Huayu: Serious director, who's eavesdropping on your thoughts?

The seventh day of the new year.

Suddenly, a scene like this appeared on the televisions of every household.

A certain TV program, "News 30 Minutes,"

"...The following is a brief cultural news report: During the Spring Festival..."

The Chinese film "Escape from the British Museum," directed by current students at the Beijing Film Academy, has generated a strong response. The film focuses on lost cultural relics from a unique perspective, inspiring widespread patriotism. According to statistics, the film's box office revenue exceeded 1000 million yuan yesterday, becoming the biggest box office dark horse of this year's Spring Festival season after "Hero."

This moment.

The entire village, with their rice bowls in hand and watching television, were stunned.

Especially Sister Li, when she saw the name of director Zhao Huaiyuan on the TV screen, she was completely stunned.

"My goodness...it's not pig farming, it's on TV?"

If the previous rumors only made the neighbors envious and caused some gossip in the village, then this wave directly brought Zhao Huaiyuan's reputation in the county to its peak.

Whether the people of the whole country care or not is still unknown, but what is certain is that in this small county town, he has become a god.

On this day, Zhao Huaiyuan regularly cleaned up his text messages.

I replied to Liu Yifei first, as usual.

This little girl calls and texts him every day.

"Brother Huaiyuan, congratulations! I saw you on TV! I knew you were awesome! (TV station name)!"

Zhao Huaiyuan replied: "Qianqian, don't keep praising me, okay? I'll get arrogant. Also, you've worked hard. Is the crew in the mid-to-late stages of filming now? Haven't you been to Yanjing for the whole year?"

Reply instantly:

"Yeah, we just had a simple New Year's Eve dinner at a hotel, and then we were back to filming on the second day of the Lunar New Year. Anyway, by the way, everyone's talking about who that person in the photo is online. Don't you think I should come forward and claim responsibility?"

"Don't rush, it's best to wait a little longer. By the way, your back view has done a great job for our movie. When we meet next time, I'll treat you to a big meal to celebrate our success."

"Fine! No backing out! And you absolutely have to give me a cameo role in your next film! Otherwise, I won't stand for it, hmph!"

Zhao Huaiyuan smiled and ended the chat. He had to admit that chatting with this cute little girl was quite comfortable.

The next step is to clean up the text messages.

Zhao Huaiyuan read through them one by one.

"Director Zhao, hello. I'm Li Wannian from Wanyang Enterprise. I've long admired your name. I never expected to have such a talented person like you in our company. I'd like to host a celebration banquet for you at the Shangri-La Hotel in the city. The other bosses will also be there. In addition, I'd like to invest three to five million in Director Zhao's next film. Shall we meet and discuss it in detail?"

Zhao Huaiyuan scoffed.

He knew Li Wannian, who started his business in coal mining. He was dishonest, bullied and oppressed the locals, and eventually became an entrepreneur.

I shouldn't go to these kinds of dinner parties.

If you go there, you'll be forced to drink heavily, treated like a mascot, and subjected to a barrage of mutual flattery. These nouveau riche bosses will likely put their arms around his shoulders and brag, saying that the director is their brother, and then ask him to help promote a goddaughter or something.

Holding onto three to five million is like holding a hot potato; it'll only get you into trouble.

Don't worry about retaliation for refusing.

He is now a patriotic director named by a certain media outlet. His alma mater is Yenching University and Beijing Film Academy. He is backed by China Film Group. He keeps silent in the face of these local bullies. They will only think that he is unfathomable and may even imagine that he is an aloof artist. As a result, they will not dare to act rashly.

Swipe past it, next one.

"Brother Zhao, I'm Chen Wanji from Gionee Real Estate. I heard you haven't bought a house in the city yet? I've reserved one for you in the Blue Water Bay villa area I developed. If you're willing to be my spokesperson, I'll give you the house right away. Let's be friends, and if you need anything in this little corner of the world, just let me know."

"Director Zhao, I'm from our city's TV station. We'd like to arrange an exclusive interview with you..."

"Mr. Zhao, it's me, Liu, your high school classmate. Do you remember me? We were best friends back in school. Let's get together tonight..."

"Huaiyuan... I am Tang... Do you still remember the Daming Reservoir back then... Actually, I have never forgotten you..."

...

The inbox was overflowing, even after Zhao Huaiyuan had scheduled daily deletions.

It's true what they say, even the wealthiest people in the mountains have distant relatives... The ancients were right!

He checked all the numbers and clicked delete. At that moment, his eyes were a little dazed, and he suddenly thought of his previous life.

That Da Liu was indeed his high school classmate.

Back in school, the other person was incredibly charming and sociable in class; their smooth talk actually made them the most popular.

At that time, Zhao Huaiyuan was taciturn. Although he was sincere to others, he was not as popular as the other person and even gained a reputation for being aloof. He was often ridiculed by this person as a negative example.

Where can I go to seek justice?

One year during the Spring Festival, it was also this same Liu who organized a class reunion.

Of the more than forty students in the class, he was the only one notified.

Later, he ran into Da Liu on the street. Da Liu was driving a Santana. He threw him a cigarette through the car window and deliberately threw it on the ground, saying insincerely, "Hey Huaiyuan, I forgot about you at the last gathering. I was just too busy filming a movie to bother you."

That's pure bullshit!

And that woman surnamed Tang, who was also his classmate, well, let's not even mention her.

