This director is vindictive.

Chapter 269 208 Million Gazes: The Magical Economics of the Entertainment Industry
In fact, because of Chen Mo's influence, the people around him had previously avoided this major minefield.

This indirectly led to the fact that the cleanup campaign in the entertainment industry was not launched so early.

However, this time the 208 million incident completely ignited things. In the previous life, the speed wasn't so fast; it didn't start to appear until several months later.

But in this life, perhaps because of Chen Mo, this event was brought forward.

Moreover, the official actions this time were faster and more extensive than in the previous life.

In fact, before such scandals are exposed, it can be said that many film crews have similar problems to varying degrees.

The situation is even more dire for individual celebrities.

At the same time, it is clear that the outbreak of this incident was so exaggerated, outrageous, and bizarre that it directly broke the defenses of countless ordinary people.

In fact, Chen Mo's public disclosure of his salary and tax details is a very unusual act for the entire industry.

There's no other reason than, as Zhao Ming said, isn't this just asking for trouble?
But Chen Mo did it anyway, because rather than hiding it, he might as well take this opportunity to make it public.

The theme of the drama "The Silent Truth" also fits this behavior very well.

As for offending his peers? Chen Mo wasn't worried at all. Other ordinary directors might be afraid of offending their peers if they did this, but Chen Mo was different.

He himself is a major figure in the entertainment industry. It may be an exaggeration to say that Shengshi Pictures occupies half of the Chinese film and television industry, but it is the first private film and television company to go public.

He also hopes to set an example.

And sure enough, the effect was immediate.

Even official media outlets have reposted it!
The reactions from netizens further proved that Chen Mo's decision was absolutely correct.

The netizens' reaction was like wildfire; within just a few hours, topics such as #ChenMoRevealsHisPaymentDetails# and #TheTruthAboutThe208MillionYuanIncident# topped the trending searches.

"Chen Mo's move has exposed the 'Emperor's New Clothes' of the entertainment industry!"

"Support Chen Mo. It should have been done a long time ago. But perhaps only Chen Mo would dare to do this?"

"But isn't Chen Mo afraid of offending people? After all, those who know, know, it's the entertainment industry!"

"He's really not afraid. In the Chinese film and television industry, Shengshi Pictures is the biggest private film and television company. What's there for him to be afraid of?"

"I suggest awarding Chen Mo the 'Industry Cleaner' award; his self-disclosure of his trucking skills was incredibly brave!"

"So, a top-tier actor's daily salary can buy an apartment in a second-tier city? I used to sympathize with them for their 'high-risk profession,' but now I realize I'm the clown!"

"Support the strict tax investigation! The title of the TV series 'The Silent Truth' is brilliant. Is Chen Mo making a sequel with his actions?"

"Could this be considered a real-life version of 'The Silent Truth'?"

In fact, many people in the industry secretly criticized Chen Mo after he publicly disclosed the details of the crew's remuneration and tax records.

"Damn it, you think you're so high and mighty, but you've really gotten us into serious trouble!"

"That damn Chen Mo, he's absolutely outrageous! I refuse to believe that Shengshi Pictures really has no problems whatsoever!"

"I curse his ancestors for eighteen generations!"

There's no other reason than that 208 million is indeed outrageous, but Chen Mo's actions are putting other film crews in a very difficult position!

What? Following Chen Mo's example and making it public?

Perhaps some film crews could do this, but they wouldn't dare to.

However, most production teams simply cannot do that, because wouldn't that be tantamount to self-destruction?

Everyone has a bit of poop on their ass, right?
But will everything be fine if they don't do this? Obviously not!
Even Lao Wang from Enlight Media and Zeng Maojun from Wanda Group called Chen Mo to complain.

"Director Chen, if you make such a decision in the future, could you please inform us in advance? Right now, it's really..." Old Wang from Guangming said with a wry smile.

"Old Wang, you're a veteran in the industry, you should know that these things should be done sooner rather than later, and some people have really gone too far!" Chen Mo said dismissively.

He certainly supports the authorities' thorough investigation. To put it bluntly, many people are just greedy. Their income is already much higher than that of ordinary people, but they enjoy the benefits brought by the country and receive generous rewards that are completely disproportionate to their efforts, yet they are unwilling to bear the corresponding responsibilities. Why should they?

