Huayu: Are you even sitting up straight? You're going to be the director?

Chapter 83: A Phone Call from Zhang Yimou, the Top-Rated Director at the Box Office! [Please Subscribe and Vote!]

Beijing Film Academy, coffee shop.

The midday sun streamed through the windows of the school cafe, casting a warm, golden glow on the wooden floor.

Cao Zhong and Jing Tian sat together, discussing details of the new script for the movie "My Zombie Daughter".

"After finishing the discussion with the Olympic bid today, I'll go see Chairman Han to get the project approved, process it, and start filming as quickly as possible. Sweetie, you need to be ready at any time."

"Okay! I understand."

Jing Tian sipped his warm coffee, and his heart felt warm too.
However, Jing Tian then realized that he and Cao Zhong were sitting very close together, in a rather intimate position. When they were discussing the script, their arms were almost touching.

My senior's arm was ice-cold, it seemed like he wasn't getting enough heat.

Jing Tian was very nervous; his heart was racing, and he felt like it was about to burst.

She could see the intense gazes directed at the two of them from all over the café.

They all had the look of onlookers, watching the drama unfold.
Many people were even whispering among themselves.

Cao Zhong is now considered a top director and celebrity at the Beijing Film Academy.

From the freshman orientation to the coffee shop, there were too many informants along the way, and the news had already spread throughout the Beijing Film Academy campus.

Cao Zhong went to a coffee shop with a freshman, which seemed to indicate a date.

Many people were watching the two of them. Cao Zhong remained unmoved, but Jing Tian felt his face burning.
Jing Tian had been completely bewildered while walking down the street, but now he finally got a good look at Cao Zhong's attire.
Cao Zhong, dressed in a simple white cotton T-shirt and sweatpants, sat on the chair next to me, calmly pointing at the script, looking very serious.

He's also very handsome and has a sunny disposition.
He's so handsome he's practically glowing.

Jing Tian was unaware that he had become blinded!

Although my senior brother has a foul mouth—no, he's good at arguing—no, he's also very sharp-tongued and fierce, he's actually really gentle with me! Jing Tian thought to himself.

Just as I was thinking this, the coffee shop door creaked open.

Shen Ao first poked his head in, and when he saw Cao Zhong, he jogged over, his face showing a mix of restraint and excitement.

"Director Cao, you wanted to see me?" Shen Ao's voice trembled slightly.

He hadn't seen Cao Zhong for a long time since the filming of "Nanjing Photo Studio" ended.

However, the box office performance of "Nanjing Photo Studio" completely shocked him.

It has been 16 days since its release, and it has already grossed 2.5 million yuan at the box office.

This number is like a red-hot iron placed on the chairs of everyone in the industry, making the entire Chinese entertainment circle uneasy.

For a long time, the title of the highest-grossing film in mainland China has been held by Zhang Yimou, Feng Xiaogang and Chen Kaige in rotation. Who would have thought that Cao Zhong would push the box office to this level in just half a month?

How cruel!

The key point is that the investment was only a few million, and even including government support and marketing, the film's production cost was only a little over ten million.

The subject matter is incredibly heavy, yet the return on investment in theaters is truly historic.
The official assessment has forced all industry professionals to re-examine and reassess the market and audience tastes.

All of this is also closely related to his bid for the Olympics, after all, he was the assistant director.
But he also knew that compared to what Cao Zhong had done for this film, his efforts were like fireflies trying to outshine the moon.

Shen Ao knew very well that Cao Zhong's status was earned through hard work and performance.
He witnessed firsthand how Cao Zhong went from fighting bare-handed to achieving his current success.
Moreover, Cao Zhong was a year younger than him.
In 2005, he wrote and directed his first short film, "Helongchuangang," which won several minor international awards.

But compared to Cao Zhong, all of these are utterly insignificant.

He's a performing arts major!
OMG!

Thinking of this, Shen Ao couldn't help but feel a little solemn, and his gaze towards Cao Zhong carried a hint of fear and estrangement towards someone in a high position.

He was different from Wang Renjun and Qi Jiuzhou; he was just an assistant director and a colleague.

Cao Zhong raised his head, a gentle smile on his face, and waved to him:

"You're here? Have a seat. Don't just stand there, we've already ordered your coffee."

Shen Ao walked in excitedly, his hands and feet clasped together. He picked up the coffee as instructed, held it with both hands, and carefully sat down in the chair opposite Cao Zhong, his back ramrod straight.

