Huayu: Enjoy Yourself

Chapter 100: How can one possibly recount all the hardships of the past decades?

"Director Chen, please don't ask me for this kind of thing again. 💝✋ ❻➈ᔕ𝒽𝓊𝐱.Ćⓞｍ ♜🎯" Li Xiaoping complained after the two left.

Chen An could only laugh awkwardly and say, "Sister Xiaoping, you've done a great deed by saving people from dire straits, so please bear with us."

"I can't accept this merit." Li Xiaoping rolled her eyes at Chen An, somewhat speechless.

"Director Chen, the company sent me a script that looks pretty good. Should we invest in it?" Li Xiaoping asked after she finished complaining.

Chen An nodded and asked, "What kind of script, for a movie or a TV series?"

"It's a TV series, written by director Guo Baochang, called 'The Grand Mansion Gate'."

Upon hearing the other party mention his name, Chen An immediately perked up; the name was indeed very well-known.

The TV series that featured numerous big-name industry figures making cameo appearances was unexpectedly based on this script, starring Chen Baoguo.

It's said to be based on Tongrentang in the late Qing Dynasty, and it seems to be adapted from a true story, anyway, there are many different opinions.

It is a top-notch TV series in terms of both word-of-mouth and viewership ratings.

The scriptwriting process was fraught with difficulties, and after it was completed, it was interrupted by investors. It was a truly heartbreaking experience.

The director and editor are actually my seniors, a generation above Zhang Yimou and the others.

"I've heard of this script. I happen to be planning to produce a TV series, and the director is my senior from university. Let's invest in it, and let these three people from the company give it a try. They don't necessarily have to be the lead actors; it would be good for them to participate."

Chen An thought about it and agreed. He definitely couldn't miss such a good script. Why hadn't he thought of it before?

"Okay, I'll contact him right away. How much should I invest?" After receiving a reply, Li Xiaoping asked for the specific amount.

"Within ten million, that should be about right, but we also need to acquire the copyright ownership." Chen An wasn't doing charity work; with a full investment, he naturally needed to acquire the copyright ownership.

Unlike Lin Dajiang, who is an outsider and doesn't understand the industry, he doesn't just want dividends. With such a large investment, he definitely wants to keep the copyright in his hands.

I am quite impressed by this senior's experiences. He has been very helpful to people of Zhang Yimou's generation, but he is not related to me. I should still accept what I owe him.

"Okay, I'll contact him now and agree to invest. We'll discuss the amount later." After saying that, Li Xiaoping got up and left.

Chen An then opened the website again, where the netizens who had just replied had already left comments.

"Damn it, you say I don't understand my movies? Do you want to read what you're saying?" Chen An, angered by the other netizen's words, immediately started typing away on the keyboard.

The next day, Chen An arrived at the company in a Mercedes-Benz, bragging to Zhao Xiong as they drove.

As Chen An entered the company and his office, preparing for a heated online battle with netizens from the previous day, he saw Li Xiaoping sitting on the sofa in the room talking to someone.

"Director Chen, this is Director Guo. He's here today to discuss investment matters." Li Xiaoping immediately introduced the person beside her to Chen An as he walked in.

Upon hearing the other person's identity, Chen An smiled and extended his hand, saying, "Senior, it's a pleasure to meet you. I'm a little late, I hope you won't mind."

"It's nothing, Director Chen. I should thank you for investing in my script, which is written by someone who has accomplished nothing." Guo Baochang also reached out and shook the hand that Chen An offered.

This script was the thorn in his side for life; it was difficult to create, and the filming process was fraught with setbacks, causing him immense worry.

"Don't say that. You're a senior, and both Senior Brother Zhang and Brother Jiang Wen speak highly of you. Your achievements are remarkable."

"The only thing I've done in my life is help them by giving them a chance to showcase their talents. On the contrary, I've repeatedly run into obstacles. If it weren't for you, I don't know if I would have been able to finish this script in my lifetime."

"I've been writing for decades, and even if I finish writing it, I can't film it. It would be a complete waste."

Hearing Chen An's praise, Guo Baochang felt extremely ashamed. This script was truly the only worry in his life, and he would die with regrets if he couldn't film it.

The hardships involved are beyond what outsiders can understand.

Now that my junior brother, whom I've never met, is willing to invest, I really don't know how to thank him. I feel like I can't even accept being called a senior by him.

After decades of hard work, I finally have the opportunity to complete it.

Chen An turned to Li Xiaoping and asked, "Sister Xiaoping, how did the talks go?"

"Everything else is almost settled, and the copyright has been agreed upon. However, Director Guo wants to use Chen Baoguo as the male lead, and we will choose the male and female leads ourselves."

"No problem. In that case, let's leave the casting to Senior Brother Guo. Whether the three from the company can pass the audition is up to them."

Chen An was speaking to Li Xiaoping, but also to Guo Baochang.

"Thank you, thank you, Director Chen, I really don't know how to thank you enough." Upon hearing Chen An's reply, Guo Baochang was so moved that he burst into tears.

Chen An quickly picked up the paper on the table and handed it to the other person, saying, "Senior brother, take care of yourself. You still have a heavy responsibility to bear, and the filming will be entrusted to you."

"You can't afford to get too excited and ruin your health."

After speaking, he patted the man on the shoulder, who was so moved that he was in tears. He was also a little touched and understood the man's feelings.

Turning to Li Xiaoping beside him, he said, "Sister Xiaoping, get the contract ready and prepare for project approval. This is the company's first TV series, so we can't be careless."

"You two talk first, I'll go out now."

Li Xiaoping also stood up. The people around her burst into tears, and she felt it was inappropriate to stay there. She decided to let the two of them talk.

The door closed, leaving only Chen An and his companion in the office.

Guo Baochang, who had calmed down a little, still couldn't stop sobbing. A man doesn't easily shed tears, unless he is truly heartbroken.

The script, which he began writing in 1964, was overthrown, confiscated, burned, and destroyed by his ex-wife. But he never gave up and persevered until now, when he finally had the opportunity to complete it.

This matter weighed heavily on my mind, so much so that it made me feel like I couldn't breathe.

After a while, Guo Baochang finally calmed down and said, suppressing his emotions, "I'm sorry to have made you laugh. At your age, you still couldn't help but cry like this. Junior brother, I really thank you."

"That's only natural. Now, senior, you should cheer up. The project has been approved, but you still need to do interviews and filming. Otherwise, it's uncertain whether it will even be released."

"Don't worry, I'll risk my life to finish filming it and hand it over to you completely."

"It's not that bad, it's not that bad."

Upon hearing this, Chen An quickly waved his hand, saying that it was just asking him to film a TV series, not killing him, and it wasn't that serious.

"That's settled then. Get ready, and I guarantee I'll get you filming completed. You'll be auditioning the actors yourself, and my company will handle the production. Don't worry about that."

"No problem, no problem. I'll go back first and inform Baoguo. I have to give him an explanation after he's been dragging this out for so long."

After saying this, Guo Baochang bid farewell and left to inform his partner that a new investment had arrived.

The previous investor wanted to kick Guo Baochang aside after filming began. If Chen Baoguo hadn't quit, his work would have been filmed by someone else.

Having delayed them for so long, I need to deliver this message to them quickly this time.

Chen An's Guangnian Media, a well-known film company in the film industry, has invested in its own TV series.

This subscription data seems a bit strange.

(End of this chapter)