Actor: Thank you.

A few days ago, when Zhang Yuan stepped into the gate of the Honglu Temple, he was a little flustered.

I just wanted to be clever and take advantage of the new prime minister of the island nation taking office to get myself out of this predicament.

What if I failed to get out of this mess and ended up with a noose around my neck?

After all, Lu Chuan had just tried to use his connections with the Court of State Ceremonial to get back at him.

Fortunately, Lao An has influence.

That's why they say having more girlfriends is beneficial.

He cautiously approached a seemingly ordinary office building.

I gave my name, signed the visitor form, and entered the building with heavy steps.

"So you're Zhang Yuan."

"You're quite famous around here," the older man who greeted him said, sipping tea from a covered white porcelain cup.

Ptooey, ptooey, ptooey... He took a sip and spat out the tea leaves.

"I hope it's a good name," Zhang Yuan replied with an awkward laugh.

I was never this nervous when I first went to China Film Group.

This place is different!
One of the Six Ministries? That's outrageous!

"Hehehe, don't be nervous, it's a good name."

"Everyone really likes your movies."

"It would be better if things could calm down a bit."

Zhang Yuan: …

How can you have a good name?

The other person glanced at him, and seeing his pupils dilate in shock, turned back to look at his colleague.

Everyone chuckled.

You're adding to our workload, and we can't even joke around with a big star like you?

In fact, the higher you go, the less pretentious you become.

Most people's most ferocious and authoritative person in their lifetime is probably the school's dean of students.

People in high positions tend to be friendly when interacting with those of significantly different status.

Even if you are vulgar, crude, or impolite, the other person will just laugh it off.

Simply put, as long as you don't infringe on their interests, they'll always be all smiles and show their friendliness.

Ordinary people have no power to infringe upon other people's interests.

This is exactly the situation Zhang Yuan is facing now.

Whether it's the Court of State Ceremonial or the Prime Minister of an island nation, he will not infringe upon their interests.

On the contrary, people can make a fuss about him!
"Don't worry, it's a good thing."

"So many people want this opportunity but don't have it."

"But you've caught up with it, shouldn't you be proud?"

After saying that, the person noticed that Zhang Yuan visibly straightened his back.

This kid is even taking advantage of the situation...

I introduced him to a whole bunch of diplomatic etiquette.

It's called informal, but it's only informal in form; you still have to be formal in person.

"First, consider what you wear."

After a lesson that gave him a headache, the other party pulled him back to his office to sit down.

"Do you have any idea?"

After observing the other party's attitude, Zhang Yuan found that there was no major problem and relaxed slightly.

They even dared to speak up and express their opinions.

"I'd like to wear a traditional Chinese gown, is that alright?"

"Because I am a council member of the China Quyi Artists Association, and also a formal disciple of crosstalk and storytelling."

"The long gown is the formal attire for traditional performing arts."

That's what he said, but what he really meant was that he wanted to impersonate "Master Ip".

After all, the long gown and the long robe are very similar.

Dressing like this is good for me; it can generate news.

But the other party gently rejected it.

“You’re right, but in diplomatic settings, public officials wear official robes.”

"Civilians wear suits."

"If there are special needs, men can wear Tang suits and women can change into cheongsams."

"Long gowns are rarely seen."

"Rare" means unconventional and risky.

And we don't want to take that risk.

Then why are you asking me this... Zhang Yuan felt frustrated.

Just to appear approachable, right?

The plan to impersonate Master Ye and meet with the Prime Minister of the island nation was thus nipped in the bud.

Otherwise, it would have been even more effective to pair it with a news headline like "Master Ip 'storms' Tokyo."

But the people of the Court of State Ceremonial would never allow it.

Even if you don't know exactly what Zhang Yuan is planning, you can tell from his words that you have ulterior motives.

They're all diplomat candidates here; they have such keen insight.

Take him to get his measurements taken; there are places that specialize in making clothes for him.

Actually, you could let him wear his own clothes.

However, given Zhang Yuan's "reputation".

They're good at causing trouble, love to stir things up, and are willing to make money from anything.

They were afraid that Zhang Yuan would wear the clothes of the brand he endorsed and advertise in a formal setting.

Therefore, in order to avoid risks, we plan to expedite the making of his clothes.

Moreover, they make two sets at a time, one as a backup.

