Chapter 234: The Unfortunate Li Yaofu

If a movie wants to avoid losing money, there's only one way.

That is, speed up the shooting schedule so the movie can be released early.

In early October, the Hong Kong stock market was still in a big bull market, and Gangdao residents were immersed in the frenzy of stock trading.

At this time, their desire to consume is strongest; they are still willing to spend ten or twenty dollars to watch a movie.

"Boss, I really can't do it!"

Faced with Chen Mo's constant urging, Li Yaofu was on the verge of breaking down.

"No, you must do it. By the end of the month, the film must finish post-production. At the latest, the 30th, the film must be released."

Chen Mo's attitude was very firm.

"I know you're working hard. But I have no choice; I can only make you work a bit harder!"

Li Yaofu was almost in tears.

"Boss, according to the current shooting schedule, the earliest we can finish filming is mid-month."

"Editing, dubbing and other post-production will take at least a month; even at the fastest, we can't release until mid-next month."

"I really can't compress the schedule any further."

"Mid-next month is only a few days away from the stock market crash—how could that work?"

Chen Mo patted Li Yaofu on the shoulder and said earnestly, "Old Li, releasing in mid-next month would be too late."

"You said you couldn't compress time, but I can—I'll teach you how."

"This way, you shoot during the day and start editing at night."

"Shoot and edit at the same time; if that's not enough, hire another editor to help—then you'll save time!"

"Once you finish shooting and have edited most of it, just urge the people below to handle the dubbing and such—then there'll be enough time."

Li Yaofu looked at Chen Mo, his face full of despair.

"Shoot by day, edit by night—when would there be time to sleep?"

"Even a production team's donkey wouldn't dare be worked this hard!"

Now, in Li Yaofu's eyes, Chen Mo is no longer the wealthy, generous boss he once was, but Satan, a demon, a vampire.

Anyway, what he's making them do isn't human work.

"Old Li, you have to believe in yourself—you can do it."

"You're someone I specially had people recruit; I have tremendous, extreme trust in your ability."

"I know you won't let down my expectations, right?"

Li Yaofu stared blankly at Chen Mo, his eyes empty.

After despair comes numbness.

"Here's the deal: if you can finish the film by the end of the month, besides your original director's fee, I'll personally give you a bonus of fifty thousand."

"For each day you finish early, I'll add another ten thousand—okay?"

"If you want a horse to run, you have to feed it more grass."

Under the incentive of the huge bonus, Li Yaofu's eyes finally gained a hint of fighting spirit.

"I'll do my best!"

Even with Chen Mo's bonus temptation, Li Yaofu dared not guarantee it.

Such a drastic shortening of the schedule, with shooting and editing happening simultaneously, is truly exhausting and extremely difficult.

"It's not about doing your best; it's about having to finish."

"If you finish this time, next time you make a film, whatever budget you want, I'll give it to you; however long you want to shoot, you can shoot—okay?"

Seeing that Li Yaofu's fighting spirit was still lacking, Chen Mo drew another big pie for him.

This time, Li Yaofu finally nodded.

"Alright."

"That's more like it!" Chen Mo reassuringly patted Li Yaofu's shoulder again.

"Then get back to shooting; I won't disturb you here."

After leaving the set, Chen Mo drove straight to Causeway Bay.

"Where's Da Fei?"

"Mo Ge, you're looking for Da Fei Ge? Come with me, I'll take you to find him."

The lackey at Da Fei Bar was sharp-eared; hearing Chen Mo was coming to find Da Fei, he led the way up front.

Since Da Fei had visited Chen Mo's office a few times, he's been eyeing it eagerly.

After becoming the big boss of Causeway Bay, Da Fei immediately renovated an office for himself in the bar.

At the same time, he paid considerable attention to his image.

A full suit set, casual leather shoes—he arranged them all.

But his habit of picking his nose hasn't changed at all.

"Mo Ge, your grand arrival—welcome!"

Upon seeing Chen Mo, Da Fei enthusiastically came forward, arms open, gesturing to give Chen Mo a hug.

"Stop!"

Chen Mo was startled and directly raised his hand to stop Chen Mo's approach.

"It's better we keep a little distance when we talk; don't get your boogers on my clothes."

"Damn! I'm that kind of person—everyone in Causeway Bay knows I, Da Fei, love cleanliness the most!"

Saying that, Da Fei stuck his finger in his mouth, sucked it, then reached to shake Chen Mo's hand.

Chen Mo dodged and walked straight to sit beside the sofa.

Forget shaking hands; with our relationship, there's no need to be so polite.

Da Fei didn't mind either and sat on the other side of the sofa.

"Mo Ge, why have you come to see me at this time? Is there something you need?"

I really do have something I need your help with.

Da Fei is straightforward by nature, and Chen Mo didn't want to beat around the bush with him.

Before Chen Mo could say what it was, Da Fei leaned forward and whispered, "Are you planning to deal with Jiang Tiansheng?"

"Damn! Stop talking nonsense!" Chen Mo immediately shouted back, "Mr. Jiang is the Dragon Head of our Great Prosperity Triad Society—what would I gain by going after our own Dragon Head?"

Da Fei gave a "I know what you're up to" look: "You're still pretending with me, huh? Everyone in the Great Prosperity Triad Society can see you and Jiang Tiansheng are at odds."

You now have money in hand, followers under you, a few allies beside you, and your territory is bigger than Jingkun's used to be.

Jiang Tiansheng would never tolerate you—sooner or later you two will clash!

Chen Mo flatly denied: "Don't spout nonsense like that! It harms the unity of the Triad Society!"

"Whether you believe it or not, I have no intention of going after Jiang Tiansheng."

Well, at least not right now.

"I came to see you for something else."

"Something else? Are you going to take on Wang Bao?" Da Fei probed.

Chen Mo, speechless: "Besides borrowing troops to go to war with others, do I have any other reason to come to you?"

Da Fei countered: "Could you possibly have any other reason to seek me?"

"Yes." Chen Mo said solemnly.

"The New Treasure cinema chain has two theaters in Causeway Bay; do you know the bosses behind them? Please introduce me."

"The New Treasure cinema chain is the fourth-largest chain on Hong Kong Island, aside from the three major chains—Excellent Harmony, Golden Princess, and Virtue Treasure—and it's a newly emerged chain this year."

"It is also the only open-access cinema chain."

"The other three major chains only screen their own productions."

"The films produced by Chen Mo's film company can only be shown in New Treasure cinema chain theaters."

"The New Treasure cinema chain currently has five core theaters."

"Two are located on Nathan Road in Mong Kok, which is Chen Mo's turf."

"Two are in Causeway Bay, which is Da Fei's turf."

"One more is on Nathan Road in Yau Ma Tei, which is Wang Bao's turf."

"The rest are allied theaters that have no affiliation with the chain."

"Chen Mo has already inquired: the New Report cinema chain's headquarters is in Causeway Bay, and the Bright Pearl Cinema and President Cinema here were set up to directly compete with the Excellent Harmony, Virtue Treasure, and other chains."

"So that's why you came to see me! No problem!"

"Upon hearing Chen Mo's request, Da Fei readily agreed."

"It doesn't matter whether I know them or not; they do business in Causeway Bay, so they definitely know me."

"I'll get in touch with them for you."