Global Film Emperor

Chapter 343 The Reasons for Poverty
There's an old saying that dumplings and liquor go hand in hand, and the more you drink, the better. However, this is very rare in the south, especially in places like Shanghai where people pursue a refined lifestyle. Eating dumplings and drinking liquor early in the morning is actually quite puzzling for people in these areas.

In Northeast China, it's perfectly normal to have a steamer of dumplings, sometimes even a whole basket, along with some side dishes, a bowl of porridge, two tea eggs, and a bottle of beer or a glass of baijiu (Chinese liquor) for breakfast. This happens in almost every breakfast shop. But people like Lu Ze and Zhang Weiyu, who drink two bottles of baijiu so early in the morning, are really rare.

When in Rome, do as the Romans do. But it takes time to adapt. Zhang Weiyu is no ordinary person. Within five minutes of entering the store, he was no different from any other customer.

With his legs crossed, a small cigarette between his fingers, and his thumb and middle finger holding a wine glass, he raised it and gently touched it to Lu Ze's. He squinted and sipped the baijiu, not forgetting to let out a long sigh, savoring the different flavors brought by alcohol in a foreign land.

After all, her father was Chinese, and she was quite adept with chopsticks. She picked up a dumpling by tearing it open, dipped it in soy sauce, put it in her mouth, and let out a soft hum of enjoyment. Her body swayed gently to the beat of the drum, as if she were listening to something else.

Lu Ze had just eaten breakfast, so he didn't eat much this time. After putting down his wine glass, he gently rolled the tea egg on the table, then skillfully peeled the eggshell, tearing it into a long strip like a peeled apple. This proved that the ingredients used in this small shop were indeed very fresh.

Lu Ze took a small bite of the egg and put it aside. He looked at Zhang Weiyu, who seemed to have a tendency to binge eat, and after thinking for a while, he cautiously asked him why he had ended up in such a state.

"Mickey, can you tell me... how have you been lately?"

"Me? As you can see, I'm bankrupt, I have nothing left. My house, my car, my money, and all the women who used to fawn over me have all left me."

"But why is this happening?"

Zhang Weiyu paused, tossed the spoon back into the bowl, flicked off his cigarette ash, tucked his loose hair behind his ears with both thumbs, and took a deep drag on his cigarette.

Besides the two people, the last customer who remained in the shop also paid and left. The breakfast shop suddenly became quiet. Lu Ze could even hear the crisp crack of the tobacco burning. He downed half a glass of baijiu in one gulp, more than an ounce. The strong alcohol made him, who was not used to drinking baijiu, grit his teeth and look pained. Only after suppressing the effects of the alcohol did he let out a painful groan from his throat.

“Two years ago, my creative energy was at its peak. Whenever I needed it, inspiration would flow endlessly, and I would win awards one after another, just like in Cannes. I started to become arrogant and began to think... I was the chosen one of the film industry, until I made ‘The Seagull’…”

"This film was released four weeks after the Cannes Film Festival. During the editing process, I insisted on my own way and had a big argument with the editor. I even punched him because he changed a three-second shot that I wanted. But I don't think I was wrong. Even now, I firmly believe that 'The Seagull' is the most perfect work of my life. Every frame can make me scream with excitement. It's just that too many people don't understand the ideas and concepts I want to express, so it has been labeled as a bad film."

"The result was obvious: the box office was dismal. The investors talked to me and asked me to make some so-called commercial films. I refused and had a big fight with him. I threw red wine in his face, and then... I lost my job. But I didn't care at the time because I could find a new place to stay very soon. Any company in England or even the EU wanted me. If all else failed, I could try my luck in Hollywood. So I wasn't afraid at all."

"But people called 'The Seabird' a hypnotic rubbish film, which made me very angry. Lu Ze, can you understand? I was in a terrible mood, so I went to Spain to watch the Champions League to clear my head. But Liverpool got thrashed 3-0 by Barcelona, ​​it was a nightmare. When we left the stadium, Barcelona fans actually provoked us, so we had to fight them. But we were outnumbered, so..."

Zhang Weiyu was clearly drunk, so Lu Ze showed no impatience at all as he rambled on about his experiences over the past two years. He simply rested his chin on his hand and nodded occasionally to show that he was listening attentively, which made Zhang Weiyu very comfortable. He put his legs down, filled his glass, and began to reminisce.

"After I got beaten up, I went to a bar, had a couple of drinks, and then drove..."

"Wait, are you driving?"

Lu Ze then rubbed his head and asked with a headache, "Is this guy trying to kill me too late? He's just asking for trouble. This whole thing is really eye-opening. It seems that these past two years, this guy has been doing nothing but fighting and drinking. He's almost living the life of a Jackie Chan adventure."

Zhang Weiyu was also a little embarrassed. After all, drunk driving is strictly prohibited in any country and is a serious violation of the law. It's really not a pleasant thing to say. He could only rub his forehead and nod helplessly.

"And then? You got caught driving under the influence?"

"Yes, there was a minor accident; I rear-ended another car. But that's not the point. The point is, the police found KY ketamine in my rented car! I swear I never touch that stuff! So I must be..."

"It must have been Lawrence who set it up, right? Even if you weren't driving under the influence, someone would have reported you. You just brought it on yourself by adding a charge of drunk driving to your list, right?"

"That's right..."

At this moment, Zhang Weiyu looked like a wilted eggplant, completely dejected. After taking the last puff of his cigarette, he threw it on the ground and stomped it out, becoming silent. Seeing him like this, Lu Ze really didn't know what to say. This kind of routine happened everywhere, and Lu Ze was already used to it. He could only say that Zhang Weiyu had paid the price for his arrogance and hubris.

