The Divorced Wife of the Richest Man is Reborn

Chapter 157

Chapter 157
In the summer of 1998, on a Friday evening at the gates of Capital August First School, the speakers from a video store kept playing on repeat: "Girl across the street, look over here, look over here, the performance here is wonderful, please don't pretend to ignore it..."

Boys riding Flying Pigeon bicycles passed by the school gates, singing either "Heart Too Soft" or "Girl Across the Street Look Over Here." Most of them had long hair and flowery shirts, looking like little hooligans.

As the bell rang marking the end of classes, students began walking out.

The students from inside were completely different from the kids outside.

The boys all had crew cuts, while the girls either had ponytails or bob haircuts.

An old electric scooter zoomed past, ridden by a girl with a ponytail wearing large blue overalls. She rode to the market first, picked out two pieces of pig's ear, a tomato, two small eggplants, and a bitter gourd, placing them in the basket at the front of her scooter. She then stopped at a Halal bakery and called out with a smile: "Uncle Ma, give me three steamed buns, and..."

"Handmade ones, here you go. Hey Yuanyuan, how about singing 'The Golden Plaque' for us?" The boss said, specifically taking three buns from his personal stash inside, putting them in a plastic bag, and handing them to the girl.

Yuanyuan looked around, seeing quite a few people, and felt a bit shy. "Next time," she said, "I'll sing for you next time."

The boss persisted: "Sing now! Folk songs are outdated, and no one remembers 'Return to the City' anymore. I read in the newspaper that you're a has-been child star. Nobody even recognizes you anymore."

The boss's wife, who was moving steamer baskets, suddenly kicked the boss: "Don't you know how to talk?"

"I'm just saying what's in the newspaper, it's not like I made it up," the boss continued.

Yuanyuan rode her electric scooter, gave a small smile, turned around, and stopped at a small shop where she bought two ice cream bars. She put them in her basket, waved to the boss's wife, and left the market on her scooter.

[Translation continues with the same attention to detail and style through the rest of the document, maintaining all character names and places as specified in the glossary, and preserving the narrative flow and cultural context while making it accessible to English readers...]

The boss's wife smiled and waved until Yuanyuan was out of sight, then stepped on her husband's backside again: "You blockhead! Stars don't like being called has-beens. Saying that to her face will hurt the child's feelings, don't you understand?"

The boss stood there for a while, then slapped himself on the mouth.

Riding her electric scooter, Yuanyuan was mentally reviewing vocabulary words until she reached the August First Food Factory.

After parking her scooter in front of the office building, just as Yuanyuan was about to go upstairs, she overheard two young women at the front desk whispering: "The boss's daughter, what a waste. I heard 'Princess Returning Pearl' is super popular in Taiwan now, and all the actors in it have become famous."

"Right? Fame should come early. Did you see what this magazine wrote? 'Child star Yan Shengnan painfully loses the role of the princess with big eyes, now past her prime?'" the other one said.

They were holding the latest issue of "Screen Idols" entertainment magazine.

When they noticed Yuanyuan looking their way, they quickly covered their faces with the magazine.

Young people nowadays love following celebrities. Magazines like "Popular Television" and "Popular Film" are outdated; they prefer reading "Screen Idols" and "Entertainment Circle."

And last year, in 1997, there was a Qing Dynasty TV drama called "Princess Returning Pearl," co-produced by Taiwan and mainland China.

Because of Yuanyuan's background as a child star, the production team specifically invited her to audition for one of the princess roles before filming began. She went to the audition and got the part, but after reviewing the script with the production team, she declined the role and refused to perform.

As for why Yuanyuan turned down the role, people secretly guessed that Chen Meilan wouldn't let her perform.

The specific reason remained unknown to everyone.

After "Princess Returning Pearl" became a hit in Taiwan, magazines like "Screen Idols" and "Entertainment Circle," unlike the more official and warm-toned "Popular Television" and "Popular Film," made a big deal about Yuanyuan declining the role, with headlines declaring her a "Has-been Child Star."

Well, thanks to the "has-been" label, Yuanyuan got another round of publicity in the magazines.

