Huayu: Hard fight against Zhang Weiping at the beginning

Chapter 660 The Modification Scandal
The news of Harvey Weinstein's downfall across the ocean swept across the domestic internet like a gentle breeze.

A brief news item appeared in a corner of the financial section, and there were a few discussion posts in the entertainment forum, but now that it's the Lunar New Year period, nobody cares.

Most people, upon glancing at the headline, might even pause for a moment, wondering, "Who is Harvey?"

After realizing it was that Hollywood producer, he simply said, "Oh, some gossip from overseas," and swiped away.

After all, for ordinary people, the rise and fall of film and television moguls far away in foreign countries is not as real as what to eat tonight or what the weather will be like tomorrow.
Only a few people in the film and television industry and the media industry would privately discuss the scope of this "#MeToo" storm and speculate on whether it would have a subtle impact on domestic industries, but these discussions were limited to small circles and never gained public attention.

Compared to the "cold reception" of the Harvey incident, "The Summer of Prison Break" has been incredibly popular these past two days!
This skit has dominated social media and street corners alike.

Starting from the first day of the Lunar New Year, memorable lines from this skit have frequently appeared in people's conversations and banter, especially when drinking, people like to say, "Liquor is the essence of grain, the more you drink, the younger you get."

This skit was like magic; it instantly captured everyone's attention.

Weibo is full of screenshots of "famous scenes" from the skit, and the popularity is so high that it is definitely a phenomenon!
The down-to-earth, inspiring, and funny lines from the skits quickly became catchphrases for everyone.

"If you leave tomorrow, that's the freedom you've been waiting for; but if you leave today, that's the freedom you've fought for."

My drinking buddies like to joke with this phrase: "Don't tell me your wife won't let you out. Not today, not tomorrow, and the day after tomorrow no one will invite you."

"Spending one's entire life saving all people, or spending one's entire life saving only one person, is not as good as killing that old scoundrel Gao Qiu! Kill him! Let's go!"

This line has become a catchphrase among online game players, appearing frequently in PvP and team battles.

"Liquor is the essence of grain; the more you drink, the younger you become."

This phrase became a magic weapon for enlivening the atmosphere at the dinner table. Elders would smile knowingly upon hearing it, young people would make harmless jokes, and even marketing accounts of alcohol brands couldn't resist creating content based on it.

Other memorable phrases like "Gao Qiu, you've been bragging!" and "Liu Huan is here to sing the Song of Heroes!" also appear frequently, and whenever someone says them, everyone smiles knowingly.

For a time, the entire Spring Festival was immersed in the joy of "Summer of Prison Break," and those vivid and memorable lines became the most vivid symbolic memories of this Spring Festival.

……

By the tenth day of the first lunar month, most workplaces had officially resumed operations.

Beijing, Huayi Brothers headquarters conference room.

The streets outside the floor-to-ceiling windows looked rather deserted. It was only the tenth day of the lunar month, and there weren't many cars on the road yet. Once the fifteenth day passed, many people would return to Beijing, and the city would return to its usual traffic jams.

Although it was still the first month of the lunar calendar, a heavy, oppressive atmosphere filled the meeting room.

Wang Zhongjun held a cigarette between his fingers, the ash already piling up long, but he had no time to flick it off. His eyes were fixed on the news that popped up on his computer screen—Hollywood producer Harvey Weinstein was disgraced and embroiled in multiple charges.

Huanqiu had already made arrangements with them to work together to take down Zhang Chen.

Huayi Brothers was in charge of the domestic battlefield, while they were in charge of the North American battlefield. Their most famous gun was Harvey.

But in the blink of an eye, Harvey fell from power.

This is too unreliable.

"Brother, Harvey's down. Should we continue?"

Wang Zhonglei sat opposite him, his eyes filled with trepidation and his tone revealing barely concealed anxiety.

Wang Zhongjun took a deep drag on his cigarette, his face appearing even more gloomy through the swirling smoke: "Continue? Of course we'll continue!"

He stubbed out his cigarette in the ashtray with a crisp "sizzle," and said, "We have nowhere left to retreat!"

Wang Zhonglei was taken aback: "But what about Harvey's side..."

"Harvey fell because he had a dirty job..."

Wang Zhongjun interrupted his younger brother, his eyes sharp as knives, "Don't forget, Xingchen Entertainment is going public this year."

