Exciting 1979!

Chapter 301 One Husband, Two Wives, Three Songs
Zhu Lin has been separated from Wei Ming for a week and misses him terribly. These past few nights, she's been tossing and turning like a maggot in her sleep.

She looked at Gong Xue; their separation must have been even longer, and it must have been even more devastating.

Zhu Lin spoke his mind, leaving Gong Xue blushing.

We are, after all, rivals in love. You've crossed the line by asking me this, Comrade Zhu Lin.

"Don't be shy, just tell me."

"I won't say; it's a matter of personal privacy," Gong Xue firmly refused. One cannot, and at least shouldn't, do that!

Zhu Lin: "Fine, don't tell us then. It's pitiful that we're all alone in this empty house, while that brat is having a blast."

"He won't."

"It might not be the case in Hong Kong, but it's hard to say if we go to the UK."

"Go to England?" Gong Xue grasped the key point and stared intently at Zhu Lin.

"You didn't know?" Zhu Lin grinned mischievously. "If I had known, I wouldn't have said anything. It's really nothing, it's all for work."

She briefly mentioned that Wei Ming had been invited by an opera company because of "The Lion King," and Gong Xue was indeed unable to sleep.

My mind was filled with thoughts of what would happen if Xiao Wei stayed in England and never came back.

This kind of thing is not uncommon in China after the reform and opening up, especially in the arts and culture circles.

"Alright, stop overthinking it," Zhu Lin said magnanimously. "If he doesn't come back, you can go back to your Gao Village, and I'll go back to my Flower and Fruit Mountain."

Gong Xue: "You're the pig! Your surname is Zhu, so you should go back to Gao Laozhuang and I should go back to Huaguo Mountain."

Zhu Lin laughed and said, "Okay, I'm the pig and you're the monkey. Look how skinny you are, like Sun Wukong."

"I was doing that for a role, I'm trying to gain weight," Gong Xue argued, explaining that her figure was what it was, and no amount of eating would help.

"Alright, time to sleep." After arguing with Gong Xue for a while, Zhu Lin spread his legs wide and lay sprawled out.

Gong Xue: "Didn't we leave right after taking a shower?"

"Oh dear, what time is it? If I take you back to the Beijing Film Studio and then go home, will I be able to go to class tomorrow?" Zhu Lin said casually. "It's okay, I can just get up a little earlier tomorrow, and no one will know."

Zhu Lin, feeling refreshed after working up a good sweat, quickly fell asleep. Gong Xue, still half-asleep, was wondering what Xiao Wei was doing in Hong Kong.

~
I'm eating now.

He and Amin found a food stall near her house and had a meal. Amin did most of the eating, as Wei Ming was already quite full and just watched her eat.

Before eating, Amin prayed first. Wei Ming was not surprised. She grew up in a church school, so it was not surprising that she had such religious questions.

During the meal, Vivian Chow finally had a chance to talk to Wei Ming about the English song. Being in Hong Kong, where information about film and music is more readily available, Vivian's explanation made Wei Ming realize the song's success much more clearly than Melinda's few words in the telegram.

As expected, riding the wave of popularity is the key to success! And they managed to get two people involved at once, with Lennon and Reagan both making significant contributions to the song's popularity.

Although the settlement hasn't been finalized yet, the profits Wei Ming can expect from this song in the short term might not be any less than those from his two children's books.

It was already late when we took Zhou Huimin home. Zhou's mother had already arrived home and was getting a little anxious as she waited for her.

Old Gui's house was on a higher floor, and he was pleasantly surprised to see Wei Ming, who was taking Amin home, standing by the window.

Good lad, so you've been keeping a low profile all along!
"Amin, why are you only just getting back?!" Zhou's mother said sternly.

“Mom, we had a basketball game today, and then we played for a while longer.” Zhou Huimin has the school’s basketball as proof.

With a valid reason, Zhou's mother couldn't say anything more: "Do your homework tomorrow, go to bed early tonight."

"Okay, goodnight, Mom."

Back in her small room, Zhou Huimin immediately leaned out the window and watched Wei Ming walk away. She knew he couldn't see her, but she still waved to him silently.

