I'm not a drama freak, I can really see through the script

Chapter 409, Jiang Wen and Lu Chuan's shock, the birth of a god.

The movie continues.

smuggling.

An extremely sensitive and extremely dangerous word.

On screen, Cheng Yong, a complete loser, reluctantly embarks on a journey to India at Lü Shouyi's urging.

The camera angles changed very quickly.

There was no drawn-out psychological struggle, nor a lengthy preparation process.

It's just a few quick cross-cuts.

Over here, Cheng Yong is practicing his broken English in front of a mirror in a dilapidated hotel.

Over there, in the nursing home, was the increasingly frail figure of his father.

It was also my own deteriorating health, reflected in that medical examination report.

And then there's the loss of dignity brought about by the divorce notice.

Driven by these things.

Immediately afterwards, the plane took off.

Exotic music begins to play, and the scene brightens up.

India.

Chaotic, noisy, and colorful.

Cheng Yong was like a country bumpkin entering a grand garden. He had smuggling channels, but he only smuggled Indian aphrodisiacs; he had never pulled off such a big heist before.

That's a generic drug, a generic drug.

They were driven by a "do or die" mentality.

The confrontation with the Indian boss was filmed like a comedy.

Despite the language barrier, they resorted to gesticulating wildly and deceiving others.

Finally, Cheng Yong carried several boxes of medicine as if they were boxes of gold, and gave the smuggling crew extra money.

Soft laughter began to ripple through the screening room.

It has a humorous, comedic feel to it.

Aside from Lü Shouyi's appearance, which slightly dampened the mood, the audience's emotions were somewhat subdued.

Everything else is very commercial.

Wei Ming's tense body relaxed slightly.

He secretly glanced at Li Xuan beside him.

Li Xuan was still the same.

I just watched the movie quietly.

The medicine has been brought back.

How to sell?
Who to sell to?
"Let me tell you, I'm here to make money. Don't try to fool me. I'm warning you, if you lie to me, there won't be a next time."

"Yes, yes," Lu Shouyi said with a fawning smile, full of confidence.

The pace of the film suddenly quickens at this moment.

Cheng Yong found Lü Shouyi and, through him, contacted Liu Sihui, the administrator of the patient support group.

A single mother who dances on a pole in a nightclub just to earn money for her daughter's medical expenses.

Zhou Xun made her appearance.

Without much buildup, she was removing her makeup in the smoky, brightly lit backstage area.

His face showed fatigue, but his whole being exuded a strong sense of resilience.

She is the administrator of a support group for patients.

Able to contact

Next shot.

The medicine is effective.

The patient support group was in an uproar.

Countless purchase requests flooded in like a tidal wave.

money.

Money gushing out.

For the first time, Cheng Yong's dilapidated little shop was packed with people.

Stacks of cash were stuffed into a large suitcase.

The once down-on-his-luck middle-aged man, who couldn't even afford rent, started to shine with a gleam in his eyes.

A montage with a very strong sense of rhythm.

The background music is upbeat, with a touch of Indian-style dance music.

In the lens.

Cheng Yong counted money until his hands cramped.

He paid the bills for his elderly father and even moved him to the best ward.

Even his chronic myeloid leukemia was alleviated.

He got a new car.

He and his "team" would throw stacks of banknotes into the air at the best nightclubs.

Lively and extravagant.

High spirits.

Off-screen.

Lu Chuan leaned forward slightly, staring intently at the screen.

He could feel his heart pounding.

Not right.

This is so wrong.

Why did he find so enjoyable watching a movie about a terminally ill patient struggling to survive?

This is not the pacing expected of a realistic drama at all!

This is purely a commercial film technique!

A nobody from the bottom of society unexpectedly has a miraculous encounter, and then goes on a journey of reversal, making money, slapping faces, and reaching the pinnacle of life!
This is the most classic and emotionally engaging formula for action movies!

Li Xuan... he actually grafted this model onto such a heavy and cruel realistic subject.

To be honest...

Lu Chuan didn't have much empathy for this kind of movie.