These words were like a bucket of cold water, instantly extinguishing the last glimmer of hope in Wang Zhonglei's heart.

Even before Star Entertainment went public, Zhang Chen was able to put immense pressure on Huayi Brothers.

The popularity of "Summer of Prison Break" during the Chinese New Year period has multiplied the valuation of Star Entertainment several times over.

If they successfully go public and raise huge sums of money, they can then fully leverage their resources in content production, artist signing, and channel development. Huayi Brothers' current resources will be far from sufficient.

What made the Wang brothers even more resentful was that when Huayi Brothers went public last year, Zhang Chen blatantly collected protection money from them, snatching 1200 million shares from them at a price of 3 yuan per share. The Wang brothers would never forget that debt. Now that their enemy was about to soar to great heights, how could they possibly sit idly by?

“Brother, then let’s…” Wang Zhonglei leaned closer, a ruthless glint in his eyes.

Wang Zhongjun's lips curled into a sinister smile: "What's the hottest thing at Xingchen Entertainment right now? Isn't it that skit 'Summer of Prison Break' that they collaborated on with Benshan Media?"

"Yes, to be honest, Zhang Chen isn't a very good person, but his skits are really funny."

Wang Zhonglei still remembers how his family laughed so hard while watching the Spring Festival Gala, especially himself. He knew it was his enemy's work and he shouldn't laugh, but he just couldn't help it while watching.

"Is this what I'm talking about?"

Wang Zhongjun glanced at his younger brother, who couldn't distinguish between the main and secondary points: "That skit was full of drastically altered content from 'Water Margin,' including characters like Song Jiang, Shi Qian, Wu Song, and Gao Taiwei. Are the Four Great Classical Novels so easy to drastically alter?"

Wang Zhonglei immediately realized: "Right, Wu Baige's adaptation of 'Red Cliff' caused such a huge controversy, Zhang Chen's drastic alteration of 'Water Margin' will definitely be controversial too!"

"Controversy is the breakthrough point."

Wang Zhongjun tapped his finger on the table. "Go organize an online army to launch a major attack on Benshan Media's 'drastically altered classic works' and make a big fuss about it."

Wang Zhonglei was taken aback: "Why Benshan Media? Aren't we targeting Zhang Chen?"

"How foolish! On the surface, they're criticizing Benshan Media, but secretly they're directing all their anger at Zhang Chen. It's not the right time for us to confront him directly. Don't forget his big mouth; one word from him could easily affect our stock price."

"Oh, so what should I do?"

"They praised him for having no bottom line in pursuit of traffic, even daring to arbitrarily change traditional culture."

Wang Zhonglei's eyes lit up: "Brilliant! Classic works are the lifeblood of those experts and scholars; they can't stand this kind of thing. As long as someone takes the lead, I guarantee a bunch of people will jump out and criticize Zhang Chen!"

Wang Zhonglei was aware of a group called "Redologists".

A large group of people rely on "Dream of the Red Chamber" for their livelihood; it is their exclusive property, and they will not allow anyone else to touch it.

The other three classic novels, while not as prestigious as "Dream of the Red Chamber," still have their own fans.

Zhang Chen's radical rewrite of "Water Margin" will definitely displease those who have already benefited from it. The reason they haven't spoken out yet is simply because they lack an opportunity.

Wang Zhongjun leaned back in his chair, a confident expression on his face. "When the public opinion takes hold, even if Zhang Chen has incredible abilities, he'll be in deep trouble. With such a scandal happening before Xingchen Entertainment's IPO, it's uncertain whether the stock price can be stabilized, or even whether it can be listed at all."

……

Related posts appeared online that same day.

"Benshan Media's new work, 'The Summer of Prison Break,' recklessly alters 'Water Margin,' which is a desecration of traditional culture!"

"Benshan Media has no bottom line when it comes to grabbing attention. They drastically alter classic works for amusement. This kind of content should be taken down!"

After the online trolls started stirring things up, many netizens who were unaware of the facts quickly followed suit. More importantly, several university literature professors were actually "bombed" into the spotlight.

"Classic masterpieces are cultural treasures of the Chinese nation and cannot be distorted in any way."