I'm so happy, so incredibly happy!

The pen pal meeting turned out to be a disaster; Amin was even more handsome in person than in the photos, and even more outstanding than he had imagined.

He can already converse with me in Cantonese, which makes my Mandarin sound much worse; I still have a lot to practice.

Furthermore, Amin stated that he has already gained some inspiration and will start writing songs for himself when he gets back, with himself being the source of his inspiration.

In fact, Zhou Huimin did not want Wei Ming to finish writing so quickly. She hoped that she could spend a few more days with him, under the guise of seeking inspiration.

Only after Wei Ming's figure was out of sight did Zhou Huimin turn her gaze away and return to her desk.

Of course, it's not about doing homework. Today was so meaningful, so I naturally have to write a diary entry before going to sleep. The words are filled with a sweet sense of satisfaction.

Wei Ming hailed a taxi, and on the way back, he wrote two songs, both inspired by his experiences with Amin over the past few hours.

However, both songs are in Mandarin, although there are also Cantonese versions. But it will be more difficult for Wei Ming to write them, and it may take some time.

When I arrived at the dormitory at Great Wall, the third song for Amin was already in the works, this time a Cantonese song.

I don't know what songs she likes best, so I'll just write a few more for her to choose from.

When he entered his room, he was surprised to find that Biaozi and Along were still awake and waiting for him. Only Xiao Wujing had already fallen asleep in the next room.

Looking at the pile of things on the bed, Wei Ming asked with a smile, "You've spent all 5000 Hong Kong dollars?"

Wei Ming distributed Liu Jialiang's red envelopes to them and let them go shopping; it seems they had a very fruitful day.

Biaozi exclaimed excitedly, "Yes, Hong Kong sells such a wide variety of things, much better than Shenzhen in Guangzhou."

"That's right, otherwise so many people would want to stay here."

Ah Long scratched his head, thinking of his father: "Ah Ming, now that you're back, let's go to sleep. We were worried something might happen to you outside."

Biaozi: "Yeah, yeah, my wife said she would keep an eye on you for Sister Zhu Lin."

Ah Long whispered, "I'm keeping an eye on you for Sister Gong Xue."

Each and every one of them still has a mission to fulfill.

"Alright, go to sleep, we have things to do tomorrow."

Ah Long exclaimed excitedly, "Are we going to submit our work to Jade International tomorrow?!"

Wei Ming had previously mentioned that he wanted to publish "Qin's Moon" through Wong Yuk-long's channels in order to seek a more autonomous cooperation model.

“Uh, well,” Wei Ming said, “I have important things to do tomorrow. Ah Long, you go by yourself. Tell him our terms and see what kind of terms he can offer. You’ve seen Huang Yulang and his comics. Our works are a generation ahead of theirs. The advantage is in our hands.”

"Huh?" The introverted Ah Long was a little embarrassed. He knew that Ah Ming wanted him to take charge, but he was a creative person.

Wei Ming knew he was putting him in a difficult position: "How about this, let Biaozi accompany you. If Huang Yulang wants to resort to violence, can he be more violent than Biaozi?"

Biaozi asked worriedly, "Ming-ge, what important thing is it that you need to do? You haven't been corrupted by capitalism, have you?"

"Get lost! I'm planning a big trip around Hong Kong to gather inspiration for future Cantonese songs and Hong Kong films," Wei Ming said with an air of righteous indignation, half-truth and half-lie.

~
The next morning, Gong Xue nudged Zhu Lin: "Did you hear that? Yinxing called out. Could it be that Xiao Wei's parents have arrived?"

Zhu Lin drew back the curtains, rubbing her eyes: "Dogs will crow when it's light, it's normal, don't overthink it."

"That's a rooster you're talking about. Let's go. I'll treat you to fried liver." Gong Xue started making little moves on Zhu Lin, urging her to get up quickly.

Zhu Lin chuckled and said, "Alright, you can have some."

"It's my treat."

They changed back into their clothes from yesterday, restored the room to its original state, and then hurriedly left the courtyard.

