Chapter 111: Subjugating Lu Zhuofeng

After dinner, Wen Lian and Yan Gou'er wanted to revisit the old place and stroll around Fuhai City in the afternoon.

Originally they wanted to invite Cheng Cheng to join them, but Cheng Cheng had an appointment with Tang Biao in the evening, so they had to settle for Li Yang.

Tang Biao also contributed to the filming of "All or Nothing". Without Tang Biao, the filming of "All or Nothing" would not have been so smooth.

It would be a bit unreasonable to come to Fuhai City and not see Tang Biao.

When they met again, Tang Biao was much more energetic than the last time they met. Perhaps he was in high spirits because of good things happening to him. As soon as they met, he laughed and hugged Cheng Cheng:
"Hahaha, Brother Frog, it's been a while! Thanks to you, our Fuhai City Propaganda Department has been able to gain such a big limelight in front of propaganda units across the country! You have brought me a great credit!"

Cheng Cheng smiled and said, "We are mutually beneficial. Given my situation at the time, the Fuhai City Publicity Department's ability to loan police officers to me was a huge help to me."

Tang Biao shook his head and said, "You can't say that. It's common to borrow police force, and there have been many people who have given strong support. The province has been struggling for so many years but has not achieved any publicity results. This time, I have taken the lead, and achieved such a high box office."

Cheng Cheng asked: "From what you said, you are going to be promoted?"

Tang Biao waved his hand, his rough old face rarely blushed, he chuckled and said:
"Not yet, but soon. I'm already mentioning it."

"Let's go." He shook the car keys in his hand, "I've already booked a place, shall we have a drink tonight?"

"Okay! Have a drink." Cheng Cheng followed him into the car.

At the dinner table, Tang Biao asked, "Brother Frog, besides these two TV series, do you have any other filming plans this year? Is there any place where we can be used? If so, just let me know~"

He has already tasted the sweetness and wants to participate more in Cheng Cheng's projects.

Cheng Cheng thought for a moment and said, "There are two movies in the second half of the year, but they will be filmed in Yingdao."

Tang Biao said with some regret: "Oh, that's such a pity."

"But if it happens in the future, I will definitely look for you," Cheng Cheng said.

"Really?" Tang Biao was surprised. "That's great!"

He raised his glass and said, "Come on, Brother Frog, I'll toast you."

Cheng Cheng touched him and thought: If Tang Biao draws "In the Name of People", "Sweeping Dark Storm", "Kuang Hun" or something like that in the future, I wonder if Tang Biao can handle it.

-

After drinking, Cheng Cheng returned to the hotel. As soon as he walked out of the elevator, he saw two people guarding the door of his room.

Cheng Cheng immediately started to shout slogans, and walked to the next room as if nothing had happened. He took out the room card, swiped it two or three times, but it didn't work. He looked up at the room number and said with a very convincing acting skill:
"Oh, we went to the wrong floor. It's not 488, it's 588~"

He turned to leave.

The two people guarding the door watched all this in silence, and the black lines on their foreheads turned into reality.

One of them said, "Director Cheng Cheng, we know it's you, you don't have to act anymore."

He was speechless:
Don’t you fucking know you’re the top star?
Who doesn't recognize your face?!

Cheng Cheng turned around, a look of caution appeared on his face, and asked:
"Did Lu Zhuofeng send you to take my life?"

He made a starting gesture: "Come on, I haven't killed anyone in a long time, do you want to come one by one, or all together?"

The two were speechless again.

Have you watched too many movies?

What was said online was true, this guy is really crazy.

The person who spoke earlier continued, "Director Cheng Cheng, we are the organizer, and our leader wants to invite you over for dinner. We couldn't get through to you on the phone before, so we can only wait for you at the door."

Cheng Cheng: "Which leader?"

"It's the president of our Film Association, Wang Zengming."

Cheng Cheng thought about it, stretched out his hand, and said, "Okay, then you lead the way. Do you need to wear a hood?"

