ebonymovies Chapter 622 Director Chen: Call me Uncle!
Chapter 622 Director Chen: Call me Uncle!
……
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How does it taste?
Director Chen asked with a smile.
He sat in the main seat, his back ramrod straight, his hands clasped together on the edge of the table.
His meticulously groomed eyebrows were slightly raised, and his gaze fell on Gu Qing's face through the rising steam from the table, as if waiting for a reply.
"Tender, smooth, fresh, and rich."
Gu Qing sipped her food lightly, but faced with this terrifying family atmosphere, she couldn't care less about savoring the taste; she just had to get by.
"That hits the nail on the head!"
Director Chen's voice suddenly rose, and he lightly slapped the table with his palm. The sudden, crisp sound, combined with his powerful praise, almost made Gu Qing drop her chopsticks.
honestly,
He'd never been this embarrassed in his past life, not even when he got the wrong number at McDonald's.
Director Chen, oblivious to the situation, leaned forward slightly, as if meeting a kindred spirit: "Little Gu, you really know how to appreciate fine food!"
"Come on, try this dish again—minced meat."
Director Chen, intrigued, personally bent down, showing humility and respect, and with one hand supporting himself on the edge of the table, picked up the serving chopsticks with the other.
He picked up a pinch of minced meat from the blue-and-white porcelain dish furthest from Gu Qing.
His movements as he picked up food were slow, and the bend of each joint seemed to be carefully designed.
With a slight lift of her wrist and a gentle flick of her chopsticks, the minced meat trembled on the chopsticks as it crossed half the table and was carefully placed on the untouched piece of rice in Gu Qing's bowl.
"Mmm...delicious."
Gu Qing raised her eyes, her gaze passing over Director Chen's shoulder and landing directly on Arthur, who was standing straight against the wall under the dim light.
Half of Arthur's face was hidden in shadow, while the other half was illuminated by the restaurant's warm yellow lights, making his features clearly defined.
Her face was delicate and beautiful, and her eyes were staring at him intently.
It's really a bit creepy.
Gu Qing had no appetite and stirred the food in her bowl with her chopsticks, replying absentmindedly.
"?"
Upon hearing Gu Qing's answer, Director Chen's brows furrowed.
Instead of the expected shower of praise, he found it completely different from the script he had just rehearsed in his mind.
According to his plan,
Gu Qing should have closed his eyes slightly after tasting the minced meat, savored it for a moment, and then expressed his emotion at being struck by the delicious food with a comment at the level of "this taste should only exist in heaven".
But the child in front of me only uttered two words, two dry words.
Is it because it doesn't suit my taste?
This won't do!
Director Chen couldn't hold back any longer, and he repeated the strenuous action he had just performed.
She shakily sat up halfway, reached out, took the serving chopsticks, picked up some minced meat, and placed it next to the tofu in Gu Qing's bowl. "Little Gu, don't rush. This time, try it with the tofu."
After he sat down, he put down his chopsticks, gestured with his hands in front of the table, and began to play the accordion, thus indoctrinating the child:
"Let me tell you, a little bit of minced meat is nothing, but—"
"When they're put together, you can see... well... they're absolutely delicious!"
Director Chen paused noticeably, probably frantically searching his mind for a suitable adjective, but after searching for a while he couldn't find one, so he had to end with the most straightforward four words.
Gu Qing: "..."
Is this how you instruct actors?
He suddenly understood why some actors performed superbly in Director Chen's films, while others looked completely bewildered.
Actors who can understand Director Chen's stream-of-consciousness style of directing are geniuses in themselves; it doesn't matter whether they are taught or not.
It's normal for people not to understand.
"Brother Ge is right."
Chen Hong, following her husband's lead, naturally took over the conversation.
She put down her chopsticks, placed her hands folded on the edge of the table, and spoke softly.
"Xiao Gu, do you know what popcorn is? It's the kind of popcorn we used to eat when we were kids."
That tiny kernel of corn, so small, yet it can burst into such a large flower; I think it possesses enormous energy.
"Yes."
Director Chen nodded slightly, his eyes filled with appreciation and approval as he looked at his wife.
He turned to look at Gu Qing, tapping his fingers lightly twice on the table, as if putting a period to Chen Hong's prose poem.
"That's exactly what I meant."
"..."
Gu Qing's eyes were dazed, and his thin lips were slightly parted.
What the hell does this mean?
Tofu and minced meat can be combined to make popcorn?
Do flavor combinations have energy?
What are you two talking about?
He didn't understand a single word!
Gu Qing felt like a passerby who had been inexplicably dragged into a philosophy seminar.
