Huayu Chunqiu, starting from being adopted by a fairy mother

Chapter 375 Dumplings
Wang Wang Wang...

The deathly silence of the filming location was broken by the barking of dogs.

Wow...

Zhao Liying's face was pale, and the glass in her hand fell to the ground and shattered.

This was the Tieguanyin tea she had just brewed for the director; it was still a little hot, but she didn't seem to notice.

what……

Several girls gasped in unison, each one frightened and retreating to the corner of the wall.

"I...I confess." Zhao Liying met everyone's gaze, especially Wang Zhiwen's, her lips trembling, and she subconsciously moved closer to Liu Jing.

Snapped……

Liu Jing lightly tapped Zhao Xiaodao on the back of the head, laughing and scolding, "What are you talking about? During the War of Resistance Against Japan, someone like you would either be a collaborator or a traitor."

"Isn't this the same idea?" Zhao Xiaodao muttered, emerging from his previous state of mind.

"Cut..." Assistant director Tang Wei seemed to wake up from a dream, taking more than a minute to realize what was happening.

"Zhou Yang, are you alright?" Another assistant director, Shen Ao, was quite troubled lately.

With the release of "Under the City Walls," his fame also rose. A post by an internet celebrity put him in the spotlight, drawing a lot of criticism for the director.

She took Shen's first love and first time, as well as some untold stories about Shen, and described them in great detail and with exquisite detail. The kind of story that would be reviewed if published.

"Liu Jing, you pervert! I'll never act in your movies again!" Zhou Yang choked up, looking like he had been humiliated.

Her hands were cuffed, she sat on the ground, her hair was like straw, her face was covered in blood, and her body was covered in whip marks, clearly she had just been tortured.

These weren't the most noticeable signs; there were bloodstains on the white clothes and yellow stains on the chest.

"When filming the Three Holy Mothers, there were also scenes of her being tortured." Liu Jing felt quite innocent, because Zhou Yang was the one who insisted on taking the role, and he had tried to stop him a little.

"You bastard! You said we'd film separately, you liar!" Zhou Yang shouted, his emotions running high, making the chains rattle loudly.

Filming for "The Message" has been underway for over a week, and most of the outdoor and other scenes have been completed. Now, only the scenes in Qiu Manor remain.

He and Xixi went to Sanya for a week, not thinking about anything, and enjoying life to the fullest.

After returning to Yandu, I stayed at home for two days before heading straight to the film crew in Nanjing.

Today we moved to a club in Shanghai to film scenes inside Qiu Manor. Ninety percent of the entire film takes place here.

The first scene is Wang Tianxiang, the head of the puppet army's secret service, interrogating a female assassin.

Wang Zhiwen plays Wang Tianxiang, Zhou Yang plays the female assassin, and Ba Niu is the torture device.

The secret service tried many methods, but the female assassin remained unmoved, so the director personally took action.

He smeared the spices on the female assassin's chest; Ba Niu really liked the spices, and then he let the dogs tear it apart...

Before filming, the director said to film separately. The dog and the human were not in the same place, but were edited together in the end.

After several takes, the director was not satisfied, as the female assassin's emotions were not up to par.

The director changed the filming plan, and the female assassin and Ba Niu were filmed together. However, Ba Niu was tied with a dog leash, so even if she lunged at the female assassin, she couldn't reach her.

Zhou Yang figured the dog wouldn't touch him anyway, so he agreed after a moment's thought.

She overestimated her own composure and underestimated the horror of the filming. Even knowing she was chained, she nearly wet herself when the dog lunged at her.

"Help her untie, redo her makeup and styling, and we'll continue filming later." Liu Jing frowned.

That's only because of Zhou Yang. If it were anyone else, even Zhou Xun, he definitely wouldn't have given him a pleasant look.

There was no other way; Zhou Yang was Qianqian's closest and most precious friend, which was why she was entitled to special privileges.

"Didn't you pass that one?" Zhou Yang stopped struggling and asked with trembling lips.

"Teacher Zhiwen is impeccable, consistently performing well. You didn't even perform as well as Ba Niu. You collapsed before the dog even pounced on you. How can that demonstrate the integrity of a female assassin?" Liu Jing shook his head.

