I'm just trying to ride the wave of popularity!

Chapter 35: A fantastic film!
In 2001, after China joined the WTO, a major wave of trade between China and European and American markets officially began.

In 2001, China's exports reached US$2661.6 billion, imports reached US$2436.1 billion, resulting in a trade surplus of US$225.5 billion.

In 2002, amidst the wave of globalization, the Chinese film market fully opened to Europe and America…

2002 was a year of great significance for the survival and development of Chinese cinema.

That year, foreign films, mainly Hollywood blockbusters, entered the Chinese domestic market more frequently and rapidly, taking away the vast majority of the box office revenue…

That year, overseas film production, distribution, and exhibition capital and institutions were poised to enter China through cooperation with Huaxia Film Company and equity investment, sweeping through the market like a whirlwind, plundering China's box office resources...

Looking at the booming Hollywood movies...

Some people felt fear and trembled in the shadow of Hollywood movies...

Some people were shocked by Hollywood's industrial visual system, which was so amazing that Chinese films, which had made a name for themselves with martial arts films at the beginning of the millennium, had not yet risen to prominence and were already being utterly defeated...

But more than that, there was a group of fanatics!
..........................................

Early morning on December 7th.

A light rain fell in Yanjing City.

It's Sunday again, and there are far fewer people on the streets than usual...

But at this very moment, Zhongguancun was bustling with activity, filled with the sounds of gongs and drums.

As early as the early hours of the morning, countless users, holding umbrellas, watched with a mixture of nervousness and anticipation as the [Dingjin Electronics City] was about to open.

The Dingjin Electronics City, covering nearly 10 square meters, is expected to see 3 to 5 visitors daily, selling everything from computers and mobile phones to cameras, CD players, tape recorders, DVDs, and more.

It is no exaggeration to say that its products cover almost all kinds of electronic products in China, and it has been hailed by countless people as the largest electronic market group in China.

……

"Boss, do you have any new stock?"

"Oh, yes, we do!"

"What's new?"

"It looks like some Hollywood blockbuster!"

"Hollywood blockbuster?"

"Yes, I think it's called something like 'Superman 2'."

"Holy crap, boss, is this for real?"

"See for yourself whether it's true or not. What else could I possibly be lying to you about?"

"..."

The light rain this morning took away the summer heat.

A gust of wind blew in through the window.

Liu Jun was jostled around in the crowd until he finally squeezed into Dingjin Electronics City and entered a counter called Audio-Visual World.

He originally wanted to buy himself a new [Novia] mobile phone, but the [Novia] counter was so crowded that he arrived too late and couldn't get in line at all...

Looking at the distant counter, with its massive crowd, Liu Jun knew he wouldn't be able to squeeze in anytime soon.

When I saw that the newly opened audio-visual world wasn't too crowded, I decided to check if they had any new Hollywood DVDs!

In 2003, besides box office revenue, original DVD and VCD copies remained the mainstream for Chinese films.

Of course, what's displayed in the open are the official copies, but the room behind them is filled with movies from Japan, South Korea, Europe, and the United States that can't be shown in public or have no copyright at all.

……

I scanned the area!
Although this stall, named "Audio-Visual World," is not large, it has a wide variety of CDs and DVDs.

From Hong Kong films of the 80s to martial arts and horror films of the 90s...

A dazzling array of goods, everything imaginable.

However, Liu Jun wasn't interested in the films outside; what interested him most were the Hollywood blockbusters behind the booths.

In recent years, Hollywood blockbusters have had a powerful impact on Chinese moviegoers!

Even after China officially opened its arms to Hollywood movies and expanded imports in 2002, it still couldn't satisfy Chinese movie fans' desire for Hollywood blockbusters!

The market is huge, but only a limited number of films have the rights each year. Many Hollywood films are unable to enter the Chinese market for various reasons…

Therefore, some vendors secretly started producing pirated goods.

Over the years, Liu Jun has watched countless Hollywood blockbusters by relying on pirated DVDs with cheap packaging costing 2 yuan a disc or exquisite packaging costing 10 yuan a box!
……

"all these are?"

"Yes!"

