Huayu: From charlatan to great entertainer

Chapter 480 Taking the Baton, The Next Era

"Mr. Lu, there's a banquet being held in Shanghai at noon. I'll have the driver pick you up before we leave." Ren Zhonglun held Lu Kuan's hand and escorted him to the door.

Boss Lu nodded: "Okay, then I'll go back to my room first."

Xu Peng, seeing the opportunity, quickly approached: "Mr. Lu, here is your room key. Miss Liu has already gone upstairs."

Like a sedan chair carried by people, Lu Kuan took the room card and flattered him, saying, "Thanks, Lao Xu, you truly deserve to be a trusted and capable general of President Ren."

"Not at all, not at all, just serving the leaders."

After Boss Lu walked away, Ren Zhonglun gave Xu Pengle an approving look, and the two talked in hushed tones as they walked off.

The collaboration between Shanghai Film Group and Wenjie has become increasingly close this year.

On the one hand, Zhijie Video bought a large number of online copyrights to works from Shanghai Film Studio and Shanghai Animation Film Studio, enabling them to generate small-scale revenue from the film and television works that were sitting in their warehouses.
On the other hand, the first film in the collaboration between the two companies and Eagle Entertainment, "Let the Bullets Fly," is being filmed smoothly and will soon be completed, ready to compete in the Lunar New Year film season.

This is just the beginning. Once a pleasant cooperation model is established, like that between Wenjie and China Film Group, it will be easy to replicate it.

Ren Zhonglun admitted that he couldn't provide Lao Han with all the conveniences he could, but as long as it was a suitable work, Shanghai Film Group could surely make concessions on distribution costs and investment returns, right?

As early as the beginning of the year, during the negotiations between Disney and the local Shanghai authorities, through the mediation of Lu Kuan, Disney invested in purchasing the rights to a series of IPs from Shanghai Film Studio, including "Lotus Lantern," with the intention of making appropriate localization modifications in the construction of the theme park.

Other examples, such as the image of Sun Wukong from "Havoc in Heaven" on the parade floats, renaming the American town as Mickey Avenue, and the "Chinese chapter" in the customized scene of "Soaring Over the Horizon," all have the same purpose.

This is undoubtedly a major boon for Shanghai Film Studio, and it also makes Ren Zhonglun, who is determined to push the group to go public, even more convinced of the owner of this private film giant in the domestic entertainment industry.

Afei accompanied Lu Kuan all the way up the elevator before leaving. Boss Lu swiped his card to enter the house and saw Xiao Liu sitting at the table looking at something from afar.

As he loosened his tie, he joked, "Getting ready to eat? Hungry? Lunch is on the company payroll today, no need for our own money, aren't you happy?"

"Oh," Liu Yifei replied faintly without turning around.

Ok?
Even a normal man, let alone a washing machine with a keen sense of smell, would sense something was wrong at this point.

It's one thing if there are no swallows returning to their nests upon entering, but why is there no imperial concubine turning her head to look back?

At the very least, shouldn't she respond in a gentle and soft-spoken manner? This isn't Liu Yifei's style.

If your wife is quiet, she's definitely up to something.

Lu Kuan tiptoed behind his newlywed wife. The fitted waist of her black suit accentuated the sharp lines of her back, making it appear as neat as a fine brush painting.

He noticed something amiss the moment his palm touched his wife's shoulder; her slender shoulder blades resembled two taut butterfly wings, exuding a cool resistance beneath the silk fabric.

The washing machine, with a flattering smile, asked, "Sissi?"

The pretty face so close to mine was tense; she didn't answer, or even look me in the eye.

"Vitamin Cyan?"

Vitamin Qian didn't want to answer, and even crumpled up the paper in her hand and threw it far away, probably signaling someone to get lost.

"Not enough vitamins? Are you penicillin? Or Liuwei Dihuang Wan (a traditional Chinese medicine)?"

Boss Lu brought his head close to the girl's delicate face, almost able to smell her fragrance. He seemed unaware of the seriousness of the situation and brazenly flirted with his newlywed wife.

Suddenly, Liu Yifei turned around, her phoenix eyes wide open, and pounced like a cat with its fur standing on end.

