Chapter 49 Banquet
As the saying goes: Friends for food and wine, husband and wife for firewood and rice.

Of course, most of our drinking buddies are just superficial brothers, but it is much better than losing face.

Zhang Yuan's word "wine" touched the two directors.

They thought Zhang Yuan would give some "high-end, classy and classy" advice.

"Zhang Yuan, eating and drinking is one solution, but our studio is located in a remote area and there are no big restaurants nearby."

"There are only about 200 regular crew members on the crew. We can't find a place to eat. Even if we do find one, it's difficult to transport people there."

How could these two middle-aged men not have thought about having a meal and a drink, but the conditions did not allow it.

Zhang Yuan smiled and handed cigarettes to the two directors, speaking as he smoked.

“It’s really difficult to go to a restaurant.”

"Then if we move the restaurant to the filming location, we won't have these problems."

There is a form of banquet in China that is rarely seen in big cities.

But it is very common in suburbs, especially in rural areas.

That's the buffet!

Those professional teams that organize weddings and funerals have their own unique ways of organizing banquets.

Pots, pans, tables, chairs, stools, chickens, ducks, fish and meat, people bring their own, even the stove can be built on the spot with bricks,

Moreover, this kind of banquet is not expensive. Nowadays, a table full of delicious fish and meat, as well as hot and cold dishes, only costs one or two hundred yuan.

At the beginning of the century, the ex-factory price of national liquor was only 185, and the retail price was about 220.

In 01, after a big increase, the retail price reached 260.
In 02, the price was about 280 per bottle.

By this calculation, even if there is one bottle on each table, including the food and drinks, it will not cost more than 500 per table.

"This is a good idea, and it's not expensive."

Yang Tao was particularly touched. He had a difficult childhood and started making money to support his younger siblings at the age of 12.

I am now middle-aged, but if you ask me what is the most delicious thing, I still recall it in my midnight dreams. I remember the big pork elbows at the buffet as a child. My mouth was full of oil, and it’s so satisfying just thinking about it.

"Okay then, I'll go ask someone for the contact information for the banquet..."

Before Yang Tao finished speaking, Zhang Yuan spoke up: "I've already asked in advance. If you agree, you can come with just one phone call."

There are people setting up stalls to sell food on every construction site. These people usually know the people who organize banquets, or some of them organize banquets themselves part-time.

When Zhang Yuan went to Zhao Decai to ask for someone just now, he had already asked about this matter in advance.

The two directors looked at each other.

This guy must be able to tell fortunes or something, he can even prepare this in advance!

Zhang Yuan doesn't know how to tell fortunes, but he could see the tense atmosphere on the set and knew that there would most likely be a wedding banquet to bring good luck, but he didn't expect it to come so soon.

Under the astonished eyes of Yang Tao and Lai Shuiqing, Zhang Yuan went out to make a phone call to contact the chef.

The sun sets and the crew calls it a day.

The director notified everyone in advance and asked them to stay for the dinner.

Facing the afterglow of the setting sun, six or seven Jinshajiang minivans brought everything needed for the dinner. The daytime shooting location soon turned into a banquet venue full of fireworks amid the lively sounds of cutting, washing and cooking.

Many actors, especially the young ones, were quite curious about this kind of dinner party and were all playing and observing nearby, and the atmosphere gradually became relaxed.

Don't underestimate this kind of rural banquet. Even if a chef from a five-star hotel comes here, he won't be able to do the job.

You have to prepare dozens of dishes for the table in just a few hours, and it would be impossible to do it without some real skills.

It is summer now and the film set is near a reservoir, so the temperature is just right for dining outdoors.

When the banquet was served, all the crew members began to find their own tables step by step.

"Zhang Yuan, come and sit here."

Zhang Yuan was just about to sit down at the table with Chen Zihan, Gao Yuanyuan and others when he heard Yang Tao calling him.

"Handsome boy, come here." Lai Shuiqing also waved at him.

Zhang Yuan got up reluctantly, said hello to a few friends, and went to the main table where the two directors were.

Chen Zihan pulled Lin Jing and Gao Yuanyuan together and said, "Look, Zhang Yuan is really capable. He has such a good relationship with the director."

"Well, I think he is not as childish as those boys of the same age." Lin Jing and Chen Zihan were classmates and had a good relationship, so she was also nice to Zhang Yuan.

"Yuanyuan, what do you think?"

Gao Yuanyuan held her chin with one hand and squinted her eyes: "I wish I had his ability."

She is relatively quiet and gentle, and she envies Zhang Yuan's social skills.

At the same time, several people at another table were looking at Zhang Yuan.

"Friend, look at that person. He's so young, but he seems to be very familiar with the director." Alyssa Chia poked her head out, her almond-shaped eyes moving from time to time as she observed her surroundings.

"I heard from his assistant that he found those extras just now. They must be very talented." Su Youpeng also became interested in this unfamiliar young actor.

