115 The woman's secret stash exploded once again, shattering five thousand!

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Cheng Xuemin’s explanation to his eldest brother-in-law was useless. By the time the two of them returned home, the house had already been overrun by a group of women!

“Old Cheng, I heard from Lin that you’re going to play the herdsman Xu Lingjun?”

Feng Jiamo, the youngest sister-in-law, was the first to rush up and shout at Cheng Xuemin when she saw them come back.

“Uh…”

Cheng Xuemin parked his bike and looked at Zhu Lin, who was sitting by the fire, and the slightly smaller Zhu Shan next to her. He felt a bit overwhelmed.

He had just told his eldest brother-in-law on the way back not to say anything rash, so what was going on with this "kingdom of women"?

Had they come to his house in advance to announce it?

“Xuemin, come over here! Are you really going to act in ‘The Herdsman’ as Xu Lingjun?”

Cheng Xuemin ignored the mischievous youngest sister-in-law, but since it was his wife, Feng Jiayou, who invited him to answer, he couldn’t avoid it this time.

He had no choice but to grit his teeth and step closer. “Jiayou, here’s the deal. Today, the Yanying Film Studio held auditions using the script I wrote!”

“Unfortunately, Zhu Shimao, who was originally booked to play Xu Lingjun, wasn’t present. So, the old men Lao Teng and Lao Xie at Yanying Film Studio grabbed my eldest brother-in-law’s manservant to stand in for the audition.”

“But my eldest brother-in-law couldn’t handle it and ended up pushing me forward. Lao Teng and Lao Xie even egged me on to try it out—I had no choice!”

“Right, big brother?!”

After saying this, he directly passed the blame to his eldest brother-in-law Feng Jiazhao, who had initially stood in but failed, thus prompting Cheng Xuemin to take over.

“That’s exactly how it is!” Feng Jiazhao came in and scanned the group of women present, adding, “Lao Xie and Lao Teng both said that the way Xuemin and Zhu Lin acted together was so authentic, if Xuemin plays Xu Lingjun, then Li Xiuzhi would definitely be Zhu Lin’s role!”

Damn it!

Brother-in-law, can you act human for once? When did Lao Xie and the others ever say that?

Cheng Xuemin’s face darkened immediately. If you can’t talk properly, please just keep quiet. Looks like tonight’s punishment with the washboard is inevitable!

“Really? Brother Jiazhao, did the leaders at Yanying Film Studio really say that? They want me to play Li Xiuzhi?”

Zhu Lin’s eyes instantly brightened with joy upon hearing Feng Jiazhao’s words. Zhu Shan glanced at Cheng Xuemin with obvious shyness, her face flushed. She hadn’t forgotten the love letter, had she?

Feng Jiayou and the others looked equally stunned, surprised that these two seemed to have such strong acting talent.

Zhu Lin was somewhat understandable—after all, her mother was a veteran artist and her father a professor at the Yandian Academy. She had grown up immersed in the arts and naturally had some acting talent.

But Cheng Xuemin?

He was just a man from northern Shaanxi who wrote articles, which was already impressive enough. How could he also pass a film audition on the first try?

If Cheng Xuemin really played Xu Lingjun, it would mean he wrote the script, and now the lead role, old Xu, was also portrayed by him. Everything would fall perfectly into place!

“That hasn’t been decided yet, but that’s what they said,” Feng Jiazhao added vaguely, then retreated to his own room.

“Lin, my brother means that if Old Cheng plays Xu Lingjun, then your Li Xiuzhi is guaranteed!”

“If he doesn’t play Xu Lingjun, it’s uncertain whether you’ll get Li Xiuzhi!”

“Right, big brother?!”

The youngest sister-in-law, Feng Jiamo, chimed in, asking Feng Jiazhao for confirmation, but he didn’t dare respond and pretended not to hear.

Anyway, Lao Xie and Lao Pan gave that impression, and they brought back everything they heard. How it would turn out was up to them to guess.

“No, no! I told Lao Xie and Lao Teng at the time, I don’t have time to act!”

“I’m swamped with articles and manuscripts—I can’t spare the time!”