"Why so formal? Doesn't this mean we're not familiar with each other yet?"

Cao Zhong smiled and patted Shen Ao on the shoulder, "Relax."

His words eased some of the tension surrounding the Olympic bid.

"You saw the box office figures for 'The Photo Studio'?" Cao Zhong asked casually, taking a sip of coffee.

"Look, I see it!" Shen Ao nodded vigorously when the topic turned to box office numbers, his voice instantly rising.
"2.5 million! That's too fast! It's simply... simply a miracle! Director Cao, you're amazing! During this time, the directing department, the cinematography department, and the Beijing Film Academy have all been talking about this. Everyone is discussing you and this movie! You... you really did it!"

He was incoherent, and his eyes were even a little moist.

As someone who experienced it firsthand, he knows all too well how many doubts and difficulties this film went through from preparation to filming to release.

The online battleground is absolutely massive.

Even the Olympic team had no idea how Cao Zhong could single-handedly defeat so many opponents!

Cao Zhong smiled, a smile filled with satisfaction:
"We did it. Your contribution to this film is indispensable. But then again, it's all thanks to the audience for giving us face. The 70th anniversary of the founding of the People's Republic of China needed a film like this. We just happened to do what we were supposed to do."

He paused, his gaze shifting to the Olympic bid, becoming sharp and full of expectation:
"I didn't call you here to talk about the past of 'The Photo Studio.' I wanted to talk to you about what's next."

"Next step?" Shen Ao was taken aback and repeated subconsciously, but his heart started racing uncontrollably.

“Yes, the next step.” Cao Zhong leaned forward slightly and looked at Shen Ao. “I have a book on hand called ‘My Zombie Daughter’.”

"Zombies?"

He blurted out the idea of ​​applying for the Olympics, then immediately realized his mistake and quickly shut up.

In the current censorship environment, this subject matter is practically a death sentence.

"Yes, the original script was about zombies, but I changed it to an extraterrestrial virus invasion, so it became 'My Disqualified Daughter.' Don't worry about the content; it's not the kind of hopping zombie you're thinking of."

Cao Zhong waved his hand.
"At its core is a narrative of family affection, a father's love in dire straits. It's just given a more commercially appealing exterior."

The setting will be changed to a highly mutated extraterrestrial virus, and those infected will exhibit berserk symptoms similar to... well, similar to disqualified zombies.

But the core story is about how a father faces and protects his youngest daughter who is infected as a result and gradually loses her humanity.

It delivers an emotional bombshell within the heartwarming comedy genre.

Shen Ao listened attentively, holding his breath as he pondered. As an ambitious young director, he instantly grasped the immense dramatic tension and emotional space behind the premise.

It offers both the visual excitement of a genre film and profound humanistic concerns.

"Director Cao, you mean..."

An unbelievable thought entered Shen Ao's mind, making his voice tremble.

“What I mean is,” Cao Zhong looked at him, speaking clearly and distinctly, “I want you to lead this project.”

boom!
It felt like a bomb had exploded in my mind.

Shen Ao froze on the spot, his pupils dilated.

He suspected he was hallucinating.

"Me...me directing? Director Cao, you must be joking! I...I'm just an assistant director, or more accurately, a general assistant. I've never independently directed a film before, let alone something like this..."

He was so excited he was incoherent, "This investment must be huge, the risk is too great! I...I can't do it!"

"If I say you can do it, you can do it. And don't worry too much, the investment isn't particularly large, a few thousand or ten thousand is enough."

Cao Zhong's tone was firm.
"During the past six months working on the set of 'The Photo Studio,' I've witnessed your abilities, your resilience, and your sensitivity to visuals. What you lack isn't technical skills, but an opportunity, someone who allows you to go all out and also helps you withstand the pressure."

"I'll take on this role. I'll personally produce this film. I've already revised the script, and I'll provide you with clear storyboards. You can contact me anytime if you have any questions. I'll also contact Chairman Han to get the most experienced production team for you."

All you need to do is pour your talent and passion into this story.

Make it into a film that can make your palms sweat with tension and also make you cry your eyes out.

Do you dare to accept it?

Shen Ao sat there, his whole body trembling slightly.

The overwhelming surprise shocked him so much that he was momentarily speechless and even felt a sudden pang of sadness.

"Director Cao! I...I don't know what to say...Thank you! Thank you so much! I, Shen Ao, will remember this kindness for the rest of my life! Rest assured, I will do my best to make this movie a success! I will never let you down!"