Several artists from Hong Kong, Taiwan and Southeast Asia sat at one table, including Guo Feili, who played Yin Susu, and Chen Xiuli, who played Xiao Zhao. "Why don't I take the initiative to get to know them later?"

"Okay."

The incident involving extras that happened in the morning became a hot topic at many tables, and Zhang Yuan was naturally the focus of the topic, becoming the talk of the table.

At this time, he had already taken his seat. Beside him, in addition to the two directors and the assistant director, there were also several veterans in the entertainment industry such as Zhang Guoli, Zhang Tielin, and Wang Gang.

Of course, there is also Zhao Decai, who helped a lot today, and he naturally has to be treated as a guest of honor.

"Director Yang, let me toast you first." Zhang Guoli picked up the wine glass and gestured towards Yang Tao.

In addition to being an actor and director, Zhang Guoli is also an actor of the Railway Art Troupe. His father was a leader of the troupe and had a close relationship with Yang Tao.

And just a few months ago, he converted to Buddhism at the Anhe branch of Dharma Drum Mountain in Taipei, and his Buddhist name was "Changsheng."

Therefore, he is familiar with both mainland China, Hong Kong and Taiwan, and the role of Cheng Kun is ambiguous, which just fits his identity.

Old Yang murmured, then looked at Zhang Yuan: "I think the person we should respect the most today is Zhang Yuan. If it weren't for him today, the startup wouldn't have been so smooth."

Lai Shuiqing also picked up his cup, and everyone else followed suit.

After taking a sip of the white wine, it tasted spicy and stimulating, like oil boiling over a raging fire, just like Zhang Yuan's rapidly rising popularity in the crew.

"Help the building that is about to collapse, turn the tide, have another drink."

"Director Yang, you're too kind. I dare not." He drank another glass.

Oh... several veterans became interested when they saw Zhang Yuan drink two cups in a row without blushing or getting nervous.

Zhang Yuan immediately found that he seemed to have become Zhang Wuji, fighting a war of attrition with the "Six Major Sects".

But the "Six Major Sects" soon discovered that this young man's "internal strength" was unfathomable!
"Zhang Yuan, you're great. You can drink half a bottle of liquor without getting drunk. This alcohol tolerance is rare among young people." Zhang Guoli drank quite a bit and spoke excitedly.

"No, no, Mr. Guoli is the one who can teach a lot." Zhang Yuan waved his hand modestly: "I heard that you are a good singer. I am very interested in opera. I hope you can give me some advice when you have time."

When talking about opera, Zhang Guoli's eyes light up.

"You can also sing opera, okay, let's learn from each other sometime."

Successful people are always surrounded by praise, but often what they are most proud of is not their main business, but their hobbies.

Just like Jay Chou, if you praise him for writing good songs, he will just nod at most.

But if you praise his magic skills, he will be eager to perform a set for you on the spot!
Zhang Yuan hit the target with one strike and accurately grasped Zhang Guoli's hobby.

"Teacher Wang Gang, these two are dull-pointed lion heads, right?" Zhang Yuan pointed at the two walnuts in the other person's hand, "And they are authentic old-style lion heads."

"Wow, you have good eyesight." Wang Gang smiled and moved closer to him.

"Teacher Tielin, I heard that you are a master of calligraphy. Can I ask for a copy of your calligraphy?"

"I'll give some pointers to the younger generation if I have the chance."

"Hahaha..." Zhang Tielin laughed like an emperor.

Yang Tao held the cup with a smile on his face.

He called Zhang Yuan to the main table to help him introduce these veterans in the entertainment industry.

These are all connections!

But he found that he seemed redundant.

Zhang Yuan didn't need him at all. In less than an hour, he had already become friends with several veteran actors and was almost like a godson to them.

They were chatting animatedly at this table, and the other tables were no less excited.

The Hong Kong and mainland staff, who were originally on edge, have started drinking together under the deliberate arrangement of Lai Shuiqing and Yang Tao.

If you eat in a big hotel, everyone has to be polite and courteous.

But the purpose of this buffet is to create a lively atmosphere, and people's emotions can be easily aroused.

They were still arguing in the morning and disliked each other.

They have started playing drinking games and playing finger-guessing games while standing on stools.

They have become drinking buddies, and that's enough.

This is also the experience Zhang Yuan gained on the construction site. A large number of conflicts occur on the construction site every day.

And drinking parties are the best lubricant for social relationships.

For a bunch of rough old men, there is nothing that can't be solved by a glass of wine. If there is, it's because they didn't drink enough.

The two directors breathed a sigh of relief when they saw that the relationship had eased a lot.

"This kid has a bright future." Yang Tao was inspired as he watched Zhang Yuan moving back and forth between different tables.

"First learn to be a good person, then learn to do things. He is very good." Lai Shuiqing also sighed.

I thought this banquet would end smoothly.

But where there is wine, besides human relationships, there are also people who take advantage of the wine and have bad intentions...

(End of this chapter)