Huayu: From charlatan to great entertainer

Chapter 546 He is a Han Chinese (Bonus chapter for Xuegao)

The superior welfare system of Wenjie Holdings has been well known to the public since the establishment of the employee housing fund in 2003 before the skyrocketing housing prices in Beiping, and since the introduction of virtual restricted shares at last year's eighth anniversary conference.

Even this annual routine health check system is a benchmark compared to other private enterprises that are more perfunctory in their work.

While the salaries and benefits at Wenjie are good, the workload is indeed extremely heavy.

Whether it's Wenjie Films, which works with several directors, or the internet companies within the Zhijie system, working overtime is commonplace under the overall collaborative operations of Wenjie Holdings.

For example, to create a small social casual game like "Wenjie Farm," multiple teams, including cinemas, Weibo, video platforms, e-commerce platforms, Focus Media, Yang Siwei's Starlink, and celebrity management departments, would need to work together in a coordinated, multi-pronged approach.

If anything happens, everyone will work overtime.

From this perspective, the boss's wife, who has caused Weibo's servers to crash several times, also has to take the blame; many programmers have lost their hair because of her.

However, compared to the career aspirations and corresponding compensation offered by the company, some people left because they couldn't stand the workload, but no one questioned the exploitation of the working class.

This is all "thanks" to their boss being a workaholic, whose twelve slaves also work from dawn till dusk and have no idea what rest is.

The boss doesn't just exploit the working class; he exploits everyone from himself to the petty bourgeoisie and the bureaucratic class.

China Film Group sometimes has to cooperate with certain important marketing efforts.

Even his own wife, who was exploited from a minor until she gave birth to a child, has never stopped.

In this context, the company has naturally established a comprehensive annual physical examination system for its employees, usually during the National Day holiday. The company has partnered with several top medical institutions, such as 301 Hospital, to provide all employees with health management services covering the entire life cycle.

Each tenured employee has one opening, with equal qualifications and requirements. In Boss Lu's words:
Buying horse bones with a thousand pounds of gold is pure capitalist behavior, a marketing strategy built on the blood and tears of laborers. The cost of our medical examinations is far more than ten thousand pounds, but it is an investment to avoid losing talent, and it is worthwhile.

This year, because Liu Yifei was pregnant and gave birth, in accordance with the principle of not wasting, she gave her spot to her best friend Yao Beina, who was still at the Navy Political Department. Su Chang gave her spot to Tang Yan because she had a physical examination before filming "Inception" in the United States, as required by the union.

I originally thought it was just a trivial matter.
Unfortunately, the news that came was not very optimistic, but fortunately, she discovered it more than a year earlier than in her previous life, so perhaps there would be more treatment options.

Liu Yifei told her husband and then went to the next room. She saw that Liu Xiaoli had already started to coax Tiedan, who had woken up earlier, and check his diaper. She then quickly called Yao Beina.

Back in front of the video, she seemed quite worried: "It's breast cancer, but it was discovered early. I'm going to see her this afternoon."

Lu Kuan nodded: "If you need any medical resources or social connections, just go directly to Dong Shuangqiang. If that doesn't work, I'll ask Leader Liu. There's always a way."

"understood."

Around 11 p.m. Vancouver time, Ms. Liu held her baby and circled around in front of the camera. She then urged her husband to go to bed early and strictly forbade him from repeating his bad habit of staying up late.

The sudden bad news left the 22-year-old new mother with mixed feelings.

Especially this childhood best friend who was laughing and chatting with her when the baby was a month old, how did she suddenly become associated with the terrible word "cancer"?

She has never forgotten how Mui Yan-fong struggled against illness during her early years in the industry, to the point that she became emaciated. The pain she experienced while making a cameo appearance in "Whiplash" was shocking to her when she was just a little girl at the time.

She gradually faded from the public eye, giving up her beloved acting and singing career to focus on charity work.

On the other side of the world, in Beiping, the afternoon sun was glaring at two o'clock, and the clear autumn sky made Liu Yifei feel a tightness in her chest.

She got up again and pushed open the door to the nursery next door. The autumn sunlight poured in like melting honey. Liu Xiaoli was sitting on a chair in front of the French window, with two baby babies curled up in the stroller, looking like silkworm cocoons.

This is to let the little ones get some sun and calcium.

Yoyo's little feet peeked out of her swaddling clothes and suddenly kicked as her mother pushed open the door, as if she were dancing a silent tap dance.

"Mom..." The monosyllable that came out of Xiao Liu's throat trembled slightly. Liu Xiaoli turned her head, her face, which had not been marked by the passage of time, showing surprise.

"What's wrong?" Mother and daughter are of one mind, and she keenly sensed that her daughter's emotions were a bit off.

As Liu Yifei approached, she saw Youyou's pink toes gleaming softly in the light like five pearls, unconsciously circling with her footsteps as if plucking invisible strings.

"Yao Beina was diagnosed with breast cancer just a few days ago." Xiao Liu's voice was very soft, but when the two babies heard their mother's voice, they used their newly learned skills of lifting and turning their heads, curiously trying to catch a glimpse of her.

