Chapter 659: This Dog Is So Majestic

The entire internet has been continuously denouncing the Principal and Yutu, with controversy never ceasing.

Even those who speak up for Yutu and the Principal are led astray by the narrative; most people won't deeply consider whether the reasons behind it are genuine or not.

Because many people simply don't understand extras, or the film production process, or how film companies operate.

They only believe whatever the media says.

Anyway, the Principal is a capitalist—that's enough; criticizing capitalists is never wrong.

The criticisms have now expanded beyond the previous two topics—wage deception; crushing small workshops and squeezing the survival space of other film companies.

A new topic has emerged: a photo of an elderly man guarding the entrance to Yutu Film and Television Base has gone viral online.

The photo came with an article titled: "Yutu's Achievements Are the Suffering of Its Employees! Also the Suffering of the Film Industry!"

The article spanned over a thousand words, roughly arguing that Yutu's present achievements were built on exploiting employees, competitors, and filmmakers.

This article received 200,000 likes and spawned a trending topic:

"Behind Yutu's Glory Lies High-Pressure Exploitation of the Industry and Its Workers."

"Even an old man of such advanced age is forced to work—the Principal is truly heartless."

Such topics and comments are everywhere, accusing him of "performative service," "exploiting employees," and directly slapping the label "heartless capitalist" onto Fang Hong's face.

It's also been slapped onto Yutu's face—on Chang'e Video, every Yutu-branded film comment section is filled with insults.

They say: "Boycott Yutu's films, boycott the Principal, boycott Liu Tianxian."

"Don't watch any movies this company produces—disgusting capitalists, Liu Tianxian too, all the same rotten bunch."

Even Liu Tianxian has been dragged into this.

Of course, no one knows which remarks are from Water Army and which are real people—actually, very few real people care about this; most are just led by the narrative.

In the mobile internet era, narratives are easily manipulated.

Otherwise, there wouldn't be so many debunking posts popping up constantly.

The opposing side fabricated this incident, plunging Yutu into an unprecedented reputation crisis—thankfully it's not a publicly traded company; if it were, this would have inevitably caused a stock price drop.

It's a brilliant tactic: if you can't defeat you on content, defeat you on morality and ideology.

Seeing the public outrage, even Lao Cao, the glass manufacturer, couldn't stay silent and meddled on a program: "Blindly offering high wages will destroy enterprises and harm fellow industry players—it should align with industry standards."

The meaning is crystal clear: you shouldn't pay high wages—you've disrupted the industry ecosystem; people should earn only what they're supposed to earn.

Lao Cao's remarks added fuel to the fire, making the flames burn even hotter.

Of course, many Wangyi criticized him, calling him a capitalist too.

But the criticism was drowned out—those behind the scenes won't tolerate anyone diverting the narrative; the target is specifically the Principal.

They aim to utterly destroy the Principal's and Yutu's reputations.

Liu Tianxian, possibly due to pregnancy-related mood swings or something else, couldn't hold back and posted a Weibo.

It was a photo of Heizi with his tongue lolling out, accompanied by text: "Heizi, why do you keep barking 'woof woof woof' all day? It's so annoying, don't you know?"

As soon as this Weibo was posted, fans quickly rallied.

"Hahaha, is this comparing those who insult the Principal to barking dogs? Brilliant analogy."

"Wow! This dog is so majestic!"

"Hehe, you've even made Sister angry."

"It's truly excessive—this is the Principal's issue, yet everyone's attacking my Xixi."

"Xixi, don't get involved—it's the Principal's problem, not yours; you should stay silent right now."

Others even advised her not to step forward, warning that those people would surely turn on her next.

This storm is too big for her to withstand.

Yet Liu Tianxian specifically replied: "My husband is fine; the problem lies with others."

"Like! Xixi loves her man!"

"Exactly right—husband and wife aren't just birds of the same forest; Xixi is genuine."

Liu Tianxian remained resolute, publicly speaking up for Fang Hong and earning massive likes from fans.

Her words were screenshot and wildly shared by fans and Wangyi—some called her and the Principal a rotten pair of capitalists, others praised her for standing by her husband.

As his closest companion, Liu Tianxian knows her husband has done many tangible things, while those who attack him merely want to reap the rewards.

They have money—foreign capital—but don't care who contributed to the film industry.

Guo Fan, currently promoting Mojin: The Lost Legend, was asked by reporters how he viewed the recent "Principal is a capitalist" incident.

He angrily retorted: "All nonsense—just uneducated people spreading rumors everywhere."

He has no reason to fear anyone in this circle; unlike stars, he doesn't need film resources—he just needs roles to act in.

Other directors, Lu Yang and Chen Sicheng, also said the Principal isn't like that—Yutu treats every staff member and filmmaker well and generously.

Behind the scenes, Liu Yin also said: "In my circle, no one speaks ill of the Principal; besides, Yutu hasn't shortchanged us."

Li Anran said the same.

Liu Tianwang, in a media interview, stated: "I collaborated with Yutu once—the crew and extras were all orderly; none of those things happened."

Wenzhang added: "Don't listen to outsiders—everyone here only seeks their own interests. You must see for yourselves, think for yourselves. The Principal I've seen isn't what they say—he's never shortchanged anyone."