To be honest, so what if I get sick? There are all kinds of advanced drugs in the world that I can't find. Any problem that can be solved with money isn't a problem.

If this movie were to be as dramatic as a traditional art film, he simply wouldn't be able to get into it.

This is garbage.

But now.

This structure...

He could bear to watch it.

And it was incredibly enjoyable.

It's that pleasurable feeling of stimulating your dopamine levels.

Just like those Hollywood blockbusters.

Identical structure
Or perhaps it's related to Jiang Wen's films.

They have a similar structure.

That's what's interesting.

It's interesting; there's no way it can be wrong.

"This movie is very interesting. It uses a technique of building suspense before building suspense, but structurally it can also be built suspense before building suspense. I guess what you're trying to do. It's a very interesting technique." Jiang Wen calmly analyzed the movie and said, "Next, it's going to be a sudden turn of events, right?"

"Brother Jiang, you've seen a lot of works." Li Xuan looked at Jiang Wen at this moment. Sure enough, he was a veteran; he could see the plot structure at a glance.
But it doesn't matter if you can see the plot structure.

Let's see what happens next.

Can you make him find it interesting?

In the movie, Cheng Yong's "career" reaches its peak.

He became a true "god" in the patient community.

He gained money, dignity, and a team.

He even developed a hint of ambiguous feelings for Liu Sihui.

Everything is moving towards perfection.

at this time.

A man named Zhang Changlin.

A "villain" has come into view.

Just like the opposite of the protagonist in every commercial movie.

The plot here.

This surprised Jiang Wen and his group.

in the movie.

Zhang Changlin offered a price.

A price Cheng Yong couldn't refuse.

Use money to buy all his channels.

“You need to think this through. Selling this medicine now is illegal.” Zhang Changlin’s seemingly honest face was smiling. “As for me, I’ve been selling it for over ten years, and I even give lectures every year. Nothing’s happened to me. Why? Because I have connections, and I have confidence.”

"Give me the distribution channels, and you can take the money and live a comfortable life as a wealthy man for the rest of your life. Isn't that great?"

"With this money, you can go to America or Europe. What medicine can't cure your chronic myeloid leukemia?"

Threat.

inducement.

Every word struck Cheng Yong precisely where he was most vulnerable.

He is afraid of death.

He also wanted to get rich.

He was more afraid of going to jail.

On screen, Li Xuan, who plays Cheng Yong, has a struggling expression on his face.

On screen, Jiang Wen's brows furrowed for the first time in real time.

wrong.

This is not right.

According to the logic of action movies, the protagonist should have made a big impact at this point.

This fake drug dealer should be trampled underfoot and shown who the real "god" is in a more awesome way.

Then, Cheng Yong made a decision that stunned the entire screening room.

He nodded.

"it is good."

One word.

He sold it.

He sold his fellow patients' life-saving channel to a fraudster who sold fake drugs.

He took a large suitcase full of money and broke up with his "team".

"Don't contact me anymore."

He said those words to Huang Mao, to Pastor Liu, and to everyone else.

Then he turned and left.

There was not a trace of lingering attachment.

"..."

Lu Chuan's mouth gaped slightly; he was completely baffled.

what is this?
The protagonist... admitted defeat?

Did he abandon his status as a "god," take the money, and run away?

This is completely contrary to his understanding of all commercial film structures.

Shouldn't the climax of a story be confrontation and victory? How did it turn into compromise and escape?

Jiang Wen's brows relaxed, replaced by a deep, playful smile.

interesting.

So interesting.

That kid Li Xuan, he actually dared to do this.

He used a perfect commercial film opening to bring all the audience's emotions to a fever pitch.

Then, at the very moment when it should have been detonated, he himself cut the fuse.

A sort of.

This technique is also used in the movie "Let the Bullets Fly".

Li Xuan is indeed my soulmate.

At this moment, the pace of the film slowed down completely.

The scene became bright and warm.

Cheng Yong's life seems to have returned to normal after he was exonerated.

He used that money to start a tailoring business.

