Huayu: Reborn in 97, transferring to the Central Academy of Drama's star-studded class

Jiang Lai stepped off the bus feeling dizzy. A gust of cold wind blew by, instantly sobering him up. He quickly wrapped his down jacket tighter around himself.

Sometimes he feels that he has a special connection with Hebei Province. He went to Weixian County to film "Party A, Party B", and to Fengning County to film "My Father and Mother". Now he has come to Qianxi, although this time he is not here to film a movie.

He's here to invest.

Yesterday, near the end of the wrap party, Director Zhang tossed him a phone number and said, "This number belongs to Jiang Wen. He's currently filming a movie and needs investment. Are you interested?"

Just as Jiang Lai was about to answer, Director Zhang waved his hand and continued, "Don't rush, let me tell you first. This movie he's making has already received investment from three companies, with at least 20 million invested. He originally wanted me to act as a go-between and ask Zhang Weiping. I don't like getting involved in these kinds of things, but we have a good relationship, so I helped him ask around."

"Did Mr. Zhang refuse?" Jiang Lai asked.

"Yes." Director Zhang nodded. "It's quite complicated here. Xiao Jiang, your family is well-off, so you can do some research. Whether you vote or not, I have to make these things clear to you. I can't cheat you, but I'm doing my best to be a good friend to you."

"Then please continue."

Director Zhang pondered for a while, "Jiang Wen is indeed a very talented person, whether as an actor or a director, but when he was a director, he had no sense of control over funds. He really screwed over Liu Xiaoqing when he made 'In the Heat of the Sun'."

Director Zhang recounted some events from back then, and Jiang Lai listened very attentively, mainly treating it as gossip.

Finally, Director Zhang gave a special reminder: if you're going to invest, you must be very careful.

Jiang Lai thought Director Zhang was a really good person. He was a good friend and would help others when necessary, but he would also make the pros and cons clear and not hide anything.

Even if Director Zhang hadn't said any of this, Jiang Lai would have already made up his mind.

cast!

On the one hand, when their Class of '96 was suspended from classes, Jiang Wen came to help film "Hello, Teacher." His care for the younger generation was genuine, and there was nothing wrong with him repaying the favor.

On the other hand, Jiang Lai really likes Jiang Wen's performances.

If you were to ask him which male actor in China exudes raw masculinity, he would definitely name Jiang Wen first, followed by Hu Jun.

There's a term called sexual tension, and Jiang Lai felt that the two of them, when they were together, exuded a strong sense of sexual tension.

Other male actors may be handsome, tall, and tough, but these two bring a rough and wild flavor to Jiang.

The next day, the crew disbanded, and Zhang Ziyi and Jiang Lai bid each other a reluctant farewell and returned to Beijing. Jiang Lai, on the other hand, ran away from one small mountain village to another.

As soon as Jiang Lai stepped out of Qianxi Long-Distance Bus Station, he knew who was there to pick him up.

A man with a large face who bears a resemblance to Jiang Wen is squatting under a telephone pole smoking; he is Jiang Wen's younger brother, Jiang Wu.

Jiang Lai also ran over and squatted down with a smile, "Hey! Brother Wu."

Jiang Wu blinked, then asked after a moment's thought, "You're Mr. Jiang?"

"Oh no! My name is Jiang Lai, just call me Xiao Jiang."

Jiang Wu smiled憨厚ly. Their father was a soldier, and they naturally had a good impression of such cheerful and enthusiastic people.

"I just finished filming director Zhang Yang's movie, which I heard you also invested in. What a coincidence!"

Jiang Lai tried hard to recall, and it seemed to be one of the people that Lao Jia brought back. Before going to the Central Academy of Drama, he had read another script by this person, which was "Spicy Love Soup".

The movie that Lao Jia was asking for investment for, I think it was called...

"The movie is called 'Shower,' right?"

"Yes, yes!" Jiang Wu nodded with a smile.

Jiang Lai thought to himself, "Sure enough, I do remember this script. It's a story about the affection between fathers and sons, and brothers. The reason I remember it is because Zhang Yang told this simple story in a particularly heartwarming way, making people feel moved by the characters in the story."

In fact, Zhang Yang is one of the few members of the sixth generation who has made it to the end. He is hailed as a rare director who can achieve a balance between art and commerce. For example, "Getting Home" was directed by him.

Moreover, Zhang Yang graduated from the Directing Department of the Central Academy of Drama, and I don't know how he ended up hanging out with those people from the Beijing Film Academy.

Jiang Lai thought to himself.

