Deceiving Chinese Entertainment Industry for Thirty Years 67

Chapter 67: Actors Should Be Like Cheng Dieyi, Screenwriters Should Learn from Thirteen Lang

“Ma Xun, I’m still a little curious about you.”

“Curious about what?”

“It’s just… aren’t you curious about what happened between me and Liu Bo… well…”

“Okay, I like gossip too. Tell me.”

“You’re so annoying…”

“Didn’t you want to talk? Then just say it.”

Confirmed again, this well-rounded beauty is truly captivating.

If Ma Xun hadn’t possessed some hidden skills, he might have messed things up.

Fortunately, Xu Qing was also extremely nervous, still trembling slightly.

But it looked like she had a lot to say, she couldn’t hold it in any longer.

“You start.”

“Well… alright, are you two really at the stage of discussing marriage?”

“Ma Xun, no, how did you guess so accurately?”

“Oh, I just guessed.”

“Okay, we are indeed…”

When one’s heart is full of too many things, they really need to pour them out.

That’s exactly Xu Qing’s situation; she couldn’t keep it in any longer, she really wanted to confide in someone.

Ma Xun attentively played the role of a listener.

He didn’t interrupt her, just letting her pour everything out.

Although, Ma Xun understood everything from the very beginning.

Previously, there were many unclear aspects of the Xu Qing and Liu Bo situation, now they were all clear.

If he hadn’t appeared, Xu Qing and Liu Bo would probably have gotten married this year.

That’s right, in 1997, earlier than the various versions circulating online later, because this meant their relationship started even earlier.

And this marriage… it seems Liu Bo invested heavily.

He really divorced his original spouse.

What Xu Qing was saying wasn’t very significant to Ma Xun; he had basically guessed it all.

Thus, Ma Xun couldn’t help but think of other gossip.

Many people wouldn’t believe it.

Like Xu Qing, a woman who seems to have a high status and substantial wealth.

Is actually very easy to pursue.

Don’t doubt it, there are many similar examples.

For instance, what Ma Xun now thought of, was the later marriage between Wang Banbi and Zhang Ziyi.

Many netizens should still remember how these two got together, announcing their relationship at a concert, and then a drone delivering an engagement ring.

But actually, this drone delivering the ring… was a huge surprise no ordinary person could imagine.

Simply put, there was a fight.

Wang Banbi’s side and Zhang Ziyi’s side, they fought.

Actually, many people in the entertainment industry knew about this gossip, because many people were present at the time, such as La Ying (a nickname, context missing).

Initially, it wasn’t a proposal, it was the actress’s birthday.

The reason for the fight was very simple: Zhang’s older brother thought, “Wang Banbi, what are you? How dare you pursue my sister!”

That’s right, the brother actually had a point.

Many netizens haven’t really understood one thing, which is Wang Banbi’s later true state.

He’s finished!

Completely and utterly finished.

Many netizens might think, that’s not right.

Isn’t every piece of gossip related to Wang Banbi?

This is actually very simple; just look at it in reverse.

The truth is, whenever there’s a piece of gossip, Wang Banbi’s team would try to capitalize on it.

There’s only one reason for doing so.

He’s completely finished.

Ma Xun has to say, he also liked some of Wang Banbi’s songs, there’s no shame in that.

But later, Wang Banbi was truly finished, with no possibility of a comeback.

His singing was always off-key, and for this problem, he also resented a certain band (Mayday – inferred context).

Because of that incident involving lip-syncing, that band didn’t seem to be affected, but it completely blocked Wang Banbi’s path.

He couldn’t perform anymore.

So, Zhang’s older brother was understandably angry.

“Wang Banbi, what are you?!”

“And you’re so old!”

No more need for words, they started fighting!

The fight was indescribable, many people from the industry were there, Zhang Ziyi has genuine connections built up over many years.

However, in the end, they still got married and had a child.

Even after fighting like that.

Almost everyone in the industry knew about it.

But in the end, Wang Banbi, that old geezer, succeeded.

Back to the Xu Qing and Liu Bo gossip.

Ma Xun honestly believes, the current Liu Bo is a hundred times better than Wang Banbi later on, isn’t he?

Liu Bo orchestrated a big scam, but this scam hasn’t been exposed yet.

In the eyes of outsiders, Liu Bo was intelligent from a young age, attended a gifted children’s class, later gained the appreciation of a master of Chinese studies and became his only disciple, and then hosted a major project, writing a set of legendary books.

Talented and wealthy, not much older.

Xu Qing, facing such a pursuer, still clung to him.

How could she not be moved?

Even if they went public, many people would understand.

They are quite a good match.

But now… Ma Xun has appeared.

As Xu Qing was talking, she started to cry.

This is normal.

Ma Xun interrupted, “Did you two… ever…”

He pointed at himself and her.

Xu Qing understood immediately, her tears instantly stopped, “You’re such a bad person!”

“Did you or didn’t you?” Ma Xun already had the answer in his heart.