He was excited about the Olympic bid, his gaze solemn.

He didn't want things to stay like this forever; back then, at twenty-one, he stood like a lackey.

He's worked so hard for so long, just waiting for an opportunity, just wanting to prove himself.

Now that Cao Zhong has given it to him, and he's put it that way, how could he bear to refuse?

"I have some things to take care of over the next few days. Jing Tian is the female lead I've chosen; you can get to know her first. I'll also provide you with the overall storyboard. You can choose the other actors yourself. Once you've made your selections, I can help you discuss them. I completely respect your opinions on the actors. However, regarding directing, I'll ask Xu Zheng later if he'd be willing to lend a hand as an assistant director. What are your thoughts?"

"I have no objection." Shen Ao actually had a good impression of Xu Zheng.

Cao Zhong was also worried that he wouldn't be able to handle the Olympic bid. Although he was the producer and could teach them step by step for a few days, he couldn't stay on set for one or two months.

At this point, it is very important to find a helper for the Olympic bid.

It's just a matter of distinguishing between primary and secondary issues.

Cao Zhong wasn't worried about that; once he got involved, the priorities would definitely be clear.

Cao Zhong knew that Xu Zheng was very insistent on matters involving money, and could be considered a sophisticated egoist.

But to say that this person is all bad is not entirely true.

From the fact that Xu Zhengeng stood firmly by his side in "Nanjing Photo Studio," Cao Zhong could tell that this man, at least when it came to film, had ideas, ambition, and insight, unlike those old scholars.

In his previous life, Xu Zheng was subjected to widespread and public humiliation, which occurred in two separate instances.

First, the free release of "Lost in Russia" offended almost all cinemas and most directors.

Secondly, Xu Zheng and his wife are suspected of being involved in a pyramid scheme and have been implicated in Zhang Ting's scandal.

Regardless of the latter's veracity, since the authorities didn't intervene, the first point was an absolute struggle for interests. The online smear campaign was also a life-or-death struggle, yet it still didn't kill Xu Zheng.

Cao Zhong needs helpers, even selfish ones. He needs such people to join him in attacking the academic school, developing commercial films, maximizing the expansion of the commercial narrative boundaries of Chinese films, and raising the bar for the Chinese film box office market.

Moreover, in his previous life, Xu Zheng was officially recognized by the Film Bureau because of "Lost in Thailand," and he truly made outstanding contributions to the Chinese film market.

Now that he had made contact with Xu Zheng, Cao Zhong was prepared to try his best to unite those he could.

The bigger the pie, the more options he'll have.

One Cao Zhong cannot silence the public's discontent.

Zhang Xuefeng's expertise is becoming increasingly valuable, while some other disciplines are indeed completely rotten.

Cao Zhong looked at Shen Ao with a gratified smile on his face, walked over and patted him hard on the shoulder:

"Prepare well. I'll talk to Chairman Han about the funding later. I don't want to limit your imagination. As long as it's within the framework of the script, you can be bolder and think more about it."

"Don't let me down, and don't let your future self down either. Get ready, we'll start scouting locations and working on the script details next week."

My only requirement is to fully integrate the traditional emotions between parents and grandparents into the film, so that the audience can empathize and the film can demonstrate the bonds of family and the spirit of working together to overcome difficulties.

Shen nodded.

Cao Zhongdao said: "This is the aesthetic right I emphasized before. Our civilization has a long history. How can it be impacted by so-called freedom, equality and civilization and described as a 'debt of kinship'? It's outrageous. So-called freedom and independence are not about teaching people to blame their parents."

Shen nodded.

He knew what Cao Zhong was talking about because many online forums were praising foreign parents, saying they provide for their children until they turn eighteen and then leave them to their own devices, so the children don't have to do anything to their parents, all under the guise of freedom and equality.

They even demonize China's culture of kinship, calling it a "debt of kinship."

Cao Zhong didn't mention it, so he didn't realize it and even vaguely felt that the West was pretty good too.

Upon closer examination, it becomes clear that this impacts traditional Chinese moral values, and this impact may even affect the structure of Chinese families.

Shen Ao was unaware that, under this narrative in the future, fathers would all become biological fathers.

Cao Zhong wanted to avoid the impact of this narrative structure as much as possible. Although it was difficult, he had to do it step by step.

