The Fleeting Years of Chinese Entertainment

Moreover, these workers are not only "besieging and intercepting" Song Dazui, but also spreading his "achievements" to the people around him every time he changes places to find some peace and quiet.

This has led to Song Dazui now experiencing a life like a rat crossing the street every day.

Wherever he goes, he is followed by disdainful looks and insults; he can't shake them off at all.

Even while eating, you have to endure a veiled rant from the restaurant owner.

"Alas... the world is going to the dogs, and people's hearts are no longer what they used to be!"

"These young people nowadays... tsk tsk, their morals are seriously corrupt."

"If he's capable of abandoning his wife and children, what else wouldn't he dare to do?"

……

Song Dazui wanted to retort, but it seemed the restaurant owner had beaten the salt seller to death today. He took a bite of noodles and almost sucked all the moisture out of his throat.

"Boss, why are your noodles so salty this time? Did you put in a whole bag of salt?"

Song Zude grabbed a bottle of beverage and gulped it down in one go before he could barely open his enormous mouth.

"Hehe... If you think it's too salty, don't eat it. This is our shop's specialty noodles."

The restaurant owner glanced at Song Dazui with disdain and said, "Oh... by the way, Coke has gone up in price recently, it's ten yuan a bottle now."

"What? You've put gold in your cola? Aren't you afraid I'll go to the price bureau?"

Song Dazui almost choked to death by the restaurant owner's words.

"Ha...pretending to be something you're not? Do you even deserve it? I'd rather you choke to death and I'd have to pay with my life! You want to go to the price bureau? Go ahead and go. I didn't stop you, and I didn't sell you a Coke just now, did I? Tell me, what kind of behavior is this? Theft? Or robbery?"

"You want to report me to the price bureau? I'd rather have the police arrest you! Hurry up, are you going to eat or not? If not, pay the bill and get out!" the restaurant owner said with a sullen expression.

"You...you're being unreasonable. If you run a business like this, your restaurant will go out of business sooner or later. No wonder there wasn't a single person in the shop on Sunday."

"Whether it's pornographic or not is none of your business. Besides, reason is for people, not for animals."

"Hey... why are you swearing at me? Where are you from? I want to see what kind of place could produce such an uncultured person like you!"

"Oh ho! You want to know my background? No problem, I'll tell you, I'm from Northeast China. What? Want to spar with me?"

Looking at the restaurant owner's burly appearance, Song Zude thought to himself that even if ten more people came, they would have a hard time getting the better deal.

But even if you lose, you can't lose face...

"Hmph! Only a brute would think of resorting to violence! I am a scholar, and... a shop run by someone like you will eventually go bankrupt."

After making a few words of rave, Song Dazui lost his appetite and turned to leave, afraid of being overwhelmed by the saltiness and also afraid of actually getting beaten up.

But just as he reached the door, a large, fan-like hand touched his shoulder.

"Ah!!... I'm telling you... hitting someone is illegal."

Startled, Song Dazui felt a warm sensation in his crotch.

Even the restaurant owner was amused by the guy's appearance.

"Hey! Look at you, you pathetic creature! Don't worry! I'm a civilized man, I won't beat you up."

"Then what do you want by stopping me?" Song Dazui asked, trembling.

"Hehe... I just wanted to broaden your horizons."

As he spoke, the restaurant owner pulled a car key out of his pocket.

"See that? A Mercedes S600L. I spent over 1.8 million yuan on it. Do you think I care about this little shabby shop? This is just a hobby for me! Understand? You're an intellectual, aren't you?"

Watching the restaurant owner swagger back into the shop, Song Zude truly felt like he'd been screwed.

……

Recalling everything he had suffered over the past two weeks, Song Zude couldn't help but urinate in two streams down his face.

He considered calling the police, hoping they could help him handle these matters…

But those "workers" were much more experienced than him; they had done thorough preparation beforehand, and there wasn't a single flaw to be found.

Even worse...

They even set up a small stall downstairs from him. Whether they made any money or not is another matter. Their main point was to show that they were willing to play along with him to the very end!

And not only that,

Besides becoming a universally hated rat in real life, Song Dazui is now also...

Suddenly, a lot of negative news about him appeared online...

Comments such as "ungrateful," "abandoning his wife who had shared his hardships," "a heartless wretch," and "unworthy of being a father" are everywhere, and each one consistently occupies the "front page" of major portal websites, remaining at the top of the list.

It's even better than the recently heavily promoted Super Girl and Chinese Paladin.

In no time, Song Zude's name was deeply imprinted in the hearts of the masses.

Although the internet is not as developed as it is in later generations, Song Zude's reputation has become quite tarnished due to Lin's "money power".

It wouldn't be an exaggeration to say they were like rats crossing the street, hated by everyone.

……

The box office performance of "Initial D" is quite good; at least the combined box office from Hong Kong and mainland China is very likely to exceed 100 million.

Therefore, we often hear information about this movie in our circles recently.

The post-production of Lin Mo's "The Crowd" has been completed and submitted for review.

Aside from occasionally checking on the situation at his own studio and with Tangren Media and Song Zude, he was preparing to choose the future release date for his film.

The Lunar New Year film season includes Chen Kaige's "The Promise," which, despite being a terrible film, still grossed a considerable amount at the box office. Lin Mo didn't want to go head-to-head with it, and besides, its release during the Lunar New Year season was indeed a bit too far off.

As for the National Day holiday period, it has already been taken over by Jackie Chan's "The Myth".

Although the older brother's box office appeal has declined somewhat, the quality of the movie "The Myth" is indeed quite good, and it almost broke 100 million yuan at the box office in mainland China alone.

Therefore, Lin Mo believed that the most suitable time for his movie to be released was during the summer season, specifically around August.

After all, promotion and copying both take time, so allowing about a month is about right.

Excluding currently showing films such as "Initial D," "Batman Begins," and "Mr. & Mrs. Smith," which are either not showing until August or will be taken off the screens as soon as August begins.

Lin Mo's only real competitors are the foreign blockbusters *Madagascar*, releasing on July 15th, and *War of the Worlds*, releasing on August 10th.

And also "Seven Swords," which premiered in China on July 29th, and "Red Beauty," which premiered on September 13th…