Chapter 564: Chapter 555: Greenhorn
"Brother, did you become a film investor?"
Just as Su Qing was feeling bored, lounging on the sofa at home, and replying to Tang Nan, Su He came storming out of the bedroom, holding up her phone and shouting.
"Ah, whatâs up?" Su Qing asked listlessly.
He had already seen the video online. After all, a lot of people had tagged him, making it hard not to notice.
Shen Yi might be busy today and couldnât entertain him, so he was left to his own devices. Tang Nan, on the other hand, was quite free and even voluntarily shared the video released by the official "Wandering Earth" account to promote him.
Yes, he promoted it for him. After all, Tang Nan was neither an investor nor a leading actor, but he didnât help for free. He said that after the New Year, he wants Su Qing to treat him to a meal if the box office does well, and to remember his contribution. Su Qing could only agree half-heartedly.
"What do you mean âwhatâs upâ? When did you invest, bro? That director said he had a drink with you, and in just three sentences, he convinced you to spend eighty million. Is that true?" Su He asked.
In response, Su Qing turned over and found a comfortable position to continue lazing around, saying, "Yeah, itâs true. It was during the New Year when I went to the capital with your sister-in-law. We met by chance, and I thought his script was decent, and the cast was good, so I invested."
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That wasnât a lie. Even though the voice-over said this movie would definitely be a box office hit, the impact of the cast couldnât be ignored.
Not to mention, just having the lead actor Wu Jing and Uncle Da was enough to support a movie. One is an actor and director who became famous with the "Wolf Warrior" series, and the other is a veteran actor weâve been watching since we were kids. Isnât this kind of lineup better than those with just popular idols?
"And you really spent eighty million?" Su He asked, a bit incredulously.
Thatâs eighty million, not eight thousand. She knew her brother had earned money. When their mom sent her a screenshot back then, her mind was buzzing. She hadnât even worked hard yet, and suddenly she became a ârich second generationâ relying on her brother?
And in the blink of an eye, he spent eighty million, giving her the feeling that her brother was making money quickly, but spending it even faster. She feared her future life of leisure might be at risk.
"Otherwise, what? Investing in films, the more you invest, the more you earn back. Thereâs no investment without risk," Su Qing said indifferently, not taking it seriously.
Hearing this, Su He felt her blood pressure rising: "Bro, do you know what people online are saying about you?"
"What are they saying?"
"Theyâre saying that Director Wang is pulling off a scam, not only fooling you but making a big profit at your expense. They say the whole crew was persuaded by him."
Da Huang: "Woof woof" [Who wants to fool me?]
Su Qing glared at Da Huang. Why are you involved in this? He then said, "Shouldnât it be fooling Da Qing instead?"
"Uh... theyâre saying your intelligence is lower than Da Huangâs, like a dogâs!" Su He said timidly.
Su Qing: -_-|||
He knew that this group of netizens wouldnât pass up the chance to mock him, but he didnât care. Everything would be settled by the box office. Earning money is the real deal. What does it matter if he seems foolish, as long as he benefits?
"Alright, the moneyâs already spent, canât get it back. Now we just pray the movie sells big. If youâre free, help promote it. Iâll give you New Yearâs money this year!"
"Really? Thanks, bro, Iâm on it!"
Hearing this, Su He happily dashed back to the bedroom without even asking how much the New Yearâs money would be.
By noon, the siblings had indeed ordered takeout. It wasnât until 2:30 in the afternoon that their mom, Zhou Hui, returned with a beaming smile.
"Yo, my eldest is back! Did you have lunch?" Zhou Hui asked cheerfully as she entered the house, clearly having won some money.
"Yeah, we ate. How much did you win today?" Su Qing sat up and asked.
"Look at that, my eldest knows how to talk. I had a good day and won 44 bucks and 50 cents."
Saying this, Zhou Hui quickly put things down and went to the entrance to offer incense to the God of Wealth.
Su Qing: ...
He didnât know why, but he always felt his mom was a bit simple-minded. Why did she win such an exact amount?
Besides, why be so happy with 44 bucks and 50 cents? Someone who doesnât know would think she won forty-four thousand.
"Ahem," Su Qing coughed twice and cautiously said, "Mom, just for winning 44 bucks, thereâs no need to burn incense to the God of Wealth, right? This little money might not even be worth the incense youâre burning!"
This wasnât baseless; with his momâs selective belief in superstitions, sheâd believe in the God of Wealth for 300 out of 365 days. The incense burnt in a year costs more than that!
Arenât we supposed to avoid idle deities? What good is a God of Wealth who brings in only 44 bucks?
He even thought about taking down the God of Wealthâs painting and putting up his own photo since heâs the real God of Wealth for their family now.