The hem of her black suit drew a sharp arc in the air as she grabbed Lu Kuan's arm and bit down hard on the soft flesh of his wrist with her pearly teeth!

"I'll let you go, Gui Qian!"

This time, Xiao Liu gritted her teeth and took a bite, but after the washing machine cried out in pain, she let go. Her lips were stained with a few strands of silver, and her puffed-up cheeks looked like a squirrel stuffed with pine cones.

Boss Lu asked incredulously, "Where did I go wrong?"

"You're not wrong, I'm the one who's wrong."

"I should have stayed away from you from the very beginning, far, far away from you, you piece of shit."

"I don't want to be a Best Actress. I'll just be a good action star. Bad dramas are bad dramas, bad movies are bad movies. Otherwise, I wouldn't have fallen for your trick."

She glanced at the crescent-shaped mark on the washing machine's arm, then turned her head away angrily, a single strand of hair sticking up stubbornly at the crown of her head, which was quite adorable.

“We’ve only been apart for less than half an hour,” Boss Lu sneered. “I don’t believe anyone could have sown discord and achieved such an effect in that half hour.”

The washing machine looked at her incredulously: "Did you figure it out? Did you figure out that I married you just to..."

"Eat your toothbrush?"

Seeing his carefree, grinning face, Liu Yifei's frustration from Bingbing's place and her youthful resentment erupted together, and she got up and gave him a good beating with her fists.

"I'm calling you the washing machine!"

"I'll teach you a lesson for your debauchery and shamelessness!"

"I told you not to go around flirting with other women!"

The sounds of the zither, a cacophony of notes, fell like large and small fists onto a jade plate.

Ren Zhonglun, the richest man in mainland China in the eyes of Xu Pengle, was scolded by his wife, but quickly took the initiative and hugged her tightly.

His hands were placed where they should be, and his mouth gently nibbled at the girl's sensitive earlobe.

Since they've already been condemned as lewd and shameless, the least damaging thing to do is to solidify their charges.

Xiao Liu's buttocks, chest, and cheeks were all invaded by the washing machine. Her body was embarrassed and her face gradually turned red. After a while, she finally broke free, panting, turned around, curled up on the sofa, hugged a cushion, and looked out the window with a melancholy expression.

"I just ran into Fan Bingbing."

"and then?"

Liu Yifei turned to look at him with sparkling eyes: "I didn't tell you before, but she has actually talked to me several times."

"I wanted to be your concubine the last two times."

"Huh?" Lu Kuan was surprised by Bingbing's bluntness, and looked at his "first wife" with some amusement: "And then?"

Xiao Liu glanced sideways at the washing machine, seemingly trying to catch the fleeting joy in its pupils, and then use that as an excuse to continue beating it up.

Unfortunately, it didn't work out.

"You're pretty keen on it, aren't you? You can't wait for me to agree, can you?"

"Nonsense!" Boss Lu denied it righteously and firmly.

He never expected to encounter such a difficult and unexpected event less than a week after getting married, but it was very unexpected.

She dared not tell herself, so she could only try to influence the kind-hearted Liu Yifei indirectly, thinking that as long as Liu Yifei, the first wife, agreed, she would have a place among the ladies of the wealthy family.

Bingbing thought this girl was like a plaster cast that could be softened by tears, but he didn't know that she was a diamond squeezed out by tectonic movement, and titanium white that is insoluble in any color.

It can only be said that those who have never confronted Liu Yifei do not know the sharp edges beneath her gentle and sweet appearance; it is a true character that would rather break than bend.

While Xiao Liu lamented how difficult Bingbing was to deal with, the washing machine had also been lamenting how difficult Xiao Liu was to deal with over the years.

If it were anyone else, perhaps he wouldn't have ended up in prison with a wife so early. It can only be said that he was warmed by this equally persistent and resilient girl.

Bingbing looked for the wrong person; they shared similar stubborn genes, yet their fates diverged.

Looking at Lu Kuan, who vehemently denied it, Liu Yifei couldn't help but roll her eyes at him. What else could she do?

They've already fought, bitten, and made a scene.

