I'm conquering Hong Kong entertainment with two billion US dollars.

Chapter 60, 5000 million; more can be added later.

After leaving the photography studio, Han Sanping led Lin Dong to the post-production workshop and prop warehouse, explaining as they walked, his pace slow and his words few.

Lin Dong nodded occasionally and asked a few questions occasionally. Both of them were decisive and efficient. They read what they needed to read and asked what they needed to ask, without saying anything unnecessary.

Around 11:30, Han Sanping checked his watch. "Lin Sheng, it's noon. The factory has a canteen; the food isn't as good as Quanjude, but it's filling. Want to try it?"

"Then let's give it a try," Lin Dong said with a smile.

The canteen is located in the middle of the factory area. It is a gray bungalow with the words "Staff Canteen" painted in red on the lintel, though most of the paint has faded.

Pushing open the door, you're greeted by the steam of food mixed with the smell of disinfectant. There are seven or eight people queuing at the food serving window, their stainless steel trays clanging against the counter.

Someone carrying a lunchbox came out from inside, saw Han Sanping, and called out "Factory Manager". Han Sanping nodded, and the person continued walking out without any further pleasantries.

A 21-inch color television was hanging on the wall, showing CCTV-1's midday news.

Lin Dong glanced over there, then pointed to an empty table in the middle of the hall.

"Let's sit in the lobby. We can also get to know some of our future colleagues."

Han Sanping chuckled. "When in Rome, do as the host says."

The two of them stood in line for two minutes at the food window with their bowls in their hands—braised pork, stir-fried cabbage with vinegar, scrambled eggs with tomatoes, a bowl of egg drop soup, and unlimited steamed buns.

Han Sanping took out a meal ticket from his pocket and handed it over. Lin Dong didn't stand on ceremony and sat down opposite him with the tray in his hand.

The TV volume wasn't very loud, but since there weren't many people talking in the living room, the news anchor's voice could be heard clearly.

"Recently, the middle and lower reaches of the Yangtze River have experienced continuous heavy rainfall, resulting in flooding in some areas. Local authorities have strengthened flood prevention and rescue efforts."

Lin Dong raised his head.

The screen was showing JX's footage—farmland was mostly flooded, turbid river water overflowed the low-lying areas of the embankment, and several people wearing military raincoats were piling sandbags onto the embankment.

The camera cuts back to the studio, where the anchor's tone is calm and he doesn't seem too anxious.

At the next table, an older chef, holding his rice bowl, remarked to the person next to him, "The rain is so heavy in the south." Another person chimed in, "..."

"It's the same every year," and then continued eating.

No one discussed the topic anymore. The flood peak hadn't arrived yet. No one knew the scale of this one.

Lin Dong was waiting for this. He put his chopsticks on the bowl, looked at the TV screen, and waited for the news to finish before speaking, his tone as casual as if he were chatting.

"Director Han, the rain in the south has been heavy. If it continues, will there be a major flood?"

Han Sanping was picking up a piece of braised pork when his chopsticks paused in mid-air. He glanced at the television, but the screen had already switched to another news report.

He put the meat into his bowl, thought for a moment, and then spoke, his tone carrying a hint of relief, but also a hint of indifference.

"Probably not. Every year around this time, the south experiences several heavy rains. In previous years, it would only cause localized flooding, which would recede in a few days."

The rainfall has been heavier this year, but the meteorological bureau hasn't issued any special warnings; it should stop in a few days.

He picked up a piece of food and added, "The main dike along the Yangtze River is still quite sturdy."

Lin Dong picked up the egg drop soup, took a sip, and when he put the bowl down, the bottom of the bowl made a soft tapping sound on the tray.

"In this kind of weather, people must be having a hard time." He tapped the table, considered for a moment, and looked at Han Sanping. "I also have some spare cash. Donating it directly feels a bit too materialistic."

