Actor: Thank you.

Human self-confidence can be divided into innate and acquired qualities.

People like Sisi, who come from well-off families, have an innate confidence.

Zhang Yuan is different. People from humble backgrounds like him need to grow and develop their self-confidence.

This is somewhat similar to the difference between innate perfect pitch and trained perfect pitch.

So when Lao Han said that the censorship committee of the "Qian Xuesen" production team had shown him goodwill, his first reaction was that something was wrong.

"Isn't it right?"

Why are you suddenly being so polite?

"He used to be quite serious, so it's a little strange that he's suddenly so kind and approachable."

Zhang Yuan smacked his lips a few times, realizing the taste was off.

"You... what can I say to you?" Old Han chuckled and teased him a bit: "Being careful is a good thing, but being too careful is just being suspicious."

"Can't it be that you perform exceptionally well, and people like you?"

"Really?" Zhang Yuan scratched his head.

Am I so charismatic that I've won over scientists?

"Of course it is."

"The Lunar New Year film season did very well at the box office and was very popular."

"You're usually so confident, why are you so down now?"

Old Han thought there was no problem, and gave him a few words of advice, telling him to prepare well.

Zhang Yuan put down his phone, lit a Harbin cigarette, and thought as he smoked.

Could it be that I have low self-esteem?

Did he lose his usual confidence when facing this group of top scientists?

He laughed self-deprecatingly.

He naturally assumed that scientists were "higher class" and of a higher social standing than artists.

He also deliberately maintained this mindset because it would make him more reserved, suppressing the arrogance that comes with a large influx of wealth into his life, and at least not showing it in public.

In theory, from the perspective of technological development, artists and senior researchers cannot be compared.

But from a sociological perspective, that's not necessarily the case.

Perhaps Lao Han is right, and I'm just lacking confidence.

He stubbed out his cigarette, then called Xiaolongnu and they talked about it.

"You're great."

"Everyone likes you, so it's normal for them to choose you and give you preferential treatment."

Sisi was quite happy to hear this.

Because of her own reasons, she was afraid that Zhang Yuan would have conflicts with the crew, and she was also afraid that the crew would have opinions about him.

Now that it seems the two sides have a good relationship, she feels relieved.

As long as I didn't cause him any trouble, that's good.

"is it?"

"Of course, you're great."

"She is good in both appearance and professional ability, and she is also very smart."

"Your praise is so specific, it makes me a little embarrassed, even though it's very objective."

"The only downside is that he's a bit shameless," Sisi added after hearing his words.

Since both Lao Han and the girl said they were worth it, he felt relieved.

"Perhaps it's because I've been immersed in the role of Chen Guilin, the laid-off worker, that I'm feeling a bit down." Zhang Yuan shook his head, putting the matter aside.

However, this slightly down mood is just right.

He changed into an old suit, picked up an accordion, and stood in the breeze with the other lead actors.

The accordion is a very Northeastern instrument because Northeast China has incorporated a lot of Russian culture.

After losing his job, the male protagonist forms a small band and organizes weddings and funerals for people.

Uncle Benshan's works often depict the customs of weddings and funerals in Northeast China.

Today it was his turn to shine.

"Someone is singing a melancholy song."

"The one singing is the driver of the carriage."

Qin Hailu stood in front of the crowd with a microphone in hand, and sang the famous Russian song "Troika" to the accompaniment.

Zhang Yuan always felt that the melody of this song was a fusion of "Moscow Nights" and "Katyusha".

It still has that melancholic Russian flavor.

The defining characteristic of Russian culture is its heavy and somber tone.

War and Peace, Anna Karenina, Crime and Punishment—all exemplify this.

Even though Europe and North America have long since begun to denigrate the former communist alliance and have even begun to systematically "construct history" to erase the positive role and image of the Russians in World War II.

But these cultural treasures cannot be erased.

The Russians have more cultural depth than the North Americans, whose history is less than 250 years old.

"The Piano in a Factory" was also imbued with this kind of Russian-style melancholy, but director Zhang Meng would always use Northeastern humor to dispel the sadness just when it was about to end.

