Huayu: Are you even sitting up straight? You're going to be the director?

Chapter 116: Once an accident, always an accident?

Who is the highest-paid director in all of China?

It's probably someone like Jia Zhangke, who begs for alms from abroad and is kept by a sugar daddy.

They then made the film and sold it to foreign countries, making a fortune.

To save on film fees, actresses often use their wives; by using their wives as bait, they save a lot of money.

In his previous life, Cao Zhong witnessed an age-old mystery in the entertainment industry, asking Jia Zhangke how he could have his wife star in every movie without getting tired of it.

Once this explanation came out, everything became clear!
What kind of muse/goddess? A real goddess wouldn't be an actress, would she?
But in China's commercial film industry, no matter how much Jiang Zhiqiang dislikes Cao Zhong, he has to admit that Cao Zhong is the one who earns the most money!
So when Cao Zhong talked about how he could earn more money than Jiang Zhiqiang had ever earned before, Jiang Zhiqiang's mind went blank, but his eyes were sharp.

What does Director Cao mean by that?

Jiang Zhiqiang finally came to his senses. Cao Zhong had just cursed at him a couple of times. Did he curse? He didn't hear it!
"I said, it depends on your attitude."

In Nanjing, inside a hotel, Cao Zhong's voice was calm and composed.

Jiang Zhiqiang knew Cao Zhong wanted a statement, so he coughed twice and said softly:

"Director Cao, I wonder if you know about my family?"
Back then, we shared drinks and conversation with Dr. Sun Yat-sen, and our family witnessed a century of Chinese history.
He was one of the most active prominent businessmen in the Guangzhou and Hong Kong area.

My grandfather even participated in the struggle during the Xinhai Revolution, and he was the one who buried the martyrs of Huanghuagang.

Although he later did some wrong things following Yuan Shikai, he still had many brothers and sisters in his clan, including those involved in the anti-Japanese resistance and various other organizations.
Otherwise, my brother wouldn't have directed and filmed that historical war documentary, "The Tragic War." Those images and international historical accounts were collected by my brother at great expense, across borders.

Director Cao, I admit that I misjudged the situation regarding the film "Ailing". I was blinded by so-called art, but you have to believe me. I am patriotic and have a red heart. Even before Hong Kong returned to China, I vowed to myself that no matter where I am, I will always be Chinese.

You have to believe me.

Jiang Zhiqiang spoke without hesitation; he truly had no unpatriotic thoughts.
When doing business, one's bottom line is relatively flexible.

"It would be an honor to have the opportunity to work with Director Cao. However, I am very dissatisfied with Director Cao's criticism of me, and I want to express my strong condemnation. As long as Director Cao gives me the opportunity, I can talk to him about anything."

Tang Wei stood to the side, his eyes wide with shock.

But I couldn't help but feel so moved that I wanted to cry.

Mr. Jiang humbled himself so much for her sake.

Tang Wei was so moved he was almost dying.

"Hehe." Cao Zhong chuckled twice on the other end. "Are you patriotic, or do you want to talk?"

"Director Cao, you didn't have to be so blunt."

Jiang Zhiqiang said, "I know you're making fun of me by comparing me to Johnnie To's movies, but with me, Jiang Zhiqiang, I can talk to Director Cao, and I can be patriotic, but patriotism definitely comes first. Otherwise, because of 'Eileen Chang,' I lost tens of millions, and I would have contacted my friends to have a go at Director Cao long ago."

"It seems Boss Jiang is still not convinced," Cao Zhong said.

“Whether I accept it or not is another matter,” Jiang Zhiqiang explained. “As you know, I have always maintained a good relationship with Zhang Yimou and Wang An. The whole thing about ‘Ailing’ came from Wang An’s side. I had no involvement in the production… It’s a problem between Wang An and Focus Features. I was really just a distributor, and only a distributor in Hong Kong.”

"Director Cao, you can't expect me to know all the contents of the film, can you? To tell you the truth, my film was released in Hong Kong as an art film rated R."

Jiang Zhiqiang coughed twice and said, "Hong Kong people love these kinds of movies too much, especially Leung Chiu-wai's Category III films. We haven't seen them in years."

Soup is: ...

She was a little confused, unsure whether Jiang Zhiqiang was telling the truth or not.

When Jiang Zhiqiang cast her in the role, he told her it was art, it was the glory of the Chinese people, it was a humanistic art filmed by a master cinematographer.

Why does he change his tune when he talks to Cao Zhong on the phone?

Such a denigration of the film.

Tang's head was buzzing, and he was momentarily confused.

What on earth did she do...?

Tang Wei had seen the original Hong Kong version, but it was never released. Tang Wei watched it very carefully. Even if it were released in Hong Kong without censorship or cuts, you could only see two points and not the third.

So what Boss Jiang said made her suddenly feel like she was a piece of merchandise.

My heart is ice-cold.

When Cao Zhong saw that Jiang Zhiqiang had completely washed his hands of the matter, first betraying Wang An and then treating the film as a Category III film, his expression became even more displeased.

"You've been releasing movies for so many years now, don't you analyze the story background?" Cao Zhong asked.