The topic of this seminar was:
"On the inspiration of corn energy for braised tofu with minced meat".
"Xiao Gu, please!"
Director Chen and his wife Chen Hong both looked at him.
at the same time,
There was also Arthur, hidden in the dim light, his face obscured, acting as an accessory, who seemed to be observing him as well.
The family of three stared at Gu Qing without prior arrangement.
The atmosphere seemed to freeze at that moment.
The second hand of the old-fashioned grandfather clock in the corner of the living room ticked quietly, each tick feeling like it was stepping on Gu Qing's nerves.
"..."
Fine beads of sweat appeared on Gu Qing's forehead.
"Eat, why aren't you eating?"
"Good boy, don't be shy, make yourself at home—eat up..."
The couple's whispers seemed to echo in my ears.
Gu Qing's fingertips trembled slightly. She pursed her lips, picked up the porcelain spoon, and with the chopsticks in her right hand, slowly scooped the minced meat and tofu into the spoon, then put them into her mouth.
In an instant,
"Mmm~~ The savory flavor of the minced meat and the smooth texture of the tofu blend together perfectly, the taste is truly superb! I can feel the burst of energy from the corn!!"
Gu Qing's eyes lit up, her face radiant. She nodded in shock, giving a thumbs-up to Director Chen and then to Chen Hong, expressing how captivated she was by the delicious food.
"Hahaha—hehehe..."
Director Chen's brows relaxed, and his thick eyebrows, which had been slightly lowered, instantly rose to the limit of his brow bone, and a smile of utter satisfaction bloomed on his old face.
Chen Hong covered her mouth, trembling slightly, her shoulders shaking as she chuckled.
The tense atmosphere dissipated completely.
A cold wind blew past the window.
The two red lanterns hanging in front of the courtyard seemed to become even more vibrant, swaying gently in the night.
……
"Arthur, please have a seat!"
In high spirits, Director Chen finally turned his attention to his son, who had been standing against the wall as punishment.
Where should we sit?
Gu Qing felt a temporary sense of relief, and he looked around in confusion.
The entire eight-immortal table was only paired with three pear wood chairs.
Director Chen sat in the main seat, he himself sat on the left, and Chen Hong sat on the right, just the right amount.
Are there any empty seats left?
However, the next second——
"Pfft."
Arthur naturally knelt down on one knee beside his mother, and casually put his left arm around Chen Hong's shoulder.
The movement was fluid and practiced, as if he had done it countless times.
"Dad, Sister Hong... Gu... Brother Gu."
Arthur raised his face.
It was a delicate face, with long, narrow cheeks, regular features, and a bowl cut hairstyle.
His gaze passed over the table full of food and landed on the young man sitting directly opposite him, who was sitting under the dim light, looking gentle and elegant, as if he had a soft filter on his whole body.
Despite being only a few years older than me, she has already become a national idol.
Even the girls in his class were almost all fans of Gu Qing.
Even his strict father spoke highly of him.
Arthur's use of "brother" was truly heartfelt.
"Call me Uncle! How dare you call me Brother? You have no respect for elders!"
Director Chen's face suddenly darkened, and he slammed his chopsticks on the table.
Gu Qing and Chen Hong: "..."
Arthur: "???"
That's going too far, Old Deng!
Arthur froze completely, the polite smile he had managed to force onto his face seemingly solidifying instantly.
"I call Xiao Gu 'young friend,' and you call him 'brother'? Do you want to be on the same generation as your father?!"
Director Chen's eyebrows were sharp as knives, and deep wrinkles appeared at the corners of his eyes from the effort he exerted, as he reprimanded him sternly.
When Old Deng unleashed his power, Arthur's leg, which hadn't even settled properly on his knees, trembled slightly.
He clenched his back teeth tightly, the muscles in his cheeks were taut like two stones, and he lowered his head, not daring to refute.
Under the table, his hand clenched and unclenched repeatedly.
"What are you all standing there for?!" Director Chen shouted again.
He was shouted at again, and Arthur finally raised his head, his smile a mixture of laughter and tears, his anger hidden deep inside.
Looking directly at Gu Qing, he respectfully called out:
"Uncle Gu... good evening."
"They are fairly polite."
Director Chen's expression softened slightly, and he let out a faint, cold snort from his nose.
He picked up his chopsticks again, turned to Gu Qing, and his voice suddenly returned to its gentle, breezy tone, "Little Gu, eat your food."
Thunder and rain, are all the Emperor's grace?
"Director Chen, I'm only a few years older than Arthur, so just let him call me that normally."