Lu Ze could guess what would happen next without him saying anything; it would be nothing more than a few years in prison plus a huge bail.

Furthermore, Lu Ze wouldn't believe he didn't have a loan. After all, as an art-house film director with only four movies, his income couldn't possibly satisfy his dream of owning a luxury house and car. The reason for his eventual bankruptcy was simply that the bank took away his house and car.

"How long were you in jail?" "A year and a half... I don't even dare to think about those days. Luckily, I stole a pen from the priest while I was attending church, and spent a year and a half writing a new script. Otherwise, I probably wouldn't have made it through that time. Everyone in the script was crazy, completely crazy, you know? So I really need your help. I need to get all my things back..."

Seeing that he brought up the matter again, Lu Ze quickly made a stop gesture, indicating that he should stop. Zhang Weiyu also knew what Lu Ze was thinking, so he didn't say anything, but just drank another glass of wine.

They ate breakfast until almost 11 a.m., and in another hour it would be lunchtime. When Lu Ze paid the bill, the owner didn't look at them very kindly. After all, breakfast shops usually close around 10 a.m., and if Lu Ze and his companion didn't leave, the owner would have to stay there with them.

Pulling Zhang Weiyu, who was walking in circles, away, Lu Ze hadn't expected that after drinking, Zhang Weiyu would become like someone with ADHD, wanting to touch everything he saw and checking on everything that happened. Until the two of them reached the gate of Jinxiwang School, a drumbeat entered their ears. Zhang Weiyu looked around curiously and asked Lu Ze for directions.

"what sound?"

"Don't bother watching the sports meet, just go home and get some sleep."

"No way! It's so exciting! Are there track and field events? I love watching long jump, especially girls in athletic shorts..."

Zhang Weiyu's habit of meddling in everything resurfaced, and Lu Ze couldn't stop him. He could only follow behind him, apologizing to the people Zhang Weiyu bumped into. They walked all the way to the school gate, where Lu Ze's gaze was drawn to the red notice board posted on the wall. There, he saw his own name…

The sports meet was open to the public. Although the two men, who reeked of alcohol, looked a bit strange, the security guards did not stop them. Perhaps they did not notice Lu Ze and his companion.

As the only school for disabled people in Lühua, Jinxiwang has existed for decades. Lu Ze had even heard of it when he was in school. Back then, a common threat during fights was, "Be careful, or I'll make you transfer to Jinxiwang." But now that he thinks about it, those words were rather malicious to the students of Jinxiwang.

The school is small and the facilities are very old. The playground is paved with asphalt and painted with paint. There is no plastic track at all. It is not even the standard length of 400 meters per lap. Lu Ze estimated that it was only 150 meters per lap.

Several children with crutches were running hard inside the circle, while their parents stood outside cheering them on. The atmosphere was warm and harmonious. When a child fell, the crutches flew far away. Lu Ze noticed that the parents seemed to be holding their breath. When the child got up and started running forward again, a cheer came from the circle of parents. Even Lu Ze and his companion were moved and unconsciously applauded for them.

"Come on, kid! You can do it! Keep going! Speed ​​up!"

Zhang Weiyu also realized the difference in this school. Because he had drunk too much, and because foreigners are generally naturally extroverted, Lu Ze didn't notice and he squeezed to the front row, took off his coat, leaving only his white vest, raised his fist and started pounding his chest, waving his arms and roaring with a red face.

It wasn't until the injured child crossed the finish line that he started cheering, stirring up the emotions of all the parents and making the scene seem less like an ordinary sports meet and more like Anfield, where the home team had scored a goal.

Lu Ze had completely forgotten that today was the day of the Golden Hope Games, but now it seems that if he hadn't come, he would have regretted it. After all, here, you can gain a deeper understanding of the tenacity of life.

"The five-starred red flag flutters in the wind, the song of victory is so loud, singing of our beloved motherland, marching towards prosperity and strength..."

Before we knew it, the sound of children's chorus reached our ears, drawing everyone's attention. After all, it was a school for disabled children, and not all children could sign up for sports. But now, those children who couldn't participate in sports were standing neatly on the steps at the entrance of the teaching building, wearing red scarves, singing this song that everyone knew.

Children's voices are always the most touching. Even if they haven't had professional rehearsals, and even if some children don't have a good sense of rhythm, everyone can feel their wholehearted dedication.

The moment Lu Ze was moved, he also noticed a familiar cane placed next to the piano. The smiling girl, wearing sunglasses and a white dress, was playing the piano and swaying her body gently. Even if she made mistakes in her playing and had some rhythm problems, it didn't matter anymore.

Everyone listened quietly until the song ended, at which point applause broke out. She reached for her cane by the piano, stood up, and bowed slightly towards the parents' area, leading all the children in a gentle bow. Facing the sunlight, her sunglasses gleamed with a silver sheen, as if her eyes were glowing. Her smile was gentle, and in an instant, her white dress billowed up, revealing white lace-trimmed stockings and a pair of black round-toed leather shoes.

"Hiccup... An angelic smile."

Zhang Weiyu let out a long burp, the smell of alcohol was pungent, mixed with the smell of chive and egg dumplings. It was so smelly that Lu Ze frowned, put the leather jacket he had just taken off over Zhang Weiyu's head, and looked back at him. Although Zhang Weiyu's burp smelled terrible, what he said...

Lu Ze did not deny it.

"..."

(End of this chapter)