Huayu: When the director changed his major

The Supreme People's Procuratorate Film and Television Center.

Director Xu has been extremely busy lately because of the anti-corruption drama.

I'm about to attend the third round of script review.

Upon arriving at the meeting room and seeing that everyone was present, I put away all my phones and announced the start of the meeting.

The meeting's host, Secretary Qin, reported on the script's progress.

"Director Xu, we have submitted a total of 20 scripts this time. We have initially selected 6 for the leaders to review. We have printed out the first three episodes of each of these 6 scripts and placed them on the desks of the leaders and teachers."

"Alright, let's look at the script first. Thank you all for your hard work."

The main participants in this script review meeting were the center's leaders, as well as some well-known screenwriters and producers in the industry. A scoring sheet was provided to everyone.

It's somewhat like a project bidding review.

Director Xu first looked through the names of each script and who the screenwriter was, and then suddenly exclaimed "Eh!" after seeing one name.

"Is this Cheng Xi, whom Lao Zhong recommended from the Beijing Municipal People's Political Consultative Conference? The director who's involved in this major life event, and the chairman of Zui Bai Entertainment?"

Upon hearing this, Secretary Qin immediately explained:
"Yes, leader. Committee Member Cheng is very supportive of our work. He sent the script over in just half a month."

"Young people are so energetic! They're already on the rich list and still have time to write scripts. 'In the Name of the People,' that's a good title."

"However, this time the script cannot be the kind of glorious and righteous one we used to see. It must highlight the grim situation of our current anti-corruption campaign, and we must look at our problems objectively and sharply. We must have the courage to turn the knife inward in order to truly achieve the effectiveness of reform."

Those present nodded in agreement with this statement.

Judging from the center's preparation and attitude, as well as the previous requirements for selecting scripts, this is not just flattery.

We truly aim to create a work that can stand the test of time.

After saying this, Director Xu placed "In the Name of the People" at the very end of the six scripts.

He buried himself in the script and started reading.

Secretary Qin immediately noticed that Director Xu didn't seem to like Cheng Xi very much.

But why invite him in the first place?
Could it be that they're only asking for a script out of respect for Lao Zhong, just to do him a favor, but don't actually want to adopt Cheng Xi's script?

Not only did Secretary Qin realize it, but everyone present was a seasoned veteran. Hearing Director Xu's tone and seeing his actions, they naturally understood what he meant.

Although the script review committee requires objectivity and neutrality, and the review will be conducted in a review room with cameras, and mobile phones will be collected before the review.

However, through his previous actions, Director Xu, the presiding judge, was practically implying that Cheng Xi's manuscript had little hope.

No one would be foolish enough to disobey Director Xu for the sake of a stranger.

After all, many of them are either his subordinates or colleagues, or experts who receive appearance fees, so there's no need for them to make such a fuss.

Just follow the instructions above.

Even so, there were still a few experts who were very interested after hearing the name "Cheng Xi".

I'll start by pulling out "In the Name of the People" from the six notebooks to read it quickly.

Everyone in the industry knows that Cheng Xi's scripts are almost magical, but for such a mainstream theme, no one present thought he could write a good one at such a young age.

Director Xu's assessment just now says it all: very young.

This kind of anti-corruption subject matter requires a certain amount of social experience, and preferably experience living within the system.

After all, it involves some anti-corruption aspects, and if you don't understand them, it's easy to make many procedural mistakes and become a laughing stock.

Cheng Xi clearly lacks this quality.

However, out of curiosity and as a professor at the film academy, Zhao Mingrui first opened the script for "In the Name of the People".

Let's see how the most popular student in our college is performing.

Actually, the title is very important in determining whether a script is good or not.

At least in the eyes of the attendees, the name was excellent.

It's just that it's a bit too idealistic and righteous.

The content inside is probably just the same old stuff, praising the people and singing the praises of the government.

Upon opening the script, Professor Zhao Mingrui was immediately captivated by the first subplot involving the catching of a petty official who had amassed a fortune through corruption.

[A section chief is nothing! In Beijing, one brick could knock down a whole bunch of section chiefs!]

But you're different as a section chief; you wouldn't even trade a ministerial position for yourself.

That line is pretty sharp!

It doesn't seem to be the kind of heroic and righteous story I imagined?
[Comrade, I must criticize you then. Your ideological awareness needs improvement! Power, whether great or small, is bestowed by the people and should be used to serve the people.]

Is this what "In the Name of the People" really means? It feels a bit ironic.
Have we all misunderstood each other?

Upon reading this, Zhao Mingrui exclaimed "Eh!"

The contrasting events that followed thrilled him even more.

Who would have thought that a low-level section chief in Beijing, who looked like an honest, unassuming farmer, eating noodles with garlic in his tiny apartment, would be a massive corrupt official?

