This director is vindictive.

Chapter 496 A Millennium Salute: A Century-Long Gaze Between White Hair and Medals

The red carpet event at the premiere wasn't over yet, but the media reporters couldn't contain their gossip and started discussing Chen Mo and Feng Dagang's premiere arrangements.

A reporter wearing black-rimmed glasses nudged his colleague next to him and asked in a low voice, "Hey, do you think Chen Mo will pull another 'Celebrity New Star Awards' tonight? The red carpet is so crowded with young actresses, it's almost like an awards ceremony!"

A colleague scoffed, "Of course! Look at the people on the red carpet just now, from popular young actresses to seasoned veterans, everyone you can name is here. But honestly, isn't this film about Tang Dynasty veterans guarding the Western Regions? Doesn't it feel a bit out of place to have so many female celebrities here to support it?"

The black-rimmed reporter chuckled: "Out of place? Chen Mo doesn't care! As long as there's a topic, there's buzz. Aren't we happy to shoot material? Look at Weibo's trending topics, #TangMobeiRedCarpet# has already climbed into the top three. Who cares about movie material?"

At this moment, a man carrying a camera chimed in: "What about Feng Dagang? He can't exactly bring a bunch of female celebrities to compete in beauty, can he? His film is about the struggles of women from the lower classes to survive; he can't have them wearing haute couture on the red carpet!"

The reporter with black-rimmed glasses shrugged: "That's why I said Director Feng is in a difficult position this time! If he follows Chen Mo's example and puts on a star-studded show, he will definitely be criticized for 'putting up a sheep's head and selling dog meat'; but if he doesn't, the media will complain that his premiere is too shabby."

However, their red carpet show for "Sunflower" just now was also packed with big names, with a bunch of award-winning actors and actresses. Maybe they're planning a battle between the best actors and actresses and the rising stars.

The cameraman clicked his tongue: "To put it bluntly, Chen Mo is playing with 'the splendor of the Tang Dynasty paired with beautiful women,' while Director Feng is working on 'the hardships of reality revealing true feelings.' They're completely different styles. If you really want to compare them..."

He pointed to the media's long lenses and cameras that were taking pictures of female celebrities: "Look, all those cameras are focused on those long legs in backless dresses, who cares about your soul or not?"

The three exchanged a glance and sighed in unison—tonight's headlines, as expected, still belonged to the glitz and glamour of "Chang'an Dream Shattered."

Time passed by minute by minute.

Inside the premiere of "Sunflower".

Many media reporters' first reaction was to turn their attention to the first row of seats at the premiere.

However, they were soon surprised to find that the first row was empty.

Before they could even wonder what was going on, a staff member led a group of women to the front row.

When reporters saw a group of special audience members being led to their seats in the front row, a commotion immediately broke out. The flashing of camera flashes noticeably slowed down, replaced by hushed whispers.

"Am I seeing things? The people sitting in the first row are..."

A reporter wearing a baseball cap rubbed his eyes and lowered his voice incredulously.

The female reporter next to him gasped: "Isn't that the girl in the blue shirt the real-life inspiration for the deaf-mute girl in the movie? I interviewed her! And that girl with the scar on her face, she's definitely Ah Xiang, the shampoo girl!"

The entertainment reporters in the back row exchanged bewildered glances, and one couldn't help but mutter, "Director Feng's move is ruthless! He invited the real-life inspirations for all the characters in the movie? Is that appropriate?"

"So, it seems these people are all women who have been released from prison or have served time in prison?"

"It should be correct, but isn't this too cruel? Putting these wounded people in the spotlight."

"No, what is Feng Dagang trying to do? Is this appropriate? I remember there were quite a few violent scenes in the trailer for this movie, and the theme is about them experiencing hardship and then facing the sun to live. Isn't it too strange to invite these people to watch the movie?"

"Yes, it is. Are they trying to make them feel despair? That's too cruel!"

"Are you out of your mind? The key point is that this group does need more attention, but you have to understand, they're not pushovers! After all, these people who have been to prison, although they've been punished, are still lawbreakers! To act so brazenly..."

One reporter, however, exclaimed with shining eyes, "Hey, isn't this great? This way we'll have something to write about!"

"That's true. I really don't know what they're thinking. Isn't this just making the suffering they're exploiting a reality?"

"Why do you care so much? We're just reporters, and we didn't invite them! I just wonder what's going on on the other side. Do you think Chen Mo will do some kind of 'young actress certification' at the premiere of 'The Great Tang Desert'?"

"Tsk tsk, then they really are the Crouching Dragon and the Young Phoenix!"

Let's turn our attention to the premiere of "The Great Tang Dynasty in the Northern Desert".

Reporters immediately focused their attention on the first row of seats at the premiere.

But upon closer inspection, they were all dumbfounded and somewhat shocked!
Because it was completely different from what they had imagined.