Suddenly, directors, artists, and behind-the-scenes staff who had worked with Fang Hong all stepped forward to speak up for the Principal and Yutu.

They are all celebrities, so their influence is significant and can stir up some public opinion.

But since both sides hold opposing views, Wangyi don't know whom to believe—yet many are rational enough to analyze and realize someone is targeting the Principal.

Pay more and you're criticized; pay less and you're criticized—it's all deliberate.

Some Wangyi aren't stupid and aren't easily swayed by narratives; they're actually quite smart, they just don't care and their voices are quiet.

But when enough of them speak up, the noise still becomes significant.

Most of the entertainment industry and their talent agencies remain silent, waiting to praise whoever wins—they're not merely watching the tiger fight.

Watching tigers fight from the mountain requires being a little tiger oneself — that is, having the qualification to sit at the table. Without that qualification, no matter who wins, even if both sides are badly mauled, they are still just quails.

It's just that these people can reap some benefits of endorsements and event appearances from the competition between the two sides.

For example, the previous Dove endorsement — the brand gave it to G. E. M., gave it to nobody else, just gave it to a female singer.

Looks like the brand side isn't stupid either. Seeing them compete more fiercely, the more unsafe it gets, so they just give it to someone harmless, someone who doesn't fight for much.

Although some celebrities are third parties, who knows what deals are behind the scenes — they just got dragged in.

The storm is too big now; one careless move and anyone could become a sacrifice.

Dior China region spokesperson is still on the fence — they're not in a hurry either, they have international spokespersons.

Those major TV stations' Variety shows and events have also reduced appearances by Huayi and Jade Rabbit artists, waiting until the incident dies down.

This matter continued until the end of November, the two sides competing for nearly two months. This time Fang Hong didn't speak up, didn't strike back, and there was no movement at all — it was all those famous celebrities voluntarily speaking up for him.

This made Da Wang and Xiao Wang very strange — it doesn't match the Principal's temperament!

"The Principal must be plotting something, playing dirty against us." Xiao Wang General Manager immediately figured out that Fang Hong had a scheme.

After all, they've fought for six years, old rivals. The Principal isn't the type to swallow this insult — he'll definitely come looking for trouble.

It's just that he doesn't know the Principal is brewing a big move!

Although the two sides have been fighting all these years, Huayi is still doing just fine.

"It's just that we don't know whether he's targeting us, or targeting Ali, Tencent, and the others. After all, it's not something we can do — the Principal would definitely know." Da Wang General Manager said.

This matter clearly isn't something Huayi alone could do — there are shadows of Ali and Tencent behind it, and Wanda is also involved.

"Bro, don't be so weak. The Principal has come right to our doorstep, and you're still thinking he might let you off?" Xiao Wang General Manager felt his brother was too weak.

From the start, they were coming for them.

"Sigh, you think I want this? The bet with Da Baobei and them is due in one more month, and the bet is definitely going to fail. When that happens, the stock price will inevitably drop.

If we keep fighting like this, the artist management business will be ruined too. Right now outside brands and events don't want to hire our artists — they're afraid of something bad being exposed." Da Wang General Manager said helplessly.

Huayi isn't as resilient as Jade Rabbit. Jade Rabbit has overseas business to support it; Huayi has invested too much, spread itself too thin.

Artist management has no income, and if the bet fails, it will inevitably lead to a drop in Huayi's goodwill, and a stock price drop is inevitable.

"Even so, when the time comes we can just pledge some shares for financing. We're a listed company, we can raise funds from the stock market anytime — what do we have to fear from Jade Rabbit?" Xiao Wang General Manager was still very tough.

"We don't have many shares left to pledge." Da Wang General Manager said worriedly.

"Then we reduce holdings, auction them off to those capital firms, and buy them back when we have money — simple as that." Xiao Wang General Manager's plan sounded beautiful; he just didn't know whether there'd be capital willing to buy.

He only heard him continue: "We can't be this weak — we have to fight him to the end. All these years, he's come looking for trouble time and again, he never wanted us to have it easy. This time, with someone helping us, we should hit him hard. If we don't hit him hard, there'll be a lot more trouble later."

Hearing this, Da Wang General Manager felt his brother made sense. For how many years now, except for a few times Huayi was arrogant in the early years, these past few years it's been very quiet.

Never saw the Principal planning to let them off — always looking for trouble for them.

"We're not having it easy — you think the Principal is having it easy? He's definitely not having it easy either. This time he has four big movies releasing; if they all lose money here, he'll lose a layer of skin too." Xiao Wang General Manager added.

Indeed Jade Rabbit isn't having it easy either — artist management is nearly half ruined, the other half not ruined because there are still dramas to film, but it's definitely better off than Huayi. Jade Rabbit has animated films that exploded overseas to support it.

The accumulation of so many years isn't something Huayi can compare to — Huayi was brought down by reckless investments.

Jade Rabbit has been quietly developing in content all these years, never branching into other businesses.

And this time, their attack on Jade Rabbit and the Principal's reputation is aimed at those four big movies — to make audiences boycott them.

(End of chapter)