Chapter 119: The Mouse and the Elephant

At noon, in the actors' dining area, there's a big tent somewhere.

In this tent sat several core members of the crew, including the producer, director, and assistant director.

As Mr. Jin wrote in "Swordsman": Wherever there are people, there is the world of martial arts.

The crew was not originally a gang, but when there were more people, it naturally became a gang.

In the martial arts world, there is not only the pleasure of revenge, but also the distinction between seniority and hierarchy.

Just like this tent, there is no notice or sign indicating that others are not allowed to enter, but the crew members, including the actors, will take a detour.

Even if they can't find a table to eat at, they would rather squat on the side of the road or sit on the slippery stones next to the flower bed than risk "overstepping their boundaries" and entering this tent to rest and eat.

This is the so-called "rule of the game", but there are exceptions.

For example, at this moment, Zhang Yuan was carrying a lunch box, casually lifting the door curtain, lowering his head, and walked inside. He pulled out a chair without any restraint and sat down casually next to several directors.

Among all the actors in the crew, including Hu Jun, Lin Zhiying and others, no one would do such a thing.

After all, the hierarchy is deeply embedded in everyone's heart, and actors always feel pressured when eating with producers and directors.

Only Zhang Yuan didn't take it seriously.

First, he is really shameless and polite to everyone.

Secondly, he was the only one who was qualified to do so, and several important figures in the crew also agreed.

After all, the effect he produced in the crew far exceeded that of ordinary actors.

Just the matter of dealing with Wang Fei gave him a place in this tent.

Others can't envy it.

Zhang Yuan picked up a piece of stewed beef brisket with potatoes and glanced at several bigwigs in the crew beside him, especially Zhang Da Huzi.

Seeing him frowning and looking unhappy, Zhang Yuan almost laughed out loud.

Should!
Who told you to always rely on your connections and qualifications to play tricks on others?

Not only actors, but even investors dare to play around.

Look, retribution has come!

Zhang Yuan really wanted to take a picture of his old face and send it to Zhou Xiaowen, who had been kicked out and still hadn't paid the balance.

I guess that bald guy would be so happy that he almost got choked up.

"Director Zhang, why don't we just give in?" Zhao Jian had a close relationship with Zhang Jizhong, so he spoke quite honestly.

"We just need to do whatever the investors say."

"We make TV series just to attract investors."

"Investors give money, and the TV stations will follow suit."

"I finally got a chance to film a movie, only to please him?" The bearded man threw his chopsticks in dissatisfaction.

"Then I have to beg for food on my knees?"

"If that's what you mean, then filming a TV series is really like begging on your knees. Many people want it, but it's still impossible." Zhao Jian said earnestly.

Yuan Bing and Ju Jueliang, both of whom were born in Hong Kong, also nodded.

They both came out of the darkest era in Hong Kong's film and television industry.

In Hong Kong 20 or 30 years ago, which film and television investor did not have a background in the underworld?

Jun Sheng Pictures produced two of Stephen Chow's early works, "The New Fist of Fury 1991" and "A Comic Book in the World", which made huge profits at the box office.

Behind it is 14K veteran Huang Zhanyi.

Why does Chen Huimin always appear in this company's films? Because he was the third-generation leader of 14K.

Hongfa Film and Television, the boss of this company, Chen Zhiming, once hired someone to point a revolver at Brother Hua’s head and “invited” him to shoot “Imperial Disciples”.

After Jet Li left Golden Harvest, his two previous agents were shot dead.

Yuan Bing and Ju Jueliang understood this very well and had even witnessed the consequences of offending investors countless times.

That's not like kneeling to beg for food. If you don't kneel, my legs will be broken, and you have to kneel no matter what.

They thought to themselves that you, Big Beard, were just riding on the coattails of New China, and you don't even know how lucky you are.

People like you would have died countless times in Hong Kong twenty years ago.

"Director Zhang, in the eyes of the audience, we are big guys, but in the eyes of investors, we are beggars. Do we have to please others?" Zhao Jian was also helpless.

He was not like the bearded man who could show off in front of investors, so he could only smile and nod.

"Making money, business, no need to shiver."

"Shiver!" The bearded man slammed the table. "It's really fucking shivering!"

"So do you want to make a movie according to your own ideas, or do you want to attract investment?"

"I wanted to make a film according to my own ideas and also raised investment."

"That can't be pulled." Zhao Jian shook his head like a rattle.

"Based on the performance of my two dramas, "Swordsman" and "The Legend of the Condor Heroes", can I have the final say?"

"No."

"Then just because I participated in the production of Romance of the Three Kingdoms and Outlaws of the Marsh, do I have the right to have the final say?" The bearded man's beard was shaking with excitement.

"You can have the final say, but only at CCTV." Zhao Jian knew the bearded man's strength too well.

"What if we add this?"