Gu Qingli has truly witnessed what it means to have a "family imperial throne".
He knew all too well that it was useless to persuade anyone in this family; if Director Chen didn't change his mind, everything would be in vain.
Gu Qing's gaze swept quickly across the table.
Chen Hong held her son's shoulders, the gentle smile on her round face completely gone, her expression frosty, and she remained silent.
Arthur knelt beside his mother, looking equally aggrieved, as if he might break down at any moment.
Gu Qing didn't want to ruin this family's happiness.
You three better lock each other up!
"Director Chen, please calm down. Although you consider me a friend, in my heart, you have always been a great figure and the leading figure among directors in China today."
Gu Qing switched to "children's mode," adding, "He's a world-class director, a Palme d'Or winner, who doesn't rely on pandering to mainstream Western aesthetics, nor on belittling his country."
Besides you, who else among the fifth-generation directors could do that?!
As soon as he finished speaking,
"Huh...huh..."
Director Chen's nostrils visibly flared slightly, his lips trembled gently, and his complexion gradually regained its rosy glow from its previous sallow appearance.
The steaming food on the table rose in front of him, as if it had turned into a winter steamer, making him feel thoroughly refreshed from the inside out.
Beautiful!
That's incredibly beautiful!
He had lived for so many years and heard countless people praise him, but none of those words were as precise or comforting as Gu Qing's words just now.
"I neither pander to the West nor belittle my country. Xiao Gu... you... you understand me!!"
Director Chen grabbed Gu Qing's arm, which was resting on the edge of the table, and held it tightly with great excitement, his heart pounding with emotion.
"I don't understand you at all..."
Gu Qing silently complained to herself.
Has Director Chen never pandered to the West?
Of course he tried to please them.
The early films were based on traditional literature of suffering.
Examples include: the endless yellow earth and silent farmers in "Yellow Earth", the educated youth crushed by the times in "King of the Children", and the actors repeatedly crushed by the wheels of history in "Farewell My Concubine".
Back then,
The country is indeed not wealthy, having come from an era of extreme poverty, so it is not surprising that Director Chen has created such a profound and poignant work.
That was a collective reflection of an era.
But by the middle period,
In order to establish himself in Hollywood, Director Chen, like many fifth-generation directors, began to try to use Western narrative frameworks to package Eastern stories.
"Kill Me Softly" uses a standard Hollywood erotic thriller structure.
"The Orphan of Zhao" attempts to reinterpret classical Chinese texts using conflicts reminiscent of ancient Greek tragedy. Most of these attempts have been unsuccessful, performing poorly at the overseas box office and receiving lukewarm reviews.
But what's good about Director Chen is that he never engages in internal strife.
After hitting a wall in Hollywood, he immediately turned his guns on Western film critics, launching a scathing attack.
"These white bastards don't understand Lao Tzu's cultural philosophy!"
The fault doesn't lie with him, it's with these uncultured idiots!
Towards the end of his career,
Since 12,
Director Chen clearly stated at the Toronto International Film Festival: "Chinese-language films should strive for more domestic box office revenue, rather than simply trying to attract Western audiences."
From then onwards,
He then completely turned his attention away from the West, focusing on the domestic market and immersing himself in the traditional aesthetic world of self-reflection.
Regardless of the box office and critical reception of his subsequent films, at least from a cultural standpoint, he has never again deliberately catered to any Western aesthetic standards.
This is why Gu Qing was able to praise it so readily.
The era he traveled to.
Surprisingly, domestic cinemas are still producing a constant stream of films that aspire to Western liberal ideas.
Some of them were even the work of famous directors!
Deep down, it's all about a lack of confidence in local culture and a worship of Western values.
Compared to these anthropomorphic things,
Director Chen is simply amazing.
"Let's drink a big cup of wine—let's drink a big cup of wine!!"
Director Chen looked up and sighed deeply. Suddenly remembering something, he abruptly turned his head.
"Arthur, aren't you going to thank your Uncle Gu? From now on, you'll call him 'brother,' understand?"
Arthur's lips moved, but he hadn't had a chance to answer.
"But don't act recklessly and without restraint."
Director Chen added, his stern tone creating a stark contrast to the gentleness he had shown when speaking to Gu Qing earlier.
"Treat your brother Gu Qing the same way you treat me—do you understand?!"
"..."
Arthur's mouth was agape, his mind in a state of confusion.
This back and forth
Did his seniority increase or decrease?
Why is he a little confused?
"I...I understand, Brother Gu Qing."
Arthur forced a smile, still looking at Gu Qing with genuine gratitude.