She knew this was a "pre-marital issue," and that the washing machine couldn't be entirely blamed.

But he couldn't do anything about the hysterical, desperate leading lady. He could only keep her at a distance and put her on the shelf. Could he kill her like a first wife in ancient times?

She could only vent her anger on her husband, since he was thick-skinned and even more shameless.

Xiao Liu sat up straight and said seriously, "She just contacted me and wants to make a deal with me. Do you want to hear it?"

"I don't want to." Boss Lu is such a shrewd person; this is just asking for trouble!
If you are not deaf or dumb, you cannot be a father-in-law.

The washing machine solved the problem in its own way: "Since you've come back, it means you've made a choice, given an answer, and solved the problem."

“We are husband and wife. What you say represents me, and your meaning is my will, even if it is wrong.”

Liu Yifei stared at his solemn vows, her previously tense face turning like a melting lake, and the slight anger in her phoenix eyes vanished completely.

She gave the washing machine a coquettish glare, and then the corners of her eyes involuntarily curved into shallow crescents.

A smile spread from the depths of his eyes, softening the frost in them and transforming them into a pool of shimmering honey.

"What's wrong with that? Vitamin Qian never makes mistakes!"

The girl didn't want to give him a nice look too soon, and tried to bite her lower lip to hide her excitement, but the dimples at the corners of her mouth betrayed her. She simply got up and hugged the washing machine tightly, pressing her pretty face against his chest.

"You're such a ladies' man! How am I supposed to keep up with all these suitors? I'm exhausted!"

Xiao Liu looked up, stood on tiptoe, and kissed the man on the lips: "And your mouth, I think even if you were an ordinary person, you would be very good at fooling girls."

Boss Lu raised an eyebrow: "You wicked woman, you're the one who's pretending to be mute! You clearly tricked me into your lover's heart."

"She claimed to be Vitamin Qian, but she seduced me every day, riding horses like crazy, her butt throbbing like she had a little electric motor inside her. Isn't that all... um..."

"Shut up!" Liu Yifei covered her husband's mouth, her face flushed, regretting that she had praised him too early.

You can't expect ivory to come out of a dog's mouth.

The young couple didn't really argue or fight; they just had some minor interactions due to some unresolved historical issues. After a few lighthearted banter, they were back to their sweet and affectionate selves.

Liu Yifei suddenly said in a muffled voice in his arms, "How about we have a child?"

"Huh?" Lu Kuan was both amused and exasperated. What had triggered this? Then, after a moment's thought, he seemed to understand what she meant by Bingbing's deal.

"You're still a child yourself, do you even know how to raise a child?"

"Won't you know once it's born?" Xiao Liu retorted, then teased him again, "I'm afraid one day a child will suddenly knock on our door and call you 'Dad'!"

"What if all your wealth is taken away by outsiders? No way!"

Boss Lu smiled and said, "You really don't let your fans off the hook."

"Falling in love last year, getting married this year, having a baby next year—how many more unwilling and humiliated souls will be killed by this series of moves?"

Xiao Liu thought it was a good idea: "Anyway, I'm going to have the baby sooner, so the sooner I can recover, my mom will have something to do."

"By the way! Having a baby will broaden my acting range a lot. From now on, I can play not only pregnant women, but also mothers!"

Lu Kuan's expression turned serious: "Liu Yifei, how heartless you are! You actually want to use our children as material for your acting master journey? Outrageous!" Little Liu knew he was joking, and her tone was spoiled: "So what if they're material? They're drinking my milk, can't they offer some value? Isn't equivalent exchange your life philosophy, Boss Lu?"

"Okay, okay, I want to eat too, I'll make the ingredients too." The washing machine hugged his wife and began to grope her without restraint.

Liu Yifei giggled and pushed him away: "Get lost! You're not good enough to be source material, you're just consumables!"

Xu Pengle from Shanghai Film Group called to say that the car had arrived downstairs, and the young couple tidied themselves up and went downstairs.

