Mutual Help

(The test post only stayed for half a day yesterday, then mysteriously disappeared. I don't know what happened. I'll ask the editor tomorrow.)

Half an hour later.

Chung Chor-hung is indeed very talented. After performing it a few times, she grasped the essentials and even seemed to have an instant breakthrough.

"That's fine."

Huang Wenbin wiped his mouth and said seriously, "Your acting skills are already up to par. You'll be more than capable of acting in other kinds of roles in the future."

I got a little too into character just now, and I got so excited while delivering my lines that I spat out some saliva.

"Thank you, Mr. Wong." Chung Chu-hung smiled and nodded to Wong Man-bun in thanks. "I didn't understand anything before, but now I roughly know what acting is all about."

"You're welcome." Huang Wenbin waved with a smile. "Let's go downstairs, the director and the others are waiting."

Soon, the two returned.

Huang Wenbin whispered something to Chen Huaikai and Grandpa Ge.

They gave Huang Wenbin a strange look, but still nodded.

Chen Huaikai announced that filming would begin immediately.

Chung Chor-hung was indeed in excellent condition; her demeanor and posture were spot on, and she nailed it in one take.

"You're quite skilled at training actors," Chen Huaikai said, looking at Huang Wenbin with some surprise.

Huang Wenbin humbly said, "I just gave her some casual advice."

Chen Huaikai said with a smile, "It seems that the Yenching Film Academy really taught you something useful."

Old Master Ge Cunzhuang chuckled and said, "You've taken a liking to that girl, haven't you?"

"Mr. Ge, this is no laughing matter." Huang Wenbin shook his head and said with a smile, "The girl is still young and easily embarrassed. It wouldn't be good to cause her any trouble."

Ge Cunzhuang smiled without saying a word, because what this kid had just told him was to cancel the scene where "Master Tang" kissed Daiyu and Qingwenzi.

This scene was unnecessary; it wouldn't matter if it wasn't filmed.

The next day, they found a hilltop and finished filming the scenes featuring Liu Songren's cameo role.

During this period, Huang Wenbin was revising the script of "The Deadly Gold in the Cold Mountains and Green Waters".

The biggest problems with this script are its rough plot, loose structure, chaotic logic, and a ridiculous ending.

After discussing with Du Qifeng and Xu Xiaoming, Huang Wenbin decided to cut back on the script.

All unnecessary settings and plot points were removed.

A new main storyline has been established: the recovery of the missing gold. The relationships between the various characters have also been adjusted.

Du Qifeng is still too inexperienced and doesn't have many constructive ideas for the script; he can only assist Huang Wenbin.

Xu Xiaoming was also curious about how Huang Wenbin would change things.

After careful consideration, Huang Wenbin made a decision.

He plans to use Johnnie To's future action film "Exiled" as a benchmark for revising "The Deadly Gold in the Cold Mountains".

Since part of the filming has already taken place, the story background cannot be changed.

Huang Wenbin then pruned away the useless details and focused his efforts on finding gold and solving the mystery.

After several plot twists reminiscent of Gu Long's novels, the male and female protagonists ultimately joined forces to kill the deeply hidden villain and escaped with the gold.

This story took on a distinctly Gu Long style, and the late 1970s and early 1980s were the peak period for adapting Gu Long's novels, allowing the story to ride the wave of popularity.

After finishing the script, Huang Wenbin handed it to Du Qifeng and Liu Songren, who then devoured it with great eagerness.

After reading it, I was completely convinced.

This script is much more tightly paced than their previous version, with each element seamlessly connected to the next, and the ending is far more exciting.

More importantly, the male lead, the female lead, and the female lead's father are all alive.

What might be seen as familiar in later generations is quite popular in this era.

Compared to the original script where the villain kills the female lead with a single sword strike, this is so much more clever.

In this day and age, people still prefer to watch family-friendly movies. Life is already tough enough, and there's no need for movies to add to that.

"Well written!"

After reading it, Liu Songren slapped his thigh and exclaimed, "If we filmed it according to this script, it might even become a hit!"

Du Qifeng nodded: "That's certainly possible. It's much better than those lousy notebooks on the market."

He then added, "More importantly, a large portion of the scenes we filmed earlier can be retained!"

This is something that Liu Songren greatly admires.

If he had to rewrite the script, all his previous investments would have been wasted.

