Actor: Thank you.

Chapter 748 Fairness
There is a Chinese saying that goes "The smaller the temple, the stronger the evil spirits; the shallower the water, the more turtles there are."

It is the most appropriate word to describe the Hong Kong film and television industry, or Hong Kong as a whole.

Let’s not talk about the period before the return, as the colonies had no control over their own affairs.

Not only were they badly bullied by foreigners, some of them also developed PTSD and Stockholm syndrome.

It means that the victim develops feelings for the abuser, even admiration and dependence.

There are also problems after returning, because what the colonists are best at is leaving behind all kinds of difficult and complicated problems after they leave.

Make sure if I'm not well, you won't be well either.

Human cancer is not just a topic of conversation.

There are so many racial problems in Africa, all of which were created by one or two old empires.

This has left Hong Kong with a large number of historical problems.

Just like how South Korea looks down on North Korea.

The mentality is that it is better to be a concubine of a rich landlord than to farm on your own.

Little did he know that a concubine was just a toy.

And I am not even as good as a toy, I just kill a pig for meat during the New Year.

But the prostitutes who come ashore look down on decent women. That's the way the world is.

Because during the years that the prostitute was in the dust, she had saved up quite a bit of money for her funeral.

But decent women have always lived a miserable life.

As a result, an inexplicable sense of superiority arose in my heart.

Now, Zhang Yuan and Jiang Zhiqiang, who are sitting in the small reception room, are actually facing such a problem.

Zhang Yuan is very young.

More importantly, he is from mainland China.

In Boss Jiang's mind, the Hong Kong industry is still much stronger than the mainland film and television industry.

In fact, at this point in time, the mainland film and television industry has begun to surpass the Hong Kong industry and is far from being the inexperienced Wuxia Amon of the 1980s and 1990s.

But the prejudice in people's hearts is like a mountain that can never be moved no matter how hard you try.

Even if the mountain was blown up, as long as he didn't open his eyes, he could still pretend that the mountain was still there.

You can never wake up a person who is pretending to be asleep, let alone a group of people.

The later "Nezha 2" was rejected by the Hong Kong film and television circle during the Spring Festival, because the capital of the Hong Kong circle felt that mainland animation was not good enough.

But even though this film earned over 10 billion yuan at the box office, it still took a lot of effort to enter the Hong Kong market.

This is even so difficult considering the total box office of Hong Kong's Spring Festival period in 25 years was only HK$3000 million, a laughable figure.

He is only half alive now, yet he still looks down on you.

If we change to more than ten years ago, when Zhang Yuan was in this time and space, it goes without saying.

Zhang Yuan looked indifferently at Boss Jiang in front of him.

He actually knew very well what the other party wanted to do.

But the other party didn't realize that Zhang Yuan not only knew what he wanted to do, but was also deliberately inducing him to do so.

"Zhang Yuan, since we are partners."

“This cooperation was also very successful.”

"Then I'll just say what I want to say."

Jiang Zhiqiang adjusted his sitting posture, straightened his back slightly, and looked very formal.

"I have a play on hand, with a huge investment and a strong cast."

"What you should know is Lust, Caution."

"Oh, I know. It's directed by Ang Lee."

"Director Ang Lee is so talented, this film should be sure to win all the major awards this year, right?"

"I think you deserve the Best Film Award at the Academy Awards." Zhang Yuan said innocently.

Jiang Zhiqiang: …

You are bringing up things that are not related to the topic.

Not eligible for the award.

He originally wanted to use connections.

The current chairman of the Hong Kong Film Awards is Wen Jun.

He is the one who played Lu Xiaofeng in "Forbidden City Bodyguard 007".

This person is considered to be a more "reasonable" person among Hong Kong people.

Later, at the 29th Academy Awards, the popular film "October Besieged" received a lot of nominations.

Both Wang Xueqi and Li Yuchun took leave from work to go to the scene.

As a result, this film won many awards that night, but all the winners were from Hong Kong!

Not only this film, but all the winners of that Academy Awards were from Hong Kong.

You know, when Wen Jun was the chairman, there were at least a few people from mainland China who won awards every year.

So after that party, Wen Jun criticized the Academy Awards for being very "mini-Hong Kong" and "very xenophobic", saying that it would just be "self-entertainment" in the future.

I know that this person's personality is considered an outlier in the Hong Kong circle.

Jiang Zhiqiang then approached this person and wanted to use the back door, but the other party said that the rules for the selection cannot be changed because of you alone, otherwise our award will have no credibility.

In the end, Wen Jun still gave him face and gave him the qualification to participate in the "Best Asian Film" project.

However, he was not given a chance to win the important awards of "Best Picture, Best Actor, and Best Director".

After getting the copy of "Apple" from Zhang Yuan, he read it himself.

No one said a word.