Liu Yifei sighed, looking at Liu Xiaoli, whose kind face turned to surprise: "I'll go see her this afternoon. You can call Uncle Yao and Aunt Li later."

Yao Beina was born into a musical family. Her father, Yao Feng, was a teacher and composer at Jiangcheng Conservatory of Music, and her mother, Li Min, was an actress at Jiangcheng Song and Dance Troupe and a colleague of Liu Xiaoli.

Liu Yifei and Yao Beina were childhood friends. In her previous life, Yao Beina became famous mainly because of the behind-the-scenes manipulation she encountered on The Voice of China when she refused to sign a contract, and because she spoke out for Liu Yifei when she was attacked with negative information.

In 2005, Travel Channel launched "The Voice of China." She thought of this older sister from her childhood, recommended her to participate, and cheered her on in the waiting room as a friend and family member.

The latter, with his solid singing skills and strength, won the championship in Jay Chou's team that year.

"How could this be? No one in her family has anything to do with this stuff!" The old mother was stunned for a long time. This question that came out of her mouth was because she did not want to believe that the person next to her had contracted such a terrible disease.

Liu Xiaoli unconsciously stroked the edge of the crib with her fingertips, gently brushing her fingertips across the baby's soft, white legs, as if trying to draw a sense of reality from the warm touch.

She recalled Jiangcheng in the 1980s, where, under the Yangtze River Bridge, the little girl from the Yao family would always wear a red ribbon and hopscotch on the cement ground of the cultural troupe's compound, her silvery laughter echoing throughout the summer.

Back then, Liu Yifei was about the same age as Youyou and Tiedan are now. Little girls like Yao Beina would come over in the yard, tiptoeing and clinging to the stroller to amuse her.

Those were memories of a time of communal living, memories of an era, yet on this afternoon twenty years later, they unexpectedly welled up in her eyes.

Especially after having grandchildren, Liu Xiaoli, who is getting older, feels even more deeply about the vicissitudes of fate.

She looked up at her daughter and said, "Go ahead, they're all your childhood friends. Now that you're more capable, help them as much as you can."

"Okay, I understand." Liu Yifei hugged her mother's shoulder, looked at her son's round little face, reached out to touch him, but was suddenly grabbed by his soft little hand.

Mia drove her to Yao Beina's house, glancing at her beautiful employer's melancholy face in the rearview mirror without saying a word.

At that moment, Liu Yifei wasn't thinking about anything; all she could think about was the scene before she left:

Tie Dan's palm was warm and moist, carrying the unique milky scent of a newborn. His five fingers tightly wrapped around his mother's index finger like newly blooming petals.

Thinking of Yao Beina, who had suffered such terrible news that she didn't even have the courage to make a phone call.

Some lives are being devoured by disease, while others are flourishing like the rising sun. Some are withering away, while others are blossoming. Some are pushed into the abyss by fate, while others are cherished by time.

As she grows older and her roles change, this actress, now a wife and mother, continues to draw inspiration and reflection from the experiences of those around her, and draws nourishment from real life and emotions.

The joy of becoming a mother, the sadness of seeing her childhood friend suffer from illness, and the realization of the fragility and resilience of life—these genuine emotions and experiences are gradually filling the foundation of her performances.

She recalled what her husband had said at Zeng Wenxiu's tombstone:

If "Shoplifters" were to be made again, it would surely offer an even more timeless answer, because back then he didn't have a family or children, and he didn't understand.

Liu Yifei couldn't help but recall the more than ten roles she had played. Some of the scenes involving joy and sorrow now seemed rather thin in retrospect. She was increasingly able to embody what Lu Kuan had told her when she was a young girl: that high-level acting is a resonance with life.

……

Xiao Liu took a car to Yao Beina's residence at No. 8 Guanyuan, near Wanshou Road. This area is a concentration of military compounds. The Navy Political Department is near Gongzhufen on the West Third Ring Road, which is not far away and is safe and convenient.

Yao Beina's residence in Beiping was not a luxurious villa. She joined the Naval Political Department Art Troupe in 05, won the pop music gold medal in the CCTV Young Singers Competition in 06, and participated in "The Voice of China," which led to some advertising endorsements. However, she later returned to the system and did not debut like the talent show contestants of later generations.

Rushing over, Liu Yifei didn't have time to disguise herself. She quickly walked to the residential area and went upstairs. Her tall female bodyguard, Mia, easily gave away her status as a top female star.

She couldn't care less about anything else now. Finally, after knocking on the door, she saw her childhood friend with red eyes, and then gave her a warm hug.
"Sister Nana, I'm here."

Before Yao Beina could even utter the word "Xixi," she buried her face in her childhood little sister's shoulder and burst into tears.

In a daze, she seemed to have returned to the Jiangcheng Cultural Troupe compound in the 1980s. At that time, Liu Yifei was still a toddler learning to walk. She tied a red ribbon around her neck, squatted in front of the stroller to make her laugh, and hummed the tune of "The Waves of Honghu Lake".

Now, the little girl who used to require her to bend down to touch the top of her head is now half a head taller than her, and her shoulders are strong enough for her to lean on.

