1982 Started from Hong Kong

Chapter 127: Zhou Huimin is gone
"The dog raised in Formosa has started barking again."

In the morning, Zhai Yuan sat at the dining table to eat breakfast, and habitually spread a newspaper on the table to read.

As expected, the people from the Freedom Association were seen as mad dogs, who would pounce and bite indiscriminately when they found an opportunity.

"Sooner or later, I'll break the teeth of these losers!"

Zhai Yuan muttered and cursed.

Zhao Meizhen hit him with her chopsticks and put the newspaper away.

"What's wrong with you so early in the morning? Pay attention to your meal and stop looking."

Zhai Yuan thought to himself, I’m just reading the newspaper, not watching short videos on my phone, why do you have to control this?

But she didn't dare to refute. Ever since she pretended to be dead and ignored her urging to get married, Zhao Meizhen has been dissatisfied with everything about her.

It’s better not to stay in this house!

Zhai Yuan finished his meal in a few bites, went back to his room to organize the script of "A Better Tomorrow" that he had written last night, and rushed out of the house.

Zhao Meizhen called out from behind: "Your aunt Ling will bring Haimei to our house this afternoon. Come back early!"

After all, they are cabbages from other people's homes, so you don't feel sorry for them?

Zhai Yuan didn't look back. He entered the elevator, went downstairs, and took a taxi, all in one go.

"Master, downstairs of the Nine One Entertainment Company in Ngau Tau Kok."

"Which 91?"

"Then drop me off at the gate of Debao Garden."

Zhai Yuan still overestimated the influence of his company. He felt that if one day all the taxi drivers in the city could find the address of his company, then his business would be a success.

The taxi quickly took him to his destination.

Zhai Yuan got off the bus at Debao Garden and walked for a distance.

When I passed by the 1024 Theater, the exterior wall had been almost completely renovated, but the workers inside were still working on it.

"At this rate, by the time the theater is renovated, the movie probably won't be shot yet, but we can get a commission from other production companies by then."

Looking at the theater in front of him, Zhai Yuan seemed to see a money printing machine waving at him.

In addition to the 60% share of the box office revenue shared by theater chains, theaters have other more profitable ways, but it seems that no one dares to do it now.

Zhai Yuan suppressed the immature plan in his mind, intending to wait until he had accumulated enough anger to use a big move on his colleagues.

When I arrived at the office building, before I entered the main entrance of the company, Wu Yusen was already waiting at the door.

"Boss, is the script finished?"

Zhai Yuan didn't say anything and just handed him a stack of script papers.

It's really tiring to write this thing by hand. I tried to use traditional Chinese characters at the beginning, but later I just thought, forget it, I'm the boss, why should I accommodate you? I just used simplified Chinese characters, and my efficiency increased rapidly.

Wu Yusen held a thick stack of manuscript paper, his heart full of admiration.

When they were writing the script, for such a big production a group of screenwriters would get together to help each other, and after finalizing the story framework, they would put in all the lines and gags that everyone could think of. Now all these tasks were actually done by Zhai Yuan alone, and in a very short time. Director Wu couldn't help but be impressed.

"I'll start looking at it right away, and if there's no problem, I'll make a storyboard right away."

Wu Yusen flipped through a few pages without paying much attention to the issue of simplified Chinese characters. They share the same cultural roots, so even if he didn't recognize one or two characters, he could guess their meaning by referring to the context.

He then asked, "Have you got the actors?"

"Looking for it."

Zhai Yuan replied.

The news in the newspaper that showed him and Zhang Guorong arm in arm had been fermenting for a few days, and the heat was almost gone.

But there is no movement from Zhang Guorong at the moment.

Are you going to write a letter of repentance?
Zhai Yuan planned to take the initiative to contact the other party to test the waters later, instead of causing so much trouble himself, which would only deepen the connection between Zhang Guorong and the Freedom Association, which would be a loss.

"Song Zihao asked Di Long to act. What do you think?"

Zhai Yuan and Wu Yusen squatted at the entrance of the company, each lighting a cigarette and discussing the matter.

He felt that since the original cast had been chosen, it should not be changed easily. On the other hand, the company did not have any other male artist suitable for this role.

Liang Xiaolong and Luo Jiaying, one is short and the other is effeminate, which makes the relationship very awkward.

"Di Long?"

Wu Yusen looked disgusted: "He is now balder than me, and he refuses to wear a wig like others. How can he be the leading actor? Besides, this is a gun battle movie, and Di Long usually plays Gu Long's hero dramas. How can he do it?"

He had no opinion about Di Long. On the contrary, they had a good relationship, because Di Long often appeared in movies directed by his master Zhang Che, and they became familiar with each other.

But when he thought of Di Long's look in costume dramas, Wu Yusen subconsciously felt that it wouldn't work.

"Song Zihao is originally a frustrated gangster. He doesn't need to act cool or pretentious. You won't be wrong if you listen to me. You can ask Di Long to come over for an audition first."

