The only sun in Huayu

Chapter 128 Who do you think you are? (34)

The production manager looked at Ma Youde.

Ma Youde shrugged: "I said this would be very sharp, but fortunately your side achieved its goal and brought up a meaningful topic. So be it if the scene is a little ugly."

The production manager's lips twitched; these were all his lines!

The studio lights remained blazing.

Chai Jing remained seated, maintaining a professional calm on her face, but her heart was churning with anger.

She originally had no personal grudges against Shen Shandeng, and even felt a sense of mission to correct the young man's extreme thinking, feeling it was necessary to make him understand what a higher level of art and values ​​were.

But to her utter surprise, the other party not only refused to take the bait, but instead proceeded to set traps for her step by step.

She gritted her teeth, determined to make him pay for his lack of cooperation.

The camera's red light came back on.

Chai Jing quickly composed herself, a glint of light appearing in her eyes, her expression one of constipation-like compassion mixed with a hint of skepticism.

His tone was gentle, even tinged with agreement, “Indeed, we Chinese have talked about moderation and ambiguity for too many years. It’s time we needed something more distinct to uplift our spirits.”

Shen Shandeng praised, "It seems that Professor Chai has understood 'The Eunuch.' Chen Mo's view of good and evil is not simple. He is in an extremely complex environment, using the most direct way to safeguard the most basic justice. This requires tremendous courage and wisdom, which is itself a profound complexity."

Chai Jing: "."

She just wanted to start a conversation and then use a retreat as a pretext to advance, but Shen Shandeng calmly picked up the conversation and went with the flow.

Shen Shandeng seemed oblivious, and his gaze toward Chai Jing held a newfound sense of recognition, as if he had found a kindred spirit.

“I know many people, including you, say that ‘The Creation’ explores human nature. I agree with that.”

Shen Shandeng took a step back and spoke from her perspective.

Just as Chai Jing breathed a sigh of relief, Shen Shandeng continued almost without pausing: "But we cannot afford the price of 'art' that involves glorifying traitors and hurting the feelings of national heroes. We cannot use the excuse of so-called humanity to cover up matters of right and wrong."

Chai Jing felt a tightness in her chest, almost unable to breathe.

This is clearly one of her tricks!

First, express understanding to build rapport, then reveal your true intentions and deliver the fatal blow.

But now Shen Shandeng uses it so skillfully.

She was incredibly frustrated, but she still had to try her best to maintain a look of pity on her face, and nodded reluctantly: "I understand your position."

"Thank you!"

Shen Shandeng immediately chimed in, expressing his strong agreement: "It seems you are also a journalist who can withstand the test on matters of principle, and a journalist with a strong sense of national responsibility, aren't you?"

He paused at just the right moment, not saying those words, but the meaning was already clear.

Chai Jing pursed her lips slightly, on the verge of tears.

She was trying to imply that Shen Shandeng always emphasized matters of principle, then subtly steered the conversation toward "a strong sense of national and familial sentiment," before moving on to whether it might evolve into a blind sense of national pride.

But Shen Shandeng had already said everything.

They even labeled her as someone with a strong sense of national responsibility.

If she denies it, wouldn't she be exposing her questionable stance in front of millions of viewers?

She can do whatever she wants in private, but she can't afford to pay the price in front of the camera.

If you don't deny it, then you'll just have to suffer in silence.

This shift shouldn't have been filled in!

She shouldn't have come!
Suppressing her frustration, Chai Jing forced a smile and quickly said, "It seems we have a lot in common."

This time, she wouldn't give him a chance to interrupt, and she spoke faster.

She launched into a barrage of new topics, attempting to regain the initiative: "However, we must look at things objectively. While acknowledging the grand narrative, we cannot ignore the individual, real suffering." "For example, while your film is a great success, there are many other films like the recently released 'Blind Mountain,' which record a more brutal reality, but their voices are difficult for the public to hear."

Do you feel that your success, to some extent, caters to a certain need rather than truly leading to critical thinking?