“It’s still in the early stages.” Yao Beina calmed down a bit, sat on the sofa, and unconsciously ran her fingers along the rim of her teacup.

"The tumor is less than 2 centimeters in diameter and there are no signs of lymph node metastasis yet, which is classified as stage I invasive ductal carcinoma."

She looked up at Liu Yifei, forcing a smile: "The doctor said this is a stroke of luck amidst misfortune. If you have to get cancer, breast cancer is considered a 'mild' type of malignant tumor in women. If it is detected early, the five-year survival rate can reach over 90%."

Liu Yifei advised, "When I came here, I called Director Zhu of Peking Union Medical College Hospital and asked her to inquire with the experts. You must change your mindset now and put your work aside for the time being."

“Now that you are actively receiving treatment, if you continue to maintain such a high level of work intensity, the probability of relapse is also very high. Anita Mui’s situation was similar to yours. She hasn’t been on stage for at least five or six years and only occasionally participates in charity performances.”

Yao Beina looked distressed: "That's what I thought, but Teacher Liu recently recommended me to sing the theme song for the TV series 'Empresses in the Palace,' and I only recently signed the contract."

"I don't want to give up this opportunity, and I feel a little sorry for Mr. Liu Huan, but now... sigh."

As mentioned earlier, due to the early entry of coal funds and the characteristics of Qing Dynasty dramas being easy to adapt, having precedents, and having good sets, Yang Mi's "Palace" and Beiping Television Art Center's "Empresses in the Palace" were both launched ahead of schedule.

"The Legend of Zhen Huan" was originally a work whose copyright was purchased by Zheng Xiaolong in early 2010. In this life, he had already started organizing a screenwriting team to study adaptation ideas in September 2009. Yao Beina, the singer who sang the opening theme song "Red Beauty's Tribulation" in the previous life, was once again recommended to the crew by her teacher Liu Huan.

Some relationships develop in a predetermined order. For example, in his previous life, Liu Huan brought Yao Beina to the closing ceremony of the Olympics, and the same is true in this life, with little change.

But for Yao Beina, this well-intentioned recommendation became a deadly trigger.

After her first clinical cure, she obtained her doctor's consent to participate in the recording of "The Beauty's Tribulation" and "Bodhisattva's Lament," devoting a great deal of effort to the project while her body was still weak.

The immense popularity of "Empresses in the Palace" propelled her fame to new heights. After participating in the wildly popular "The Voice of China" in 2013, a follow-up examination revealed that cancer cells had metastasized to her bones and liver. At the age of 33, she succumbed to her illness and passed away.

The two women chatted for a while, and Yao Beina, who had just heard the bad news, gradually calmed down, seemingly feeling that she had someone to rely on.

"Xixi, you should go back. My parents' flight to Beiping is tonight, and they will accompany me to the check-up tomorrow."

Yao Beina forced a smile: "When I received the news at noon, I didn't know what to do. I just sent you a message to let you know. I was afraid I would cry if I called."

Xiao Liu sat closer and put his arm around her shoulder: "Go to 301 Hospital for a follow-up examination first. Don't worry about choosing a hospital. I'll ask someone to find out which one is the best in Beiping. Just relax and put your work aside for now."

"Let's talk to Mr. Liu Huan and make things clear, and cancel the contract with the 'Empresses in the Palace' production team first."

Yao Beina has not yet left the Navy Political Department. According to the established staffing, if she were to receive treatment, she could be placed in the 301 Hospital of the General Hospital of the People's Liberation Army. However, it is not necessarily the most professional and authoritative hospital for the treatment of breast cancer.

Just as Liu Xiaoli said, with her current abilities, it would be very easy for her to help her best friend and childhood friend; she would definitely help as much as she could.

If you want to get these things done in Beiping, just find Dong Shuangqiang. He has countless connections and knows everything about all walks of life.

Liu Yifei comforted Yao Beina a few more times before leaving, thinking that she would cover all the medical expenses after contacting the hospital for her. She noticed that her childhood friend's place was not as comfortable as she had imagined.

It's not that she's unaware of human suffering; it's just that she never thinks to care about such things on a daily basis.

Let's not even mention Jing Tian's family background.

Su Chang became famous early in this life and has always been on the right path. Although her family has experienced some changes, she can now earn money and has her boyfriend Zhuang Xu to take care of her, so she doesn't need anyone else to worry about her.

Tang Yan is one of the main actresses that Eagle Emperor has been cultivating in mainland China in recent years, occupying the ecological niche that Bai Bing occupied in the previous life.

As for the remaining two singers, Zhang Liangying and Yao Beina, Wenjie had already cut its music department, which used to make quick money, due to the downsizing of the SP business. At most, they would be invited to sing some suitable theme songs because of Liu Yifei's influence.

For example, Zhang Liangying always sings "As You Wish" from the TV series "The Sky of History" when she performs commercial shows.

In her previous life, Yao Beina had a personality that led her to directly confront Na Ying on stage because of the behind-the-scenes manipulation of "The Voice of China." She didn't follow the path of a purely entertainment-oriented pop singer like Super Girl or Happy Girl; instead, she honed her skills and learned within the system.