"The Water Margin carries the spirit of loyalty and righteousness and a profound sense of history. Now it has been turned into a comedy sketch, which is simply a trampling on the classic!"

A professor from the Faculty of Arts at a prestigious university posted a strongly worded message on Weibo.

With this professor taking the lead, other scholars followed suit. Some said, "Fictionalization is not nonsense, and adaptation is not random fabrication." Others called for "cultural departments to step in and regulate this vulgar tendency." Some even elevated the matter to the level of "national cultural confidence." For a time, Zhang Chen and "The Summer of Prison Break" were thrust into the eye of the storm.

……

Inside the Benshan Media compound in Shenyang.

Zhao Benshan sat in a grand chair, holding a cup of hot tea, looking at the overwhelming negative comments in the newspaper, but his face remained calm.

The assistant was pacing anxiously: "Teacher Zhao, everyone online is criticizing us. Should we issue a statement to explain?"

Zhao Benshan waved his hand and slowly took a sip of tea: "What's there to explain? The more you explain, the more confusing it becomes. Anyone with eyes can see that the real intention is not what it seems."

He put down his teacup, picked up his phone, and dialed Zhang Chen's number.

In the Starry Sky Entertainment office, Zhang Chen answered his phone after it rang once: "Teacher Zhao."

"Xiao Zhang, you've seen what's going on online, haven't you?"

Zhao Benshan's voice, thick with a Northeastern accent, was steady and powerful: "They're criticizing Benshan Media, but they're probably really after your Xingchen Entertainment, trying to sabotage your IPO."

Zhang Chen smiled and said, "I know, this little trick can't fool you, Teacher Zhao."

"It's good to know."

Zhao Benshan then changed the subject, "But don't be careless. The words of those experts and scholars carry a lot of weight. If it really gets to the higher-ups, it will be a big problem."

Don't forget, the reason our skit passed censorship was actually because of your fame. Although our skit was well-intentioned, some people have misinterpreted it.

"You're right, I'll have my men keep an eye on how things develop."

Zhang Chen's tone became serious, "The core of 'Summer of Prison Break' is punishing evil and promoting good. The adaptation is based on a form that the public likes and enjoys, not a bottomless change. I plan to post a Weibo to make the point clear."

Zhao Benshan nodded and said, "Okay, as long as you understand. Don't worry about Benshan Media. I've already spoken with the team. They won't cause any trouble or make any noise. They'll fully cooperate with you. After all, we created this skit together, so we'll stand by each other if anything goes wrong."

"Thank you, Teacher Zhao."

Zhang Chen felt a warmth in his heart. "Don't worry, I will definitely handle this matter well and will not let Benshan Media suffer any injustice."

……

In the Starry Sky Entertainment office, Dong Jianqiang was also anxious: "Director Zhang, are you taking this seriously?!"

Dong Jianqiang was sweating profusely with anxiety. "The internet is practically exploding with insults right now. Several partners have sent messages asking about the situation, and even CCTV's attitude has become inexplicable."

Zhang Chen looked up at him: "What's the rush? It's just a few scholars jumping out and chattering away."

"This isn't just a matter for a few scholars!"

Dong Jianqiang pushed the notebook in front of Zhang Chen, "Have you forgotten why CCTV made 'Journey to the West' back then? Wasn't it because the Japanese version was too awful, they even changed Tang Sanzang into a woman, which caused nationwide dissatisfaction! Modifying a classic work can be a big deal or a small deal. On a small scale, it's about creative freedom; on a large scale, it's about crossing cultural red lines!"

Zhang Chen thought about it and realized that it really was true, so he gradually put away his nonchalant attitude.

He certainly knew the background of the CCTV version of "Journey to the West". The Japanese version of the adaptation did indeed cause considerable cultural controversy. CCTV made "Journey to the West" largely to "rectify the name" and safeguard the right to interpret traditional culture.

“You’re right, we can’t take this lightly.” Zhang Chen pondered for a moment, then opened his Weibo account and started typing rapidly on the screen.

A few minutes later, Zhang Chen updated his Weibo: "In film and television works, 'A Chinese Odyssey' deconstructs 'Journey to the West' in a comedic form, and films on the Three Kingdoms theme also have their own perspectives."

Since works of art can be adapted for derivative works, why can't sketches reasonably adapt classic works? "The Summer of Prison Break" consistently upholds the core principle of 'punishing evil and promoting good,' spreading traditional culture in a way that is popular with the public. What's wrong with that?

