Fooling Huayu for Thirty Years

Chapter 720 Exposes Director Chen's True Colors of Pro-Japanese Appeasement!

Two strange men have appeared in a bar in Shanghai today.

"You also want your movie to be a box office hit, right?"

"That's right!"

"Did you do something wrong back then?"

"Yes, I have!"

"That settles it then!"

"I didn't say it was bad!"

“But I can tell you’re preoccupied.”

"Hey, Lao Ma, you're really damn amazing!"

“I’m not that great. If I were, I wouldn’t have needed you to do this kind of thing.”

"No! We still have to do it! It was my fault back then. Although it happened a long time ago, things weren't completely resolved. Now that we've done this, everything will be clean."

So, I have to thank you.

"Haha... what are you thanking me for?"

Anyway, thank you.

"Alright! I accept your thanks. Now I can also tell you that this movie definitely has great potential!"

"Okay! I believe you too!"

At this point in their conversation, both Ma Xun and Jiang Wen raised their glasses.

Then he drank it all in one gulp!

After they finished drinking, they both burst into laughter.

The film "Let the Bullets Fly" is about to embark on its journey.

It's fair to say that Jiang Wen really offended the Shanghai entertainment circle terribly back then. Chen Yifei, a leading figure in the cultural industry, was so angry with him that he died. No one would let this go in a short time.

Moreover, the later version of "The Barber" underwent some modifications, was remade and re-released, but it didn't have the same momentum as the original. The film had a considerable investment, especially the remake, which definitely required additional investment.

The Shanghai circle is quite unique; it is indeed quite large. It can even influence Hong Kong. Wu Siyuan frequently travels between Hong Kong and Shanghai.

In addition, there are already quite a few Hong Kong filmmakers, who were originally from the Shanghai film circle. They went to Hong Kong because of the war, so there is a sense of kinship between them.

They also have a large presence in the cinema chain sector; for example, many cinemas in Northeast China are members of the Shanghai Film Association.

But if you're talking about small, it really is quite small, because the Shanghai circle in the film and television industry is mainly dominated by SMG, which includes Shanghai Film Group, Shanghai TV, and cinema chains. They've all come together to form such a large cultural company.

It's worth noting that, generally speaking, provincial-level units don't integrate all cultural industries together, but Shanghai has done just that.

This integration has made many things more convenient, but it has also created some problems.

For example, things are going smoothly now, but what if we face new challenges in the future?

Ma Xun remembered that Li Ruigang, who later became the head of SMG, simply gave up his secure job and went out on his own. Companies like Yuehua Entertainment were actually controlled by this guy behind the scenes.

Of course, Li Ruigang is now also a senior executive at SMG, and he is mainly responsible for liaising with South Korea.

I won't go into too much detail about these.

Now, Ma Xun has brought Jiang Wen to "apologize" to Chen Yifei's descendants. Once this is reported in the newspaper, it's basically equivalent to opening up the last remaining circle of Shanghai people.

Sometimes it's just a matter of face. Actually, people in the Shanghai entertainment circle also need to make money. They've appeared in Jiang Wen's movies before, but "Warriors of Heaven and Earth" is actually Ma Xun's movie.

Films like "The Sun Also Rises" received only average ratings from the Shanghai Film Association.

Let's not make that mistake again. It wasn't exactly about being soft-spoken or anything. You, Jiang Wen, did make some mistakes back then. Let's fix our relationship and make a lot of money together. Wouldn't that be great?

Of course, without Ma Xun's influence, this matter would never have come to fruition.

Jiang Wen would give him face, and the same would be true in the Shanghai circle.

In other words, only big shots like Ma Xun have the opportunity to act as peacemakers.

As for the others, they were simply making a fool of themselves.

Now that things have come to this, and all the conditions have been met, this year's National Day film season is sure to be very exciting.

However, Ma Xun still had some special work to do.

……

"My dear teacher Feng, why did you have to teach 'Aftershock' during the National Day holiday?"

"What's the problem?"

"Everyone else is giving gifts for National Day, so even if we're not giving anything, there's no need to make things worse."

“I said, how can this be called adding to the trouble? This is promoting the spirit of earthquake relief.”

"Teacher Feng, is this really how you filmed it?"

"Hehe... My Mr. Ma, you really are quite impressive."

Ma Xun then approached Feng Xiaogang, whose film "Aftershock" was determined to be released during the National Day holiday.

This is a bit odd. On such a joyous occasion as National Day, you're going to be starring in a movie like this.

The key point is that Ma Xun is very clear about the content of this movie, and it should be said that it is generally good, especially in connecting it to the 2008 earthquake.

Then the siblings who survived the earthquake also participated in this earthquake relief effort.

This is indeed a very positive message, but...!

Large sections of the film's plot are quite frustrating.

It wasn't that Ma Xun was being paranoid; it was just that Feng Xiaogang was too cunning.

So, all it takes is one sentence from Ma Xun for Feng Xiaogang to change his mind?
"The National Day film season is too crowded this time. Alternatively, I can help you move this movie to the Lunar New Year season."

This can be considered as Ma Xun setting the conditions.

Should Feng Xiaogang accept the offer or not?
"Our movie 'If You Are the One 2' will be released during the Lunar New Year season."

Feng Xiaogang's reason is quite valid.

Ma Xun chuckled, "This one can be moved to the back."

"That so-called Spring Festival film season?"

"Of course."

"But..." "Director Feng, Teacher Feng, you should think this through carefully. If you're not trying to sabotage me, then who are you trying to... I won't say any more."