This achievement, winning the gold medal in the popular singing category at the CCTV Young Singers Competition, speaks volumes.

Back in 2009, Xiao Liu, who had just been promoted from a third-level actor at the Beijing People's Art Theatre, probably knew Yao Beina's salary level. Perhaps with some commercial performance income, she could earn much more than the average person, but facing such a serious illness and having to give up work for a long time, she might still have financial difficulties.

Giving her money directly wouldn't be appropriate, so we decided to pay her medical expenses in advance, and even if Yao Beina refused, we would make an excuse for her to pay it back slowly.

As Liu Yifei sat in the carriage returning to Wenyuhe Prefecture, she forgot something, or rather, she hadn't considered it a particularly important matter:

Will Yao Beina's contract termination process be so smooth?

October 17th, 10:00 AM, No. 2, Zaojunmiao, Haiding District, Beijing, Beiping Television Art Center.

In the conference room, Zheng Xiaolong, the head of the art center, was speaking calmly and unhurriedly on the stage:

"Comrades, the recent official promulgation of the 'Cultural Industry Revitalization Plan' marks a new stage in the development of my country's cultural soft power. This plan not only establishes the important position of the cultural industry as a pillar industry of the national economy, but also declares to the world that my country is taking firm steps to move from a country rich in cultural resources to a country strong in cultural development."

"All of our literary and artistic workers have a new direction to move forward. As the main force in the creation of national television art, the Beiping Television Art Center must bravely shoulder its mission and take the initiative."

……

Does this sound familiar?
The speech given by Lao Cai, who was in charge of this business, was almost identical to that given by Boss Lu at the "Beiping Film Festival Preparation Symposium" at the end of September.
This is because it is the implementation and mobilization that began with enterprises and institutions after the top-level design of the "Cultural Industry Revitalization Plan" was introduced.

Old Cai represented the city in promoting the preparation and implementation of the Beiping Film Festival;

As the director of the Beiping Television Art Center, Zheng Xiaolong's task was to respond to the national call and complete the reform during this period.

The art center is initially planned to be formally transformed from a public institution into a company next year and incorporated into the Gehua Media system.

On stage, Director Zheng was full of confidence: "Today, we have many cultural and media companies from Hunan and Taiwan, LeTV Culture, Wanda Pictures, and Xiaoma Benteng, who have expressed great interest in the 'Empresses in the Palace' series that the center has approved."

"On behalf of the Arts Center, I would like to express my sincere welcome and gratitude to everyone for your support!"

A round of applause erupted from the audience. Zheng Xiaolong waved his hand slightly in acknowledgment, then continued, "Here, I also urge all staff members of the center to strive diligently, using this 'Empresses in the Palace' as a starting point to promote the spirit of Chinese aesthetics and national culture, to authentically restore the grandeur of the Kangxi and Qianlong era court, and to deeply explore the core of traditional culture: 'benevolence, righteousness, propriety, wisdom, and trustworthiness'..."

The meeting concluded successfully around noon.

Before leaving, the representatives from several participating companies offered flattery. They were all there to buy films or online copyrights, so they naturally had a pleasant conversation and planned to deepen their relationship before departing.

In addition, Zheng Xiaolong himself is a veteran director in the Beijing film circle with profound experience and skills, as evidenced by the talents he has brought up, such as Feng Xiaogang and Zhao Baogang.

Gao Fei, vice president of LeTV Culture and former deputy editor-in-chief of Ku6.com, laughed and said: "Director Zheng just said something very good. We should promote our traditional culture. Since 'Princess Pearl,' there have been very few palace dramas that have broken out of their niche."

"This time, LeEco is producing 'Palace,' and rising star Yang Mi is scheduled to join the production at the end of the year. I think if the center can hand over the online rights to 'Empresses in the Palace' to LeEco, we can work together to deepen and thoroughly market Qing Dynasty culture, which will definitely create a matrix effect."

He knows how to address specific problems. A significant portion of the Beijing entertainment circle, or even half of the entire arts and culture industry, consists of Manchus, so they naturally support the promotion and marketing of Qing Dynasty dramas.

Zheng Xiaolong said seriously, "Okay, the center will definitely consider it carefully. Deputy General Manager Gao, please take care. We'll contact you again later."

Yao Jiaqiao from Hunan TV stood to one side and was the second to step forward to say goodbye: "Director Zheng, our station director may come to Beijing for a meeting next week. Would it be alright if I made an appointment with you in advance?"

She didn't say anything specific, but she said everything that needed to be said: We attach great importance to "The Legend of Zhen Huan", and the station director may come to talk to us in person.

"You're too kind. I should be the one visiting him." Zheng Xiaolong laughed. "The 'Ming Dynasty 1566' that your Hunan TV produced two years ago was absolutely fantastic. I specifically asked them to learn from and adapt the plot of palace intrigue and power struggles during the adaptation process." "If Liu Heping weren't busy right now, I would definitely invite him to give the screenwriting team a lesson."

Liu Heping is a top screenwriter in the industry, with a string of masterpieces, including "Yongzheng Dynasty", "Da Ming Dynasty 1566" and "No War in Beiping".

