A hundred flavors of life

Chapter 1095: You will be reluctant to refuse! (Please subscribe to the full version!)

The casting at director Yang Jie's side had not yet been completed, so He Qing called him and the director said politely that she could bring her child for an audition, but that it was just to be responsible for the work and there was no guarantee that the child would be chosen.

When He Qing told Hua Twelve, he was a little worried. Simei had already been devastated by her breakup. If he told her that there was an audition for the role of Nezha in a TV series and she went happily, but later didn't get the role, he was afraid that she would really get depressed.

Hua Twelve didn't care about this: "Children nowadays are not that fragile. Take Simei, for example. If you buy her some nice clothes, she will be happy immediately. If you don't believe me, you can try it yourself!"

He Qing was thoughtful and thought for a moment, "Don't wait until then, I'll go buy a set now and make Simei happy tonight!"

Hua Twelve thought about it and decided: "Then I'll go with you!"

The two of them set off immediately and went shopping at the department store in Xinjiekou.

Speaking of buying things for the four beauties, He Qing naturally would not forget the other children. She bought new clothes and new shoes for all the children, including Qiao Yicheng who was already in college.

In the evening, Simei returned home from school. Erqiang and Sanli, who didn't know what was going on, saw that she looked grumpy and asked Qiao Yicheng, who was standing next to her with a serious face:

"Brother, what happened to Simei?"

He Qing came out and said, "Si Mei, I bought you a beautiful new dress. How do you like it?"

Simei subconsciously raised her head and her eyes lit up instantly: "Oh, this is this year's new model, I've wanted to buy it for a long time, thank you Aunt He!"

He Qing took out a pair of beautiful red leather shoes: "And this pair of shoes, I bought it for you too!"

"Aunt He, you are so nice!"

Simei pulled He Qing and jumped up and down, without any sign of loss or unhappiness, as if she was not the one who suffered the blow this morning.

The worry on Qiao Yicheng's brow had dissipated at this time. He turned around and gave a thumbs up to his father who was watching the fun by the door.

He Qing rubbed Qiao Simei's head:

"Everyone of you has one, go put it on and see if it looks good. I'll have some good news for you while we eat later!"

Qiao Simei asked what the good news was, but He Qing just smiled and said nothing. The former had no choice but to pull Sanli to change clothes.

He Qing took out two sets of men's jackets, trousers, and leather shoes and said, "Yicheng, Erqiang, you guys should change into them too. Let your dad take a look at them."

Qiao Yicheng didn't expect that he also had it. He was surprised at first, and then a little touched. He felt the same care from his mother when he was a child in He Qing:

"Thank you Aunt He!"

Erqiang also thanked him and happily went into the house to change clothes.

He Qing personally changed Qiao Qiqi into a new set of clothes, and then the Qiao family's children crowded in front of the mirror, fighting and playing while taking pictures. The room was full of laughter, and they were as happy as New Year's Day.

While eating, He Qingcai said to Simei:

"Didn't you all love watching the Journey to the West episode 'Exorcising the Black Chicken Kingdom' that was shown on TV last year? Now the TV series 'Journey to the West' is going to continue filming. Your dad knows Director Yang Jie, and he has arranged an audition opportunity for you. If you pass, you can join the crew to play the role of Nezha!"

Simei was startled at first, then her eyes widened, and finally she threw down her chopsticks, cheering and jumping around the room:

"I'm going to film a TV series. I, Qiao Simei, will be on TV!"

Hua Shier poured cold water on him, saying, "Don't be too happy too soon. You are still not sure whether you can get the role. If you act crazy like this, don't let yourself be a little monkey if you don't get the role of Nezha!"

Simei ran over and shook Hua Twelve's arm:

"Dad, you're the best!"

Hua Twelve then smiled and said, "The audition is going to Beijing. You should take a week off. We can take a plane there and come back quickly!"

Qiao Yicheng was a little worried: "Dad, Simei is going to take the exam soon, I'm worried about her grades if you take her to Beijing."

Hua Twelve suddenly realized: "It seems that the four beauties' performance is still not convincing enough, so we shouldn't go this time!"

Qiao Simei immediately bared her teeth at Qiao Yicheng, and then said unwillingly:

"Dad, my grades are very good now. I promise that taking a week off will not affect my grades. I can take my books with me to the capital and review every day. Please, Dad, just let me go!"

"It really won't affect your grades?"

"Yeah, Dad, don't worry!"

Hua Twelve then smiled:

"Okay, since you've promised, then we'll stick to the old rules. If you don't rank in the top five in the class, your pocket money will be deducted. But this time it will be doubled. If Qiao Simei's graduation results are not ideal, then her pocket money will be deducted for a year, from 10% to 77%!"

Qiao Erqiang, Qiao Sanli, and even Qiao Qiqi all stared at Qiao Simei. The latter was overwhelmed and quickly smiled and promised:

"Don't worry, I will work hard. If I don't do well in the exam, I will compensate you with all the money I have saved in the past two years!"