"Put me down..." Zhou Yang struggled violently. What integrity could a female assassin possibly have? "Liu Jing, you're definitely taking revenge for personal reasons. I did say that, but Qianqian didn't listen to me..."

"Wang Wang Wang..."

Whether it was the stimulation of the chains or hearing Liu Jing call her name, Ba Niu looked at Zhou Yang with drooling eyes, extremely excited.

Ba Niu is a dog, a big black dog, and it looks quite creepy.

"I'll take the picture, I'll take the picture..." Zhou Yang didn't dare to move, for fear of angering Ba Niu.

Liu Jing squinted. "Taking revenge for personal reasons? What did you say to Qianqian? You've already confessed without being asked."

"Good girl! Ba Niu, I'll feed you something delicious later." Wang Zhiwen squatted down and stroked Ba Niu's neck, and the big black dog gradually calmed down.

“Teacher Zhiwen, you should keep a straight face. Your smile gives me the creeps.” Zhou Xun shuddered, and the onlookers nodded in agreement.

When Wang Zhiwen isn't smiling, he's just serious; when he smiles, he looks freakish.

“You have to learn to adapt.” Wang Zhiwen didn’t take it to heart; he really liked the role.

Upon receiving the script, he immediately contacted the casting team, expressing his desire for the role.

After months of careful study, it can be said that Wang Tianxiang is already in his heart and embodied in him.

"Take Zhou Yang away, change his clothes, and calm him down," Liu Jing instructed.

Ba Niu was more intimidating than Liu Jing, and Zhou Yang walked around her without daring to say a word.

Wang Zhiwen smiled and wiped his hands. "Take Ba Niu down with you. Don't feed her."

Zeng Li shuddered, suddenly regretting becoming the Victorious Fighting Buddha. If the very first scene was this twisted, what would happen next?
clap clap clap...

Liu Jing clapped his hands to attract everyone's attention, "Good afternoon, everyone's here today. Except for Zhou Yang, it seems like everyone's here."

Everyone smirked. Is this some kind of dry humor? It's really dry.

"Under the City Wall" has been postponed from being pulled from theaters. After a month of release, it grossed 1.8 million yuan in mainland China, which is lower than the box office of the first film "The Sacred Flame" and even lower than the performance of "Painted Skin".

On December 12, the filming of "The Message" was launched in Nanjing. Producer Zhang Min, director Liu Jing, Lao Han from China Film Group, Xiao Wang from Huayi Brothers Media Group, Huo Wenxi (Eagle King), and several leading actors attended the ceremony.

At the opening ceremony, Lao Han from China Film Group announced some exciting news: from December 13th to 15th, the film's producers, in conjunction with four major cinema chains—China Film Group, Spring Autumn Cinema, Shanghai Film Group, and Wanda Cinemas—as well as the Youpiao ticketing system, will launch a three-day "Watch a Movie for One Cent" event.

Viewers can watch movies for free, but who pays for the tickets? The cost is shared by the four major cinema chains, banks, and ticketing platforms.

The cinemas didn't lose money either, as it boosted sales of items like cola and popcorn.

The bank was also very satisfied, and many users opened cards and signed up for online banking.

With tickets available, customers are more satisfied, leading to a rapid increase in registered and active members.

Because of this event, Liu Jing's reputation also rose significantly, and the film's box office also increased. As of December 20th, "Under the City Wall" had grossed 210 million yuan.

The box office results were so-so. With the release of "Ip Man", "Forever Enthralled" and "If You Are the One", "Under the City Wall" had almost no screenings.

Liu Jing starred in four films in two years. The two films he directed both grossed over 200 million yuan at the box office. His starring roles in "Painted Skin" and "The Warlords" also achieved high box office results, with "Painted Skin" being particularly remarkable.

In 2006, Zhang Yimou's "Curse of the Golden Flower" set a box office record of 2.91 million yuan. This year, "Red Cliff Part I" broke that record, topping the charts with 3.12 million yuan. John Woo's reign at the top was short-lived, as he was surpassed by "Painted Skin," which pushed the box office to around 400 million yuan.

In an interview, Chen Jiashang stated frankly that Liu Jing was not only the lead actor in "Painted Skin," but also deeply involved in the directing and screenwriting. He believes Liu Jing deserves at least half the credit for the film's huge success.