The topic of Bingbing faded away without a trace, and the topic of the child was not explored in depth. Perhaps Xiao Liu herself was just provoked by Bingbing today.
-
At 9 p.m. on September 11, after days of rain, Shanghai saw a brief respite from the overcast skies, but the sky remained gloomy and overcast, with occasional glimpses of sunlight breaking through the clouds in the afternoon.

Unlike most funeral ceremonies that are predominantly black and white, director Xie Jin's funeral ceremony was specially designed with pink and purple as the main colors.

At the entrance to the farewell hall, hundreds of baskets of white roses and wreaths made of lilies were densely arranged on both sides. Directly above the entrance to the hall, the words "Director Xie, we will always remember you" were written in large characters.

This line of text can be seen everywhere around the farewell hall, and can be said to be the theme of today's farewell ceremony.

On the left and right sides of the entrance to the hall, there are huge color photos of the old director and a 4-meter-high LED screen that continuously plays clips of his life achievements and major representative works.

Inside the main hall of Longhua Funeral Home, the memorial service for director Xie Jin is underway. The hall can accommodate 300 people, but the square outside is already packed with fans and spectators who have come to bid farewell to the old director.

Before the memorial service began today, the official announcement had already broadcast the list of leaders who paid their respects to Director Xie Jin. From top to bottom, no one was absent, showing the utmost respect.

This fully demonstrates the nation's recognition of the deceased artist's career and contributions.

Meanwhile, in accordance with Director Xie Jin's last wishes and his wife Xu Dawen's request, this memorial service will have no set program, no speeches, and no eulogies. It will be conducted in the form of a mobile condolence, keeping everything simple.

On one side of the mourning hall, Mr. Lu and other local leaders of the funeral committee stood together exchanging pleasantries, with acquaintances occasionally coming over to greet and chat.

Liu Yifei did not stand with him. Zhou Xun was also there today. The two of them stood solemnly in the crowd, chatting casually.

"Sisi, when are you joining the crew?"

"Lu Kuan will go to Yichang in a couple of days. Zhang Yimou will ask him to check on the preliminary arrangements and discuss the script. I have to go there on the 25th because the performance at Beijing People's Art Theatre needs to be completed successfully."

Zhou Xun nodded: "You're already a young mistress, and you're still working so hard? You two deserve to make money, leave some way for us poor people to survive."

Xiao Liu smiled and said, "Sister Xun, I saw on the news that you're going to film a spy drama."

“Yes, ‘The Message’ was co-produced by Shanghai Film Group and Huayi Brothers, and its Hong Kong distribution was handled by Eagle Entertainment.” Zhou Xun explained, “Shanghai Film Group is seeking a listing and has recently been in talks with Wenjie, Eagle Entertainment, Huayi Brothers, and even Chengtian Entertainment regarding cooperation.”

She sighed as she looked at the mourners coming and going: "It's just that there are too few good directors like Director Xie. It's already very good for us actors to encounter one in our careers."

Zhou Xun herself had almost no interaction with Xie Jin, but she had a close relationship with Xie Jin's eldest son, director Xie Yan.

Her big-screen debut was in the latter's 1995 film "Daughter Red", in which Zhou Xun played Hua Diao, a young girl who became pregnant with a young painter. In 1998, the two collaborated again on "Huaqiao Rongji", and Xie Jin often went to the film set to watch his son filming.

In these two films, Zhou Xun acted alongside Gui Yalei, Zheng Yuling, and others, which had a significant impact on her early development.

Xiao Liu nodded, agreeing with Zhou Xun's words.

On her way in, she saw many elderly fans and audience members who had come to bid farewell to the veteran director.

Some were in tears, while others chatted with their peers about classic movies. One of them wrote on a red cloth, "A golden cup or a silver cup is not as good as the people's word of mouth."

This was probably the only defense he offered after being attacked by Zhu Dake and swept up in the tide of the times, and it was truly moving.

Standing in the crowded main hall of the funeral home, Liu Yifei gained a deeper understanding of the various aspects of Xie Jin, Zhu Dake, and others that her husband Lu Kuan had previously described.

Movies, as a cultural product with a huge social reach, can truly influence a generation.

It is not merely the art of light and shadow as perceived by the Sixth Generation, but also a powerful tool for shaping the national spiritual landscape and a battlefield without gunpowder.