The "white left" is terrifying. They shout about universal values ​​but ignore social realities; they loudly demand rights but refuse to fulfill their obligations. Shouting slogans is easy, but doing real work is very difficult.

He possesses excellent martial arts skills and speaks fluent and civilized manners.

The portrayal of parental affection is somewhat exaggerated.

When parents raise their children, they don't talk about the debt of raising them; but when the children grow up and become independent, they blame their parents for moral blackmail.

Besides, what parents force their children to do something? In Chinese stories, completely unreasonable parents are rare.

In fact, the character Fan Shengmei in "Ode to Joy" also belongs to a kind of marginal narrative.

It's just that, compared to what many people think of as common, it's been treated as a typical example, vigorously promoted, and used to evoke emotions, which then leads to a group climax.

Some female college students earn 6,000 yuan a month, and their fathers offer them 1,500 yuan for living expenses, but they are not happy about it and insist on 3,000 yuan.

On one hand, she kept talking about the debt of family ties, but on the other hand, she wished she could kill her father, who worked on a construction site, so that she could accept a million-dollar compensation.

It can no longer be summarized simply as "having a crooked backside".

Therefore, the narrative structure of family affection is feasible and necessary, but Cao Zhong is still uncertain whether it can be successfully implemented.

As he left, Cao Zhong even joked with Shen Ao.

"You don't need to worry about money at all. This leading lady has plenty of money. However, she's not particularly good at finding the camera, so you'll have to try to find her with the camera."

Shen Ao: Huh?

Jing Tian nodded shyly and said with a grin, "I'll thank you a lot then, Senior Shen Ao."

……

In the afternoon, news of Cao Zhong's angry outburst against Lu Chuan and Jia Zhangke at the freshman ceremony had already spread online again.

The news spread through the media like snowflakes.

"They're attacking Jia Zhangke again? That's pointless. Jia Zhangke didn't even react." The reporter was speechless; it was pointless.

In an office, two reporters joked with each other, "Jia Zhangke is like a turtle, he's retreated into his shell, and now reporting on him doesn't generate any buzz."

A fight is only a fight if there's a back-and-forth exchange.

One-sided abuse is called torture, and netizens quickly lost interest.

"They even attacked Lu Chuan!"

The reporter suddenly spotted the newcomers and immediately became excited again.

Cao Zhong is indeed their good friend!

The King of Headlines!

It's a pity no photos were taken at the scene, but that didn't stop the resourceful media.

Journalism majors, after all, just edit and compile, take a couple of photos of Lu Chuan, browse through Lu Chuan's social media, find a photo of Cao Zhong, ask a student from Beijing Film Academy for their opinion, and the news headline comes out immediately.

"Lu Chuan's sarcastic remarks, calling 'Nanjing Photo Studio' an uncivilized and extreme emotional bombardment of the summer movie season, are a tragedy for culture!"

Cao Zhong's scathing critique of Lu Chuan: "Please squander your civilization, please squander your rarity!"

Cao Zhong brings up the plagiarism incident of Lu Chuan's "Kekexili" again!

"Cao Zhong emphasized at the Beijing Film Academy freshman ceremony: 'Looking for a Gun' was filmed by Jiang Wen, and Lu Chuan's reputation as a great director was just something he picked up!"

Cao Zhong commented on director Jia Zhangke: "He's just wasting time, making foreign films, and making a fool of himself!"

In no time, all sorts of news flooded forums and portal websites, neatly displaying themselves before people's eyes and giving netizens plenty of gossip to enjoy.

"Haha, Cao Zhong is ruthless! He gave that old guy a taste of his own medicine right in front of him in front of the freshmen at Beijing Film Academy!"

"Back then, this guy had already been exposed and netizens dug up dozens of pieces of plagiarism, but he just kept dragging things out, sending his films to film festivals at home and abroad to win awards, while in court he mocked the original director for hyping things up. He was shameless to the extreme."

Is there any follow-up?

"No, it's been several years. They've been dragging it out. They're just using their power and influence to bully the director from Taiwan. That director spent ten years in the no-man's land for this documentary. Lu Chuan is really despicable."

"It would be great if we had more directors like Cao Zhong, to give these lousy directors a good thrashing!"

"Cao Zhong deliberately stabbed Lu Chuan in the heart. We all say that Jiang Wen directed 'The Missing Gun,' but Jiang Wen doesn't dare to admit it, and Lu Chuan pretends not to hear it. But with a Beijing Film Academy student like Cao Zhong, and a director of such renown, giving his approval, Lu Chuan can never shake off the name for the rest of his life~"

Many netizens still have their own opinions about Lu Chuan, and they wholeheartedly support Cao Zhong's remarks!

