msmithbooks Chapter 202 Once the gift is delivered, the person doesn't have to come?
Chapter 202 Once the gift is delivered, the person doesn't have to come?
Chapter 202 Once the gift is delivered, the person doesn't have to come?
"Are you back?"
The mother-in-law pushed open the door and her gaze fell on Old Lin, whose cheeks were slightly flushed.
The air circulated, and a strong smell of alcohol hit her, causing her to frown.
Suddenly, she noticed that there seemed to be two other people following behind Lao Lin. After recognizing their faces, a warm smile immediately appeared on her face.
He greeted them warmly, saying, "Oh, President Xu—and Old Li! You're quite the rare guests!"
President Xu said sarcastically, "Little Duan, it seems like it's been a year since we last met. How come you're getting younger and younger?"
Director Li greeted her with a smile: "Comrade Duan Fang, you're as charming as ever!"
"You're not kidding me, are you? Then I'll take your words seriously!" the mother-in-law said with a smile.
After leading the two men inside, Old Lin, slightly tipsy, asked his mother-in-law, "Are there any playing cards left at home?"
"Have."
As the mother-in-law took several pairs of slippers from the shoe cabinet and placed them on the floor for them to change into, she asked curiously:
How many people went to your dinner party?
"The large round table was full; there must have been about twenty people," Old Lin replied.
"Didn't Xiao Yu go?" the mother-in-law continued to press.
"No, I sent him a text message, but he said he was hosting his cousin who was returning from studying abroad."
Hearing this, President Xu bent down to change his slippers and joked, "You're not a good son-in-law. Aren't your father-in-law more important than your cousin?"
Director Li chimed in, "Exactly! He doesn't even attend his father-in-law's promotion banquet. He doesn't understand the proper etiquette."
Old Lin waved his hand dismissively: "Hey! What promotion banquet? It's just that I'm happy today, so I'm treating my colleagues and friends to a casual get-together and a simple meal."
He paused for a moment, then continued with a smile, "And also, the golden needle tea you had this afternoon was a gift from my son-in-law the day before yesterday."
Director Li stood to the side, hands on his hips, still reeking of alcohol, and commented, "So, if the gift is delivered, the person doesn't have to come?"
The mother-in-law saw that her husband seemed a little slow-witted after having a few drinks, and that he was no match for the two men's teasing.
Smiling, she joined the fray: "Oh dear, our family already celebrated! You two, stop joking! You know what's going on with Xiao Yu and You Rong; they haven't even had their wedding yet!"
"Then we should hurry up and get it done. I've already prepared my gift money," President Xu joked with a smile.
Old Lin chuckled and said, "Brother Xu, don't worry, you definitely won't miss your share of the money."
After chatting and laughing for a while, the group changed into slippers and moved to the coffee table to sit down.
At this time, only the auxiliary lights were on in the living room, making it appear somewhat dim and hazy.
Upon seeing this, the mother-in-law quickly pressed the master switch, and the crystal chandelier directly above the coffee table immediately shone brightly, making the entire living room as bright as day.
At the same time, don't forget to turn on the standing air conditioner and set it to warm air.
President Xu sat comfortably on the sofa, while Director Li carried a small stool with his back to the television.
Old Lin, who was also sitting on a small stool, glanced sideways at the screen, where Zhejiang TV's New Year's Eve concert was playing.
He unwrapped the playing cards and casually asked his mother-in-law, "Has You Rong finished her performance on stage?"
Upon hearing this, the mother-in-law shook her head: "I've been looking for so long, but it seems like I don't see her."
Despite being a top-ranked and popular contestant on "The Voice of China," her name wasn't even mentioned, making it almost as if she were completely unknown.
Although the mother-in-law was full of doubts, she couldn't have a deep conversation with Lao Lin since there were guests present.
Old Lin frowned, and said with some concern, "Have you called her to ask?"
"I just called, but she didn't answer. I'll try again later." The mother-in-law turned around and said, "I'll go get you an ashtray and pour you some tea first."
"Comrade Duan Fang, thank you for your hard work!" Director Li bowed to express his gratitude.
President Xu smiled and said to Lao Lin, "That shouldn't be the case, Xiao Lin. Your son is so famous now, and he sings so well. Surely he can get on the New Year's Eve gala?"
"Then we don't know what her situation is." Old Lin shrugged.
After the mother-in-law had finished entertaining the guests, she stood quietly to the side, her eyes fixed on the playing cards in Lao Lin's hands, watching them play Run Fast.
He tried his best to suppress the urge to give orders, took out his phone from his pocket, and tried to call Lin Yourong again.
The phone receiver was pressed tightly against her ear, but a busy signal came from the other end of the line.
Knowing that her daughter was talking to someone else, the mother-in-law immediately hung up the phone.
She put her hands behind her back and continued watching them play cards, feeling an unbearable urge to join in.
A moment later, the phone rang.
The mother-in-law glanced at her phone screen, thought for a moment, then turned and went into the room, closing the door behind her.
Only then did the call connect:
"Hey, You Rong, I've been watching TV the whole time, why haven't I seen you on stage?"
Her gentle and caring words reached the other end of the phone.