Yao Jia knew it was too early to discuss copyright and the first round of funding, so after exchanging a few more pleasantries, she left. Subsequently, companies such as Xiaoma Benteng also took their leave.

Only Wanda Pictures remained for a "deep discussion," not because of their strength in the film and television industry, but because an old acquaintance had introduced them to the meeting at Southeast University, which was their ticket to get things done.

This familiar face is Feng Xiaogang.

In 1984, Kuzi met a nurse at the hospital who happened to be the wife of Zheng Xiaolong, the deputy director of the Beiping Television Art Center at the time. The latter admired Kuzi's quick wit and artistic skills and hired him as an art designer at the center. This is where his dream of becoming a director of New Year's films began.

The real turning point in his life came during the creation of the phenomenal sitcom "Stories from the Editorial Department." Due to a creative block, Feng Xiaogang volunteered and successfully participated in the scriptwriting based on his understanding of Wang Shuowen's writing style.

This success led him to transition from art director to screenwriter, which in turn gave him the opportunity to co-direct "People from Beiping in New York".

From then on, he made a three-stage leap from graphic designer to screenwriter to director, and clung tightly to the coattails of Zheng Xiaolong and Wang Shuo, establishing himself in the Beijing entertainment circle.

Today, Wanda is led by the newcomer Wang Sicong, assisted by two prominent directors, Feng Xiaogang and Wu Ershan.

With a smile, Kuzi introduced, "Director Zheng, this is our young General Manager Wang, and this is Director Wu."

Wang Sicong was dressed impeccably today: "Director Zheng, Wanda Films just started this year and looks forward to collaborating with industry veterans like you."

The young second-generation leader, who was just starting out, had also witnessed the fierce battles between the "Anti-French Coalition" and Napoleon, so he didn't seem particularly intimidated at this moment.

"I wouldn't dare call myself an excellent director, I'll just enjoy my time here for a few more years." Zheng Xiaolong didn't neglect the son of one of the top ten richest people in China. How could someone involved in cultural projects not cultivate good relationships with these second-generation tycoons? They were the kind of people who didn't care about money.

Especially in the last two years, there have been more and more of them.

"I understand everyone's feelings and purpose in coming to the arts center today. 'The Legend of Zhen Huan' has now been adapted into its third version. I am very grateful for the attention and interest of all the companies involved, whether for the initial broadcast or the online rights, but it is indeed too late now..."

Ring ring ring!
"Excuse me, let me take this." Zheng Xiaolong saw it was his old friend Liu Huan, got up, and pushed open the door to go out: "Hello? Still performing in Sydney?"

The three Wanda guests present didn't take it seriously. Like Hunan TV and LeTV Culture, they were there to explore this "deep alley" because of the "fragrance of wine".

It wasn't that these people were too anxious; it was that everyone knew the Beiping Television Art Center and Zheng Xiaolong, and to exaggerate a bit, this was the pinnacle of the television industry, with almost no record of defeat.

China's first full-length television series, "Four Generations Under One Roof";
The first indoor long-form television series, "Yearning";
The first television comedy, "Stories from the Editorial Department";
The first TV series filmed entirely overseas, "People from Beiping in New York," along with last year's "Golden Wedding," were all huge hits.

Leaving aside Zheng Xiaolong himself, Feng Xiaogang, Zhao Baogang, Ge You, Jiang Wen, and Zhang Guoli all came from here.

Wang Sicong asked quietly, "Old Feng, do you think it's going to work out? This is our first time investing in a TV series."

Kuzi was very confident: "Don't worry about what he's filming. Anything Old Zheng makes is bound to be good. It's just a matter of how much investment he'll reveal to us. Besides—"

His voice grew even lower: "This time, taking advantage of the 'Cultural Industry Revitalization Law,' the center is going to be restructured from a public institution into a company. Think about Lao Zheng?"

Before he could finish speaking, Wang Sicong had already grasped the gist of it.

Indeed, just like in his previous life, Director Zheng regarded this work as a stepping stone to advancement.

Clearly, Zheng Xiaolong, as a veteran and meritorious figure who had been in charge of the center since the 80s, has taken advantage of the opportunity to move from a public institution to a self-financing company with a listed company, "Gehua Cable".

Public institutions do not allow individual shareholding, but Gehua Media is different.
The move from the Television Arts Center to Gehua was an adjustment made in accordance with industry policies, and also a "huge step" taken to stimulate creative vitality and improve the treatment of staff.

Feng Xiaogang explained: "Therefore, the success or failure of this 'Empresses in the Palace' is very crucial, as it involves Lao Zheng's subsequent arrangements and treatment, and even his shares."

He said confidently, "Don't worry, Mr. Wang. I've known him for over 20 years. I'll just say hello today and then we can talk to him gently later. There won't be any major problems."

With a soft "bang," Zheng Xiaolong turned back with a strange expression.

It seems the jinx in the pants came true; something really did go wrong.

It's just a minor issue.

"Director Zheng? What's this...?"

