novellhall Chapter 34 The Legend of Shushan
Chapter 34 The Legend of Shushan
May 2th, 10:00 AM.
When Xiang Hailan knocked on the door and came in, Lin Dong was looking through the project progress summary that Chen Xinjian had sent.
The edited versions of "The Unemployed Emperor" and "Hotline" are out. We'll be watching them this afternoon, and then we'll set release dates.
"Mr. Lin, Director Xu and Mrs. Xu have arrived."
Lin Dong looked up and closed the file. "Please let them in. Also, notify General Manager Chen to come over."
He nodded to Hailan and went out. Less than a minute later, the door was pushed open.
Shi Nansheng walked ahead. Xu Ke followed behind her, half a step behind.
"Director Xu, Mrs. Xu." Lin Dong came out from behind the desk and extended his hand.
Shi Nansheng grasped his hand, her grip neither too tight nor too loose. "Mr. Lin, it's an honor to meet you."
Xu Ke's palm was dry and strong. He shook hands briefly and nodded.
He doesn't talk much.
"Sit here."
Lin Dong led them to the reception area.
The three had just sat down on the sofa when Chen Xinjian pushed the door open and came in.
He strode to the reception area, bowed slightly to Lin Dong, then turned to Mr. and Mrs. Xu and extended his hand.
"Director Tsui, Mrs. Tsui. Long time no see."
Shi Nansheng stood up and shook his hand, a smile on her face. "Mr. Chen, the last time we met was at the Metro Radio annual meeting. I heard you're working with Mr. Lin now?"
"Yes. Mr. Lin is too kind." Chen Xinjian sat down on the single sofa next to Lin Dong.
Lin Dong had already started brewing tea. He used a purple clay teapot, white porcelain cups, and a tea scoop containing aged Pu'er tea that Xiang Yeqiang had given him.
"I personally enjoy drinking tea," Lin Dong said, pouring tea into three cups with unhurried movements. "It also helps me clear my head. Please, both of you."
Shi Nansheng picked up the cup, smelled it first, and then took a sip. "Good tea. It's been aged for quite some time."
"A ten-year-old tea cake, a gift from Xiang Sheng." Lin Dong picked up the cup and took a sip himself.
Xu Ke held his cup but didn't drink, his gaze fixed on Lin Dong as if observing something. That's just how he is—when he's not speaking, he's as quiet as a stone.
Shi Nansheng put down her cup and leaned forward slightly.
"Mr. Lin, thank you so much for taking the time to see us. You're too kind."
Lin Dong smiled, poured them both more drinks, and then said, "I invited you two here today because there's something I'd like to discuss with you."
Shi Nansheng raised an eyebrow slightly, but did not reply, waiting for him to continue.
"I heard that Director Xu has always had a project in mind."
There was silence for about two seconds.
Xu Ke leaned forward slightly, clearly his emotions had been stirred. "What Lin Sheng said is true—"
"Shushan".
Xu Ke held his breath.
Shi Nansheng glanced at Xu Ke, her lips moved as if she wanted to say something to calm him down, but before she could speak, Xu Ke had already spoken.
"Lin Sheng, how did you know?"
Lin Dong picked up his teacup but did not answer directly.
He finished his tea, put down the cup, and then slowly began to speak. "Director Tsui, when you were filming 'The New Legend of Zu' in 1983, you invited a Hollywood special effects team to Hong Kong. At that time, you were the first person to introduce Hollywood special effects into Chinese-language films."
He paused for a moment.
"But you also said that you didn't finish filming that movie."
Xu Ke paused for a moment, then took off his glasses, wiped the lenses with the hem of his shirt, and put them back on.
This action was performed very slowly, as if waiting for one's emotions to calm down.
"It wasn't finished filming." His voice deepened. "In 1983, I was only thirty-three years old. The scenes in my mind were this grand—gods and demons battling, the sky collapsing and the earth splitting, flying on swords—but we didn't have that technology back then. We filmed for six months, and the final cut wasn't what I wanted."
He opened his hand and looked at his palm.
"I can't let this matter go."
Shi Nansheng sighed softly beside her. There was no blame in that sigh, only understanding. She had heard Xu Ke talk about this for far too many years.
Every time he drank too much, every time he saw a new Hollywood blockbuster with special effects being released, he would fall silent for a long time.
Lin Dong leaned back on the sofa. "Director Xu, if you were asked to reshoot now, would you?"
Xu Ke looked up. "Take a picture."
One word: Decisive and efficient.
"Alright then." Lin Dong put down his teacup. "I'll submit my vote."