At a corner, Xu Shufen was staring at the gate of her own courtyard house. She had arrived a little earlier today, but found the gate locked from the inside.

The city's security isn't very good right now. Realizing there was something wrong, Xu Shufen didn't confront them directly. Instead, she hid in the shadows and waited for her husband, Lao Wei, to arrive.

However, before Lao Wei arrived, the door opened. Lao Wei never expected that Zhu Lin and Gong Xue would come out together. Zhu Lin rode his bicycle in front, and Gong Xue sat behind him. The two left together!
Even after the two girls disappeared around the corner, Xu Shufen remained in a daze. She had always thought that the two girls were rivals in love, and that her son was two-timing them and playing with their feelings.

It seems that my thinking is outdated by the young people; they don't seem to mind each other's presence at all!

Xu Shufen muttered to herself as she entered the courtyard house and headed straight for the master bedroom.

Although Gong Xue had cleaned up, there were still some traces. Xu Shufen could tell at a glance that someone had spent the night here yesterday.

She then checked the other bedrooms, but found no signs of them being opened.

Therefore, we can conclude that Gong Xue and Zhu Lin spent the night here yesterday, and the two girls slept in the same bed!
"My son is too capable!" Xu Shufen didn't know whether to be proud or worried. He actually managed to get two such outstanding girls to willingly have two wives?!

This world is so crazy!

~
Zhou family.

Zhou's mother went to work very early, and there was money she had left for her daughter's meal on the table.

I used to make breakfast for my daughter, but as my career progressed, I started paying for her meals and let her buy them herself.

After taking the money, Zhou Huimin looked at her outfit in the full-length mirror.

She nodded in satisfaction: "He's got the air of a big kid, but he's not too mature."

She wore a black tight-fitting short-sleeved top with a bra underneath that she rarely wore, making it look a bit large. Her lower body was covered by a white knee-length skirt, showing off her beautiful calves.

She washed her hair again, forcibly straightened her slightly curly hair, and even braided two small braids on each side, making her look playful and cute.

Finally, I have to put on my schoolbag, otherwise my mom will come home early and confirm that I didn't go to school.

She waited for Ah Ming outside the village. Just as her stomach started growling, Ah Ming arrived in his van. "I saw some beef balls for sale when I came. Want some?" Wei Ming waved the things in his hand.

Vivian Chow said, "I don't eat beef."

"I was worried I hadn't bought enough, so this is perfect for me to enjoy myself." Wei Ming smiled and took another bite. It was really good, very chewy.

Vivian Chow said shyly, "Don't you think I'm too much trouble?"

"How could that be? Everyone has their own dietary preferences and taboos. There's nothing wrong with not eating beef, after all, it's good for you."

Vivian Chow asked, "Is there anything you don't eat?"

Wei Ming thought for a moment: "Look up at the starry sky."

"What is that? It sounds quite romantic."

Wei Ming sighed: "It's a British dish that you'd better not know about."

British food! Vivian Chow immediately thought of Ah Ming's ex-girlfriend from England. She really can't forget her.

Afterwards, Wei Ming accompanied Amin to a food stall and ate curry fish balls. A little girl even fed him one, and then their field trip began.

Where is the windiest place in the Central and Western District of Hong Kong Island? It's Victoria Peak, of course.

In his previous life, Wei Ming had climbed Victoria Peak, but that was decades later. Back then, there was the Peak Tower on Victoria Peak, and Madame Tussauds wax museum inside. None of that exists now.

The two first strolled along the winding mountain road, enjoying the fresh morning air in the mountains. No wonder the wealthy like to settle here.

Vivian Chow, while discussing her aversion to beef, mentioned that she was pecked by a chicken when she was a child, so she is very afraid of chickens, but she does not avoid eating them.

"Look at this wound on the back of my hand, it's from a chicken pecking me." She handed her slender, white hand to Ah Ming.

Yesterday, Amin's little hands got all black from playing basketball, so today she washed them again and again before letting Weiming take a closer look and play with them.

