When "Yin Yang Kaleidoscope" finished filming its third part, the company took its annual holiday, and filming was temporarily suspended.
Although Yao Chong's "Jade City Darling" was not scheduled for the Lunar New Year slot, its release date was set for early in the year, making him particularly busy during this period. Yao's mother's work abroad continued until late December, and she returned before the new year.
The family gathered to celebrate the New Year. On the third day of the new year, Zhuo Qin and Zhong Yan returned to the place where he lived as a child to visit his grandmother.
This was the only ray of brilliance in "Zhong Yan's" ten-odd years of life, but sadly, it disappeared too soon.
Influenced by his emotions, Zhong Yan had been particularly down lately. According to the information Zhuo Qin had someone investigate, his grandmother had passed away during the New Year.
At that time, his father had gotten into trouble elsewhere and dared not return. His enemies then came to their home, looted the valuables, and smashed anything that wasn't valuable. While his grandmother was arguing with those people, she was pushed and fell against a cabinet. After being sent to the hospital, his mother, lacking money and unwilling to save her, watched his grandmother die with his own eyes.
His greatest self-reproach was that he had gone to his maternal grandmother's house early that morning. When he returned, the old woman was already unconscious. He hadn't even had a chance to say a final word to her. Su Dan Novel Network.
The original host's personality was extremely withdrawn and depressed.
After becoming Zhong Yan, his personality became slightly more cheerful.
Their return this time was primarily to pay respects to his grandmother, and secondarily to visit his maternal relatives.
Because the original host's mother later became addicted to gambling and gambled excessively, she had little contact with his maternal grandmother's side of the family. However, Zhong Yan's expenses in high school were largely covered by his maternal uncle.
They didn't expect him to repay the money; they just wanted him to have a better future.
Zhuo Qin's Maserati stopped in front of a rural house. It was now Chinese New Year, and unlike city dwellers, the villagers were very lively during this festival. People gathered in small groups, playing cards, chatting, and bantering, creating a bustling atmosphere.
There were already many people gathered in front of the Liang family's door, chatting or playing cards. Seeing an unfamiliar car parked in front of their house, the Liang family members were surprised, and some even stood up.
"Whose car is this?"
"Don't recognize it."
The two of them got out of the car. Zhong Yan looked at the house, which had clearly changed, and the unfamiliar faces. He stood there for a while.
Zhuo Qin also got out of the car. "Is this the place?"
He nodded. Just as he was about to speak, a man in his 40s walked over, looking at him with disbelief. "You, are you Zhong Yan?"
Zhong Yan nodded and tentatively asked, "Uncle."
The other person responded excitedly and called out loudly, "Yan Yan is back!"
Some people in the crowd didn't recognize him. Under the explanation of others, they learned that he was the child of the Liang family's daughter who had married into the city. The news of Zhong Yan's father being imprisoned for murder had spread like wildfire. Many people felt that the Liang family had gone to great lengths to marry their daughter into the city, only to gain nothing and even lose their daughter.
The Liang family had helped Zhong Yan's mother quite a bit, but later, when they found out she had been gambling away their house, they fell out.
Later, they were willing to pay for Zhong Yan's education, showing utmost kindness.
Unfortunately, the original host's personality was reclusive and depressed, and he had never thought of returning to see them.
When relatives came to pay their respects, those who were playing games in front of the Liang family's door consciously left. Zhuo Qin then retrieved the gifts bought in the car and carried them with Zhong Yan into the Liang family home.
The Liang family had two sons and one daughter. Their daughter, Zhong Yan's mother, had been married for many years and had only returned a few times. The two sons, though nominally separated, had built their houses together, side by side, and celebrated holidays together.
Both of Zhong Yan's aunts were from the village. They didn't show much joy at their arrival. They asked about Zhong Yan's situation over the years and Zhuo Qin's identity.
Zhong Yan introduced, "This is my girlfriend, her name is Yao Qin."
Seeing that he had found such a beautiful girlfriend, the Liang family members couldn't help but tease him. Zhong Yan became a little shy, holding Zhuo Qin's hand tightly.
After a brief conversation, Zhong Yan asked about his maternal grandmother.
The uncle who had greeted him earlier said, "Your maternal grandmother is in the room. She hasn't been feeling well lately and usually stays in her room. Do you want to see her?"
"Yes."
They followed his cousin Zhong Yan behind and went to a room behind the living room. The room was simply furnished, looking clean and warm. An elderly woman lay on the bed in the middle, dozing.
In Zhong Yan's memory, his maternal grandmother was a kind and energetic old lady. But after so many years, it was already difficult for the old woman to hold on.
"Grandma, cousin Yan Yan is here to see you."
The young girl went up and woke her up, then brought chairs for the two of them to catch up with the old lady, before running out.
In the living room, the two aunts were discussing something. The little girl who had just run out exclaimed, "Brother Yan looks so handsome now, and his girlfriend is even prettier than the campus belle at our school."
No one contradicted this. Thinking of the beautiful girl they had just met, they all said, "She is indeed very beautiful. Your cousin is a lucky man."
A seventeen or eighteen-year-old boy sighed, "I feel like cousin-in-law looks so familiar!"
The eldest aunt immediately scolded, "She's still his girlfriend, don't call her that carelessly. If word gets out, those gossips will surely say all sorts of things."
They were all from the same village, and they knew that among the good people around them, there were a few who loved to spread rumors.
It was already the 21st century, and some girls, after graduating from university and bringing their boyfriends home, would be subjected to rumors from gossipy women, suggesting they were pregnant or had had abortions, or had been dumped... saying whatever nasty thing they could think of.
The boy stuck out his tongue, dismissively saying, "They won't be staying here for long. They might leave tomorrow or the day after, so those gossips won't be able to talk about them."
His mother slapped him on the back and said, "Alright, aren't you going out to play? Hurry up, and don't talk nonsense."
"Mom, can I play with your phone for a bit?"
At seventeen or eighteen, they were in high school. Phones were not allowed at school, so their parents wouldn't buy them one.
Normally, they wouldn't have anything to play with, but it was the New Year, and parents would try their best to satisfy their children's requests. The woman then took out her phone and gave it to him.
The boy snatched the phone, smiled, and ran out.
As he reached the doorway, he looked at the cool-looking car parked there. He found the brand logo and searched for images, comparing them one by one. Soon, he confirmed the brand of the car.
Maserati.
He exclaimed in surprise and ran back into the house, exaggerating to his mother and aunt about the car being a big brand and how expensive it was.
The two women initially paid little attention until the boy pointed to the picture on his phone and said, "See, ten, hundred, thousand, ten thousand, hundred thousand, million, ten million, over twelve million. Oh my god, that's so much money!"