Huayu 1999: Starting with nothing but getting something for nothing

Stepping out of the airport and looking out the window, Salt Lake City is indeed quite beautiful, surrounded by snow-capped mountains and a clear blue sky.

"Old Wu, what's the climate like in Utah?"

"An inland plateau, with little rain and mostly sunny weather, similar to Qinghai in China."

Yang Che nodded: "I was just saying that the climate here is similar to that of Shanxi Province, and there's also a salt lake here."

Gong Beibi said, "We can see the red stone forest on the way. It's been snowing these past few days, and it looks like rows of snowmen as far as the eye can see."

Laurie Torune also mentioned that she could ski in Park City these days, where the ski resorts are among the best in the United States, with steep vertical drops, thick powder snow, and it's the training base for the U.S. National Ski Team.

We chatted all the way, and 40 minutes later, at 12:3, we arrived at a three-story hotel in the city center.

Yang Che glanced at the shop sign; it read "Caledonian." He recognized the word and asked in confusion, "Scottish?"

Knowing that Yang Che was learning English, Wu Shixian enthusiastically taught him: "Brother Che, names should be transliterated, so in Chinese it should be Kailai Dongni."

Yang Che opened his mouth, wanting to say that he wasn't stupid... but considering that he didn't want to dampen his friend's enthusiasm, he swallowed his words.

This hotel is infinitely more luxurious than any hotel in Los Angeles... after all, one costs $65 and the other $300.

Wu Shixian booked a total of 4 rooms here. At this time, the Australians James Wan and Ray Whannell, who were sharing a room with him, were already waiting in the hotel lobby.

"Old Wen, long time no see."

"Wannar, how are you feeling?"

This was followed by a warm and friendly exchange of pleasantries.

After checking in, everyone had an American meal: sandwiches with thick-cut sirloin steak and onions on toast, all with black pepper sauce, plus a bowl of mushroom soup... For Yang Che, a carnivore, it was quite good.

During the meal, Yang Che talked about the release status and approximate box office of "My Sassy Girl" in China, Japan and South Korea.

Although Wu Shixian and Gong Beibi did not know the exact figures, they were aware of the commotion Yang Che had caused in China, and even so, they were still shocked.

Gong Beibi said with a smile, "Brother Che, now you've finally made it."

Wu Shih-hsien said, "He stepped in when the movie was in pre-production!"

"Xiao Wu, I thought we'd always been on the same wavelength. What am I trying to say?"

"..."

James Wan and Leigh Whannell, who had finally figured it out, were also very surprised. Now they roughly understand what it means to earn $200 million at the box office in China in 5 days, and they congratulated them.

Only Yang Che knew that this achievement, in the original world, well, couldn't be compared; one should be content.

"I have a much higher opinion of 'Saw,' otherwise I wouldn't have left there and rushed over. Speaking of which, I really have to thank Toruni. Without your PR, 'Saw' wouldn't have been the opening film. Here, let me toast you with a Coke!"

Laurie Torruni held up a can of Coke: "My contribution is only 10%, 90% of this Saw was made by all of us together."

As soon as the words were spoken, a woman with an extremely long face—well, more like a horse's face—walked to the group's table: "Hi, Toruni, I bet that's your voice. Wow, Dane, you're here too."

Toruni and Wu Shixian were both taken aback for a moment, then laughed and called out the name of the newcomer.

Karen Kusama

However, they were each other's professors when they studied directing at the University of Washington. During their conversation, they learned that the other had made a film about a female boxer and was also participating in the festival.

After exchanging a glance, Wu Shixian and Yang Che extended a warm invitation: "Are you alone? Come sit with us."

Karion Kusama: "Okay, but I have a partner who is also my lead actor."

Naturally, they were all called over, since they were sitting at an 8-person table.

"Michelle, come over here."

Yang Che looked in the direction of the voice and recognized her: a Latina girl with a cool expression, the bald man's girlfriend in "Fast & Furious," a rare female action star in Hollywood. Of course, she had only just debuted. Although she had a cool expression, the confusion in her eyes was still immediately noticeable.

After sitting down, they began to introduce themselves.

When Wu Shixian introduced Yang Che, he said that he was a Chinese friend who came to visit.

Karen Kusama looked at him strangely: "Isn't he the boss of your movie?"

The atmosphere at the table was somewhat awkward.

Seeing this, Yang Che raised an eyebrow and said seriously, "I work for a state-owned film company in China. This is another horror and gore film, so it's inconvenient for me to reveal my identity. Please understand."

Wu Shixian and Gong Beibi held each other's hands tightly on the table. Their ability to lie was truly remarkable; they could spout off so easily and so naturally. No wonder they could have two girlfriends at the same time.

Karen Kusama looked enlightened, then nodded mysteriously: "Communism, I get it, I get it. Looks like you really love horror movies."

Yang Che didn't want to explain anything, he just gave a knowing look.

Karien Kusama gave Yang Che a look that made him extremely uncomfortable. It wasn't unfriendly, but rather a "kind" or "pity" look, the kind of look that often appeared in the eyes of video bloggers who travel to the Middle East or Africa.

Even though she already knew that Yang Che was an investor and a boss.

Yang Che glanced at the proud Gong Beibi and found that her expression remained unchanged.

I couldn't help but sigh to myself: Indeed, even in 2026, won't there still be plenty of foreigners who feel superior? Won't there still be plenty of Chinese who feel inferior?

Although it was uncomfortable, it further proved the necessity for Yang Che to remain behind the scenes, since the project was ultimately just for making some money.

Michelle, who had been so aloof, was now looking at the seemingly mysterious Chinese man with great curiosity.

Yang Che smiled at her kindly, his eyes filled with pure emotion.

There are always some women who, even if they were standing naked in front of you, you wouldn't be able to stand up. This is one of them.

Afterwards, everyone chatted about their respective movies and agreed to meet at the opening ceremony on the 1st, and then went about their own business.

This small town is full of independent filmmakers from Europe and America, as well as people from the eight major Hollywood studios and some distribution companies. After all, a film festival is essentially a film market, where there are sellers and buyers.

In the afternoon, everyone went to the exhibition hall to set up their booth.

Yang Che saw many familiar faces, but couldn't recall their names, and naturally there weren't any foreign girls worth approaching.

I made several phone calls to China, including to Han Sanping.

Once the call connected, he said gruffly, "You've made such a big name for yourself, why aren't you promoting it? What are you doing in America?"

Yang Che spoke frankly: "I invested $15 in an American director, and he spent 20 days making a horror film, which was the opening film of this year's Sundance Film Festival."

Han Sanping remained silent for a long time, the time being even longer due to the ocean distance. Then he said quietly, "Just how much good karma did your ancestors accumulate for you?"