Huayu97: Starting with Wu Song Fighting the Tiger

Three young figures stood side by side in the setting sun, their shadows stretched long, resembling sworn brothers in a martial arts film.

Not long after, news came that a big investor had come to the film crew.

The man who arrived was surnamed Wang, and his nickname was Wang Dapao. Just hearing his name gave off a bold and straightforward vibe typical of Northeasterners, but in reality, he was a nouveau riche reeking of money. Wang Dapao was in the car import and export business. Back in 1997, anyone who could handle imported cars was a person with connections and influence, and their pockets were overflowing with cash.

He was one of the investors in this drama, or more accurately, he invested later. He heard that "Princess Pearl" was a masterpiece by Aunt Qiong Yao, and that it was filmed in such a beautiful place as the Chengde Mountain Resort. He thought it was profitable, so he invested a sum of money.

My purpose in coming to Chengde this time was twofold: first, to check on the filming progress of the production crew; and second, to host a banquet for the cast and crew, specifically to see some of the young actresses in the crew.

When the news spread, most people on the crew were happy. Back then, the film and television industry wasn't as commercialized as it would later become; the meals on set were mostly simple and bland. Being able to have a nice meal was a huge treat. What's more, the person treating was a big spender, so there was a chance they might even get some extra cash gifts.

Sun Shuping specifically instructed everyone: "Dress presentably tonight, don't embarrass our crew. President Wang is a big boss, and we'll need his help with the distribution of our show in the future."

At six o'clock in the evening, the banquet hall of the Chengde Mountain Resort Hotel, the best restaurant in Chengde, was brightly lit. Two large round tables were set in the private room, and the tables were full of Chengde's specialties, including venison, roe deer meat, wild mountain vegetables, as well as Moutai and Wuliangye liquor. The amber-colored liquor was served in glass cups, dazzling everyone's eyes.

Wang Dapao sat in the main seat. He was in his forties, with a slicked-back hairstyle, a gold chain as thick as a thumb around his neck, and gold rings the size of pigeon eggs on his fingers. When he smiled, the fat on his face squeezed into a ball, making him look like a fat pig that had just been released from the pen.

He was accompanied by several lackeys, all bowing and scraping with smiles, carrying bulging leather bags that were clearly full of valuables. Behind him stood two bodyguards in black suits, their faces expressionless yet their eyes sharp; they were obviously trained fighters.

The crew members arrived at the restaurant one after another. Sun Shuping, along with several lead actors, went over to toast Wang Dapao first. Zhao Wei, Lin Xinru, and Fan Binbin were all dressed to the nines. Zhao Wei wore a red dress that accentuated her fair skin; Lin Xinru wore a white shirt with a denim skirt, looking fresh and elegant; and Fan Binbin wore a pink princess dress, looking charming and cute.

These three young girls were in their prime, beautiful and lovely, and Wang Dapao's eyes widened at the sight of them, his drool dripping onto the table.

"Oh my, these must be the three beauties from 'Princess Pearl'! They truly live up to their reputation!" Wang Dapao laughed heartily, his voice booming so loud it made everyone's ears ring. "Come, come, sit next to me, don't be shy!"

Zhao Wei, Lin Xinru, and Fan Binbin looked at each other, their faces showing a hint of embarrassment, but they couldn't refuse, so they could only bite the bullet and walk over to sit in the empty seat next to Wang Dapao.

Wang Dapao's eyes seemed glued to the three girls. One moment he reached out to pinch Zhao Wei's cheek, the next he wanted to pat Lin Xinru's shoulder, and then he even tried to touch Fan Bingbing's hair. His gaze and actions were greasy and made everyone feel uncomfortable.

Zhao Wei forced herself to move to the side despite her discomfort; Lin Xinru lowered her head, pretending to look at the dishes on the table; Fan Binbin even glanced directly at Liu Xiang, his eyes full of pleading.

Su Youpeng and Zhou Jie were also there, sitting on the sidelines, both looking rather grim. Su Youpeng clenched his fists, wanting to say something, but Zhou Jie stopped him with a look. Zhou Jie whispered, "Don't be impulsive, let's see what Liu Xiang has to say."

Su Youpeng bit his lip and had no choice but to give up, but his eyes were fixed on Wang Dapao's hand, afraid that he might do something outrageous.

Sun Shupei watched this unfold, his heart filled with anxiety. He knew Wang Dapao was a typical nouveau riche, someone who thought he was something special once he had a little money, and who was especially interested in pretty girls. Just as he was trying to figure out how to smooth things over, he saw Liu Xiang carrying a glass of wine, walking straight over.

Today, Liu Xiang was dressed in a simple white shirt and jeans. Standing in the crowd, he wasn't particularly eye-catching, but he exuded an aura of unapproachability. He walked up to Wang Dapao and nodded slightly: "Mr. Wang, I'm Liu Xiang, an actor in the film crew. Here's a toast to you, to thank you for your support of our crew."

Wang Dapao was taken aback for a moment, then looked Liu Xiang up and down. Seeing that he was tall and straight, with sharp eyes and an aura that made him look intimidating, Wang Dapao's heart skipped a beat. Before he could speak, Sun Shupei quickly took over the conversation.

Director Sun smiled and said, "Mr. Wang, this is Liu Xiang, whom I mentioned to you. He plays Saiwei in the film crew. That night, the crew encountered tomb raiders, and this guy single-handedly took down more than a dozen of them, saving the entire crew! He's incredibly skilled!"

When Wang Dapao heard that "one person beat up more than a dozen tomb raiders," his eyes lit up, and he looked at Liu Xiang with more fear. This kind of nouveau riche, who had been in the underworld for a long time, knew the weight of the words "tough nut to crack."

"Oh? This young man is quite something?" Wang Dapao laughed heartily, raising his glass forward, but his hand trembled involuntarily. "Come on, young man, let me toast you! A hero emerges from among the young!"

Liu Xiang didn't refuse. He picked up his wine glass and clinked it against Wang Dapao's glass, making a crisp sound. He tilted his head back and drank it all in one gulp. His Adam's apple bobbed as the wine went down his throat, but his expression remained unchanged, though his eyes remained coldly fixed on Wang Dapao.

Wang Dapao felt uneasy under his gaze and sat quietly on the sofa, suddenly not daring to utter a sound.

After a few rounds of drinks and several dishes, Wang Dapao, feeling the effects of the alcohol, became bolder again. He started boasting about his business, talking about how many imported cars he had traded and how much money he had made, and how many important people he knew, claiming that he could handle the film's distribution with just a word.

Then he steered the conversation to the three girls: "Zhao Wei, you have such big eyes, you'll definitely be a big star someday! Lin Xinru, your skin is so nice, you take good care of it! Binbin, you're such a pretty girl, everyone should follow Brother Wang from now on!"

As he spoke, he reached out to put his arm around Fan Binbin's shoulder.

Liu Xiang reacted quickly, reaching out to pick up a bone china bowl from the table and gently squeezing it, shattering it in two.