The birth of an actor

Chapter 90 The Excuse Comes True
The train journey took a day and a night, followed by another full day.

Finally, on the afternoon of the 19th, he returned to his long-lost hometown.

At the entrance of Erdaogou Village, An Daguo carefully examined his grandson, who was grinning foolishly at him. After confirming that his grandson had not suffered any other changes except for his hair being a little shorter and his height being a little taller, he finally felt relieved.

"walk home."

"Eh."

Anxin nodded in agreement, dragging her suitcase as she walked home with her grandfather, asking as she did so:
"Sir, have you asked about the matter of the stick?"

"I asked, and they do have them. I was planning to sell them, and the price was already agreed upon, but when they heard you wanted them, they kept them all. You can pick them up tomorrow."

"Where are the deer antlers?"

“Yes, we have Lingzhi at home. You should hurry back and offer incense to the old immortal now. Goodness… you’ve been gone for the past six months, and you’ve caused me a lot of trouble. I guess she misses you…”

"..."

Anxin's lips twitched, and after nodding, she heard her grandfather continue:
"This is the third year since the Li family's ancestral graves were moved. You chose the site back then, so you have to make it right."

"Yes, I know. I'll start working on it in the next few days."

"That Black Six who runs the casino in the county has been looking for you several times, and he even wants to go to Yanjing to find you..."

"What's wrong with him now?"

"They said their casino in Baishan was raided, and several people were arrested. They want you to do their fortune telling and ask for a talisman for protection."

“I won’t do it for him. It’s harmful. If it weren’t for his father doing so many good deeds and accumulating so much good karma, he would have been in jail long ago. The fact that he’s starting to get into trouble now means he’s squandered all his good karma. He deserves it.”

"Then think of a reason."

"Hmm. Anything else?"

"Yes, there are so many, I can't even count them all. I didn't really notice it before, since you were studying in the county. But now that you've left, wow... a bunch of people are coming home every few days to ask about you. On New Year's Day, I had to burn incense, and a bunch of people called early in the morning, saying, 'Why aren't you back for such a big day like New Year's Day...'"

"……Ugh."

Anxin sighed silently.

There are just so many of these things happening back in my hometown.

Call it superstition or seeking psychological comfort.

The number of people who consult him for weddings and funerals is countless.

I couldn't help but mutter to myself:
"Then I might as well not go to the county."

"Can you really avoid it? Besides... the snow is heavy this year. I found two roe deer that froze to death when I went up the mountain a couple of days ago. The snow is so thick, they can't find anything to eat."

"...Didn't you ask your sixth uncle to haul a few bundles of hay?"

“Your sixth uncle also contracted a hilltop, and he doesn’t even have enough fodder for himself.”

"..."

"Besides, this is all thanks to your good deeds. I don't understand these things, so you can just do it. People will accept it from you."

"alright."

In Northeast China, being a shamanic disciple actually involves a much busier workload than many people imagine.

According to common parlance, spirit mediums descend to earth to accumulate merit; money is useless to them. However, disciples who wish to cultivate themselves need money.

If you want people to give you money, you have to do things for them.

Anxin has seen through the coldness and warmth of human nature over the years, and this has been honed through countless big and small events.

But the thought of the endless "trouble" that awaited him upon returning home gave him a headache.

But ultimately, being able to go home is always a happy thing.

So, he chatted with his grandfather about everyday things, and finally, he entered the house.

The house was all tidied up. The first thing I did when I got home was to wash my hands, face, and rinse my mouth. Then, in the warm east room, I respectfully knelt on the prayer mat where the shrine was enshrined, lit three sticks of incense, and closed my eyes to pray.

He had only been up for less than two minutes when he suddenly yawned.

The back of my neck started to feel hot.

"..."

Anxin's lips twitched, thinking to herself that this was coming from behind again... probably to interrogate her.

He quickly went to the outer room and said to his grandfather, who was squatting in front of the stove throwing coal briquettes into it:
"Grandpa, I can't go on."

An Daguo was taken aback, then looked at his grandson who was starting to yawn and nodded calmly.

Upon arriving at the west room, he brought over two bottles of baijiu (Chinese liquor) and a packet of Hongmei (a type of Chinese liquor). Looking at his grandson, who was already sitting cross-legged on the kang (a heated brick bed), he walked out of the room without saying a word.

Inside the house, Anxin yawned repeatedly.

