A widower's entertainment

Chapter 360 [Keep a Low Profile] (Please Subscribe)
Xinghua Hutong, Beijing.

Regardless of how popular Lin Youcheng is as a screenwriter, or how many companies want him to write TV series or movie scripts, Lin Youcheng's life hasn't actually changed much.

Although he earned another million dollars, Lin Youcheng wasn't particularly excited, because this was what he had wanted all along, and the price was one he had negotiated. It was a routine operation, after all, no one understood the classic status of "The Truman Show" in film history better than Lin Youcheng.

Of course, nowadays, whether it's "Love" or "The Truman Show," Lin Youcheng has already completed the script and handed it over. As for how it turns out to be filmed, that depends on the director's skill.

As for the new million dollars, it doesn't actually count as the wealthiest group in Beijing. It's far less than that. With so many people going into business now, there are naturally quite a few rich people.

Actors like Li Chengru, who had previously acted in films, were definitely wealthy in Beijing. In 1991, he had 1300 million US dollars in his foreign exchange reserves, equivalent to more than 6000 million RMB. He also bought a courtyard house next to the Forbidden City, which had dozens of rooms and 500 cherry trees in the yard. Sometimes when flying kites, the kites could fly up to the corner tower of the Forbidden City.

There is now a saying in the capital that there are "Four Lis", which means that they are the four richest people in the capital at this time, and Li Chengru is one of the Four Lis.

Of course, later in 1993, this man, following the trend, dabbled in foreign exchange speculation, ultimately ruining everything, his multi-million dollar fortune vanishing overnight. Life's ups and downs are too rapid; watching him rise to prominence and then fall is quite a dramatic experience.

Lin Youcheng has earned quite a bit of money over the years. After all, in addition to the script royalties from Hollywood, the overseas royalties from his novels are also quite considerable. However, Lin Youcheng has not made a big fuss about it. The literary circle only knows that his scripts have sold for high prices abroad, but the overseas sales of novels like "The Time Traveler's Wife" will certainly make him very wealthy.

Even so, Lin Youcheng is not thinking about making any other investments for the time being. There is no rush to actually buy stocks. Right now, as he and Xie Shuhua said, Lin Youcheng is busy buying houses.

This time, Lin Youcheng not only bought residential properties, but also several shops in Beijing. It was definitely a large-scale purchase. However, Lin Youcheng knew very well that buying at this time would be a sure thing. Even if his children could sit at home and collect rent in the future, they would have no problem making a living.

When Lin Youcai's family came to Beijing, Lin Youcheng naturally had even more houses.

Therefore, Lin Youcheng directly gave a house in the Asian Games Village to his elder brother Lin Youcai. In fact, it was nothing. Moreover, having a house meant that he could truly be considered a Beijing resident. Lin Youcheng also specially found schools for Lin Zhaoping and Lin Zhaoan. Since Lin Zhaoping was already in the first year of high school, there would have been some trouble getting him to school. Fortunately, the 271 Middle School in the Asian Games Village allowed Lin Zhaoping to enter the second year of high school. As for Lin Zhaoan, he was in the junior high school section, entering the third year of junior high school.

"Big brother, don't worry. If Zhaoping and Zhaoan's grades fall behind, we'll hire tutors for them, or we can have them repeat a grade."

Lin Youcheng was also worried that Lin Zhaoping and Lin Zhaoan's academic performance would be even worse after coming from Decheng, since the level of education in the local area was naturally not as good as that in the capital.

This is why Lin Youcheng told his elder brother Lin Youcai a long time ago to come to the capital as soon as possible, so that the children could receive the education of the capital when they were young. This is also why Lin Youcheng decided to come to the capital so early.

Upon hearing Lin Youcheng's words, Lin Youcai waved his hand and said, "The two of them still need to spend more time studying on their own. I just feel that you've had a hard time throughout this trip to the capital."

Lin Youcai, in particular, was still somewhat bothered by the house Lin Youcheng had given him. He knew the house prices in Beijing were over 1,000 yuan per square meter. The house had four bedrooms and a living room, and was over 180 square meters, costing more than 200,000 yuan. How could Lin Youcai, as the older brother, not feel embarrassed?

Lin Youcheng knew what Lin Youcai was thinking, and said with a smile, "Brother, you know I've bought quite a few houses now. Giving you one is nothing. You used to help me out."

