Chapter 00221: Family Dinner
# Family Dinner
Chapter 221
Novel: 1979 Golden Age
Chapter 221: Family Dinner
"Mom!"
As evening fell, Fu Mingxian returned from school, tossed her backpack aside, and dashed into the kitchen, asking, "Has Brother Xiao Chen arrived yet?"
"He's here! He'll be coming over for dinner soon."
"Great! How long is he staying?"
"A few months, probably. Why are you so excited?"
"Because he can play with me! You guys never have time for me."
"Well, you should tidy up your room first. It’s a mess—people will laugh at you."
Shi Hui spoke while cooking, expecting her daughter to argue back.
To her surprise, the girl obediently returned to her room and began cleaning up properly.
Stunned, she turned to Fu Qi, who had just walked in.
"Your daughter’s grown up! She knows how to put on a proper front in front of guests now!"
"That’s normal. Didn’t we do the same when we were kids and guests came over? What are you cooking? Xiao Chen’s from the north—his tastes are different from ours. Make it saltier."
"I know, I already adjusted it."
Fu Qi was born in Shenyang but raised in Shanghai, while Shi Hui was from Nanjing.
Both had southern palates, and Hong Kong cuisine leaned sweet, so northern-style dishes required extra effort.
"Ding-dong! Ding-dong!"
Just then, the doorbell rang.
Fu Qi went to answer it.
"Xiao Chen’s here!"
"Hello, Uncle! I brought some small gifts from Beijing—just a token of appreciation."
Chen Qi carried a bag containing two bottles of Maotai and two bottles of Shaoxing wine, bought specially at the Overseas Chinese Store.
Fu Qi waved off the courtesy, while Shi Hui peeked out from the kitchen, smiling.
"Oh, you shouldn’t have brought anything! You’re making it too formal! Take a seat—dinner’s almost ready. Hey, Zhizhi? Zhizhi?"
She called for her daughter.
Fu Mingxian had been hiding in her bedroom on purpose, but upon hearing her name, she slowly opened the door.
She was now wearing a pretty little dress and a pink hair clip, exuding the poised and well-mannered aura of a refined young lady.
"..."
Shi Hui rolled her eyes.
It wasn’t that she suspected anything inappropriate—kids just loved playing with older companions.
She just found her daughter’s sudden act of decorum both amusing and slightly irritating.
"Brother Xiao Chen!"
"Zhizhi, long time no see. I brought you a gift too."
Chen Qi handed her another bag, inside which was a doll.
Hong Kong wasn’t short of such toys, but it was the thought that counted.
"Thank you, Brother Xiao Chen!"
Fu Mingxian hugged the doll, genuinely delighted, and quickly placed it in a prominent spot in her room.
Chen Qi followed her inside, glancing around.
It was a typical little girl’s room—adorable and cluttered with girlish charm.
A poster of The Bund hung on the wall, depicting a fake snowy scene where Chow Yun-fat held an umbrella, strolling with Angie Chiu.
"You like Chow Yun-fat?"
"Mhm, I think he’s so handsome and cool."
"Why not the stars from Great Wall?"
"Great Wall doesn’t even have a decent male actor! What, you want me to like Liu Xuehua? She lives right downstairs—I see her all the time. What’s so special about that?"
Fu Mingxian’s refined demeanor cracked slightly, and she quickly covered her mouth, forcing back a sweet smile.
Chen Qi chuckled and flicked her forehead.
"Quit pretending. I’ve seen you yelling and running around before."
"None of your business!"
"Xiao Chen, Zhizhi! Dinner’s ready!"
Shi Hui called them out to the dining table, which was laden with dishes.
Fu Qi opened a bottle of Shaoxing wine, smiling.
"Authentic Shaoxing wine is rare in Hong Kong—only state-run stores carry it. You picked a good one."
"I didn’t know much, just grabbed whatever."
"Perfect timing. I made a lot of seafood—it pairs well with Shaoxing wine," Shi Hui added.
The four of them sat down.
The table was filled with fish, shrimp, crab, scallops, conch, and other seafood, with only a small portion of pork and vegetables.
There was also a plate of roasted meats.
The adults poured themselves some wine while Fu Mingxian stuck to juice.
Fu Qi raised his glass, and the usual polite dinner chatter ensued.
Chen Qi handled it smoothly before everyone dug in.
Tonight was purely a private gathering—no work talk.
Still, Chen Qi did pick up some details about Great Wall’s current state.
During the leftist film movement’s peak, even three dormitory buildings hadn’t been enough to house everyone.
Now, most rooms stood empty.
The three film companies and their theater chain were operating on skeleton crews, with severe talent drain.
The creative team was especially thin—just a handful remained.
Chen Qi only recognized Zhang Xinyan and Liu Xuehua.
"Does Great Wall still run its acting classes?"
"The program exists, but enrollment’s frozen. Liu Xuehua’s batch in ’78 was the latest. With so few films being made, new recruits wouldn’t get roles, and nobody’s happy about that."
"Liu Xuehua’s contract was up this year. She wanted to leave, but Deadly Turns and The Descent did well, so she’s gained some fame. I managed to convince her to stay and renew for a few more years."
"So you’re short on male actors?"
"We’re short on everything! Male actors, female actors, directors, crew—we’re desperately understaffed."
Chen Qi nodded but didn’t comment further.
Great Wall wasn’t his company—he couldn’t dictate things.
Leftist groups were isolated in Hong Kong, and industry professionals usually kept their distance.
Fu Qi didn’t have any cheat codes to scout fresh talent.
But Chen Qi did.
This was an era when countless future stars were still nobodies!
After dinner, the couple walked him to the door.
Fu Qi said, "I’ll take you to the company tomorrow to discuss co-productions in detail."
"Why not come down for breakfast before that?" Shi Hui suggested.
"No, no, I can’t keep freeloading off you guys."
"Oh, nonsense! Treat this place like home. The more, the merrier—right, Zhizhi?" Shi Hui teased her daughter.
"Hmph!"
Fu Mingxian hid behind her mother, both shy and hopeful.
In her eyes, Chen Qi was the cool, talented big brother next door—someone kids naturally looked up to.
Unable to refuse their hospitality, he reluctantly agreed.
Then, he returned upstairs.
His room had been cleaned in advance, spotless with fresh bedding.
There was even a TV.
He turned it on—TVB’s The Legend of the Unknowns was playing.
"..."
Chen Qi watched for a while.
The show itself didn’t impress him, but two extras caught his attention.
They played bandits, flailing about before getting swiftly killed off.
Their faces were youthful, their acting stiff and exaggerated.
One was named Andy Lau.
The other was Tony Leung.
They were likely trainees from TVB’s 10th Acting Class, which also included Carrie Ng, Jamie Chik, and Elvis Tsui—yes, that Elvis Tsui.
"Truly an era when future legends walk among us unnoticed!"
"Gurgle—"
Midway through his thoughts, Chen Qi clutched his stomach as it let out a boiling-water noise.
He wasn’t fond of Shaoxing wine and had only sipped a little, but he’d eaten plenty of seafood.
Now his stomach was protesting.
He rushed to the bathroom, barely making it before everything came pouring out.
The toilet was old but functional—a squatting-style flush toilet, not a seated one.
"Ahhh..."
Even taking a dump felt emotional. Finally… back to modern conveniences.
Finally… toilet paper again.
(End of Chapter)