Two days later, Hua Shier, He Qing and the four beauties flew to Beijing and stayed directly at the Jianguo Hotel.

Originally, Hua Shier was planning to stay at the Capital Hotel, but he realized after the first few times he came that the Capital Hotel at that time only received foreign guests, and even if you had money you couldn't get in.

Qiao Simei, who was staying in a hotel for the first time, thought everything was good. She jumped for joy when she entered the room. She was extremely happy and said to Hua Shier and He Qing:

"Dad, Aunt He, I wish our house could be this beautiful in the future!"

He Qing pulled Qiao Simei and said with a smile:

"That's nothing. Your cousin gave your dad a big villa in Hong Kong Island. You can see the sea directly from home. It's much more beautiful than here. When you have a holiday, I'll have a chance for your dad to take you there to live for a while!"

When Qiao Simei heard for the first time that her family had a villa in Hong Kong Island, she begged Hua Twelve to take her to see it.

Hua Twelve smiled faintly: "That depends on your performance. If your test results are not ideal, then I will take Sanli, Erqiang, Qiqi and others with me!"

Qiao Simei turned around and ran: "I'm going to study now, don't even think about leaving me behind!"

Hua Twelve laughed and thought, this kid needs some stimulation to have the motivation to move forward.

After a day of rest, Hua Shier used this day to teach Qiao Simei to sing a song, and then contacted Director Yang Jie, who happily said on the phone:

"You guys came just in time. If I were two days later, I would have gone out to select a location. Now you can just bring the kids over if you have time!"

Hua Shier and He Qing immediately took Qiao Simei to the TV station.

When I entered Yang Jie's office, I saw Teacher Xiaoliu was also there. She immediately said with a smile, "Director Yang, you are here to discuss something!"

When Yang Jie saw them coming, he quickly stood up and greeted them:

"Teacher Qiao is here. Jin Lai and I are just chatting. Nothing much to do!"

Teacher Xiaoliu greeted him respectfully:

"Teacher Qiao, Teacher He, nice to see you again, hello!"

Hua Shier won the Plum Blossom Award in the opera world, which made him a real star. He and "Teacher Lao Liu" were equals, and now he has become a well-known movie star through "Huang Feihong". Teacher Xiao Liu can't compare with him at all, so he respects both of them very much. Hua Shier greeted Teacher Xiao Liu, and then pulled Qiao Simei to the front and introduced them to her. One is called Brother Xiao Liu and the other is called Aunt Yang.

When Yang Jie saw Qiao Simei, he frowned:

"Teacher Qiao, isn't your daughter Simei a little young to play Nezha? Also, I see her image..."

He didn't finish his words, obviously not satisfied.

Qiao Simei looked disappointed. "Aunt Yang, do you think I'm really not capable?"

Hua Twelve was not worried and said with a smile:

"Director Yang, I'm not bragging, but there's no one more suitable to play Nezha than my daughter. Let's not talk about age or image. Do we have props and costumes? Let's put her makeup on first and then you can take a look!"

Director Yang frowned slightly. She felt that Hua Twelve was blindly confident. If it was an ordinary actor coming for the audition, basically if she said no, then it was no, and if she said she didn't like him, then she didn't like him. But the actor in front of her was a master of opera after all, and they would have to work together in the future, so she had to give him face.

He immediately nodded and said, "Okay, then I'll let the makeup artist put makeup on the child!"

Hua Shier smiled and shook his head: "Director Yang, I have some ideas for Nezha's look, let me do it myself!"

Director Yang did not object and took a few people to the dressing room.

Hua Shier personally created a look for Qiao Simei based on the later version of Nezha created by Song Zuer. He then dressed her in the Nezha costume provided by the props team, put on the Vajra Ring, and took the Fire Spear.

Director Yang Jie's eyes lit up as he watched:

"Okay, this is the image of Nezha in the minds of us Chinese people. It seems like he has come alive, and his temperament has also changed. He is full of heroic spirit. What a delicate and exquisite Nezha the Third Prince!"

Teacher Xiaoliu also nodded: "That's great, I've auditioned a few before, but I've never seen anyone who looks this much like him!"

Qiao Simei was also very happy to hear this: "Aunt Yang, did I pass my audition?"

Yang Jie wanted to say it, but a look of worry appeared on his face in an instant: "Teacher Qiao, the four beauties are impeccable in appearance, but we have some problems here"

Hua Twelve did not say much, but just said: "I would like to hear more details!"

"It's like this. Our next plans are to shoot the two episodes, "The Plan to Capture Zhu Bajie" and "The Three Strikebacks to the White Bone Demon". I'm afraid that by the time we shoot the Nezha scenes, we won't have enough time."

Director Yang didn't finish her words, but Hua Twelve already understood what she meant. Just one episode of "Exorcising Demons from the Black Chicken Kingdom" took more than a year to make. Director Yang Jie was afraid that by the time they filmed Nezha, Qiao Simei would no longer fit her current image as she had grown older.

