Feng Mang

Chapter 17:    Changing jobs.

Translator: Aafkee

Proofreader: ChaiTea

On the day of selection, Li Shang woke up bright and early in the morning, dressed in new clothes and got himself ready for the casting. When he turned around to take his bag, he saw Han Dang holding up his pair of damaged trousers, his gaze begging, “Change into this.” Li Shang could not bear to dampen Han Dong’s enthusiasm so he stuffed the trousers in his bag. “I’ll change into it when I’m at the venue.” Han Dong could not sleep after Li Shang left. Instead, he “crawled” into Ye Chenglin’s room with a pile of messy and curly hair on top of his head, looking like a big poodle. He then face-planted himself into the bed, his gaze looking wan. Ye Chenglin patted the back of his head and asked, “Why didn’t you go with him?” “I want to isolate myself completely from this circle.” Ye Chenglin did not take him seriously at all, and he even teased him, “Didn’t you have a feeling two days ago that you’re going to become popular soon? Why are you announcing your retirement from the circle at such a critical time?” Han Dong was not thick-skinned enough to say the real reason, so he grudgingly replied, “I’m tired of it.” “Even you can get tired of it?” Since the day Ye Chenglin had known Han Dong, Han Dong had been stationing himself at the entrance of Northern Film Studio every single day without fail no matter what happened.* From Ye Chenglin’s understanding, Han Dong was someone who had a never-ending passion for the entertainment circle, someone who stubbornly insisted on his own ideas. (T/N*: Just an FYI, especially for those who are learning Chinese, the phrase used here is 三年如一日, which is directly translated to “seems like one day even though it has been three years”. It basically means that Han Dong’s enthusiasm had been the same as if it was his first day and did not wane throughout the three years.) “Why don’t you give me some ideas regarding what I can do?” Han Dong’s face was filled with worry. Ye Chenglin asked, “How much savings do you have at hand?” Han Dong dug out a handful of loose change and dropped them on the bed, “87 dollars and 30 cents. I have 12 dollars 70 on my transport card, they add up to a total of 100 nicely.” He might as well have not asked that question, “Then how about your education background… Oh, right, a graduate from a junior high school…” Han Dong emphasised, “You can test me on anything about the 300 Tang dynasty poems.” “Who cares about that?” Ye Chenglin thought for a second, “Right, haven’t you been doing face reading for others?” “I can only do that part-time. Besides, there are too many scammers coming into the mix, ruining our industry’s reputation so it’s getting harder and harder to get by with that profession.”
Helpless, Ye Chenglin expressed, “Then I guess you can only work as a temporary worker on public projects.” “Are you referring to those small jobs at the construction sites? With my build and my long legs? Don’t you think it’s a bit of a waste for me to do hard labour?” “What else is there? Which company do you think would hire someone with no educational background? Besides, there are many units in charge of construction that are hiring people with an undergraduate degree, you may not even get hired even if you’re willing.” Han Dong buried his head into the bedsheet and let out a deep sigh. … “We have arrived at XX Station. Please tap your card before you alight.” The driver had already closed the door the moment Li Shang stepped out of the vehicle. His bag was caught by the door so he quickly shouted towards the driver, “Hey, Mister, my bag is caught, please open the-” The driver started driving away before he could even finish his sentence. Li Shang could only stagger and run along with the bus. In the end, the bus stopped all of a sudden, the door opening before Li Shang could stabilise himself, causing him to fall backwards together with his bag. It just so happened that he fell right into a puddle of mud. And the strangest thing was, his top was absolutely fine while his trousers were stained completely. “Fuck! Did that Han Dong punk curse me?” Li Shang gritted his teeth. Although the trousers Han Dong gave him had holes, it could at least be considered a style while his own pair was absolutely ruined. Without any choices, he could only change into Han Dong’s trousers.