Hong Kong Film Intelligence King

Chapter 102 Wang Dalin Teaches His Son

The chubby boy returned home nervously and recounted what had happened.

Wang Dalin asked him:
"Isn't this a good thing?"

The chubby boy stammered:

"I always feel like Brother Dao is plotting against me!"

Wang Dalin nodded:

"Not stupid, you can even tell that someone is plotting against you."

The chubby boy added:

"Brother Dao is still plotting against your apprentices."

Wang Dalin snorted coldly:

"Not only that, he even schemed against me."

The chubby boy's eyes widened:

"what?"

Wang Dalin countered with:

"If you mess things up, am I supposed to be the one to cover for you?"

Wang Dalin was not only a director and producer of TV dramas; he started his career in filmmaking, and his films frequently won awards. It was only in the 1970s that he moved to TVB Jade as a manager, during which time he began producing TV dramas.

Making movies is Wang Dalin's old profession.

The chubby boy asked:
"Should I accept this agreement?"

Wang Dalin countered with:

"What do you say?"

The chubby boy gritted his teeth and said:

"I wanted to accept, but I felt really embarrassed to ask my senior brothers for help."

Wang Dalin mocked:

"Aren't you ashamed to scheme against your senior brothers?"

"Then don't answer it."

The chubby boy exclaimed:

"That's 300,000. They even gave me 50,000 for filming, and I managed the entire crew."

"I'm the one who calls the shots on the production crew!"

Wang Dalin casually remarked:

"Then let's accept it!"

The chubby boy said with a bitter face:

"But my conscience won't allow it."

Wang Dalin glanced at him indifferently and said:

"Share your 400,000 yuan filming budget with your senior brothers, and see if they feel cheated?"

The chubby boy was taken aback.

Wang Dalin said earnestly:

"Everyone in this world is not equal in value."

"Being schemed against is what has value."

"If you feel like you've been tricked, why don't you invite your fellow disciples tomorrow and see what they have to say?"

The chubby boy wasn't stupid; upon hearing this, he exclaimed in surprise:
"Dad, are they really happy to accept this?"

Wang Dalin said with amusement:

"if not?"

"While TVB Jade does produce new dramas every year, the competition is fierce given how large the channel is."

"They all want to direct and get roles, is that even possible?"

"If it's based on seniority, then there's a long wait ahead."

"The water and fuel costs at the station are notoriously low."

"You invited them to act in the movie, not to scheme against them, but to give them a helping hand at a crucial moment."

"They will all remember your kindness."

The chubby boy's mouth was wide open:

"Is that so?"

Wang Dalin stated bluntly:

"Our family is better off than some, but worse off than others."

“You’ve never experienced hardship since you were a child, so you’ve never understood the difficulties of supporting a family.”

"In this day and age, it's good enough if you can make sure your family has enough to eat every meal."

"As soon as you tell your senior brothers that you want to start work, they will be overjoyed."

The chubby boy quickly said:

"Dad, Dao-ge thinks highly of me. He says my movies will be box office hits."

"We can achieve results with the very first film."

"Brother Kun said he would sign a major director contract with me after the first film was finished."

Wang Dalin seemed to be deep in thought:
"Is that so?"

The chubby boy was filled with anxiety:
"Dad, do you think something's going on here?"

Wang Dalin said with amusement:

"What could be wrong?"

"Don't you always want to make movies?"

"Now that the opportunity has come, are you hesitant and timid?"

The chubby boy smiled wryly:

"I am quite confident in myself, but... Brother Dao has such high expectations of me, I feel very uneasy and inexplicably pressured."

Wang Dalin asked:
What is the contract for a top director at Qiankun Film & Television?

The chubby boy casually remarked:

"Annual salary of 500,000, and a directing fee of 500,000 for each film."

Wang Dalin's eyes almost popped out:
"so tall?!"

The chubby boy scratched his head:

"It's that high."

"What Brother Dao said is that this is the base salary plus commission model in the sales industry."

"The annual salary is a fixed base salary, and the profit sharing is the cost of each film produced."

"The more you shoot, the more money you earn."

"Of course, the box office performance has to be decent."

He was somewhat smug.

"If I make one movie every quarter, and four movies a year, I'll have 2.5 million."

After saying that, he was as happy as he could be.

Wang Dalin chuckled coldly:
"You look like a complete idiot to me."

The chubby boy froze, then said, "Yeah, that seems to be it."