The two collapsed again!

No need to wear handcuffs or a hood!
We are not kidnappers!

-

Soon, the two staff members took Cheng Cheng to the restaurant's private room and knocked on the door: "Boss, Director Cheng Cheng is here."

"Okay, come in." A majestic voice came from inside the door.

Two staff members pushed open the door and Cheng Cheng walked in.

After entering, Cheng Cheng found that in addition to an energetic old man, Lu Zhuofeng and Zhao Wenliang were also there.

Unsurprisingly, this energetic old man is the president of the Tianxia Film Association, Wang Zengming.

When Wang Zengming saw Cheng Cheng appear, he waved to him cordially, patted the seat next to him, and said:

"Come, Director Xiaocheng, come and sit down."

Cheng Cheng sat over and said, "Hello, President Wang."

The two staff members closed the door. Cheng Cheng saw this and thought:

Wouldn't that be like closing the door and beating the dog? But I should be able to beat the three Lao Dengs by myself.

Wang Zengming looked Cheng Cheng up and down and said with a smile:
"I have always heard about Director Xiaocheng's legendary experience, but today I finally got to see it. It's true that heroes emerge from youth! Not bad, not bad. I am very happy to see a potential rising star like you in the film industry."

Cheng Cheng: "President Wang, it's too early for you to be happy."

Wang Zengming: “Hmm?”

Cheng Cheng said: "Nothing, it just means that I will produce more good works in the future, which can make you, President Wang, happier."

Wang Zengming suddenly smiled, patted Cheng Cheng on the shoulder and said:

"Well, it's good to have such confidence."

Then, he looked at Lu Zhuofeng and Zhao Wenliang and said:
"Today, I called you three here for no other reason. I just wanted to use my seniority to be a peacemaker for you, hoping to resolve the misunderstandings between you."

Seeing that Cheng Cheng and Lu Zhuofeng did not respond, he continued:

"You two, one represents the older generation of filmmakers who have made outstanding contributions, and the other represents the new force in the film industry. There is absolutely no need to make things so awkward and let others laugh at you. What happened this afternoon, do you two feel proud of it? Zhuo Feng, you are a senior, you should act like a senior, you should express your attitude first."

Lu Zhuofeng looked extremely unhappy and said to Wang Zengming:

"President, I appreciate your kindness, but the differences between me and Cheng Cheng cannot be reconciled in a few words. He made me stay in the hospital for a whole month. How can I let go of such humiliation so easily? I am here today because of your face."

Wang Zengming frowned: "Zhuo Feng, as a senior, do you really want to fight Director Xiaocheng to the death? Don't forget, you are all people in the film industry, you should consider the overall situation of the film industry. Is your personal grudge more important than the harmony of the entire film industry?"

Lu Zhuofeng said: "President, I also want to consider the harmony of the film industry, but what about the face I lost?"

With a "bang", Cheng Cheng slammed the table without any warning. The sound was so loud that the three old men were scared to death.

Cheng Cheng stood up suddenly, pointed at Lu Zhuofeng and said:

"Old dog, don't be so shameless! You don't even give Chairman Wang face? Chairman Wang has worked hard and devoted himself to the film industry for harmony and unity in the film industry. His spirit is as bright as the sun and the moon, and his contributions are as great as the mountains and rivers. But you, however, ignore the overall situation, put your personal will above the collective, and only think about your own personal grudges. It's really chilling! I said you are the movie tyrant and entertainment tyrant in the entertainment industry. How about it, are you exposed?"

Zhao Wenliang also stood up immediately:

"Cheng Cheng, don't go too far! Three seniors are here, and you're still slamming the table so disrespectfully. Who do you think you are? You're so arrogant after making two movies?! If I let you make two more, will you go crazy?"

Cheng Cheng: "If your mother calls to heaven, I will go to heaven!"