"Wow, looks like it's badly injured. Back in my rural hometown, chickens are nothing compared to geese. Goose is the real beast. But stewed goose in an iron pot is really delicious." Wei Ming swallowed hard.

Amin knew that Amin was a foodie: "When we get to the top of the mountain, we can go to the Victoria Peak Restaurant for a meal."

"It's a Western restaurant, isn't it?"

"Yes."

Wei Ming hadn't had Western food in a while.

This restaurant has a history of nearly a hundred years. It is built with red bricks and has an English style, giving it a strong sense of history. Moreover, the outdoor tea room offers a direct view of the scenery below the mountain, making it a great place to eat and relax.

Moreover, there are many wealthy people on Victoria Peak, so you might just run into one of them or a rich kid while having a meal.

Amin had never eaten here before. Although her family had some money, their spending level hadn't improved, and she still preferred roadside stalls.

But when she invited Amin today, she brought all her pocket money with her.

After ordering a few dishes, Wei Ming simply took out his newly applied HSBC credit card and paid the bill.

“This meal should be on me,” Amin said, rubbing the hem of her skirt.

"Why would a student like you treat someone to something so expensive? Just treat me to some local snacks when we get down the mountain," Wei Ming said with a slight smile.

“You ordered so much, will you still be able to eat it after we get down the mountain?” Amin laughed.

"No problem, Western food portions are small."

A steak, an Indian roasted chicken, a seafood platter, a Thai-style grilled beef salad, and a dessert—that was all. Before starting to eat, Wei Ming took a picture of Amin and the food on the table, but unfortunately, he didn't post it on his WeChat Moments to show off.

“Let’s find someone to take a group photo,” Zhou Huimin suggested. After searching for a while, she was drawn to a handsome man not far away.

Wei Ming followed her gaze and looked over.

Fearing that Ah Ming might misunderstand, Ah Min quickly whispered an explanation: "He seems to be a pop star."

"It's not just that it looks like him, it's Danny Chan."

Amin exclaimed in surprise, "You actually know him?!"

“I’ve heard of ‘Tears for You’ before,” Wei Ming said with a smile.

Seeing that Ah Ming didn't seem to care, Ah Min felt relieved. Most of Danny Chan's fans were female students. Ah Min used to think Danny was very handsome, but he was far inferior to Ah Ming. At most, he was just pleasing to the eye.

Danny Chan didn't rush to order food, glancing at his watch every now and then, as if he was waiting for someone.

A little while later, someone came from behind, and Amin whispered to Wei Ming, "It seems like Danny Chan is dating someone. Some of the girls in our class are probably going to be heartbroken."

Wei Ming glanced back. Amin didn't recognize the girl, but Wei Ming did.

At 19, Pansy Ho is considered very beautiful among the children of wealthy families, and her figure is also amazing. Perhaps due to her mixed-race genes, she is already quite mature for her age.

However, judging from how they interact, they must have just met and are getting to know each other better.

Danny Chan seemed a bit reserved. His family was considered a merchant family, with his father owning a watch shop, but they were far inferior to the Ho family in Macau.

Wei Ming glanced at it a few more times, and now it was Zhou Huimin's turn to be jealous. She immediately put a chicken leg on his plate and made him eat it.

Wei Ming smiled and said, "What do you think about me selling a song to Danny Chan?"

"You were just thinking about that?"

“Yes, I came to Hong Kong to do three things: see Ah Min, see Lao Gui, and make money.”

Amin felt a little better and pouted, asking, "You promised me first, there has to be a first-come, first-served rule."

"Actually, I wrote three songs for you last night."

"Ah, three songs!" Amin's eyes sparkled; Amin's talent was practically overflowing!

Wei Ming added, "However, both songs are in Mandarin. I'm trying to find a way to convert them to Cantonese. The music for the other Cantonese song hasn't been finished yet."

"Didn't we agree on one song?" Amin was a little embarrassed. Amin's songs were too valuable and too precious.

Wei Ming: "When inspiration strikes, it's unstoppable. I'll write a lot more, and you can choose your favorite one from them later."