For example, in this scene, they sing "Troika" at a funeral.

But as the song went on, the family complained that it was too melancholic and wanted to "speed it up" for the elderly.

So I switched to "Step by Step Higher".

Thump thump thump, thump thump thump, thump thump thump...

This tune, often heard during the Spring Festival, played at the funeral.

In the background of the shot are two Ansteel cooling towers emitting white smoke.

This funeral is not only for the elderly, but also for the golden age of Northeast China.

However, the people of Northeast China bid farewell to that era in a joyful way, full of laughter and scorn.

clap clap clap...

After a shot was filmed, crisp applause rang out from not far away.

A beautiful woman wearing a pale yellow coat and with curly hair clapped her hands with a smile.

Zhang Yuan turned his head and saw that his "wife" had finally arrived.

Jang Shin-young, she's the kind of woman whose smile immediately tells you she's Korean.

They are different from the Chinese in temperament.

The rest of the crew didn't understand Korean, except for Zhang Yuan, who knew a little. He went up and gave him a brief greeting.

He has little interest in married women who have already had children.

But the other party was incredibly enthusiastic.

She came up all smiles and bowed, saying that they would be filming scenes together the next day and invited him to have dinner and chat.

"Let's all go together." Zhang Yuan looked around at everyone and decided to invite them all, offering to treat them himself.

We arrived at a Northeastern-style barbecue restaurant, similar to the barbecue in Qiqihar.

As plates of meat and vegetables were served, Zhang Yuan noticed the Korean women's eyes widening repeatedly.

I doubt I've ever seen so much meat on a table in my entire life.

After all, South Korea is a country where incidents of cyberbullying Chinese students have occurred.

Of course, bullying is not uncommon there; it has almost become a national characteristic.

The reason the international student was cyberbullied was because she took an extra piece of meat from the soup when getting food at the school cafeteria...

A piece of meat was subjected to cyberbullying.

That tells you what kind of place this is.

It's also because young people in China have been spoiled into "socialist giant babies," completely unaware of the cruelty and danger of the outside world.

Aside from those who demand a lot of money, it's difficult for ordinary middle-class people in South Korea to afford to eat meat and fish every day.

Koreans were the group of people Zhang Yuan had encountered during his travels to many countries, and they were the ones with the worst table manners.

Not only does it smack its lips, but it also shouts loudly, and when it eats, it always stuffs its cheeks until they are bulging.

The Japanese soldiers said Chinese food was delicious, especially the meat.

The Koreans, on the other hand, ate their fill and then cursed, saying that Korean food was the best.

Although Zhang Yuan lacked confidence in front of scientists.

But in front of the Koreans, he did have a strange sense of superiority.

However, Zhang Shenying did not reveal the details that he disliked.

She always had a smile on her face, was very polite while eating, kept praising others, and was quite careful in her movements.

They even proactively helped grill the meat, appearing very skilled at it.

"Oppa, eat meat."

After it was baked, she even put it on his plate.

Zhang Yuan was stunned for a moment.

The meaning of "Oppa" is roughly the same as the Chinese word "gege".

I think I'm a bit older than her, so calling me that isn't wrong.

Just like Japanese girls don't call me "Onii-chan" casually, she called me that, even though it was our first time meeting and we'd only been together for a few hours.

Isn't that a bit too polite?

"Kamsahamida," Zhang Yuan said formally in Korean.

He turned his head and saw Qin Hailu, who was eating meat, giving him a sidelong smile.

"Could you please stop staring at me like that?"

"Why isn't anyone grilling meat for me?" Qin Hailu asked in a deliberately sour tone.

"I'll bake it for you, okay?"

"Me too!" Teacher Wang also raised her hand cheekily.

Director Zhang Meng watched from the side.

I had heard that he had "good relationships" with many female celebrities.

When he arrived at the film crew, I saw that he was working very seriously and didn't flirt around.

They also doubted whether the rumors were true.

Now it seems that it should be true.

But it may not be his initiative.