Zhai Yuan asked again: "If I invite people from TVB, will Uncle Shao deliberately make things difficult for me?" 91 Entertainment is notorious now, so when you invite people, you must be prepared to be rejected at any time.

Wu Yusen shook his head: "That won't happen. Zheng Qiuguan may not agree to lend him to me, but I can call Di Long over with just one phone call."

To put it simply, Di Long is out of fashion, and Shaw Brothers has done its best by not firing him. It doesn't make much sense to ban an artist who can't make money.

Zhai Yuan had the impression that Di Long was fired by Shaw Brothers in 85, but became popular again in 86 with "A Better Tomorrow", which was based on exactly the same script that let Bruce Lee go.

Shaw Brothers may really not be compatible with actors.

"How about having Brother Ma Zhou Runfa do it?"

Zhai Yuan asked again.

"Your selection criteria are really..."

Wu Yusen hesitated to speak, and finally shook his head and said nothing.

At this time, Chow Yun-fat was a well-known box office poison. The movies he starred in in the past two years had difficulty in breaking the million mark at the box office. The most outrageous thing was that the two movies of the same name adapted from the popular Southeast Asian TV series "The Bund" had a total box office of only 1.4 million.

But the advantage of poison is that it is cheap.

"I'm not familiar with him, but I'll try to find out for you."

Wu Yusen was very dissatisfied with the casting of Zhai Yuan, but since he was the boss, he had to ask someone to try out the role first.

Now that three male protagonists have been confirmed, it becomes much easier to choose the villain on Tan Cheng's side. Zuo Qianhu is definitely the first choice.

By the way, what was the real name of the actor Zuo Qianhu? It would be a hassle to find it later.

Zhai Yuan frowned and thought.

"By the way, boss, I almost forgot to tell you that there is a mother and daughter waiting for you in the conference room."

"Oh?"

Zhai Yuan looked up suddenly: "Do I know him?"

Wu Yusen shook his head: "I don't know, that girl is the singer you signed, I think her name is Zhou Huimin."

"Pick! Why didn't you tell me earlier?"

Zhai Yuan stood up and walked inside, leaving Wu Yusen with a confused look on his face.

…………

In the conference room.

Mother Zhou, who will be sixty next year, has a haggard face and a stern expression.

Zhou Huimin shrank to the side like a child who had done something wrong, lowering her head and not daring to speak.

"How many times have I told you that no matter what you do, you must discuss it with your family. You didn't study at such a young age, but signed a contract with an outside company without my knowledge, and even tricked your grandmother into signing the contract. If I hadn't discovered it early, fifteen years of your youth would have been swindled away!"

Mother Zhou rebuked with an unhappy look on her face: "There are scam companies everywhere now. Can you please use your brain a little? You are only a teenager and you want to get a monthly salary of 3,000 yuan. How can such a good thing be possible? Hong Kong is full of celebrities. What do you think you have more than others?"

"Mom, this is not a scam company..."

"How dare you talk back?"

Mother Zhou glared at her. "According to what you said, this company was opened by a boy about your age. He has such ability in his teens or twenties? If he is a rich young man, he would be even more of a failure. That kind of person..."

She paused here and didn't continue.

But the meaning is nothing more than a rich young man playing with an ignorant girl.

Mother Zhou is an elderly mother who was born in the 1920s. She has seen a lot of the old society, including the era of the so-called Four Great Inspectors. Naturally, she is full of stereotypes about rich people.

"We are poor, and your father died early. Anyway, I just hope that you can finish your studies peacefully, and then become a singer or an actor. The most important thing is to be down-to-earth and not be fooled by outsiders who want small profits."

Just then, Zhai Yuan pushed the door open.

I just happened to hear the last sentence.

"What do you mean by down-to-earth and petty gains?"

He smiled and said, greeting the mother and daughter in the room: "Hello, auntie, my name is Zhai Yuan, and I'm the boss of this company."

Mother Zhou's stern face forced out a smile, but her voice was cold: "Hello, Mr. Zhai, I heard that you want to sign my Huimin as a singer. Thank you so much."

Zhai Yuan raised his eyebrows, glanced at Zhou Huimin who was looking down and saying nothing, and said with a smile: "Amin is talented."

"It's rare that you think highly of her, but a little girl doesn't know the world. I only have this one daughter, and I'm most afraid that she'll make a mistake, so please be kind and don't bother her in the future, okay?"

Mother Zhou's words were so harsh and blunt that she almost pointed at Zhai Yuan's nose and cursed him.

Eh? How do you know I want to pester her?
Zhai Yuan felt that the old lady had the ability to read minds.

But he didn't feel anything yet. Instead, Zhou Huimin became anxious first, feeling ashamed and guilty.

She gave Zhai Yuan an apologetic look, then stood up with red eyes: "Mom!"

(End of this chapter)