Chapter 179

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The incident of "using drama to assault someone" blew up too big; Zhang Weijian's earlier one-sided account had almost entirely steered public opinion toward Cheng Chen.

But when the behind-the-scenes footage from the set surfaced.

Especially Cheng Chen's line, "When an avalanche happens, no snowflake is innocent," slapped every media outlet across the face.

But even getting slapped didn't matter—this incident had enough heat, even if it contradicted the previous article that had vilified Cheng Chen.

Yet these people still pretended to be indignantly standing on Cheng Chen's side.

One week after the incident, 38 artists from the Mainland issued a joint statement.

Most were celebrities who had collaborated with Cheng Chen, including seasoned actors like Li Baotian, Chen Baoguo, Li Chengru, Liu Peiqi, and Chen Daoming.

Li Baotian and Chen Baoguo were people he met at the Golden Eagle Awards.

Li Chengru and Liu Peiqi were his co-stars on "The Story of the Criminal Investigator."

What surprised Cheng Chen was that Feng Dapao was also on the list of joint signatories—he was someone Cheng Chen met while filming "Kung Fu."

Among them were also a host of new-generation actors such as Gao Yuanyuan, Yan Danchen, Liu Tianxian, and Huang Xiaoming.

The 38 artists' statement laid out three demands, including:

1. The assailant must apologize!

2. The production crew must respect human rights and the law.

3. Injecting personal grudges into filming is an insult to art.

Chen Daoming also called to strongly support Cheng Chen, saying, "This matter is already clear."

He added that although he didn't know Cheng Chen, "Supporting or not has nothing to do with whether you know someone!"

Young Master Zhou Xun publicly stated that he had shot many fight scenes and collaborated with many Gang Sheng actors, all of whom requested he strike them for real.

He had never seen anyone voluntarily "strike for real" another person, let alone someone who used filming as an excuse to assault and then slander others.

Some of those joining the joint statement did so out of righteous indignation over this incident.

But others were moved by Cheng Chen's line in the video:

"The production crew's staff harbor hostility toward Mainland actors; we suffered unfair treatment on set.

Some take Mainland investment, yet now look down on Mainland actors.

What's the difference between this and wanting to be a prostitute and also erect a virtue plaque…"

This line tore away the veil that had long concealed a problem rarely spoken of.

As Gang Sheng actors came to the Mainland to develop their careers, issues arose from economic and cultural differences between the two regions.

Conflicts between Gang Sheng actors and production teams and Mainland actors occurred frequently.

The most successful Mainland actor to break into the Gang Sheng film industry was Li Lianjie.

He was among the first Mainland actors to seek development in Gang Sheng.

When filming "Southern and Northern Shaolin," his daily salary was only three yuan.

Ninety yuan a month, while the Gang Sheng actors in the same crew, even supporting roles, earned five thousand yuan a day, or 150,000 yuan a month.

Even extras playing corpses earned fifty yuan a day—far more than Li Lianjie.

Such differential pay treatment made people feel deeply uncomfortable.

But at that time, the Mainland's economy was underdeveloped, and the film industry was almost entirely dominated by Hong Kong and Taiwan; this situation was widespread.

Liu Xiaoqing once exposed that as early as filming "The Empress Dowager," there was extreme disparity between Mainland and Hong Kong/Taiwan actors on set.

Their living and dining standards differed: Mainland actors' boxed meals had no meat, while Hong Kong/Taiwan actors' meals were of far higher quality.

This regional discrimination wasn't limited to Mainland actors who went to Gang Sheng to act.

Even early emigrants like Liu Jialin faced the same treatment.

When Liu Jialin first went to Gang Sheng and entered its entertainment circle, people called him "Beigu."

Later, Gang Sheng began referring to Mainlanders who came there as "Big Brother" or "Mainland Girl."

There was always a tinge of mockery and discrimination in these terms…

Just as Cheng Chen said: taking Mainland investment yet looking down on Mainland actors.

This amounted to a kind of hostility and discrimination by Gang Sheng toward Mainland actors.

If no one speaks out now, who will speak up for them if they face the same problem again in the future?

Who will speak up for Mainland actors who have been wronged?

Meanwhile,

Many also raised another issue regarding this incident.

That is, for artists, moral character matters greatly.

Someone wrote an article criticizing Zhang Weijian—he was already thirty-eight, far too old to claim "youthful ignorance."

Perhaps after playing too many silly, absurd teenage roles in recent years, he'd forgotten he was approaching forty.

If a teenager, because his friend got into a fight, "stepped in bravely," one might explain it as a momentary impulse.

An adult should behave like an adult; Wang Baozhe's actions revealed only three words: "acting like a big shot."