Seeing the two people in a stalemate, Zhang Yuan, who had been watching the show for a long time, spoke slowly and at the same time slammed something heavily on the table, causing it to creak.

Yuan Bing just noticed that this boy entered the tent quietly, and unusually, he didn't say a word.

He thought there must be something going on, but he couldn't guess what it was.

I didn't expect that he would either keep quiet or get involved in big things once he opened his mouth!

When it comes to other things, Yuan Bing has always had full confidence in Zhang Yuan.

Whether it was a martial arts competition or the theme song, although he couldn't think of any tricks this kid could come up with, he guessed that there was always a chance.

But this time the investors’ attack was different.

Even if it was Wang Fei, even if she was called the queen of heaven, she still had to give Zhang Jizhong some face.

They are in the same industry and live in the imperial capital. They see each other every day and are somewhat polite to each other.

But investors are different!

If they really fall out, even the bearded man will be in trouble.

What's more, Zhang Yuan is a young actor. The comparison of their strength is like the difference between a mouse and an elephant. It's easy for him to be stepped on to death just by passing by.

Even so, this old veteran did not say a word. He just stood there silently, glancing back and forth at the people in front of him.

"What is this?" Zhang Jizhong was also puzzled as to why this kid suddenly said that.

Zhao Jian also came over and found that what Zhang Yuan threw on the table seemed to be a folded piece of paper.

The bearded man looked at Zhang Yuan hesitantly, then raised his hand to pick up the "block of tofu" and slowly opened it.

"Ok?"

Several people leaned over and took a look, then all of them couldn't help but snort in confusion.

Seventy percent of the white paper is printed with a photo.

It is clearly visible that it is a young male.

"Is... this him?" The bearded man's pupils gradually dilated, his fingers holding the paper trembled, and he revealed a look of disbelief.

"Yes." Zhang Yuan nodded.

"Is it really him?" Zhao Jian spoke tremblingly. At this moment, his jaw was almost dislocated from shock and almost fell to the ground.

“He was still very thin at that time.”

Who is this photo of?

He is the investor whom I met at dinner a few days ago and who has a close relationship with the actress Xie Yuxing who plays Li Qiu Shui.

In this photo on white paper, the person is still very young and thin, with a short flat head.

Although his appearance and temperament have changed greatly, he can still be vaguely identified from his facial features as the big investor today. The tent that was noisy just now was now completely silent, so quiet that it was scary.

It was so quiet that Zhang Yuan wondered if he had tinnitus.

After a long time, a deep sneer broke the silence.

"Hahahaha... With this, I can ask for investment without any hesitation!"

The bearded man was so excited that he took the thin piece of paper and kissed it again and again. None of the old ladies had ever made him so excited.

Actually, this photo is not important.

The paper is not important.

What’s important is the three big words under this photo.

"Wanted"

It took Zhang Yuan a lot of effort to remember that this female singer named Xie Yuxing had once been a sensational news.

"The Fugitive Earned Hundred Million Yuan in 20 Years and Made the Cohabiting Actress Famous."

That’s right, the investor behind this singer and actress is actually a wanted man!

In those days, there was no nationwide network, no cameras and facial recognition systems covering the streets, and criminal investigation methods were far inferior to those of later generations.

Many people who have committed crimes can restart their lives by running away from the area and changing their appearance.

This person's name is Shen Junling. He was born in Northeast China. He was arrested for fraud and luckily escaped from the detention center. He has been at large for nearly 20 years.

So Zhang Yuan felt strange before, this person spoke with a Cantonese accent, but there was always a hint of Sichuan accent.

The reason is that although he was born in Northeast China, he went to Zhuhai to do business after escaping, and after many years he developed such a weird accent.

This man started out as an early speculator and worked his way into a securities company, where he made a fortune by flipping debts and then entered the real estate market.

Finally, in the 90s, he discovered business opportunities with his keen sense of smell and became one of the earliest investors in China's film and television market.

From a certain perspective, this person is truly a genius, and his ability to perceive market trends far exceeds that of ordinary people, but his talent is not used in the right way at all.

And the actress Xie Yuxing who plays Li Qiu Shui is even more amazing.

She was trained in Huangmei Opera and married the son of a leader in Anhui Province because her mother was seriously ill with uremia and urgently needed medical expenses.

You see, when their family members were seriously ill, whether it was Gao Hu, Cheng Hao, or Jia Jingwen who was far away in Taiwan, they all worked very hard to give their families a glimmer of hope.

With clear goals and relying on themselves, these people have all become famous actors.

But this Sister Xie is just the opposite of the above people.

After her mother died, she divorced hastily and left her hometown, coming to the south, where she plunged into a bar and started her singing career.

It was there that she and Shen Junling, who had escaped from the detention center and came to the south under an alias to seek wealth, hit it off.

