Chapter 1456
Heavy Rain
Shanghai, Tianma Mountain Circuit.
A modified vehicle, built to Chinese racing standards, is speeding along the track.
There are only two major racetracks in Shanghai, and the Tianma Mountain Racetrack is much cheaper to use than the Shanghai International Circuit.
A screeching sound of brakes followed by the sound of a vehicle sliding off the track and scraping against the gravel.
"Are you okay?"
The walkie-talkie in the car crackled to life, and a male voice, speaking slowly but with a hint of worry, came through.
"It's nothing," Zhang Yuan replied, dressed in full racing gear.
"Sorry, I was distracted just now."
"There was no collision, but it's unclear whether the gravel has affected the site."
"It's okay, I'm just glad you're alright. Can you drive it back?"
"The engine isn't off, so it should be fine."
Zhang Yuan shook his left arm; it felt a little numb.
I was jolted by the steering wheel.
Most racing cars have no power steering or very weak power steering.
Therefore, in the event of an accident, the standard protective action is to cross your hands in front of your body, rather than gripping the steering wheel tightly, which can easily cause injury.
The same applies to old-school off-road vehicles. When you hold the steering wheel, you can't do it like you're taught in driving school. You should hook your thumb around the steering wheel, otherwise, if you encounter a large pothole or a huge bump, the steering wheel will spin, and in severe cases, you might break your finger.
He drove the vehicle back to the garage at a steady speed and put it on the shelf for inspection.
While in Shanghai, I met up with Han Han, whom I had arranged to meet.
This guy is quite busy, working on magazines, writing books, and even participating in official car races.
Even if you contact him temporarily, he might not be available.
So he simply came to the Volkswagen 333 team in Shanghai where he worked, to avoid him having to leave training and run back and forth.
Having nothing better to do, I got a spare car to play around with, partly to relax.
After hearing Brother Long's report yesterday, he was not in a high mood and seemed preoccupied.
That's why I made a mistake just now. Fortunately, I reacted quickly enough and avoided a major accident.
Is there a problem?
"I can offer compensation."
"It's nothing, there's no breakage or leak, just a few scratches," the technician replied after checking.
"If you have any problems, be sure to tell me. Don't hesitate to ask."
Zhang Yuan emphasized it again because he saw another technician whispering something to Han Han.
Han Han glanced at him a few times.
Actually, what they were muttering about wasn't that the car was broken.
"In the two sections before his mistake, he was only 0.3 seconds slower than you," the mechanic said, analyzing the driving data.
This conclusion startled Han Han.
I'm a professional!
He was only slightly slower than me?
Han Han didn't know that Zhang Yuan's driving skills were all learned from world champions in top-level racing events.
Compared to that kind of person, Han Han's tricks are nothing.
The two found a spot in the stands, sat down casually, and started chatting while drinking water.
"You said you wanted to get involved in the film and television industry, what are your initial thoughts so far?" Zhang Yuan asked casually.
"Is the plan to adapt it, or to create an original work?"
"Whether it's leading role or participation."
“I want to be in control of the whole situation,” Han Han replied in Mandarin with a slight accent.
This person is from the suburbs of Shanghai, specifically the JS district.
There is the very famous Jinshan Petrochemical Plant there, located on the edge of Shanghai by the sea.
Just like how people in the suburbs of Beijing would say "going into the city" instead of "going to the city center" when they talk about going to Wangfujing.
When Hanhan was little, she would say that going to downtown Shanghai was called "going to Shanghai".
They know they live in the suburbs of Shanghai, but verbally they will implicitly admit that they are not from Shanghai, but from the suburbs.
This is the division within big cities.
So even though Han Han has a Shanghai hukou (household registration), he is still considered a "country bumpkin" by people in the city.
Zhang Yuan felt that besides being a repressed pervert, this guy also had a slight inferiority complex, which probably came from this.
If Han Han has been famous since childhood, and is so amazing, why would she feel inferior?
Let me put it this way: the Bai family from the south, whose entire family was recently sent to offer sacrifices to heaven, was incredibly arrogant a few years ago.
But when he was in junior and senior high school at a private school in Shanghai, he was bullied by the children from wealthy families in Shanghai until he cried his eyes out. They looked down on him at all.
You stinky monkey, you've come all the way to Shanghai for food...
It gave him a little bit of a shock from Shanghai.
Han Han is a very smart and ambitious person.
But there's always a sense of "anger" within them; literary youth often have this drive.
After talking to him, he revealed that he wanted to be his own director, screenwriter, and producer... He certainly has big ambitions.
"Do you want to get involved in distribution and production?" Zhang Yuan glanced at him sideways.
This person didn't answer, but judging from their expression, they also wanted to.
"Don't have too many ideas or be too ambitious when you first make contact."
"Don't bite off more than you can chew. You should do what you're good at and work on topics you're good at."
