024 Preparing to Seize the Title of Kung Fu King

Qian Lang has been very busy lately. He is occupied with attending various award ceremonies, with a tight schedule taking him to places like Taiwan, Beijing, and Hong Kong. Though his hands are cramped from receiving so many trophies, he has also had the opportunity to take in the magnificent landscapes of Great Xia. His life, all things considered, is quite leisurely. After all, it is not yet time for the back-to-back shooting of his next project.

*Little Big Soldier* has only just been greenlit. Although the production crew is already assembled and ready to go, the film's lead actor is still missing. Pei Duoduo’s intention is to cast a major star to ensure box office appeal. With high box office returns, the reputation of Galaxy Film and Television will naturally soar. Despite her youth, this beautiful boss has a formidable drive for success, which Qian Lang deeply admires.

In contrast, he feels a bit more pedestrian. To him, as long as there is money to be made, he is happy to shoot one film after another. As for bringing great works to Great Xia, he hasn't given it much thought. During the year the original host spent at Xingyao, he lived on pickles and steamed buns, with barely a drop of oil in his stomach. Even though Pei has descended from the heavens to provide him with good food and drink, he, as a transmigrator, can still occasionally catch the scent of those lean days. Such is life. Therefore, material well-being is the foundation of everything. This is not just a personal sentiment, but the shared voice of the entire Galaxy Film and Television family. Fortunately, *Crazy Stone* performed well at the box office.

"Boss Pei, as the long-renowned king of kung fu, Jackie Chan’s acting fee will likely not be low," Qian Lang said, reminding Pei Duoduo, who was resting with her eyes closed as the Alpha sedan sped along. Watching the scenery fly by outside the window, he was concerned. The lead for the film had long been set as the Hong Kong star Jackie Chan. This trip to Hong Kong for the awards was the perfect opportunity to handle this major task.

However, the current investment for the film is only one hundred million. Qian Lang is worried that the budget will fall short. He had heard that at his peak, Jackie Chan’s fee reached eighty million! If they really paid that much, the remaining twenty million would be enough for an urban drama, but it would be insufficient for a period piece. After all, sets, makeup, and costumes are all major expenses. Without sufficient investment, quality is out of the question, and whether the film could even be completed would be uncertain.

This world is different from his previous one. The Great Xia film industry has been in a long slump, and the supporting industries have withered away. Thus, to shoot this period piece, many props would have to be designed and manufactured from scratch. This not only lengthens the production cycle, but the costs would inevitably be high due to the expense of creating custom molds. In short, the production costs in an unrefined industry would take up a significant portion of the total budget. As a result, turning a profit might be difficult—certainly not as easy as it was with *Crazy Stone*.

Honestly, his idea was to keep making comedies. If not for Pei’s ambition, he would not have chosen to shoot *Little Big Soldier*. Galaxy Film and Television has finally turned things around, and he cannot let this great momentum be cut short. Of course, he is confident in the market value of the film itself; his lack of confidence lies only in the current creative atmosphere of Great Xia. He was once a director infamous for bad films, but now he is finally standing on the first rung of the industry ladder.

To say he isn't worried would be self-deception. But fame isn't particularly important to him—money is! If *Little Big Soldier* flops and loses money, Galaxy Film and Television might fall back into the brink of bankruptcy. Would Boss Pei continue to invest then? And where would the rest of the team go? Sigh, it is all quite heart-wrenching.

"How expensive could he be?" Pei Duoduo opened her eyes and let out a lazy yawn, responding casually.

"Eighty million, perhaps!" Qian Lang stated the price.

"Only eighty million?" Pei Duoduo was unimpressed. During the summer season, *Crazy Stone* raked in one billion at the box office. After deducting 45% for the theaters and 10% for the director's share, the remaining 45%—that is, 450 million—belongs to Galaxy Film and Television. This money on the books is just sitting there; it cannot magically fly into her pocket. It is the classic definition of "looking at it but unable to spend it!" Why should she keep it and make herself angry?

Thinking of Qian Lang’s 10% director’s share, which is nearly one hundred million, she thought: *Tell me, how can a subordinate be richer than the boss? It’s infuriating!* She could have received a twenty million cash rebate! But then she encountered that hopeless project *Tai Chi*. Sigh. How did things turn out so twisted? Just thinking about it is annoying! Heavens above, she is a daughter of destiny holding a system! How could her first investment go so poorly? Pei Duoduo couldn't help but sigh.

Thankfully, the system has been upgraded! That is like picking candy out of broken glass—a silver lining in a bad situation. Therefore, she must quickly execute her second investment plan. If she can lose money on this investment, she will get a triple cash rebate! Haha.

"Boss Pei, eighty million is already considered a high fee!" Qian Lang thought she didn't understand the market, so he began to analyze the production costs for her. At first, Pei Duoduo was indifferent, but as Qian Lang delved deeper, she became increasingly intrigued.

"Boss, with this much cost input, whether we can turn a profit is hard to say," Qian Lang maintained his tradition of humility. Saying this wasn't because he lacked confidence in the film, but because it is better to be low-key before things are set in stone. Boasting easily leads to being slapped in the face. Of course, when he boasted that *Crazy Stone* would cross one hundred million at the box office, it was to boost the morale of himself and his team. At the time, Galaxy was in ruins and desperately needed a victory to lift spirits.

But things are different now. After this summer season, Galaxy Film and Television has finally made a name for itself in the industry. At this point, one must be mindful of their words and actions. Everything should be handled with modesty; that is the only way to maintain the steady demeanor expected of a growing enterprise.

"You mean it’s possible to lose money?" Pei Duoduo’s eyes lit up. Losing money is good! She is dreaming of losing money right now. Not to mention how much the costs will rise for this film, just looking at the previously agreed-upon investment of one hundred million—if the film loses money, wouldn't she be making a fortune? Triple the amount is three hundred million! Haha. That is fifteen times more than twenty million! Good news! This is the best news she has heard lately!

"Director Qian, money is a small matter. The philosophy of Galaxy Film and Television has always been that art comes first. We aren't making movies just to chase profit! Set your mind at ease and focus on polishing a great work! Do you know? Great Xia's cinema has been in decline for too long, and the audience is starving for a feast for the eyes and ears! *Crazy Stone* isn't enough, and *Little Big Soldier* won't be enough either..." Pei Duoduo’s eyes were piercing, her delicate face filled with firmness and sincerity. When she reached an emotional peak, she even clenched her fists. "Really, money is no problem. Don't even think about saving where it should be spent!"

*Ho ho ho.* What is an eighty million acting fee? It would be even better if Jackie Chan opened his mouth and asked for one hundred million! If that happened, she would have a reason to increase the investment, and the system would have no choice but to comply. After all, her actions would be compliant, reasonable, and in line with market levels. Hahaha.

Pei Duoduo was immersed in immense joy, though on the surface, she maintained a fearless, "death-defying" spirit. "Director Qian, for the future of the Great Xia film market, Galaxy Film and Television is duty-bound!"

Qian Lang was moved by her. "Boss Pei, I will put my heart into it!" Since the big boss had said as much, what reason did he have to worry about petty profits? Costs? Profit? Let all those worldly figures go aside! Nothing is more important than the quality of the film itself! Oh, of course! Profit still matters. Otherwise, who would pay the team's bonuses? And his own director’s share as well. Come to think of it, he would be getting one hundred million in pre-tax dividends from *Crazy Stone*. Just thinking about it made him look forward to it.

Qian Lang felt reassured, and the world seemed beautiful again. He even felt full of confidence about landing the king of kung fu. *Here I come! Are you ready, Brother Jackie?*