HuaYu: A Great Director Starting with Dream of the Red Chamber

The China Film Building is located behind the Beijing Exhibition Center.

When Li Yan came out, it was already past lunchtime.

It's still a bit cold after the New Year, and the wind feels like it's scraping your face.

The security guard saluted him after opening the door. He tightened his trench coat, nodded politely, and turned into a sheltered alley.

At this moment, the polite smile he had been wearing in front of Han Sanping vanished, and he tugged at his shirt collar in annoyance.

"Hold!"

Li Yan took out a cigarette case from his pocket, knocked out a cigarette, and lit it.

What about vision and tuition fees? Those are just empty words for the winners!

It's truly shameful to be forced to bow down in this lifetime, and this cut really hurts.

Money is a small matter; the key is to save face!

It's like you've painstakingly prepared a meal, and just as you're about to pick up your chopsticks, someone comes over and says, "These chopsticks are mine. Want to eat? You'll have to give me two pork knuckles first!"

Just fucked up!

Li Yan took a drag of his cigarette. "We'll have to put the Cadillac Cadillac on hold for now..."

I've been struggling for over a year and still haven't managed to buy a car in Los Angeles!

"Screw you!"

If it weren't for this grandson, would we have been forced to resort to the very means he despises—tribute—to settle things?!

I'll remember this debt.

After finishing his cigarette in the cold wind and stubbing it out in the snow, Li Yan regained his spirits and hailed a taxi.

The smell in the car wasn't pleasant, so he took out his phone, thought for a moment, and dialed Jing Tian's number.

If the money decreases, you have to report it to the investor.

Moreover, while she was in Chang'an, she could also send a message to Jing's father that he had finished the matter and that attitude was very important!

The phone rang only twice before it connected.

The first thing that reached Li Yan's ears from the phone was... the sound of shuffling cards!

And there was Aunt Liu's scolding voice, tinged with a Guanzhong accent:

"Tian Tian! How many times have I told you not to use your paws that have touched the cards to pick up the strawberries! Can't you see the toothpick next to you?"

"Oh, Mom, a little dirt won't make you sick..."

Li Yan: ……

"Feed? Li Yan!"

Jing Tian's muffled voice finally came through; she probably had a strawberry stuffed in her mouth, completely oblivious:

"Why are you calling so early? Did the negotiations fall through? It's nothing! I'm winning money right now, in a good mood. Just tell me, I'm fine!"

Upon hearing this, Li Yan's initial sense of tragic forbearance was instantly washed away by her silly, cheerful demeanor.

To question the mentality of a wealthy woman who has never lacked money is simply asking for trouble.

"It didn't collapse, the talks are over!"

Li Yan leaned back in his seat:

"President Han has agreed to schedule the release for Qingming Festival. Also, I've given away a small portion of your share to them, without any premium..."

At this point, Li Yan paused deliberately, waiting for Jing Tian, ​​the "major shareholder," to ask him why, before he would explain.

Unexpectedly, Jing Tian's reaction was:

"80,000! Bang!... Oh well, I guess I won't lose money now?"

"Um... no need to lose money, we should even make a small profit."

"real?!"

An excited exclamation came from the other end of the phone, followed by the sound of a mahjong set being pushed over:

"Self-draw! Three players have won! Pay up! Mom, get the money!"

After saying all that, Jing Tian happily continued:

"That's great, Li Yan! You don't know, I just showed my mom a bracelet she liked a couple of days ago. It's super green, and I was hesitating about whether to save the money. Since you say it's a good deal, I'll buy it tomorrow! Thank you, Director! Love you, mwah!"

"Beep...beep...beep..."

As Li Yan listened to the busy signal, he fell into deep thought on the congested Third Ring Road.

So, all this pretense of enduring hardship to avoid your father's wrath is worth less than a bracelet to you?!

Forget it.

He shoved his phone into his pocket and patted the back of the driver's seat:

"Master, could you please help me at Jianwai..."

