"This film tells the story of Ashima. She refused to bow to oppression, embodying the ideal that light triumphs over darkness, kindness replaces evil, and freedom ends oppression. The film also reflects the 'unyielding' spirit of the Sani people of the Yi ethnic group."
"This is also a love story, and I'm sure the young people here will enjoy it!"
"Hee-hee!"
A girl in the audience couldn't help laughing out loud.
Director Yang chuckled after hearing that and said, "This young fellow He Yuzhu is quite something—both entertaining and insightful. If we show short films to guests in the future, we can completely put him in charge of it."
Hearing this, Deputy Director Li felt a tight squeeze in his chest and hurriedly said, "Director Yang, Master He has probably seen this film before, which is why he understands it so thoroughly. If it were another movie he wasn't familiar with, I'm afraid he wouldn't be able to handle the job."
Director Yang waved his hand. "Well, he can familiarize himself with the content beforehand! I was just mentioning it casually; the specific arrangements are still up to you."
"Understood, understood!"
Deputy Director Li quietly wiped the sweat from his forehead. Xu Damao had been introduced through his mistress, and if Xu were fired, it would be really hard for him to explain.
After introducing the film's background, He Yuzhu pressed the play button.
As the music started, colorful images appeared on the screen, drawing a wave of applause. After such a long wait, everyone was thrilled to be able to watch a movie and burst into warm applause for He Yuzhu. He simply pressed his palms together in return without saying much.
The film was indeed shot on location in genuine ethnic minority areas, with authentic and vivid backdrops, though the picture quality was slightly blurry. To He Yuzhu, the plot was far too simple—he could guess the ending right from the start. But for the viewers of that era, it was a rare treat.
He Yuzhu explained the movie to everyone as it played, answering questions on the spot whenever someone was confused. When the screening ended, the crowd called it fantastic and even suggested that he should be in charge of showing movies from then on.
Xu Damao stood awkwardly off to the side, wishing he could find a crack in the ground to crawl into. However, He Yuzhu had no interest in becoming a projectionist; he merely wanted to use this opportunity to humiliate Xu Damao and would never trade his job as a chef for this gig.
A projectionist might look glamorous, but the work was actually grueling, requiring trips to the countryside two or three times a week. When traveling to rural areas, one had to lug the projector and film reels on foot for dozens of miles. Still, for He Yuzhu, this bit of tiredness was nothing—after all, food was never an issue for him anyway.
With the film over, the audience broke into warm applause. Several leaders also came over to shake his hand and offer a few brief words of praise.
When everything wrapped up, He Yuzhu picked up his enamel mug and strode away.
Right then, Qin Jingru pulled her sister Qin Huairu over toward him.
After the crowd dispersed, Xu Damao saw Qin Jingru approaching He Yuzhu, and his heart filled with displeasure. The blows he had suffered today were too much to accept. Who would have thought that Shazhu knew how to run a projector? And even more shockingly, he could actually fix film reels! If he had that kind of skill himself, he could strut around Beijing however he pleased.
Though he hesitated, years of bickering had made it impossible for Xu Damao to easily let go of his prejudice.
Qin Jingru was clearly smitten with He Yuzhu's performance, and Xu Damao was already imagining taking her home. Girls from the countryside were easily satisfied; it was definitely He Yuzhu's showing that had left such a deep impression on her. He had to stop this from happening.
Looking at the empty courtyard, Xu Damao was suddenly overwhelmed by a wave of fear. He wasn't sure what else he could do if he lost this job. At that moment, he began to envy the colleagues he used to look down upon. Ordinary as they were, they lived with confidence because they had a trade by which to earn a living.
And what about himself?
Right now, nobody cared about Xu Damao's feelings. Even Qin Jingru, who had just been so deeply moved, had her heart entirely set on He Yuzhu. He Yuzhu's performance had undoubtedly conquered her. If He Yuzhu were to ask her to marry him right now, she would agree without a moment's hesitation.
"Shazhu, this is my cousin Qin Jingru. I've been meaning to introduce her to you."
"Oh, Qin Jingru, hello, hello!"
