031 Get Jackie Long to Perform for Free

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The Yang family banquet.

Somehow, the clash between Qian Lang and several of the businessmen present had been vividly reported by the Hong Kong media.

They wrote of verbal volleys between the two sides.

They wrote of a battle that had taken one unexpected turn after another.

They made it sound as though they had been there themselves.

Even the dialogue and expressions had been described with uncanny accuracy.

The media truly possessed supernatural powers and could do anything.

“Leaving before even touching the food? Tsk, tsk. The Hong Kong media certainly know how to come up with lively headlines!”

Qian Lang shook his head, laughing despite himself.

By the time he saw the report, he had already returned to the capital.

He had not taken the unpleasantness of his trip to Hong Kong to heart at all.

After all, although the trip had solved the casting problem for The Soldier and the Little General, there was still a great deal of preparation to be done before filming could officially begin.

The locations, for instance, as well as the costumes and props.

Which of those did not require thought? Which did not require money?

Fortunately, everyone at Galaxy Pictures had been remarkably supportive, and Pei Duoduo had plainly stated that money was no problem.

But as a director, one had to be responsible for the quality of the work above all else—and second only to that, responsible for turning a profit.

What use was a film that won praise but failed at the box office?

Would that do justice to the painstaking efforts of the entire crew?

Did everyone work so hard merely for the sake of a final bonus?

“Love can fill the belly with water” belonged to stories, not real life.

So what currently troubled Qian Lang most was how to spend the one hundred million investment.

He had only reached a preliminary agreement with Fang Long; they had yet to discuss his fee in detail.

Qian Lang would have liked to bargain the price down, but he could not possibly offer much less than the market rate.

Surely fifty million would be required?

After all, Fang Long was Hong Kong’s most celebrated kung fu star, and the childhood idol of countless people.

That left fifty million to cover every other expense—a formidable mathematical problem.

Should every penny be stretched until it became two?

Should the costumes and props be made as cheaply as possible wherever they could get away with it?

Neither seemed feasible.

If he tried to cut corners, the audience would refuse to pay for it.

“Director Qian, quality is the foundation. If you need more money, just say so at any time!”

Although Pei Duoduo had never behaved much like a capitalist, Qian Lang could not truly treat her as a philanthropist.

Perhaps she was merely being polite.

Perhaps she only wanted to cultivate the image of someone who did not care about money.

If he actually held out his hand and asked for more, would he not be throwing away his dignity?

No, absolutely not.

An investment of one hundred million was already substantial. He must not leave President Pei with a bad impression over money.

After all, she had given him complete authority over the film’s production.

A good employer like that must not be discouraged.

And what about himself?

He had only directed one film.

If he displeased the producer right from the start, would he still get to make more films in the future?

“Take things one step at a time.”

Qian Lang felt somewhat troubled.

Naturally, he had no mind to bother with the idle gossip of others.

He had no desire to struggle for spring, and let every flower resent him as it pleased.

That was the perfect description of his present state.

Cheng Jie, however, could not possibly ignore any of it.

When he saw the media reports, he was so delighted that he nearly danced for joy.

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Anyone who did not know better might have thought he had stumbled upon some priceless treasure.

“Hah. He’s only made one film, yet he already dares to look down on everyone? Kid, are you still feeling so cocky now?”

Sitting in his executive chair, Cheng Jie threw back his head and laughed, his sinister eyes chilling to behold.

“Old Sun really came through!”

Whenever he thought of Qian Lang being given a humiliating lesson by several businessmen, his delight grew.

Excellent.

That was exactly what the boy needed—a blow to his arrogance, so he would learn that there were heights above the sky and depths beneath the earth.

He picked up the phone, intending to call Sun Jian and thank him.

But he had barely dialed before the call was hung up after only a few rings.

“What’s going on? He actually dares to hang up on me? I only wanted to express my gratitude…”

Cheng Jie curled his lip disdainfully.

If Sun Jian did not want to answer, so be it.

The important thing was that he had done what was asked.

Heh.

Elsewhere, Sun Jian was sitting meekly in a corner.

The other businessmen who had attended Boss Yang’s banquet were now all wearing grave expressions as well.

“I really cannot understand you people! Have all of you taken leave of your senses?

“I paved the road for you, yet you insisted on digging a huge pit in it!

“Can none of you open your mouths without spouting rubbish? Do you have to flaunt yourselves in front of a younger man before you can prove how old and foul-mouthed you are?”

Jiang Zhen, honorary chairman of the Great Xia Film Herald Awards, raged as he pounded the table. Beside him, the lid of a teacup trembled with every blow.

The businessmen, who had appeared so imposing earlier, now shrank into their corners like quails, doing their best to make themselves invisible lest they be caught in the barrage.