Why are these Korean women so enthusiastic? You women only care about looks, huh?

She was not only enthusiastic during the meal, but also invited him to her room to chat after the meal.

"Brother Zhang Yuan, everything is ready." Before he left, his assistant stuffed a bunch of family planning supplies into his hand.

"No... how did you become so bad?"

"No need?"

"Use it, use it..." Zhang Yuan stuffed it into his pocket.

I couldn't refuse the hospitality of our international friends, and I didn't want to offend them.

Although I'm not particularly interested, I'll do it anyway today.

Sigh, I've sacrificed so much for the friendship between China and South Korea.

As Zhang Yuan walked, he thought to himself, "Foreigners are more open-minded. At least Chinese women are still a bit reserved. They can play around with ambiguity, tugging, and teasing."

No wonder they are a nation that built its country on a moldy base; their Westernization is quite thorough.

Because many white older women arrange dates before meeting, without even knowing each other's names.

White people also know that some women play around from age 16 to 36, ruining their bodies before wanting to marry an honest man.

The world is the same.

"Oppa, you're here." The other person warmly opened the door to welcome Zhang Yuan inside.

Nothing was said that night, and the next morning dawned.

The next day, the filming location was in front of a dilapidated factory building.

Zhang Meng deliberately found a desolate place where most of the factory roofs had collapsed, but he had people repair the remaining roofs in advance and cover them with second-hand corrugated steel sheets.

This results in a clearly defined scene in front of the camera.

Zhang Yuan and Zhang Shenying are facing the camera, with the same factory building behind them.

But only the steel frame of Zhang Yuan's roof remains, while the roof behind his ex-wife is intact.

The former workplaces of the working class are used to suggest the characters' current situation and fate.

Zhang Meng has an artistic side.

According to the established plot, the ex-wife is already living the life she dreamed of, a life of effortless wealth.

They found a wealthy man who sold counterfeit medicine.

The method of making counterfeit medicine is to mix one tablet of paracetamol with three catties of roasted fruit.

It won't cure diseases, but it won't kill people either.

Luguo is a type of Northeastern Chinese pastry made by baking a mixture of milk, eggs, and sugar. It is somewhat similar to peach shortbread, but not exactly the same.

The method of making counterfeit drugs is almost identical to that used by counterfeit drug dealers in the later film "Dying to Survive".

It's a dream collaboration.

Why do counterfeit drug dealers use paracetamol as a "main ingredient"?

This medicine is not only inexpensive, but it also has sedative and analgesic effects.

Furthermore, in North America, people are not allowed to see a doctor when they are sick, but they can buy large quantities of cheap, strong painkillers in packs of 500 or 1000 tablets.

The methods for making money are actually the same.

After the decline of Northeast China, Chen Guilin, a proud skilled worker, could not compete with counterfeit drug dealers.

In North America, workers can't compete with those in finance, and many ordinary women also end up as prostitutes to make a living.

The same is true in island nations; the famous Okubo Park is a gathering place for prostitutes.

This is the bitter consequence of the decline of the real economy.

Chen Guilin didn't want to give up on his daughter, and he didn't want her to live with a fake drug dealer.

Unfortunately, times have changed. Labor is no longer honorable; whoever has money is honorable, and don't ask where the money comes from.

"Card!"

“Miss Zhang… Zhang Yuan, could you translate for me?” Zhang Meng called out.

Zhang Yuan performed very well; he perfectly captured the essence of feigning nonchalance despite his apparent helplessness.

However, Zhang Shenying does not speak Chinese, so when reciting lines, not only is there a problem with her lip movements, but she also cannot speak fluently.

She didn't know if Zhang Yuan paused on purpose or if he had finished his lines and was waiting for her to continue.

Acting alongside foreigners is a real challenge.

"What's wrong? You practiced all night but didn't get the chemistry right?" Qin Hailu joked as he came up.

Just as Zhang Yuan was about to retort, he discovered that the crew's smirking smiles had become a contagious phenomenon.

A bunch of emojis are looking at me.