After finishing this, Chai Jing finally felt a surge of satisfaction.

She successfully contrasted the grand success of "The Supervisor" with the vulnerable reality of "Blind Mountain," using the lofty name of focusing on individual suffering to subtly deny the value of the former, and defining Shen Shandeng's success as pandering rather than genuine leadership.

Although it lacks the groundwork of stigmatizing national pride as "blindness," it still delivers a blow while concealing the issue of stance, through a compassionate and empathetic question.

"Haha."

Shen Shandeng laughed instead, easily avoiding her trap: "I think Director Paperclip and Mr. Jiang Zhiqiang, the producer of 'The Sin,' probably didn't think that way. They both congratulated 'The Eunuch' on its success."

Shen Shandeng paused, his tone slightly amused: "Especially Mr. Jiang Zhiqiang, who deeply regrets his previous choice. Since they have no objections, I think we should refrain from such unfounded speculation."

He looked at Chai Jing, who seemed a little stiff, and smiled reassuringly: "Don't worry."

Chai Jing blinked, her heart sinking.

This is a fatal flaw that she desperately wanted to avoid but couldn't. All parties involved in "The Sin" have publicly conceded defeat and offered their congratulations.

The parties involved have all accepted the verdict, so what right or position does she, as an outsider, have to "speak out" on their behalf?
Who does she think she is?

Based on the "conscience" of media professionals?

That would only make her seem overly self-conscious, pretentious, and ridiculous.

Shen Shandeng's "Don't rush" was practically a case of "the emperor isn't worried, but the eunuch is."

Chai Jing instantly realized that she was standing on an extremely dangerous edge.

If this segment is broadcast in this manner, her carefully cultivated image will be greatly damaged.

The lesser of two evils.

Suppressing her surging emotions, Chai Jing quickly made a decision, swallowing back the words she had just uttered: "Yes, I made a wrong assumption. It seems that paying attention to the fate of the nation and the suffering of individuals are not contradictory, nor are national pride and self-reflection opposed. In fact, in a healthy society, both must coexist."

Admitting a trivial premise error is far less costly than being labeled as having a questionable stance.

Shen Shandeng immediately put on an encouraging expression that showed he knew his mistake and was willing to correct it, and then took over her sentence.

"Yes! The story of 'The Eunuch' also depicts individual suffering! The suffering of those military households who were stripped of their land and reduced to slavery, and those families who could only eat rice with vinegar and cloth, is also real!"

“By showcasing these things, we are also documenting them! Chen Mo's fight for them is the greatest care for individuals! The success of this film proves that audiences need the hope and strength of films like ‘The Eunuch’!”

He spoke more and more earnestly, as if inspired by Chai Jing: "Moreover, I want to say that the protagonist of 'The Eunuch' is a eunuch, who is a marginal character and a fragile individual in a great era."

Shen Shandeng said again, feeling wronged: "I'm also portraying individuals, and even more marginalized groups. Why is everyone ignoring this? Is it just because of my box office success?"

Chai Jing was stumped again.

Some of these sales pitches are easy to debunk.

Ask what happened before, and then see what happens next.

When discussing "The Eunuch," Chai Jing directly captures the moment of "The Eunuch's" success, showing no concern for the details of "The Eunuch."

It could be said that in her heart, "The Sinful Acts" and "The Eunuch" were like heaven and earth, respectively.

Go find the question with the answer in mind.

Shen Shandeng looked at Chai Jing with encouraging eyes, seemingly thanking her for her divine intervention: "Being born into poverty is not a disgrace; being able to bend and stretch is what makes a true man! When poor, one should cultivate one's own virtue; when successful, one should benefit all under heaven! This is precisely the best portrayal of what you mean by combining the fate of the nation with that of the individual!"

Chai Jing pursed her lips tightly.

Shen Shandeng laughed. He enjoyed seeing the other person extremely unhappy but forced to contribute to his narrative.

(End of this chapter)