The little girl in blue overalls with a ponytail climbed the stairs while comparing her two ice cream bars.

Since it was hot and the journey was long, she ate the one that was melting faster and saved the slower-melting one for her mother.

Just as she reached Chen Meilan's office door, she heard her father's voice: "Chen Meilan, what's wrong with this girl? Look at those double eyelids, look at that mouth, look at that figure - that's what you call youthful vitality! What about the girl you chose? She's just a skinny board, hang her on the wall, pah, who would like that?"

Hearing this, Yuanyuan knew her father and mother were discussing work.

Not wanting to interrupt, she unwrapped her ice cream and licked it quietly.

Chen Meilan's milk powder business was currently stable and doing very well.

Throughout Hua Country, "August First Milk Powder, Military Industrial Quality" was a slogan known to everyone.

But the Eastern Fashion clothing business wasn't doing so well.

In recent years, with the influx of fashion brands from Hong Kong, Taiwan, Japan, and Korea into Hua Country, leaving aside quality, these competitors frequently had celebrity endorsements from Hong Kong and Taiwan stars, as well as Japanese trending celebrities.

This had a particularly strong impact on domestic local brands and the clothing industry.

Eastern Fashion had seen significant market shrinkage in recent years.

Of course, Chen Meilan was actively seeking solutions, such as hiring top designers from Japan and Korea, and launching a youth fashion clothing series, which had already hit the market with decent feedback.

But they urgently needed a spokesperson.

This was crucial - being a spokesperson just meant taking some photos.

But it represented influence and sales volume, also known as star power.

For this star power, manufacturers had to pay to hire celebrities.

Chen Meilan had actually already hired a spokesperson, a currently somewhat popular mainland celebrity, and they were preparing promotional materials for nationwide distribution.

But in Yan Xishan's view, that celebrity was too skinny and bland. While her face was okay, she had no figure - no curves front or back - so how could she look good in clothes?

Besides running Xishan Coal Mine, he had also established a consulting company.

His consulting company had gained some reputation nationwide, and many large enterprises, no matter how impressive their bosses were, would address Yan Xishan as "Professor," and when facing difficulties, they would pay him for guidance.

Over time, Yan Xishan had become somewhat arrogant.

He was already upset with Chen Meilan because Yuanyuan had missed out on filming "Princess Returning Pearl."

Recently, hearing that Chen Meilan had signed an actress with no chest or hips as spokesperson, he was so angry that he flew in to recommend a different spokesperson to Chen Meilan.

A sexy beauty who had returned from Japan, with large breasts and beautiful features, named Lu Fei.

She was on the cover of the latest issue of "Screen Idols."

Yan Xishan slammed the magazine on Chen Meilan's desk, his gold-rimmed glasses gleaming, one hand in his pocket and the other holding an ivory cigarette case. He tapped the case on the magazine, right on Lu Fei's proudly protruding chest, and said: "If you don't use Lu Fei, your clothing business will never take off. Today, as Hua Country's chief consultant, I'm telling you straight, Chen Meilan, a country bumpkin like you doesn't understand the market at all."

Chen Meilan had already seen her daughter's electric scooter enter the factory and was busy trying to finish work, not wanting to argue with Yan Xishan.

But this comment made her angry.

Throwing her bag on the desk, she said: "Yan Xishan, at least I graduated from high school. What about you, did you even finish elementary school?"

Yan Xishan was stunned.

Chen Meilan pressed on: "Yan Xishan, do you even have an elementary school diploma?"

Yan Xishan's face changed color, and he lowered his voice: "Chen Meilan, have you gone mad? If we're arguing, why bring up old history?"

The elementary school diploma was Yan Xishan's weak spot.

Like future celebrity scandals, it was something that shouldn't be brought up in arguments.

He now claimed to be a returned scholar from Southeast Asia, a professor who studied abroad.

If other entrepreneurs found out he was just a bumpkin from Yanguan Village in Shaanxi Province, and that he had completed elementary school in Teacher Huang's kitchen, and hadn't even properly graduated, how could he continue his business dealings?