……

Changchun, Nong'an.

That afternoon, Lu Chuan saw Cao Zhong's response, which specifically named Cao Zhong.

He was furious when he saw Cao Zhong constantly revealing his secrets, and his face turned black with rage!
"This kid is going too far!"

Lu Chuan clenched his fists and looked at Qin Lan beside him.

"Qin Lan, Cao Zhongtai is a damn bastard! I didn't even name him, and he insulted me right there at the freshman ceremony. Those were all freshmen from Beijing Film Academy! How could he ruin my reputation like that to my face?!"

Qin Lan rolled her eyes, not wanting to say anything. She knew the whole story and could only say that Lu Chuan had brought this upon himself.

Cao Zhong silenced Jia Zhangke, who won a Golden Lion Award, and you go up there to take the insults? Are you out of your mind?

But since he was her boyfriend, Qin Lan hesitated for a moment and said, "Director Cao Zhong is currently very popular. You don't need to provoke him. You don't have any grudges against each other, so why bother?"

"Aren't you on my side?"

Lu Chuan frowned, his nose stung, and he felt like crying.

Qin Lan was speechless. She hadn't expected to have to coax a child like this, so she said, "I'm definitely on your side, but didn't you start this whole thing?"

"How could I have started this?"

Lu Chuan's thought process had already formed a closed loop; he angrily rebuked Qin Lan.

"I initiated the project to film 'Nanjing Nanjing,' and then he initiated the project to film 'Nanjing Photo Studio.' Isn't that plagiarism? Why do you say I plagiarized?"

Several question marks slowly flashed through Qin Lan's mind.

Lu Chuan hasn't stopped yet.

"I talk about civilized narratives, he talks about extreme narratives. At least my movies have Japanese actors, do his movies have any? At least my movies emphasize anti-war, what does his movies emphasize? Is loving peace rare? How come Cao Zhong is so good at labeling people? He wants to stand on the moral high ground to attack me."

"Also, did you see what he said? He mentioned the box office of 250 million and warned me that there should be no glorification of the aggressor and the glorification of those who have not apologized. How did he know the contents of my script? Did you leak it to me?"
Was I glorifying it? I was trying to transcend the perpetrator-victim historical perspective and view the issue from an artistic standpoint.

"What does a self-proclaimed student with a few box office hits know about art?"

Lu Chuan glared: "He'll be backfired on soon. I'm waiting for the Golden Lion Award to be presented, and for those big directors to team up and slap him in the face."

Qin Lan glanced at Lu Chuan but didn't say anything.
She could clearly sense that Lu Chuan had broken down.

Although he didn't know which of Cao Zhong's points had broken him.

We broke through him with all three at once.

However, Qin Lan could clearly feel that Lu Chuan's hard shell had shattered!
They've been together for so long, and no matter where they are or what they're doing, Lu Chuan has never said this much.

Qin Lan was very certain.
He was really anxious.

Qin Lan sighed, thinking of Cao Zhong's words that the script should not glorify the invaders. She thought about the script she had seen, and the character she was playing was also a Shanghai lady, Mrs. Tang.

The underlying nature of Lin Yuxiu, played by Mei Ting, is essentially no different.

But does Mrs. Tang have the same character tension as Lin Yuxiu?
Do Mrs. Tang's lines really bring Qin Lan any benefit?

In that instant, she felt a flicker of doubt about the content of Lu Chuan's film...

……

Beijing Film Academy, Directing Department

Tian Zhuangzhuang looked around the office and asked everyone what they thought of Cao Zhong's statement about "loafing around, making a fool of oneself."

But after he asked the question, everyone just glanced at him and fell silent.
Many students majoring in directing are a bit scared, feeling that Cao Zhong's words are too sharp and venomous, and they are afraid of getting burned.

"Director Tian, ​​at this stage, we don't have the final say. Even if you are the leader of the fifth generation, it doesn't matter. Cao Zhong isn't targeting you, he's targeting those big directors. If they don't speak up, what we say has no weight."

Tian Zhuangzhuang felt a burning pain on her face.

At the freshman orientation ceremony, a performing arts student, in front of many freshmen, used Jia Zhangke as an example to launch a scathing attack on a group of people, who were also from the directing department.