Zheng Xiaolong laughed and said, "It's nothing. Liu Huan introduced a female singer to sing the opening theme and interlude, but she suddenly said she was sick and couldn't come, and wanted to negotiate a contract termination."

"I was quite optimistic about this girl from the Navy Political Department, Yao Beina. She even composed the opening theme song 'The Beauty's Tribulation' by Liu Huan. But now, what a mess!"

It's not a fatal problem, but as Feng Xiaogang just mentioned, this TV series is of great significance to Zheng Xiaolong, as it relates to whether he can "take the lead" in this mixed-ownership reform of cultural institutions.

It would be very unpleasant to stumble at such a crucial moment, so he has high standards for every detail, and the script alone has already been revised to the third draft.

“Yao Beina?” Feng Xiaogang frowned. “The name sounds familiar, it seems…”

"Huh? Isn't he Liu Yifei's friend? He sang the theme song for Huayi's 'My Love from the Star' before."

Xiao Gangpao is still resentful and keeps talking about this old story from Huayi, just like Lu Xiufu.

"Oh? Liu Yifei, huh?" Zheng Xiaolong frowned slightly. In the past few days of October, the news about the Hurun Rich List and the "211 billion" US dollar assets had been spreading like wildfire. Even he, an old man who never paid attention to entertainment news, was very familiar with it.

However, he didn't think too much about it at the moment, after all, he had no grudges or enemies with Wenjie and that hidden billionaire... no, he should be called a hidden tycoon.

The only difference was that he was a veteran of the Beijing social circle, while the other was a rising star. The two had some minor disagreements before, stemming from Chen Kaige, Huayi, and others—specifically, the 2007 "one steamed bun" incident that led to the blacklist. (Chapter 309)
The ban was ultimately proven to be a ridiculous and ineffective public opinion rally. Everyone deleted their posts and backed down afterward, and Boss Lu only punished the ringleaders, bringing Taro and his son to justice.

This time, he was also one of the participants, pressured by the Beijing entertainment circle, including Huayi and Dayuan.

Wang Sicong became somewhat alert as soon as he heard Liu Yifei's name.

Whether you call it being paranoid or being overly cautious, the "other people's children" that the old man was talking about certainly put a lot of mental pressure on their competitors.

Yao Beina and Liu Yifei have a relationship, which means they have a relationship with Lu Kuan. Why did she have to request to terminate the contract at this particular time?
They at least managed to squeeze in to "buy" it, but you, a singer who's hitching a ride on Zheng Xiaolong's coattails, aren't willing to accept it?
Is this reasonable?

Of course, I wouldn't dare to confront him directly, but I could certainly use Zheng Xiaolong to find out what was going on!

Wang Sicong thought for a moment and said carefully, "Director Zheng, I heard that Wenjie is also going to make a period drama, just like your two companies, which is also an adaptation of an online novel IP. I wonder if it has anything to do with this matter."

“Oh, it’s normal competition, I shouldn’t be involved.” Zheng Xiaolong ignored his probing. “I don’t have any say in the film industry, but in the television industry, Wenjie is very good at grasping trends and key points.”

“A few years ago, when spy and military-themed dramas were popular, they had shows like ‘Lurking’ and ‘Soldiers’ Sortie,’ which were both blockbusters.”

"Last year, I saw that LeTV Culture produced a realistic drama called 'Dwelling Narrowness,' and Wenjie also produced 'Naked Wedding Era,' which was also produced by Wen Zhang."

"There's also the fact that Hunan and Taiwan produce Korean idol dramas, while they produce domestic idol dramas like 'My Love from the Star' and 'Meteor Shower.' Including this current trend of period dramas, we produce Qing Dynasty dramas while they produce dramas from other dynasties, which is understandable."

After saying all that, Lao Zheng's meaning is quite clear:

They're not targeting me, they just attack anyone. They follow every market trend and hot topic. So stop trying to sow discord!
"I see. I don't know much about the domestic television industry. I've learned a lot today." Wang Sicong smiled nonchalantly as his plan failed, intending to let it go.

The man in the pants joked, "Young Master Wang, when it comes to the domestic television industry, you really can't find a more professional expert than Director Zheng. I've been studying for so many years and I still have a long way to go!"

"Hahaha! You have such a big mouth!" Zheng Xiaolong laughed and tapped his younger brother, shaking his head without saying a word.

More than twenty years have passed, and my ass still prefers this! So comfortable!

I thought this topic was going nowhere, but Wu Ershan, who hadn't said much except for greetings today, suddenly spoke up:

"Director Zheng, there's something I'd like to mention, just for your reference, but I'm not sure if it's appropriate to say it..."

If it were anyone else, Lao Zheng would probably just say, "Then don't say it."

But upon seeing that it was Wu Ershan, who had directed "Zhu Xian," he had a good impression of him. "Tell me, with Xiao Gang here, Si Cong is also one of our own. Otherwise, why would we have kept you guys in the office for tea in the end?"

Wu Ershan knew the young master's intention just now, and deliberately played the innocent card to prevent Zheng Xiaolong from avoiding the topic, carefully choosing his tone as he spoke:
"To be honest, I'm exposing my own shortcomings. I've been working at Wenjie since 03, and I even worked on that guy's film crew in the early days. I'm fairly familiar with his work methods and habits, although I was eventually kicked out... haha."