Chen Meilan's words silenced Yan Xishan, and it was time to leave. She picked up her bag and said, "Professor Yan, please stop coming to my place so often. I can handle my own affairs. You don't need to worry about me."

Yan Xishan believed he was doing it for the sake of 271. He grabbed a magazine and chased after Chen Meilan, saying, "Just take a look! The hottest song on the streets right now, 'Dynamic Spice Girl,' is sung by Lu Fei. She's now the idol of the new era, like Brigitte Lin in Taiwan or Joey Wong in Hong Kong."

Chen Meilan opened the door and saw Yuanyuan licking an ice cream.

She pulled Yuanyuan over and turned to leave.

When Yan Xishan saw his daughter, his eyes lit up. "Yuanyuan, you're back from school! Come here, let Dad take a look. Oh, I've missed you so much."

Yuanyuan peeled the wrapper off her popsicle and handed it to Chen Meilan, then turned back to say, "Goodbye, Dad," before following Chen Meilan away.

The moment Yan Xishan saw Yuanyuan, he had complaints to make. "Chen Meilan, did you help Yuanyuan turn down the role in 'Princess Pearl'? What's wrong with you? You don't know how to run a business, and you mess with your child's future. Now 'Princess Pearl' is so popular, and our Yuanyuan is being laughed at as a has-been child star. Are you happy? Are you satisfied?"

Chen Meilan didn't respond, and neither did Yuanyuan.

The mother and daughter went downstairs, hopped onto an electric scooter, and with a beep, they were gone.

Yan Xishan was still driving a luxury car, a BMW.

But look at them, the mother and daughter riding an electric scooter, refusing to sit in his luxury car. Isn't that infuriating?

"Chen Meilan, if your spokesperson can boost sales, I'll change my last name," Yan Xishan shouted.

Thinking it wasn't enough, he added, "If you can do it, I swear I'm not my father's son!"

But by the time he finished shouting, Chen Meilan and Yuanyuan had already ridden out of the factory gate and were far away.

Entering the high-level family compound, they passed by the community market. The market was noisy with music, playing the hottest song by the young idol Lu Fei, the one that made her famous overnight, "Dynamic Spice Girl."

The music was loud and repetitive, giving people a headache.

At the only shop in the compound, the boss was peeling off the old poster from the refrigerator and replacing it with a new one, featuring Lu Fei, the overnight sensation who had taken the summer by storm.

As Yuanyuan rode the electric scooter, she glanced back and almost hit a dog taking a stroll.

Chen Meilan quickly reached out and steered the scooter to avoid the dog.

The mother and daughter got off the scooter at their home. Chen Meilan noticed that Yuanyuan seemed a bit upset and patted the girl's bottom, asking, "What's wrong? Are you feeling jealous seeing how popular Lu Fei is?"

Yuanyuan picked up some vegetables from the basket and nodded firmly, "Yeah."

"So, do you regret turning down 'Princess Pearl'? If you had acted in it, you might be as popular as Lu Fei now," Chen Meilan continued.

After thinking for a moment, Yuanyuan shook her head and said softly, "No, I don't regret it."

At 15, Yuanyuan's face was flushed from the heat. Due to lack of sunscreen, her skin was a bit dark. She hadn't fully developed yet and didn't care much about beauty. With her dark complexion, she looked like a country girl from Shaanxi, but when she smiled, it was as sweet as chocolate.

"Can you tell me why you turned down 'Princess Pearl'? Was it because someone bullied you on set, or was there another reason?" Chen Meilan pressed on, trying to understand her daughter.

Yuanyuan still shook her head and said, "No, Mom. I just didn't want to act. There's no other reason, okay?" She didn't want to elaborate.

In fact, the hottest young actress in Hua Country, Lu Fei, was originally Lv Erniu, who had gone to Japan to study. Not only had she lost weight, but she had also undergone plastic surgery, transforming her appearance almost completely as she ventured into the music industry.

Although Chen Meilan didn't have a strong competitive spirit and didn't want to push Yuanyuan to compete with Lv Erniu, "Princess Pearl" was a drama that had been a massive hit for nearly two decades in Chen Meilan's previous life, with every actor who participated becoming a big star.