The style is the most common black shirt and black pants, white shirt, and dark red tie.

It's not fitted, and the cut is a bit baggy on the shoulders.

But after trying on the standard size, Zhang Yuan felt for the first time that he was dressed like a national entrepreneur.

"Can I keep these clothes afterwards?"

“I can spend money.” Zhang Yuan was quite pleased.

"Hehehe, it doesn't cost any money, it's fine to give it to you." They're quite generous.

"We'll arrange a translator for you then."

“I speak Japanese,” Zhang Yuan said, raising his hand.

"It's alright, we will still arrange for a translator," the other party said with a smile.

Zhang Yuan understood; they were afraid he would say something inappropriate.

Having someone act as an intermediary can reduce diplomatic risks.

"Also, you need to bring a gift when you meet Mr. Hatoyama."

Do you have any ideas for a gift?

"Do I have the final say?" Zhang Yuan asked, squinting.

That left the other party speechless.

"If it's reasonable, we can consider it."

"Uh... then." Zhang Yuan stroked his chin and pondered for a moment.

"Then how about bringing a set of high-quality writing implements?"

"Oh?" The man sighed softly, somewhat surprised.

"It seems you did your homework beforehand."

"That's it."

"Not bad." This changed his opinion of Zhang Yuan somewhat because of this.

The fact that they can cause trouble shows they have the ability.

Because Hatoyama San was a great lover of Chinese culture.

This is also a family tradition.

He especially loves Chinese calligraphy.

It's not the rounded or deliberately unrestrained style of Japanese calligraphy, but rather regular script.

It's just a matter of skill level...

That's a good comparison.

Wang Fei's card skills.

Yuan Longping's chess skills.

Yu Qian's cooking skills.

Zhang Yuan's resistance to beautiful women.

It's not that there's none at all, but rather that it's extremely rare.

He is a very amateur enthusiast.

But it is precisely because of this that I love it even more.

Wang Fei enjoys playing mahjong.

Yuan Longping's favorite things to do are taking back moves and helping others change their moves.

Brother Qian likes to make cold dishes for people.

Zhang Yuan thinks about quitting pornography every morning when he wakes up...

Everyone has a quirk: the less skilled they are, the more they like it.

Liu Qianqian also likes to buy clothes.

Are those clothes even appropriate?

Hatoyama-san is an amateur, but he likes to leave behind calligraphy or something.

He and Zhang Zong were similar in interest to Emperor Qianlong.

"I'm going to buy some modern high-end handicrafts and the Four Treasures of the Study."

"Don't give it to famous artists or antiques, you'll easily get scolded," Zhang Yuan thought for a moment.

"Hmm." The official from the Court of State Ceremonial nodded again.

That's quite thoughtful.

Indeed, if you give away antiques to famous people, and the public finds out, they will say that you gave cultural relics to foreigners.

China's top diplomatic gifts are yellow, red, or blue porcelain.

Those are newly fired pieces from kilns in Jingdezhen, Dehua, and other places; they wouldn't be given as antique porcelain from the Ming and Qing dynasties.

However, such high-quality new porcelain, if kept for a hundred or eighty years, will also become a top-tier cultural relic.

Cultural relics are valuable not only because they are old, but also because they were valuable items back then.

A broken wine jar from a farmer eight hundred years ago wouldn't be worth much today.

Zhang Yuan asked his assistant to buy him a She inkstone, made of black quartz stone and polished into a round, rice-grain shape.

It is also carved with famous Huangshan pine trees and Hui-style eaves architecture.

When I reached out and touched it, it felt slightly cool.

Touching it again, after being warmed by my palm, it felt as smooth and warm as jade.

The ink sticks are also Huizhou ink, a complete set of twelve, which together form a longevity painting of Huangshan Mountain.

I chose a set of calligraphy brushes from Huzhou, including everything from the sharp Liaobei wolf hair brushes to the soft and rounded goat hair brushes, and the delicate and small purple hair brushes.

Finally, they also got a set of high-priced paper from Huaxia Xuan Paper Group.

He kept a set of all these things for himself.

Zhang Yuan also asked the other party to get him some more high-grade Xuan paper.

Because things were alright in 09, but in 2010, the practice of "stirring up Xuan paper" became popular.

Huaxia Xuan Paper Group produces several hundred tons of Xuan paper every year. However, the best quality paper is simply unavailable to ordinary people through distributors; they can only purchase it at a higher price.

