Chapter 62: Chapter Sixty-Eight: Gu Ma's Dao Cultivation

Beiying Factory is not just a place name; it is also a symbol in the history of Zhongguo cinema.

The legendary holy land of film, where countless classics were born.

It is said that its history is a bit longer than that of the founding of the Republic, and to say it is where dreams began is not an exaggeration.

Chen Ci was visiting for the first time, inevitably a little disappointed, for no other reason than that Beiying Factory was too old.

From far to near, a wave of old-fashioned atmosphere from the last century hit him.

Passing through the iron gate, one could see the main building of Beiying Factory—a three-story structure with red and white walls.

Fortunately, the road at the gate is fairly wide, giving it at least a touch of 'modern'.

Along the curb, dozens of people of all sorts gather here.

Men and women, old and young, either stand chatting or sit down aimlessly.

Before leaving, Chen Ci glanced at the weather; although the hottest time had passed, the sun was still fierce, with the afternoon temperature at least twenty-six or twenty-seven degrees.

These people are all actors waiting for work at the gate of Beiying Factory; it is said that Wang Baoqiang was once among them.

One person's story has made countless people start 'dreaming,' becoming part of this group.

Chen Ci ignored them, walked straight through the crowd, holding his breath as if he could smell a whiff of sweat—could this be the scent of dreams?

No time for sentiment; Chen Ci came here on business.

Gu Ma actually wants to discuss business with him?

Even now Chen Ci couldn't help but want to laugh, so he rushed over immediately, eager to see Gu Ma's mental state……

"A Ci, this is your older sister Ting Ting……"

"Ting Ting older sister? Do I know her?"

"You saw each other when you were little; during New Year, Ting Ting was born two months before you."

"Whatever."

This meeting was not quite what Chen Ci had imagined; Gu Ma first introduced him to a young woman beside her, or rather his sister?

Looks like the next step might be to prepare for some casual chatter?

Sure enough, the next second Gu Ma said: "Ting Ting, it's been so many years since we last met; as her older sister, say something to A Ci."

That young woman nodded to Gu Ma, walked over, and actively extended her right hand to Chen Ci.

"Hello, I'm Chen Xu."

"Not Ting Ting… hello."

Chen Ci lightly touched her fingertip, and Gu Ma, annoyed on the side, said: "What are you two doing? Family meeting."

Chen Ci shrugged: "Then how about a hug, Gu Ma?"

Chen Xu beside them also looked indifferent, almost expressionless.

"You guys……" Gu Ma was utterly helpless, letting out a soft sigh.

At this moment Chen Ci seemed to recall, frowning: "Chen Xu…… did you call me?"

Chen Xu's face slightly changed, a bit embarrassed: "Oh, you still remember that……"

Gu Ma's expression finally eased a little: "That's more like it; you siblings chat first. I'll go outside to see if I can have someone bring some tea……"

Saying that, Gu Ma was about to rise and leave, but Chen Ci interrupted her.

"No need, Gu Ma; I didn't come for business with you. After we finish, I still have other things to attend to……"

Hearing this, Gu Ma's body froze, she turned back sharply, her gaze no longer as dignified as before.

Her icy, sharp tone left Chen Ci stunned.

"You're the busy one, while everyone else isn't. Your parents entrusted you to me, and for so long you haven't even called us once."

"I called you over reluctantly as well. A Ci, in your eyes, is family a burden? How am I supposed to explain this to your parents?"

Gu Ma spoke with incredible speed, firing off words left and right, causing Chen Ci to forget even what he had originally wanted to say.

Having grown up, I had never seen Gu Ma lose her temper; of course, this might also be because they rarely interact.

Under the pressure of her solemn aura, Chen Ci unconsciously put aside his casual leg-crossing and slowly tried to rise……

"Sit down!"

"Oh."

Chen Ci gave up; he could still distinguish grudges from gratitude, and a poetry talent is a poetry talent.

As the only relative Chen Ci acknowledges by blood, Gu Ma at least qualifies as a proper elder in her words and deeds.

Otherwise, Chen Ci would not have tolerated her lectures time and again.

"You want to talk business, right? Fine, I want to have your Broken Guitar Band write a theme song for the film Mei Lanfang; name your price."

Chen Ci sat down, but Gu Ma did not; from her lofty position she looked down on him.

Her gaze was like a torch, making Chen Ci feel uneasy all over.

At this moment Chen Xu finally moved: "Gu Ma, don't be angry first……"

Gu Ma waved her hand: "Ting Ting, you sit down too; I'll listen to what he has to say."

Gu Ma finally sat down again between the two of them, and the small room instantly fell into a deathly silence.

After a moment's thought, Chen Ci murmured softly: "Mei Lanfang……"

"Speak louder."

Chen Ci took a breath: "I don't understand Peking opera; I can't write the songs for Mei Lanfang."

"What?"

"I said, I……"

Meeting Gu Ma's icy gaze, it was obvious she had already heard clearly.

"Writing songs is a highly specialized job; you can't just force a duck onto a shelf, can you?"

Chen Ci still wanted to refuse, but Peking opera couldn't pick up girls either; he really is completely clueless.

Just as his words fell, Gu Ma's mouth curled into a cold smile: "At this time you talk to me about being pragmatic? Writing songs requires professional knowledge—then the film isn't needed?"

Well, well, you've been waiting for me here?

Chen Ci was a bit dumbfounded, as if he were meeting Gu Ma for the first time today.

"In short, I want to see a satisfactory theme song as soon as possible; if you can't even handle this small matter, I advise you to give up the idea of making a film early."

Chen Ci opened his mouth to say something, but Gu Ma abruptly changed the subject, and a hint of a smile appeared at the corner of her mouth.

"I heard you also met Ning Hao and Han Dong from Zhongying?"

Chen Ci wasn't surprised by this; the circle is just that small, and the film 《Mei Lanfang》 is also a Zhongying production.

Chen Ci calmly replied: "Just a coincidence, I guess."

"You're quite capable, preferring to seek help from outsiders rather than reaching out to family—quite ambitious."

Gu Ma's tone didn't sound like sarcastic ridicule; it really seemed as if she were praising the junior from an elder's perspective.

After being praised, Chen Ci even felt a sense of satisfaction from willingly accepting it?

Indeed, those who can make a name for themselves in this circle are all thousand-year-old foxes.

In playing flirtatious talk with her, Chen Ci almost ruined his cultivation.

Gu Ma's cultivation is deeper and unfathomable than Chen Ci imagined; one careless move and he almost got caught by her.

Chen Ci cleared all the strange thoughts from his mind, looking at Gu Ma's exceptionally well-maintained fair complexion, his expression somewhat complex:

"It's just a theme song, when do you need it?"

"The sooner, the better."

"Okay."

Chen Ci agreed; seeing Gu Ma's posture, he likely wouldn't shortchange himself, and while he could avoid offending others, he couldn't avoid offending money.

Chen Ci then said: "I have one more condition."

"Go ahead, Gu Ma will try her best to satisfy you."

Alright, she has returned to her usual gentle and amiable elder demeanor.

"For the theme song's credit, I want to write Sewing Machine Band..."