His former greasiness and arrogance were replaced by expensive suits and a fake smile.

He became a successful entrepreneur.

He even went for a physical examination.

A blunder.

He does not have chronic myeloid leukemia at all.

A low murmur rippled through the entire theater.

Jiang Wendu couldn't help but laugh out loud.

"Holy shit, this is fucking..."

How ironic.

The protagonist risks his life and even his life to smuggle goods, yet one of his biggest motives never existed in the first place. Everything he does seems like a huge joke.

Lu Chuan also thought so.

This is already a well-structured commercial film.

However, it depends on the time.

But there's still half left.

Let's see what happens after the "end".

On screen, Cheng Yong's life is getting better and better.

He became known as "General Manager Cheng" to others, frequenting high-end clubs and drinking with various big clients.

His life seemed to have no further connection with "Grenin".

This feels like an ending.

A "good" ending that's so realistic it's almost uncomfortable.

Time, fast forward.

Two years later.

"Sister-in-law, what brings you here?"

"Finally found you, Brother Yong... Can you still get your hands on Indian medicine? Old Lu is dying..."

"Indian medicine? Isn't that what Zhang Changlin sells?"

"He was arrested by the police."

Cheng Yong's mind went blank.

In the alley, a woman knelt on the ground, crying her heart out.

"Please, Brother Yong..."

That voice was like an awl, piercing Cheng Yong's heart again and again.

"I'll go see Old Lü in a couple of days..."

That was all he could say.

His voice was so dry it didn't sound like his own.

hospital.

A reunion after two years.

Cheng Yong was dressed in a smart suit, and his hair was neatly combed.

Lu Shouyi, lying on his sickbed, was so thin he was unrecognizable, his face gaunt and ashen, with the desolation of someone about to die.

"Hey, your haircut looks pretty neat."

Cheng Yong tried to force a smile, but it looked worse than crying.

"They're really brave; they even dared to commit suicide."

Lu Shouyi gave a weak smile and said the same thing again.

"Have an orange."

Cheng Yong fell silent.

He looked at this friend who had once dragged him down and who had once shared his joy of sudden wealth.

"Why is it like this?"

"There's no medicine."

Lu Shouyi spoke casually, as if he were talking about something that had nothing to do with him.

But the grievance, the weakness, and the fear of death were all written on his face.

The theater was deathly silent beneath the screen.

All the previous joy and humor had turned into a boulder pressing on everyone's hearts at this moment.

The smile on Jiang Wen's face had long since vanished.

He looked at Chen Kun's face on the screen.

That wasn't acted out.

Jiang Wen knew very well how much ruthlessness it took for an actor to push himself to this point.

"The wound in bed number two needs to be cleaned."

A nurse's voice interrupted their reunion.

Wound cleaning.

Without platelets, a small wound in a patient entering the acute phase will endlessly fester and expand.

The process of cleaning the wound is called scraping.

Cheng Yong sat on a chair outside, waiting.

Then, the sound came.

"what--!"

A bloodcurdling scream, so shrill it was almost inhuman, suddenly erupted from the cubicle.

The sound was like scraping bone alive with a dull knife; every syllable was filled with excruciating pain.

In the screening room, a female audience member couldn't help but cover her mouth and let out a suppressed sob.

Jiang Wen's body tensed up suddenly.

He felt as if his heart was being gripped by an invisible hand, the pain making it hard for him to breathe.

What the fuck...

This is no longer a performance.

This is conveying pain.

The purest, most primal, unadorned pain.

On screen, Li Xuan, who plays Cheng Yong, picks up a water glass and pretends to drink.

But his hand holding the cup was trembling slightly.

"Stop yelling..."

The screams from the cubicle continued, each one more desperate and distorted than the last.

The color drained from Cheng Yong's face little by little.

He put down the water glass and covered his ears tightly with both hands.

But the voice seemed to have grown legs, relentlessly drilling into his brain.

"Stop yelling..."

His body began to tremble uncontrollably, fine beads of sweat appeared on his forehead, and he muttered unconsciously.

