Chapter 1537
Green Waters Flow Forever
"I'm going out to answer a phone call."
After seeing Yang Tianbao's call, Zhang Yuan picked up his phone.
"Girlfriend?" Miss Gao across from her asked, pursing her lips.
“No, it’s a private call.” He shook his arm.
"Have some tea first, I'll be right back."
After Zhang Yuan left, Yuan Yuan, who was sitting alone in the tea room, poured herself a full cup of flower tea to soothe her hoarse voice.
He raised his arm again and smelled his sleeve, which still carried the scent of the friendly match from earlier.
She pouted and gave a slightly dissatisfied snort.
I came to kindly remind you, and you just tackled me and started beating me up...
but.
She sniffed her sleeve again.
Miss Gao even began to doubt herself.
The reason I insisted on coming today, is it subconsciously because I wanted to see the other person and see if there was any possibility of renewing the contract?
……
Meanwhile, Zhang Yuan hid in a nearby room and answered the phone.
"Hello?" A sneaky female voice immediately came from the other end.
"What is it?" Zhang Yuan asked briefly, his tone very businesslike.
"Congratulations on your fortune, Mr. Zhang!" the girl said with a cheeky grin.
The echoes when she spoke made Zhang Yuan suspect that she was talking to him from a small space like the bathroom or dressing room.
"Where are you?" Zhang Yuan asked.
"I'm at Xiaoming's house, don't worry, he's asleep and can't hear me," the woman said.
Zhang Yuan glanced at his phone; it was only a little past 7 o'clock, and he had already gone to sleep.
Then there's only one possibility: he was too tired to sleep after waking up.
No... you're secretly making phone calls to me behind a man's back, is that exciting?
"Alright, just say what you need to say." He rubbed his temples.
"I saw that your recently re-released movie was a huge success; you must have made a lot of money."
Zhang Yuan nodded. The re-release only considers the revenue, with almost zero cost. It brings in tens of millions in one go, which is awesome.
But what's it to you?
"I also want to act in the kind of dramas that audiences like."
"Could you help me find some suitable roles?"
The other party spoke frankly.
He thought that individuals are individuals, but at the company level, they had not completely severed ties with Huayi, and there were still personnel exchanges.
It's inevitable that a film or television production will involve artists from two different companies.
This woman always asks for favors; she's so calculating.
No wonder the man next door was attracted to her.
If she weren't this kind of person, she might have remained popular for much longer.
As a pig riding the wave of opportunity, it lacks the self-awareness of being a pig.
That's good, such people are easy to use, and their thoughts are easy to guess.
"I'll hang up now if there's nothing else."
"Hey, hey, wait a minute!" Yang Tianbao quickly called out.
I realized I was being too hasty.
This woman is different from her man; she's ruthless and absolutely won't fall for any coquettish or cutesy tactics.
She understood that she had no chance with this kind of man, so she had no desire to climb the social ladder.
Xiaoming is easier to coax.
"I just attended a dinner party with Xiaoming."
"The big shots at the meeting were General Manager Wang and the CEO of Wanda Cinemas."
"They started talking about you."
This person quickly revealed everything, first offering their own chips.
After hearing her words, Zhang Yuan chuckled a few times.
Firstly, from her words, he could sense that Huayi and his brother's attitude towards him had changed.
Previously, he was always regarded as a "traitor" and a "disloyal disciple".
So whenever I do anything, the other party gets furious.
What is this situation similar to?
Your dad is timid and submissive at work, but he beats you up when he gets home.
The underlying logic lies in your father's different perceptions of people.
Even the lowest-ranking person in his workplace is on equal footing with him, but in his mind, you, his son, are of a lower rank than him.
It's a matter of course for higher-ranking people to bully lower-ranking people, and they don't need to abide by any moral or legal concepts... That's roughly the idea.
White people think the same way: white supremacy, you are all inferior to me, I not only have the right to enslave you, but I also bring you civilization.
