Entertainment: 1990

Chapter 384 Sudden
In the morning, I handled both big and small matters at the company. In the afternoon, I entertained the Shanghai tour group led by Xie Jin. In the evening, I got completely drunk.

So it wasn't until noon on the third day that Zhang Yan finally had the time to sit down and chat with Chen Hong.

Chen Hong's first words were: "This time, we may have let a wolf into the house."

Zhang Yan was suddenly struck by a sudden realization: "What? Are they going to accuse me of rape?"

Although he was somewhat shocked, he wasn't too nervous. After all, even twenty years from now, it wouldn't be so easy to frame a rich and powerful man, let alone now.

What are you thinking?

Chen Hong rolled her eyes at him and said, "I was referring to Director Xie Jin's inspection team—the film and television base just called me and said that a few people were disguised as tourists and were investigating the various facilities and management regulations of the film and television base."

Zhang Yan wasn't too surprised to hear this, as he already felt things had gone too smoothly.

He rubbed his temples, which were still throbbing slightly, and said, “Even if we don’t actively invite the wolf, people will still refer to it. But I can’t drink this wine for nothing. I’ll talk to the people at the August First Film Studio later and see if we can just break through this barrier and try to keep ‘The Opium War’ in Tianjin.”

Chen Hong raised an eyebrow: "They're clearly planning to start from scratch, so why would they agree to invest in filming in Tianjin?"

Zhang Yan said, "It's precisely because they wanted to start from scratch and secretly sent people to film and learn that we were able to rightfully demand that the film crew come to Tianjin to film."

To put it bluntly, this is different from private enterprises. Private enterprises only care about profits. Even if you find something wrong with them, you can't do anything about it.

Both the August First Film Studio and the Shanghai Film Studio are within the system and have similar backing, so they both need to maintain some semblance of decorum, which makes things more negotiable.

Zhang Yan planned to suggest that the August First Film Studio and the Tianjin government take the initiative to bring up the matter, and then offer to provide technical guidance to help the Yangtze River Delta region set up a film and television base, on the condition that the dialogue scenes of "The Opium War" be filmed in Tianjin.

This condition isn't too unreasonable, and Shanghai, having been caught red-handed, will most likely agree.

After hearing Zhang Yan's explanation, Chen Hong suddenly realized that this was certainly not the most ideal result, but it was definitely better than getting nothing at all. It was a case of aiming for the best and getting something in between.

After discussing that matter, Chen Hong added, "Besides the film studio, Feng Xiaogang also called you to talk about acquiring Dingli Film Industry. They're almost done with the final push, and they want you to make another trip to Beijing when you have time."

"Let's talk about it in a few days. We're going to look at wedding dresses tomorrow, and the day after tomorrow is the start of filming for 'Gan Shijiu Mei.' Plus, Director Xie Jin hasn't left yet..."

Mentioning director Xie Jin, Zhang Yan couldn't help but rub his temples again. When he was in Shanghai, the old man dragged him to drink. He thought it was because the old man was hospitable, but when he arrived in Tianjin, he found out that the old man was a drunkard at all.

Moreover, he's the kind of drunkard like Tengger, who's particularly good at singing "toasts," and at the dinner table, he's all about going down in flames. But given his age and experience, you simply can't refuse.

Now that we've finished discussing the important matters,

Chen Hong then asked with a smile, "So, were you satisfied with the surprise the night before last?"

"That's it."

Zhang Yan appeared nonchalant and then said, "Normally, just make sure they don't contact me first. You can handle it yourself."

He was half pretending and half being genuine. Having too many women was a troublesome thing. He was still willing to take care of his ex-lovers like Zhou Tao and Wang Luyao out of consideration for their past relationship.

But he was too lazy to waste his feelings on the young girls who had just gotten close to him, like the Ice and Snow Sisters. Anyway, it was originally arranged by Chen Hong, so he handed it over to Chen Hong to manage. This would save him trouble and also put Chen Hong at ease. Why not kill two birds with one stone?
However, he had one more request: "Don't let Tao Hong know about this."

Although Chen Hong didn't think that way at first, after Zhang Yan made it clear, she immediately nodded and said, "Don't worry, I don't think either of them wants Tao Hong to know about this."

"Brother, sister-in-law, dinner's ready!"

Just then, Zhang Fang's strange voice came from downstairs—this was a classic line from the nanny in the recently aired TV series "I Love My Family," which had just started airing.