"Get ready. Logically speaking, Lao Wang and your friends should have better information than I do. You shouldn't still be hoping for the best, right?" Chen Mo said again.

Old Wang fell silent.

Chen Mo was right; he did know some things much earlier than Chen Mo.

However, Guangxian has been established for so many years, and unlike Chen Mo, it did not plan ahead, so he is also in a state of great distress right now.

Some things can't be hidden no matter what you do. Soon, the relevant departments announced a special investigation into the film and television industry, focusing on the investigation of "yin-yang contracts" and the splitting of labor remuneration to evade taxes.

The following morning, official media Weibo reposted screenshots of Chen Mo and the "The Silent Truth" production team's tax details with the caption: "Sunlight is the best disinfectant. Actively accepting supervision is the responsibility that artists should have."

The storm quickly swept through the entire entertainment industry.

The stock prices of several celebrity-owned listed companies in the entertainment industry plummeted to their daily limit upon opening, and several film crews suspended filming due to tax issues.

An anonymous industry insider revealed: "The entire industry is currently holding meetings overnight to collect back taxes, but the loopholes are too large to be filled..."

Previously hesitant celebrities followed Chen Mo's example and made their tax records public, only to have netizens expose data fabrication, which triggered an even stronger backlash from public opinion.

However, this was just the beginning. As the official investigation deepened, the upheaval in the entertainment industry intensified.

In just one week, more than 20 A-list celebrities have been summoned for questioning by tax authorities, including top actors and veteran producers. On social media, the hashtag #EntertainmentIndustryTaxEarthquake# has garnered over 5 billion views, with netizens expressing a mix of anger and ridicule.

"Good job! These corrupt officials should have been caught long ago!"

"Aren't those who openly fabricated evidence ashamed? Do they really think netizens are fools?"

"I suggest directly banning those who evade taxes. They earn the most money but don't want to pay taxes. These kinds of people don't deserve to be entertainers!"

Meanwhile, Chen Mo's self-disclosure triggered a chain reaction. Some industry insiders began to proactively contact the tax authorities to pay back taxes, attempting to seek leniency amidst the storm.

Industry insiders are finally feeling the official attitude this time.

Many industry insiders have begun to publicly support Chen Mo, saying, "The industry is at a point where it needs a painful overhaul. Although Chen Mo's move is painful, it may not be a bad thing."

The capital market reacted even more severely. The stock prices of many film and television companies plummeted by half, and investors withdrew their funds en masse.

Interestingly, while the stock prices of companies related to the film and television concept were all in a dismal red, with the vast majority hitting the daily limit down, Shengshi Pictures stood out as a lone red flower amidst the sea of ​​red, and even hit the daily limit up!
Shengshi Pictures' market value has exceeded 200 billion yuan, and Chen Mo's personal net worth has also skyrocketed.

This has left many people in awe.

Netizens jokingly commented, "Chen Mo is the real smart guy. He deserves to be rich! How much is tax evasion? He made back so many times over with this!"

"No problem. Before, I thought Chen Mo was a bit too arrogant, standing out from the crowd, but now I realize he's the real deal!"

"It really is true that you only find out who's been swimming naked when the tide goes out. At this point, as long as there's no major scandal, that's the biggest advantage! And Shengshi Pictures stands out from the crowd, setting a real benchmark for the industry!"

Meanwhile, a post titled "Chen Mo's Overt Scheme: How Shengshi Pictures Reaps Market Share Through the Tax Storm?" sparked heated discussion. The author analyzed that Chen Mo's seemingly self-destructive move actually further solidified Shengshi Pictures' leading position through industry reshuffling, achieving a true win-win situation – a resounding victory!

Meanwhile, Zhong Lifang, CEO of Shengshi Pictures, also stated in a media interview: "Chairman Chen said within the company a long time ago that Shengshi has never needed to make money by evading taxes!"

To be honest, Chen Mo really hadn't thought that far ahead!
He just felt that these things were supposed to be the way they were supposed to be, right?