This Weibo post immediately sparked new discussions.

Netizens who support Zhang Chen left numerous comments:

"That's right! Isn't 'A Chinese Odyssey' also an adaptation? Why is no one saying it's a desecration of a classic?"

"Skits are a form of entertainment. As long as the core message is good, what's wrong with making some adaptations?"

But the opposition remains strong:
"A Chinese Odyssey is an artistic creation, while The Summer of Prison Break is vulgar comedy. How can they be the same?"

“You can’t just change a classic work whenever you want. Zhang Chen, don’t use creative freedom as a shield!”

The online argument is raging, with both sides going back and forth, neither able to convince the other.

This controversy lasted from the Spring Festival until the Lantern Festival, and it's almost here.

Every year during the Lantern Festival Gala, the "Most Popular Spring Festival Gala Program" is selected. This award is determined by a combination of audience votes, expert reviews, and online popularity, and it carries significant weight.

At Huayi Brothers headquarters, Wang Zhongjun was waiting for news.

He had already used his connections to speak to the judging panel and hired a lot of online trolls to lower the vote count for "The Summer of Prison Break" on the voting page, fully expecting that he could finally defeat Zhang Chen.

"Bro, the rankings are out! 'Summer of Prison Break' is in first place in audience votes, and the expert judges' scores aren't low either. Overall score... still number one!"

Wang Zhongjun, looking grim, shouted from the living room.

"how is this possible?"

Wang Zhongjun also walked back to the living room, looking at the glaring rankings on the TV, his hands trembling with anger. "What's wrong with those expert reviewers? Didn't they all get prior notice?"

"I don't know. I heard that several veteran artists strongly supported 'The Summer of Prison Break,' saying that it's 'down-to-earth and conveys positive energy,' which actually boosted its rating," Wang Zhonglei said in a low voice.

Before Wang Zhongjun could say anything more, his phone suddenly rang. It was his assistant calling: "Mr. Wang, the official Weibo account has posted a message!"

He quickly opened Weibo and saw that the official account had written: "[Congratulations! 'Summer of Prison Break' wins the title of 'Most Popular Spring Festival Gala Program']".

Tonight's Lantern Festival Gala saw the sketch "Summer of Prison Break," a collaboration between Star Entertainment and Benshan Media, win the "Most Popular Spring Festival Gala Program" award without any controversy, thanks to its immense popularity and positive core message.

This work conveys positive values ​​in a humorous and witty way, showcasing the possibilities for innovative expression of traditional culture.

Upon seeing this Weibo post, Wang Zhongjun knew that nothing he did would make a difference.

This Weibo post effectively defined the controversy surrounding the "modified classic": "The Summer of Prison Break" is not only fine, but also a positive example of "innovative expression of traditional culture"!

The online sentiment reversed instantly.

Those who were the most vocal critics have either quietly deleted their Weibo posts or started saying, "So this is what innovation is all about."

Supporters of Zhang Chen cheered and flooded Weibo with comments.

In the Star Entertainment office, Dong Jianqiang looked at Weibo, breathed a sigh of relief, and said to Zhang Chen with a smile, "What a scare! It's all over now!"

Zhang Chen leaned back in his chair, a faint smile playing on his lips: "I always said good content isn't afraid of controversy. True cultural inheritance isn't about locking classics away in a safe, but about bringing them to life in the present through new methods."

He picked up his phone and sent a message to the person in charge of Benshan Media: "Congratulations, and thank you."

At this moment, the atmosphere in the Huayi Brothers conference room had dropped to freezing point.

Looking at his brother's ashen face, Wang Zhonglei cautiously asked, "Brother, what... what do we do next?"

Wang Zhongjun remained silent for a long time before slowly speaking: "What else can we do? The momentum of Xingchen Entertainment's IPO is unstoppable."

He paused, a hint of resentment flashing in his eyes, "But we're not done settling this score yet. Zhang Chen, you just wait!"

As darkness fell outside the window, Wang Zhongjun was not discouraged. In the entertainment industry, it's always a case of one person doing the first thing and another doing the fifteenth.

……

Happy National Day! By the way, today is also my wedding anniversary, so please give me your monthly votes!
(End of this chapter)