Huayu: Starting from joining the mainstream entertainment industry in 96

Chapter 115, Section 114: Three Thousand Yue Soldiers Can Swallow Wu (Part 2)

February 17, 1997, evening.

The canteen at Beijing Film Studio was already packed, with long tables and tents temporarily set up dozens of meters from the entrance, creating a spectacular scene.

The air was filled with the rich aroma of food and wine, as well as the vibrant heat emanating from the gathering of more than three thousand people, completely dispelling the chill of late winter.

A large basin of braised pork with vermicelli, a whole roasted lamb, stacks of steaming white steamed buns, buckets of rice steaming hot...

The dishes weren't particularly refined, but the portions were generous, exuding a simple and hearty charm.

This was a welcome banquet for Wang Sheng to fulfill his promise, and also a pre-battle mobilization by Shengying Media and Beijing Film Studio for this "army" that had suddenly expanded to 6,000 people.

The Beijing Film Studio originally had over a thousand employees, Sheng Ying Media had over six hundred formal employees, and over a thousand people were seconded from the original "Eighteen Princes". With the addition of nearly three thousand new employees today, the total number has exceeded six thousand.

Of course, not that many were present; many employees had already gone to work in various southern provinces.

There were only about three thousand people present. Wang Sheng, Han Sanping, and several core members of the factory and company sat at the main table at the far end of the canteen.

People kept coming over to offer him a toast, and Wang Sheng accepted them all. He emptied his cup in one gulp, his face slightly flushed, but his eyes became even clearer and sharper.

Li Xiaoran and Gao Yuanyuan also appeared in a corner of the cafeteria.

Li Xiaoran was called by Wang Sheng's mother, Zhang Xiulan, to help manage the situation and have a meal; Gao Yuanyuan, on the other hand, was attracted by the unprecedented liveliness after finishing her training.

The appearance of two very different beauties naturally attracted the attention of many young workers, but most of their attention was focused on the real protagonist of the night—Wang Sheng.

"My goodness, so many people..."

Gao Yuanyuan stood on tiptoe, gazing at the bustling, noisy scene before her. Her little face was filled with shock and excitement, her eyes wide open. She clapped her hands unconsciously: "It's ten times more exciting than our school's sports meet!"

Li Xiaoran stood beside her, but her feelings were somewhat complicated.

Looking at Wang Sheng, who was surrounded by people and chatting happily, she felt as if she had returned to the small celebration banquet last summer after the success of Shengying Media's first wedding film project.

Back then, the company was just starting out, with a team of just over a hundred people crammed into a small office at the Beijing Film Studio. Wang Sheng was just as spirited back then, but his aura was nowhere near as impressive as it is today.

How long has it been since?

In just over half a year, he had amassed such a large force under his command.

Looking at the dark-skinned, ardent-eyed workers and young people from all over the country raising their glasses to Wang Sheng, Li Xiaoran couldn't help but feel an indescribable sense of emotion, as well as a sense of crisis that she herself didn't want to delve into.

Her gaze involuntarily drifted to Gao Yuanyuan beside her, whose face was flushed with excitement. The girl's youthful innocence and beauty were particularly striking under the lights, especially her innocent and adoring eyes that were fixed on Wang Sheng.

"She's really beautiful..."

Li Xiaoran felt a pang of sadness for no reason, and thought somewhat defiantly—

"Damn it, why can't I be the only beautiful woman in the world? Why are there always these pretty young girls around this guy?"

Just then, Han Sanping stood up, tapped his wine glass, and his loud voice, transmitted through the makeshift loudspeaker, echoed throughout the canteen: "Comrades! Quiet down!"

The cacophony gradually subsided, and thousands of eyes converged on them.

Han Sanping, beaming with excitement, declared, "This meal is a welcome feast for our three thousand new brothers! It's also an encouragement to all of us who are working hard for Beijing Film Studio, Shengying Media, and the Film Studio Alliance!"
Over the past year, we've weathered storms and forged a path to survival! In the new year, we must unite as one and achieve even greater things! Now, let's have our 'helmsman,' Wang Sheng, say a few words!"

Old Han clearly said 'helmsman,' but for some reason, it got passed down as 'chief helmsman.'

"Master! Master! Master!"

Thunderous cheers and applause erupted from the audience, the sound almost lifting the roof off the cafeteria.

Amidst the attention of the crowd, Wang Sheng stood up, took the microphone, and his clear and powerful voice deftly drowned out the noise of the scene, reaching everyone's ears: "Dear masters! Dear brothers and sisters!"

With just one opening line, the room quickly fell silent, with only the occasional clinking of bowls and chopsticks and heavy breathing remaining.