What is he good at?
car.
The quality of any film or television productions related to cars that he produces is generally quite good.
He was very excited and had many ideas, including wanting to adapt many of his previous works for the screen.
"I want to make a road movie."
"Ah."
"A long journey through life, let me summarize my life."
"You're making it sound like you're going to die tomorrow."
"Who can say for sure?"
The two chatted casually like that.
Zhang Yuan knew that what he called a road movie was the prototype of the film "The Continent".
Indeed, he's quite the artsy type, with the feel of a wandering poet.
He recalled the several domestic road movies he had participated in, such as "No Man's Land" and "Getting Home".
In fact, the core of the story is similar to that of "The Continent," both dealing with the themes of time and life.
As Uncle Benshan said: People are like shooting stars in the sky, coming and going in a hurry, and they're gone in a flash.
Life is short and precious. How we should spend this life, and how we should get along with life and ourselves, is the theme of most of these road movies.
Listen to him tell his wildly imaginative ideas.
This guy is essentially a repressed comedian.
I kept talking to him about all my trivial thoughts.
The film "The Continent" tries to express too many things in a complicated way, which is also the problem with it.
However, its merits outweigh its flaws, and it still has many advantages.
He just got distracted while listening.
"You... don't like it?"
After a long while, Han Han, who was spitting as she spoke, saw his serious expression and deep-set eyes, and asked weakly.
"Ah...no." Zhang Yuan shook his head.
"I've been feeling down lately, with a lot on my mind."
Have you ever had the experience of getting dog poop stuck to you?
"Are you talking about Lu Chuan or Gao Xiaosong?" the man asked.
“These two are easy to handle.” Zhang Yuan didn’t think much of the two brothers.
"Let's not talk about this anymore. My opinion of you can be summed up in four words."
"Go for it!" Zhang Yuan said, adjusting his emotions and speaking with a strong voice.
"I believe in your abilities and popularity."
"As long as the budget isn't too outrageous, it's fine."
"You can tell me anything you need."
"Venue, personnel, and equipment."
"If you want to go somewhere you can't go, I'll help you make arrangements."
"If you want to use an artist but think it's too expensive or you don't recognize them, I can arrange it for you."
"I can even do it myself if you want."
"Really!" Han Han exclaimed, her head spinning.
Is the support really that strong?
If he were there, especially if he were to act in a film, the market pressure would be much less.
After all, Han Han watched a movie like "The Piano in a Factory" and it made tens of millions of yuan at the box office because he was the lead actor.
"I will help you find a team to oversee the process."
“What you should do now is take some time to work on the script and push for a better budget,” Zhang Yuan patted him on the shoulder.
"No rush, I'd rather take it slow and make it a hit." "Also, I can invest, but only if I sign a personal contract with you."
"We need to stick together."
He said hello and left without continuing the conversation or having a meal with the other person.
I still can't let go of what's going on in the capital.
After getting off the plane, going home to put down his luggage, and resting for a while, Brother Long found him.
"We've caught up."
"Okay, let's go."
evening.
His Phaeton was parked on a side road outside a secluded private restaurant. The moonlight was obscured by dark clouds, as if it would rain soon.
In the deep darkness of the capital city, this car looks more like a Passat and doesn't attract any attention at all.
He sat in the back of the car to rest, closing his eyes to relax.
Until Brother Long knocked on the car window.
"Boss, the person is out."
"Bring it over."
He opened his eyes slightly and replied softly.
A minute or two later, accompanied by sounds of twisting and struggling, the car door opened, and a bloated middle-aged man was shoved into the back seat of his vehicle.
Zhang Yuan wrinkled his nose and frowned.
A strong smell of alcohol, mixed with the greasy smell of undercooked meat from a greasy man.
But he quickly calmed himself down and spoke.
"Hello, Mr. Zhang, it's been a long time."
This person even tried to curse, shouting "kidnapping".
Upon seeing him, they were immediately stunned.
"What do you think you're doing, you little bastard!"
The one who uttered the angry voice was none other than Zhang Weiping, Zhang Yimou's longtime partner.
"I'd like to talk to you."
"Since I couldn't get in touch with them, I had no choice but to come to them in person." He said calmly, his eyes half-open.
"What do you mean? Are you trying to bully me?"
"Let me tell you, when I was doing this, you were still wearing open-crotch pants!"
The opponent started with a standard set of speeches from the old Deng.
“When you were doing this, Tencent’s Ma Huateng was still in his diapers,” Zhang Yuan retorted. “Looks like ability isn’t measured by age.”
He's worth tens of billions now, what good is being old?
They died young despite their old age.
Zhang Yuan was not polite at all, nor did he apologize for his behavior.
Do you have a problem with me?
"Heh heh heh, damn it!" Boss Zhang cursed, "Don't try to play innocent after getting the benefit from me!"
"Cutting off someone's livelihood is tantamount to killing their parents!"