Seeing this, Wang Zengming said coldly, "Both of you, calm down! This is a restaurant, not a vegetable market! If you have anything to say, talk it over nicely, don't get angry easily." He turned to Cheng Cheng and said in a slightly harsher tone, "Director Xiao Cheng, pay attention to controlling your emotions. Lu Zhuofeng is a senior, you should respect him."

Cheng Cheng said, "President Wang, I can't stand this old dog being so disrespectful to you."

Lu Zhuofeng was furious: This bastard is really good at changing his attitude according to the situation!
He had already said that this little bastard was pretending to be crazy!
If he was really crazy, how could he be so good at flattering?

Wang Zengming said, "Director Xiaocheng, please stop barking like an old dog. I called you here today because I hope you can express your opinions freely. Whether you respect me or not is secondary. Xiaocheng, since Zhuofeng is unwilling to speak first, you should express your opinion."

Cheng Cheng said, "Okay, I'll say it first. I, Cheng Cheng, will never go along with those short-sighted people. I deeply respect President Wang. He is a leader in the film industry and a beacon that guides us forward. Without President Wang's diligence and hard work, there would be no Tianying Film Industry today. Every drop of his sweat has been watered on this fertile soil, allowing the flower of film to bloom so brilliantly here.

We are impressed by President Wang's wisdom and courage. He has a unique vision and can always find the buried gold, injecting a steady stream of fresh blood into the film industry. His decisions are always so wise and decisive, allowing the film industry to move forward steadily in the wind and rain.

Not only that, President Wang has a heart as broad as the sea. He never cares about personal gains and losses, and always puts the overall interests of the film industry first. He is selfless. "

The more Lü Zhuofeng and Zhao Wenliang listened, the angrier they became:

This little bastard has absolutely no basic skills when it comes to blowing!

Wang Zengming's face also turned red, and he couldn't bear to listen any longer.

He waved his hand, interrupting Cheng Cheng's compliments, and smiled awkwardly:

"Director Xiaocheng, let's get to the point. I know you respect me a lot, and I appreciate it. But today we are here to solve problems, not to flatter each other."

Cheng Cheng: "I'm sorry, President Wang. My admiration for you is like the endless flow of the river, or like the flooding of the Yellow River. Once I open my mouth, I can't stop. President Wang's spirit will always inspire us, the younger generation, to keep moving forward."

Zhao Wenliang scolded, "Are you done yet? The film industry needs a spirit of hard work. You praised President Wang to the skies, but the development of the film industry cannot be achieved by hype!"

Cheng Cheng glared at him, "What do you mean? I was telling the truth, my respect and admiration came from the bottom of my heart, how did it become empty flattery? Are you dissatisfied? Do you disagree? Do you think President Wang is unworthy of these words? Or do you have no respect for President Wang in your heart?"

Hearing this, Wang Zengming's face turned cold, and he looked at Zhao Wenliang with a hint of blame in his eyes:
"Wenliang, stop arguing. You are a senior, you should show more care and concern to the juniors instead of suppressing and denying them blindly."

Zhao Wenliang's face darkened slightly after hearing Wang Zengming's words. He lowered his head and said nothing, but he was already cursing in his heart:
This old dog is so fucking hypocritical!

On the surface, he seems to be very caring towards his juniors, but in fact, doesn't he just like to be flattered?
Hearing what Cheng Cheng, the little bastard, said, he must have been overjoyed, right?
If it weren't for my two brothers, how could the Tianxia film industry have such a good situation these years? This old dog is not only ungrateful, but also so hypocritical!
Do you think this is his credit?
As for Lu Zhuofeng, he was already feeling uneasy. The situation tonight had subtly shifted. Neither he nor Wen Liang were able to suppress Cheng Cheng. Instead, he managed to please Wang Zengming.

But they couldn't bring themselves to flatter Wang Zengming.

