Actor: Thank you.

After exercising before the meal, Zhang Yuan felt much calmer.

"Your back is all chapped." In the bathroom, Cheng Hao was busy scrubbing her back with a towel, looking both disgusted and amused.

“I played a worker in that previous film.”

"And they were laid-off workers from the 1990s," Zhang Yuan emphasized.

"In Northeast China in the 90s, taking a shower at home in winter was a rather painful experience."

"Workers would only bathe in the factory-run bathhouse every day when they were at the factory."

"After being laid off, going to the public bathhouse once a week is not bad."

"When I was on set, I deliberately didn't shower every day, in order to get that skin condition."

"Yes, yes, you're always right." Cheng Hao was too lazy to answer him: "Want me some salt to rub you?"

Zhang Yuan looked back.

Do you have milk to massage?

Cheng Hao rolled her eyes at him and began serving.

"Turn over, Mr. James Hard."

Zhang Yuan: …

He was a little disappointed that he didn't have time to properly experience the bathing culture of Northeast China.

The bathhouse industry in Northeast China is truly a vital source of livelihood for millions of laborers, with hundreds of thousands of people employed in the industry throughout the region.

Moreover, in Northeast China, there are two types of bathing: taking a bath and taking a large bath.

Taking a bath at home is just taking a shower; only when you go to a bathhouse, scrub and soak comfortably for most of the day, is it a real bath.

Zhang Yuan has always felt that Europe and even North America have always considered themselves the new Rome, trying to usurp the rightful place of Rome.

However, if we're talking about bathing culture, then the Roman baths are indeed very famous.

That northeastern region is where the true origins of the new Rome lie.

It is correct that the world originated in Tongliao.

After taking a shower, they ate something to replenish their energy.

"Something on your mind?" Cheng Hao put down the printed information about Ms. Jiang Ying that she was holding.

"Is recommending a character putting you in a difficult position?"

My dear sister guessed quite accurately; she's quite intelligent.

"It's not a difficult problem, I have to consider the overall picture," Zhang Yuan replied vaguely.

He couldn't go into details; not only did they tell him not to divulge the information, but they also made him sign a confidentiality agreement.

“It’s not about your role.” Zhang Yuan held her hand. “Don’t worry.”

He never expected that this film would make things so complicated.

The other party was being kind by asking him to recommend a role, just to give him a treat.

Of course, even if you don't do anything, they won't be so petty as to kick you out.

Once the candy is given, it won't be taken back.

I'm just giving you a chance.

Otherwise, why would I keep asking him if he has any plans to buy property abroad or live overseas?

You need to determine where your heart is.

Too many actors change their nationality as soon as they become famous. People are afraid that they will not only fail to perform their duties, but also turn against their own people, or use this as a way to pledge their loyalty.

There really are people capable of doing something like that.

Ultimately, this whole thing boils down to asking him, a shareholder of the racing team, for data, but in reality, it's about getting him to "steal" data.

However, can something that benefits the country and its people be called stealing?

From a certain perspective, it means they think highly of me.

If they had judged me to be unreliable during the research phase, they wouldn't have brought it up at all.

Moreover, there is a saying that "science has no borders, but scientists do have borders."

Qian Xuesen's life is proof of this.

How many highly skilled Chinese Americans have died mysteriously and "accidentally" on the eve of their return to China?

The First and Second Industrial Revolutions both occurred in Europe, so why is North America now the world's leading technological power?

Taking advantage of World War II, they seized countless talents, technologies, and data to bring back to their home country.

Theodore von Kármán was German, Albert Einstein was Swiss, and J. Robert Oppenheimer was of German descent.

Purebred North American whites, including several great scientists.

They're all a bunch of thugs and bandits; do they have any high-tech brains?

We have achieved our current technological leadership only by reaping the benefits of battle.

Qian Xuesen and Yang Zhenning, on the contrary, proved that the Chinese people can reach the world's top level in both theoretical and applied physics.

This proves that the intelligence of people of East Asian descent is not only no worse than that of people of white descent, but is actually stronger.

Old Yang was heavily criticized in China years ago for marrying a young woman and opposing China's construction of a particle collider.

The gambling king married four wives and had more than a dozen children, and people envied him. So what if he married a young wife?

It's obvious that someone is stirring up trouble, because opposing the particle collider is negating a multi-billion dollar project and cutting off the livelihoods of countless people.