Lin Youcai looked at Lin Youcheng. He had long known that his younger brother was different. He was no longer the one who refused to sweep the streets of Chunfeng Alley. This was all because that person was gone, and Lin Youcheng had to become independent. He had watched Lin Youcheng get to where he was today step by step.

"Brother, that shop at the bus station—?"

Lin Youcheng originally planned to give his elder brother a shop so that his elder brother Lin Youcheng and his sister-in-law Fang Mei's family would have a place to do business in Beijing. However, Lin Youcai refused directly, unwilling to accept the shop. He couldn't bring himself to do it and only said that he would rent it himself.

Lin Youcai's family came to Beijing from Decheng, so they naturally disposed of their house in Decheng. In addition, although they were laid off from the factory, Lin Youcai and Fang Mei had saved some money and planned to open a small restaurant in Beijing. After all, Fang Mei was a good cook, and the pickles she made before were also Lin Youcheng's favorite.

Most importantly, Lin Youcai, as the eldest brother, definitely wants to support himself. He used to persuade Lin Youcheng to sweep the streets, not thinking that sweeping the streets was a shameful job, but rather a glorious labor. He naturally thinks the same way now and doesn't think that he and his wife would be ashamed to open a small restaurant. After all, laid-off workers have to find a way to survive.

The idea that labor is glorious has never changed for Lin Youcai.

When he was laid off, Lin Youcheng asked him to go to Beijing. He didn't know what he could do in Beijing, and he wondered if sweeping the streets was a job in Beijing. He didn't know if Lin Youcheng could help him find such a job. He didn't think the job was shameful. The words he said to Lin Youcheng were his true thoughts. However, after he started planning to open a restaurant, he stopped mentioning sweeping the streets to Lin Youcheng.

If Lin Youcheng knew, he certainly wouldn't have let his elder brother come to Beijing to sweep the streets.

Although he himself had done this job, it would be unacceptable for his elder brother's family to go back to sweeping the streets after he came to the capital.

"Youcheng, don't mention that. We'll rent it. Even brothers should keep clear accounts."

Lin Youcheng knew his older brother Lin Youcai's temperament and didn't say much. However, he knew that his brother and sister-in-law wanted to open a restaurant in Beijing, so he naturally thought it was a good thing. Although the shop was only 30 square meters, it was located near the bus station in the Asian Games Village, so the customer traffic would definitely be high. He felt that with his brother and sister-in-law's hard work, they might be able to make a name for themselves in Beijing.

As for the capital to open the restaurant, Lin Youcheng originally intended to provide financial assistance, but Lin Youcai directly refused. They weren't opening a big restaurant, just a small shop of about 30 square meters. Of course, Lin Youcheng helped with all the paperwork and equipment. After all, Lin Youcheng had been in Beijing for several years and was considered a big shot in the literary circle, so he naturally had some acquaintances. Therefore, Lin Youcai and Fang Mei had a relatively smooth experience.

The arrival of Lin Youcheng's family naturally made the courtyard much livelier. Since it was summer vacation, Lin Youcai and Fang Mei were busy opening their 30-square-meter shop and restaurant, while Lin Zhaoping and Lin Zhaoan would stay in Xinghua Hutong for the time being.

Of course, Lin Zhaoping and Lin Zhaoan might go back to their own homes before the summer vacation is over. After all, Lin Zhaoping and Lin Zhaoan have been sensible since they were young, and at this age, they are already able to help with cooking at home. In a place like Decheng, children are sensible very early.

After all, this isn't about spoiling them later on; kids these days have all been through the wringer. With Lin Zhaoping and Lin Zhaoan coming to Xinghua Hutong, the children in the courtyard have gained more playmates, and of course, they're not just playmates.

As the eldest sister, Lin Zhaoxi has always taken good care of her younger siblings. Now that her two cousins ​​have moved from Decheng to Beijing and will be studying and living there, she will naturally offer them more assistance. In fact, it's not just Lin Zhaoxi who is the eldest sister; the other younger siblings also take good care of the brothers Lin Zhaoping and Lin Zhaoan.

"Third Uncle, your English is better than mine."

Lin Zhaoping's grades in Decheng were not bad; he was a diligent student, otherwise he wouldn't have been able to get into high school. Now that he's in Beijing, even though it's still summer vacation, he's borrowed his cousin Lin Zhaoxi's books from her first and second years of high school. After all, it's his first time studying in the unfamiliar capital, so he's bound to feel a little uneasy.

