Chapter 231

The promotion of We Are In Love leveraged Anhui Satellite TV's own resources plus internet momentum generated by Cheng Chen.

It quickly surged with overwhelming force, making it impossible to ignore.

At this critical moment, Huayi's film The Sword Prince was renamed Night Banquet and began leaking news to the public.

After extensive investigation, the media confirmed that Cheng Chen would join this film.

Alongside him were Ge Daye, Gong Huang, and a host of other accomplished actors—its cast was undeniably star-studded.

Employing accomplished actors had become standard for Feng Xiaogang's films.

Clearly, the media would not let the currently trending Cheng Chen slip through their grasp.

Yet at this very moment, Cheng Chen had vanished from public view and gone to sell his show.

That's right—Wulin Waizhuan, after months of post-production, was now ready to be sold for profit.

For this, Cheng Chen and Shang Jing discussed it and decided to organize a screening event.

They invited major satellite TV networks to view the show, planning to decide on a partnership through auction.

The idea was sound, but the outcome was disappointing.

They invited over twenty television stations they deemed promising, yet only thirteen or fourteen showed up.

And even these seven or eight satellite networks came solely because of their admiration for Cheng Chen and Shang Jing.

Half of them hoped to use this opportunity to establish contact with Cheng Chen.

To secure the second-run broadcast rights for Langya Bang and We Are In Love.

When Cheng Chen and Shang Jing first sent out invitations, the satellite networks had been highly interested in collaborating with them.

But upon hearing the show's genre—sitcom? And a wuxia sitcom?

This was a joke!

Pure sitcoms already had The Mess Hall Story as a shining example; one could still watch Shang Jing's latest work.

Pure wuxia dramas had always guaranteed ratings through remakes of the Three Great Masters—Jin, Gu, and Liang.

Of course, if Jin, Gu, and Liang had been remade too many times without novelty,

at least they should produce a serious wuxia drama like The First Under Heaven.

So what did they get?

Sitcom plus wuxia?

It sounded like a low-budget production, radiating a petty, cheap vibe.

This combination made it impossible to imagine what kind of scenes the show would depict.

And as for the cast—not a single established star among them.

Could this show possibly succeed?

If they bought it and ended up stuck with it, wouldn't the station director scold them to death?

Most of the satellite networks' procurement departments thought this way.

Thus, among the seven or eight satellite networks that came, they only sent token junior staff to go through the motions.

If they could establish a connection with Shang Jing or Cheng Chen, that would be even better.

Xu Qiming was exactly such a person. Before coming, his procurement Department Director had repeatedly instructed him to build a good relationship with Cheng Chen and Shang Jing.

Ideally, they should arrange a dinner and casual chat—but Wulin Waizhuan was not their priority.

Xu Min, Xu Qiming's distant cousin who served as Department Director, had also casually hinted that if this matter went well,

his chance to secure Official Establishment might materialize.

Yes, Xu Qiming was merely a Temporary Worker at Yu Sheng Satellite TV.

At over thirty, Xu Qiming found it extremely difficult to compete with fresh university graduates for positions that hired only two or three people annually.

Now he had a wife and children, earning a meager monthly income that barely covered expenses.

Fortunately, his wife worked at a hospital with excellent benefits, barely keeping the whole family afloat.

Logically, he would be better off doing business or taking a regular job instead of being a Temporary Worker.

But his entire family strongly opposed this idea, since working within the system was respectable and carried high social status.

Besides, their household wasn't so desperate they couldn't afford food.

His wife, understanding and supportive, urged him: as long as he got into the TV station, their good days would come.

Not to mention the stability.

Now, Xu Min, his distant cousin and Department Director of the drama procurement unit, had hinted at a possible entry into Official Establishment.

How could he not take this seriously? That morning, his wife, who had just finished her night shift, yawned as she tied his tie.

"Honey, take care of yourself when you get to Jingcheng!"

"Okay, go back to sleep—I'll manage on my own!"

"Nah, I'll sleep after you leave—I'm off today."

Looking at his wife, her dark circles from years of night shifts, Xu Qiming felt deeply moved.

Since graduating college and marrying, they had walked through many years together.

Though their partner had become as familiar as his own limbs, they still loved each other.

Xu Qiming did not tell his wife about the hint from his cousin.