"What you're saying is even more hateful. If I were to make an action-packed film featuring all of your grandfather's concubines, even if I gave them all pseudonyms but used their life backgrounds, would you be happy? Besides, he has done wrong things. Has Zheng Pingru done anything wrong?"

Jiang Zhiqiang thought about it for a moment and immediately felt a chill. The things that happened to his elders were far more numerous than the passionate scenes in this movie.

But Cao Zhong's words were really unpleasant to hear, so Jiang Zhiqiang could only remain silent.

Isn't Director Cao's idea extreme?

Jiang Zhiqiang hesitated for a moment, but still asked a question.
"Even if the original work of this drama has problems, it is still based on an original work. Does that mean it is necessarily a smear campaign by others, as Director Cao claims?"

"Isn't *Ailing*? Isn't *Danny the Dog*? Or isn't *Memoirs of a Geisha*?" Cao Zhong smiled.

Why doesn't he film the story of the squid woman who was forced to submit to a German when she assassinated the German?
Why doesn't he make a movie where Jet Li steps on the faces of Westerners?
Why adapt the original novel "Memoirs of a Geisha" and specifically cast the man from the novel and a Chinese woman in the roles?
If you love making films about women's stories, why not make films about the RAA (Japan Special Comfort Facilities Association) when Americans came to Japan?

Was it not artistic enough, or not sensual enough? Or was it simply too shameful for American soldiers?

"Mr. Jiang, is it an accident every time, or just an accident every time?"

Jiang Zhiqiang's expression froze.

Cao Zhong's voice continued.

"Back then, in your book 'The Cat Hides the Insect,' you couldn't see the universal values ​​it promoted, could you?"

"What do traditional Chinese martial arts films emphasize? They are true to their word, resolute in their actions, faithful to their promises, and willing to risk their lives to help those in distress. What about your Oscar-winning film? It pursues personal freedom, rebels against traditional ethics, and emphasizes Western individualistic values."

"Like Yu Jiaolong, who yearned for unrestrained freedom, a freedom defined by herself. Stealing the Green Destiny Sword sparked conflict in the martial world, and she even injured her sister who helped her by drawing her sword against her. There's nothing wrong with pursuing freedom. But in this world, we all have responsibilities; how can we be completely unrestrained?"

"Boss Jiang, as a cultural worker, you must be cultured."

Jiang Zhiqiang: ...

He realized that Cao Zhong was cursing him.

Jiang Zhiqiang himself genuinely didn't realize there was a problem.

But since Cao Zhong had put it that way, Jiang Zhiqiang understood perfectly well.
This greatly alarmed Jiang Zhiqiang, and his expression changed as he looked at Tang Wei.

Jiang Zhiqiang felt a chill of fear; his heart felt as if it had been plunged into an ice cellar.
Is it really that outrageous, just a movie?
But Cao Zhong's logic was so damn smooth.

Jiang Zhiqiang pondered for a long time, remaining silent for quite a while. He realized that Cao Zhong indeed possessed a persuasive set of logic.
Then, with a complicated expression, he spoke:

"Although I still don't quite understand Director Cao's logical narrative, I... was wrong about Zheng Pingru."

Cao Zhong was very pleased to hear this.

So he gave Jiang Zhiqiang face and chuckled, "Then we can start discussing our business."

Tang seized the opportunity and started crying to Cao Zhong.

"Director Cao, this is Tang Wei. Could you please let me off the hook?"

Tang cried very loudly.
“Boss Jiang said he was wrong, and I was wrong too. I really didn’t know Zheng Pingru. I only knew the script and the name of the character I was playing. I’m really uneducated. I was wrong. Director Cao, please let me go.”

Jiang Zhiqiang's expression changed slightly, and he explained, "Director Cao, Tang Wei was here the whole time."

Cao Zhong remained silent on the other end of the phone.

After a moment of silence, Cao Zhong finally spoke and asked Tang Wei:

"Tang Wei, you spent eight months learning Suzhou storytelling, Shanghainese, and etiquette from the Republican era for this role. You said you didn't know the real-life inspiration for the character, and I can pretend I understand. But you can't exactly say you don't know what the character you're playing is like, can you?"

You played a rare assassin, but ended up being seduced.
You say you don't know what you acted in, do you even believe that yourself?
Or do you think I look like a fool?

Tang Wei started sobbing and cried, "I'm sorry, I'm sorry, Director Cao, I just thought that being able to act in such a movie would be a good thing for me. I really didn't think much about it, I really didn't think much about it..."

"Director Cao, about this matter..." Jiang Zhiqiang was also trying to explain, but he was interrupted by Cao Zhong as soon as he started to speak.

"Boss Jiang, tell Tang Wei to stop crying. Crying will take time."

"This official stamp, though it doesn't include her name, is essentially the same as having it stamped on her head."
You should find a job; your acting career is basically over.

But I can give her a suggestion: go to Japan and South Korea, and develop her career around mainland China.

Or she could retire from the entertainment industry and become a devoted wife and mother. Her husband could boast about it when he's out and about, saying, "His wife is the woman Liang Chaowei slept with in a movie!" That sounds impressive, and I'm sure her husband would be very proud. A government stamp on his hat is a badge of honor, after all.

Jiang Zhiqiang: ...

Soup is: ...

(End of this chapter)