We asked you to make an anti-corruption film, but you made one in the name of the people!

Zhang Hao was editing videos in his rented room when he received the call.

It's called a rental apartment, but it's actually just a studio apartment of about ten square meters, crammed full of a bed, computer desk, and wardrobe.

Several boxes of instant noodles were piled up in the corner, and two takeout boxes were on the table, looking like they hadn't been cleaned up for several days.

He is 26 years old this year, a native of Siping. He studied directing in college, but after graduation he did not go to a big city, but stayed in his hometown to make films.

What are you filming?

They do everything: online movies, short videos, GG promotional videos.

I don't earn much, but it's enough to live on.

Last month, he made a short film himself, about two bumbling thieves who went to a village to steal things, only to be completely outwitted by the villagers.

He directed and starred in the film, and even brought in his childhood friend Wu Erwo to play another thief.

The video is short, about twenty minutes long, and it received an unexpectedly good response after being posted on Douyin.

Netizens say it's funny, down-to-earth, and has that vibe.

He was quite pleased with himself and was considering whether to make a sequel.

When his phone rang, he was staring at the computer screen adjusting colors, his eyes were almost blurry.

When I picked it up, I saw it was an unfamiliar number, a number from Beijing.

He hesitated for a moment, then accepted.

"Hello, is this Mr. Zhang Hao?" A woman's voice came from the other end of the phone, her Mandarin as standard as a news anchor's.

Zhang Hao was taken aback for a moment: "Yes, that's me. Who are you?"

"Hello, I'm from the Publicity Bureau of the Ministry of Public Security..."

Zhang Hao's hand holding the phone trembled slightly.

Ministry of Public Security?

Did he hear that right?

His first reaction wasn't excitement, it was fear.

"I...I didn't do anything wrong!" Zhang Hao blurted out.

There was a pause on the other end of the phone, then a laugh: "Mr. Zhang, you've misunderstood. It's not what you think. We want to invite you to film a short video, just a collaboration, not to investigate you."

Zhang Hao's mind was still racing.

Shoot short videos?

The Ministry of Public Security asked him to film a short video?

What merit does a small-time director like him possess?

"Are you sure you didn't dial the wrong number? I'm just a small-time director, I haven't made anything serious." Zhang Hao asked tentatively.

"No mistake, Director Lin Mo recommended you."

Zhang Hao almost dropped his phone.

Lin Mo.

That Lin Mo.

Lin Mo, the actor who starred in "In the Name of the People"?

Lin Mo, who directed "All for One"?

That director Lin Mo whose films grossed a billion?

He had seen this name countless times on Douyin and in his WeChat Moments.

But he never imagined that this name would be associated with him.

"The Lin Mo you're talking about, is that the director Lin Mo?" Zhang Hao's voice was trembling slightly.

"Yes, it's Director Lin. He's currently on secondment to the Publicity Bureau of the Ministry of Public Security, where he's in charge of anti-fraud publicity. He wants to do a short legal education drama project. He watched your previous work, 'The Story of Erlong Lake,' and thinks your style is very suitable. He'd like to talk to you in person."

Zhang Hao opened his mouth, but couldn't say a word.

He wanted to say, "Don't tease me," or "Am I dreaming?" or "How could Director Lin know me?"

But these words swirled in his mind, and he didn't utter a single one.

"Mr. Zhang? Are you still there?" the voice on the other end of the phone asked.

"Yes, yes, yes!" Zhang Hao quickly replied, "I have time! Anytime is fine! Next week, right? Just tell me the time and place, and I'll definitely be there!"

The person on the other end of the phone chuckled, "Okay, I'll note that down. A colleague will confirm the specific time and place with you later. I look forward to meeting you."

"Okay, thank you!"

After hanging up the phone, Zhang Hao threw his phone on the table and slumped into his chair.

......

One week later, in Yanjing.

Zhang Hao arrived a day early, not because he was in a hurry, but because he was afraid that if the high-speed train was delayed, if he couldn't find his way, if he got stuck in traffic—if any unexpected event occurred, he didn't want to be late.

Wu Erwo, his childhood friend and the silly thief he acted with, also came with him.

Wu Erwo is a year younger than him, with a round face and a simple, honest look. He usually drives a taxi in his hometown and occasionally shoots videos with Zhang Hao, purely out of hobby.

The two agreed to stay at a budget hotel near the Ministry of Public Security.

Wu Erwo was tense from the moment he entered, pacing back and forth: "Brother Hao, do you think the people from the Ministry of Public Security might be fierce?"

Zhang Hao was scrolling through his phone, not even looking up: "You're not going to turn yourself in, what are you so nervous about?"

Wu Erwo scratched his head: "I don't know either, I'm just nervous."

At 9:30 a.m., Zhang Hao and Wu Erwo appeared on time at the gate of the Ministry of Public Security.

Xiao Zhang was already waiting there, dressed casually and looking very energetic: "Teacher Zhang? Teacher Wu? Hello, hello, I'm Xiao Zhang from the Publicity Bureau. Director Lin asked me to pick you up."

Zhang Hao quickly shook hands, and Wu Erwo followed suit, secretly wiping the sweat from his palms on his pants afterward.