He just hadn't expected the entertainment industry to be so outrageous and problematic. It was a happy accident, really. He wasn't that concerned about his net worth, because those things are ultimately superficial.

It's perfectly normal for prices to rise today and fall tomorrow.

The changes in the numbers really didn't have much impact on him!
But the result was far beyond his expectations!
However, as the saying goes, "If you don't take what Heaven gives you, you will suffer the consequences; if you don't welcome the opportune moment, you will suffer the calamity!"
He was determined to seize this excellent publicity opportunity, and at this moment, he really didn't need to worry that "The Silent Truth" would be unable to be released due to sensitive issues.

So that very night, he had the official Weibo account of the "The Silent Truth" production team release a special trailer. The camera panned across the densely packed cast and crew list and revenue sharing table, with the last frame freezing next to Chen Mo's signature, accompanied by the caption: "The truth will never be silent."

This trailer is quite interesting, and it cleverly displays a number on the extras' pay slip that is very sensitive to everyone.

Daily salary 200+8 yuan!
As a result, this detail was noticed immediately after the short film was released. There was no way to ignore it, right?
Soon, netizens began to criticize and make fun of it.

"Is this 8 yuan extra for real?"

"Seriously, does this mean the extras should be grateful for the 208 million? After all, if it weren't for this, they'd probably only be making 200 a day! So, does this count as generating revenue for them?"

"Eight yuan is quite a lot; at least we can have one more meat dish!"

"Hahaha, from 208 million gazes!"

"Chen Mo's reputation as a marketing genius is well-deserved; how could he possibly piggyback on this?"

"How can you call it piggybacking on publicity?"

"How can 200 yuan and 208 yuan be the same? Don't underestimate the value of a steamed bun, okay? Eight yuan is still money, isn't it?"

What's even more interesting is that the extras in the film crew actually thanked a certain star who generated 208 million yuan in daily wages during an interview.

"Haha, it was originally only two hundred yuan, but suddenly they gave me an eight yuan subsidy. In that respect, I really have to thank someone!"

It's ironic that someone earning 208 yuan a day should thank someone earning 208 million yuan a day!

However, what's even more interesting and ironic is that quite a few film crews started to capitalize on the popularity of 208.

Reports have surfaced that extras on set are paid 208 yuan per day. Although it's obvious that this is an attempt to ride the wave of popularity, it has indeed attracted a lot of attention, whether intentional or not.

After all, it's a good deal without costing anything, and the public is happy to see it. As many netizens have said, it's a good thing; at least eight yuan is still money!

And this isn't just about eight yuan, because extras are often paid even less than 208 yuan!

An extra revealed that many extras actually struggle to earn a stable daily wage, let alone 208 yuan, even 108 yuan, and they are often playing the dirtiest, hardest, and most tiring roles.

Ironically, the number of extras is actually the largest in the film and television industry! And those who have truly made it big over the years are only Wang Baoqiang and Zhao Liying.

Both of them were lucky to have met their respective mentors.

This incident even sparked the "+8 yuan" and "208 yuan economics" debate. After all, the entertainment industry spares no effort in entertaining the masses!
However, what's even more entertaining and absurd is that as the investigation deepened, more bizarre details surfaced:
A certain top celebrity's "pet dog" was registered as a "special guest actor" in a film crew and received 80 yuan in remuneration.
Even more outrageous, a production company was exposed for using "air purification fees for film and television bases" to offset 500 million yuan in costs.

These issues have sparked much discussion among netizens.

"This is fucking 'humans are worse than dogs'!"

"This isn't tax avoidance; it's performance art!"

"They really think people are stupid, that only they are smart!"

"Isn't there also the meme about a straw hat costing 180,000? That seems to be from an even earlier time!"

"That's money the director swindled from the investors!"

In stark contrast, Shengshi Pictures' stock price hit the daily limit for seven consecutive days, pushing its market capitalization above 2500 billion yuan. A financial blogger published a lengthy analysis: "Chen Mo's 'self-disclosure' is essentially a precise bottom-fishing move—the more severe the industry chaos, the more valuable compliant leaders become."

However, Chen Mo's overconfident and irrational actions have indeed offended many of his peers.