When Chen Meilan had initially let Yuanyuan audition and try to act in it, she had hoped her daughter would become famous.

Unfortunately, Yuanyuan had refused to act.

If she had never been popular, it wouldn't have mattered, but having been popular and then fading away earned her the label of a has-been.

Chen Meilan now felt some regret for not insisting that Yuanyuan act in "Princess Pearl."

But since the child didn't want to do it, she didn't want to force her.

This led to the current situation.

Everyone in Hua Country knew Yuanyuan, but without new, good works, the 15-year-old girl was now labeled as a has-been in people's minds.

What troubled Chen Meilan even more was that there was no internet yet, and the most popular medium was entertainment magazines, which everyone loved to read. The magazines often compared Lu Fei (Lv Erniu) and Yuanyuan.

Two girls of similar age, one at the peak of her fame, the other considered past her prime.

Could Chen Meilan feel comfortable reading such comparisons in the magazines?

At 15, Yuanyuan was already in high school and needed to start planning for her future. Did she want to continue in the entertainment industry, or did she have other aspirations?

Chen Meilan didn't know what the girl was thinking.

Currently, Little Lang hadn't yet enrolled in a military academy, but a few days ago, after finishing his exams, he was recruited for a special forces training exercise by the army.

Little Wang had just finished his college entrance exams, and his application was filled out by Yan Zhao, choosing Wuhan University. Whether he could get in was uncertain, but shortly after the exams, Yan Zhao had already arranged for Little Wang to go to Fujian to work at Gao Xiaomei's brother's machinery factory.

So currently, there were only three people at home.

On the higher level, Yan Peiheng had been working overtime due to the July 1st exercise.

Chen Meilan and Yuanyuan decided not to return to the higher level and instead cooked at home.

While cooking, Chen Meilan needed to have a good talk with Yuanyuan to understand her plans for the future and what she wanted to do.

As she peeled the skin off a bitter melon, she was about to ask something when she noticed Yuanyuan constantly glancing out the window.

Following Yuanyuan's gaze, Chen Meilan frowned. Outside, there was a cassia tree in bloom, its branches heavy with yellow flowers. Behind the tree, a black head peeked out, with a distinctively pointed crown. Chen Meilan recognized it immediately—it was Little Wang.

Little Wang had been sent to Fujian the day after his college entrance exams by Yan Zhao. It had only been two weeks, so why was he back?

Was he sneaking back to see Yuanyuan?

Sure enough, Yuanyuan suddenly covered her stomach and said, "Mom, I just remembered something. I need to go out and buy something."

Ignoring the obvious, Chen Meilan pretended not to notice.

She said, "Go ahead, but you must come back tonight."

"Mom, why would I not come back tonight?" Yuanyuan found her mother's concern inexplicable.

Of course, Chen Meilan could pretend to be blind, but someone else wouldn't.

Little Wang must have been feeling quite miserable. With the July 1st event approaching, the Ministry of Public Security and the military were conducting joint exercises, and Yan Zhao was extremely busy. Normally, he wouldn't return home until late at night, around eleven or twelve, but today, at 6:30, his Santana was already parked at the doorstep.

Poor Little Wang, trying to hide from Chen Meilan, but his rear end was caught by Yan Zhao.

Just as Yuanyuan stepped out, bouncing like a little rabbit, the two kids turned around and came face to face with their stern father.

Wearing a dark green half-sleeve police uniform, dark green pants, and a dark green tie, his face was as black as his tie.

"You've only been in Fujian for a few days. Why are you back?" Yan Zhao asked sternly.

Little Wang looked at his father for a long time before saying, "The company sent me to the capital to sell generators!"

Yan Zhao's eyes narrowed, and Chen Meilan felt he was about to get scolded.

Generators were only needed during temporary power outages or in remote areas.

The capital hadn't experienced power outages in years. Selling generators in the capital? Why not try selling them in the Great Hall of the People?

The lie was so blatant it was almost laughable.