Wang Zengming turned to Cheng Cheng and his tone softened a little:
"Director Xiaocheng, there's no need to say more compliments, let's get down to business."

"Okay! Since President Wang has said so, I will show my attitude." Cheng Cheng looked at Lu Zhuofeng and said, "I can't shake hands with you and make peace! Because you don't deserve it!"

As soon as these words came out, the expressions of the three people present changed.

Lu Zhuofeng's face instantly darkened, with a flash of anger in his eyes; Zhao Wenliang's eyes were bloodshot, and he wished he could bite Cheng Cheng; Wang Zengming frowned, because this was inconsistent with his purpose of mediation.

"But!" Cheng Cheng immediately said, "I can let bygones be bygones. As long as you don't provoke me, I won't bother with you. But if you dare to provoke me again, or do anything that is not good for me, I will make you pay the price!"

Wang Zengming's brows relaxed. Finally one party gave in. But before he could be happy for a while, Cheng Cheng added another "but".

"But!" Cheng Cheng said, "This is conditional! First, you have to apologize to Wen Lian in person. Second, you have to compensate her six million. She has been banned by you for three years. Two million a year is not too much, right? Third, you have to apologize to me. A verbal apology will be fine. I am kind-hearted and generous. I will not bear grudges, so I don't want you to compensate me. Fourth, post a Weibo and tag me, @Cheng Cheng. Then I will forgive you!"

"You bullshit!" Zhao Wenliang was furious and slammed the table. "You want us to apologize to you? Are you kidding me? Zhuo Feng and I have been working in the film industry for so many years and have never been threatened like this! Who do you think you are? You are just a junior, and you dare to make demands in front of us?!"

Cheng Cheng said coldly: "This is my last chance for you, don't be ungrateful! I'm afraid you will regret it when you think of this day in the future!"

Wang Zengming shouted, "Enough!"

He rubbed his brows and regretted getting involved in this mess. What the hell are these people on both sides!
Zhao Wenliang looked at Wang Zengming and said, "President Wang, you heard it too. We were the ones who suffered the loss from the beginning to the end. Do you think we should apologize? Shouldn't this little dog apologize to us?"

Cheng Cheng rushed ahead of Wang Zengming and said:

"I thought you were such a jerk!"

Wang Zengming has already covered his face: We are all filmmakers, how can you speak in such a vulgar and unbearable way!

Cheng Cheng said: "First of all, your ban on Wen Lian is a fact, right? She is a newcomer, full of passion and dreams, and just wants to make a name for herself in the film industry. What did she do wrong? She just doesn't want to be tainted by your so-called unspoken rules! Is this also her fault?

As seniors, you should be supporting the juniors, but you, old dog Lu Zhuofeng, still want to support them in person, right? You use your power in the film industry to coerce and bribe people of good character into prostitution. You are a disgrace to the film industry! You are simply despised by both humans and gods!
What's even worse is that if you can't get it, you'll destroy it! If the unspoken rules don't work, you'll ban it? What's wrong? Do you think the entertainment industry is a place where you can get whatever you want? You don't allow anyone to go against your will, right?
To put it more bluntly, do all female celebrities in the entertainment industry have to reserve their virginity for you?

I was already giving you face by not saying it during the live broadcast!
Wen Lian has been hurt so much, shouldn't you apologize to her?
Second, let’s talk about the movie.

I originally scheduled it for mid-October, but you guys moved my movie up to the National Day schedule first, right?
So what if my movie defeated you?

It's your movie that's not good, your filming that's not good, your level has dropped! My filming is better than yours, and my box office performance should also be better than yours! This is normal business behavior!

Another thing is that I denounced you during the live broadcast, but that was only verbal. I just put you on the revenge list, and have not taken any substantial action so far.

I stood behind you today, but I didn't do anything, right? I didn't force you to get up, right? I didn't say anything mean to you, right? I didn't have any physical contact with you, right? "

"You——" Zhao Wenliang was about to speak, but Cheng Cheng shouted at him, "Shut up!"

