of course, there were also a few sober comments: "Actually... what they said seems to have historical basis..."

"Is it so hard to admit that you've been influenced? Culture is all about communication."

"Focus on the movie itself. If it's well-made, it'll also promote Korean cuisine."

JYP Entertainment was under immense pressure, with some even protesting outside the company building. Park Soo-ah was too scared to leave the house and called Ye Yuze, her voice trembling with tears: "Dad... what do we do? Everyone's scolding me..."

Ye Yuze didn't care at all: "What's there to be afraid of? The more they criticize, the more attention the movie will get. Just read the script and figure out your character. Remember, you're playing a little chef who seeks the truth and loves food, not someone who's being criticized. Win them over with your acting skills and your cuteness!"

He made another call to Li Damei: "Damei, it's time for Samsung's media outlets to take action and guide public opinion. Emphasize that this is a commercial film that promotes cultural understanding and exchange, and don't make a big deal out of it. If any media outlets still write nonsense, you know what to do."

Lee Dae-mi naturally understood. Samsung's influence in the South Korean media industry was no joke.

Soon, the tone of some mainstream media began to change, shifting from initial fierce criticism to discussions about "the historical fact of cultural integration" and "the creative freedom of commercial films."

Yang Geyong was very excited, checking online comments every day and reporting back to Ye Yuze:
"Old Ye, you're famous again! Now all of South Korea knows about that old Chinese man who's so serious about the origin of dumplings! Haha!"

Ye Yuze leisurely sipped the green tea that had been air-freighted from China:
"Let them argue. Truth becomes clearer through debate. Besides, the more heated the argument before the movie is released, the more publicity money we can save."

With strong support from historical research, screenwriter Wang wrote the script quickly, packed it with jokes, and respected history.

Ye Yuze read through the scripts of several scenes and couldn't stop laughing. He was especially amused when he saw the ancient Korean royal chef hesitate for a long time in front of the chili peppers, and finally ran all over the yard because of the spiciness, shouting "Seokguk-il!" (Although it was in Japanese, the comedic effect was perfect). He felt that the investment was worthwhile!

As filming was about to begin, Ye Yuze said to the nervous Park Soo-ah:

"Girl, act well. This play, we're not exaggerating, it's just about telling some historical trivia and making everyone laugh. If you act well, you'll be a little ambassador promoting cultural exchange between China and Korea."

He glanced at the still-noisy news reports and added:

"As for those who always talk like they're trying to steal from them, don't take it to heart. After all..."

Ye Yuze paused, then his face broke into that mischievous old man's sly smile again:

"After all, they might think that even arguing was invented by Koreans, right?"

Park Soo-ah paused for a moment, then couldn't help but burst out laughing.

My godfather's words are just... infuriating, yet hilarious.

Now that the script was in place, it was time to assemble the production team. Ye Yuze's motto was to spend money and bring in the most famous actors from South Korea to act alongside Park Soo-ah.

Naturally, many actors were pressured and dared not participate, but there are always those who won't turn down money, right? The production team was quickly assembled...