At least they didn't make him call them "Dad" directly, which is already very good.
"Arthur, get up first. Go to the tavern and get us a bottle of good wine, and also get yourself a chair while you're at it."
Director Chen said casually, gesturing towards the side door.
"Director Chen, I can't drink alcohol."
Gu Qing said with distress, "Those strong liquors make me want to vomit, and they're also bad for my throat. I have to go to the Spring Festival Gala rehearsal tomorrow, and I can't afford to mess up my voice."
"Xiao Gu, do you think I would harm you?"
Director Chen seemed to have anticipated this, and smiled slightly, "Who would drink that kind of baijiu and horse piss? Can those messy marketing tactics fool others, or even you and me?"
Did ancient literati drink baijiu (a type of Chinese liquor)?
"Arthur—bring me the first bottle on the third shelf of the cabinet, that plum wine!"
Speaking of this, Director Chen said with regret, "Xiao Gu, the best thing to warm in winter is yellow wine, with preserved plums and shredded ginger. This not only enhances the flavor but also strengthens the warming and stomach-nourishing effects, making it a truly delightful treat."
He sighed softly, "Unfortunately, I don't have any reserves at home, so I'll have to wait until next time."
Upon hearing that it was fruit wine, Gu Qing didn't have much resistance.
His attitude towards alcohol has always been very clear.
You can enjoy it, even if it harms your health, it doesn't matter. Life is about indulging a little.
But it can't be both unpleasant to drink and harmful to your health.
Just like the reason he always drinks sugary drinks during his indulgent meals, it's because he enjoys it more than anything else.
"Dad, Brother Gu."
Arthur returned from the bar soon after.
He held a dark brown earthenware wine bottle in one hand and two white porcelain wine cups in the other.
Arthur conscientiously placed the wine glasses in front of Gu Qing and Director Chen respectively, then unscrewed the bottle caps, first filling Director Chen's glass to seven-tenths full, and then filling Gu Qing's glass to seven-tenths full.
The wine is a clear amber color, with a warm hue under the light. A sweet and sour plum aroma wafts from the rim of the glass, mixed with a subtle wine fragrance.
After pouring,
Arthur then turned and went to the side hall to fetch a pear wood chair, gently placed it next to his mother, and sat down.
The whole set of movements was quiet and efficient, like a sommelier who had been trained countless times.
"Arthur, come here, let Mom feed you."
Chen Hong looked at her son sitting obediently beside her, feeling both gratified and heartbroken.
As soon as Arthur sat down, she picked up her porcelain spoon, scooped a piece of steaming tofu from the stone pot, and personally fed it to her son.
Her eyes were slightly red, and her voice held a softness that had been suppressed for a long time.
"Why are you still so thin? Have you not been eating properly at school?"
"I've eaten, Sister Hong."
Arthur adored his mother's care, opening his mouth to take the piece of tofu.
“Arthur…”
Seeing his son's thin face, Director Chen seemed to be touched, and the dormant paternal love deep in his heart resurfaced for the first time.
Looking at Arthur's face, which resembled his own in his youth, he surprisingly raised his chopsticks and offered them to Arthur.
"Here, take your chopsticks and pick up a piece of meat to eat."
"..."
Gu Qing took a small sip of the plum wine in his glass, the sweet and sour liquid rolling on his tongue before he slowly swallowed it.
He dared not speak.
Do we have to "reward" someone to get a piece of meat?
Why not prepare an extra pair of serving chopsticks?
What's the difference between this and "You can't eat meat that I don't allow you to eat"?
He really had his eyes opened today.
No wonder Arthur in his past life,
As the son of a renowned director and a well-known second-generation rich kid in the industry, he was actually slept with by a fan site admin and even had photos taken of him.
This child has probably never been allowed to say "no" at home since he was a child; it must have been very oppressive.
The most outrageous thing is,
That fan site admin is married.
The other woman's husband used photos to blackmail Arthur into a honey trap. Afterwards, when Arthur couldn't afford to pay compensation, it was the other woman's husband who reported him to the police with the photos.
Knowing he was a third party, he was taken down by a fan site admin, truly becoming a laughing stock in the industry.
The "family tradition" that Director Chen was so proud of throughout his life became the biggest joke at that moment.
Arthur accepted the chopsticks from his father with both hands, his movements respectful and cautious.
He looked at the plate of braised beef in the direction his father was pointing, picked up a piece and put it in his mouth.
Arthur chewed with his lips pressed tightly together, without making a sound, and only spoke after he finished chewing, "Delicious."
"Xiao Gu, come here."