Especially the commemorative editions, which can fetch hundreds of dollars each!
This year marks the 70th anniversary of the founding of the People's Republic of China, and a commemorative edition has been released, with 100 sheets per bundle and a suggested retail price of 3000 yuan.

30 per sheet.

But no one took the advice...

The market price would need to be at least doubled.

Zhang Yuan took the opportunity to pocket 100 dollars worth of souvenirs, and the officials at the Court of State Ceremonial turned a blind eye and let him go.

And a report was submitted to higher authorities citing diplomatic needs.
Huaxia Xuan Paper Group was taken aback when they saw this order.

Are you using us as toilet paper?

What size buttocks would require 100 reams of Xuan paper?

They should be secretly happy. Zhang Yuan initially wanted 1000 dollars, but seeing the unpleasant look on the faces of the people from the Court of State Ceremonial, he changed his mind for fear of being cursed at.

Everything was arranged perfectly, and everything was ready.

That's why he went to Global Times and said he used his connections to find the prime minister of an island nation.

I'll return to China to prepare for my trip to the island nation to take care of important business.

He was a little nervous before he went.

"Am I being a bit too presumptuous?"

This made him feel like he was "unworthy of his position".

Upon further inquiry, it was discovered that Hatoyama had just received South Korean actor Lee Seo-jin in his office with his wife.

This person, who co-starred with Ha Ji-won in "Damo," is not particularly well-known in the country.

Upon hearing this, Zhang Yuan straightened his back again.

TOM!

Even a relatively unknown Korean drama actor gets received, so why am I panicking!

But the people from the Court of State Ceremonial told him that this Li Ruizhen was not as famous as him, in fact, far less so.

But his family is a prominent financial and political family in South Korea.

Otherwise, why would a new official, eager to make a splash in his new role, seek out this person instead of Bae Yong-joon or Hyun Bin?

It shows that they are approachable and also helps to build relationships.

Zhang Yuan felt a little uneasy after hearing this.

But at least he didn't just meet with himself; he also met with artists from other countries.

The other party wants to gain favor with people in other countries and, incidentally, boost its presence in the public eye.

Zhang Yuan paced back and forth in the waiting room with his hands behind his back.

"Damn it!"

"This Lee Seo-jin is a descendant of a South Korean financial and political family."

"I'm no worse than him."

Cheer yourself up.

He realized that the reason people were contacting him was because of what happened in Paris.

……

Zhang Yuan never expected that he would become a pig caught in the wind this time.

When the official recall came, just like the previous one, it was still in someone else's office.

After a white-gloved island nation civil servant opened the door for him, he took a deep breath, put on his signature smile often seen at award ceremonies, and strode toward the person.

You must not bow, you must not lower your head, and you must not show any fawning or ostentatious smiles. You must be polite and respectful, but neither servile nor arrogant.

First, Zhang Yuan greeted them in Chinese, then said that he had specially learned Japanese and greeted them in the Japanese language.

After shaking hands, they first stood and posed for photos in front of dozens of carefully selected domestic and international media outlets.

They then exchanged pleasantries.

The lady said she also speaks Chinese.

"Hello, have you finished your journey?"

Zhang Yuan: …

Why does Madam speak with such a strong Shanghai accent?
I later learned that she was born in Shanghai.

That would bring us even closer to China.

The next step was to give gifts, and then... Zhang Yuan was dumbfounded.

I forgot my bag when I came in!
During the 06 Spring Festival Gala, Zhao Benshan, Song Dandan, and Cui Yongyuan performed a skit called "Talking About Things." However, when they went on stage, they realized they had forgotten to bring their bag full of props.

Zhang Yuan felt the same way!

All the gifts are in the bag.

At that moment, the translator beside him calmly handed him a gift box.

Zhang Yuan breathed a sigh of relief.

Wow, that's professionalism!

Otherwise, they would have insisted on arranging a translator for me.

Identify and address any gaps to prevent unexpected problems.

Hatoyama was overjoyed to see that the gift was a set of fine writing implements.

Because the gift that Korean guy brought him before was a jar of kimchi...

I should have known Zhang Yuan also brought a jar of Liubiju liquor.

This comparison reveals the true meaning of a superior nation and the magnanimity of a great power, all of which are reflected in the gifts given.