"What do you know, this is called wealth luck, not about the amount you win, but having a good omen. Besides, itâs 44 bucks and 50 cents, not just 44 bucks!" Zhou Hui glared at her precious eldest son and spat.
Hearing this, Su Qing spread his hands: "Whatâs the difference?"
When he was a kid, he could buy a pack of spicy sticks or five spicy slices for fifty cents. Now fifty cents gets him two plastic bags at most, and a pack of spicy sticks costs three bucks.
"Of course thereâs a difference. Listen, your mom didnât just win 44 bucks, but 44 bucks and 50 cents. Round it up, and itâs 45 bucks. Round it up again, and itâs 50 bucks. Round it again, and itâs 100 bucks."
Su Qing: (ΩĐΩ)
He had to admit, his mom understood rounding up.
"I consider it as having earned back the 100 bucks for your sister. You two got a good meal for free." Zhou Hui proudly said, tilting her head proudly.
Su Qing: ...
"Alright, whatever makes you happy!"
For things like this, he felt he couldnât argue with his mom, or heâd easily get infuriated to death.
"By the way, whereâs your sister?"
"In the bedroom. By the way, Mom, what filling are the dumplings tonight? I like the three delicacies filling, donât make meat ones, theyâre too greasy!"
"Youâll have to ask your dad about that. Your mom here doesnât handle these things!"
Saying this, Zhou Hui worshipped the God of Wealth and then turned around and went back to her room, even humming a little tune. Gotta say, not having a care in the world is a blessing. He just couldnât do it; itâs a wonder Old Su could manage all these years.
At five in the afternoon, Old Su leisurely returned home, carrying a bunch of ingredients: "Tonight weâre having beef dumplings, whoâs in favor, whoâs against!"
Su Qing immediately raised his hand: "Iâm against it!"
Su He followed suit: "Iâm against it too!"
Zhou Hui glanced over: "As long as I donât have to do anything, I have no objections."
Old Su: "Great, three against two, objection overruled."
The siblings: ...
"Whyâs that?"
"Yeah, why? I donât agree, Dad, I donât want to eat beef dumplings, and itâs clearly two against two, how is it three to two?"
No sooner had the words left his mouth when Old Su nudged the big yellow dog by his feet: "Meat or vegetarian? Bark once for meat, bark a hundred times for vegetarian!"
Big Yellow: "Woof?" [Are you crazy?]
"See, Big Yellow also wants beef dumplings, three to two, you two, give me a hand!"
Su Qing: ...
Su He: ...
Youâve got to say, their parents really had a way about them.
By seven at night, it was completely dark, but the outside was brilliantly lit. Not to mention, the two lanterns on their homeâs balcony, which looked like nightclub lights, were in full swing. Anyone would think they were throwing a party.
Su Qing and Su He both had sullen faces. Who knows what their mom was thinking when she bought those lanterns.
"Arenât they beautiful? Look, you two, arenât they pretty!"
Su Qing: "Haha~ Beautiful!"
Su He: "Haha~ Theyâre amazing, Mom!"
At this moment, the siblings and Old Su were gathered around the coffee table in the living room making beef dumplings.
Su He cuts the sections, he rolls out the skins, Old Su wraps the dumplings, and their mom cheers them on from the side. The TV was on, and the family waited to watch the Spring Festival Gala.
Just then, his phone rang.
"Hello, hi."
"Hello, is this Mr. Su? You have a package delivered," came a voice on the phone.
"A package? I havenât bought anything?"
"That I donât know. Where should I leave it..."
Then Su Qing sent his current location, and half an hour later, a knock on the door sounded, and he took a thin package from the delivery guy with a puzzled look.
"Whatâs up, son?" Zhou Hui asked.
Su Qing shook his head: "Not sure who sent this package to me, itâs odd to see delivery guys still working on New Yearâs."
"A package? Could it be something Shen Yi prepared as a surprise for you?" Mom Zhou Hui immediately rushed over and said excitedly.
Sheâd watched plenty of idol dramas and was all too familiar with such scenes. It was just romance between young people.
Hearing this, Su Qing was taken aback. Come to think of it, that might be possible. With this thought, he decided to contact his girlfriend to ask.
At the same time, in the small county town of Anhai City, Shen Yi was hanging out with four other women of roughly the same age.
But these four werenât much to look at, and three of them were already married and had kids, they were Shen Yiâs high school classmates.
"What? Shen Yi, youâre actually dating a younger guy? Thatâs a loss!"
"Thatâs right, he just turned 23 this year, what experience could he have?"
"If you ask me, this guyâs clearly a newbie, Shen Yi, are you teaching him?"
"Seriously, Shen Yi, I recently dated a younger guy myself, he doesnât know a thing, itâs so annoying!"
Shen Yi: ...
...