Then, I specially invited friends from Taiwan, who are also members of the Golden Horse Awards Organizing Committee, to watch it together.

“Yes, it has great potential.”

"Liang Jiahui's performance is as good as ever."

"But what really surprised me was Fan Bingbing. Her performance in the film broke my previous impression of her."

“The film itself is very meaningful.”

Jiang Zhiqiang understood it as soon as he heard it.

This movie has the potential to compete for Best Actress and Best Picture.

But Jiang Zhiqiang invested more than 1000 million US dollars in "Lust, Caution" and he couldn't afford to lose.

So he couldn't wait to see her at the Golden Horse Awards, so he took the opportunity of visiting her today to bring it up.

And what did he want to say?

"Zhang Yuan, I have a suggestion."

“The filming cost of that movie ‘Apple’ shouldn’t be high.”

"I don't think it will exceed 2000 million. I estimate it will be more than 1000 million at most."

"In this way, I will pay a premium of 2000 million to buy out all copyrights outside the mainland, so that you and your partners can get your money back directly, and even make some money."

"That's great!" Zhang Yuan said excitedly, "I thank you on behalf of all the crew members."

"You're welcome..." Boss Jiang pressed his hand.

"But this is conditional."

"Oh?" Zhang Yuan looked confused again.

The look was three parts innocent and six parts confused, with a hint of curiosity peculiar to young people.

Over the years of his acting career, his eye acting has made great progress.

"The condition for me to pay this money is that this film should not be submitted for the Golden Horse Awards."

"I don't mind foreign awards, but I don't want the Golden Horse Awards."

Although Zhang Yuan remained calm, he snorted in his heart.

That is……

Ang Lee is very famous overseas.

I can't compete with Lao Li in overseas awards.

It's all in vain.

As he expected, Jiang Zhiqiang's starting point was the Golden Horse Awards.

But there were still some things that surprised him.

That is Boss Jiang’s behavior pattern.

Zhang Yuan can now confirm that this person is a real businessman.

Although the conditions he proposed were arrogant.

If it wasn't Zhang Yuan, but Zhang Weiping, Wang Zhongjun and other people behind these great directors, would he make such a request?
It’s because he doesn’t have enough qualifications and background.

But because of this, the other party’s first reaction is still to solve the problem through commercial means.

Spend money to buy it out, harmony brings wealth.

If it were the Huayi brothers, if they encountered a stumbling block like Zhang Yuan, they probably wouldn't even talk to you, but would just use some means to deal with you first.

Compared with the two, Jiang Zhiqiang is already very civilized.

Okay, businessmen have their own way of dealing with things.

After a moment of silence, Zhang Yuan shook his head.

"Mr. Jiang."

"We had two goals for this film from the beginning."

“It was released and won awards.”

“This is our original intention for filming ‘Apple’.”

"I can't change my original intention. I'm sorry that I can't agree to your conditions."

Zhang Yuan refused calmly without any extreme emotional actions.

"You shouldn't answer so quickly. Think about it again." Jiang Zhiqiang said sincerely, "The conditions I offer are not bad."

"The purpose of making movies is to make money." "I'm giving you an opportunity to make money directly without any risk. Isn't that good?"

"No, Mr. Jiang, not everyone makes movies to make money," Zhang Yuan replied with a smile.

And Brother Fang Li, the initiator of the play "Apple", is like this.

This person almost lost everything while filming "The Sinking of the Lisbon Maru".

So Zhang Yuan knew very well that Jiang Zhiqiang could not only not bribe himself, but also could not bribe other people in the "Apple" crew.

"Then what are you doing this for?" Boss Jiang spread his hands.

"Fair." Zhang Yuan replied with a firm tone.

"We can compete fairly. If we lose, it's because we don't have the ability. If we win, it's because our hard work has been rewarded."

Just as Mr. Chen Peisi said, he hates the lead comedian on the Spring Festival Gala stage the most.

If I can't make the audience laugh, I'll go home and practice.

I don't need you to lie to me.

Jiang Zhiqiang kept tapping his knees with his fingers.

What he worried about most happened.

Zhang Yuan is an "abnormal" person.

His thinking and behavior are different from those of ordinary people.

It's difficult to guess and grasp.

The key is that I can't see through him, and I don't know where this kind of person will make his next move.

The unknown creates fear.

Therefore, he did not want the relationship between him and Zhang Yuan to change drastically from cooperation to hostility.

This also goes against his business principles.

But the other party was now shouting "fairness" and "ideal" in a naive manner, leaving him speechless and helpless.

"Heh..." Jiang Zhiqiang sighed.

"Don't rush it. Think about it again and discuss it with the other people in the crew."

"Give me an answer as soon as possible."

"I have already given you an answer." Zhang Yuan replied without hesitation.

"Think about it again, don't be impatient."

Having said this, he stood up and said goodbye.