How could such a bombardment not be directed at their own group?

Some people cover their eyes and mouths, emphasizing to themselves,
Cao Zhong was cursing Jia Zhangke!

It has nothing to do with them, nothing to do with them!
However, Tian Zhuangzhuang knew that Cao Zhong was also angry with them and was trying to disgust them.

But there's no way to refute it; if you talk to Cao Zhong about art, Cao Zhong will talk to you about Ozu.

Damn it, this fight was a losing battle from the very beginning.
Who told the directing department to have such a dirty reputation?
Sometimes, Tian Zhuangzhuang wanted to curse that founder of the sect, wondering if he was out of his mind.

They're now stuck in a dilemma, unable to advance or retreat, and unable to respond.
Arguments always happen when someone has you in the lead, when their weak points are exposed.

If you argue, the other person will pinch you, pinch you, ready to crush you at any moment!
Jia Zhangke was relentlessly pressured in this way. First, they attacked Xiao Jin, and then they attacked Captain Jia and Gou Xianjian. They were completely forced into a corner and had no way to advance or retreat! They could only place their hopes on Zhang, Chen, Wang An and others.

But these big-name directors are also very smart; they won't leave the project prematurely.

That left me speechless.

They do have supporters, but since the big director isn't involved, their supporters have no legal basis, so their words are ineffective.

We could only watch as Cao Zhong swaggered around!
"This guy is a bully in the entertainment industry, secretly disgusting everyone in the directing department!"

Tian Zhuangzhuang was somewhat at a loss and confused!

He was powerless to do anything about it. Although he wanted to argue back and talk about art and life using his status as a mentor, professor, and director, he was afraid that Cao Zhong would scold him.

Tian Zhuangzhuang was genuinely frightened.

Cao Zhong is a madman!

Tian Zhuangzhuang himself is certainly innocent and has nothing to fear, but in this situation, it's better to let Jia Zhangke be tortured himself.

A friend of the Dao dies, but I shall not die.
Tian Zhuangzhuang believes that he should preserve his useful body so that he can vindicate art in the future!
He poured himself a glass of water, added some tea leaves, and took a sip in a daze; the water was too cold.

"Let's just live a miserable life for now."

Tian Zhuangzhuang suddenly felt a little sad.

It's so bad that even drinking tea gets stuck in my teeth!

The entire directing department remained silent, deciding not to comment on Cao Zhong's speech at the freshman ceremony.

As long as they don't overthink it, Cao Zhong is cursing Jia Zhangke.

Only one person.

As for Lu Chuan, he has even less to do with them!
But deep down, everyone was waiting, waiting for Cao Zhong's momentum to be broken.

The advantage now lies with Cao Zhong; he has box office appeal and a strong presence.

But Cao Zhong had already shot so many people; he couldn't just stay stuck there forever.

Everything has to have a response and an end eventually.

Damn, Zhang, Chen, and Jiang were all affected.
Chen is a member of China Film Group, and he's likely being suppressed by Han Sanpin, so he won't be able to get involved.

Besides, Malou himself didn't dare to participate, after all, he only had a few nominations and wasn't being beaten to a pulp. He also wasn't as famous as the latter two, who were in Venice and would eventually have to go back to their home countries.
There will be a response sooner or later.

Everyone is waiting.
In the eerie silence,

However, many media outlets continue to demonize Cao Zhong, claiming that his conflicts with several renowned directors must be Cao Zhong's fault.
They then steered the discussion back to the issue of "Nanjing Photo Studio" being a patriotic film, attempting to challenge CCTV's (CCTV's) characterization of the film and halt its continued box office growth.

What's the point of the official characterization?

They still can't win an argument with the countless media professionals and journalists I've gathered.

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs is still making efforts!
Aki works very hard!
But he didn't understand. Aki shouted in a cherry blossom accent. He didn't understand why, after spending so much money, the box office of "Nanjing Photo Studio" was still rising.

Cao Zhongtai is a bastard!

……

"It's broken! It's broken!"

Three more days passed.
At China Film Group, Zhao Haicheng pushed open the door to Han Sanpin's office.

"Chairman Han, I have some good news! Cao Zhong broke the box office record for 'Transformers' in mainland China yesterday, and judging from today's trend, he should also break the box office record for Zhang Yimou's 'Curse of the Golden Flower'!"

"But there's also bad news: piracy can't be suppressed anymore; it's spread across the board."