Lin Yourong's bottle of complaints was uncorked by Yu Huan. In front of her own mother, her aggrieved voice poured out like beans spilling from a bamboo tube:
"Mom, I'm so angry! The song Yu Huan wrote for me became a hit, and then Canwen Company wanted to sign me to a full contract, but I wasn't too keen on it. As a result, the executive vice president of Canwen deliberately prevented me from participating in rehearsals and made me unable to go on stage!"
"what?"
Although the mother-in-law didn't quite understand the intricacies of the entertainment industry, she roughly understood that her daughter was being targeted and made things difficult.
She asked in surprise, "Didn't your dad already speak with the people at Zhejiang TV?"
"Mom, you don't understand. The 'Sing My Voice' program that I participated in was outsourced to Canwen Media by Zhejiang TV! And this New Year's Eve gala was also entirely organized by Canwen!"
"So you're saying your dad contacted the wrong person?" The mother-in-law's expression hardened, and she continued to press, "Didn't Xiaoru mediate?"
"It's not that I contacted the wrong person. Besides, Sister Ru is just my manager, not a high-level executive at Canwen! But the general manager of Canwen just came over and apologized to me, saying he'd help me contact a few satellite TV stations so I can appear on satellite programs to promote my album, and he'd also hold a few press conferences for my new album launch—"
Lin Yourong changed the subject and began to speak freely and complain:
"But my new album is so popular right now, I don't need all this messy promotion! It's noisy and noisy, and I have to deal with reporters' questions. I don't want to go!"
The mother-in-law pondered for a moment, then asked, "Does that executive vice president have some kind of grudge against you?"
As soon as she finished speaking, Lin Yourong's even more aggrieved voice came from the other end of the phone:
"Mom, you're right! That executive vice president is the son of Chairman Canwen. When I was recording my album in Shanghai, he came over to harass me every day. I've already made things clear, but I still can't get rid of him. He's greasy-haired and looks like a short, ugly gourd, he's disgusting! If it weren't for Sister Ru's sake, to avoid making things difficult for her, I would definitely have cursed him out to her face!"
The mother-in-law frowned slightly after hearing this, but smiled and said, "Have you contacted the phone number your father gave you?"
"Yes, I've already asked Sister Ru to help me make the contact. However, perhaps because I debuted through The Voice of China and have a management contract with Canwen, the program producer seems to be making some excuses..." Lin Yourong replied helplessly.
"So, you reject all those messy things, like press conferences, and all the compensation promised to you because of this."
The mother-in-law paused briefly, her tone resolute and decisive:
"The existing work arrangements should continue. Leave them some room for maneuver. You wait and discuss the contract termination with Canwen later—"
Lin Yourong abruptly interrupted her mother: "Huh? But I still want to continue being a singer in the future..."
After listening, the mother-in-law slowly said, "It's not that I don't want you to sing, I'm planning to transfer you to Aunt Long's company, that way I'll feel more at ease."
Hearing this, Lin Yourong finally breathed a sigh of relief and said, "Oh... then I'm relieved..."
The mother-in-law smiled, and vaguely heard melodious music coming from Lin Yourong's direction, so she casually asked, "Where are you now?"
"I'm at the New Year's Eve party."
“Your dad is playing cards with someone. I’ll talk to him about this in more detail tonight.”
"Oh..." Lin Yourong responded.
"Is there anything else?" the mother-in-law asked again.
"That's all..." Lin Yourong answered hesitantly, then suddenly whispered, "Why do I feel like you guys have suddenly become very supportive of me?"
Upon hearing this, the mother-in-law recalled Yu Huan's constant use of the word "wife" and jokingly said, "Your husband is so supportive of you, even using his talents to write songs for you. How could your father and I fall behind?"
"Um...oh..."
"Today I asked a young person at work to help me find that song written by Yu Huan online. You Rong, you sing it quite well!"
Lin Yourong chuckled lightly: "Right? That version has terrible sound quality, but you'll be able to hear the official version on Saturday!"
The mother and daughter chatted for a while longer before hanging up the phone.
The mother-in-law put her phone back in her pocket and returned to the living room.
The background music from Zhejiang TV's New Year's Eve concert is still playing.
The indoor temperature had risen by now, and the three card players had taken off their coats, revealing the knitwear they were wearing underneath.
Old Lin noticed that his shadow had fallen behind him again.
He stared at the playing cards in his hand as he asked, "What's the situation on her end?"
The mother-in-law said with a smile, "She's at the New Year's Eve celebration, nothing's wrong."
"Xiao Lin, does that mean your son isn't going to perform on stage anymore, but instead becoming an audience member?" President Xu joked.
Those present were mostly older folks who didn't pay much attention to the entertainment industry.
Although Lao Lin sensed something was amiss, he still casually said, "It's not up to her, as long as she doesn't cause me trouble outside."
"Hey, Lao Lin, what you're saying—"
Director Li counted out eleven straights and casually tossed them onto the coffee table:
"I watched You Rong grow up, she's very well-behaved!"
President Hsu threw out four A's and laughed, saying, "She used to be a tomboy with a delicate appearance, but now she's really grown up. When I suddenly saw her on TV, I felt like I didn't recognize her at all. She's become a female celebrity."
Old Lin calmly placed a pair of royal flush cards on the deck: "To be precise, he's a singer."
(End of this chapter)