"Don't talk nonsense, I'm innocent with them."

"Ouch!"

"I know that someone invited you to meet tonight to discuss the play."

"did you go?"

"went."

"Then let's not get married." Hailu thought to herself, "I know you too well."

All the classmates around me, from the Central Academy of Drama's Class of '96, could practically have a "class reunion" at your house. You've had quite a few "interactions" with Liu Tao too.

If a beautiful young wife takes the initiative to invite you out, can you still control yourself?

But then he saw Zhang Yuan raise his head with a face full of sorrow.

"What a load of rubbish!"

"She chatted with me for a long time, from Chinese films to Korean films."

"In the end, she told me that she really wanted to see Chenlong."

"She said I've worked with my older brother before, could you introduce us?"

Hahahahahahaha...

A burst of warm, fiery laughter echoed across the frigid Northeast.

Qin Hailu laughed like an idiot, clutching his stomach.

"You have today too!"

"There will be times when you get the short end of the stick."

"goose……"

Zhang Yuan lowered his head with a dark expression.

I told him that anyone who offers unsolicited kindness is either up to no good or a thief, and Lao Han even said I lacked confidence.

It's understandable that people like Lao Han and Xixi, who come from privileged backgrounds, would naturally feel that it's normal and expected for others to treat them well.

I earned everything through hard work; it's not that simple.

"So, did you agree to introduce her to Chenlong?" Qin Hailu laughed wildly and then pressed on.

"Agree my ass!"

"You think a barbecue meal will satisfy me?"

"I paid for it anyway."

"The Koreans are dreaming."

It has to be said that Jackie Chan is still amazing, with a huge influence in Japan and South Korea.

I'm still lacking in fame.

This incident made him very depressed, and he rarely spoke to Korean women after that.

Take the photos or not, just hurry up and leave after you're done, go home and eat kimchi.

You were once honored to be dogs of the Ming Dynasty, and now you're even swaggering around.

He was already in a bad mood, and then someone bothered him.

He received a call from Fengxing Studio.

And it was Zhuo Wei who called personally!
"haven't seen you for a long time."

"It has been a long time," Zhang Yuan replied with great interest.

"You should thank me this time."

"Your movie is quite popular."

"Heh." Zhang Yuan sneered, "You fabricated information about me, and I should thank you?"

"At least we've generated some buzz," Zhuo Wei replied with a smile.

"I remember we were friends, but all you can do is report on me?"

"We're friends, and you've made great progress these past few years."

"I was just joking. My subordinates didn't know that they wrote an article about you."

Zhang Yuan didn't believe a single punctuation mark of this statement.

You're the boss, the editor-in-chief. How can an article be published without your permission?
"Oh, then you'll have to discipline your subordinates properly." He didn't point it out, just went along with what the other person said.

"Now that you're a boss, you should know that it's not easy to manage subordinates."

Is it that they are difficult to manage, or that they are unwilling to manage... Zhang Yuan wondered.

"I was quite surprised. I didn't expect that after a few years, Zhang Ziyi and Liu Tao would both be your artists."

"And Zhao Liying, Song Jia, Zhang Tianai, and others too."

Zhang Yuan frowned slightly. "Are you reciting the names of the dishes?"

These things aren't big secrets within the industry, it's just that the average viewer isn't aware of them.

But when the other party says this, it's probably more than just talk.

"You're quite well-informed. What are your thoughts on this?"

"It's nothing. As you know, I work in entertainment news, and I have plenty of news about celebrities like you."

"There are quite a few, but whether these news stories are positive or negative depends on how you journalists report them."

“After all, you have the pen, so you can write whatever you want,” Zhang Yuan replied.

Not only did they mock him, but they also took precautions to prevent him from recording their phone calls.

They shift all the blame onto the other party.

"No, no, no, we are different from other studios. My Fengxing Studio is an independent and objective media."

"Stop telling jokes."

Table Reed: ...

"Let's talk about practical things," Zhang Yuan replied calmly.

"Do you want to discuss feelings with me, or wealth?" (End of Chapter)