Chapter 223: Gao Gang

Two million for the price, is it high? Not at all!

Long Wei's current fee under normal circumstances is just a little over two million.

Long Bo brings his subordinate apprentices as martial‑arts advisors, which also costs several hundred thousand.

Now that the two are packaged together, Chen Mo only offers two million, which is already a very favorable price.

But, Chen Mo first said he doesn't know the market and owes them a favor, so they could only agree.

However, this small discount hardly counts as any repayment; they still consider themselves indebted to Chen Mo.

Long Bo, whose plans were falling through, showed a faint wry smile, nodded and said, "We'll go with the price Mr. Chen said. The two of us, father and son, can start work at any time."

Chen Mo gave a faint smile, "Alright then. Later I'll have someone come to sign a contract with you."

After leaving Long Wei's house, Chen Mo contacted Li Yaofu the same day and told him that Long Wei and his son had agreed to act in the film.

A few days later, good news kept arriving one after another.

Lu Bin Sun ultimately succeeded in acquiring TNS Security Company for 58 million, renaming it Galaxy Security Company.

At the same time, the staff of TNS on that floor of the office building in Central were all relocated to Jianshazui, and that floor's office space was put up for sale.

That floor's location was excellent and the decor was good; within less than a day of being listed, it was bought for 22 million.

Li Yaofu, guided by Xian Shihui, wandered near those tong houses in Shen Shui Bu for a few days, constantly inquiring about any big‑circle guys who knew martial arts.

The tong houses over in Shen Shui Bu used to house laborers.

Now, because the environment is poor but rent is extremely low, they've become a gathering place for some newly arrived mainland workers.

Li Yaofu spent a few days' effort and actually managed to find a few big‑circle guys who had learned martial arts and were also reasonably good looking.

Together with Yin Tianchou, Liu Piaopiao, Tian Yang En, and Long Wei and his son, the crew officially started production.

On the first day of shooting, Chen Mo also arrived at the set with a few underlings.

In the crew, aside from the martial‑arts director team brought by Long Wei and his son, most of the others were the former staff of Qian Kun Film Company.

Director Li Yaofu is actually an outsider.

Chen Mo came over mainly to help Li Yaofu settle the set.

He also gave Li Yaofu a reminder to give Long Wei a suitable bit more screen time.

You can't really treat Long Wei as an ordinary supporting character!

Fortunately, Long Wei already has plenty of scenes, so adding a little more is not difficult.

Li Yaofu, being an old acquaintance of Long Wei, readily agreed.

"Mo Ge, the others' screen time is also scarce; could the director give me a bit more too?"

Liu Piaopiao, seeing Chen Mo ask Li Yaofu to add scenes for Long Wei, began to act coquettishly toward Chen Mo.

There's nothing she can do; her role is the police officer's girlfriend who dies at the explosion site, only appearing in the opening few minutes, with hardly any scenes.

All told, it's even less than Tian Yang En's screen time.

Director Li Yaofu, fearing Chen Mo might agree, quickly said, "Sister Piao, you're so beautiful; even with little screen time it's fine. I promise to film you super beautifully and make you an instant star!"

If a few main characters get a few extra shots, it's not a big problem.

Liu Piaopiao's role is just a decorative vase; no need for extra filming.

As long as those few scenes are filmed beautifully enough, that's all that matters.

If too many are added, it would affect the later plot.

Chen Mo likewise rejected Liu Piaopiao's request.

"This film is a fight film; you can't fight, so why need so much screen time!

If you have that ambition, you'd be better off getting on good terms with Chin so she can write a script suited for you next time."

The script has already been set; how can we just randomly add things?

Adding scenes for Long Wei is because of his star power, whereas Liu Piaopiao has none.

Seeing Chen Mo not agree to Liu Piaopiao, Li Yaofu quietly breathed a sigh of relief.

After staying in the studio for a few minutes, Chen Mo suddenly saw a somewhat familiar face.

Chen Mo pointed at a short‑haired guy on set and asked, "Li Yaofu, who is that person?"

Li Yaofu looked where Chen Mo's finger pointed and said, "That kid you mentioned, his name is Gao Gang, just arrived from the mainland a few days ago, and I recruited him for acting.

A few days ago you asked me to find a big‑circle guy who could do martial arts and have a star look; he's the best among those I found, and I heard he won some national championship back in the mainland."

Chen Mo's mouth twitched; it turned out to be Gao Gang.

When Chen Mo had just come out of Chi Zhu, he also considered looking for Gao Gang.

However, after canvassing a few underground boxing venues on Gangdao, he heard no one named Gao Gang.

Later, when Chen Mo no longer lacked people, he stopped searching.

He didn't expect to run into him here today.

"Boss, shall I call that kid over to greet you?"

Before Chen Mo could react, Li Yaofu shouted toward Gao Gang.

"Gao Gang, come over a moment!"

"Coming!"

Hearing the voice, Gao Gang immediately jogged over.

"This is our boss; you can call him boss or Mo Ge, either works."

"Hello, boss." Gao Gang quickly bowed to Chen Mo, his face showing a hint of shyness and nervousness.

Chen Mo's eyes scanned Gao Gang up and down.

"I heard from Old Li that you practice martial arts and have won a national championship. Which style did you study?"

"It's not a sect," Gao Gang explained. "I graduated from a martial‑arts school; I know bits of various styles. My best are Tai Chi and Tongbei Quan. I also know some sword and spear techniques."

Alright, you go ahead and do a set of punches so I can have a look.

Gao Gang glanced nervously at Li Yaofu beside him; seeing Li Yaofu lightly nod, he then agreed.

Gao Gang stepped back two steps, planted his feet, and assumed a stance.

Chen Mo, Liu Piaopiao, and the others also stepped back a few steps, making space for Gao Gang.

Gao Gang immediately began his routine, first performing a slow Yang-style Tai Chi set, then a set of Tongbei Quan.

Needless to say, Gao Gang lived up to his title as martial arts champion—his movements were clean, crisp, and very suave.

The commotion of Gao Gang's practice drew many crew members over, who gathered around him and burst into applause.

After Gao Gang finished his form and stood still, Chen Mo nodded and walked forward two steps.

"Not bad. Let's try sparring."

"Ah, is that okay?" Gao Gang said somewhat hesitantly.

Upon hearing Chen Mo tell Gao Gang to spar with him, Li Yaofu likewise stepped forward to intervene: "Mo Ge, maybe we should forget it—he's just a greenhorn; if he accidentally hurts you, that wouldn't be good."

Chen Mo glared at Li Yaofu: "Get out of my way, what's it to you?"

Having been glared at by Chen Mo, Li Yaofu could only grudgingly retreat to the side.

Chen Mo then turned to Gao Gang and said: "I, too, practice martial arts; let's just have a simple exchange. Come on."

Saying this, Chen Mo took off his suit jacket, tossed it to Liu Piaopiao at the side, and rolled up his sleeves, revealing the muscles on his forearms.

At this point Gao Gang also saw that Chen Mo was a trained fighter, knowing he couldn't avoid a fight, he clasped his fists and bowed.

"Sorry for the offense."