A post titled "To Chen Mo: You Ruined Everyone's 'Good Days'" appeared on an anonymous forum. The author claimed to be a "producer with 20 years of experience" and accused Chen Mo of "breaking industry unspoken rules" throughout the post. He also accused Chen Mo of "flipping the table" by disclosing tax details: "How to break down salaries and how to account for costs has been done for decades. What are you pretending to be so high and mighty for, Chen Mo?"

"It's standard practice for a certain film to break down the 2000 million yuan salary paid to the lead actor into performance fees, planning fees, and costume sponsorships. But you, Chen Mo, are so high and mighty. I just don't believe you're really that clean."

All film crews are currently paying back taxes, but the hole can't be filled at all. At least five projects have been halted due to broken funding chains. Your Shengshi Pictures has a clean record, but what about us small companies? What good does it do you to drive people to their deaths?

They even threatened, "You think you're so smart? You should know that cutting off someone's livelihood is like killing their parents. Sooner or later, someone will make you pay the price!"

The post was quickly screenshotted and spread, and the comment section was filled with cheers:
"We're in a panic! We suggest the tax team trace the poster online!"

"Translate this: Chen Mo has prevented me from continuing to evade taxes, I'm so angry!"

"These people really have no sense of right and wrong. Chen Mo was doing the most legal and compliant things, but in the mouths of you parasites, he became a cancer that is destroying the industry. As expected, the truth is always silent."

"It's just that Chen Mo revealed this long-suppressed truth, and you're already in such a hurry?"

"Someone will deal with you sooner or later. Doesn't this remind me of the 'Don't leave after school' scenario?"

"Chen Mo is practically setting a good example by promoting 'The Silent Truth' himself! Isn't this like the movie coming to life?"

"We all hope that there are more people like Chen Mo, Hou Guiping, Jiang Yang, and Zhang Chao in reality, but we absolutely do not want them to become martyrs!"

Chen Mo: Thanks for reminding me, I'll call the tax bureau right away.

The outcome of this series of twists and turns is arguably more fantastical than any movie or TV drama.

This was something no one had anticipated.

Initially, the 208 million views went viral, exposing the "exorbitant profits" in the entertainment industry. Then, the authorities intervened to rectify the situation, and everyone in the industry felt insecure.

Just then, Chen Mo, an outlier, appeared. His open and transparent approach directly led to a wave of real-world connections for "The Silent Truth".

As a result, Shengshi Pictures has become a true benchmark enterprise in the industry.

Looking back on this incident, many people suddenly realize that those celebrities who evaded taxes have either been punished or imprisoned, making it a truly unprofitable situation.

And what about Chen Mo?

His company and he himself can be said to have become the biggest beneficiaries of this incident, yet they have ironically gained widespread support.

There's no other reason than that many people aren't being unreasonable. They're generally quite reasonable. If you operate legally and earn money through your own abilities, no one will think there's anything wrong with how much you earn.

As netizens have said, "We don't hate the rich, we only hate injustice!"
Chen Mo pays taxes in accordance with the law, which is what he should do.

All I can say is that it's all thanks to the contrast with its competitors!
As one netizen commented, "In a cesspool, a white lotus flower is a miracle."

What is clearly the most conventional and normal behavior has somehow become an outlier in the entertainment industry, leaving many netizens feeling absurd.

Industry unspoken rules have made compliant individuals "outcasts." Chen Mo was criticized for "breaking the rules," but this also made more people see the industry's abnormalities.

Ironically, the extras thanked 208 million people for "+8 yuan"!
Ironically, the fact that an 8-yuan "charity" has been hailed as progress for the industry is, to say the least, a sad thing.

It can only be said that reality is sometimes more surreal than TV shows and movies; this wave of events is of core industry significance.

One commentator summarized it this way: "Chen Mo's 'success' is not because he is particularly clever, but because the entertainment industry is so corrupt. When the entire industry is swimming naked, those who are dressed become heroes. The support from netizens is essentially a desire for 'fairness'—you can earn 208 million, but please pay taxes according to the law; you can become a capital tycoon, but don't rely on tax evasion."

And Chen Mo, just so happens to be that "normal person"!

(End of this chapter)