Why was I both stunned and shocked? I was stunned because those weren't the familiar, glamorous young actresses from the entertainment industry!
What's striking is that they all have white hair!

Yes, the first row was filled with elderly people with white hair!

Most importantly, the identities of these white-haired elderly people are obvious. They are dressed in old-fashioned military uniforms with medals hanging all over their chests. Even though their hair is white, they sit upright in their velvet chairs!

A veteran entertainment reporter suddenly grabbed his colleague's arm: "Look at the first row! Are those veterans?"

As the camera panned across the weathered faces of the elderly, he noticed someone trembling as they pulled a rusty military medal from their pocket and carefully pinned it to their collar.

The reporters inside immediately stirred, and all their cameras were pointed at the first row!
The reporter carrying the camera abruptly adjusted the lens focus, his voice trembling: "Look at the first row! Isn't that a veteran who participated in the Southern Xinjiang Campaign? I recognize the third one—he was just awarded that title last year!"

The reporter with black-rimmed glasses frantically flipped through the list, exclaiming in a low voice, "The list says 'Special Invited Honorary Audience'! Chen Mo actually invited more than thirty active and retired veterans. The oldest among them is nearly 100 years old and has participated in many battles, while the youngest has been stationed on the plateau for twelve years!" "As expected, we are the clowns! Even we could think of this, how could Chen Mo not have thought of it?" a reporter said with a wry smile.

"Yeah, we were all hoping to see Chen Mo make a fool of himself, but he just played his trump card! His strategy is truly impressive!"

"The most admirable thing is the symbolism. Chen Mo's move was too ruthless! By using the real existence of the contemporary 'Anxi Army,' he directly shattered the doubt that 'historical films are just fiction'—these living border guards are the continuation of the spirit of the Tang Dynasty veterans!"

"Who can disagree? It elevates the theme in an instant! The Tang Dynasty's Anxi Army is certainly heroic and moving, but that is history, and a long time ago. But these white-haired veterans here are living, breathing 'Anxi Army' soldiers of our time!"

In an instant, all eyes in the room were focused on that spot.

The film critics looked at each other in disbelief. Some of them, who had originally come with ulterior motives, even forgot their original purpose, as they were all stunned by Chen Mo's work.

While inviting veterans to watch the film is a strategy that is not uncommon for many film premieres, it should be noted that "The Great Tang Dynasty in the Northern Desert" is a historical film!
Suddenly, a reporter looked down at his phone.

Suddenly, his eyes widened.

This was sent by his colleague who attended the premiere of "Sunflower".

"Damn it!" he couldn't help but swear.

"What's going on?" a colleague asked curiously.

"Look!" He showed the photos his colleagues had sent him to his peers on his phone.

"No way? What a coincidence!" someone exclaimed in astonishment.

"But that over there is ridiculous! Who came up with that idiotic idea? The difference is like night and day!"

They didn't say why the difference was so vast, but they could understand each other's thoughts from their eyes.

After all, both sides coincidentally invited the "real-life figures" to watch the film.

However, the two are completely different.

On Chen Mo's side, the Anxi Army in "The Great Tang Dynasty in the Northern Desert" and the contemporary "Anxi Army" have formed a spiritual connection that spans a thousand years.

It was absolutely stunning.

Although many people haven't seen the movie "The Great Tang Dynasty in the Northern Desert," they still know its core themes and core message.

It is the story of heroes who guard the border for the country.

It is their admirable and moving spirit!

It is a great achievement worthy of praise!
Inviting these modern-day "white-haired veterans" to watch the film is a move of great significance.

You can see that many audience members and media personnel at the scene had tears in their eyes.

And what's that on the other side?
It's a film about suffering! Although it's about turning towards the sun amidst hardship, for the real-life figures who were the protagonists, it's, to put it simply, showing them their scars.

Show them their suffering.

Is this like rubbing salt into a wound?

To put it more bluntly, this group does indeed lack attention, but after all, this group is not one that deserves praise!

Moreover, people have finally managed to get out of this and are working hard to prepare for a new life, and then what?

You use movies to tell them that their suffering has only just begun?
what is this?
Just then, a surprising scene unfolded at the premiere of "The Great Tang Dynasty in the Northern Desert" that surprised many people.

A little boy suddenly ran to the front row, then stood at attention and gave a childish but incredibly solemn salute to the group of white-haired veterans in old-fashioned uniforms.

Almost instinctively, the veterans also solemnly returned the salute.

This scene was clearly captured by the lenses of countless media professionals.

Soon, parents rushed over and hurriedly took their children away.

However, this one photo became a treasure for countless media reporters.

In fact, this was not arranged by Chen Mo; it was an accident. But it was precisely this accident that made the premiere even more perfect.

If the Anxi army in the movie and the veterans outside the movie are a spiritual reflection across a thousand years, then the little boy's salute just now is a spiritual inheritance!

(End of this chapter)