Hua Shier discussed, "Director Yang, can we shoot the scenes involving Nezha in advance?"

Director Yang was in a dilemma. The crew of Journey to the West was simply poor. The funds allocated by the station were extremely limited. Now the shooting plan had been decided, and the location and props were almost ready. If the shooting plan was changed, the crew would lose a lot of money.

She told Hua Twelve about her difficulties, and when she was about to apologize, the latter smiled and said:

"What's so difficult about this? It's just a lack of funds. Director Yang, let's discuss this. I have a cousin in Hong Kong Island. I can convince him to buy the overseas copyright of Journey to the West. This money will be enough for the subsequent filming. In this way, your crew will earn foreign exchange before the TV series is finished. How great is that!"

Yang Jie's eyes lit up: "Is this okay?"

No one has ever done this before.

"Why not? Now that we have reform and opening up, TV dramas are also commodities. Since they are commodities, the copyright can be sold and the Guo family can also make money. What a great thing!"

Hua Twelve continued to seduce:

"Also, I watched your film, Exorcist of the Black Chicken Kingdom. It was well shot, but the fighting scenes were too ordinary. Have you seen my film, Once Upon a Time in China? How was the fighting in it? If you agree, I will help you contact the martial arts instructor in Hong Kong Island and guarantee to help you make up for your shortcomings in fighting. Do you think it's okay?"

Yang Jie was really tempted, but Hua Twelve hadn't finished his sugar-coated bullets yet:

"I also wrote two songs for this play. Let me sing them to you live. The first song is called 'The Avenue to Heaven is Broad and Vast'!"

Hua Shier did not wait for Director Yang Jie's approval and started singing:

"I just captured a few monsters, and subdued a few more demons. Why are there so many demons and monsters!"

At this point in the song, he imitated the voice of Sun Wukong in Journey to the West and shouted, "Monster, take my stick!"

Just this one sentence made Yang Jie and Teacher Xiaoliu's hair stand on end. They were so excited. This song was so suitable. Even if it couldn't be used as the theme song, it would be great as an interlude and it must be kept.

"I will kill you and throw your soul away. The gods will tremble, the ghosts will shiver, and the wolves, insects, tigers and leopards will have nowhere to hide. You have encountered difficulties and suffered hardships, and you have walked out a broad and wide road to heaven."

Hua Shier finished singing in one breath, and Yang Jie and Teacher Xiaoliu couldn't help but applaud:

"Teacher Qiao is so talented, our crew wants this song!"

Director Yang Jie's appetite was whetted, and he couldn't wait:

"What about the second song? You can sing along too. Give us another surprise!"

Hua Twelve smiled and pointed at Qiao Simei;

"The second song is for my daughter. Simei, sing the song your father taught you yesterday for your aunt Yang and brother Xiaoliu!"

Qiao Simei had one good point, she was born a social genius, she never knew what it was like to be nervous, the more people there were, the more excited she became, she immediately responded with a smile, and started to sing:

"The white dragon horse, with its hooves pointing west, carries Tang Sanzang and his three disciples on the road to the West to obtain Buddhist scriptures, and walks tens of thousands of miles at a time."

Yes, the song that Hua Twelve taught the Four Beauties is the classic "One Master and Three Apprentices", also known as "White Dragon Horse".

The song has a light and playful tone, which is suitable for children to sing. When Qiao Simei sang it, both Yang Jie and Teacher Xiaoliu loved it very much.

Hua Shier waited for Qiao Simei to finish singing, then said to Director Yang Jie:

"Director Yang, this is the situation. If you agree to adjust the shooting schedule, then I can fulfill all the conditions I promised before. In addition, I will let you use these two songs for free!"

Director Yang Jie didn't know whether to laugh or cry: "You are making me reluctant to refuse. Okay, I will go to the station to discuss it now and I will definitely get it done for you!"

Hua Shierchao nodded to He Qing and Qiao Simei, it’s settled!

The three of them returned to the hotel and received a call from Director Yang Jie two days later. After a meeting and discussion, they agreed to Hua Twelve's request.

Hua Twelve was speechless. Such a good thing took two days to discuss. The efficiency of work in this era is simply appalling.

Without any hesitation, he made a long distance call from the hotel to his clone in Hong Kong Island, pretending to do what he should do. The clone sent someone to negotiate, and finally bought the overseas copyright of Journey to the West for 6 million Hong Kong dollars.

The price made the leaders of the TV station very happy. Not only did they move up the filming time for Nezha's scenes, but they also moved up the filming time for Hua Shier's Erlang Shen and He Qinglingji Bodhisattva's scenes.

Hua Shier definitely did not lose money by purchasing the copyright. The overseas copyright of the old version of "Journey to the West" was sold for US$150,000 per episode in later generations, making a lot of money.

Thanks to: 08a, Mojie Xiaoxiaohu, and Kunwen brothers for their rewards, and thanks to the brothers who voted for monthly tickets and recommendation tickets, thank you very much.