After leaving the door and before getting into the car, he turned around and added something earnestly.

"I still look forward to the opportunity to work with you in the future."

"Me too."

"Bye." After saying that, the car door closed and gray exhaust rose in the alley.

The anger fades and people disperse.

"Brother Zhang Yuan, Boss Jiang doesn't look too happy." The assistant whispered.

"But I'm very happy."

"Go and have a rest." Zhang Yuan moved his neck, making a crackling sound: "Because there are still many important things to do later."

The next day, Zhang Yuan was tinkering with the computer in the study.

"Huh, the weather is getting hotter..."

Cheng Hao, who had hurried back from Taiwan, stepped over the threshold and entered the backyard.

"You're back." When Zhang Yuan saw her coming, he immediately closed his computer and tightened his pants.

After the good sister stood still, she squinted at him and asked, "What were you doing just now?"

"I'm installing software on my new laptop."

“It’s convenient to take it out later.”

Cheng Hao snorted lightly, put his bag on a chair beside him, and sat down steadily.

"I'm so exhausted after going to Treasure Island," she complained.

"Are you tired from traveling first class back and forth?"

"It's not that I was tired on the plane, it's that after arriving at the destination, I still have to hide from the paparazzi."

"You are afraid of being photographed, so I am afraid too, okay!" The good sister pinched his nose with her fingers angrily.

"What did the Chen family say?" Zhang Yuan grabbed her hand and held it in his palm.

"They are busy too. Besides, how can they not be satisfied with my help?"

"It's all taken care of, don't worry."

"Okay." Zhang Yuan nodded in response, and then told him in detail how a group of people at the celebration party came to him to invest in the filming.

"So many!" The good sister widened her eyes in surprise.

"let me see."

"Wu Jing has such a good relationship with you. He is one of us, so we have to take care of him."

"Guan Hu was brought here by Huang Bo. He is one of us, so we have to take care of him."

"So you plan to invest in these two?"

she guessed.

“No, all of them.”

"all!"

"correct."

"We have so much money...it seems like we really do." Cheng Hao said halfway when he remembered that Zhang Yuan had made a lot of money this year.

"The Ming Dynasty 1566" and the revised version of "Home with Kids" alone earned tens of millions.

Add to that the "Secret" this time, the money should be enough.

She didn't react for a moment.

It's only been a few years, and tens of millions don't seem to be a big deal to them.

"If you have money, you have to spend it. If you keep it at home, it will get moldy."

"And there are many strangers who have approached me recently, not just these few."

"These guys are all friends, and they're all serious people."

"There are also some dishonest ones."

I don't know where they got his phone number, but a lot of people have been calling him these days.

Either it’s a new club or a party on the island.

Anyway, it will cost hundreds of thousands of yuan in registration fees or membership fees.

What's more, some people even called to invite him to visit Macau.

As soon as Zhang Yuan heard it, he knew that he was being targeted by the code-stacker.

This group of code-stackers are always close to the entertainment industry.

Because some people in the film and television industry carry out banknote laundering work and rely on this group of people to act as go-betweens.

The stackers are well-informed.

Knowing that he had earned a lot of money from "Secret", he was planning to use it to make money.

Just like when some rural areas are confirmed to be demolished, BMW, Porsche and Mercedes-Benz 4S stores will quickly appear around them.

Buying a car is not bad.

Soon, people will come to play mahjong, poker, and pai gow.

By the time the villagers realized what was happening, all their demolition compensation had been lost.

Some people specialize in organizing groups to do this kind of business.

"Well, you have to be careful then." Cheng Hao said nervously.

"You don't trust me so much?"

"I have an incompatible relationship with gambling and drugs, you know that."

"What I'm worried about is not the gambling, but the young models in the club." The good sister narrowed her eyes and stared at him.

Zhang Yuan: …

That's what you said.

It's all about socializing, socializing...

"I'll go talk to my aunt and make you some soup tonight to nourish your body and relieve your fatigue." Zhang Yuan made an excuse and walked out.

But after taking only two steps, he felt as if he had neglected something.

"broken!"

Then he hurried back to the study.

As soon as I entered the door, I saw Cheng Hao turning on his new computer.

The screen is flashing with pop-up pictures of beautiful women in scantily clad clothes, either real or cartoon.

"Listen to me and tell you the reason." Zhang Yuan hurriedly explained.

"Actually, I'm testing the computer's extreme performance."

“See how much virus it can take without getting stuck.”

"Hmph." Cheng Hao snorted coldly.

With a snap, he closed the computer and walked over to him and grabbed his collar.

"It seems that your life was quite fulfilling when I was away."

"Average, a bit monotonous."

"Tsk tsk tsk." Cheng Haohao sneered: "In case you have money to apply for club membership."

"Looks like I need to drain your energy."

"Elbow, come into the house with me!"

(End of this chapter)