As for his dream—for Chinese culture and films to go global—it's not just a business game, but a matter of life and death for the spiritual foundation of this generation, requiring the joint efforts of all practitioners.

People were coming and going in the main hall, and Liu Yifei and Zhou Xun soon saw many familiar faces.

Bingbing, whom I met in the morning, was of course among them, as were Da Qingyi Pan Hong, Yanzi who had received Xie Jin's patronage, and Liu Xiaoqing.

Liu Xiaoqing, accompanied by her boyfriend A Feng, walked through the area, looking noticeably haggard and lacking her former boldness and enthusiasm. No matter how the media pressed her for answers, she remained silent.

She was very emotional today. She brought a bag of money and tried to give it to her teacher's wife without saying a word, promising to help Ah Si financially. However, Xu Dawen firmly declined.

Bingbing looked even more miserable. The media reporters wouldn't let this fashion queen off the hook, and they almost shot her face-to-face. She was pulled away by her agent and assistant.

Tang Guoqiang, Zhu Shimao, Pu Cunxin, Cong Shan, Qin Yi, and others also arrived and were interviewed by reporters.

Pu Cunxin frankly stated: Director Xie Jin's life was fulfilling. It was fulfilling because of his films; he was a leading and representative figure in the film industry of that era.

Zhu Shimao vividly recalled the days when he filmed "The Herdsman". Facing the camera and microphone, he was speechless for a moment, gave a few perfunctory words, and left.

Also present were Wu Siyuan and Xu Anhua, representatives of Hong Kong filmmakers, Li Xing, a director from Taiwan, and veteran artist Niu Ben, demonstrating Xie Jin's high prestige and popularity during his lifetime.

During the viewing of the remains, each person in the square was given a pink carnation, and they entered in batches and left quickly.

Until the very end of the ceremony, Xu Dawen, as a family member of the deceased, stood at the front of the stage to express her gratitude to all the friends, students, and leaders who came to bid farewell to her husband.

"Today, Lao Xie's relatives, friends, colleagues, younger colleagues, and so many strangers have come. I thank you all on his behalf."

She bowed deeply, her fingers clenching the hem of her clothes. "Throughout his life, what he cherished most was his audience. He always said, 'A golden cup or a silver cup is not as good as the people's word of mouth.' Now, seeing the flowers in everyone's hands and the tears in their eyes, he must be very gratified in heaven."

"Old Xie is getting old, and he tends to forget things, so he writes them down. Now I'll read the last thing he wrote after the opening ceremony of the Olympics."

Xu Dawen shakily pulled a piece of paper from her pocket, which rustled as she unfolded it:
On the night of August 8th, fireworks at the Bird's Nest illuminated half a century of history.

My deepest realization in this life is that for Chinese cinema to stand up, it must first learn to walk on two legs.

One leg must be firmly planted in the yellow earth, while the other leg must stride towards the Pacific Ocean.

But the backbone of Chinese cinema lies in self-confidence. Don't be blinded by Western spectacles; learn their steelmaking skills and forge our own swords.

Where should Chinese cinema go? I once had an answer, but I haven't fully put it into practice and found a successful path, which I'm ashamed of.

Fortunately, the directors of today are all excellent. In addition to Yi Mou, Kai Ge, and Xiao Jia, there are also rising stars like Xiao Lu, who are truly admirable. I believe they will gain a deeper understanding.

In recent years, my biggest hobby has been watching Xiao Lu's movies. Every one of them is very interesting and worth revisiting. He is the hope for the future of Chinese cinema.

Seeing such young people is the most joyful thing for us old folks who are nearing the end of our lives.

Art has no boundaries; only those with courage and vision can cross them.

That opening ceremony was fantastic! I'm going to have a couple more drinks with Ayan.

. . .

This casual record ends here, and it is also Xie Jin's last words to this world.

When Xie Jin wrote these words on August 8, he and his eldest son were still alive, but now they are separated from their family by death.

Xu Dawen was sobbing uncontrollably as she read the last paragraph, and the audience below the stage were also moved to tears.