Outside, the sound of chopping wood rose.

Grandson's back, old lady, it's alright to let him be happy. But the firewood must be kept burning, lest he catch a cold.

After chopping a small pile of firewood, he heard the sound of a door being pushed open.

Anxin, reeking of secondhand smoke, walked out with a wry smile.

"gone?"

"Yes, back to the mountain. Here you go~"

As Anxin spoke, she revealed her arm, which had a bruise on it.

"It's my fault for being out for too long. They pinched me. I'll have to set up an offering later."

An Daguo shook his head helplessly and pointed into the wooden shed:
"The meat is all in the shed. While you're at it, go get a head of pickled cabbage from the vat. We'll stew the meat today."

"Ah."

A moment later, thick smoke billowed from the chimney of the old An family's house, and the courtyard, which had been empty for almost half a year, finally had a lively atmosphere again.

……

Yanjing, Wang Shuo's home.

As the Lunar New Year approaches, the festive atmosphere in Yanjing (Beijing) is gradually growing stronger.

The Chinese New Year is just around the corner. Another busy year has passed. Those who should be on holiday can take it, and those who should go home can go home.

The pace of the entire city seemed to slow down.

Wang Shuo's house was particularly lively at this moment. A group of children were playing with snowballs in the yard, and the same was true inside the house. At the mahjong table, Wang Shuo, Ye Jing, Feng Xiaogang, and several other people were playing a game of mahjong, either sitting or standing.

Just then, the mobile phone next to Feng Xiaogang beeped. He looked at it and immediately shouted:

"Xu Fan, Xu Fan~"

"Hey, what's wrong?"

Xu Fan, who was sitting with Xu Jinglei eating sunflower seeds and reading a magazine, looked up.

"The phone is dead."

"Oh, good."

Xu Fan responded, took the phone, and then touched Feng Xiaogang's face.

"Win more!"

As he spoke, he handed the mobile phone to Xu Jinglei:

"Where's the charger?"

"The study... I'll take you there."

Her boyfriend's study had a power outlet for a mobile phone, but there were also many manuscripts in the study, so she had to stay with him.

Xu Fan knew Wang Shuo's habits, and the two of them got up and walked together towards the study.

As soon as I plugged in the charger, a phone call came in.

Xu Fan didn't think much of it and answered the phone immediately:

"Hello?"

"……sister in law?"

"what?"

Hearing this address, Xu Fan was puzzled. It sounded familiar, but he couldn't quite place it. So he asked:
"Who are you?"

"I am at ease."

"Safe?"

Xu Fan's subconscious question elicited a look of confusion from Xu Jinglei.

Peace of mind?

On the other end of the phone, Anxin sat at the table, looking at the three clubs in her hand, and laughed:
"Yes, sister-in-law, where's Brother Feng?"

"Uh... what's wrong? Is he busy? Do you need to see him?"

"Yes, I received those three ginseng roots."

"..."

Xu Fan was taken aback, then suddenly realized:

"Oh~~~~~~ I... I'll have him call you back in a bit, okay?"

"Okay, just call me when you're not busy."

"All right."

After hanging up the phone, Xu Jinglei asked, looking puzzled:

"Sis, why is Anxin looking for you?"

If anyone else had asked him this, Xu Fan would have either remained silent or said, "It's nothing."

But the problem is... Feng Xiaogang won't let Wang Shuo talk about the ginseng and deer antler.

She just couldn't tell the truth.

So my mind started racing.

In that instant, she suddenly found a reason and blurted it out:

"Him... well, he went to Anxin to have his fortune told."

"?"

Xu Jinglei was stunned. What the heck?
"what?"

Seeing her questioning look, Xu Fan, feeling that the reason was plausible, continued:

"Didn't you tell me that Anxin can tell fortunes?"

"...He wasn't fortune teller, he was a shaman, Old Wang said it was passed down from the Qing Dynasty shamanism."

"Yes, that's 'spirit medium.' You didn't know? His fortune telling is incredibly accurate, that day..."

Suddenly, she got stuck again.

If I said I was asking him for deer antlers or something... wouldn't that give me away?

In desperation, I could only make something up:
"The fortune teller I consulted before knew him."

"...peace of mind?"

"Yes, he's quite famous in Northeast China. I was surprised and kept confirming that it was the same person. The fortune teller knew him and, after confirming that there was a connection, told me to rest assured that his fortune telling was very accurate. So... Xiao Gang and I want to have our fortunes told by him."