Now, he'll take pictures of this notebook even if he has to borrow more from relatives and friends!

"Thank you, Mr. Huang!" Liu Songren stepped forward and hugged Huang Wenbin, tears welling in his eyes. "You've simply saved my life!"

Huang Wenbin patted Liu Songren on the back: "Ahem, Chief, you're hugging me too tightly!"

"Huh? What did you just call me?" Liu Songren paused for a moment, released Huang Wenbin, and looked at him strangely.

"It's nothing," Huang Wenbin waved his hand.

With the script issue resolved, the next serious problem to solve is the lack of actors.

Over the past two months, many actors and staff members have quit because they couldn't stand the harsh conditions.

Du Qifeng's crew now has fewer than twenty people, so finishing the remaining scenes is a problem.

If we recruit more people from Hong Kong, the labor costs will be staggering, possibly double the usual amount.

At this point, Huang Wenbin gave them another suggestion.

That means borrowing people from the "Let the Bullets Fly" film crew, of course, you have to pay them.

The film crew here only pays a fixed salary each month, so they would definitely be happy to do cameo appearances and earn some extra money.

Logically speaking, it might be against some regulations, but Director Chen Huaikai wouldn't mind letting his subordinates earn more money to support their families.

Sure enough, when Liu Songren and Du Qifeng mentioned it to Director Chen, Chen Huaikai agreed. Helping Hong Kong compatriots is an inescapable duty!

Liu Songren paid 80 RMB per day, which was lower than the wages for staff in Hong Kong, but still quite high compared to wages in mainland China.

Upon hearing the price, Chen Huaikai was almost tempted, thinking, "Why don't I take over the tour?"

Of course, this was just a joke. Director Chen told them to go to the film crew and pick the actors directly, and he would help them finish filming first.

Du and Liu were deeply moved, and then they immediately took Huang Wenbin away, knowing that with him there would definitely be no problem with the filming schedule.

Then they set their sights on Dutch, who was playing the second brother. This guy had a great physique and was perfect for playing the main villain.

This version of Liu Jiang is more convincing than the original.

Liu Jiang didn't mind. He just wanted to finish filming as soon as possible, so it didn't matter whether he had scenes or not.

Next, Zhang Yimou was taken away to replace the injured photographer Zhong Zhiwen.

Also, the late Mr. Ge Cunzhuang is leaving, playing the role of You Yiru.

They originally wanted Yang Zaibao and Jiao Huang, but they both declined because their identities were somewhat special, and even if they were to make a cameo appearance, they would have to report to their respective units.

They hired some more staff and set up the film crew.

They no longer needed to go to the mountainous areas of northern Guangdong; they simply found a suitable hilltop near Jiangmen and began filming.

This time, things went surprisingly smoothly, without any unexpected incidents.

The efficiency was so high that Liu Songren almost trembled while urinating.

Less than half a month later, the second half of "The Deadly Gold in the Cold Mountains and Green Waters" was completely finished.

To express his gratitude, Liu Songren hosted a grand banquet, treating the entire cast and crew of "Let the Bullets Fly" to a meal.

The meal cost several hundred yuan, which surprised the leaders of Jiangmen. They came over to see what was going on and, upon learning that it was a Hong Kong compatriot who was treating them, immediately gave them a generous gift.

As the saying goes, all good things must come to an end.

"From now on, when you come to Hong Kong, stay at my house. You'll be my younger brother!" Liu Songren really liked Huang Wenbin and insisted on becoming sworn brothers with him, recognizing him as his younger brother.

Johnnie To also inexplicably joined in, saying, "Since you're in Hong Kong, I'll treat you. I can take you to visit TVB."

"What's so great about TVB? If you want to shop around, shop at RTV." Xu Xiaoming had long considered Huang Wenbin his younger brother, so he naturally didn't get involved, but he still retorted to Du Qifeng.

The two started arguing over a single word, and then began fighting without warning.

Everyone knew it was a joke, but they joined in the commotion, and soon it escalated into a huge brawl.

Chung Chu-hung drank some rice wine, her cheeks flushed, her eyes shining like stars. She sat to the side, staring intently at Wong Man-bin.

Huang Wenbin was completely unaware that he was thinking about something else entirely: how to create the "Jinyiwei" IP. He happened to have a few related works in his inventory, which he could find an opportunity to adapt into novels and make another wave of money.