Fortunately, Lin Zhaoping is now very sensible and knows that he can make good use of his time to prepare for the exam. If he doesn't understand something, he can ask his cousin Lin Zhaoxi, who will be a senior in high school next semester.

Lin Zhaoping also reads English books and listens to English tapes, but he also thinks that his third uncle, Lin Youcheng, speaks English better than him.

Lin Youcheng patted Lin Zhaoping on the shoulder with a smile and encouraged him, "Then you must work hard and try to catch up with your third uncle. Your third uncle is not only better at English than you."

Lin Zhaoping nodded solemnly, then took his English book and went to the west wing to study.

"Zhaoping is very hardworking."

Xie Shuhua also liked Lin Zhaoping and Lin Zhaoan very much. Of course, this was also because the children were sensible. If they were naughty and mischievous, climbing on the roof and tearing off the tiles, it would definitely make things very difficult for Xie Shuhua, as their aunt.

"Shuhua, thank you for your hard work."

Hearing Lin Youcheng's words, Xie Shuhua couldn't help but laugh and said, "What hardship do I have? They are both very sensible. It's Song Ma who will have to cook more dishes recently."

In fact, this wasn't Lin Zhaoping and Lin Zhaoan's first time in Beijing. They had come before during the summer vacation, and Zhao Gensheng's family was with them then. So it's nothing compared to what they've been doing now. Besides, Lin Zhaoping and Lin Zhaoan were going to school later, so they naturally wouldn't stay in Xinghua Hutong forever.

Xie Shuhua naturally asked, "How's your shop doing, brother?"

Lin Youcheng smiled and said, "I'll probably get busier and busier."

"By the way, Shuhua, let's bring Mom and Dad to Beijing after they retire."

Hearing Lin Youcheng's words, Xie Shuhua naturally knew that Lin Youcheng had always remembered his parents in Tianjin. She smiled and said, "That depends on their opinion. They are used to living in Tianjin and I don't know if they will come. Besides, they are still a long way from retirement."

Of course, Xie Shuhua knew that once her parents retired, she would still have to take care of them herself, since she was not only a wife but also a daughter.

Lin Youcheng nodded and said, "Fortunately, Tianjin isn't far away. By the way, should we consider buying a car?"

Xie Shuhua raised an eyebrow upon hearing Lin Youcheng's words, somewhat surprised. She hadn't expected Lin Youcheng to suddenly mention buying a car; it was quite unexpected.

You should know that cars are not cheap these days, and there are bicycles everywhere on the streets; privately owned cars are still a rare sight.

Of course, there are exceptions. For example, Li Chengru drove a Mercedes-Benz 560 as early as the early 1990s. The price of that car would be at least 80,000 US dollars, which is about 400,000 RMB.

"We don't need to, would it be too flashy?"

Lin Youcheng nodded. Actually, it wasn't necessary, because they rarely used a car. If the whole family went out, they could take a taxi. The children usually rode bicycles. Lin Youcheng was just mentioning it casually and didn't really intend to buy a car.

Speaking of which, he has acquired some properties. These children only know about this, but they don't know the specific amount, so they don't have any concept of it yet. However, if a car were to appear in Xinghua Hutong, it would really attract the attention of everyone in the hutong, and the children in the family would probably be shocked as well.

Although the children already knew that their family's conditions were getting better and better, and that it was no longer the days when they had to share a spoonful of egg custard with their siblings in Chunfeng Lane, Decheng, the family now had a refrigerator, telephone, television, and everything else. Moreover, Lin Youcheng had even bought a computer and given the children bicycles as gifts. The conditions were already very good, and if a car were to appear, who knows what the children would think.

"You're right, I was just mentioning it casually."

Lin Youcheng looked at Xie Shuhua, nodded, and said, "We don't need it."

Lin Youcheng didn't intend to be particularly ostentatious. After all, his family's life, now that they were even wealthier, remained unchanged and they kept a low profile.

Of course, this is only relative. Even if Lin Youcheng wanted to keep a low profile in the literary circle, he couldn't. After all, his reputation and the influence of his works are not only domestic but also international. With such popularity, how could he possibly keep a low profile?

(End of this chapter)