Europe has already built a particle collider, so why can't they share the data?

Oh, this is where science comes to have borders.

The lunar soil that the Americans send all over the world is fake; they're just pretending to be rich and misleading others.

At the same time, they also stole a lot of data and achievements from other countries.

After thinking it over, Zhang Yuan felt that the "progress" of white people was not clean.

When it comes to giving things away, the Russians are the most generous. After World War II, they sent technology and supplies all over the world.

Even now, there is still the well-known "Cuban medical tourism" in North America, where people go to Cuba for surgery and cancer treatment.

North American pharmaceutical companies are ruthlessly exploiting consumers, while Cuban pharmaceuticals offer cheap and high-quality products—a legacy left by the Russians.

He was still thinking about it even when he lay down to sleep that night.

Carefully weigh the pros and cons, and at the same time prepare yourself mentally.

You need to think this through; there are risks involved.

If things go wrong, all my shares in the racing team will be lost.

But if it's done well...

This is where the problem lies.

It's another gamble; the bigger the storm, the more expensive the fish.

I was thinking things were going well lately, but it seems I shouldn't have that thought. God loves to tease those who think things are going well.

I tossed and turned all night, unable to fall asleep.

He held it in until dawn, then slapped the back of his head.

"What bullshit risk!"

"This kind of opportunity only comes once in a lifetime, so let's go all in!"

So I called the middle-aged man from the General Armament Department whom I had met yesterday.

The other party was surprised that he had considered it so quickly.

"It is only right to contribute to the advancement of science and technology in China," Zhang Yuanyi replied earnestly.

The other person thought for a moment, "Is this the same kid who asked us yesterday whether we should love our country?"
Why are all actors like this?

He repeatedly told him that this was a serious matter and could not be taken lightly.

Zhang Yuan was certain, absolutely certain, and guaranteed to complete the task.

I've been a successor to communism for many years now.

But how to "get" the data needs to be discussed with me; they can't expose it to me.

He made it clear to the other party that his 15% stake in the team was worth at least £3000 million, equivalent to more than 3 million RMB.

He always felt poor because he had little cash flow and his assets were all converted into investments and fixed capital.

“We are aware of this situation.”

"You do need to take some risks."

"So once it's done, if there's anything we can do to help in the future, we'll provide appropriate assistance within the reasonable and compliant scope."

This is exactly what Zhang Yuan was waiting for!
You can't renege on your debt.

I've rendered meritorious service to the country, so I should be worth at least half a certificate of merit. These advisors are actually from a different field; they're all in China's high-tech equipment industry.

Moreover, the involvement of personnel from the General Armaments Department and the General Staff Department in the review and consultation process actually indicates a connection with the Ministry of War.

There are many things in these two industries that were previously difficult for me to access.

We went out to meet the other party, discussed how to carry it out, and talked about a general plan.

The other party's idea was the same old trick: to get him to recommend people to the company as a shareholder.

He felt it was inappropriate; the Europeans were arrogant.

Even if you graduate from one of the world's top universities, as long as you are of Asian descent, you will not be given important positions and will have no chance of accessing core information.

These white people are so good at stealing data that they're so strict about preventing it, because they do it all the time.

Let's put it this way: they'd rather give important positions to Indians than to people of Asian descent.

They just don't trust you people in the red camp, they're creating class antagonism, what can you do about it?

Because Indians only know how to brag, while you Chinese can actually produce results.

So when North Americans say you have weapons of mass destruction, you better actually do.

He rejected the other party's plan; that's the kind of thing I can't trust.

leave me alone!

I have to do this myself.

Firstly, my identity makes me more deceptive.

Who would believe an actor could do this?

Secondly, he doesn't trust anyone.

If your people make a mistake, it's your responsibility and mine.

It took a long time to convince them, and they finally agreed to let him try.

However, despite Zhang Yuan's repeated inquiries, the other party refused to say what they needed the data for.

Well, sometimes knowing too much is a problem.

As for casting and such, that's a piece of cake.

When Zhang Yuan returned home, he looked at himself in the full-length mirror again.

"So it seems..." he pondered, "I'm getting closer and closer to Mr. Qian from the very beginning."

This matter cannot be rushed.

Since the season is over and the team is on winter break, I have no reason to suddenly show up at their door.

The next day, he received the latest complete script from the production team of "Qian Xuesen".

I helped Cheng Hao organize the character information and then let her audition on her own.

