Outsider: The Fifth Young Master of the Kang Family

Chapter 52 Red Socks

"Yumi, look, this is your second brother. I waited in line for two hours to get a registration form for you."

The next day, everyone came back from get off work and chatted in the living room before dinner was ready. Er Lao took out a registration form from his pocket and gave it to Youmei. Er Lao was like this when he saw a beautiful woman. He had the desire to steal but not the courage to do so.

"That's great. Thank you, Brother Zong." Yumi was extremely happy when she got the registration form. She was worried that she wouldn't be able to register.

The second brother waved his hand to indicate that you're welcome. The eldest brother took the registration form curiously and looked at it, "Let me see. Wow, it's so crowded, so many projects? Isn't it harder to win the Miss Hong Kong pageant?"

"Of course, you thought it was a joke." The second brother had seen it a long time ago.

"Do you know that the champion prize is a building? Do you think it's that easy?" A Yao said, pointing to the prize column on the registration form.

"A building?" Kang Qirui was also surprised when he heard it. Such a big deal? He took the application form and said, "Tsk, a commercial apartment. I thought it was really a building."

"A house is also worth a lot of money." A Zu said confidently: "It is a little difficult, but with the five of us brothers helping my cousin plan, I believe it will be no problem to buy this house."

"Really? Yumi really wants to be a star.

"Of course. Look at us five brothers. Some work in government agencies, some work in foreign companies, some do business, and some work in schools. It really covers everything." A Zu boasted.

"If you help me succeed, I will give you the house." Yumi said generously. For her, it doesn't matter whether she has a house or not, she just wants to be a star.

"Well, you don't have to count on me." Kang Qirui thought for a while and said, "My book is almost printed. Mr. Huang contacted several schools and asked me to go to the exchange meeting to promote it. I may not have time to help." Kang Qirui knew that Youmei had no talent to be a star. She sang out of tune, her acting was dull, and although she looked good, she was not the kind of person who could become famous just by her face. Therefore, he found an excuse to refuse, not wanting to waste time.

"It's okay. It doesn't matter if A'rui is busy. The four of us brothers are more than enough to help." A'zu pointed at them and said confidently, "I will be your agent." He even positioned himself well.

"I'll drive for you when the time comes." The second brother also has his own position.

"Then I'll help you carry your things and luggage." Big Brother Guang quickly figured out what he could do.

They all think that being a star is not a difficult thing. A house can be divided among several people, which is not a small amount.

"Then we have a deal, a deal."

"Ha ha ha ha"

After a while of fussing, A-Zu said seriously, "Okay, everyone, stop playing. Let's summarize the reasons why my cousin repeatedly failed to pass the parameters and see where the problem is. I think the packaging is not good enough and needs to be strengthened."

"How to strengthen it?" Yumi asked curiously.

"Take the name for example. It's easy for people to misunderstand your name as a Japanese name. That would be bad if it hurts national feelings. You need to choose a more authentic Chinese name." A Zu said after thinking for a while.

"That's true." Although Kang Qirui said he didn't have time later, they were just chatting now, so he expressed his opinion, "I see that many celebrities in Hong Kong don't use their real names, they all use stage names. Just like my brother, his real name is Fa Zhong."

"Yes, yes, many celebrities have bad real names, so they changed their stage names to become famous." Er Lao patted his thigh and said, "I got it, let's call her Chun Tao."

"Second brother, what's your name?" Kang Qirui laughed.

"Then call her Yulian?" The second brother made another suggestion.

"Our mother's name is also Yulian." Kang Qirui said helplessly, "This name sounds very old."

"That's right. In my opinion, it's better to call her Sweet Potato." Big Brother Guang always says shocking things. Sweet Potato Yumi? Hahahahahahaha.

"Now I remember, let's call it Red Socks." A-Zu also gave his own suggestion
"Red Socks?" Everyone was confused. What kind of name is this?

"First there was the movie Red Sorghum, and then there were the red socks of movie stars. Isn't that avant-garde enough?" A-Zu explained.

"I think this name sounds like a Cantonese opera singer, with a Hong Xiannu and a red socks." Kang Qirui said with a smile.

"Hong Xiannü?" A'zu was puzzled.

"No way? You don't even know Hong Xiannü?" Everyone shook their heads. Kang Qirui was speechless. Did he accompany his mother-in-law to watch so many Cantonese operas in vain? He had no choice but to introduce: "Hong Xiannü is a master of Cantonese opera art. She created the Hong School of Art, one of the most influential singing styles in the history of Cantonese opera. By the way, last year she performed a skit "Hong Xiannü Teaches Liu Tianwang to Sing Cantonese Opera" with Hong Kong Tianwang at a charity gala in Malaysia."

"Wow, that's even better, the movie Red Sorghum, the Cantonese opera Hong Xiannu, and the star Red Socks." A-Zu was overjoyed and insisted on the name Red Socks even more.

"Okay, as long as they're not embroidered shoes." Yumi also thought it was okay.

"That's great. Now that we've settled on the name, let's take a look at her background." A-Zu began to cue the next topic.

"What's the problem with your background?" The second brother asked without understanding.

"Her life story is too simple, not rough enough." Ah Zu is worthy of opening a film company later, he has all the tricks.

"Fourth brother, you are not trying to make a sad drama to attract attention, are you?" Kang Qirui probably knew what A Zu was thinking. This kind of situation was too common in later generations. Don't look down on the young and poor. Things will change over time.

"What do you mean?" Yumi asked.