Shi Nansheng interjected at the opportune moment. "Mr. Lin, on behalf of the master, I thank you for your trust. But this play—"
She paused for a moment, then changed to a more direct wording, "If this film is to achieve the level the director wants, it will require a lot of special effects. The investment will likely be substantial."
"I know," Lin Dong said calmly. "I'd be willing to invest 100 million in 'Love Dream Ship.' Yours is a special effects blockbuster; 100 million or 200 million is no problem."
Xu Ke suddenly stood up.
He stood in front of the sofa for two seconds, then sat down. As he sat down, he glanced at Shi Nansheng, his lips moving slightly, as if he wanted to say something but didn't know what to say.
Shi Nansheng patted his arm and turned to Lin Dong. "Mr. Lin, to be honest, the boss has been working on this project in his mind for over a decade. Every time he mentions it to someone, they shake their heads as soon as they hear the budget. Eventually, he simply stopped mentioning it and just kept it bottled up inside."
"I know," Lin Dong said.
Chen Xinjian, who had been silent the whole time, chimed in at this opportune moment.
"Director Tsui, Mr. Lam invests in films based on people, not numbers. And your abilities are known throughout Hong Kong."
This was a perfectly timed response. It both flattered Xu Ke and subtly downplayed the money issue for Lin Dong.
Xu Ke took a deep breath.
"Mr. Lin, I can go back and write the script right away. As for the storyboard—I've drawn countless versions of the storyboard in my mind over the past ten years, and I can produce the first draft within three days. As for the budget—" He glanced at Shi Nansheng, "Nansheng, you can handle the budget for me. I can give you a preliminary figure within a week."
Lin Dong waved his hand.
"Director Xu, don't rush. I have one condition for this investment."
Xu Ke remained silent. Shi Nansheng took over the conversation, her tone steady. "Mr. Lin, please speak."
"I'll handle the special effects. Of course, it'll be a top Hollywood special effects company, don't worry about that—I won't use third-rate stuff to shod your film."
Shi Nansheng narrowed her eyes slightly. "Mr. Lin, may I ask—why?"
Lin Dong picked up his teacup and took a sip.
"I need to arrange for someone to go and learn with them."
Shi Nansheng's eyes lit up. She understood.
"It's better to have your own than to have your own parents' help." Lin Dong put down his cup, looked into Shi Nansheng's eyes, and said, "In terms of special effects, we are a bit far behind Hollywood, but it's not too late to catch up now."
We'll use the special effects subcontracting for the "Shushan" project as a stepping stone to send a group of students to Hollywood to learn. Once they return, we'll be able to do it ourselves.
Shi Nansheng nodded.
She didn't answer immediately, but turned her head and glanced at Xu Ke.
Xu Ke sat on the sofa, his hands crossed on his knees, without saying a word. But his eyes betrayed him—those eyes behind his black-rimmed glasses hadn't left Lin Dong since they started.
Shi Nansheng could tell what he was thinking just by looking at his eyes.
She turned to Lin Dong and said, "Mr. Lin, we agree to this condition."
"Okay." Lin Dong picked up his teacup and raised it to the two of them. "Then this matter is settled. Script, storyboard, budget, Director Xu. I'll contact the special effects company."
He turned his head to look at Chen Xinjian: "Mr. Chen, you will liaise with Mrs. Xu first. You know the personnel situation."
Chen Xinjian nodded. "Understood."
He turned to Shi Nansheng: "Mrs. Xu, if you need any assistance with the budget, please feel free to contact me. The legal and financial teams are always ready to assist you."
Shi Nansheng nodded slightly. "Mr. Chen, you've gone to a lot of trouble."
Lin Dong put down his teacup and stood up. Xu Ke and Shi Nansheng also stood up.
"Director Xu," Lin Dong extended his hand, "make sure this shoot is good. Don't try to save money."
Xu Ke grasped his hand. This handshake was more than twice as firm as when he entered.
"Mr. Lin, I will make this film a success."
Shi Nansheng watched her husband from the side, a faint smile appearing on her lips.
Then she turned to Lin Dong and extended her hand. "Mr. Lin, thank you so much. I was quite nervous coming here today. I never expected—"
She smiled, but didn't finish her sentence.
Lin Dong grasped her hand. "Mrs. Xu, there will be many more opportunities to cooperate in the future."
"must."
Shi Nansheng and Xu Ke turned and walked out, with Lin Dong and Chen Xinjian seeing them off.
As she was about to step into the elevator, Shi Nansheng paused and turned around.
"Mr. Lin. The master isn't much of a talker. But he's very happy today. Really."
Lin Dong nodded.
The elevator doors closed.