“I feel that future box office growth may only rely on the system and the box office within the company. Many individual viewers can see it through pirated DVDs,” Zhao Haicheng apologized. “I’m sorry, Chairman Han, I’ve done my best.”

Han Sanpin narrowed his eyes and said regretfully, "It's already the limit that it can hold on for nineteen days. It's just a pity about the box office of 'Nanjing Photo Studio'."

During this period, Han Sanpin experienced the thrill and excitement of a roller coaster ride, and his success was unstoppable after "Nanjing Photo Studio" was launched.

When Old Deng was in his office, he couldn't help but leave the phonograph, which had almost become a decoration, open for a long time, and then stand up and dance.

If it weren't for his old and frail body, he would have liked to jump on the table.

Let's dance awkwardly together with Chairman Han!
He's practically ecstatic about these box office results!
Enter the department!
Just thinking about the system Cao Zhong mentioned made Han Sanpin feel incredibly comfortable; he really wanted to join the ministry.

By promoting such a minor figure as Cao Zhong, his achievements are something no one can take away from him!
The next day, the box office figures were tallied, and the box office not only surpassed that of "Transformers" and "Curse of the Golden Flower," but also exceeded 300 million!

Upon hearing the news, Han Sanpin was frantic with worry, he was about to go crazy!
"Haicheng, keep adding more copies. There are still many moviegoers within the system. I think we can push it even higher!"

His goal was to achieve the highest box office record in China.

He didn't want any reasons or excuses; he just wanted Tashan.

Han Sanpin is going to break the box office record in China for that movie that once swept across China and the world!

Let's postpone the victory celebration.

Let's postpone it a bit longer.

The longer it drags on, the greater the significance of this victory celebration!

……

Various news reports followed, and the box office success of "Nanjing Photo Studio" had already spread across the entire Chinese internet and the front pages of all entertainment media.

"The top director of domestic films! Cao Zhong, a 20-year-old junior at the Beijing Film Academy!"

"The 300 million threshold has finally been broken! Cao Zhong's 'Nanjing Photo Studio' is reshaping the box office landscape of domestic films!"

"Having broken the highest box office records of three major directors in succession, where is the limit for 'Nanjing Photo Studio'?"

"A dark horse defying the odds! A box office bomb hidden beneath the guise of a patriotic film—is the Cao Zhong era here?"

"Unveiling the Secrets of 'Nanjing Photo Studio': What Makes It Captivate Nearly Ten Million Viewers' Tears and Earn Their Money?"

The entertainment sections of major forums, blogs, and portal websites were almost entirely dominated by topics related to this movie.

Industry insiders' resistance and analysis, film critics' extreme views, enthusiastic recommendations from audiences, and media criticism.
Various sounds intertwined to create a deafening symphony of victory.

…………

Cao Zhong's phone was forcibly turned off, otherwise he would not be able to carry out any normal work or life at all.

Even so, living in the dormitory, Cao Zhong felt he should take good care of himself.

"Brother, the three of us share the same ideals and aspirations, and our bond is like that of brothers. Why don't we sleep in the same bed, side by side?"

Qi Jiuzhou wanted to ride on Cao Zhong's good fortune, so he clung to Cao Zhong's leg and wouldn't let go.

He played a minor supporting role, but suddenly became the lead actor in a 300 million yuan box office hit, making Qi Jiuzhou swoon.

Cao Zhong directly paved a broad road for him on his path to becoming an actor!

Wang Renjun just grinned foolishly: Me too!
He didn't get the role and was a little lost.

Cao Zhong patted Wang Renjun's cheek: "Brother, you have to stay calm and study acting skills well. You'll get roles to play in the future."

Wang Renjun clung to Cao Zhong's other leg, refusing to let go no matter what.

Cao Zhong was very flustered.

He missed Yang Mi; compared to the other two, Yang Mi was more comfortable.

At least psychologically it's not so awkward.

He preferred Yang Mi clinging to his leg rather than his two roommates.

……

This storm of public opinion naturally swept over the other side as well.

Zhang Weiping's office at New Pictures Film Studio.

Zhang Weiping had just finished a script discussion meeting for a new project, and his face showed signs of fatigue.

He habitually picked up a few major entertainment newspapers and industry newsletters that his secretary had placed on the corner of the table, glanced at them, and found that they were all about Cao Zhong, which was uninteresting.

He gets annoyed just looking at this guy now.