"It's to package you as a lonely person, whose parents are dead or divorced, and who has been working since graduating from junior high school, and who doesn't have enough to eat or sleep well. You come to participate in the Cantonese Star because as long as you enter the finals, you will be provided with food and accommodation, and you can have enough food." Kang Qirui was talking when his mind suddenly turned, huh? It seems possible? A dozen years later, there will be such a female star, who can't sing, has no talent, and looks okay, but becomes popular because of her authenticity? I wonder if the entertainment industry in 2001 will buy into this?
"Hmm? Master Rui's idea is good, it will be a topic, it will definitely make you famous and attract a lot of attention." When A Zu heard Kang Qirui's words, he was also attracted by this idea. "No, my family is in Shencheng, and they are all fine, no, no." Yumi still has some bottom line and firmly disagrees with this plan.

"That's right, you are too extreme." Big Brother Guang and A Yao also disagreed.

"Let's not talk about this for now. Yumi, what are your specialties?" A-Zu changed the subject. Since everyone disagreed, he could just talk to Yumi in private and convince her.

"Specialties? I have many specialties. I can recite poems." Yumi said proudly, "They all say that my poetry recitation is better than the host's."

"So amazing? Then I really have to admire it." Kang Qirui said deliberately.

"Okay, then, I'll show you." Yumi stood up and walked to the side to show everyone. Everyone looked at Yumi intently, waiting for her performance.

"People gradually fall asleep, the night grows deeper, and at this moment, I am so close. My thoughts seem to be shaking, and the contradictions become deeper. I can't help my emotions, but I am actually a woman who is extremely easily hurt." Yumi's face showed all kinds of emotions when she recited, but no one knew what she was reciting.

"Do you understand?" Big Brother Guang asked Kang Qirui.

"It seems to be the lyrics?" Kang Qirui shook his head, "But it's just weird."

"The lyrics are not good, change them." A-Zu said with disdain.

"Change it?" Yumi didn't know what to say.

"Only poetry and songs will do." A Yao said.

"I remember there was a book of ancient poetry in my father's room." The big man ran into his father's room and took out a book.

"Let me see which one is good. This is it, Su Dongpo's "Song of Water Melody"." The boss turned to the page of "Song of Water Melody" for Youmei. "I like this poem the most."

Yumei took the book and began to recite, "When will the bright moon appear? I raise my cup to ask the blue sky. I don't know what palace in heaven is tonight. This year I want to ride the wind, but I'm afraid to go home to the high jade building." The more Yumei read, the more frowned everyone's brows became.

"Wait a minute, Yumei, what are you reading? Haven't you read this poem?" Kang Qirui was a little angry. He was a teacher, and a Chinese teacher at that. He really couldn't accept that Yumei read "Water Melody" like this. Isn't she too illiterate?
"That's what it says in the book." Yumi said aggrievedly, pointing at the book.

"Oh, Yumi, this is the classical Chinese version, there are no punctuation marks on it." Kang Qirui took the book and said unhappily, "Forget it, change your talent."

"I can sing too." Yumi said after thinking for a while.

"You can sing too? Not bad, then sing." The second brother always raises his hand in approval for beautiful women.

"Then I'll sing a Cantonese song Huo Yuanjia." Yumi took a deep breath and prepared to sing. "Okay, okay, this song is good." Er Lao immediately applauded in support, but after waiting for a while, Yumi still posed and didn't sing, "Why don't you sing?"

"There is no accompaniment." Yumi said.

"Accompaniment? I have a way." The second brother started to use his hands and mouth to help with the accompaniment, "Bang, bang bang bang bang." Everyone followed along to beat the rhythm.

"After a century of slumber, the Chinese people are gradually waking up."

"The Great Wall remains in place. But the Yellow River has run away."

"Slow down, stop singing." Even Big Boss Guang could tell something was wrong. "The rhyme of the Great Wall you just sang remains. The water of the Yellow River has run away. I don't even know what you were singing about."

"I understand why you have participated in so many programs but never succeeded." A Zu shook his head and sighed. With such a level, it would be a great achievement to be able to successfully enter the finals.

"Yumi, I think you should establish a persona and go for the idol type." Kang Qirui suggested, "If you don't want to have both your parents die and get divorced, then why not have your parents be poor and destitute, or have to work part-time since junior high school, or participate in competitions just to have enough food to eat."

"I can do that." As long as her parents are alive, she has no objection to the character setting.

"Then just pretend to be stupid and dumb." Kang Qirui continued.

"What does that mean?" Even A-Zu didn't understand.

"Youmei, you like to add a lot of movements when you recite and sing just now. This is not good. It is not very ladylike. Do you understand?" Kang Qirui saw Youmei nod and continued, "You have to get rid of this habit. Just pretend that you don't know anything. You can't say you are pretending, because you can't do it anyway. Let's just be real. If you don't know how to sing, then sing. What should you do? Just cry."

"Crying?" everyone asked in confusion.

"Yes, just cry. I can't do it, and my family is poor. I participated in the competition just to have enough food to eat. Now I can't sing and I'm going to be eliminated. If I'm eliminated, I won't have enough food to eat. I'm so pitiful, what's wrong with crying? Isn't it normal?" Kang Qirui taught Youmei how to stand out. "We can cry, cry pitifully, are the judges made of stone? Don't they have sympathy? As long as they pity you, won't you be shortlisted?"

"Yes, that makes sense. We are so miserable. If we are eliminated, we won't have enough food to eat. It's so pitiful. Can they bear it?" A Zu also thought that this idea was very good.

"That's settled then. Should I practice how to cry?" Yumi asked.

"No need, just cry for real. If you practice, it will be fake crying." Kang Qirui disagreed with special practice.

"What if I can't cry?" Yumi continued to ask.

"Then think about the most painful things in your life." Kang Qirui thought for a moment and suggested.

(End of this chapter)