"????"

Xu Jinglei was completely dumbfounded.

Such a coincidence?
So...accurate?

I asked subconsciously:

"real or fake?"

"Anyway, that's what the sage said, and you know about Xiao Gang's situation, so... we thought we'd go find him."

"Going to the Northeast?"

"Yeah, that's right. But it's up to Xiao Gang to decide. I'd really like to go out for a trip though. I heard there's a lot of snow in Northeast China this year. I didn't get enough of skiing here last year..."

Xu Jinglei's eyes flickered.

Speaking of which, my boyfriend also wanted to go on a trip...

or……

"Then let's go together. We'll go to Changchun, and you guys go find Anxin."

At the dinner table, when Xu Jinglei brought up the matter, Feng Xiaogang was stunned, and then he felt his girlfriend pinching his thigh under the table.

As Wang Shuo spoke, he picked up his wine glass:

"Jing'er, are you going? What about you guys?"

"I'm not going. I need to work on the script; filming starts next year. Just tell Anxin to get me some good stuff; that stuff is really good..."

"I'm not going either. It's almost the end of the year, why bother going? Doesn't Beijing have any ski resorts?"

"Me too, Jing-ge, what's this good stuff? What's Anxin for?"

Everyone at the dinner table refused.

Seeing this, Wang Shuo turned to look at Xu Jinglei:
"You want to go?"

"Hey."

Xu Jinglei smiled with narrowed eyes:
"Shall I go for a walk with you?"

"Haha, alright then. It's settled then, let's go skiing in Northeast China!"

Wang Shuo slammed his fist on the table:
"Xiao Gang, when are we going to book the tickets? Let's do it together."

"Uh……"

Feng Xiaogang opened his mouth, and finally gave the following response:
"Ah."

He didn't know how things had suddenly gotten to this point, and he didn't even know when An Xin had called... But Xu Fan had already pinched his thigh, so what could he say?
However... please make sure that kid Anxin doesn't let anything slip.

So, the matter was "agreed upon." After a hearty meal and drinks, around 10 p.m., a group of people clamored to go to the newly opened and very famous Heaven on Earth in Yanjing.

So the group drove their own cars and met at the nightclub.

Xu Fan drove, and Feng Xiaogang sat in the passenger seat. After getting in the car and closing the door, he asked in a puzzled tone:
"Why are you suddenly going to Northeast China?"

"Hey, don't even mention it. When Anxin called just now..."

After hearing the whole story, Feng Xiaogang was speechless:
"What kind of nonsense are you spouting? And you think you can tell fortunes? Who told you that?"

"Let me tell you, this is definitely true!"

Xu Fan shook his head as he drove:
"That day when I went to pick up my things, the shop assistant told me himself that he was incredibly accurate at fortune telling! ... Besides, if Wang Shuo knew about you giving gifts to Wang Genglian and Han Shanping, wouldn't he be furious? Do you think I dare to tell the truth? I have to keep making things up. What else can I do? Say that you were planning to give those two tens of thousands of yuan worth of wild ginseng?"

"..."

Feng Xiaogang fell silent.

Because Xu Fan had already said everything that needed to be said.

and……

"At worst, I can just treat it as a trip to relax. Oh right, I need to ask Anxin where she lives..."

"What if they both come along?"

"Didn't you hear? Xu Jinglei just wants to go out and have fun. Wang Shuo doesn't believe in these things. Don't worry, it won't happen."

He nodded slightly upon hearing his girlfriend's words.
"Okay, then you'll need to bring more cash tomorrow, since you bought something from them."

"I know."

……

So, on the morning of January 23rd, when An Xin heard that Feng Xiaogang and Xu Fan were planning to come looking for her, she was truly surprised...

But upon closer inspection of the quality of those clubs, I understood.

One six-horsepower and two five-leaf old clubs are worth the trip for these two people.

So he gave his home address and explained how he got there, and then arranged to meet in Fusong.

Then, he lit incense.

Not long after, there was a knock on the door of the house that his grandfather had bought for him.

Anxin glanced at the steadily burning incense and opened the door.

Before the Lunar New Year, he had to show the people the problems that these kind-hearted men and women wanted to solve.