"Please, don't..."

Lu Chuan's face turned pale instantly.

He wasn't listening to a character's screams.

He was listening to a living person being slowly tortured to death.

He finally understood.

He used the structure of a commercial action film in the first half to lure the audience in, letting them enjoy the thrill of money and a comeback alongside Cheng Yong.

Then, in the cruelest way, he turned that pleasure, with interest, into a torment that everyone felt.

You were laughing so happily before.

Now, that's how heartbroken I am.

The screams abruptly stopped.

The world fell silent.

But in everyone's ears, it seemed as if the desperate wail was still echoing.

Lü Shouyi is dead.

One early morning, he jumped out of a hospital window.

There was no suicide note.

No goodbye.

She left a pile of oranges for Cheng Yong on the bedside table.

When Cheng Yong received the call and rushed to the hospital like a madman, all he saw was an empty, cleaned-up hospital bed.

Li Xuan stood in front of that empty bed.

He didn't speak.

They didn't make any major moves either.

The camera slowly zoomed in on his profile from behind him.

He just stared at the bed, just stared.

I can almost see that skinny friend lying there, smiling and saying to him, "Have an orange."

A nurse came over and handed him a plastic bag.

"Left behind by the deceased."

Li Xuan lowered his head and opened the bag.

Inside was a bag full of bright yellow oranges.

Everyone in front of the monitor held their breath.

Jiang Wen's breathing also stopped.

He knew that the most crucial performance was about to begin.

Li Xuan reached into the bag and took out an orange.

His fingers were trembling slightly.

Very slightly.

He lowered his head and began peeling the orange.

The movements were slow and clumsy, as if it were the first time doing this.

The orange peel was peeled off piece by piece, revealing the plump flesh inside.

He put a segment of orange into his mouth.

Then he began to chew.

Once, twice...

His face was expressionless, devoid of sadness, anger, or anything at all.

It was just a deathly silence and numbness.

But in the act of chewing, everyone saw a kind of cataclysmic collapse.

Cheng Yong, who used to be slick and mercenary, only thinking about making money to save his life.

At this moment, I was completely shattered by the taste of this sweet and sour orange.

He swallowed the orange segment.

Then, he raised his head.

The camera gave him a close-up.

His eyes were red, but there wasn't a single tear.

It was a look of utter despair, more so than wailing, a look of eyes that had been completely hollowed out.

He looked ahead, as if he could see through the hospital walls and trace the path of his friend's disappearance.

This is simply the pinnacle of acting.

The two engaged in a silent, unspoken dialogue.

And the storyline that follows.

This shocked Lu Chuandu.

again and again.

Li Xuan's strength surprised him time and time again.

"That's not right. How could Zhang Changlin be arrested? He's a big shot who's been running the counterfeit drug market for years without getting away with it."

At this point, Lu Chuan raised this question.

He's very resourceful.

One reason the protagonist wants to retire successfully.

Isn't it also because this fake drug dealer is very knowledgeable?

This is Dr. Zhang.

He can handle everything.

"You've been out of touch with the masses for too long," Jiang Wen said calmly.

The next shot of the movie.

Cheng Yong set foot on Indian soil once again.

He made a decision.

A decision that he used to consider incredibly foolish.

He carried a huge backpack, exchanged everything he owned for cash, and set foot on this land once again.

He struggled forward against the flow of the revelry and religious procession.

As the giant statue of Shiva passed by him.

In the shot, Cheng Yong's face overlapped with the statue's face, which was both majestic and compassionate.

Destruction and rebirth.

Mortals and gods.

He had no reason left.
He went into drug smuggling—the reasons he once had—to support his father, for dignity, for his own life—are no longer valid. What reason could possibly motivate him now? When the protagonist's 'goal' and 'desire' are achieved...

So, what drives him.

It is no longer about selfish desires.

at this time.

Jiang Wen and Lu Chuan then learned what the Medicine God meant.

The first half of the 'Medicine God'.

And the second half of the 'Medicine God'.

this moment.

God was born.

True God.

(End of this chapter)