“Oh, no…” Xu Qing’s reply, her face already returned to normal, “He, he still respects me very much.”

It’s strange, Ma Xun’s question was clearly a bit excessive.

But she didn’t feel the same low spirits she had when talking about her previous relationship.

Ma Xun smiled, “So I win.”

The reason for his win was… just do it?

Xu Qing was embarrassed, “Stop it!”

Ma Xun thought her appearance was quite amusing.

He inexplicably remembered a line from Lust, Caution.

That’s about it.

However, there are still some things he needed to say.

“You should be heading south soon, right?”

“Yes.”

The film *That Mountain, That Man, That Dog*.

“Bring more security personnel.”

“Ah? Why?”

“You’re a ridiculously overprotected naive girl. There are many highwaymen and bandits these days.”

“No way? Would I be that unlucky?”

“That’s not unlucky at all! In the eyes of bandits, all creatures are equal.”

This conversation between Ma Xun and Xu Qing revealed certain things.

But thankfully, Xu Qing was very receptive to advice.

Ma Xun didn’t probe any further.

“Do you believe me?”

“Believe what?”

“After this film is finished, your role might not be that important, but it will be extremely beneficial to you.”

“Do you mean this film will be very successful?”

“I have great confidence in it.”

Xu Qing didn’t speak, seemingly unsure whether to believe him or not.

They weren’t completely unrelated, after all.

But after this film, would there be any changes in their relationship?

Xu Qing didn’t know, and Ma Xun didn’t say more.

That’s it.

…

Liu Bo’s methods weren’t actually that effective.

Ma Xun clearly remembered that *Thirteen Lang* had been broadcast on CCTV-6 and other channels.

Therefore, it’s sufficient to say that there was nothing wrong with this film.

But Ma Xun still accepted the 800,000 yuan from Gao Pangzi.

That’s right, this guy bargained.

Ma Xun agreed, creating the image of someone easy to work with.

However, the reason why Gao Pangzi gave him this money…

Was because he was smart.

The box office performance of *Thirteen Lang* before was quite good.

Huge potential!

Ma Xun didn’t say anything, he simply contacted a leader who could speak with authority.

They met, naturally, to discuss the matter.

Gao Pangzi also brought the main crew members, everyone expressing their attitude.

Everyone was very straightforward.

We are all very patriotic!

The original stage actor (referencing the main character) had nothing to do with those gangsters.

Thus, *Thirteen Lang* was quickly unbanned.

Film theaters in Guangdong and Guangxi provinces were overjoyed at this news.

Quickly purchasing more copies.

Show more screenings.

In contrast, *The Song Dynasty*.

Was truly frustrating.

It flopped in Hong Kong.

And even worse in Mainland China.

After watching it, Mainland Chinese audiences almost all had the same thought.

What’s going on?

Is the director re-teaching me history lessons?

Afraid I’ll fail my exam?

This was simply unavoidable to make people complain.

But in reality…

The situation in Hong Kong, what they learned was different from Mainland China.

In fact, even if we exaggerate a little.

China’s education system is excellent.

Ma Xun is from the future.

In that era, he saw Americans reflecting on their own issues.

Education in the West was collapsing.

They couldn’t learn anything, but other things, like smoking weed, shooting, or having casual sex… these were tolerable.

The most intolerable thing was, before school they were good boys, after school they became good girls.

Having children and raising them!

Not only ordinary people couldn’t stand it, even the richest couldn’t stand it.

Let’s not talk about that.

In Mainland China, most people were already familiar with the history depicted in *The Song Dynasty*.

So why would they pay to watch it in a cinema?

Take a history lesson in the cinema?

Well, the film wasn’t entirely without its merits.

Jiang Wen’s portrayal of the Song father actually had some good moments.

And these moments were edited and used for promotion.

Such a good scammer!

Even better than Ma Xun at deception.

Using these few segments to lure the audience into the cinema to learn history.

Impressive!

The film’s box office revenue seems unlikely to increase much further.

Under these circumstances, Hong Jie began to operate on the northern distribution of *Thirteen Lang*.

Of course, Hong Jie didn’t forget, after completing this work, she would also travel south with the *That Mountain* crew.

But before leaving, Hong Jie asked Ma Xun a question.

“You seem to place great importance on this *Thirteen Lang* film.”

Ma Xun’s answer was.

“Because this film showcases the story of a screenwriter.”

That’s it?

Ma Xun only said this, but he didn’t say some things.

Later, many people compared *Farewell My Concubine* and *Thirteen Lang* together.

To be honest, the artistic level of *Farewell My Concubine* is significantly higher.

How much higher?

So high that the director of that film could never reach that level again.

But it’s okay to compare them.

Because, if the actors could be like Cheng Dieyi, and the screenwriter could be like Thirteen Lang.

Even if a dog was the director, the film would definitely not be bad.

Ma Xun hoped that *Thirteen Lang* would inspire some people, inspire some screenwriters.

If it has some effect.

It can be considered as Ma Xun’s small contribution to the Chinese entertainment industry.

(End of Chapter)

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