Zheng Xiaolong squinted at him, not understanding the purpose of his opening remarks.

"Excuse my frankness, but the reasons behind Yao Beina's sudden request to terminate her contract are probably quite complicated..."

Wang Sicong was overjoyed, but pretended to be dissatisfied: "Old Wu, just say what you want to say. Everyone here today is one of us. You admire Director Lu the most, so it's okay to introduce him."

The second generation is very cautious; they dare not say a single bad word behind people's backs, only strange things.

Wu Ershan bluntly stated: "Let me be frank, this great director and tycoon is a radical Han supremacist, especially in artistic creation."

"When I was filming 'Zhu Xian,' I suggested changing the Ghost King Sect to a Mongolian tribal style, with grassland wolf totems, shaman priests, and multicultural elements. However, he rejected it on the spot, saying that 'the world of Xianxia should be unified within the Chinese aesthetic system.' But the Chinese aesthetic system he was referring to didn't seem to include other ethnic groups, or rather, it included very few of them." (Chapter 224)
"Including filming the Mytube video 'Tea Culture' for Liu Yifei, I thought that in Shuimo Town, a multi-ethnic town, we could have her wear some ethnic costumes in the second episode. This would actually make it more diverse in the eyes of foreigners, but he rejected that idea." (Chapter 277)
Wu Ershan's words were not entirely intended to sow discord; he genuinely believed it.

Besides the old news about his "human organ" art creation, he suspects the biggest reason for being kicked out of his home was his creative concept of "multiculturalism".

Seemingly to strengthen his persuasiveness, the Mongolian director said in a deep voice, "Director Zheng, in fact, Wenjie has always been at the forefront in the field of adapting novels and other IPs."

"As far as I know, the first TV series adapted from a game, 'Chinese Paladin,' and the first TV series adapted from a novel, 'Zhu Xian,' were both written and directed by that person."

"Take a look at the original novels of 'Empresses in the Palace' and 'Palace,' their online popularity far surpasses that of the two 'Nirvana in Fire' novels they acquired. Besides, Shanda and Wenjie have always had a close relationship; you can think about that—"

"Given his judgment and vision regarding the market value of literary and artistic works, and the scale of Wenjie's copyright accumulation, if you really wanted to snatch these two Qing Dynasty dramas, would you still have a chance?"

Wu Ershan became even more resolute: "It's not that he doesn't know they're valuable, it's just that he, as a Han chauvinist, looks down on and despises these 'foreign' elements in his eyes, that's all." (Chapter 544)
"Yao Beina's contract termination may be insignificant, but what I'm saying all this to remind you is... to be wary of other 'market competition' tactics used by the industry."

Not to mention Zheng Xiaolong, even Kuzi and Wang Sicong were stunned by what they heard.

Is that so?
Zheng Xiaolong looked displeased and worried. If that were the case, then Yao Beina's contract termination was indeed worth investigating.

As for the term "Han supremacist" mentioned by Wu Ershan, it is not an unfamiliar term.

As early as the late Qing Dynasty and early Republican era, revolutionaries represented by Zou Rong used concepts such as "Han nationality" and "Han race" extensively in their famous work "The Revolutionary Army".

"Huang Han" was mainly used to refer to the Han people and carried a clear revolutionary connotation of anti-Qing and anti-Manchu sentiment.

In Wu Ershan's eyes, Lu Kuan, who has always upheld the correct national stance and repeatedly denied his personal agenda, is nothing but a Han supremacist!
His exchange of information, whether it was useful or not, left Director Zheng, who regarded the Qing Dynasty drama "Empresses in the Palace" as his foundation for advancement, stunned.

Is Yao Beina the end of a minor side story, or the beginning of a major conspiracy?
He couldn't help but think of Hunan TV's "Boys Over Flowers," which was relentlessly targeted. Although there was no direct evidence, even a fool would know who had ruthlessly crushed the Korean wave in the market and was now keeping a low profile!

Could it be the same method?

Wu Ershan's feelings were genuine, and Zheng Xiaolong's worries were also genuine, but Wang Sicong, who was secretly delighted, had completely misunderstood!

Old Wu is clever! He used facts and reasoning to get Zheng Xiaolong on board—

If you were to make "Empresses in the Palace" now, you would face the risk of being targeted by critics. Yao Beina was just the beginning, and she was a Han chauvinist who disliked Qing dynasty dramas.

Whether you, Lao Zheng, cooperate with Hunan TV or LeTV Culture, you were both beaten like dogs before, only Wanda!

Although Wanda suffered a defeat, it was still a glorious one!

We suffered the least losses in the evil alliance. Although Damai.cn was gone, we took the opportunity to launch an online ticketing software specifically for Wanda. We were much better off than the others who were badly hurt!
Therefore, for Zheng Xiaolong at present, Wanda is undoubtedly the most suitable partner.

Moreover, this time it's not a confrontation, just self-defense. We're just filming a Qing Dynasty drama. Does that violate your "Boundary Law" or "Richest Man Law"?