The Japanese, on the other hand, ranked themselves above white people, and considered other Asian peoples as livestock. They thought, "What's wrong with me killing chickens and sheep?"
People's status changes constantly in different environments.
I'm home now. I'm the father, and I was just joking around when I beat you, my son.
Hua Yi had similar thoughts about him before.
Therefore, it is against all reason and law that a son dares to "disobey" his father!
And it's perfectly normal for them to use any means necessary against you.
So what if a father lies to his son?
Many parents promise to buy a cell phone or computer after the exams, but then renege on the promise when the time comes.
If the child makes a fuss, he will first get angry and embarrassed, then beat you up, and then say that you are being unreasonable.
If you always think of yourself as the boss, you'll develop this kind of mentality.
According to Yang Tianbao, the other party's attitude has changed.
The purpose of having dinner with Wanda representatives was to discuss future cooperation.
Especially during the year-end season and all the way to the Spring Festival season.
If theaters allocate 5% more screenings and give them a few more days of screenings, they could potentially generate tens of millions more in revenue.
If Huayi considers himself a father, then top-tier cinema chains like Wanda are like grandfathers.
The king is a veteran, and he used his status to get close to Wanda, referring to himself as his old squad leader and former leader.
They immediately started talking, each telling the story of which military region and barracks they were on duty in back then.
Just like when calling someone, you have to say, "Ma Guocheng, Deputy General of Jinling, formerly Longkodo, Prefect of Shuntian Prefecture."
Having a brand name naturally makes people feel closer to you.
The purpose of trying to get close to someone is simple: the number of seats in a movie theater is constant per unit of time.
This is a long time.
When the King learned that "Ip Man" was being re-released and sold very well, his first reaction was similar to that of Poet Chen.
How come this kid is so lucky?
Is there any explanation for this miraculous fortune?
Then, seeing that Wanda, which had previously been indifferent, had no choice but to schedule screenings, I immediately had a sudden inspiration.
This is an opportunity!
He knew that the other party had lined up reluctantly, so they must be unhappy about it.
Dissatisfaction creates opportunities.
I'll try to win them over, and at the same time, stir up some trouble.
If Zhang Yuan gets fewer screenings, we'll get more.
This is the information Yang Tianbao revealed to him.
He keenly discerned the other party's attitude from this.
They want to gain an advantage in terms of screen allocation.
Whether it's taking advantage of someone's vulnerability or exploiting the psychological weaknesses of movie theaters, it's a legitimate tactic.
Does competing fairly with oneself mean the other party has high moral character?
There's no other way!
This is where the attitude change comes from.
If he were certain he could kill you, he wouldn't waste his breath talking to you; the heavenly soldiers would have arrived long ago.
He noticed something significant in the small details and realized that the other party's opportunism was actually tinged with fear of him.
That's right, it's fear!
Furthermore, the other party attaches great importance to this Lunar New Year film season.
After all, the stock price was really going to collapse, and shareholders were constantly cursing.
But Zhang Yuan was more concerned about the other party's change in mindset.
Once their mindset changes, they become harder to fool.
At least the old method didn't work.
Now that their feet are off the ground, their intelligence has taken over again.
Moreover, it was the right thing to do to approach Wanda at this time!
It was indeed a perfect opportunity.
Given Zeng Zong and Wang Sicong's tempers, they're probably feeling quite annoyed.
However, I also have a backup plan.
"Okay, I understand."
"Thank you for calling to tell me."
"That's all for now. Let's keep in touch."
"Oh, then I..."
“I will arrange it for you, but it cannot be done privately; it must be open and fair.”
"That's all for now," he said, and then hung up.
I directly arranged a major production for her, and her company wasn't stupid; they immediately understood.
It's very dangerous once the "female investigator" is exposed.
“Legendary Pictures tricked me, and this isn’t over yet,” he said, counting on his fingers.
"But she's become smarter."
Actually, Hua Yi's approach to the cinema chain and Yang Tianbao's approach to him had another common motivation.