After exchanging a few pleasantries, the two set off again. This county was not their final destination; they still needed to transfer to a town.

The bus swayed and rocked, but Jiang Wu was perfectly fine. Jiang Lai, however, got carsick again. He especially missed Yate at that moment. They were both rough men, but at least Yate knew to bring motion sickness pills.

Panjiakou Reservoir.

The landscape here is very unique, with two mountains flanking a river, combining the ruggedness of the north with the enchanting waterscapes of the south. The villages are built against the mountains, giving it a sense of vastness and desolation.

The filming location for Jiang Wen's movies is the Xifengkou section of the Great Wall here. When the Panjiakou Reservoir was built in the 1970s, a section of it was submerged, creating a unique "underwater Great Wall" landscape.

Jiang Lai and his group's destination was a small, run-down hotel not far from here.

When they arrived, it was nearly evening. Jiang Wu led Jiang Lai to a room, and Jiang Wu simply pushed the door open and went inside.

"Brother, I've brought the person back!"

The loud voice startled Jiang Wen, who was sitting at his desk behind a small table.

"How many times have I told you! Knock on the door! Knock on the door!"

Jiang Wu replied weakly, "You didn't close the door either."

Ignoring his silly younger brother, Jiang Wen looked at the person behind him, blinked, and recognized him.

"Hey, who are you? What's your name again?"

"Jiang Lai!"

"Oh, right, right!" Jiang Wen stood up with a smile. "The endless Yangtze River rolls on! Jiang Lai, what a great name!"

Jiang Lai was taken aback. So this is what a cultured person is like? This was the first time he had ever heard someone explain their name like this.

He had heard Jiang's father mention his name before, saying that when Jiang was born, a master had calculated his birth chart, and the master pointed to Jiang, who was still in swaddling clothes, and said, "This child is lacking the element of water in his Five Elements."

After thinking it over, Jiang's father realized that the surname already contained the character for water, so he decided to add the character "lai" (来) to it, making it Jiang Lai (江来), which means "water comes." That's how he got his name.

The three people went inside and sat down.

"Since he's a junior, then we're on the same side. As for my situation..." Jiang Wen paused, "Did Lao Zhang tell you about my situation?"

"Director Zhang has already told me," Jiang Lai nodded.

"Okay! That saves me the trouble of explaining. Since you already know this and are still willing to come, that's giving me face. Thank you."

As he spoke, Jiang Wen actually stood up and bowed slightly to Jiang Lai, but his back remained straight.

"No, no! Boss Jiang, don't be so polite." Jiang Lai hurriedly stepped forward to help the other person up.

"Let's keep things separate. You flatter me, so I'll thank you—that's only fair!" Jiang Wen brushed Jiang Lai's hand away. "But what I'm about to say is going to be embarrassing, so listen to what I have to say."

Jiang Lai nodded seriously, "Boss Jiang, you go ahead."

"And you don't need to call me boss, I can't accept that title."

Jiang Wen considered for a moment, then held up his thumb and little finger, making a six, saying, "I need at least this many!"

"Okay! Boss, I'll round it up for you, I'll give you a thousand!"

These words stunned Jiang Wen, who had never heard of rounding up to the nearest whole number in this way.

"No need for that, this number is enough." Jiang Wen still held up the six.

"Sure! No problem, boss. Whatever you say, that's what I'll pay!" Jiang Lai readily agreed.

Jiang Wen blinked, stepped forward, and put his arm around Jiang Lai's arm. "Alright! I'll take you on as my little brother. You'll call me boss, so I can't let you lose money. Don't worry, this movie won't lose money!"

As he spoke, Jiang Wen looked Jiang Lai up and down. "I heard you just finished filming Lao Zhang's movie?"

The other party's topic changed so suddenly that Jiang Lai nodded blankly, "Oh right, we just finished filming Director Zhang's movie."

"That's perfect. I have a role for you, but I haven't found the right actor yet. I trust anyone Old Zhang would choose. Would you like to take a role?"

Jiang Laide admitted that he was a little out of sync with the other person's conversation. They were just talking about investment, and now they were talking about acting?

"Sure, boss, can I take a look at the script?"

Jiang Wen shook his head.

There was no script.

"What about the lines?"

"No, not at all."

Jiang Lai was dumbfounded. This role couldn't just be made up on the spot, could it? He hesitated and asked, "Boss, I need to know what I'm playing, right? Shouldn't I practice something first?"

Jiang Wen nodded and said, "Then you should practice your Taiwanese accent first."