Huayu: The Big Players Behind the Scenes

"We want to coexist peacefully with you. We really don't want similar incidents to happen again."

Fremo sighed. This feeling of being led by the nose, of having bullets delivered to his door, was truly frustrating.

"Your existence and Zhang's presence have completely disrupted the balance that the three major film festivals have maintained together. Many people have already guessed your public relations tactics these two times. If everyone follows suit, then the prestige and honor that the three major festivals have accumulated over the decades will be no different from bread on the market."

"Fremo, I think you've got something wrong?"

Zhuang Huai'an looked completely innocent. "The Berlin event was a disaster for their organizing committee. They got involved in gambling themselves. This year it's also dominated by gambling companies. Didn't I promise you I would never interfere with the selection process? I just cast my vote, and then the judges followed suit, which is how we got four votes."

"An, the closing ceremony is over, stop pretending."

Framer sighed again. "You're a MGM director, a partner of Kirk. I believe the Berlin incident was an accident, but if Kirk hadn't intervened this time, I would have chewed this glass up and swallowed it right now!"

"Fine, so what?"

Zhuang Huai'an smiled. "I did what I promised, and I also made reasonable use of the unspoken rules. From beginning to end, did I engage in public relations? Did I coerce anyone? Did I make any shady deals? No, right?"

"Indeed, no. I have to admit, this was an extremely clever move. In your Chinese terms, you had the perfect timing, the right place, and the right people."

Fremo said with a sigh, "And no one but you can do that."

"I'll take that as a compliment," Zhuang Huai'an smiled slightly and said coaxingly, "Actually, you should look at this from a different perspective."

"How so?" Fremo asked, somewhat curious.

"Look, first of all, both Zhang's and my films are excellent works, you can't deny that, right?"

"Indeed." Fremo nodded.

Zhuang Huai'an continued to deceive: "So there is no flaw in this respect. What you are worried about is that having two Grand Slams in a year will lower the prestige of the three major sports, but I think it is quite the opposite."

Our work has already established itself. After watching it, people will only feel that the three major film festivals are indeed fair, without discrimination or prejudice, and only define good works. They truly deserve the title of the world's top film festivals.

When people see this situation, won't directors from third-world countries go crazy and try to squeeze into the Big Three?

Besides, you guys need buzz, right? Berlin produced me, Cannes produced Zhang, and if Venice produces another Grand Slam winner, preferably a mudslinger or a triple whammy... tell me, isn't this very much in line with the current mainstream of politics?

Think about it carefully.

After stroking his chin in thought for a moment, Fremo suddenly looked up and exclaimed, "That makes sense!"

Since the incident has already happened, we should package the story well and turn it into profit; that's more in line with reality!

"An, as expected of you!"

Fremo immediately became excited. This was indeed a promising opportunity. As long as he sold another... secured a Grand Slam, and then held onto his bottom line, wouldn't that turn things around in an instant?

"Oh right, let's get down to business."

Fremo gathered his thoughts and continued, "The Big Three want to make a deal with you. We can give you any three awards besides the three gold medals, with only one condition: you withdraw from all competitions of the Big Three and promise not to use this forceful method to lobby for awards again."

What the hell!

Zhuang Huai'an was taken aback. What was this all about?

Is the Heavenly Mother thinking I'm not powerful enough, so she's forcibly giving me a cheat code?

"Of course, they're for you individually, not three from one film festival," Fremo added.

"Any award other than the three gold medals?"

"That's right."

Zhuang Huai'an was overjoyed. With these three awards in hand, it wouldn't matter whether he came to the three major competitions or not!

Random has become self-selection, wow, this business is lucrative.

"Okay, deal!" Zhuang Huai'an reached out and shook hands with him, not worried at all that they would renege on the deal, unless the three of them wanted to self-destruct.

Fremo was also happy, at least he wouldn't have to live in fear of being shot anymore.

The main tactic is to leverage the power of betting companies to pressure the three major sports organizations. This move is incredibly underhanded. Those who know, know. For international betting companies like these, manipulating sports events is a piece of cake. They don't even care about the so-called background of the three major sports organizations.

Besides, they've already tasted success with Zhuang Huai'an, and they might try the same trick again next time. If that happens, then nobody should play anymore.

In reality, apart from the three gold medals, the other awards are just so-so. If they don't go to Zhuang Huai'an, they'll go to someone else. It's better to cede territory and pay reparations in exchange for peace of mind and stability.

The French are very experienced in doing this kind of thing.

After the dinner,

Zhuang Huai'an carried the muddy old man on his back, cursing as he returned to the hotel and handed him over to his wife.

the other side,

In a corner of the street, shadows loomed over the Dragon and Tiger brothers, their cold gazes fixed on the banquet exit not far away.

"Brother, what do you mean?"

"Wearing sunglasses so late at night, if he doesn't get beaten up, who will?"

Zhuang Dalong sneered, "We brothers waited for two days and finally caught him. It's his fate to get beaten up like this. He still dares to wander around alone at night in a foreign country."

"Why don't we just kill him!" Zhuang Dahu said fiercely. "The sea is right there; if we kill him and throw him in, they won't find him for a while!"

"Do you think I'm a born killer?"

"Huh? Isn't that right? Back in our hometown, you grew ginseng..."

"Shut up!" Zhuang Dalong glared at his younger brother. "How the hell could you say something like that out loud?"

Zhuang Dahu chuckled awkwardly and scratched his head sheepishly.

"However... you've given me an idea. Later we can..." Zhuang Dalong's eyes sharpened, and he said in a low voice, "Coming!"

Zhuang Dahu quickly searched the sack, his eyes fixed on the swaying figure.

As he drew closer, the two brothers held their breath, about to step forward, when two figures appeared before them.

One of them pulled an object from his pocket and covered the mouth and nose of the man in sunglasses. The other man then knocked him down from behind, and the two of them lifted him up and left.

The Dragon and Tiger brothers witnessed the whole thing in a daze. Once the two men were out of sight, they quickly left the scene and returned to the safe house in the small hotel they had prepared in advance.

"Phew..." Zhuang Dahu sighed, throwing himself onto the bed. "Brother, we've been robbed of our chance!"

"Don't lie down yet, change your clothes."

Zhuang Dalong frowned slightly. "Luckily, we prepared this small hotel without surveillance cameras in advance. Second brother, think again, is there anything we forgot?"

"No,"

Zhuang Dahu got up and took off his clothes and pants, revealing a well-built physique. "The clothes were bought on the spot, the shoes are a size too big, and I'm wearing gloves. We both have buzz cuts, so even if a few strands of hair fall out, the sea breeze will blow them away. Besides, that place is on the main street, so the Frenchmen probably wouldn't be that careful."

"But bro, who did that guy offend? That was a really efficient method; he doesn't seem like a thug."

"It's hard to say," Zhuang Dalong shook his head, reviewing his actions as he changed his clothes.

"Let's rest for a bit. I left a window open when I left the hotel so we can climb through the pipes. We'll go back later."

"Tsk, bro, you really are something, you've thought of every little detail."

"Absolutely. I only found out that growing ginseng was illegal after I left my hometown."

"Brother, with your attitude, no wonder the army doesn't..."

"Shut up! Go to sleep!"

Seeing his elder brother's anger and embarrassment, Zhuang Dahu subconsciously shrank back and asked again, "So, are we still going to deal with him tomorrow?"

"No rush, wait another 24 hours."

Zhuang Dalong said meaningfully, "His fate depends on the opinions of our readers."

"Oh...but we live in a two-dimensional world, so we can't see the four-dimensional world, can we?"

"Simply leave a comment."