The movie "Tai Chi," directed by Stephen Fung, was released, but its performance was mediocre.
Just like Zhang Hu casting Keanu Reeves in a movie, these martial arts practitioners always think they can become the next Li Lianjie.
Yuan Xiaochao, the male lead in the Tai Chi series, is a genuine martial arts performer and is extremely skilled in his field.
Champion of Changquan (Long Fist) in the National Games, Asian Games, and Olympic Games.
But competing and filming are two different things; even if an Olympic champion films, no one will watch it.
This film only managed to break 100 million yuan at the box office by relying on a star-studded cast, indicating a very high production cost.
The three films were shot together, with a total cost exceeding 2 million yuan.
As a result, the third film was cancelled due to poor box office performance. He returned to the tea room, pondering this.
"Sorry, it's been a long wait."
"It's alright, I think it's getting late, so I'll be going now." Gao Yuanyuan raised her hand to smooth her hair, while glancing to the side, avoiding direct eye contact with her.
This kind of attitude is against one's conscience.
"How can that be? You can't just come all this way for tea."
"I have to treat you to a meal." Zhang Yuan rubbed his hands together.
"How about I make you some noodles?"
Miss Gao thought to herself, "Didn't I already eat?"
"My Zhajiangmian (noodles with soybean paste) is pretty good, quite authentic."
"Cook a few more dishes."
"This area below..."
"What do you mean?" Zhang Yuan asked, leaning forward.
"Nothing much, it's fine, just some Zhajiangmian (noodles with soybean paste)."
It looks simple to eat, but it's actually quite troublesome to make.
"I didn't expect you to have this skill." Yuanyuan picked up a tissue to wipe her mouth.
"As people grow up, they begin to learn about life." Zhang Yuan also put down his chopsticks.
“I’m also trying some hobbies that can soothe the mind.” She gently picked up the tea.
She felt that the man in front of her seemed to have changed, yet he also seemed unchanged.
We chatted for a while longer before I saw her off.
"Don't tell anyone I'm here today," she specifically instructed.
“Yuanyuan, you don’t want Director Chen to know you were chatting with me, do you?” Zhang Yuan said with a wicked smile.
"Just kidding, I'll come again next time I have time."
"I will definitely stay calm and won't act impulsively again."
We'll talk about the next time later; it mainly depends on whether she has anyone around her.
The next day he invited two of his men to his home.
Before he even arrived, Director Feng called him.
He had witnessed Lu Chuan's situation and was deeply alarmed.
Several years later, he stabbed me in the back again.
I didn't put in any real effort on the Legendary Pictures project this time, and there were also some issues with my words. What will this kid do?
Feng Xiaogang had been waiting for him to call, thinking that it would be better to give him a good scolding and a good argument.
It hasn't come yet.
Seeing Lu Taro's recent miserable state, he couldn't hold back any longer.
“I’ve seen Lu Chuan getting a lot of flak online lately,” he said deliberately.
He wanted to use this to test Zhang Yuan's attitude.
"Really? I haven't been paying much attention."
Director Feng thought to himself, "It wasn't you who was satirizing him on Weibo?"
I haven't followed you yet... and you're trying to act all high and mighty with me.
"We're all in the film and television industry, after all; we'll run into each other all the time."
He pretended to speak well of Lu Chuan.
"What do you mean by that?" Zhang Yuan immediately retorted.
"It's as if I'm the one who's messing with him."
"It wasn't me who ruined him, it was this chaotic world that ruined him!"
Feng Xiaogang: ...
Everyone else blames the world for their own mistakes.
This is the first time I've heard of such a strange world where people are being tricked.
"Director Feng, I don't think the world will be peaceful. It'll be chaotic for many years."
"I'm currently working on a science fiction novel called 'The Three-Body Problem,' which features an alien planet with two different eras."
"One is called the Chaotic Era, and the other is called the Eternal Era."