He then went to the horse farm in Lixian to meet with Zhang Yimou, who had already returned to the capital.

"The environment here is indeed quite nice."

Upon arrival, he and Zhang Yimou chatted as they walked, and the latter remarked with admiration.

After the children came here, they rode on the little ponies that Teacher Yu had poured his heart and soul into, and their mood improved a lot.

You won't be harassed by paparazzi, and you won't have to live in fear.

"I'm glad you're happy. Stay as long as you like." Zhang Yuan didn't mind at all; in fact, he hoped they would stay forever.

"It's best to get there as soon as possible. The kids are on winter break now, and they'll have to go back to school after the New Year."

"If that doesn't work, I'll try to think of a way to transfer you to a prestigious school in the capital," Zhang Yuan suggested.

"Forget it, they're used to living in Wuxi, and they won't be used to the food in Beijing." Zhang Yimou didn't want to make things so complicated.

"So what are your plans next?" Zhang Yuan asked.

"I consulted a lawyer."

"Fuck you!" Zhang Yimou suddenly uttered a vulgar expression from his hometown.

"The birth certificates for all three children are fake!"

"As a result, they've all become unregistered residents!"

Zhang Yimou was furious.

This is the good deed Zhang Weiping did.

He readily agreed when asked to help with the paperwork.

Now, when the lawyers checked, they found that all the certificates were fake.

This is still not as good as Teacher Zhao Benshan, whose driver's license is genuine.

That's not all. Zhang Yimou also said that after his accident, one of his former investors came looking for him.

It's said that Zhang Weiping has several investment payments that have been delayed, and that Zhang Yimou's villa in Wuxi is also in debt.

Zhang Yimou looked completely bewildered. "I've already paid!"

I bought it at half price, so it was a friend's price.

Unfortunately, it went through a middleman; the money came from Zhang Weiping, who claimed that to avoid trouble, it was directly deducted from the profit share that should have gone to Zhang Yimou.

The result was neither given to Zhang Yimou nor to the developer.

And as more and more of the awful things came to his mind, this nominally top director in China was enraged.

This really angered Lao Qin.

"It must have been him!" the old strategist angrily retorted.

"Nobody knows where my home is or how many people live with me."

“I rarely go home, and I never bring my family to parties.” After thinking it over, he realized that his old friend had tricked him.

Zhang Yuan was secretly pleased. It was best that you thought that way.

We must ensure that there is no possibility of a cure.

We absolutely cannot allow him to resume his relationship with Zhang Weiping.

In fact, once a child's birth certificate is discovered to be fake, the chances of repairing the relationship are very slim.

It's one thing to cheat me, but to cheat my child is going too far.

Zhang Yimou is a traditional man who values ​​family. He definitely wouldn't tolerate you mistreating his wife and children.

Zhang Yuan just asked him what his plans were, but he misunderstood, thinking he was being asked about how to handle the aftermath.

He wanted to ask about the work ahead.

After listening to his complaints at length, he had a meal with his wife and children.

After resting in the evening, he went to chat with Zhang Yimou over tea and brought up the matter again.

"Director Zhang, I heard you are preparing for a new film."

"Now that things have turned out this way, there must be quite a bit of trouble, right?"

"Hey..." Zhang Yimou gave a helpless, bitter smile.

It will definitely have to be put on hold for now, at least not before the Lunar New Year, and we definitely can't start work.

"If there are difficulties with funding or resources."

"As you should know, I started a company with some Hong Kong businessmen and invested in many film projects."

"You can speak up anytime, and we can discuss it together."

Zhang Yimou glanced at it out of the corner of his eye, his face expressionless.

He had already guessed that Zhang Yuan would ask that question.

I've also discussed this with my wife.

Given the current situation, we definitely need to find another job.

We can no longer allow middlemen like Zhang Weiping to be involved.

You need to work directly with the investors.

Moreover, he understood that times had changed; in the past, all you needed to do was find coal mine owners or real estate tycoons to invest in making movies.

It’s different now!
That era is no longer relevant.

If you don't cooperate with large companies, you won't have enough resources, and you'll be at a disadvantage in market competition.

He also coveted the profits earned by Xiao Gang and Poet Chen.

Why am I the most tired, have the most works, but earn the least?
Zhang Yuan and the company behind him are indeed a good choice.

But... it's not the only option.

Just like the audition, things didn't go as smoothly as Zhang Yuan had imagined. (End of Chapter)