Two and a half films have firmly established Liu Jing's position in the directing world. Whether it's ridicule, jealousy, or disdain, Liu Jing's achievements speak for themselves.

The industry values ​​seniority, but the audience doesn't buy into that; they always vote with their feet.

Moreover, many industry insiders believe that Liu Jing is no worse than the others except for his awards.

When the filming of "The Message" moved to another location, everyone was there, whether they had something to do or not.

Even Zhao Liying, who only had one scene as a Japanese maid, arrived at the film set early.

"Today, December 21st, marks the tenth day of filming for 'The Message.' From today until the Spring Festival, we'll be staying here. This club is quite nice, with bedrooms, a kitchen, a study, a coffee shop, a gym, and a restaurant. The production team has arranged for a Michelin-starred chef and prepared plenty of drinks for us. Every day after filming, we'll have the chef cook a few dishes and open a couple of bottles of fine wine. We'll invite a few close friends and family members, gather some friends, and have a couple of drinks—life couldn't be better."

As Liu Jing described the scene, the eerie atmosphere in the room seemed to dissipate considerably. Everyone relaxed, and suddenly felt that being on a film set like this wasn't so bad after all.

"This trip was worth it." Wang Zhiwen smiled again. Others might think he's aloof, but little do they know he enjoys drinking. Even if the relationship is just so-so, if someone shows up with two bottles of good wine, they're friends. If they can have a good drink and chat to their hearts' content, then they're good friends.

"Teacher Zhiwen, don't drink and drive." Zhou Xun also enjoys drinking and knows Wang Zhiwen's preferences well, since he's been caught driving under the influence several times.

All of the main actors, except Fan Wei, enjoy having a drink now and then.

As the producer, Zhang Min was aware of these people's preferences, which is why she prepared some fine wines.

“I haven’t left the house for a month, and I haven’t had a chance to drive,” Wang Zhiwen shook his head. “Our film has an investment of 100 million yuan, which is no small amount. Besides Chunqiu, the investors include China Film Group, Shanghai Film Group, Eagle King, and Huayi Brothers. This Qiu Manor was provided by Shanghai Film Group, and our filming in Shanghai was also supported by Shanghai Film Group. Not to mention China Film Group, which provided equipment and oversaw the censorship. Everyone should have seen the support that several companies have given to ‘The Message.’ What year is next? I don’t need to say, I’m sure everyone knows.” Liu Jing said calmly, getting straight to the point.

"Painted Skin" broke box office records, and "The Message" has already attracted a lot of attention even before filming has started.

Old Han was filled with regret; he had missed out on this film back then. Although Chinese cinema achieved new successes, which could be considered part of his achievements, China Film Group's lack of investment meant it was ultimately less significant.

China Film Group missed out on "Painted Skin," and this time they absolutely don't want to miss out on "The Message." Han Dehua even made a cameo appearance as Commander Zhang, ensuring the film's success.

Liu Jing looked around, lingering on each person for two seconds. "So no matter how big a star you are outside, which company you're from, or how much resentment you have towards me, I'll treat you all equally during filming. I hope we can cooperate well. If this film is ruined, you'll offend more than just me. I'm not threatening you, I'm just reminding you, this is the truth."

Everyone tensed up, not daring to take it lightly. Offending these companies would mean the end of their careers in the film industry.

Chen Kun felt a chill in his heart. He and Liu Jing had had a falling out, which had been resolved through Qianqian. But Liu Jing's reputation for being petty was no less than that of a director.

He also heard that Liu Jing was more interested in Yu Shaoqun for the role of Bai Xiaonian. If Liu Yifei hadn't said a few kind words, even if he had won first place in the casting, he might not have gotten the role.

Chen Kun felt that Liu Jing was targeting him, so he quickly expressed his support with a big smile, "Director, don't worry, I will definitely cooperate. If the director tells me to go east, I will definitely not go west. No matter what, no matter how many times the director tortures me, I will still treat the director like my first love."

Standing behind Liu Jing, Zhao Liying couldn't help but look up. Was this still the top male star among the Four Little Fresh Meat? Wasn't he supposed to be the most aloof one?