After yelling, he said, “Children should not interrupt when adults are talking.

All in all, I have never done anything to you. Everything you are suffering now is your own fault. Why do you put the blame on me?

Instead, you guys frequently attacked me. You were also behind the fraudulent donation, right? Don't rush to deny it. Think about whether you have a mouth or a steel door!

So why shouldn't you apologize to me? Why shouldn't you apologize to me? "

After saying that, Cheng Cheng looked at Wang Zengming and said, "President, do you think what I said makes sense?"

Wang Zengming was in a dilemma, but after thinking carefully, he felt that what Cheng Cheng said was right!

It seemed that all the problems were caused by Lu Zhuofeng and Zhao Wenliang. Although Cheng Cheng was a little crazy and spoke bluntly, he was indeed a victim from beginning to end!

He looked at Lu Zhuofeng and said:

"Zhuofeng, you have to consider the overall interests of the film industry. This matter should really come to an end. If the fight continues, when will it end? Actors who are close to you, Lu Zhuofeng, will not participate in Cheng Cheng's works, and actors who are close to him, Cheng Cheng, will not participate in your works. At that time, all the stars in the entertainment industry will be forced to take sides and be divided into two factions. Such opposition and division will only make the film industry become chaotic and cause meaningless internal friction."

Zhao Wenliang sneered: "President Wang, forgive me for being blunt, split into two factions? Is he worthy of it?"

Wang Zengming asked back: "Not now, but what about in the future? Two movies in half a year, with a box office of 50 billion, and two TV series this year—"

Cheng Cheng corrected him, "President Wang, sorry to interrupt, but there are two TV series in the first half of this year, and another TV series in the second half. As for two movies, emmm, this is of course a conservative estimate. There may not be more. In fact, I think my shooting speed is still slow."

The three of them were horrified by these Versailles words.

Three TV series and two movies a year, is this something a human can do?

At the same time, this also gave Wang Zengming more confidence in his words: "Okay, then let's say three TV series and two movies! With such high productivity, Wenliang, do you think Director Xiaocheng really has no potential to compete with you? When will your next movie be released? Wenliang, Zhuofeng, I advise you to think it over!"

Lu Zhuofeng said in a low voice: "President Wang, are you forcing us to apologize?"

Wang Zengming: "Zhuo Feng, I think you should learn how to coexist peacefully with newcomers in the industry. As filmmakers, we should work together to promote the development of the film industry, rather than suppressing and excluding them blindly, causing the entire industry to fall into vicious competition. The comments on the Internet do reflect some things."

Zhao Wenliang wanted to say something, but Lu Zhuofeng held his hand and stopped him.

Then, he fell into silence.

Some of Wang Zengming's words really touched his heart.

Yes!

He is already 69, how many more movies can he direct?
His career has entered the countdown!
Even if you make one film every two years, for twenty years, until you are 89 years old, that would only be ten films!
And this is based on the ideal situation of being in excellent physical condition and having endless creative inspiration. The actual situation may be four times lower than this number! It is even possible that his output is not as much as Cheng Cheng's works in two years.

Does he really have a chance of winning if he continues to compete with Cheng Cheng?
The qualifications and influence that he was proud of seemed to have no effect in front of Cheng Cheng. Cheng Cheng had already broken through his blockade.

Thinking of the bad reviews online, Lu Zhuofeng couldn't help but consider his own reputation after his death.

When he grows old and no longer directs movies, how will people evaluate him? Will they remember his glory or his scandals? Will the scandals he committed become a stain on his life, and be mentioned repeatedly by future generations? Will he be left with mixed reviews? Or even more praise than criticism?
What he feared even more was that Wang Zengming's words would come true. He would be outdone by Cheng Cheng, and his own life would be seen as a foil to the rise of the genius Cheng Cheng, becoming a footnote to his glorious road.

(End of this chapter)