He smiled very sincerely and asked him if he knew calligraphy.

Zhang Yuan said he had practiced, but his skill level was average.

But then something unexpected happened!
He said it's okay if his skill level is average; we can write on the spot and exchange our calligraphy!

This scene wasn't part of the rehearsal he did at the Court of State Ceremonies.

Zhang Yuan was still hesitating when the translator beside him whispered.

"catch!"

The situation has reached this point; there's no way to back down now.

Not answering is disrespectful to the other person.

I didn't use the writing brush, ink, paper, and inkstone he gave me; they've been kept as collectibles.

He found a set for himself in the cabinet next to him.

It seems this person truly loves calligraphy, as he always has a tool at hand.

He wrote four large characters with a flourish: Still waters run deep.

Is this a compliment, a compliment, or a compliment?

Regardless of whether it was true or not, Zhang Yuan considered it a compliment to himself.

They really understand Chinese culture.

The handwriting isn't great, but the skill level is quite high.

But then things get difficult.

It's his turn to write!

Zhang Yuan thought, what if I make a little joke?

Write something like "Baka Yaro" or "Those who know when to yield are the heroes".

I reckon they'll hang me up and whip me when I get back to China, or tie me to a tree and beat me.

The translator standing nearby was also nervous, swallowing hard.

If I write something wrong, or if the content is incorrect, I'll be held responsible.

I'm also racking my brains, thinking about what to write.

If that doesn't work, just write "bright but not dazzling," which is the safest way to match someone else's style.

Yes, just do it!

But before he could speak, he discovered that Zhang Yuan had already started writing.

With bold strokes and powerful brushwork, he wielded the brush with remarkable skill.

The four characters were written in regular script.

"The benevolent are invincible."

Phew... After thinking for a moment, the translator breathed a sigh of relief, just like Zhang Yuan who had just seen him hand over the gift.

The phrase "the benevolent are invincible" comes from Mencius.

It is a dialogue between Mencius and King Hui of Liang.

The gist is that benevolent governance in a small country can overcome tyranny in a large country.

Winning people over with virtue and opposing hegemony are important components of the Chinese spirit.

The translator glanced at Zhang Yuan, surprised by his audacity.

Does the saying "the benevolent are invincible" refer to China, or is it a hope that island nations can achieve the same?
This metaphor is quite profound and thought-provoking.

I never expected this kid to be so cunning!

Zhang Yuan: These four words are the most suitable for "Ip Man 2".

You praise me, and I praise myself in return.

Then you can say that you wrote calligraphy for someone, and that you wrote it under the name of Master Ye.

Yosi!

Big promotion!
They exchanged calligraphy and took a photo together holding up their respective pieces.

The translator was watching from the side; the meaning was good, but the handwriting was poor.

It's bad because it's too good.

This makes the handwriting look terrible.

People already call you "still waters run deep," so why are you still showing off your sharpness?

We carefully put away the calligraphy, then shook hands and took another photo.

The meeting then came to an end.

Zhang Yuan pouted after leaving.

"What's wrong?" the translator asked, relaxing as well.

"They even invited that Korean guy's family to dinner."

"They didn't even leave me a single sushi roll."

The translator shook his head. "You're really getting a good deal and then acting innocent."

They're the descendants of big tycoons and politicians; having dinner at their house has political motives.

The excuse was that his wife was a fan of Korean culture and liked watching Korean dramas.

They said their son loves watching your movies.

That's already giving them a lot of face.

"May I hang this calligraphy in my study?" Zhang Yuan asked, holding up the calligraphy he had left behind.

"Okay." The translator roughly understood his personality.

I thought to myself, "Just don't hang it on your front door and make a big fuss about it."

"But it must be preserved well and not damaged or destroyed."

"If anything unexpected happens, please let us know and we will... handle it."

Zhang Yuan nodded.

We're afraid that if it gets broken, people will be unhappy and feel that we're disrespecting them.

So you're planning to have someone forge it, right?
His handwriting is really hard to forge; most craftsmen wouldn't write it that badly...

Prepare for weeks, live for half an hour.

Zhang Yuan looked out the window at the Tokyo street scene that was constantly receding.

I'm reminded of what Global Times said.

Will my film be able to be shown in Japan?

He couldn't bring it up during the meeting.

But now that we've met, what else needs to be said...? (End of Chapter)