He gritted his teeth and said,

"Then I'll make a couple more movies, I'm determined not to be a fool."

Wang Dalin seemed to be deep in thought:
"Li Sheng has such great courage."

“There’s no boss this good in our line of work.”

The chubby boy smiled wryly:

"It's because the treatment is too good that I can't sleep!"

Wang Dalin looked at him with exasperation and disappointment.
"You rascal... you're like a wild boar that can't eat fine chaff."

He took a closer look at the chubby boy with his glasses and shook his head.

"How do you think Mr. Li saw your potential?"

The chubby boy immediately said:

"It's not Li Sheng, it's Dao Ge who thinks highly of me."

"He gave the word, and Kun-ge immediately put me in charge."

Wang Dalin fell silent, frowning as he pondered.

The chubby boy quickly served tea.

Wang Dalin is Uncle Liu's confidant, and he is highly skilled in all aspects.

The chubby boy knew that his skill level was no match for his father's.

Otherwise, we wouldn't have consulted him.

After thinking it through, Wang Dalin slowly drank a cup of tea:

"Since Li Sheng and Wang Sheng think so highly of you, then you should just focus on doing your job well."

The chubby boy asked in astonishment:

"Are there any traps here?"

Wang Dalin was amused by his words:
"trap?"

"What trap?"

"When you filmed the movie, did Qiankun Film & Television sign any agreement with you?"

The chubby boy shook his head.

"The total filming budget was only 400,000 yuan, which is a very traditional production cost in the industry."

"Are you worried about not being able to earn back this little bit of money?"

The chubby boy said seriously:

"I don't know how high the box office will be, but I know it will definitely make money."

Wang Dalin laughed and said:
"Wouldn't that solve the problem?"

The chubby boy stammered:

"But...but."

Wang Dalin calmly said:

"You're not handsome enough to be a gigolo; you're not beautiful enough to sleep with Mr. Li... So what are you afraid of?"

The chubby boy was a little annoyed by what his father said:

"It's because we're afraid of their underworld connections!"

Wang Dalin stopped laughing:

"You're just a movie actor. The boss pays you, so you just need to do your job well."

"Your employer's background is none of your business."

He changed the subject...
"Li Sheng's background in the underworld is a good thing for you."

"You're young, who knows what trouble you might cause? Li Sheng has always had a very good reputation in the underworld."

"If anything really happens, even if I don't give face to anyone else, I will definitely give face to Mr. Li."

"You should try to build a good relationship with Li Sheng and Wang Sheng in the future."

The chubby boy chuckled:
"Brother Dao values ​​me highly."

Wang Dalin scoffed:

"People value you because they value your potential."

"That doesn't mean you have a good relationship."

The chubby boy was taken aback:
"Dad, what do you mean?"

Wang Dalin said earnestly:

"You have to get along well with the two gentlemen, try to curry favor with them whenever you can, and show your face in front of them often."

The chubby boy was at the age of pride and arrogance, and he was not happy to hear this:

"I'm talented!"

Wang Dalin mocked:

"Which of your fellow apprentices isn't talented?"

"How many people are getting the opportunity now?"

"Aren't they more talented than you?"

The chubby boy asked in astonishment:

"What do you mean?"

Wang Dalin stated bluntly:

"Play to your strengths and build a good relationship with both bosses."

The chubby boy asked in astonishment:

What are my strengths?

Wang Dalin looked him up and down and had no choice but to say:

"Your strength is that you have my influence, and you can still get along well on TVB Jade."

"You know everyone in the station."

"If Mr. Li wants to find a pretty girl to make a good impression, you should find a way to help him."

The chubby boy opened his mouth wide:

"Huh?" Wang Dalin sneered.

"Don't think I don't know about those minor celebrities who want to take shortcuts and are willing to pay you off..."

"All those cronies only came to you because of your father, but if you were already successful on your own..."

The chubby boy nodded vigorously:
"Dad, I understand."

Wang Dalin concluded earnestly:

"You should try to curry favor with Li Sheng, but you should also get close to Wang Sheng."

"If you displease Mr. Li, you can still stay at Qiankun Film and Television."

“But if you displease Wang Sheng, you might lose your life.”

The chubby boy was startled:
"Dad, don't scare me!"

Wang Dalin chuckled coldly:
"Scare you?"

"I'm reminding you not to offend a truly wise person."

