Chapter 20

On December 24, 2000, Wang Peng casually wore a white jacket and a pair of jeans, bought a movie ticket, and prepared to enter the cinema to see the audience's reaction.

At the cinema entrance, some young men bought tickets for the crazy stone movie and entered the cinema.

A man and a woman stood at the cinema entrance, saying, "We also bought tickets to watch Crazy Stone. On TV, it was said that this film was directed by the author of Fo Ben Shi Dao, all the actors are newcomers. How about it? Want to watch? Also, the Jiangnan song is very nice. I watched Entertainment TV, and the theme song in this movie is also a new song, not bad." The boy asked the girl beside him.

"Watching it is also good, support Wang Peng, he's from our Wuhan. Jiangnan is nice, Crazy Stone should be good to watch." The girl said.

So, the boy bought two movie tickets at the ticket counter and entered the cinema together with the girl.

"I want to watch Life and Death Choice." A boy said to a girl.

"I want to watch Crazy Stone. You want to watch Life and Death Choice. You have to wait for Crazy Stone to finish. Why don't we watch Crazy Stone first?" The girl said.

"Alright, I'll listen to you." The boy said, and the two bought tickets and went in to watch Crazy Stone.

The same thing happened in other places as well.

Wang Peng entered the cinema and began to observe the audience's reaction.

The movie started in a hospital. Bao Shi Hong is the head of the security department at a handicraft factory in Chongqing. His prostate has always had problems, so he went to see a doctor at the hospital. The doctor had a dripping faucet behind him, which made Bao Shi Hong stare for a moment. The doctor noticed this, so he turned off the faucet and then began to examine Bao Shi Hong.

Seeing this, a girl secretly asked, "You don't have prostate problems, do you?" to the boy beside her.

"Just kidding, I don't have prostate problems." The boy said, blushing, to the girl beside him. This question still can't be admitted; having prostate problems would mean going to the hospital.

"Okay, I just thought that. Let's continue watching Crazy Stone." The girl looked at the screen.

The movie reached a Coca-Cola bottle, triggering all the plot. At the end, only Heipi remained from the Dao Ge trio. He had been hiding in the well for many days without eating. He came to a bakery, stole bread. The movie ends with the bakery chef chasing Heipi on a motorcycle, Heipi chewing bread while running forward.

"It's so good, let's watch it again later, okay?" The girl said after finishing the movie, laughing nonstop from beginning to end, to the boy beside her.

"It's quite a good movie, let's watch it again later." The boy agreed and said.

Wang Peng saw in the cinema that the audience reaction was great, laughing from beginning to end. He knew Crazy Stone was a success. Although the first day's audience wasn't large, as long as 40% of people watched, more would come later. The movie made people happy.

Wang Peng knew the first day's box office was 3 million nationwide. The second day's box office gradually increased to 5 million, and then slowly kept rising.

After Crazy Stone was released, entertainment news all reported the box office.

"A low-budget film actually succeeded with decent box office. It seems Wang Peng doesn't just write novels, act in TV dramas, but also directs movies very well." Chutian Metropolitan News reported.

"Have you watched Crazy Stone? Do you think the movie is good?" A reporter from Hubei Satellite TV asked a ticket seller at a cinema.

"Of course I've watched it. I think the movie is okay. I've watched it twice with my classmates." The girl replied.

"Right, if it's good, everyone should watch more. Hubei Television reports." The Hubei Satellite TV reporter said.

After Crazy Stone became a hit, film circuits in Taiwan, Hong Kong, and other places went to Shanghai Theatre Academy to find President Li Guangming to discuss Crazy Stone, copies, and profit sharing for screenings in Taiwan and Hong Kong.

After the Taiwan and Hong Kong circuit representatives agreed, they left with the copies.

Li Guangming is now very happy because Crazy Stone was released, he recovered his investment. After the screening ends, circuit personnel will take six layers of box office. The school and Wang Peng will each take two layers after removing the actors' pay. It seems future cooperation with Wang Peng will be even closer.

One month after Crazy Stone's release, mainland China box office reached 60 million, Taiwan and Hong Kong each had 20 million.

After receiving his box office share, Wang Peng registered an entertainment company named Longteng Entertainment Limited Company, and immediately obtained the business license.

At this time, Wang Peng called Chen Xiaoming. Wang Peng wanted to give Huang Xiaoming, Hu Ge, and Han Xue some shares to keep them connected.

"Xiaoming Ge? Do you have time? I have something to discuss with you," Wang Peng said.

"Speak, I have time. I heard your movie Crazy Stone was released and the box office is good. Why don't I come to your school tomorrow to find you?" Huang Xiaoming replied.

"Tomorrow I'll meet you at Jinmao Tower. When you arrive, call me." Wang Peng said with a smile.

"Okay, we'll meet tomorrow. When I arrive, I'll call you." Huang Xiaoming said.

After Wang Peng finished talking with Huang Xiaoming, he found Hu Ge and Han Xue at school.