If this failed, it would only cause her false hope.

Because he knew what he was up against.

He had heard of Cheng Chen—he and his wife were both his fans.

His TV dramas had always received good reviews.

But having spent years driving for superiors, drinking with them, and serving them, he hadn't sat down in years to watch a favorite TV show with his family.

He also understood his cousin's thoughts—indeed, everyone at Yu Sheng Satellite TV wanted to get their hands on Cheng Chen's "Langya Bang."

After all, this was the TV drama where Cheng Chen starred as the male lead and invested in it.

Haven't you seen how wildly popular "Xianjian Qixia Zhuan" has become? It made nearly all its actors famous overnight.

Even Tangren Film and Television, which collaborated with Cheng Chen, made a fortune—and its influence keeps rising!

So how could the station leadership not be envious of "Langya Bang"?

Unfortunately, Cheng Chen won't give them an opening.

So his main mission in coming to Jingcheng was to get closer to Cheng Chen.

Ideally, he could get him to meet his cousin or other leaders.

Then his task would be complete, and his Official Establishment problem could be solved.

Watching the train bound for Jingcheng, Xu Qiming adjusted his tie.

With a mix of nervousness and excitement, he set off on his journey.

……

Jingcheng, Xinghuo Entertainment screening hall.

This was a specially built large-screen exhibition hall, Cheng Chen's personal viewing room.

Seeing the dozen or so people present, Cheng Chen and Shang Jing exchanged glances and simultaneously pulled out stacks of business cards from their pockets.

"You got more than I did—they're all here because of your fame."

Shang Jing remarked, gazing at the pile of cards in Cheng Chen's hand.

Cheng Chen rolled his eyes and said:

"I'd rather they sent more people. Most of these are just department clerks going through the motions—none of the real big fish showed up."

"Their absence is their loss. They're choosing us—we can choose them too."

Shang Jing smiled. He was quite optimistic, especially after the final cut was done—he felt noticeably lighter.

It wasn't physical fatigue—it was spiritual satisfaction.

When he first started filming, he might have wondered what kind of audience would enjoy a show like this.

But after watching the first few episodes of the finished product, his mindset changed completely.

Audiences love shows like this!

And he was certain: this was the best film of his directing career.

All of this came from the young man beside him—because the script was his!

Cheng Chen understood Shang Jing's thoughts. "Wulin Waizhuan" wouldn't struggle to sell—even if it didn't sell today, he wasn't worried.

"Let's go, Director Shang. It's about to start."

Cheng Chen smiled.

……

The theater lights dimmed. Xu Qiming sat in the audience, watching the big screen.

From the moment he entered the hall, he saw many people surrounding a young man, handing out business cards and chatting.

He knew that young man was Cheng Chen.

But he didn't rush over—he waited until the crowd thinned, then approached and said:

"Hello, General Cheng. I'm Xu Qiming from the Film Acquisition Department of Yu Sheng Satellite TV. Here's my card."

Cheng Chen took the card and smiled:

"From Yu Sheng? Your accent sounds familiar—are you from Xinyang Shi?"

"Yes, yes! My hometown is Gu Xian in Xinyang Shi."

Xu Qiming said eagerly.

Cheng Chen's hometown, Nan County, lies near the Huai He, just across the river from Gu Xian in Xinyang Shi.

So the dialects of both places share similar accents and intonations.

"Then we're half-countrymen. I hope you find something valuable here."

Cheng Chen smiled.

"Yes, General Cheng…"

Just as Xu Qiming was about to continue speaking, someone across the room called out to Cheng Chen.

Cheng Chen gave an apologetic gesture and walked over.

Xu Qiming sat back in his seat, thinking: No wonder he's a Heavenly King—his manners are flawless.

From the moment he entered the hall, he'd overheard people talking.

Most here shared his own goal: to build a good relationship with Cheng Chen.

Build a good relationship… He just said we're half-countrymen. Could I use that as a starting point?

As Xu Qiming was strategizing how to get closer to Cheng Chen, a cheerful tune suddenly sounded beside him:

"Hey, brother! Long time no see—where've you been?

Hey, friend, if it's really you, say hello!

Hey, brother! Long time no see—where've you been?

Hey, friend, if it's really you, say hello…"

A theme song unlike traditional TV dramas—light, upbeat, and relaxing.