Cheng Xuemin quickly shook his head in denial. When had Lao Xie and Lao Teng ever said that? For Zhu Lin to want Li Xiuzhi, it didn’t mean Cheng Xuemin had to play Xu Lingjun!

No way. His eldest brother-in-law must really not care that there are so many women in the family to blurt out nonsense like this—it could get someone hurt!

After saying this, he immediately retreated to his own room. There were too many women outside, and he didn’t think he could handle them.

Outside, Feng Jiayou and Feng Jiamo, Zhu Lin and Zhu Shan, along with sister-in-law Ke Yumei and second sister-in-law Sun Juan, gathered by the fire, chatting and laughing.

Cheng Xuemin knew that his eldest brother-in-law’s words had just stirred all the women’s curiosity.

If anyone else spoke up now, it would definitely ignite the fire.

Thankfully, no one interrupted. When Cheng Xuemin noticed Feng Jiayou coming in to call him for dinner, he saw that the Zhu sisters had already left.

They had come purely to inquire about Zhu Lin’s audition result.

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Although Lao Teng immediately decided that Zhu Lin should report to Yanying Film Studio tomorrow, since Cheng Xuemin and Feng Jiazhao—the two examiners—lived just outside the door, it was natural for them to come over and ask about the follow-up.

“Xuemin, are you drawing?” Feng Jiayou asked casually when she came in and saw Cheng Xuemin sketching something on paper.

“Yeah, just doodling, trying to change my mindset.”

Cheng Xuemin nodded, not hiding or sneaking around with his illustrations. He was openly sketching in front of the women, fully confident in his excuse: a creative block and an attempt to refresh his mind.

If Feng Jiayou knew that his casual sketches could earn a 12-yuan fee, she wouldn’t believe it!

Cheng Xuemin himself didn’t even realize how valuable his storyboard illustrations were until the art editor of People’s Literature, Lao Pan, sought him out.

Many magazines paid separately for illustrations. Feng Jiayou, having barely published two articles, wouldn’t know this.

So Cheng Xuemin’s little illustration side income was completely out in the open, right under Feng Jiayou’s nose.

“Out of inspiration?”

Feng Jiayou, unsurprisingly, didn’t suspect anything. She knew this was her husband’s way of trying to find inspiration.

She tenderly stepped forward, massaging his temples, and suggested, “Why don’t you try playing Xu Lingjun? Think of it as a way to refresh your mind.”

“I heard from Lin just now that Director Xie promised not to take up too much of your time—just about a month. Why not go out and relax a bit?”

“You’ve been working so hard lately. I’m worried you’re under too much pressure.”

Feng Jiayou had thought about it. Initially, she was eager to write and publish to earn money for a new house. She realized her husband’s pressure was indeed heavy.

But now things were different!

Their little savings were enough to buy a house.

If it weren’t for wanting a better place, the money they had could already buy one of the courtyards they had seen before.

Good houses were hard to find, so they could take their time. The pressure wasn’t as great as before.

Feng Jiayou felt sorry for her husband and constantly worried about him.

If Cheng Xuemin wanted to play Xu Lingjun, she certainly wouldn’t stop him. Hearing him say he didn’t have time to refuse made her even more sympathetic.

As for worrying about Zhu Lin playing Li Xiuzhi?

In this era, the entertainment industry was a pure profession of revolutionary friendship—none of the messy scandals and gossip common in later times.

“Wifey, I really don’t have time!”

Cheng Xuemin didn’t expect Feng Jiayou to be so supportive, but he truly had no time.

Besides, he said, “Besides, your belly’s getting bigger every day. How could I go out filming now?”

“Forget it. I’ll have my brother tell Lao Xie we’re turning it down.”

Cheng Xuemin put down his pencil and grasped Feng Jiayou’s hands sincerely.

“Really not going?”

“Then Lin will be disappointed, won’t she?”

Seeing Cheng Xuemin’s firm tone, Feng Jiayou didn’t press further, but couldn’t help mentioning Zhu Lin’s hopeful look when she asked for help before leaving.

Her brother Feng Jiazhao had said if Cheng Xuemin didn’t play Xu Lingjun, Yanying Film Studio might not let Zhu Lin get Li Xiuzhi.

Feng Jiayou wondered just how well-matched they must be to make Director Xie and Yanying Film Studio insist on having them cast together.