Amin: I thought they were all for me~
Even one song would be fine; this is the best of the best, and she's even more looking forward to it.

Before Danny Chan and Amin finished their meal, Wei Ming and Amin left first. Before leaving, they asked someone to take a group photo on the mountaintop, which was their first group photo and it was very meaningful.

In the afternoon, at Wei Ming's suggestion, Amin took him to visit the University of Hong Kong. Besides Holiland, there were also many snack shops nearby.

Speaking of the University of Hong Kong, it seems that Lin Xi was studying in the Chinese Department at HKU at that time. He is indeed a talented man. It is a coincidence that the three songs that Wei Ming wrote for Amin were all his lyrics.

It's not that Wei Ming has a particular fondness for his work; it's just that his output of high-quality works is so high that it's unavoidable.

But this is good, so that many singers won't be able to perform their signature songs at their concerts in the future. I've done a good deed.

Zhou Huimin said, "HKU and our school are on the same Pok Fu Lam Avenue. My mother's biggest wish in life was that I could get into HKU."

Wei Ming asked, "Do you think you can pass the exam?"

Amin shook her head regretfully: "Let alone HKU, I think it would be very difficult to get into any university."

It's really not her fault. It's just that it's too difficult to get into university in Hong Kong. Getting a Form 5 diploma is already pretty good. If someone like Zhou Huimin can even do two years of pre-university studies, that's considered a high level of education.

Despite having only 500 million people, Hong Kong has relatively few universities. Strictly speaking, there are only two public universities: the University of Hong Kong and the Chinese University of Hong Kong.

There was also the Hong Kong Government Technical College and the Hong Kong Baptist College, neither of which could be considered universities at the time, and their enrollment was quite limited.

Even the University of Hong Kong and the Chinese University of Hong Kong, due to their lack of comprehensiveness, have significantly fewer students compared to those of comprehensive universities in mainland China.

Because local universities have limited enrollment, many Hong Kong artists from well-off families have overseas study experience. For example, Danny Chan, whom I just met at Victoria Peak, studied in the United States.

Wei Ming also offered Amin this idea: "You still have five years before university. I believe Holiland will develop well in these five years, and by then, Auntie's financial resources should be enough to support you to study abroad, so you should be able to go to university."

“Studying abroad,” Zhou Huimin thought seriously, feeling it was such a distant dream. She suddenly asked, “Aming, are there any Hong Kong students studying at Peking University?”

"Yes, I have."

"Oh." Amin nodded, not delving into the topic.

Five years is a long time from now, and Beijing is also very far away, farther from Hong Kong than from many foreign countries.

Wei Ming had just come up with the idea of ​​inviting Amin to study in Yenching University. According to the policies in mainland China, as long as Amin's grades are decent, she can choose between Tsinghua University and Peking University, which is much easier than applying to universities in the United States.

However, Hong Kong people nowadays also look down on mainland universities. Ah Min is a native Hong Konger who is used to the prosperity and convenience of Hong Kong. How could he adapt to Beijing, which is not yet fully modernized?

Wei Ming dismissed this unrealistic idea. Seeing that it was getting dark, he looked for a place to eat. He wanted to drink Hong Kong-style milk tea and eat fried intestines. Amin would treat him to this meal.

After sending Amin back home that evening, Wei Ming immediately returned to the Great Wall dormitory. Once there, he first completed the sheet music for the third song he had written for Amin.

A short while later, Ah Long, Biao Zi, and Xiao Wu returned in surprise.

Ah Long, clutching his bag, said dejectedly, "Huang Yulang didn't agree to the cooperation."

Wei Ming: "What did he say?"

"He said that if I wanted to collaborate, firstly I would have to stay in Hong Kong to work full-time on comics, then there would be update requirements, and it would be difficult to guarantee the quality. Finally, this story would also belong to his Jade Dragon International. He also said that he would decide how things develop from here on out, and I had no right to interfere."

Wei Ming spat, "He's dreaming. I'll just give it to you for free. He really thinks he's the only one who can control the martial world. Don't worry, I'll go with you tomorrow."

(End of this chapter)