I'm a big star, I'm a celebrity, even if I can't make it in Gang Sheng, I'm still a huge hit on the Mainland.

I've never even seen "Journey to the West"—you're the Third Prince of the Dragon King, yet you still have to beg for food in my drama.

You dare argue with my people? See if I don't beat you.

These criticisms spread widely across forums, and more and more people joined the outcry.

As the incident grew larger, the calls for "Zhang Weijian to leave the Mainland entertainment industry" grew louder.

Zhang Weijian finally couldn't withstand the pressure and issued a public apology to Cheng Chen and Wang Baozhe.

Zhang Weijian finally succumbed to the pressure and posted a public apology to Cheng Chen and Wang Baoqiang.

Although Cheng Chen and Wang Bozhao did not accept the apology, they returned to the set to resume filming after repeated persuasion from others.

After this incident, Cheng Chen had not the slightest fondness for this production team.

But those seniors who supported him and spoke out on his behalf urged him to "put the drama above all."

Despite the friction and disputes, finishing the drama was the best way to repay the fans and viewers.

After joining the set, Cheng Chen and Zhang Weijian spoke to each other no more, yet continued to work diligently on the scenes.

But after this incident, the Hong Kong crew members and actors on the set became considerably more courteous toward him.

Even the Mainland actors began to hold their heads higher, and no longer faced discriminatory treatment.

Meanwhile, some Mainland actors on the set—such as Yuan Quan, Fan Xiaopang, and Yang Xue—began to gather around Cheng Chen, taking him as their leader.

Externally, the media praised Cheng Chen as "a worthy junior who stood up for his seniors."

"A brave soul who confronts injustice!" "A refreshing stream in the entertainment circle."

He even earned the nickname "Dragon Protector," protecting of course the White Dragon Wang Bozhao.

Of course, Cheng Chen found this nickname deeply unsettling, because it reminded him of the term "Dragon Knight."

Some veteran actors and directors within the industry also lavished praise on Cheng Chen, commending his courage, sense of responsibility, and maturity despite his youth.

Cheng Chen's public goodwill grew ever stronger.

……

At the end of September, Cheng Chen, as a singer, was invited by CCTV to perform in the National Day special program "Singing the Motherland."

You have to understand that for a show this politically charged, at this point it was still the domain of the national troupe performers.

Either veteran artists of outstanding moral and artistic stature, or long-established, seasoned entertainers.

But Cheng Chen, this young man barely past twenty, stood out conspicuously among all the gray-haired old-timers.

On the day of recording, an old artist backstage recognized Cheng Chen on the spot.

"Kid, wasn't it you who got into a fight with someone recently? Aren't you an actor? What are you doing here making a scene?"

A certain big shot asked Cheng Chen, his gaze solemn and penetrating.

Cheng Chen was facing an old artist who in his previous life only appeared on TV at major occasions.

Confronted with his questioning, Cheng Chen's heart was pounding wildly.

Old artists deeply despise entertainers who engage in hype and bad behavior, and the one before him was especially so.

"Teacher Liu, I debuted as a singer. The fighting incident was because I..."

Just as Cheng Chen tried to explain, this artist surnamed Liu patted him on the shoulder directly:

"Well done! You hit the right target! Some people have had it too comfortable for too long and are asking for a beating—do they still think it's like a few years ago?"

Hearing the old artist's loaded words, Cheng Chen was completely dumbfounded.

The storm he had imagined never came; instead, the old artist cheerfully pulled him toward the crowd, saying:

"Old Xu, this is the young man who stood up for our mainland entertainers and dared to talk back to the director not long ago—a good kid!"

The one called Old Xu was also a big shot. After adjusting his earpiece, he said with a smile:

"No need for you to introduce him. I've known Xiao Cheng for a long time. I've been following that incident too—Xiao Cheng did nothing wrong."

The big shot surnamed Xu said cheerfully.

"Come on, Old Xu, that's not very nice of you. I introduce Xiao Cheng to you, and you say you already know him.

What? If I introduce Zhang San and Li Si to you, will you say you also know Wang Er Mazi?"

The big shot surnamed Liu said this in a huff, but the big shot surnamed Xu paid no mind—the two had been old buddies for life.

"I tell you, Old Liu, don't get upset—I really did meet Xiao Cheng earlier than you did!"

Cheng Chen stood sandwiched between the two big shots, completely bewildered. He racked his memory carefully and was sure he had never crossed paths with this big shot surnamed Xu.

As if seeing the confusion in Cheng Chen's eyes, the big shot surnamed Xu said with a smile:

"To be precise, I know him, but he doesn't know me. You know the 'Wanjiang' we're going to rehearse next? That's sung by Xiao Cheng!"