Han Sanping frowned and put down his chopsticks. His intuition told him that what Lin Dong was about to say was not as simple as "a little spare money".

"Director Han, could you help me contact some manufacturers?"

Lin Dong placed his chopsticks on the bowl and began to count the items one by one, "Woven bags, thick tarpaulins, life jackets, life rings—these can be used by the villagers. Especially the life jackets and life rings, those patrolling along the river will definitely need them."

"Purified water, compressed biscuits, and instant noodles. With the food supply affected by the disaster, eating will definitely be a problem. Prepare these as well."

He paused here, as if thinking to see if he had forgotten anything. Then he remembered.

"By the way, mosquitoes tend to breed easily after a flood. We should also contact them to get disinfectant, bleach, and mosquito repellent. We should prepare some for them too."

He picked up his chopsticks, took a piece of braised pork, put it in his mouth, and only spoke his last words after chewing it.

"The total amount of supplies is about fifty million. I don't need that much money."

Han Sanping's hand holding the bowl froze in mid-air, his chopsticks hovering above the rim of the bowl, motionless.

"RMB?"

Lin Dong glanced at him and said dismissively, "Of course it's Hong Kong dollars!"

Han Sanping swallowed hard. Hong Kong dollars are worth more than RMB!

"Are you serious?"

Lin Dong chewed the food in his mouth and swallowed it before answering, "The word I, Lin Dong, have ever spoken has never been a lie!"

Han Sanping confirmed that he wasn't hallucinating, but he still found it somewhat unbelievable.

He just saw a news report, didn't even blink, and was about to throw away 50 million.

On second thought, he understood Lin Dong's idea. An investor from Hong Kong spending 50 million to buy supplies to support flood control in the mainland—this was undoubtedly the work of a top-notch patriotic businessman, and it would be seen and heard by some people.

Even so, fifty million is still too much.

His mind involuntarily began to calculate—fifty million, how many films could he make if he had that kind of money?

The shortfall for "The Birth of a Nation" was only 20 million, but Lin Dong's sudden outburst was more than double the amount he was supposed to use to fill that hole.

"Lin Sheng." Han Sanping put down the bowl, leaned forward, and said in a serious tone, "Shouldn't you reconsider?"

Fifty million is not five million. If you want to make a statement, ten or twenty million in supplies is already the maximum, and that's enough to attract attention. Fifty million—"

"No need to think about it. That's all." Lin Dong picked up a piece of stir-fried cabbage with vinegar, his tone calm. "We can add more if needed."

Han Sanping stared blankly at Lin Dong. The tone of his words was exactly the same as when he said in Hong Kong, "One hundred million or two hundred million is no problem."

He suddenly remembered what Jiang Wen had told him—"Third Master, talking to Lin Sheng about money is useless. He doesn't care about that."

Jiang Wen was right. Han Sanping picked up the egg drop soup, took a sip, and mentally reviewed the matter once more. Then he put the bowl down and looked at Lin Dong.

"Mr. Lin, since you've made up your mind, I won't try to dissuade you. I'll arrange for someone to contact the manufacturers, and I'll have the purchasing department produce the list today. Once the supplies are gathered, I'll have someone coordinate with the disaster area."

He paused. "Is this money—you're paying for it all yourself?"

"I'll pay for it myself. Just give me your account number, and I'll arrange it this afternoon. The money should arrive in the next couple of days."

Han Sanping nodded without saying another word. He picked up the bowl, broke the remaining half of the steamed bun in half, dipped it in the soup, and ate it bite by bite.

Lin Dong also secretly breathed a sigh of relief. He couldn't say it, but he had been thinking about how to break the deadlock for the past few months, and only later did he think of this point, which was why he was so eager to head north at this time.

Now that I've traveled through time, there are some things I really feel I shouldn't do.

Of course, he will continue to donate later, but the amount will not be the same.

This trip should leave something behind, not just be about making money and chasing women.

PS: 9-word update, please vote with monthly tickets.