In the square, the wind swirled up white chrysanthemums scattered on the ground, and the ink on the signature wall, still wet, spread in the sunset, like the fading out of an old movie.

It seems that after his wife conveyed his last wishes, Xie Jin passed away peacefully.

Xu Dawen walked off the stage shakily and handed the crumpled paper in her hand to Lu Kuan, who was dressed in black.

All eyes in the mourning hall were on them, and the reporters who were allowed in kept snapping photos.

"Xiao Lu, take this paper." The old lady patted the young man's arm: "If Lao Xie were here, he would do the same thing and say the same thing."

Lu Kuan's face was solemn, and his arm was still wrapped in white gauze: "Yes, I accept it. Thank you, Aunt Xu, thank you, old director."

The young director took the yellowed paper with both hands, his fingertips trembling slightly.

He looked down at the familiar handwriting on the paper, as if he could see Xie Jin's slightly hunched back as he wrote.

The mourning hall fell silent. Even the sound of camera shutters became restrained. Everyone realized that this was not just a will, but a heavy baton to be passed on.

The arduous journey of Chinese cinema over the past half-century and the grand vision for the next thirty years have been handed over in an epic fashion at this moment.

Xu Dawen held Boss Lu's hand and whispered thank you.

Standing to the side, Liu Yifei knew this was because of Zhu Dake.

She knew that behind this solemn and respectful farewell ceremony lay her husband Lu Kuan's unwavering devotion.

It was during the final days of director Xie Jin's life that he used his enormous influence among a new generation of film fans to vindicate this weathered veteran artist and allow more people to rediscover this meritorious figure in Chinese cinema.

His statement, "The times have Xie Jin, but Xie Jin has no times," is not only a high-level summary of Xie Jin's artistic achievements as a director, but also a cultural footnote to an era.

Looking at Ms. Xu Dawen and Director Xie Jin's lifelong devotion to each other, Liu Yifei couldn't help but think about her own future with Lu Kuan.

Xu Dawen was Xie Jin's only wife in his life, which was extremely rare for Xie Jin's family background and status.

The veteran director used his camera to record the social changes in China over half a century, while Xu Dawen used her own life to witness the entire creative career of this art master, witnessing his glory and his low points together, and finally growing old together.

This is also Xiao Liu's dream.

She couldn't help but recall the journey since she met him.

At the beginning, he was just an unscrupulous director who mingled in the entertainment industry and could be described as a "swindler".

He swindled the Hong Kong entertainment circle and young officials, deceived the godfather Cheng Jingfei who was already in Australia, tricked himself, and cheated countless people.

This kind of "deception and fraud" is essentially a microcosm of primitive capital accumulation. It takes advantage of imperfect industry rules, information gaps, and resource monopolies to quickly accumulate wealth and improve social status.

As his social status rose, he gradually delved deeper into exploring his art of light and shadow. On a level unknown to Xiao Liu, Lu Kuan was making up for the regrets of his past life.

This is also a natural upgrade after capital accumulation; the high added value of the cultural industry requires deeper cultural connotations to support it.

After "A Home Away From Home," he began to focus on the artistry of film, no longer seeing it merely as a tool for making money, but attempting to express deeper cultural reflections through his works.

However, as his business grew larger and Wenjie became a leading cultural and media conglomerate in China, whether it was his own decision and ambition, or simply an individual going with the flow in the face of historical trends—

The responsibility and mission of occupying the cultural front, spreading national culture, and leading the industrialization of Chinese films naturally fell on his shoulders and those of his generation.

Just like Xie Jin back then, he resolutely stood at the forefront of the tide amidst the overwhelming tide of history.

Liu Yifei gently clenched the carnation in her hand, the dew on the petals wetting her fingertips.

She watched her husband's tall figure weave through the crowd, delighted that she could accompany him on this journey of transformation from a wandering rogue to a leader of the times, and witness him stand tall and proud as he took up the banner of Chinese cinema.

In terms of the course of life, we have only taken a few steps, and the future is long.

This path, relative to his aspirations, was also quite arduous.

But as long as I can hold his hand and walk forward, no matter how far the road is, it's my way home.

(End of this chapter)