He Yuzhu had zero desire to deal with them. He tossed out a casual reply without even slowing his pace.
Back in the kitchen, he put down his enamel mug and hoisted his bicycle.
He Yuzhu said, "Sorry, you two, I only have one bike and can't carry both of you. I'll head out first!"
Qin Huairu cast a puzzled glance at him, thinking to herself: *Something's not right. Shazhu usually jumps at any chance to find a partner, and my cousin is so pretty—he even asked me to introduce them earlier. Why is he acting so strangely today? Could it be that he really likes me?*
Qin Huairu's face grew slightly warm. She decided not to rush things and observe for a bit; if He Yuzhu truly had feelings for her, she wouldn't need to marry off Qin Jingru to him after all.
"Yuzhu, why don't you take me with you? My sister will be fine, just let her walk behind."
Qin Jingru wasn't about to let this opportunity slip away. She had already taken a fancy to He Yuzhu, and seeing the bicycle he was pushing made her even more reckless. What a wonderful man he was—wealthy, talented, and still young. Qin Jingru couldn't fathom how someone so outstanding had remained unmarried until now. Back in her village, people would have worn down his doorstep long ago.
Qin Jingru made up her mind to seize this chance.
He Yuzhu never imagined there could be such a woman in the world—one who would actually think of ditching her own sister on the road just to run off with a strange man. But upon second thought, recalling the things she would do later on, he felt a bit more resigned.
"That wouldn't be very appropriate. You should keep your sister company—see you around!"
Without standing on ceremony, He Yuzhu executed a smooth, agile mount onto his bicycle. Ringing his bell as he pedaled, he quickly sped away, leaving the two women staring after him with looks of envy.
As soon as he entered the front courtyard, he ran into Third Uncle.
This time, Third Uncle blocked He Yuzhu's path directly.
"Shazhu, there's something I've been wanting to talk to you about, but I just haven't found the right moment.""What is it, Third Uncle? Please, be quick."
He Yuzhu held up the lunchbox in his hand. "I need to get this food to Deaf Old Lady quickly, or it will go cold."
"What? Isn't this for Qin Huairu?" Third Uncle asked in surprise.
"She’s not short of a meal at her place, but Deaf Old Lady is ninety years old—someone has to look after her. You should find some time to visit her too, Third Uncle!"
Third Uncle hurried forward. "Of course! I visit often!" As he spoke, he stepped aside to clear the path, terrified that He Yuzhu might insist on him going to visit Deaf Old Lady right then and there.
He Yuzhu felt a secret sense of satisfaction. It hadn't occurred to him at first why Third Uncle was looking for him, but yesterday, he had heard that the family of Third Uncle’s eldest daughter-in-law was hosting a wedding banquet and had specifically requested him to be the head chef. They were generous, offering a ten-yuan fee for his labor, but Third Uncle had pocketed the money himself. Third Uncle had been hoping to use the pretense of introducing a match to He Yuzhu to exploit his gratitude and trick him into cooking for his relatives for free.
He Yuzhu saw right through the scheme and had no intention of giving Third Uncle the chance. Besides, the person Third Uncle wanted to introduce was Yu Haitang, and since He Yushui was already in contact with her, they could meet at any time.
Watching He Yuzhu stroll away, Third Uncle was filled with confusion. He felt that this "Shazhu" was different from the one he remembered. While there hadn't been an open confrontation, he had a vague sense that the man had become much sharper.
In truth, it wasn't just Third Uncle; Xu Damao and Qin Huairu had already sensed it too.He Yuzhu locked his bicycle and, instead of heading home, carried his lunchbox straight to the backyard.
The backyard was where Deaf Old Lady lived, a quiet area rarely visited by anyone. Only He Yuzhu and First Uncle came to see her regularly. He Yuzhu had never been certain of Deaf Old Lady’s true background. Even as a transmigrator, he knew very little about her. He had tried to inquire, even asking her directly, but she always brushed his questions aside. Deaf Old Lady wasn't actually deaf; she simply practiced selective hearing—listening only to what she wanted to hear and ignoring everything else. That was why everyone called her Deaf Old Lady.
