Chapter 78: Three Films Launched at Once

Xiang Fei pushed open the door, holding three thick scripts in his hands, and walked up to Xiang Qiang's desk.

"Uncle."

Xiang Qiang, who had been looking at documents, glanced up at him: "Mm? What's up?"

Xiang Fei said nothing, simply slapped the three scripts down on the desk with a "pa."

Xiang Qiang was startled. He lowered his head and saw that the top cover read "The Nine-Crime Magistrate," the second was "The Calculating Grass," and the third was "Yunnan Valley of Insects."

"This is…"

Xiang Fei's lips curved slightly: "Three new scripts, releasing at year's end."

Xiang Qiang frowned, picked up the top script titled "The Nine-Crime Magistrate," flipped through a few pages, then opened "The Calculating Grass" for a look, and finally his gaze fell on "Yunnan Valley of Insects," his expression gradually turning to shock.

"When did you write these?"

"Had nothing to do, wrote them offhand." Xiang Fei's tone was light, as if he had merely tossed off a few casual strokes.

Xiang Qiang jerked his head up, staring at him: "All three filming at once? Releasing at year's end?"

"Right," Xiang Fei nodded. "Wang Jing continues directing the 'Ghost Blowing Lamp' series—'Yunnan Valley of Insects' goes to him; Chen Kexin takes 'The Nine-Crime Magistrate' and 'The Calculating Grass,' two films released together."

Xiang Qiang drew a deep breath, set down the scripts, leaned back in his chair, and said nothing for a long while.

Xiang Fei wasn't in a hurry either; he just stood there waiting for his reaction.

At last, Xiang Qiang spoke slowly: "Releasing at year's end… you're planning to ambush Golden Harvest and Shaw Brothers' Lunar New Year slot?"

Xiang Fei smiled: "Uncle really does understand me."

Xiang Qiang stood up, walked to the window, stood with his back to Xiang Fei in silence for a moment, then suddenly turned: "A-Fei, do you know what it means to start three productions at once and still release them by year's end?"

"It means Yongsheng has to marshal all its resources, it means the directors, actors, and crews will all be running at overload, it means the marketing budget has to double." Xiang Fei's tone was calm. "But it also means — Yongsheng will become the hegemon of this year's Lunar New Year slot."

Xiang Qiang stared at him, his gaze complex: "Where does your confidence come from?"

Xiang Fei walked up to him and picked up the script for "The Nine-Crime Magistrate": "Uncle, take a look at this."

Xiang Qiang took it, flipped through several pages quickly, his brow gradually smoothing out, and finally couldn't help laughing out loud: "This script… is rather interesting."

"'The Calculating Grass' is a courtroom comedy starring Stephen Chow, packed with jokes; 'The Nine-Crime Magistrate' is a period satirical comedy, also with Stephen Chow in the lead; 'Yunnan Valley of Insects' is an adventure-suspense piece riding the wave of 'Ghost Blowing Lamp.'" Xiang Fei analyzed them one by one. "Three films, three genres, covering every audience segment."

Xiang Qiang closed the script, drew a deep breath: "You've even picked out the leads already?"

"Mm," Xiang Fei nodded. "Stephen Chow has already agreed to take on 'The Calculating Grass' and 'The Nine-Crime Magistrate.' As for 'Yunnan Valley of Insects'… Wang Jing already has Hu Bayi and Shirley Yang on hand."

Xiang Qiang was silent for a moment, then suddenly laughed: "You little brat… without a word, you've arranged everything?"

Xiang Fei shrugged: "Can't keep leaning on Uncle to worry about everything."

Xiang Qiang walked back to his desk and picked up the phone: "Get Wang Jing and Chen Kexin to come over right now."

Ten minutes later, Wang Jing and Chen Kexin hurried over.

The moment Wang Jing came in, he started hollering: "Qiang-ge, what's the rush?"

Chen Kexin, by contrast, was more composed, nodding in greeting: "Mr. Xiang."

Xiang Qiang pointed at the three scripts on the desk: "A-Fei's new projects. Take a look."

Wang Jing's eyes lit up; he snatched up "Yunnan Valley of Insects" at once: "A 'Ghost Blowing Lamp' sequel? Good, good, good! This one's mine!"

Chen Kexin picked up "The Nine-Crime Magistrate" and "The Calculating Grass," skimmed through them quickly, then looked up at Xiang Fei: "Filming both at once?"

"Right." Xiang Fei nodded. "Time is tight, but the scripts are already polished, the cast is basically locked in — the moment the directors say yes, we can start work immediately."

Chen Kexin deliberated for a moment, then suddenly smiled: "Interesting. I'm in."

Wang Jing slapped the table: "Then what are we waiting for? Get prep rolling!"

Seeing this, Xiang Qiang finally made the call: "Good! All three productions launch at once, release at year's end, ambush Golden Harvest and Shaw Brothers!"

After the meeting ended, Xiang Fei was about to leave when Xiang Qiang called out to him: "A-Fei."

Xiang Fei turned back: "Uncle, something else?"

Xiang Qiang stared at him and said slowly: "This time of yours… you're going after Shaw Brothers and Golden Harvest?"

Xiang Fei smiled: "The market is only so big. They've held too much of it for too long."

Xiang Qiang narrowed his eyes: "Aren't you afraid of their counterattack?"

"Afraid?" Xiang Fei's tone was indifferent. "For Yongsheng to rise, it has to step over a few giants' corpses."

Xiang Qiang was silent for a moment, then suddenly burst out laughing: "Good! Now that's the Xiang family blood!"

That evening, Zhou Huimin was kneading Xiang Fei's shoulders and asked softly: "Three films going up at once — won't it be too exhausting?"

Xiang Fei took her hand: "Don't worry, everything is under control."

Zhou Huimin sighed: "I'm just afraid you're pushing yourself too hard…"

Xiang Fei turned around, smiling at her: "Once this year's Lunar New Year slot is over, Yongsheng… will be the new king of Xiangjiang's film scene."