This show did indeed have a choral piece called "Wanjiang."

For this reason, Cheng Chen had previously been contacted in advance by the program director to handle the arrangement of "Wanjiang."

After all, "Wanjiang" was in some ways better suited to a solo, especially the opera-style passages.

So for this arrangement, Cheng Chen adapted it to be more suitable for a chorus and also reworked the opera-style sections.

"'Wanjiang' is sung by Xiao Cheng?"

The big shot surnamed Liu was utterly astonished.

"Not only that, he wrote both the lyrics and the music—a true all-rounder!"

The big shot surnamed Xu remarked with feeling.

"You're not an actor... oh right, you just said you debuted as a singer. Truly, young and accomplished!"

"And that's not all—remember your youngest grandson, the baby of your youngest son's family.

He sings 'Lonely Warrior' every day—that was also written, composed, and performed by Xiao Cheng. Remarkable, these young people today!"

Hearing the words of the big shot surnamed Xu, the big shot surnamed Liu was completely stunned.

"Tsk tsk tsk, kid, you've really given me too many surprises. That's impressive.

My little grandson, the moment he hears your songs, he perks right up. That song of yours is genuinely well-written—very good."

The big shot surnamed Liu praised him effusively.

Cheng Chen, somewhat embarrassed by the two big shots' praise, said:

"Two teachers, please stop praising me, or I'm afraid I'll get a big head."

"What's wrong with being proud? Writing songs like 'Wanjiang' and 'Lonely Warrior'—doesn't that deserve pride?

Old Xu, you just said today's young people are remarkable. I don't quite agree—it's young people like Xiao Cheng who are remarkable!"

He possesses these precious qualities: patriotism, dedication, and courage!

The Liu elder praised him.

"Indeed."

The Xu elder nodded in agreement…

After the show ended, the two elders kept Cheng Chen's phone number and invited him to visit their homes.

Cheng Chen declined, saying he had other matters to attend to, but he noted down their addresses and planned to visit them later.

Cheng Chen truly couldn't leave—since the "assault incident," Wang Sanri had greatly accelerated the filming schedule.

He had just finished recording the show and would still be shooting at night…

At the end of October, the Little Fish and Flower production team wrapped filming entirely.

Compared to the grand launch and the heated actor feuds, the wrap ceremony appeared somewhat dull.

Cheng Chen did not attend this wrap ceremony.

It wasn't that he was being arrogant and refusing to show up—he had received a notice from Zhou Xingchi.

Kung Fu had been scheduled for release on December 23.

He had already rushed to Gang Sheng for promotion, even though he only played a supporting role in Kung Fu.

But this supporting role had substantial screen time, and besides, Cheng Chen was now wildly popular; not letting him join the promotion would be a waste.

According to Zhou Xingchi's promotion strategy, Gang Sheng was the first stop, followed by some Mainland provinces, then Tai Sheng…

This trip to Gang Sheng, Cheng Chen still felt some unease.

Since the assault incident, his reputation in Gang Sheng hadn't collapsed entirely, but negative sentiment had clearly increased.

So after receiving Zhou Xingchi's call, Cheng Chen voiced his concerns.

"So, after this incident, I worry that promoting the film in Gang Sheng might hurt its box office."

Hearing Cheng Chen's words, Zhou Xingchi fell silent for a moment, then said:

"Cheng Zai, you were the victim in this matter—I've seen the video too.

The people of Gang Sheng and the industry circle have all seen it—you did nothing wrong.

If there's any criticism, it's only about Gang Sheng actors discriminating against Mainland actors.

But Cheng Zai, this issue has always existed; people have mentioned it before.

Yet you know, from some point onward, Gang Sheng works that once monopolized cinemas and dominated TV screens gradually vanished from Mainland screens.

They've been replaced almost entirely by Mainland variety shows and countless TV dramas starring Mainland actors.

The current plight of Gang Sheng films has deprived those who looked down on Mainland actors of their greatest opportunity."

Their phone call lasted two hours, making Cheng Chen, who had always seemed quiet and reserved, realize for the first time that Zhou Xingchi had such excellent speaking skills.

After Zhou Xingchi's pep talk, Cheng Chen no longer hesitated and directly agreed to the promotion request.

This time Cheng Chen's arrival in Gang Sheng was no longer unnoticed, as before.

At the airport, fans and reporters had been waiting for a long time.

As soon as Cheng Chen stepped out of the airport, he was surrounded by a large crowd of fans and reporters.

"Cheng Zai, will you hit someone again now that you're back in Gang Sheng?"

"Zhang Weijian said if you dare come to Gang Sheng, he'll make sure you don't have an easy time—what do you think about that?"

…