The obedient and compliant son brought great comfort to Director Chen, and the gloomy face that had just been clouded over finally brightened completely.
He picked up his white porcelain wine glass and raised it towards Gu Qing, the rim of the glass gleaming warmly under the light.
Gu Qing also raised her glass and gently clinked it against Director Chen's.
Tolstoy once said: "Happy families are all alike; every unhappy family is unhappy in its own way."
Director Chen put down his wine glass and gently ran his fingers along the rim.
He gave a smug smile, his tone tinged with a hint of boasting:
"Xiao Gu, do you think this statement is accurate?"
"Accurate! Absolutely accurate!!"
Gu Qing nodded vigorously, so much so that the few stray hairs on her forehead swayed.
He even thought Tolstoy could be called a saint.
The world is so big, there are really all sorts of wonders.
Director Chen's "happy family" was something he had never heard of before.
After that, Chen Hong had almost finished eating.
She put down her chopsticks, picked up a napkin and gently wiped her mouth, then turned to the side and gently patted Arthur's shoulder.
She said in a low voice, "Arthur, come on, let's go back to your room. You've been at school for so long this time, and I haven't talked to you in ages."
"The guests are still here, where do you expect Arthur to go?!"
Director Chen gently placed his chopsticks on the rim of the bowl, making a very soft but crisp sound.
He didn't even turn his head, only glanced sideways slightly, his tone indifferent:
“Let Arthur stay and pour the wine. What kind of behavior is it for the younger generation to leave when the guests’ glasses are still full?”
If word gets out, people will think our son is ill-mannered!
He left his son there to try and mend his relationship with Gu Qing; how could he allow this foolish woman to take Arthur away?
Upon hearing that her son would be asked to serve drinks, Chen Hong's gentle and dignified round face finally darkened.
The fake smile that had been on her lips all night gradually crumbled, and the anger in her eyes was becoming increasingly difficult to conceal.
She opened her mouth, about to say something:
"Sister Hong, it's okay, I just want to spend more time with Dad."
Arthur gently took his mother's hand under the table and patted the back of her hand soothingly with his fingers.
Chen Hong took a deep breath and swallowed back the air that had risen to her throat.
She let go of her son's hand, stood up, and returned to her room alone with a cold face.
The living room fell silent again, and only three people remained at the dining table.
"Xiao Gu, do you have a conflict with that thug surnamed Feng?"
With no outsiders present, Director Chen's tone suddenly relaxed a bit.
He put down his cup and asked in a casual, conversational tone.
"Director Chen, why do you say that?"
Gu Qing put down her chopsticks in surprise and turned her head slightly to look at Director Chen.
"This thug used his connections behind the scenes to prevent many directors from working with you."
She even said, "Anyone who dares to hire Gu Qing to act in a film is going against me."
Director Chen, slightly intoxicated, abandoned all pretentious formalities and scoffed with a curse.
"Who does Feng Kuzi think he is? Does he have the right to order me around?"
"How dare some nobody give orders to a Palme d'Or-winning director like me, telling me not to film anyone? Who does he think he is?!"
When Gu Qing briefly explained the reason, he confirmed that Feng Kuzi had been beaten up on the spot.
Director Chen was stunned for a moment, then burst into a hearty laugh:
"Haha, well done! Such youthful spirit, truly—Zongzhi, a handsome and dashing young man, raises his cup and rolls his eyes at the blue sky, as radiant as a jade tree standing in the wind!"
Director Chen, in high spirits, downed a glass of wine and, inspired by the poetic sentiment, recited Du Fu's "Song of the Eight Immortals of the Wine Cup".
"Brother Gu, let me pour you some more."
Arthur was also deeply moved by this story of beating up Feng Kuzi.
He stood up from his chair, holding the ceramic wine bottle, walked around the table to Gu Qing's side, bent down, and carefully added a few more plum wines to Gu Qing's glass.
His hands were trembling slightly, whether from excitement or something else, it was hard to tell.
Upon hearing that Gu Qing had beaten up a director of the same caliber as his father, Arthur was so excited that his whole body trembled slightly.
"Feiyu, that's enough, that's enough."
Gu Qing quickly reached out to block the rim of the cup, signaling him not to pour any more.
Arthur then stopped and gently placed the bottle on the table.
But for some reason,
Gu Qing felt that something was not quite right.
When the child recounted the details of how he beat up Feng Kuzi, his eyes not only showed eagerness but also a hint of anticipation.
A strange thought flickered in Gu Qing's mind:
"What is this kid dreaming about?"
……
...(End of this chapter)