Moreover, the money he embezzled filled an entire villa.

[I didn't spend a single penny; it's all here. My family has been farmers for generations, terrified of poverty. We didn't dare touch a single penny. I was wrong. Two hundred and thirty-nine million, nine hundred and ninety-five thousand four hundred yuan.]

[After that first time, I couldn't stop. For the past four years, I've felt like I'm in a dream, constantly in a daze. I love this feeling; looking at this money is like looking at a harvest about to be plentiful.]

The last two sentences, "I didn't dare spend a single penny" and "I am the son of a farmer," truly bring the image of this person to life.

Moreover, the mindset of corrupt officials and the scene of them gradually sliding into the abyss are really very realistic!
Could it be that Cheng Xi is very knowledgeable about the system and anti-corruption? As he watched, Zhao Mingrui couldn't help but click his tongue in admiration.

As expected of Cheng Xi, who says young people can't write this kind of script!?
The judging room wasn't large, and his earlier surprise and current exclamations of admiration had already attracted the attention of others.

Apart from Director Xu, who was still engrossed in his work, everyone else looked at him.

Seeing that he was reading "In the Name of the People," someone couldn't help but tease him:

"Brother Zhao, you wouldn't make an exception for Cheng Xi just because he's a student at your college, would you?"

"I know how objective and fair things are, but you really have to read this script. I think it's better than any of Cheng Xi's scripts!"

Everyone was stunned when Zhao Mingrui finished speaking.

No, Lao Zhao, are you serious?
Why didn't I notice this before? Students from my own college are so protective of their own.
It's better than any of Cheng Xi's previous dramas, and even better than "Life's Big Events"?

That's simply impossible.

"Old Zhao, you're just bragging."

Upon hearing everyone chatting, Director Xu, without even looking up, said:

"Teachers, please read the script carefully."

Everyone fell silent, but more people started reading "In the Name of the People".

I've already figured out how to mock Zhao Mingrui after watching it.

But something strange happened: once an expert turned to "In the Name of the People," he became completely engrossed in it within minutes.

And like Zhao Mingrui, they couldn't help but click their tongues in disapproval.

Now both Director Xu and Secretary Qin realized the problem.

It seems this young man's script, called "In the Name of the People," is quite well-written?
Secretary Qin had a short temper and couldn't resist opening it too.

However, Director Xu remained calm and waited until the very end before opening the script.

Upon opening the book, one immediately sees the confrontation between Zhao Dehan and Hou Liangping in the drama.

His eyes were shining too!

I got absorbed in it without even realizing it.

I am the son of a farmer!

This line struck a chord with him.

This prompted him to exclaim "Eh!" just like everyone else.

If the previous "Huh?" was a questioning of Cheng Xi's identity, then this subconscious "Huh?" is undoubtedly the greatest praise.

Director Xu himself rose from humble beginnings, overcoming countless difficulties to reach this position.

They were well aware of the difficulties of not having a background.

He deeply understood the mentality of a farmer's son who had worked so hard to amass so much money but dared not spend it.

Because of an extreme lack of security.

I haven't had the experience of spending a lot of money, so I don't even dare to spend it when I get it, and I don't know how to spend it.

Although I didn't embezzle, this mentality of being hesitant to spend money and being a miser is exactly the same as mine.

Could it be that Cheng Xi, at such a young age, has such a profound understanding of people's mentality?

After watching the first episode, Director Xu even flipped through the front cover to see if it was written by Cheng Xi.

They seemed a little incredulous.

After reading the script, the experts present found all other scripts utterly uninteresting.

I quickly flipped through it and gave it a rating.

Because in their view, these scripts are not bad in comparison, and are considered to be of fairly good quality.

But when you compare them, you really have to throw them away.

If we don't promote the script of "In the Name of the People," we would be letting down our status as experts.

After reading it, Director Xu coughed slightly, looking somewhat embarrassed.

Everyone looked at him with strange expressions.

Because Director Xu's expression and actions just now had already shown everyone his surprise.

But no one laughed at him, and no one could have imagined that the script would be so powerful!
Director Xu is a man who has weathered many storms, so he can handle this situation with ease.

He casually pushed up his glasses and said:

"I believe all the teachers have finished reading the scripts, so let's start scoring."

"Secretary Qin, please collect the scoring sheets, tally the scores, and select two candidate scripts to enter the final script review."

"Okay, Director Xu."

"However, I apologize for my previous remarks. It's true that young people can write good scripts, and I misjudged that."

Upon hearing this, everyone smiled kindly and praised Cheng Xi's script.

At the same time, I couldn't help but admire Director Xu's distinctive work style and his broad vision.

Perhaps under his leadership, this anti-corruption drama series might actually produce something different! (End of Chapter)