From 96 to 06, this bootlicker fugitive spent no less than million on her packaging, album release, and funding for her joining the group.

Until this person was arrested, he had been arranging work for Xie Yuxing.

But after he was completely investigated, the female singer cleared herself of all charges, saying that she knew nothing about his background. She was just a beautiful white lotus, and she was mentally traumatized by these reports and suffered from jade syndrome.

In those days, this kind of whitewashing routine was really ahead of the version.

In short, this is a huge handle!
"Director Zhang." Zhang Yuan stretched out his hand towards the ecstatic Zhang Da Huzi and took the wanted poster that he had found on the Internet and printed out.

He took his lighter out of his pocket.

pat!

In front of several people, Zhang Yuan lit the paper. Immediately, the orange flame engulfed the paper, and within a minute it turned into a handful of black ash.

Several people were surprised by his behavior until the bearded man slapped his forehead, then they reacted.

"Zhang Yuan did the right thing!"

"This is known to heaven and earth, you and I, and only a few of us know it clearly. We must not reveal even a single word of it!"

Zhang Jizhong looked at the other people eagerly.

Ju Jueliang, Zhao Jian and Yuan Bing all nodded firmly.

They are all old hands and know the pros and cons.

If this matter were to get out and people knew that the investor of "Demi-Gods and Semi-Devils" was a wanted criminal, then the subsequent broadcast plans of this film would be in chaos.

Several people could imagine the horrifying scene of negative news flying around and themselves being surrounded by reporters and paparazzi to ask about the matter.

At the same time, if this matter had not been exposed, everyone present would have kept it to themselves, kept it secret, and hidden it.

With this evidence in hand, will Big Beard still lack investment in the future?
"Director Zhang, you hold this knife in your hand."

"If he is respectable, we will make him respectable."

"If he is not decent, let us help him to be decent."

"Great!" The bearded man was shaking with excitement. If there was no one around, he would stand up and jump a few times to vent his incomparable joy.

Zhang Yuan gave him this "knife", and how he uses it is up to him.

Zhang Yuan has no control over it.

As for why Zhang Yuan doesn’t use this knife himself?
With his current strength and status, you dare to use this to threaten others, like Jia Qiange, and say in front of others...

"A thief is a thief. I will eat your secret for the rest of my life!"

Isn't that a fool's quest for death?

It may even be a crime to possess a treasure if the other party knows that you know his "little secret".

How many days that person has left to live depends on how cruel that person is.

But Zhang Jizhong is different!

This person likes hype and is in the news every other day. He has a deep network of connections in the imperial capital.

If something happened to him suddenly, it would definitely attract the attention of his superiors. No one would do such a thing that would result in their own death unless they were a desperado.

Zhang Yuan acted in this way because he had thought clearly about this relationship and consequence.

As for why he didn't "uphold justice" and report the investor.

The prerequisite for all heroic acts is to protect yourself first.

If he reports it, not only the relatives, friends and stakeholders of this person will hate him.

The bearded man who was affected by the film would grit his teeth and wish he could skin him alive and drink his blood.

The adult world is all about interests, and he just chose the path that is most beneficial to himself.

And his plan goes beyond this.

Why did he come to the tent to discuss this instead of going to Lao Zhang’s hotel room alone?
That is to bring out the "bystanders".

Now that Ju Jueliang, Zhao Jian and Yuan Bing are all here, if the news leaks out that day, the bearded man will not be able to be sure from whom it was leaked.

Otherwise, only he and Big Beard knew that if they were reported by some irrelevant citizen, Big Beard would be the first to suspect himself even if it had nothing to do with him.

Next, why is it that no matter whether it is a boss, a politician, or even a gangster, the driver is generally the only one who is truly trusted by these big shots?

Just like Zhao Yanzi's later husband, he was originally just a driver for a big shot, but he relied on this relationship to stir up the situation and marry a female star.

The reason is that the driver and the boss are together day and night, he knows the boss's itinerary clearly and most of the boss's secrets.

Understand the achievements of the boss, that is just an employee.

The one who knows the boss’s secrets and dirty deeds is a confidant!

Now, the biggest secret of the entire "Demi-Gods and Semi-Devils" crew is in the hands of these five people in the tent.

Their interests are firmly tied together at this moment.

The biggest beneficiary of this bundling must be Zhang Yuan, who has the lowest status.

Yuan Bing looked at Zhang Yuan, who looked normal and relaxed, and thought to himself that it was true that the new generation pushes the old generation forward, and each generation is stronger than the last!

At his age, he is so steady and experienced in doing things. What will happen in the future?

I won’t be surprised at what he will achieve in the future.

Yuan Bing suddenly remembered that just now he felt that compared with the investors, Zhang Yuan was a mouse and the other was an elephant.

But then I remembered that in the game of chess, the only thing that can kill the elephant is
It’s that mouse that looks so weak!

(End of this chapter)