Given Zheng Xiaolong's shrewdness, he wouldn't give any immediate response and naturally saw the three off calmly.

Wang Sicong praised Wu Ershan a few times, but the latter smiled and didn't say anything. Now he was on the same boat as Wanda, and even if he got off the boat, he would have nowhere else to go and no good options.

There was something he didn't quite say to Director Zheng, a true-blue member of the Beijing elite circle:
Director Zheng, we Manchus and Mongols are one family!

"Old Feng, do you think this will work out?" Wang Sicong asked with a laugh in the car. "Is Director Zheng going to turn off the engine again after hearing what Old Wu just said?"

"Hehe, who isn't afraid?" Feng Xiaogang still felt terrible when he thought about how his incident with Shen Xing was exposed.

"However, Zheng Xiaolong is not one to shy away from trouble, and now is a critical period for the mixed-ownership reform of the Television Art Center. He absolutely cannot take this 'Empresses in the Palace' lightly."

"Even if you hold a knife to his throat, you have to make sure the film looks good first."

Feng Xiaogang is a veteran of Beijing's elite circles and has a fairly thorough understanding of the secrets behind these figures.

In the previous life, "Empresses in the Palace" began filming in 2010. In the same year, the Beiping Television Art Center completed its restructuring and was transferred to Gehua Media. Zheng Xiaolong remained as the director and also served as the vice chairman of the Television Producers Association and the executive director of the Television Artists Association.

As for Zheng Xiaolong himself, he comes from a privileged background, graduated from Yenching University, and his father was originally the head of the General Logistics Department of the People's Liberation Army. This is the key reason why he became a core figure in Beijing's elite circles.

The two former Huayi brothers, one dead and one gone, came from backgrounds several levels lower than his.

Even if you have a wide road and great power, you are just making a legal and compliant filming of a Qing Dynasty drama. Why are you so domineering in trying to sabotage and ruin my future at this most crucial time? Isn't that going a bit too far?
Of course, this was just a vague worry that arose in Zheng Xiaolong's mind after Wu Ershan's "education." He was not reckless enough to find himself an imaginary enemy at this point.

But how can we be sure about this?
This reclusive tycoon had been locked in a bitter struggle with the Beijing elite circle, and Huayi Group, a prominent private enterprise, had already fallen from grace. How could he possibly have the audacity to approach them and seek reconciliation?

Even if the Beijing entertainment circle is no longer the center of the entertainment and arts circles, this is still not the case!
Moreover, he had no basis for cooperating with the questioning world at all, not only because of previous conflicts, but also because his position determined his thinking and his background determined his position.

It's true that the Beijing elite circle is rooted in the privileged life of officials from high-ranking compounds, but it also has another underlying characteristic:
flag color.

Wang Dajun and Wang Xiaolei are from the Bordered Yellow Banner, Yingzi is from the Yehenara clan, Wenzhang is from the Manshuwenza clan, and a large number of core members and collateral members of the Beijing circle, such as Ma Weidu, Wang Shuo, and the sixth generation Zhang Yuan, all have this surname. There is also the most important one, Dandan's husband.

This is also a reason why many young actresses and actors, including Guan Xiaotong, Kan Qingzi, and Bai Jinting, have risen to prominence so quickly.

Even Lang Lang, the pianist who was once "angrily confronted" by our mudslide heroine Liu Yifei in her previous life for playing cotton, was actually wronged by Liu.

The name "Niohuru" means "wolf" in Manchu. When his descendants changed their surnames to Han surnames, they often chose the homophone "Lang".

Old Master Lang wasn't deliberately being sarcastic towards her, saying that his son was "only worthy of a royal princess." She was a pure descendant of the Bordered Yellow Banner and the Niohuru clan, so how could she possibly be interested in Liu Yifei, a "commoner" with ordinary blood?
Therefore, for Director Zheng, who has been rooted in the Beijing circle all his life, this "Empresses in the Palace" is, to some extent, not only a stepping stone to this reform, but also his own "right and correct" understanding.

There are certainly reasons why there are so many dramas featuring people with queues (braids).

He calmed himself down and hesitated in his office for a long time before finally thinking of Yao Beina, who had asked Liu Huan to intercede on her behalf.

The one who tied the knot must untie it. Director Zheng now has to determine through her whether this is a genuine "resignation due to illness" or a "premeditated murder" targeting the Qing Dynasty drama. Therefore, he gave the production director a legal, compliant, and reasonable instruction:

Please have Yao Beina come in person to discuss the termination of the contract and the penalty for breach of contract.

At noon on October 17th, Yao Beina, who had just been discharged from the hospital, received a call from Teacher Liu. Her mother, Li Min, remembering the comforting phone call Liu Xiaoli had made to her the previous day, patted her daughter's back and said:
"Why don't you give Sisi a call? Although she's young, she's already much more knowledgeable than you all."

Thinking of the hefty penalty for breach of contract, Yao Beina, with her strong sense of pride, initially wanted to refuse her mother's suggestion. However, flustered and confused, she silently nodded and dialed her childhood friend's number.

(End of this chapter)