"Does the meat in the bowl smell good?" Wang Sheng asked with a smile.

"It smells delicious!" the audience exclaimed in unison, bursting into laughter.

"Is the wine in the glass good or not?"

"Excellent!" "But this meat and this wine didn't fall from the sky!" Wang Sheng's tone changed, and his gaze swept across the entire room: "They were earned by the old and young men of our Beijing Film Studio, by the brothers and sisters of Shengying Media, by every one of us here, through sweat and toil, by fighting for every single deal! They were earned by the indomitable spirit of our film studio people!"

His words evoked memories and resonated with many people, especially the veteran employees of Beijing Film Studio and the founding team of Shengying Media, who nodded and looked on with emotion.

"Today, we have three thousand new faces here!"

Wang Sheng waved his arm, pointing to the unfamiliar faces on the stage: "You come from all over the country, from different film studios! Some of these studios may be on the verge of bankruptcy! What are you here at Beijing Film Studio for?"

He paused, then answered his own question, his voice suddenly rising: "What I'm after is a platform where I can showcase my skills! What I'm after is earning honest money through my own abilities, so that my parents, wife, and children can live a good life! What I'm after is that we, the people at the film studio, can't be looked down upon! We can't let our skills go to waste!"

"Correct!"

"Mr. Wang is right!"

The audience was excited, especially the newcomers, who felt that Wang Sheng's words resonated with them.

“Some people laugh at us, calling us a ‘bandit gang,’ and saying that I, Wang Sheng, am the ‘chief’!” Wang Sheng’s lips curled into a smug smile: “Let me tell you, so what if we’re a bandit gang? Aren’t there plenty of heroes who were forced to join the Liangshan bandits?!”
Of course, we're gathered here today not to become outlaws, but to do something honorable! We want everyone to see that our film studio team is ready to fight any tough battle! And that the people love the films we make!

"it is good!"

"The Grand Master is mighty!"

Applause and cheers erupted once again.

Wang Sheng picked up a full glass of baijiu in front of him, his eyes blazing, his voice like the clash of metal, resounding and powerful: "As the old saying goes! Today, I, Wang Sheng, would like to take this couplet as an opportunity to encourage you all!"

He paused briefly, focused his energy, and recited each word clearly and distinctly. His voice echoed throughout the vast dining hall, reaching the ears of six thousand people: "Where there's a will, there's a way; with a do-or-die spirit, the Qin Pass will ultimately belong to Chu!"

A sense of tragic heroism swept over us, shaking our very souls.

"Those who persevere will be rewarded; with patience and determination, three thousand Yue soldiers can conquer Wu!"

He practically roared out the last sentence, his voice shaking the roof tiles, completely unleashing his pent-up energy!

"Three thousand Yue soldiers can conquer Wu! Three thousand Yue soldiers can conquer Wu!"

The audience erupted in cheers!
These lines of poetry are like a raging fire igniting dry tinder, completely releasing the passion, longing for the future, and determination to leave one's hometown and strive for success that everyone has been suppressing!

The older folks recalled the factory's past glory and present predicament, their eyes reddening; the newcomers felt an unprecedented sense of belonging and high morale, their blood boiling; the young men were even more excited, their faces flushed, waving their fists and shouting at the top of their lungs!
"Follow the leader! Let's fight!"

"Let's burn our bridges and go all the way!"

"Swallow Wu! Swallow Wu! Swallow Wu!"

The various shouts intertwined, converging into an unstoppable torrent.

The clinking of glasses, the moving of tables and chairs, the stomping of feet, the shouting... the entire cafeteria seemed to be shaking.

Li Xiaoran looked at Wang Sheng, who was surrounded by a frenzied crowd. He stood tall and straight under the lights, his eyes piercing, as if he truly possessed the aura to conquer mountains and rivers.

The slight bitterness in her heart was replaced by a stronger sense of awe and pride at this moment.

This is the man she chose, a man who could gather such terrifying power in such a short time.

Gao Yuanyuan was so excited that she clapped her hands vigorously, her face flushed with excitement, and her eyes were filled with undisguised admiration and adoration for Wang Sheng, as if she were seeing a character from a myth.

Wang Sheng raised his glass, surveyed the entire room, and shouted with all his might:

"Cheers to better days!"

"cheers--!"

The response from three thousand people was like a mountain roar and a tsunami, soaring straight into the sky.

That night, the lights at the Beijing Film Studio were destined to burn forever.

That night, the bold statement, "Three thousand Yue soldiers can conquer Wu," was branded and deeply engraved in the hearts of everyone present, becoming the indomitable spirit of this fledgling army.

(End of this chapter)