Under Liu Jun's gaze, the owner of [Audio-Visual World] took out a box of newly arrived CDs while smoking.

There's a premium version of the CDs, which costs 10 yuan in a plastic box and comes with two CDs!

The low-end version costs 2 yuan a box, and it only contains a plastic film and a cardboard box.

Liu Jun looked at the box of CDs...

When I saw a picture of "Superman 2", I was stunned!
He looked up at his boss in disbelief, his eyes wide.

"Holy crap, boss, is this Superman 2?"

"Yes!"

"Damn, this movie hasn't even been released yet, right? Did you guys get it from Europe or America?" "It's the rule in the industry, we don't ask about the source when watching a film..."

"..."

As Liu Jun flipped through the discs, he nodded: "Two yuan a disc?"

"The high-end version is 10 yuan, and the low-end version is 2 yuan!" The shopkeeper nodded.

"Then, I'll take a high-end one..."

"Row!"

The boss stubbed out his cigarette, took out a brand-new copy of "Superman 2" from behind his back, and handed it to Liu Jun.

After paying, Liu Jun put the disc away, hesitated for a moment, looked at the people outside, then at the shop owner, and then cautiously approached: "Boss, do you have any new, more exciting movies?"

"How exciting?"

"You know, the kind with the back door..."

"These? We're not selling these!"

Upon hearing this, the boss immediately perked up, then frowned and shook his head violently.

"Boss, I won't report you. Besides, you know me, I'm a regular customer here. I bought a lot of your products when you were doing piracy..." The boss frowned slightly when he saw Liu Jun's appearance. After hesitating for a moment, he realized that Liu Jun didn't seem like an undercover officer, and finally nodded.

"A new batch has arrived, yes, but... the price..."

"Don't worry about the price, I can afford thirty yuan, I know the market price!"

"That's fine."

"..."

The boss glanced at the shop assistant, gave him a few instructions, and then silently led Liu Jun into the inner room.

The inner room was very cramped...

It was very dark, and only one person passed by.

Moreover, the products weren't displayed in a dazzling array like outside, but rather arranged in individual boxes.

Under the dim light...

Liu Jun stared excitedly as the boss took out a box that was still unopened, which immediately revealed a series of embarrassing little films!

this moment……

Liu Jun felt his breathing become heavy!

He touched his heart and carefully lowered his head...

Choosing from one blockbuster after another from Japan, South Korea, Europe and America, it's simply dazzling!
As I was choosing...

Liu Jun saw a movie called "Superman and the Beast: A Passionate Night" and was slightly shocked!
He saw it on the cover...

A beautiful woman dressed as Superman, seemingly from an island nation, is playing with an iron rod with a burly man wearing a Sun Wukong mask!
The scene was incredibly lively!
The visuals are stunning!
Especially the line on the cover: "The most explicit depiction of humans and beasts in the 21st century, a shocking debut!"

He was instantly energized!
"Boss, this movie..."

"This film just arrived, it's 40 yuan!"

"40 yuan? That's so expensive?"

"It was obtained by one of my business partners early this morning..."

"Then I want it!"

"Row!"

After buying this ticket, Liu Jun suddenly came across a European or American movie.

The movie is called *Superman II: Battle of the Beasts*...

The movie cover is even more exciting: a muscular Superman with his hands raised, and below him is a stunningly beautiful woman from an island nation doing something indescribable!

Liu Jun shuddered, instantly feeling an overwhelming surge of blood pressure!
"I want this one too!"

"it is good!"

"Wait, there's this one too, this one... 'Beasts and Supergirl 2: Passionate Bed Battle'!"

"it is good!"

"..."

……

Half an hour later.

The audio-visual merchandise stalls gradually became lively.

Liu Jun carefully took the box of CDs into his hands, head down, and hurriedly pushed his way through the crowd...

Another ten minutes or so later...

He returned home excitedly.

I drew the curtains and turned on the DVD player...

With trembling hands, I took out a box of discs, inserted them into the DVD player, and planned to reward myself!
About a minute later, watching the images playing on the DVD...

His pupils suddenly contracted sharply...

(End of this chapter)