The chubby boy stammered:

"Brother Dao looks very kind. Where does he get such great energy at such a young age?"

"Moreover, the person in charge of Qiankun Film and Television is Brother Kun, not Brother Dao."

Wang Dalin said slowly and deliberately:

"Judging people by their appearance is unacceptable, and judging people by their age is even more unacceptable."

"Anyone with a little bit of knowledge knows that the most dangerous people to mess with in this society are those who have been out in the world since they were young."

"At the age of sixteen or seventeen, they are fearless and lawless, which is beyond description."

"If he gets even slightly agitated, he'll stab you in the back!"

The chubby boy quickly said:

"I understand this."

Wang Dalin scoffed:

"You do not understand!"

The chubby boy was particularly indignant:

"How come I don't understand?"

Wang Dalin calmly said:

"Li Sheng has recently caused quite a stir in the martial arts world, and is practically the most popular person in the martial arts world."

"Everything becomes exceptionally different when you come here."

"Before he went to prison, he was known for his arrogance. He wouldn't say a word to anyone unless he had a few sarcastic remarks."

"But since his release from prison, his behavior has changed drastically; he is now all smiles and gentleness to everyone he meets."

"How easy is it to change a person's personality?"

Do you know why he changed?

The chubby boy was completely bewildered; how could he know anything about these things?
He is smart, but he lacks the corresponding experience. What good is his intelligence?
Wang Dalin revealed the riddle to him:
"It was Wang Sheng who changed him."

The chubby boy was terrified:
"Does Brother Dao have that much power?"

Wang Dalin remained calm:
"I've told you before, don't judge a book by its cover."

"Li Sheng is a man from the underworld, and he values ​​profit."

"When doing business with someone, he will choose to cooperate with whoever has the greatest benefit."

"He recruits followers, and whoever can bring him the greatest benefits will be promoted to the top."

“Wang Sheng is Li Sheng’s right-hand man.”

"At his early twenties, if he didn't have outstanding talent, how could Li Sheng, given his character, have allowed him to take the position?"

The chubby boy smiled wryly:

"Then why is there no trace of Dao Ge's reputation in the martial arts world?"

Wang Dalin sighed:
"That's what makes Wang Sheng so terrifying."

"He doesn't seem like a江湖人物 (jianghu ren, a person of martial arts and chivalry), but rather like a master who lives in seclusion in the city."

"To be specific, he is like an ancient strategist."

The chubby boy was stunned:
"Strategist?"

Wang Dalin glared at him fiercely.
"I told you to read more books, but you just won't study hard."

"Ancient scholars valued self-cultivation, family management, governing the country, and bringing peace to the world, and sought to acquire literary and martial skills to serve the emperor."

"Wang Sheng has the demeanor of a scholar."

The chubby boy found it quite absurd.
"Dad, have you gone mad from filming martial arts dramas?"

"It's not as exaggerated as you make it out to be."

Wang Dalin said with amusement:

"Believe it or not."

Just remember what I said.

"By the way, I'll talk to your fellow apprentices tomorrow and see who's willing to go filming with you."

The chubby boy asked:
"Would the senior brothers be willing to come?"

Wang Dalin shrugged:

"Some people like a routine life, while others are willing to go out and explore."

"But no matter what, your personnel department shouldn't lose face."

The chubby boy patted his chest and said,

"Don't worry, Dad."

"I will absolutely not treat my fellow disciples unfairly."

Wang Dalin nodded:

"so be it."

The chubby boy was utterly puzzled:
"Brother Dao, is he that amazing?"

"It doesn't seem like it!"

Wang Dalin happened to hear this from behind and secretly shook his head.

He didn't intend to correct his son's thinking. Based on his understanding, the chubby boy wouldn't deliberately offend Liang Kun and Wang Dao, and that was enough.

As time goes by, the chubby boy will surely know who the truly formidable person is.

In any case, most people in the underworld don't have enough experience, and their level is about the same as their losers. Almost no one can realize that Wang Dao is the biggest contributor behind Liang Kun.

Or perhaps, they don't even know who Wang Dao is.

Wang Dalin's lips curled up slightly as he marveled at how lucky his son was to be valued by this person.

As long as the chubby boy doesn't cause trouble, he will definitely have a place in the Hong Kong film industry in the future.

However, Wang Dalin was unaware that someone had already taken notice of Wang Dao.