With such a cheerful sugar daddy around, why would he need to be so pretentious?

……

Back at the company, everyone looked rather grim after learning the results.

Everyone felt aggrieved by being forced to drink water.

Li Yan had no choice but to make arrangements first:

"Senior, go and liaise with Pei Kang. We've already given up profits, but we can't give up anything else. Keep a close eye on the film scheduling, and try our best to promote our Gravity Pictures brand!"

"Little one."

"I am here!"

"The subsequent marketing, materials, and public opinion guidance will all be handled by you."

"Just remember one thing: our '100,000-strong army' will be charging for their appearance this time! Sharpen your knives if you need to, and charge your price if you need to!"

"We're professionals in this area; even President Han wouldn't be able to say a word against it."

Ding Xiaoxiao nodded vigorously, "That's right, every penny we can get back is a penny we can get back!"

StrongGG's performance last year was truly impressive and verifiable! Who in the industry doesn't know that?

Since it's all about advertising anyway, charging a service fee for their "new media marketing services" is not unreasonable at all!

After finishing his work, Li Yan didn't stay at the company for long.

He went home, took out a polished copy of the script, and put it in his bag.

This lesson was too profound.

In the domestic film industry, having commercial films alone is not enough, nor is being able to create a large-scale production.

As long as you're still hanging around here, there will always be someone trying to kick you while you're down or take a piece of your pie.

If he doesn't want to be controlled by these bastards, he needs to reach a height that they can't reach.

The temple is small but the evil spirits are strong; the pond is shallow but the turtles are plentiful.

This has always been the case in cultural circles.

Li Yan glanced at his watch; it was 2 PM.

The timing is perfect.

……

Jingshan Back Street, Nianzi Hutong.

In the courtyard with its blue bricks and gray tiles, an elderly man with a full head of silver hair and a sprightly spirit stood in front of his desk, holding a calligraphy brush with his wrist suspended.

Li Yan stood to the side, holding the ink stick between three fingers and slowly turning it inside the inkstone.

So clever!

"Is this how you ask for help?"

Lan Tianye snorted coldly, glanced at Li Yan who was diligently grinding ink out of the corner of his eye, and tapped him with the brush in his hand:

"They showed up without a word, bringing only two bags of chestnuts?"

"Grandpa Lan, what are you saying? If it weren't for Professor Li Guangfu's approval, we wouldn't have dared to come even if you gave us the guts."

Li Yan smiled shamelessly:

"I was worried you'd get tired from painting, so I brought some snacks. The chestnuts are fresh out of the pot and still warm. And this tea, I wouldn't even take it out of Teacher Li's place."

On the coffee table were two tin boxes that Jing's father had given them as a special gift for the New Year, and next to them were two bags of warm, sweet-smelling roasted chestnuts.

Don't give me that!

Lan Tianye withdrew his gaze, lowered his head and began to write. With just a few strokes, a powerful pine eagle leaped onto the paper.

He put down his brush, took the hot towel Li Yan handed him, wiped his hands, and looked sharply at Li Yan through his reading glasses:

"That old bastard Li Guangfu just gave me a heads-up, saying some arrogant brat was going to bother me, and you're here right after?! Pretty fast, huh?!"

"That's right, young people can't go wrong with being quick on their feet, hehe."

Lan Tianye walked back to the sofa, sat down, and said:

"Don't flatter me! I don't even act in plays anymore, and you want me to make movies? You've got some ideas!"

"You're more likely here to sell insurance to this old man! The arts and culture scene is a mess these days, a complete mess. I'm too lazy to wade into that murky water!"

Although he is over eighty years old, the old man still stands upright and speaks with a strong voice.

The arrogance that comes from those glorious years cannot be faked.

This is the person Li Yan is looking for.

A true veteran artist, who was once an underground party member and played Jiang Ziya, can keep any demon or monster at bay!