Zhang Yan helped Chen Hong up and went downstairs. Seeing only her mother and sister at the dining table, he asked in bewilderment, "Where's my dad?"

"I went to practice driving."

Sun Xiaohong said helplessly, "He took Xu Wei and ran to Huanghua Port, saying he wouldn't be back until tonight."

"No, my dad is just too carefree!"

Zhang Yan was speechless. A while ago, he enrolled his father in driving school, originally planning to get the two of them a car for daily transportation.

Who knew that Zhang Xingguo would drive his Xiali to the film studio and somehow get in touch with Xu Wei, saying that it wouldn't do to stay in one place all the time and that he needed to go out and see the world to broaden his horizons.

So these past two days, I've been taking Xu Wei along when I go out for driving practice, and giving him a good talking session. Zhang Fang chimed in, "Mom, I think Dad is more suited to work at the Women's Federation than you. He can talk to people all the way to Huanghua Port—by the way, where's Huanghua Port?"

"In Cangzhou."

Zhang Yan took the millet porridge from his mother and casually placed it in front of Chen Hong, saying sarcastically, "You call yourself a host? You don't even know where Huanghua Port is."

"The host doesn't need to specifically study geography."

Zhang Fang handed the chopsticks to her brother, feigning a fierce expression, and said, "Brother, you should talk less while you eat. Today there are three women and one man. This is what they call 'three mothers teaching their son'..."

slap~
Before she could finish speaking, Sun Xiaohong slapped her on the back and said irritably, "You brat, what are you saying?"

Zhang Fang grinned and put her arm around her: "I said you are our good mother, you can educate the three of us all by yourself."

"You're so old and still have no manners."

Sun Xiaohong pushed her away with disgust, then looked at her son: "You should talk to your dad properly later. Letting him learn to drive is not the same as letting him run wild. He has to bring along a mentally ill person. What if... ptooey, ptooey anyway, you have to persuade him."

"I have to be able to persuade them."

Zhang Yan pointed at Chen Hong with his chopsticks and said, "This matter still needs your daughter-in-law to handle."

Chen Hong smiled and said, "Then I'll arrange two bodyguards for Dad later. He must take them with him next time he practices driving."

Just as they were chatting and laughing, the Border Collie in the yard suddenly barked.

Zhang Fang ran to the door and peeked into the yard. With a conflicted look on her face, she turned to Zhang Yan and said, "Brother, it's a young woman."

She paused, then added, "She's quite pretty."

This made Zhang Yan think in the wrong direction, wondering if someone was being unreasonable and causing trouble in his home.

Just as he was about to go out to see who it was, Gai Lili rushed into the room in a flurry, saying urgently, "Chen Hong, President Zhang, something terrible has happened! A large group of people from the public security, procuratorate, and court have come to the company building. It looks like they're here to investigate our Yuanmeng!"

"what?"

Zhang Yan was taken aback and hurriedly asked, "What exactly is going on? Why would someone come to investigate our company out of the blue?"

This is so inexplicable. He's been having an affair with leaders of relevant departments, so even if they were to investigate him, shouldn't they have given them a heads-up beforehand?
"I do not know either."

Gai Lili swallowed and said, "Isn't filming supposed to start tomorrow? I couldn't stay home, so I went to the film studio to check it out. After I finished, I wanted to go to the company for a drink, but when I saw it was in complete chaos, I rushed over to report it."

Chen Hong handed her a glass of water and complained, "Why didn't you call me? You wasted so much time on the way here!"

Gailly replied matter-of-factly, "I don't have any money on me, how can I make a phone call?"

Actually, she was extremely nervous at the time, and all she could think about was delivering the message in person.

By this time, Zhang Yan had already changed into his leather shoes, took the car keys off the hook, and said, "Mom, you guys eat, I'll go see what's going on."

Sun Xiaohong anxiously pressed, "Zhang Yan, no, no..."

Zhang Yan smiled casually and said, "Don't worry, nothing will happen. Chen Hong and I have always done business legally and in accordance with regulations. Even if the King of Heaven himself came, he wouldn't be able to accuse us!"

With that said, he was ready to leave.

"I will go with you."

Chen Hong, clutching her lower abdomen, tried to follow, but Sun Xiaohong and Zhang Fang quickly stopped her, refusing to let her go no matter what.

Chen Hong had no choice but to say, "Then let Lily go with you to take a look, just in case anything happens, she'll be there to help you."

As he spoke, he handed his old classmate his mobile phone.

(End of this chapter)