“I’m fine,” Zeng Li was the second to respond.

“We are all your soldiers, you are the director, you make the decisions.” Fan Wei said with a smile. He plays Jin Shenghuo in the drama.

"Director, I hope you can bring the same level of skill you showed in filming 'Under the City Wall,' I really liked that film." Wang Zhiwen leaned against the wall.

"If the director needs anything, just tell me," Zhou Xun's hoarse voice rang out.

"Let's do it!" Duan Yihong said enthusiastically.

Liu Jing smiled and said, "The way you two talk sounds a bit strange."

There's a reason for everyone's attitude. There's too much competition; many well-known artists are vying to join the production, some even willing to work for free.

"On the first day of the location change, the first scene was dog torture. The production team had a purpose. These good conditions weren't for everyone to relax and have fun, but to help everyone film better. Every scene from now on will have this tone: gloomy, oppressive, perverse, tense, dark..." Liu Jing uttered each word one by one, and everyone's expressions, which had just relaxed, became serious again.

"So it's not too late to back out now. If you end up like Zhou Yang, don't blame me for not warning you upfront. If she had dared to throw a tantrum just now, we would have had to film this scene even if we had to hold her by the neck; that would have been more effective." Liu Jing's voice turned cold.

Everyone looked at each other, speechless.

The torture chamber was even quieter than before, eerily quiet.

Liu Jing suddenly laughed, stroking the stubble on his chin. "I'm very happy that no one backed down. That's revolutionary spirit! Also, friends are welcome to visit the set, but please don't disrupt the filming process."

Zhao Xiaodao shivered for no reason, feeling that Da Luobo's pose and movements were even more perverted than Wang Zhiwen's smile.

"By the way, today is the Winter Solstice, and most of us are from the north. After filming the female assassin scene, we'll make dumplings for dinner tonight. Yesterday, I borrowed two cases of ten-year-old Moutai from Sister Min's house; everyone can try some tonight."

"Ten-year Moutai, haha, I can't wait, let's keep filming!" Wang Zhiwen laughed.

Everyone laughed along, intimidated by Liu Jing's combination of kindness and power—no, by Liu Jing's status.

On the first day of filming, during the script reading, Liu Jing had already set the tone: the scenes inside Qiu Manor would be filmed intensively and shot sequentially. Other scenes would be filmed earlier or reshot later.

The scene where the female assassin is tortured is not part of the Qiu Manor scene; Liu Jing stayed there to film it as a demonstration.

Another point is that the script is in everyone's hands, and the plot is also in everyone's mind. Each time we shoot, we first shoot a take based on our own understanding, giving everyone room to improvise.

Liu Jing's arrangement allows everyone to relax a bit during breaks from filming, drawing on his experience from filming "Under the City Wall".

Whether in China or abroad, film crews often neglect the actors' mental state during filming.

Actors who work on films year-round often develop some form of mental illness, especially those who practice method acting.

Psychological counseling is crucial; some scenes in "The Message" are even more unconventional than those in "Under the City Wall." Without proper precautions, the actors could easily develop psychological problems.

"Old Shen, go and urge Zhou Yang, let's begin."

The female assassin didn't have many scenes; one was an interrogation, and the other was her gruesome death after the interrogation. In the afternoon, we also filmed scenes with Takeda and Wang Tianxiang, and then in the evening, we made dumplings.

The crew was full of talented people; some knew how to roll out dough, some knew how to make dumplings, and others even cooked to showcase their culinary skills. The atmosphere was harmonious and the room was filled with warmth.

Not everyone participated. Wang Zhiwen, Fan Wei, and Chen Kun were discussing the plot; tomorrow is their scene.

Liu Jing wasn't idle either; he was discussing graduation with Shen Ao, without discussing filming issues.

When he was filming "Chinese Paladin 3," he drew the storyboards in incredibly detail. Even a complete idiot could follow along and produce good results.

Therefore, the specific tasks were handed over to two assistant directors, with Liu Jing in charge of overseeing the process.

"Shen, filming for 'Under the City Wall' has wrapped up. Some people say you've been heartbroken for half a year. Could it be Mu Zimei?" Zhou Yang came out after removing her makeup and ran over to the two alumni, as she was closest to them.