Deaf Old Lady had once warned He Yuzhu that while he could help Qin Huairu’s family, he should not get too close to them. He Yuzhu held this old woman in high regard; she certainly knew a thing or two.
When He Yuzhu entered the room, Deaf Old Lady was preparing to cook. Seeing him walk in, her thin, puckered lips immediately curled into a smile.
"Grandson, didn't you say there was a movie tonight? How do you have the time to come see me?"
"The movie’s been over for a while. I was afraid you’d starved to death, so I came by to see if I needed to collect your remains."
They shared a very close relationship. Deaf Old Lady had a cheerful personality and loved to joke, which suited He Yuzhu just fine.
"Grandma, what did you say? I didn't hear you clearly!"
Deaf Old Lady switched into her signature "playing deaf" mode, smiling as she insisted she hadn't heard him.
"I said, I wish you a long and prosperous life!"
"Oh my, that would be wonderful! I’d become a true, living legend of longevity!""I have lived a full enough life; it is just you, young man, who hasn't started a family or established a career, which always keeps me worried."
"Don't worry, I promise to find you a granddaughter-in-law within a year."
He Yuzhu invited Deaf Old Lady to sit and eat. The meal had already been heated up, with special care taken to prepare the steamed pork and millet porridge she loved.
After settling Deaf Old Lady in, he stood up, intending to head home.
Just as he stepped out, the door curtain was lifted, and First Uncle walked in carrying a bag of flour.
"First Uncle, you're here!"
"Shazhu, you're here too! Why are you leaving so soon?"
"I only just arrived, I'm heading back to get some rest."
"I thought you were inside; I saw the light on in your room."
He Yuzhu felt a sense of doubt. "That's not right; Yushui isn't coming back today."
He hurriedly invited First Uncle to sit down, then turned and rushed home to check.
Returning to the middle courtyard, he found that the light in his own room was indeed on.
He strode inside and discovered, to his surprise, that Qin Jingru was actually in his living room, washing his clothes.
He Yuzhu was speechless. This person really had an inflated sense of entitlement; they had only met once, yet she dared to act so presumptuously?
His expression darkened instantly.
"Who told you to come in here?"
"My sister did. She said I could come in whenever I wanted. Doesn't she have a key to your place?"
He Yuzhu suddenly remembered that the original owner had once given Qin Huairu a key, and he had never bothered to take it back.
"Get out!"
He Yuzhu pointed toward the door, his tone stern.
"You..."
Qin Jingru looked at him with her large, innocent eyes.
"Get lost, now!"
Qin Jingru suddenly stood up, covered her mouth, and ran out sobbing.
"What a nuisance!"
He Yuzhu was furious. This family truly treated him like a pushover, doing whatever they pleased.
Outside, Xu Damao had been waiting for a long time.
He had tried to persuade Qin Jingru not to go to Shazhu's place, but she had insisted on going. Her impression of He Yuzhu today had been quite profound.
Xu Damao waited for an hour before he saw Qin Jingru run out in a hurry, covering her mouth.
He was stunned. "Could it be that she's already been..."
He immediately stepped forward to stop her. "Young lady, don't cry. Shazhu didn't bully you, did he?"
Qin Jingru was naturally quite bold; she had only been pretending to cry out of embarrassment. "Of course not! Why are you still here?"
"I have some things I need to tell you."
"Are you here to badmouth He Yuzhu again? I’m not listening."
"Do you know about the situation between your sister and Shazhu? I didn't want to tell you, but I was afraid you would blame me later if I stayed silent."
"Ever since your brother-in-law passed away, Shazhu has constantly been finding opportunities to be with your sister. You don't have to believe me, but if you don't, you can go to our courtyard and ask around. Third Uncle is the one who runs things there; surely you know that? You can ask anyone you like. I’ll be blunt—I know you don't believe me, after all, that's your sister."
Qin Jingru hurriedly grabbed Xu Damao. "Wait, I actually believe you a little. I have seen my sister and He Yuzhu..."