Chapter 480: Qin Shi Huang Wants to Find Immortals

"*Inception* wins the Oscar for Best Picture; this is the first time Chinese capital has deeply participated in a project that has ascended to the highest podium of the film industry, which is of extraordinary significance.

At the 84th Academy Awards, it unexpectedly defeated the highly acclaimed *The Artist* and finally took home the 'Best Picture' award. This result not only brought surprises to *Inception* fans around the world, but Old Hu believes it has epoch-making significance for the Chinese film industry.

Many people say this is just Chen Nuo's victory. But Old Hu believes it cannot be viewed so simply.

First, this is a major success for Chinese film capital 'going global.'

In the past, Chinese film companies participating in Hollywood projects mostly stopped at the level of domestic distribution, buying overseas copyrights, or small-scale joint production, with extremely limited say. But this time, the production of *Inception* not only involved Chinese capital but also had Chinese actors in a dominant position in the creative direction; this is a sign of entering 'core participation' from 'marginal collaboration.'

Second, this is a breakthrough in cultural influence.

As an American-led award, the Oscars have always had a high preference for local aesthetics and values. The victory of *Inception* shows that when Chinese power is embedded in the global system in a more mature way, it is entirely possible to win the recognition of global mainstream aesthetics.

Third, this is a counterattack under the rules, not a struggle outside the rules.

This is consistent with what Old Hu has always emphasized: 'Integrate into the world, not oppose the world.' If Chinese filmmakers want to have lasting influence on the world stage, they cannot blindly emphasize nationalist sentiment, nor can they always count on policy protection, but must stand out by their own strength under global game rules. *Inception* is a model of this route.

Old Hu wants to say, this is just the beginning.

What we need to do in the future is not just to participate in more *Inception*-like films, but to have the ability to lead a 'Chinese story' to truly win global recognition—that day may not be far away.

Old Hu believes that Chinese capital and Chinese faces like Huanxin or Hengdian are appearing on global screens more and more naturally; this is a mutual learning between civilizations and a concrete manifestation of the rise of national soft power.

In a sense, this victory does not just belong to *Inception*, does not just belong to Huanxin or Hengdian, or Chen Nuo personally; it belongs to China."

If this hot article by Editor-in-Chief Hu of the *Global Times*, which swiped the screen on Weibo, was not enough in weight,

Then on the same day, the *People's Daily* officially published a feature report titled "The Chinese Power Behind the Oscar Best Picture," in which it once again named and praised the "Hengdian Group,"

which was enough for the Xu family, who had always been low-key, introverted, and kept their light under a bushel, to make an extremely rare decision on February 29, 2012: to organize a welcoming motorcade consisting of more than ten luxury vehicles, setting off from downtown Dongyang, driving along the town road to Yiwu Airport, to welcome Chairman Xu Yong'an of the group, who had traveled across the ocean from America to win glory for the country and return in glory.

The most moving thing was that Old Master Xu Wenrong, who had long since lived in seclusion and stopped asking about worldly affairs in recent years, also walked out of his house for the first time in an unprecedented way.

Surrounded by dozens of Hengdian veterans, corporate executives, media reporters, and local cadres, the old man stood at the entrance of Hengdian Town, with a kind smile on his face, quietly waiting for the motorcade to arrive.

When the car door slowly opened, Chairman Xu Yong'an, wearing a black suit and looking radiant, stepped out of the car with a smile, holding the Oscar "little golden man" trophy, greeted the leaders of the Dongyang Municipal Party Committee, the Municipal Government, and Hengdian Town one by one, and finally, under the most symbolic landmark building in Hengdian—the archway of the Qin Palace—held the "little golden man" symbolizing the highest honor in world cinema, and took a group photo with dozens of people present.

This grand welcoming ceremony would surely leave a heavy stroke in the local annals of Hengdian Town, become a topic of conversation for the common people after tea and dinner in the years to come, and be engraved in the depths of people's memories.

The next morning, when Xu Yong'an woke up, the sun was already high.

After washing up, he just went downstairs, preparing to drink some white porridge to warm his stomach, but saw his old man already sitting on a wooden chair on the first floor, flipping through the golden little golden man in his hand.

Hearing the movement, Xu Wenrong looked up: "How many of these things were issued in total?"

Xu Yong'an replied: "Three. We, Huanxin, and Warner, the three production parties each have one."

Old Master Xu hummed with a laugh: "This thing, speaking of it, is not rare. It's all made over in Yiwu; I heard the ex-factory price is a few hundred yuan each. If the quantity is large, you can even get a 20% discount."

Xu Yong'an nodded.

"However..." Old Master Xu flipped the trophy over, revealing the base, and pointed to a line of English words engraved on it, which wrote the film title: *Inception*. Co-production: Huanxin, Hengdian, Warner Bros. Award year: 2012.

"With this, it is a treasure worth a thousand gold."

Old Master Xu placed the little golden man on the coffee table, smiled, and said: "This move of yours, reaching this point, I didn't expect it either."

At this time, the nanny at home brought a bowl of white porridge and a plate of pickles and placed them on the table, but Xu Yong'an didn't pick up his chopsticks immediately.

Old Master Xu looked at the little golden man on the table thoughtfully and said again: "You stayed two extra days this time to attend his birthday party; after going, what insights did you have?"

Xu Yong'an said: "Unexpected."

"How so?"