Some wanted to relocate graves, some wanted to fulfill vows, some wanted to seek wealth or amulets, and some even had children who had been frightened out of their wits...

These are all things that he, as a shamanic disciple, needs to sort out.

People donate money, not much—five yuan for a minor matter like calling back a soul, and fifty yuan for tending a house—all put into the donation box. And this money, when spring comes next year and the weather is lean, will be used to send eggs and meat up the mountain, and even vegetables and fruits to Buddhist and Taoist temples.

He doesn't want the money, nor can he accept it, because disciples cultivate merit.

Once the money is received, the transaction is complete.

You have to bear the consequences for others.

At the end of the year, many people seek his advice, keeping him busy all day long.

Then on the 24th, Xu Fan called to say that they were getting ready to leave.

Anxin thought that they probably wouldn't arrive until tomorrow.

But who knew... that by the afternoon, Feng Xiaogang and Xu Fan were already almost in Fusong.

Early in the morning, the four of them flew to Changchun. Then, Feng Xiaogang used his connections at Changchun Film Studio to borrow a Toyota Prado owned by the owner of a private film outsourcing company, and drove 400 kilometers to this small county town at the foot of Changbai Mountain. (Note 1)

As luck would have it, the driver was from Fusong and knew the route very well. After accepting the job, he initially hesitated to talk much with Director Feng, but Xu Fan, unable to bear the loneliness of the journey, started chatting about Northeast China. As they talked, the conversation turned to Fusong, and she casually asked:
Do you know there's a person named Anxin in Fusong?

Upon hearing this, the driver instinctively replied:
"Did Director Feng and Director Xu come to him for advice?"

He expressed in one sentence that after he learned about An Xin, even Feng Xiaogang became interested:
"What? Is he famous?"

"Oh my, Old An's kid is really famous. Almost everyone in our county knows him."

"...Is it that amazing?"

"He's the only college student from our county to be admitted to Yenching University this year. My son is from Fusong No. 1 High School. Anxin is always the top student in the county. He's an excellent student. He can also tell fortunes for people, and he's very accurate."

Now, both of them were completely focused.

Xu Fan asked:

How accurate is it?

"Let's put it this way, no matter if someone's child has lost their soul or runs into some trouble, talking to him will definitely help..."

"Can he tell fortunes?"

"Yes, I can calculate it very accurately."

"real or fake?"

“It’s true. My sister-in-law went to see him once. Although I didn’t see him in person, my sister-in-law said that he only needs a drink and a cigarette. You just tell him what you want to see, and then you don’t have to say anything. After he finishes his drink and cigarette, he will write you a note, and you can take it and leave. It’s 100% effective.”

"...Huh? What do you usually write on those notes?"

“The note my sister-in-law received said: ‘Go west in the summer.’ Her family is very poor. She was originally planning to go out to work. After consulting him, she went directly to Xi’an and left in the summer. Now she owns a steamed bun shop in Xi’an and says she can earn three or four thousand a month.”

"..."

Now, Xu Fan's eyes were filled with surprise.

After hearing this, Feng Xiaogang thought for a moment and asked:
"Is this a family tradition? A family-inherited skill?"

"No."

The driver shook his head as he drove:
"They say he learned it after just one nap. He's got a tough life; I heard from others that his parents passed away not long after he was born. People from his hometown can be quite mean sometimes, and they all say he brought bad luck to his parents. But the kid himself is very capable. On one hand, he can tell fortunes for people; that guy... people from both the legitimate and underworld like to come to him with any problems. On the other hand, he's a really good student... and this year he got into Renmin University of China. Sigh, this kid is promising... Hey, thank you, Director Feng."

The driver thanked him and accepted the cigarette offered by Feng Xiaogang.

The window was cracked open, and the heating was turned up.

A cold draft rushed in, mixing with the smoke, causing the temperature in the entire carriage to drop rapidly, and the wind noise to increase.

Feng Xiaogang didn't say anything, but turned his head to look at Xu Fan sitting in the back seat.

Xu Fan could see only one emotion.

"Xiao Gang, it seems like we really made the right decision to come."

(Note 1: Actually, Fusong is quite far from Changchun, about 400 kilometers away. I remember there wasn't a highway there back then, so when I went there, wow... it was incredibly difficult. But I've made some minor changes here to advance the plot, so please don't take it too seriously. Also, I've updated to 10,000 words! Please vote!)

(End of this chapter)