Xiao Zhang led the two of them into the building. Along the way, everyone they encountered was busy with their own things and no one gave them a second glance.

Wu Erwo whispered to Zhang Hao, "It's not quite what I expected."

Zhang Hao replied softly, "What kind of idea are you thinking?"

Wu Erwo thought for a moment: "The kind you see on TV, where the corridors are full of people in uniforms, walking with a swagger."

Zhang Hao ignored him.

The elevator went up to the fifth floor, and Xiao Zhang led them to the door of an office at the end of the corridor, knocking on the door: "Director Lin, Teacher Zhang and the others have arrived."

The door opened.

Lin Mo was wearing a dark blue jacket and a white shirt, just like usual.

He smiled and extended his hand: "Zhang Hao? Hello, hello, it's great to finally meet you."

Zhang Hao grasped Lin Mo's hand. He opened his mouth, wanting to say, "Hello, Director Lin, I'm your fan," but the words that came out were, "Director Lin, I've seen all your films."

I regretted it as soon as I said it; what nonsense was that?

Lin Mo laughed: "That's perfect, saves me the trouble of introducing myself."

Several people sat down in the office.

Lin Mo poured them some water and got straight to the point: "I told you the gist of what I wanted to say on the phone last time. I wanted to make a short legal education drama, the humorous kind. I called you here today to discuss it in person and see what you think."

Zhang Hao took out a few sheets of paper from his bag and handed them over: "Director Lin, this is what I wrote last night, please take a look."

Lin Mo took it and flipped through it. It was a few short drama proposals. They were written very simply, but the core idea was clear—to dismantle scams from the perspective of a bumbling thief, so that the audience could remember anti-fraud knowledge while laughing.

After reading it, Lin Mo nodded: "Good idea. The perspective of this clumsy thief you described is similar to what I had in mind before."

Wu Erwo, who had been sitting silently to the side, suddenly blurted out, "Director Lin, what role should I play?"

Zhang Hao glared at him, and Wu Erwo shrank back.

Lin Mo smiled: "Don't be nervous, I've already thought about your role."

He took out his phone, found a note, and handed it to Zhang Hao.

"Let's set up three characters—one policeman, steady and experienced, let's call him Uncle Luo. Two thieves, the one you play, let's call him Zhang Hao, impulsive and a bit dim-witted, always wanting to pull off a big heist. The character Wu Erwo plays, who often tries to fool Zhang Hao. The two of you together have never accomplished a single decent job."

As Zhang Hao listened, his eyes grew brighter and brighter.

This character design is practically tailor-made for him and Wu Erwo.

"Each episode features a scam—impersonating law enforcement, online order scams with rebates, and 'pig butchering' scams. You two were planning to con people, thinking it all out, convinced you'd succeed this time, but they were already there waiting for you, exposing the scam in just a few words." Lin Mo finished speaking, looking at Zhang Hao, "What do you think?"

Zhang Hao slapped his thigh: "Director Lin, this is amazing! Isn't this exactly what Erwo and I usually do?"

Wu Erwo whispered from the side, "We haven't done anything bad, have we?"

Zhang Hao glared at him again: "I said acting, not doing."

Lin Mo was amused.

"About the actors..." Zhang Hao asked.

Lin Mo waved his hand: "You don't need to worry about the actors. As for the police officer role, I'll have the bureau find an old policeman to play it. He can play himself, so he doesn't need to act. As for the filming, you don't need to worry about it either. Our propaganda bureau's own team can handle it. You two just need to act and play the thief well."

Zhang Hao was taken aback: "Director Lin, aren't you directing?"

Lin Mo shook his head: "I won't direct this project. I'll set up a stage for you to sing your own songs. The Publicity Bureau will send a director to assist you with the filming. You're a director, so you know how to film. If you have any ideas, just communicate with the director in the bureau."

Zhang Hao opened his mouth, his heart filled with mixed feelings.

Lin Mo entrusted this project to him not to give him a minor role, but to put him in charge.

"Director Lin, I'm afraid I won't do a good job," Zhang Hao said in a low voice.

Lin Mo looked at him calmly: "Whether you did a good job or not, I don't know, but I know you're capable. Those films you made in Siping, even with such poor conditions, you still managed to produce such good results. Now that you have the Ministry of Public Security backing you up, what are you afraid of?"

Zhang Hao didn't say anything, but clenched his fist.

Lin Mo stood up, walked to the door, and called out, "Uncle Luo, come in."

The door opened, and a man in his forties walked in.

"This is Luo Jianguo, a veteran from our Criminal Investigation Bureau, with 22 years of police experience," Lin Mo introduced. Then, he said to Luo Jianguo, "Uncle Luo, these are the two young men I told you about."

Luo Jianguo looked at Zhang Hao, then at Wu Erwo, nodded, and said nothing more than two words: "Pretty good."

Zhang Hao felt a little nervous under his gaze and quickly stood up: "Hello, Uncle Luo."

Wu Erwo also stood up, stammering, "Hello, Uncle Luo."

Luo Jianguo's lips twitched slightly, which could be considered a smile: "Don't be nervous, I'm not going to arrest you."

Everyone laughed.

The atmosphere immediately relaxed.