"Ni Yongxiao wants to see me?" Wang Dao asked Chen Yongren in astonishment.

Wang Dao had just returned home and finished tidying up when he received a call from the latter. The call clearly stated that Ni Yongxiao wanted to see her.

Chen Yongren was somewhat nervous:
"Brother Dao, are you going?"

Wang Dao asked, quite puzzled:

"You sound very nervous."

Chen Yongren smiled wryly:

“Ni Yongxiao is the new head of the Ni family, the overlord of Yau Tsim Mong. How could I not be nervous when he invites you?”

The kingly way disagrees:

“We’re doing legitimate business, why are you afraid of him?”

Chen Yongren became even more nervous:
"Brother Dao, you can fool Ah Jing with this, but we're from Hung Hing Mong Kok."

Wang Dao countered with a question:
"Did the gang assign you a task?"

Chen Yongren shook his head:

"No!"

Wang Dao then asked:
Do you go to those two streets often now?

Chen Yongren quickly said:

"No, I go to work at the film and television company every day."

Wang Dao cursed:

"You're now an employee at Qiankun Film and Television Company, screw the Jianghu people."

Chen Yongren was speechless:
"Is that so?"

Wang Dao said irritably:

"We're in the legitimate business, so it seems like you have a very relaxed job every day?"

"Alright, I'll talk to Brother Kun tomorrow and arrange more work for you. You've been so idle lately that you've had time to think about all sorts of things."

Chen Yongren secretly groaned:
"Brother Dao, is that necessary?"

Wang Dao said solemnly:
"You are very young now, and this is the time when you need to be tempered. If you don't train now, when will you?"

"Are you waiting until you're too old to learn?"

Chen Yongren wanted to slap himself.

The Way of the King:

What did Ni Yongxiao say to you?

Chen Yongren replied:

“Ni Yongxiao asked me if I wanted to return to the Ni family.”

Wang Dao sneered:
"Returning to the Ni family?"

"What are you going back for? To leave your fan base?"

"How did you answer?"

Chen Yongren blurted out:

"I said I'm fine with being with you."

Wang Dao nodded:
"That's pretty much it."

Chen Yongren smiled wryly:

"Then Ni Yongxiao said he wanted to see you."

He was a little nervous.
"Brother Dao, have I caused you any trouble?"

Wang Dao coldly snorted:
"Now that I've become your boss, I'll take responsibility for whatever you do, good or bad. What's there to be afraid of?"

Chen Yongren gritted his teeth and said:

"Brother Dao, how about we just ignore him?"

Wang Dao shrugged:

"Alright, give me Ni Yongxiao's phone number, I'll go and meet him."

Chen Yongren immediately said:

"Brother Dao, I'll go with you."

Wang Dao chuckled lightly:
"Are you worried about me?"

Chen Yongren chuckled dryly:

"They're selling fake goods..."

Wang Dao said calmly:
“Ni Yongxiao is a smart man. A smart man doesn’t make enemies unnecessarily.”

“If he really can’t think straight, I wouldn’t mind sending him to see Ni Kun.”

Chen Yongren's mouth dropped open:

"what?"

Wang Dao laughed:

"Silly boy, isn't it strange that I'm not afraid of Ni Yongxiao?"

Chen Yongren asked in bewilderment:

"Shouldn't we be afraid of him?"

Wang Dao shook his head slightly:

"Our club has tens of thousands of members, how could we possibly be afraid of them?"

"It's simply because they find it too troublesome."

"Alright, you don't need to worry about this. I'm going to see Ni Yongxiao. I'm sure he won't bother you anymore."

"You should work diligently at the company and learn properly."

"This is the perfect age to learn new things. Are you suggesting I become a gangster and go around killing friends?"

Chen Yongren was momentarily confused:
"Aren't we just gangsters?"

Wang Dao cursed:

"Idiot, have you ever seen a gangster clock in and out to work every day?"

"Crazy line!"

Chen Yongren, silenced by his scolding, obediently gave Wang Dao Ni Yongxiao's phone number.
After hanging up the phone, he saw Liang Kun looking at him with a smile:
"You little rascal, you got scolded by Adao, didn't you?"

Chen Yongren was quite bewildered:
"Hey bro, aren't we gangsters?"

Handsome Kun laughed:

“Didn’t Ado make it clear? Let’s do the right thing now.”

"If anyone says you're a gangster, you must tell them you're a legitimate businessman!"

(End of this chapter)