Zhang Weiping had already asked Cao Zhong to join the new scenes, but there was no response, which annoyed Zhang Weiping.

He turned on his computer and happened to see a news headline on the portal website.
"Zhang Weiping's Unusual Silence: New Pictures Faces Its Strongest Challenger?"

Normally, Zhang Weiping would have already retorted.

But he has been very silent for the past few days.

"Nanjing Photo Studio" broke 300 million yuan; Cao Zhong is indeed a god of wealth!
Compared to the uproar over Cao Zhong's side, the news surrounding New Pictures is certainly not quiet either.

The box office records set by "Hero", "House of Flying Daggers" and "Curse of the Golden Flower" have been broken, and Zhang Weiping, as the king who created these miracles, is naturally the focus of media attention.

There have been quite a few reporters at the entrance of New Pictures recently.

Zhang Yimou went to Venice, but Zhang Weiping didn't. He wasn't there to sell copyrights, so he didn't want to get involved. But unexpectedly, this gave the media an opportunity to interview him and generate news.

Moreover, on the web, almost every report about the record-breaking "Nanjing Photo Studio" mentions that it "surpassed Zhang Yimou's XX works".

I glanced at it again and saw that some media outlets had written about Cao Zhong criticizing Zhang Yimou and winning three major European awards for vilifying China.

"Oh shit."

Zhang Weiping, who had been quite calm, broke down.

Regardless of anything else, Zhang Weiping would never allow anyone to cheat Zhang Yimou; he would have to cheat himself.

Zhang Weiping is not an unreasonable person. He had carefully studied Cao Zhong's interview several times and understood why Zhang Yimou suppressed his response and criticism of Cao Zhong.

Cao Zhong harbored goodwill towards Zhang Yimou.

There was no mention of Zhang Yimou, nor was there any attempt to smear him. It's just that these media outlets clearly didn't want to miss out on trouble. They took advantage of Cao Zhong's interview to amplify Cao Zhong's remarks, specifically targeting New Pictures.

Zhang Weiping isn't stupid; he's been doing these things for ages.

It's obvious who did it.

But when he looked up and saw the bright red figure of "3.07 million" on the news, along with the note that it "surpassed 'Curse of the Golden Flower' to rank second in domestic box office", he couldn't help but pause for a moment.

The news featured photos of Cao Zhong looking radiant, along with extensive reposts of his latest remarks criticizing Lu Chuan.

Zhang Weiping's face showed no obvious emotion.

He merely frowned slightly, his gaze lingering on the numbers and Cao Zhong's photo for a long time.

"God of Wealth," Zhang Weiping sighed first, then his face darkened as he thought of Cao Zhong ignoring him. He snorted, "Young man, you've got your luck! You're so outspoken! I'd like to see how long you can keep up this arrogance! You've only gotten lucky this time, but will you be able to do it next time?"

Zhang Weiping didn't believe it.

"Nanjing Photo Studio" has a good narrative structure, good pacing, and its visuals, colors, and aesthetics are far inferior to Zhang Yimou's work.

It's just a temporary victory.

It was already afternoon, just like the European morning.

Zhang Weiping thought for a moment and then made a phone call to Zhang Yimou.

Regardless, Zhang Yimou still needs to be informed of the box office failure.

The phone rang, and the call was answered.

"Hey, Weiping."

Zhang Yimou's deep voice came through the phone.

“I have to tell you something.” Zhang Weiping didn’t hesitate. “The box office record for ‘Curse of the Golden Flower’ has been broken.”

The phone suddenly went silent.

Zhang Yimou asked, "Nanjing Photo Studio?"

"Correct."

Upon hearing Zhang Weiping's affirmative answer, Zhang Yimou raised his head, walked to the window, and looked out at the Venice morning. He gazed silently into the distance, his eyes filled with complex and unfathomable emotions.

There was surprise, scrutiny, and a faint, almost imperceptible sense of melancholy, but more than anything, there was a calm and contemplative air that belonged to a great director.

Finally, he sighed softly, almost imperceptibly, and muttered something to himself, as if asking someone else, yet also as if asking himself:

"This Cao Zhong... is quite formidable."

Zhang Weiping remained silent.

Zhang Yimou thought for a moment, "Weiping, could you help me find Cao Zhong's contact information? I want to call him."

Zhang Weiping was taken aback.

“Some things need to be discussed thoroughly,” Zhang Yimou continued.

(End of this chapter)