"What? You founded an entertainment company, you want me to join your company, okay," Hu Ge said to Wang Peng. Anyway, I'll have to enter an entertainment company eventually, so I might as well join yours. Hu Ge thought to himself.

"Tomorrow, we'll discuss with Huang Xiaoming together. We're not in a boss-employee relationship. Back then, I gave you 10% of the entertainment company shares," Wang Peng said.

"10% is a lot. I don't know anything now—isn't that too much? What's our company's registered name? How much is the company worth?" Hu Ge asked.

"15 million, named Longteng Entertainment. In the future, I'll make you famous. Don't worry," Wang Peng said. Wang Peng had already prepared to train Hu Ge to become more famous in future TV drama filming.

"I agree," Hu Ge said with a smile.

"Han Xue, are you willing to join my company? I'm willing to give you 10% of the company shares. What do you think? Consider it," Wang Peng said, looking at Han Xue.

"I agree to join your company," Han Xue said. A single movie can succeed, with a box office of 100 million. Han Xue and Hu Ge received 150,000 yuan in contract fees. Han Xue believes Wang Peng will also succeed in future TV drama filming.

"That's great. Tomorrow we'll all go to Jinmao Tower together." Wang Peng said. With Hu Ge, Han Xue, and Huang Xiaoming joining the company, I believe I can definitely secure a place in the entertainment industry.

The next day, Wang Peng, Han Xue, and Hu Ge arrived at Jinmao Tower and booked what should be ordinary rooms.

"Xiao Peng, I've arrived at Jinmao Tower. You're somewhere there, I'll come find you." Huang Xiaoming said, holding his phone.

"I'll come down to pick you up, wait a moment, Xiaoming Ge." Wang Peng said, then went down to pick up Huang Xiaoming and bring him up.

On a sofa, Han Xue and Hu Ge were sitting. Wang Peng and Huang Xiaoming entered the room.

"Xiaoming Ge, this is Hu Ge, my classmate, and also my future partner." Wang Peng introduced Hu Ge to Huang Xiaoming.

"Hello, I'm Hu Ge," Hu Ge and Huang Xiaoming said with their hands.

"Hello, I'm Huang Xiaoming," Huang Xiaoming said.

"This beautiful girl is Han Xue, my classmate, and also my future partner." Wang Peng introduced Han Xue to Huang Xiaoming.

"Hello, I'm Han Xue," Han Xue said.

"Hello, I'm Huang Xiaoming," Huang Xiaoming said.

"Everyone sit down and talk," Wang Peng said, and he sat with Han Xue and Hu Ge on the sofa.

"Xiao Peng, you said yesterday you had something to tell me. What is it? Won't it be that you're preparing to film TV dramas?" Huang Xiaoming asked.

"Xiaoming Ge, I want to ask you to join my entertainment company. What do you think? I'll give you 10% of the company shares. Consider it," Wang Peng said, looking at Huang Xiaoming.

"You opened an entertainment company and want me to join. Wait a moment while I consider." Huang Xiaoming said. A novel can succeed, the first film shoot also succeeded. Should I agree or not? Huang Xiaoming thought to himself. Joining now would make me a senior member, plus there are company shares. After some time, we might film TV dramas together. It's hard not to become famous, so I agreed.

"I agree to join. Wait a moment while you prepare the contract. We'll sign it. By the way, where is our company's address?" Huang Xiaoming asked.

"The contract is already prepared. Our company is at No. 4299 Jindu Road, Minhang District, Shanghai, Building D, Room 393. I recently acquired Tangren Company. Soon, our company personnel will come over. Let's meet each other." Wang Peng said.

Wang Peng acquired Tangren Company, taking 80% of the shares. Cai Yinong is the CEO of this company, retaining 20% of the shares.

After a while, Cai Yinong arrived at the room, Wang Peng briefly introduced Huang Xiaoming, Han Xue, and Hu Ge, and then everyone signed the contract.

"From now on, matters of the entertainment company will be decided by what Sister Cai says; as for the agency, Sister Cai, you help Han Xue and Hu Ge find one, for filming television dramas, something suitable for everyone to act in, everyone will act in it," Wang Peng arranged the future work and said to Cai Yinong.

"Alright, from now on everyone will follow this arrangement." Cai Yinong said.

"Wait a moment, Sister Cai, take them to the company for a look, I need to go to Hong Kong right away." Wang Peng said.

"Alright," Cai Yinong said, leading Han Xue, Hu Ge, and Huang Xiaoming to prepare to go to the company, before leaving the room.

"When you arrive in Hong Kong, call me, and be careful." Han Xue said.

"You care about me, alright, when I arrive in Hong Kong I will call you." Wang Peng said, smiling.

"It seems your matter is real now, little Peng, come back and let's drink together," Huang Xiaoming said.

"I understand, Xiaoming Ge, and Hu Ge too, when I come back I will drink with you, and also go around promoting the crazy stone movie," Wang Peng said.

After Han Xue and the others left, Wang Peng went to Hong Kong.