"It is difficult to survive in a chaotic era; one must endure until the stable era to enjoy good health and longevity."
"I think we are living in a chaotic era."
Feng Xiaogang didn't quite understand, but he thought to himself, whether the entertainment industry is chaotic or not, it all depends on you.
You're the one who caused all this trouble.
"In chaotic times, people should stick together for warmth."
"Director Feng, let's have the opportunity to work together again."
"The green hills stand firm, and the clear waters flow on forever."
Zhang Yuan finished speaking with a smile, said hello, and then hung up.
Director Feng put down his phone, his heart pounding.
It's obvious they know what I did, and they still want "green water to flow forever."
He and Lu Chuan seem to be like "green water flowing forever".
As a pillar of Huayi, Zhang Yuan would not touch Feng Xiaogang.
Forcing a director like this to do something will likely backfire badly.
I can't handle it on my own.
It's better to let him panic; I might still be useful to him in the future.
"Brother Yuan!"
Just then, the people they invited arrived.
Two fat, big-eared men stepped into his yard.
It's not one of those positions you usually see.
The two people he brought in today are the leaders of the lowest and most obscure part of his industry chain.
These are Zhao Jin and Cao Jianjun, who are in charge of catering for the film crew.
Come to think of it, I've known them for the longest time.
The two have changed drastically.
"Look how fat you two are!" Zhang Yuan patted each of their bellies.
It's making a thumping sound; this melon is guaranteed to be ripe.
A typical middle-aged, greasy man, with the look of a nouveau riche.
"Sit down, I have something to tell you."
The two exchanged a glance and politely took their seats.
She also took the initiative to talk about her recent business and report her expenses to him.
Zhang Yuan hardly cares about their business.
For him now, it's just a drop in the ocean.
I wasn't very interested in listening to the two of them chattering away.
Zhang Yuan didn't speak until they had finished talking.
And his words were like a bombshell, almost stunning the two of them.
"I don't plan to do this business anymore."
"Ah!" X2.
The two were dumbfounded.
I was already nervous about being invited today, afraid of being scolded.
To my utter surprise, the result was far worse than being scolded.
Why are they afraid of being scolded?
Because the catering business for the film crew has declined instead of increased.
Despite the booming film and television market, they are earning less.
These two didn't embezzle; they started their own business.
The reason for all this is that Zhang Yuan didn't care.
This industry is all about connections.
He was too lazy to waste his connections on such trivial matters; it was annoying and didn't earn him much.
In addition, this industry is popular, so all sorts of people with connections, big and small, have come.
In summary, market growth cannot keep up with the growth of those who are dividing the pie.
As a result, their competitiveness actually declines.
It was the chaos of the times that ruined them.
"Brother Yuan..."
“Just call me by my name,” Zhang Yuan said to Zhao Jin, whose eyes were bloodshot. “We’ve known each other for years.”
"Yes, for so many years, we've all depended on you for our livelihood."
"These clothes, shoes, car, and house were all earned by following your money."
"What will we do if you don't do it?"
Zhang Yuan looked at him. Time has passed, and people do change.
She's much better at talking than before, even praising herself first.
"Anyway, my mind is made up."
"I will withdraw from this small business."
"As for you two, you can continue if you want to, but I won't help you anymore."
"I don't have the time or energy to deal with such trivial matters."
"This kind of work at the bottom of the industrial chain is hard work and thankless."
"It used to bring me a lot of cash flow, but now it's not enough."
After hearing his words, the two of them were as if they had lost their parents.
His face turned ashen.
If he doesn't take action, the business will only get worse.
He couldn't even make a living from the film crew business he invested in.
Alright, let's close down.
"Is there absolutely no room for negotiation?" Zhao Jin asked with a mournful face.
"No," he answered firmly.
"However..." But then they gave him a way out.
“We’ve known each other for years; if one door closes, another opens,” Zhang Yuan said, looking at them with a sly glint in his eyes.
"I can find another way out for you..." (End of Chapter)