Ma Xun is also very tough. If you, Feng Xiaogang, insist on going your own way, don't blame me if things change in the future.

Feng Xiaogang naturally understood Ma Xun's meaning; he actually wanted to give Ma Xun a small promotion to general.

He at least needs to make his presence felt; he can't be ignored.

"Alright! Then I'll do as you say, Mr. Ma."

Feng Xiaogang had agreed, but the matter was not over yet.

While Ma Xun was talking to Feng Xiaogang, Sister Hong delivered an invitation.

"what's the situation?"

"Xu Feng is planning a banquet and hopes you can attend."

Ma Xun's conversation with Sister Hong was not kept secret from Feng Xiaogang.

This was, of course, done with a purpose: to show Feng Xiaogang that I, Ma Xun, am also very busy and cannot waste time with you.

But this banquet now...

"Let's go! We'll get our hands on that guy Chen Kai."

Ma Xun had no other choice, and Feng Xiaogang would probably be watching the show, but Ma Xun had to win this one!

……

The banquet that Xu Feng organized was naturally held at Tomson Golf Club.

Golf is inherently an aristocratic sport; to put it bluntly, it's quite expensive, and thus naturally carries this high-end attribute.

Those attending the banquet today are mainly the creative team of "The Orphan of Zhao", as well as celebrities from Shanghai's entertainment circle.

Yes, most of the people who came were in the real estate business.

After all, Xu Feng is in the real estate business, and when Ma Xun arrived here, before he even saw Xu Feng and Chen Kai, he first saw an old acquaintance.

Hey! Dude!

"Haha, Young Master Yu, long time no see."

This old acquaintance turned out to be Wang Yu.

Ma Xun and Wang Yu are both among the Four Young Masters of Beijing, but the reputation of these Four Young Masters is not very good, as they are somewhat perceived as using their status to intimidate others.

Wang Yu is a very special person among the four young masters. His family background is so good that it makes the others look inferior.

As for Ma Xun, he is the most mysterious. Of course, this mystery refers to his background. Whenever someone asks Wang Yu about Ma Xun's background, Wang Yu always says: This guy has a very strong background!
These words really helped Ma Xun a lot.

Now that we've met, we should definitely chat more.

As a result, Wang Yu didn't actually get anything out of the conversation, and Ma Xun could only laugh and casually say a few words.

There's no way around it, because Wang Yu comes from a really good family. But the better someone's family background is, the less likely they are to be very assertive in their career.

Of course, he wouldn't lose money in business; he'd definitely have enough to live on, but it's just difficult for him to truly gain momentum and become a formidable figure.

It's like the Ming Dynasty's practice of raising livestock in captivity... cough cough, that analogy isn't quite accurate.

The two were chatting casually when Xu Feng came over.

"Oh my! The arrival of you two young masters truly brings honor to our humble abode!"

very eloquent.

Ma Xun and Wang Yu both laughed and started talking to Xu Feng as well.

Clearly, Xu Feng was very interested in collaborating with Ma Xun, after all, she loved movies and even more so, she loved investing in them.

Ma Xun's business is doing so well that Xu Feng really wants to get involved.

However, with Ma Xun's business so thriving, how could he possibly let this woman interfere so easily?

So the two of them started practicing Tai Chi again.

But at that moment, Chen Kai finally arrived.

"Mr. Ma, Mr. Wang..."

Chen Kai still has his pride; although his "hello" sounded somewhat reluctant.

Ma Xun knew the true meaning of this banquet, so he simply struck up a conversation with Chen Kai.

"Director Chen's film seems to be quite ambitious."

That's not very insightful. People make movies to make money, after all. Before Chen Kai could say anything, Xu Feng seized the opportunity.

"Mr. Ma, our small business can't compare to yours."

Hey, that's interesting.

Ma Xun didn't respond, "Director Chen's skill is very high, I've always admired him, but when it comes to box office..."

The rest is self-explanatory.

Chen Kai's face turned ashen when he heard this; he was furious!
What Ma Xun is saying is basically that his movies don't make money.
The key point is that it happened in front of investor Xu Feng!
Ma Xun, you're such a wicked guy!

Wang Yu understood why Chen Kai was so angry, and found it quite amusing. The young master chimed in, "Director Chen, your film... I just feel that, what does this historical film have to do with us now?"

This was something Wang Yu had been wanting to ask, and Chen Kai was overjoyed to hear it, because he had been waiting for it!
"All I can say is that this movie is very relevant to the present!"

What does it mean?
Ma Xun frowned and couldn't help but retort to Chen Kai, "Are you trying to use ancient stories to allude to the present?"
"The Orphan of Zhao" is a story of revenge, but you, Director Chen, are actually trying to persuade us not to seek revenge against a certain country?"

Hey! That's a clever statement!

Could that country be Japan?!

Upon hearing this, Wang Yu's expression changed, and the way he looked at Chen Kaige became different.

Xu Feng was also embarrassed and didn't know what to say.

And what about Chen Kaige?
"I never said that! You're slandering me!"

Really?

Ma Xun laughed and said, "If you don't want people to know, then don't do it in the first place. Oh, I'm not saying this to anyone in particular."

That was really something! It almost made Chen Kai's nose crooked with anger!

In reality, Chen Kaige is incredibly pro-Japanese! Not only did he receive funding from Japan for his films, but many elements in the movies also came from Japan…

Now that Ma Xun has exposed him, Chen Kai's face is really not looking good!
(End of this chapter)