Chapter 337: Mr.Wu
Xu Youyou thought that according to the normal progression of a story, the great-grandson would leverage his position as a junior to pressure the elder into agreeing.
“That’s where the old master’s brilliance lies,” Ouyang Ouyang said. “It doesn’t matter who tries to persuade him—it’s useless. Yet no one feels there’s anything wrong with that because the old master has always been stubborn his entire life. No matter how much he loves his descendants, he wouldn’t change his mind just because of a few words.”
Hearing this, Xu Youyou felt a sudden sense of respect for the old man. As people age, they usually become more indulgent toward the younger generation. Typically, a man in his nineties would feel deeply for a great-grandson who had lost his parents and grandparents. That would be the usual story.
Yet this old man, even in the face of the great-grandson’s crying, tantrums, and threats, could still harden his heart.
“The son’s descendants don’t work. What about the daughter’s side? Maybe he favors his daughter or granddaughters more?” Xu Youyou asked.
Ouyang Ouyang shook his head helplessly. “The daughter’s side of the family is thriving now, but the daughter herself is extremely respectful and trusting of her father. No matter how much we promised her, she refused to persuade the old master. She even forbade her children from disturbing him.”
Xu Youyou casually sighed, “Daughters really are more considerate.”
Ouyang Ouyang gave an awkward smile and said, “Boss, the old master does indeed dote on his daughter. If she were willing to speak up, this matter might have been settled already.”
Xu Youyou shook her head. “His daughter won’t speak up because she understands and respects her father. If she didn’t, given how black-and-white the old master’s character is, even her words might not have worked.”
Ouyang Ouyang looked utterly helpless at this logic. “Is there really no way?”
Seeing how stubborn he was, Xu Youyou asked again, “Are you really set on using that particular cellar?”
Ouyang Ouyang nodded vigorously. “Boss, we’ve tried everywhere else. It’s because nothing else is suitable that I’ve been fixated on this.”
Xu Youyou said, “Go ahead and shoot the other scenes first. In a few days, I’ll visit the old master personally and ask him what he really thinks.”
Ouyang Ouyang had been worn down by this issue for days. Hearing Xu Youyou’s promise now, he felt like the clouds were finally parting.
“Boss, if you step in personally, success is guaranteed!” Ouyang Ouyang said.
Xu Youyou replied, “Stop flattering me. Let me be clear: I’ll just give it a try. Whether it works or not, there’s no guarantee.”
Ouyang Ouyang said, “Boss, if it really doesn’t work, I’ll have someone dig a few holes and see if we can recreate the cellar exactly like in the script.”
Although Xu Youyou had her eye on the hidden treasure task, she was still there under the pretense of visiting the set. That afternoon, she took a tour around the crew.
Liu Xiangyi was both excited and worried. She pulled Song Zhibai for countless photos and handed over food she had prepared to Song Zhibai’s assistant.
“I made all this myself, learning from the boss’s chef… If Teacher Song likes it, great. If not, he can deal with it however he wants…” Liu Xiangyi was extremely humble in front of her idol.
Song Zhibai’s assistant laughed and said, “Don’t worry, Sister Liu. We’ll try to persuade Teacher Song to eat. If he doesn’t, we’ll eat it ourselves. We won’t let your kindness go to waste.”
Liu Xiangyi didn’t know whether to feel happy or worried upon hearing that.
Meanwhile, Song Zhibai’s agent, who was also at the set, finally had a chance to make a good impression in front of Xu Youyou. Gratefully, he said, “Boss, back in the first half of the year in Hong Kong City, it was thanks to your warning. Otherwise, Teacher Song would have been at a huge disadvantage…”
Back then, Song Zhibai had received clear information that he would win an award at a Hong Kong ceremony and took the opportunity to also film there. However, the organizers had set a trap for them.
Song Zhibai’s agent, eager for awards, almost celebrated prematurely when he got the news. If not for Xu Youyou stopping them, they would have made a fool of themselves.
Hearing this, Xu Youyou showed just the right amount of displeasure and said, “Now that Xiao Song has a higher profile, don’t let him attend any of those half-baked award shows anymore.”
The agent hurriedly nodded and bowed in agreement.
Xu Youyou added, “Xiao Song has been working hard on set. I know Director Ouyang is a perfectionist, insisting on reshooting scenes until he’s fully satisfied. That’s good for quality, but as his agent, even if you can’t stop it, you must pay close attention to Xiao Song’s physical and mental condition.”
The agent and the artist are tied together by mutual interests—balancing supervision and care. Song Zhibai’s agent, who had been basking in pride over his artist’s stellar performance, looked at the increasingly fragile-looking Song Zhibai after Xu Youyou’s reminder and was suddenly shocked.
It felt as if a breeze could shatter him into pieces.
Shivers ran down his spine. “Thank you, Boss, for the reminder. Don’t worry, I’ll take good care of Teacher Song.”
After completing her visit task, Xu Youyou left the set with her group.
However, she didn’t go far. The golden pointer of her system was pointing to a nearby location.
Her car twisted and turned along the village’s concrete roads for half an hour until it reached a village.
With the “Beautiful Countryside” project in full swing, even a small village deep in the mountains had a neat and beautiful entrance sign.
“Baiyun Village,” Xu Youyou softly read the name.
Liu Xiangyi’s excited voice piped up, “Baiyun Village! Boss, isn’t that where Director Ouyang said the stubborn old man lives? Could it be the same one?”
Xu Fang, the chief assistant, who was also good at gathering information, quickly added, “Boss, Director Ouyang said Mr. Wu lives here. He doesn’t like the city. His children have tried many times to bring him back, but he refuses to leave the village.”
The others were surprised Xu Youyou knew the way to Baiyun Village but thought she had simply used navigation to find it, assuming she came here to help Director Ouyang solve the problem.
Listening to their chatter, Xu Youyou’s heart tightened. She faintly sensed that her hidden treasure mission might involve this very stubborn old man.
Sure enough, after driving through the clean village paths, they arrived at a two-story house at the end of the road.
Looking inside from outside the gate, they saw a yard filled with flowers and plants. An old man in a dark blue worn jacket was watering the plants.
Hearing the car engine, the old man turned around with a stern face and barked, “Go away! My cellar is not for rent!”