In short, in his previous life, when he was not successful, not to mention ordinary days, even during holidays, whether it was WeChat or mobile phone, apart from 10086 and overdue debt collection, no one thought about him at all.

Now they're all here, damn it!

Zhao Huaiyuan thought that having lived a second life, he had long since become indifferent to the coldness and warmth of human relationships, and his temperament had been cultivated to be calm and undisturbed.

But thinking about the faces of these people, I still can't help but feel angry.

roll!

Block all with one click!

..

The eighth day of the Lunar New Year, in the morning.

The sun was shining brightly, and the snow on the road was beginning to melt.

Zhao Huaiyuan sat at the table with several documents spread out in front of him. He held a calculator in his hand and was checking a publishing contract.

This is the publishing contract for the physical book of "Ghost Blows Out the Light".

With the completion of the first volume, "The Ancient City of Jingjue," this groundbreaking work of supernatural tales reached its peak of popularity online, with multiple publishers vying to vie for the copyright through private messages.

Ultimately, Zhao Huaiyuan chose Yangtze River Literature and Art Publishing House, which has the strongest domestic distribution channels.

"The first print run is 100,000 copies, with a royalty rate of 12% and an advance payment of 500,000."

The conditions were good, and Zhao Huaiyuan was very satisfied.

It's important to know that most new writers typically only receive 6%-7% in royalties, and 10% is already considered top-tier.

The other party also promised that within three working days after signing, the 50 yuan prepayment would be deposited into his designated account.

Zhao Huaiyuan calculated that he now has 350 million yuan in liquid funds.

Just as Zhao Huaiyuan was planning how to open a studio after returning to Yanjing after the New Year.

Mom and Dad are back.

"Mom and Dad, you're back? How's Grandma?" Zhao Huaiyuan asked.

"No bones are broken, it just needs some rest."

"Xiao Yuan, is everything alright at home? Your dad and I just arrived in the village, and it seems like the villagers are looking at us strangely."

"I heard you made a movie and were on TV? What's going on?"

The couple stayed in the mountain valley for several days, basically isolated from the outside world, unaware of what was happening outside.

While the group was talking...

Then a distant cousin, whom I had no connection with at all, came over with a smirk, carrying a box of pure milk.

"Xiao Yuan is out? Oh my, a big director! You were keeping it a secret! You've really made something of yourself now."

When my cousin saw Zhao Huaiyuan, his eyes lit up as if he had seen a gold ingot.

"Cousin-in-law," Zhao Huaiyuan called out, without any emotion.

"Xiao Yuan, I know everything. You're a big director now. They say on TV that your movie makes over ten million a day! Wow, our Zhao family is really blessed to have produced such a great talent like you!"

My parents were stunned.

More than ten million?

Seeing the expressions on my cousin's and her husband's faces, my uncle was secretly amused. They were pretending, weren't they?

He ignored it and continued speaking to himself:

"Now that you're successful, you have to help your family. You know your cousin Qiangzi, he was sentenced before, and he just got out. The family is already arranging a relationship for him. He's 28 this year, and they finally found someone, but the girl's family is demanding a dowry, and they're short 50,000 yuan. Your uncle really has no choice..."

Zhao Huaiyuan had a smile on his face, but he really wanted to give him a big penny.

This cousin, though a distant relative, had little contact with him in his previous life. He was a pure snob and always looked down on having a relative who sold pigs. I remember once, when I was really desperate, I asked him to borrow a few thousand yuan, but he didn't even acknowledge me.

The cousin, unaware of his thoughts, simply looked at Zhao Huaiyuan with an air of self-righteousness:

"This money is just a drop in the ocean for you, a mere pittance. Give him 50,000 so your brother can get married. It's a good deed, isn't it?"

Zhao Huaiyuan looked at the box of milk that cost twenty yuan again and laughed in anger.

This isn't borrowing money, it's robbing them! Judging by the way they're doing it, even if they give them the money, it's like throwing good money after bad – gone forever.

"Uncle, what the newspapers are saying is all nonsense. That ten million is from box office revenue, not my money. It belongs to the state. I'm just a director on a fixed salary. I'd like to lend you the money, but I don't dare touch it. Embezzling public funds will land me in jail."

"Go to jail? No way! Isn't the director the boss?" My uncle was skeptical.

"Oh, you're overthinking it. My tuition was raised by my family selling several pigs. If you're short of money, you should go to the bank for a loan. You've come to the wrong place by asking a poor student like me."

"Bye-bye!" Upon hearing this, my uncle turned and left, but after taking only a few steps out the door, he turned back and carried the box of milk back with him.

My cousin had just left, and my parents hadn't even processed all the information they were getting, when suddenly a deafening sound of gongs and drums came from outside the door.

"Dong dong qiang! Dong dong qiang!"

My mother was startled: "What's going on now? Who's getting married?"

The group walked to the door and took a look.

Two students who looked like high schoolers were seen struggling to pull up a large red banner.

Warmest congratulations to our distinguished alumnus, director Zhao Huaiyuan, on the box office success of his film!

Among the crowd, Principal Wang, dressed in a suit and tie and beaming with health, was directing several teachers to beat drums and gongs.

Zhao Huaiyuan saw that the homeroom teacher who used to punish him by making him stand in the corner and criticizing him for this and that was wrong was now holding a big red certificate in his arms, smiling like a flower.

The area was crowded with onlookers, pointing and whispering.

"What...what are they here for?" Mom and Dad had never seen anything like this before, and they were completely dumbfounded.