"Zhou Yang, don't bring up things you don't want to talk about." Shen Ao's face darkened.

"Then why are you bringing this up?"

"Let's not talk about this, and we can still be friends," Shen Ao threatened.

"We're not friends anymore. Tell us properly, is it true or not?" Zhou Yang asked curiously.

"Director, I suggest revising the script. To better showcase the female assassin's integrity, add a few more scenes of torture. I've just discovered a towel with lots of hooks on the back; it's more effective than a brush. How about we revise the script tomorrow and let the female assassin try it out first?" Shen Ao said seriously.

"You can revise the script now. I'll tell everyone about you and Mu Zimei at school..."

"Big sister, you're ruthless! I'll go make dumplings." Shen Ao fled in a sorry state. People outside the school thought it was fake, but many alumni knew it was true. Originally, his relationship with Yuan Shanshan had grown quite close, but because of this incident, their relationship had drifted apart again.

"Zhou Yang, don't talk nonsense. This guy can't handle any stimulation," Liu Jing warned.

"Just teasing him, why did you take it so seriously?" Zhou Yang chuckled. "Hey! You blockhead, I did a good job today, didn't I?"

"Your example as a negative example is very unsuccessful. If it's out of 100, I can only give it 9 points."

Not bad! Zhou Yang was someone he had arranged beforehand to make an example of, but unfortunately his performance was too poor.

Of all the actors, the one Liu Jing has the best relationship with and the one he trusts the most is not Zeng Li, who is a hindrance to him, but Zhou Yang, Xixi's best friend.

"I thought of a whole bunch of insults to curse you, but when that black dog barked, I forgot them all." Zhou Yang said dejectedly.

"Let's not talk about that for now. What suggestions did you give to Xixi?" Liu Jing squinted, still holding a grudge.

"Huh? Um, well, the weather's nice today! Wow, the dumplings are huge, they must be delicious." Zhou Yang ran off.

Does the taste of the food have anything to do with the food itself? Liu Jing tasted it and it seemed there was no direct connection.

Liu Jing sighed silently. It's really hard for Qianqian to have a close female friend. This little vixen seems to be interested in me too.

She's a decent girl, I have no intention of letting her get away with anything, so I absolutely cannot touch her.

Liu Jing told himself there was no way around it; at his level, there were countless women throwing themselves at him. He had to accept them all; he could work year-round without repeating a single woman.

"Wood, come and eat quickly. You guys eat first, I'll make dumplings."

Zeng Li's greeting broke Liu Jing's concentration.

After Zhou Yang left, he quietly adjusted his state of mind, trying to align himself with Takeda.

The chef prepared a table full of delicious food, and everyone took their seats. Wang Zhiwen couldn't wait to open a bottle of ten-year-old aged wine.

Amidst the laughter and chatter, Liu Jing slipped into the kitchen. "Big Sister Li, did you make a lot of dumplings? Don't make sure there aren't enough for me."

"Big Pear Sister" is how Liu Jing addresses Zeng Li, that's how they address each other in public. When flirting via text messages, he always calls her "Big Pear."

It wasn't because of Zeng Li's name, but because of her pear-shaped figure.

"How many do you want to eat?" Zeng Li was cooking dumplings.

"At least a hundred or two hundred," Liu Jing said casually.

"Try it first and see how it tastes." Zeng Li scooped one out of the pot, put it in a bowl, and handed it to Liu Jing.

"Wow, this tastes great! Nothing beats dumplings, and this is exactly what we need for the Winter Solstice." Liu Jing took a bite, and his eyes lit up. This was a vegetarian three-delicacy filling. Zeng Li really knew how to make vegetarian fillings.

Zeng Li suddenly spat lightly, "You little pervert."

"Don't overthink it, I don't mean anything by it." Liu Jing looked wary. During filming, we need to keep our distance. Developing a relationship beyond friendship at this time would be detrimental to the rest of the filming.

"Don't worry, you'll pay back your debts. You can wait outside." Zeng Li rolled her eyes.

"I meant dumplings, don't get me wrong."

"I know, it's just dumplings."

Liu Jingzheng was speechless with grievances. Outside, Zhou Xun shouted loudly, "Director, we're just waiting for you!"

(End of this chapter)