"Did you arrange for Zhang Yimou's child to be planted?"
"Don't be the one to accuse me first." Zhang Yuan remained completely calm.
The fact that the other party asked this question indicates that they are unsure and have no evidence.
Fortunately, I chose to collaborate with the person from the Beijing TV station, rather than someone like Zhuo Wei.
Otherwise, they would have sold me out long ago.
In any case, now that Zhang Yimou is on his side, he has indeed gained a great advantage.
The other party hates him.
Without Zhang Yimou, Zhang Weiping simply couldn't make it in the film and television industry.
Everyone used to treat him with respect; even the big bosses of the cinema chain would call him Brother Zhang at dinner parties.
What now?
Without Zhang Yimou, it's just a roadside stall.
Who would bother with him anymore?
Besides, the film and television industry today is very different from what it was ten or twenty years ago.
Back then, there was nowhere to get investment for commercial films.
Director Feng's masterpiece "Be There or Be Square" even involved spending money on Mu Qizhong, a top "scalper" back then.
The idea of blasting a hole in the Himalayas in the film wasn't Feng Xiaogang's own idea; it was a real-life example of this guy's boastful claims about launching satellites.
Tiling the Great Wall, covering the Pacific Ocean—there's nothing this guy wouldn't dare say.
In the 90s, no one invested in films, which gave Zhang Weiping the opportunity to work with a top director like Zhang Yimou.
In chaotic times, only those who are not professionals have opportunities.
These days, not to mention directors of Zhang Yimou's caliber, even someone like Guo Fan doesn't want to work with him anymore.
They thought he was an amateur and even made a bunch of demands that would negatively impact his work.
Like Wang Wei, he had succeeded before, but in this industry, he no longer has many opportunities.
"Director Zhang is doing very well now. You should understand the principle of parting amicably."
"Besides, you two didn't get along well. He was fined so much money, did you help him at all?"
"You still have a bunch of dividend cards in your hands that you haven't gotten back, right?" Zhang Yuan sneered, then said casually.
"It's okay, I'll help him get it back."
"Through legal means."
"Damn it, I'm not afraid of going to court, come on!" The man, drunk, raised his voice even louder.
Even the powerful sound insulation of the million-dollar luxury car couldn't completely eliminate the noise. Upon hearing this, Brother Long, who was standing guard outside the car, clenched his fist, ready to strike at any moment.
"It's good that you're not afraid. We'll take it slow."
"But that's a story for later. What do you mean by your recent contact with Zhuo Wei?" Zhang Yuan looked directly into his eyes.
"Heh..." The man laughed menacingly.
"none of your business!"
"Whatever you're planning or doing," Zhang Yuan said, unaffected by the other party's attitude, "you'd better stop now."
"I don't want things to become ugly."
"Little brother, there are consequences for doing wrong, understand? Let me teach you." This arrogant man patted him on the shoulder.
Click!
A deafening explosion echoed through the sky, and a beam of white light shone on Zhang Yuan's face, making his appearance appear exceptionally cold and stern.
"So you mean there's no room for reconciliation or compromise."
"What are you? Talk to me!"
"What, you dare to touch me?"
"Fuck..." He then uttered these filthy words, reeking of alcohol.
"I'm here today hoping you'll stop."
"I'd like to confirm again, is this really necessary?"
“I remind you that I am not as mild-mannered as I appear.”
These words stunned Zhang Weiping, who even stopped hurling insults.
mild?
Can you call that mild?
Zhang Yuan considered himself gentle, reserved, shy, and generous.
"grass!"
Without saying a word, he pushed open the car door and stepped out.
Brother Long outside the car exchanged a glance with him, and Zhang Yuan shook his head.
This action made Mr. Zhang's heart tighten, and he quickened his pace.
No... you're really planning to take action?
Zhang Yuan felt it was pointless and would only give others cause for criticism, so he signaled to Brother Long to let him leave.
"Mr. Zhang, please reconsider. Don't do anything dangerous."
Brother Long got into the driver's seat and drove off.
Raindrops fell, hitting the glass skylight.
"Brother Long, wash the back interior tomorrow."
He disliked the person from before.
At the same time, he also realized that even if the other party was not sure that it was Lao Zhangzi who was behind the incident, they would still blame all the losses on him.
You ruin me, I'll ruin you too!
For an artist, the biggest blow is probably their public image.
This was Zhang Yuan's guess as to why he sought out Zhuo Wei.
At this moment, Zhang Yuan remembered an old saying from the Japanese.
The rise and fall of the empire hinges on this!
We must not let them do what they want.
"Brother Long... never mind, just keep an eye on Zhang Weiping and Zhuo Wei."
Let the fat woman handle the task of contacting the king of paparazzi.
His mood plummeted along with the heavy rain.
Hopefully, things won't escalate into something serious... (End of Chapter)