"Originally, we all thought that he was just a rootless tree in America and would return to the country for development sooner or later. When we valued his company last time, it was also based on this judgment. We thought his upper limit in the United States was ultimately limited. Just like Jackie Chan or Jet Li, no matter how glorious they were at a certain stage, they would ultimately return to the country to cash out. After all, over there, we Chinese are always outsiders."

Old Master Xu nodded: "And then?"

"Then..." Xu Yong'an frowned, his tone solemn, "That day at his birthday party, many people came. Besides those in the Hollywood circle, many people from the business world also came, for example, a New York real estate tycoon who is quite famous in the US came with his whole family, and... a Democratic Congressman from California also came."

"Oh? A Congressman?" Old Master Xu sat up straight immediately, his eyes moving slightly.

Xu Yong'an nodded: "Yes, I also chatted with that person for a few words. Dad, although in America, the status of a federal Congressman is not very high, I think this symbolic significance is still quite worthy of attention."

Old Master Xu nodded slowly: "I understand."

Saying this, he chuckled: "Entertainment circle, business circle, political circle, looking at it this way, it really looks like he has put down roots. It really might be an anomaly."

"Yes," Xu Yong'an replied.

"Then now, if we talk to him about shares again, do you think..."

Halfway through, Old Master Xu shook his head and said: "Forget it. At this critical juncture, we don't need to join in the fun."

Xu Yong'an nodded.

Old Master Xu glanced at him sideways and hummed lightly: "The truth I told you back then, after so many years, you finally used it. At that time, I said, learn to bet with the winner, but over the years, we have become winners ourselves, while others are betting with us."

"Now, it's not easy to meet someone in this industry who is truly worth betting on, so we must grasp it firmly. Since we can't get into the company's shares for the time being, let's start with the projects."

"You have to instruct the people in the film and television company to have more contact with their team. Whether it's a TV series or a movie, as long as they need funds, we have no cap. How much they need, we invest how much."

"Didn't CCTV also sign a cooperation framework with them? We'll go sign one too. Our Hengdian Film and Television City venue will give them some privileges in exchange for some priority investment conditions."

"Yes, Dad, I understand." Xu Yong'an nodded solemnly.

After Old Master Xu finished speaking, he suddenly took the Oscar little golden man on the table into his hand, a smile appeared on his face, and he said: "After this, I can finally rest assured. This is the anchor of our Xu family. You put it in your chairman's office; at least within ten years, no one can move you. Those rumors and gossip, humph, will collapse on their own. Haha!"

Old Master Xu laughed at the end, and Xu Yong'an also laughed along; the happy laughter of the father and son echoed in the spacious living room.

"I plan to take it to the provincial level today to find a few old friends to drink tea, so they can be happy too. Don't leave this afternoon; wait for me to come back and hand it over to you."

"Okay, Dad."

Old Master Xu finished speaking and was about to set off. Just as he was about to go out, he suddenly stopped his steps, turned his head and said: "How much do you know about the TV series he is making in Hong Kong now?"

"Not very much, I just know that the US side is paying for it and invited him to film it."

"How much money did they give him?"

"Not clear."

"How long is he going to film over there?"

"I heard it will take about 3 or 4 months, filming until the Shanghai Film Festival in June."

Old Master Xu nodded thoughtfully, then smiled and said: "He really is a smart man."

"Ah? How many?"

"A lot."

"Holy shit, what kind of people are they?"

"All kinds of people."

"Then what did you say?"

"Said you are filming in Hong Kong and don't have time now."

"... Sigh, put that way, I was really right to be in Hong Kong?" Chen Nuo rubbed his nose, yawned, and said listlessly.

"Isn't that so."

Chen Nuo said: "Alright, that's it, my jet lag hasn't worn off yet, I'll sleep a bit more."

"Sleep a bit or 'do' a bit?"

"Get lost!"

The call ended. Chen Nuo didn't have much sleepiness for the time being, pillowing his head on his hands, looking at the ceiling thoughtfully.

As Huanxin Company's business spread wider and wider, he and Qi Yuntian had formed a situation where the two tried not to stay together. Since he arrived in Hong Kong, Qi Da returned to the mainland.

There was a lot of work in the mainland. The recruitment work after the year was unfolding one after another, and the housing fund was also officially being distributed, requiring him, the shareholder, to personally sit in and manage the finances. And some projects in the company's hands were also being promoted one after another. Whether it was the externally invested *Wolf Warrior* or the film and television projects being screened internally, they all needed manpower. Although Li Jing was capable, she didn't have the resounding reputation of Qi Da in the company.

This call just now was from Qi Yuntian.

He didn't expect that winning an Oscar this time would attract another wave of crazy bees and butterflies. The last wave was also the Oscars; when he won Best Supporting Actor, some people also wanted to come and cooperate, but compared to this time, whether it was the quantity or quality, it was incomparable.

If it weren't for the fact that he could also be said to be different from before, he really wouldn't have been able to withstand the pressure.

But now, with Qi Yuntian handling it, and him avoiding the limelight in Hong Kong, it should be about enough. After all, he now had the dual blessing of the *People's Daily* and *Xinwen Lianbo*, plus Editor-in-Chief Hu cheering for him; there weren't many people he needed to fear.

"What's wrong? Is something the matter?" Wen Yongshan was woken up by his voice, turned her head, and opened her eyes wide. ===== CHAPTER 481 =====