If she had known that Yanying Film Studio was auditioning actors from “The Herdsman” script and had conscripted her husband to play Xu Lingjun, she might have tried for the role of Li Xiuzhi herself.

But that would risk competing for the role.

Besides, Feng Jiayou wasn’t sure if she could play Li Xiuzhi well, even though others praised her as the perfect match for Xu Lingjun.

And most importantly, she was currently pregnant and couldn’t act even if she wanted to.

“There’s nothing to be disappointed about! My brother was just teasing. If I’m not mistaken, Lao Xie will probably cast Zhu Lin.”

Feng Jiayou nodded at Cheng Xuemin’s words. “Anyway, it’s only about a month. Xuemin, if you want to go, go. If not, just have your brother tell Lao Xie.”

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“Okay!”

“Oh, by the way, wifey, we can celebrate again tonight!”

Cheng Xuemin pulled out a payment slip from Yanying Film Studio for two thousand yuan in script fees, grinning slyly at Feng Jiayou.

“Really got paid!?”

“Two thousand? Didn’t big brother say it was only seventeen hundred?”

Feng Jiayou’s eyes lit up mischievously as she snatched the slip to see how much it was.

To her surprise, it was two thousand, not the seventeen hundred her brother had mentioned.

Though three hundred more, neither Feng Jiayou nor Cheng Xuemin was disappointed at first because that was already a lot for a small script compared to article fees.

Now seeing it was two thousand surprised Feng Jiayou even more.

“I guess it was always two thousand, but I think Yanying Film Studio deliberately lowballed my brother first, then raised the price face-to-face to make us feel better!”

Cheng Xuemin looked at his little money-minded wife. If he weren’t holding back, he’d have to show off all his skills tonight just for fun!

“Well, you gotta appreciate them a little! So, Xuemin, you really won’t go?”

Feng Jiayou nodded repeatedly, happily rubbing the payment slip. There was no way this was fake.

“Hey, Old Cheng! Time to eat! What are you dawdling about in there?”

At that moment, the youngest sister-in-law Feng Jiamo barged in, calling out loudly.

Seeing her sister quickly trying to hide something, Feng Jiamo’s sharp eyes caught sight of the slip and exclaimed, “Wow, Old Cheng, you’ve got another payment slip?!”

“Sis, let me see, let me see! How much did Old Cheng make this time?”

She rushed forward, eager to grab it.

“Don’t fight, don’t fight! Feng Jiamo, be careful!”

Feng Jiayou said this, but her hands didn’t hold back, proudly flaunting the two-thousand-yuan slip right in front of Feng Jiamo.

Feng Jiamo’s eyes nearly popped out, gasping, “No way!? Two thousand!? Sis, how did Old Cheng earn this? Is writing really that lucrative?”

“Old Cheng, you’re like a wealthy landlord now!”

Shocked and stunned, Feng Jiamo’s mind raced. Ever since it was revealed that the author of “The Herdsman,” Old Xu, was their Old Cheng, she wondered how much he had earned for her sister.

She knew it was at least five thousand yuan!

Five thousand!

Back when Feng Jiamo was thrilled just to get a few cents from her parents now and then, her sister and Old Cheng had quietly earned over five thousand!

Truly a wealthy landlord!

If this were a few years ago, she’d definitely have been beaten for this!

“Sis, Old Cheng…”

Seeing her sister so pleased, Feng Jiamo tried to flatter her, but got a sharp look and instantly understood. She cried out, “Sis! Brother-in-law! Good brother-in-law, give me some pocket money!”

“Look at Zhu Shan—her sister gave her five yuan as soon as she came back…”

“Didn’t I give you pocket money when I got back?”

Before Feng Jiamo finished, Feng Jiayou raised an eyebrow and said, “If you call brother-in-law nice and good a few more times, maybe he’ll reward you one or two yuan!”

But no matter what, Zhu Lin gave her sister pocket money as a real sister. Feng Jiamo was envious and jealous but had forgotten that when she returned from northern Shaanxi, she went to the western suburbs to see Feng Jiamo, who was given ten yuan!

That didn’t even include the meat and malted milk powder she bought for her uncle’s family!

How could she forget all this in such a short time?

…