Reborn as a comedic artist

Three days later, in the morning.

The southern part of the city is located at the junction of the old city and the urban-rural fringe.

This is the city's scar, and also the place where countless migrant workers find refuge.

The gray cement walls were covered with various small posters advertising document processing and sewer unclogging, and the air was filled with the mixed smells of cheap cigarettes, dust, and cheap fast food.

This place was also a filming location for the TV series "The First Part of Shu Yin".

It is also where Wang Shuo's acting career began.

A brand-new Jinbei van suddenly stopped on a vacant lot full of rubble and construction debris.

The car door was pulled open with a "whoosh".

The one who jumped down first was a burly young man, still wearing a faded, worn-out vest, dusty camouflage pants, and canvas shoes.

But his demeanor didn't resemble that of a manual laborer; he exuded a strange aura of "I'm rich but I'm pretending to be poor."

This is Wang Shuo, who is now worth nearly a million.

Following closely behind was Cheng Ming, still dressed in ordinary short-sleeved shirts and casual pants.

But that face was so outstanding that even standing next to the garbage heap, it looked like a fashion magazine cover shoot, completely out of place with its surroundings.

"Godfather, this filming can be seen as staying true to your original aspirations...?"

Wang Shuo tugged at his tight belt, looking at the place that had once caused him backaches, leg cramps, and other pains, and couldn't help but let out a sigh filled with the scent of money.

Old Cheng said he wanted to integrate into life, and he really did.

This time, however, my mindset has changed.

Before, it was something I had to do to make a living through creation; now, it's something I willingly endure for the sake of art.

"Stop talking nonsense and get the cargo unloaded..."

Cheng Ming directed Lao Li and the "Three Musketeers of Shu" to start moving the equipment.

In addition to the long lenses and tripods used for filming, there were also boxes of simply packaged baijiu (Chinese liquor) and cartons of Jiaozi (a type of Chinese liquor).

The cigarettes and alcohol are all in the 100-200 yuan range, mainly focusing on large quantities, filling, and affordability.

Holding two cases of liquor, Li Qiang couldn't help but ask, "Where are we going to move all of this...?"

"Turn along the fence and walk straight in. The workers and foreman from last time we filmed here took good care of Da Shuo. They're going to be filming here for the next couple of days... We should at least show them some appreciation!"

"Alright...Ming-ge is a reliable guy...!"

Upon hearing this, Li Qiang, without saying a word, followed the direction Cheng Ming pointed and led the other two gangsters to begin unloading and loading.

"Hey Fatty, you haven't forgotten that grueling experience of carrying cement last time, have you...?"

"Don't worry, it's only been half a month. I'll never forget those tough days. I've been putting in my all these past few days. Just watch my performance in today's video..."

Wang Shuo patted his chest and said confidently.

He felt like a max-level character returning to the starting village to dominate newbies, experiencing a thrill of complete control.

"Okay, as long as you haven't forgotten... Now go see your coworkers. I remember when you left last time, the foreman said he'd give you a raise when you came back to him. Three hundred a day, but seeing that your condition has declined, it'll be at most two hundred and fifty, no more than that!"

"Go! Go! Go.....!"

.........

That's what summer is like in July!

By the time the equipment and gifts were unloaded and everyone arrived at the construction site, it was already quite hot.

Wang Shuo stood beside the familiar pile of red bricks, looking at the face in front of him etched with wrinkles by time and ultraviolet rays, and a feeling he couldn't quite describe welled up inside him.

"Uncle Liu, it's been a while..."

Wang Shuo grinned, carrying two heavy cases of liquor in his hands, with two unopened packs of cigarettes tucked under his arm.

The foreman, Lao Liu, across from them was wiping the oil and sweat from his face with a dirty towel draped around his neck.

Upon seeing this display, his cloudy eyes lit up for a moment, then he hurriedly rubbed his calloused hands together.

"Wow, Xiao Wang... he's really become a big star now...?"

Old Liu looked at the college student in front of him who had once clumsily carried cement under his tutelage.

She glanced at Cheng Ming, who remained calm and composed even in such a noisy environment, and her smile became somewhat stiff.

"Just come back for a visit, why bring so much stuff? It's such a waste of money..."

Several coworkers who were resting nearby also gathered around; most of them were familiar faces.

They stared at the boxes of tobacco and alcohol, their Adam's apples bobbing involuntarily, but no one dared to reach out.

They are all honest and upright people, and their first reaction to such a sudden "gift" is often one of bewilderment.

"Take it, Uncle Liu..."

Cheng Ming stepped forward, his tone gentle yet authoritative, and took the things from Wang Shuo's hands, placing them directly into Lao Liu's arms.

"If it weren't for your and the other masters' help back then, this fat man wouldn't be where he is today. This is just a small token of my appreciation, nothing special, please don't mind it..."

"That's right, Uncle Liu, if you don't accept it, then you're looking down on me, Wang Shuo..."

Wang Shuo chimed in, casually opening a pack of cigarettes and scattering them around to everyone, regardless of whether they smoked or not: "We'll have to trouble you all again this time. We need to use this prime location to film a movie, which might take up some of your work time..."

"Hey! What kind of talk is that!"

Upon hearing this, Old Liu straightened his back instantly, tucked the cigarette behind his ear, and a surge of heroic spirit arose within him:

"This area is currently idle and just waiting for materials, so it's just sitting there empty! You can film as much as you want, need people or vehicles, as long as I, Old Liu, can mobilize them, just say the word...!"

"Yeah! Go ahead and do it, Xiao Wang!" The coworkers around him, who were smoking cigarettes, chimed in, and the atmosphere instantly became lively.

......

After exchanging a few pleasantries, Cheng Ming glanced at his watch.

Time is tight, so we're speeding up filming while the morning isn't too bad...

"Attention all departments, prepare to begin work..."

Cheng Ming clapped his hands, instantly shedding his lazy demeanor and replacing it with an almost professional expression.

"Old Li, set up the camera on that overpass over there. I need a bird's-eye view from above, one that captures the oppressive feeling of the suffering of all living beings..."

"Qiangzi, set up the reflectors, but don't make the light too bright. I want that realistic texture from being exposed to the scorching sun, the rougher the better."

"As for Da Shuo, he's been causing quite a stir these past few days...!"

Cheng Ming turned around and sized up his eager best friend: "Ready to be baptized by the scorching sun?"

"Godfather, just watch out for you...!"

He grabbed a handful of dirt from the ground and smeared it haphazardly on his body and face.

His once fair skin instantly turned ashen, and when the sweat washed it off, it left streaks of mud.

Cheng Ming nodded in satisfaction: "That's right. The theme this time is contrast, but also a tribute. For this song, 'In the Name of Wealth,' I want you to sing out the feeling of going crazy in despair and trying to survive in madness."

The intro to the background music begins.

That was Jay Chou's classic song "In the Name of the Father." The originally solemn prayer sounded abruptly mixed with the noisy pile driving and the crackling of the electric microphone on the construction site, giving it an absurd realism.

........