But fate had a way of delivering exactly what one feared.

“Old Sun, what on earth were you thinking?

“Old Xiao is ignorant and has always spoken without restraint. You could have helped smooth things over, but instead you said that anyone who could not take a joke had no business eating at the same table.

“Did that make you feel very capable?”

Jiang Zhen wore an expression of furious disappointment as he turned his fire directly on Sun Jian.

Among those foul-mouthed businessmen, Sun Jian had been the most sarcastic and provocative.

Jiang Zhen had watched the video from that day and understood the entire chain of events.

Qian Lang’s response had been perfectly reasonable.

If they could not take a joke, then they simply should not eat together.

The fact that he had not overturned the table was already a sign of respect.

“I don’t think what I said was really a problem,” Sun Jian muttered, lowering his head as he tried to defend himself.

At that moment, he hated Cheng Jie to the bone.

He normally would not have spoken at an occasion like that.

But that old fox had sent him a message, claiming that Qian Lang was unbearably arrogant, that he would soon seize all of Hong Kong’s market, and that unless they crushed him now, every company in Hong Kong would suffer in the future.

So when Sun Jian learned that Boss Yang’s banquet was being held for Qian Lang, he had decided to give the young man a proper warning.

Besides, was he not acting for everyone’s benefit?

After all, this was how they had always dealt with outsiders who came to their territory.

“You have an enormous problem!

“Old Xiao wanted to humiliate someone, but Director Qian was perfectly capable of fighting back.

“At that moment, if any one of you had stepped forward to smooth things over, the matter might have passed.

“But you? You delivered the final verdict! You slapped a label on him the moment you opened your mouth!

“Now are you satisfied? He has no interest in sharing a table with you. Ha!”

Jiang Zhen exposed Sun Jian’s true motives with the skill of a master psychologist.

Sun Jian had nothing left to say.

At that moment, Yang Jianghao felt even more ashamed.

To be honest, he himself had been the one most at fault during the banquet.

As the host, he had failed in his duty to protect his guest’s dignity. Without his permission, which old fossil would have dared to start making sarcastic remarks?

Chairman Jiang was criticizing him by implication rather than cursing him to his face.

That was already a favor.

“Chairman, I admit that I handled the matter poorly.”

Yang Jianghao quickly took the initiative and acknowledged his mistake.

“Hmph. At least you have some sense.”

Jiang Zhen snorted, but did not continue berating him.

They were all getting old.

The old fellows could not withstand as much pressure as they once had.

It would be disastrous if his scolding actually killed a few of them.

“Then tell me how you intend to make amends.”

Only then did Jiang Zhen have the leisure to take a sip of his black tea.

“My company’s Fang Long is going to star in Director Qian’s next film. I was thinking that Fang Long could waive his fee this time and appear for free.

“After all, if we openly tried to give Director Qian money, he would certainly refuse it. But if we did not charge him a fee, then perhaps he…”

Yang Jianghao had not finished speaking when Jiang Zhen impatiently cut him off.

“So Fang Long is supposed to bear the loss for all of you? You make a mess, and someone else takes responsibility for it?”

“How could that be? Chairman, you give me far too much credit!”

Yang Jianghao looked as though he might cry.

“Our company will make up Fang Long’s fee.”

“That shows some sense of responsibility.”

Jiang Zhen snorted.

Seeing Yang Jianghao’s pitiful expression, he felt somewhat unwilling to press the matter further.

“And will the rest of you be making any gesture?”

His gaze swept over the other businessmen present.

“We are naturally willing to provide financial compensation. We are only worried that Director Qian may refuse it.”

None of them were afraid to spend money to avert disaster.

They simply had no idea whether they could establish a connection with Qian Lang.

They could not afford another scandal in the media.

After all, ever since the incident at Boss Yang’s banquet, many people online had already condemned them as old men who knew no respect.

The affair had even escalated into antagonism between Hong Kong and the mainland entertainment industries.

If another disturbance arose now, they would become sinners in the eyes of Hong Kong’s film industry.

“This matter should be initiated by you, Old Yang. As for the expense, the old fellows can divide it among themselves.

“If Director Qian is willing to show magnanimity and let bygones be bygones, perhaps this expense can even count as part of the investment.”

Jiang Zhen took a sip of tea and spoke in an unhurried tone.

“Chairman, do you have some particular plan in mind?”

Yang Jianghao immediately sensed the implication.

“Life is a game of chess, with a new position in every round; fame and fortune have always belonged to those who fight for them.

“Sometimes, sincerity is the most powerful weapon of all.”

Jiang Zhen slowly uttered those words.

His deep eyes glimmered with wisdom and cunning.

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