It felt wonderfully pleasant to the senses.

"Episode One: Miss Gu Smashes Tongfu Dian; Madam Tong Cleverly Guides the Lost."

Huh? Slightly like a wuxia chapter title—directly summarizing the drama's content.

Not bad, interesting.

The audience below gradually became captivated by the opening of Wulin Waizhuan.

But what drew their eyes was the line beneath the chapter: Screenwriter: Cheng Chen.

It was true that Cheng Chen was the screenwriter of Wulin Waizhuan, as rumored outside.

A singer, an actor—yet he took up the work of a screenwriter…

Regardless of whether this was good or bad, regardless of Cheng Chen's skill, with his current fame, this drama already had the potential to become popular…

On a dark, windy night of murder, the legendary Male-Female Killers descended from the sky, shattering the peace of Tongfu Inn.

Guo Furong, born into a prestigious family and spoiled since childhood, had her father—a great martial hero—who always loomed over her like a shadow.

Always competitive since childhood, she resolutely chose the path of running away from home to forge her own way in the martial world—yet at her first stop, she was detained at Tongfu Inn, beginning a grueling career as a menial servant…

Through Guo Furong's questions, the opening simply and cleanly introduced each character, letting the audience immediately understand and identify with them.

A staff of the inn led by the charming landlady Tong Xiangyu.

Among them was Bai Zhantang, the waiter, who knew pressure-point techniques and had martial skill, yet was as timid as a mouse.

The cook Li Dazui made food that was utterly inedible.

Licentiate Lv, who handled accounts, constantly quoted Confucius, a useless scholar.

Mo Xiaobei was a little girl who skipped school and only wanted to eat candied haws, the landlady's younger sister.

This way of introducing characters felt natural and easy to understand.

Unlike later generations, who bluntly slapped names and titles onto the screen.

As the plot unfolded, people were drawn in by the hilarious scenes and the way the inn's role in martial action was fully exploited.

For example:

The landlady said:

"Zhao's daughter from Zuojia Zhuang—such a good person, just ugly. She finally got married, so moved she burst into tears."

Old Bai chimed in:

"Just as she was crying, the Male-Female Killers descended from the sky and pounded the groom relentlessly, shouting as they beat him, 'We're doing heaven's justice!'"

The landlady continued:

"Ge the Third from Xiliang He—such a good man. When he wasn't fishing, he ferried people across the river for free."

"That day, just as he loaded a whole boat of passengers, the Male-Female Killers descended from the sky and beat them all senseless, shouting as they struck, 'We're doing heaven's justice!' Then they sank the boat after finishing their justice."

Old Bai replied:

"Since then, to cross the river, you have to walk fifty more li!"

The landlady: "And that's not all—there's the peddler from Balizhuang, the hunter from Heifeng Ling."

Old Bai: "The lockmaker from Baishi Qiao, the woodcutter from Weigong Cun."

The landlady: "Any good person they come across is doomed."

The camera cut to Guo Furong on the roof, her expression smug:

"So many victories—aren't they enough?"

This segment made everyone in the theater burst into laughter.

Just forty minutes per episode, yet the jokes were packed so densely that nearly everyone laughed until they cried.

Only after laughing did people realize: this TV drama had not hired any big-name stars, yet the actors' performances were natural and vivid.

Even more convincing was the plot—how could such a small inn generate so many stories?

The plot was nothing more than people gathered around tables and chairs, expressing the story through dialogue—just like aunts and uncles chatting about village gossip.

And the dialogue was extremely concise and refined—truly an art of language!

Then came Episode Two, Episode Three—the later plots remained just as powerful, with jokes never stopping.

Moreover, this episodic TV format meant you didn't need tight plot continuity like in serialized dramas.

Almost every episode was a self-contained story—you could start watching from any episode without losing anything.

This drama will become a hit!

Xu Qiming sat below, staring blankly, until he reached this conclusion—he only then noticed that almost no one remained in the audience.

The TV drama was still playing—but the exhibition hall was empty.

What was going on?

Xu Qiming stepped out to check, and right outside the door, he heard someone shouting urgently:

"Director, come to Jingcheng quickly—this drama is amazing!"

"Hey boss, it's Xiao Hu—I'm telling you, we absolutely must buy Wulin Waizhuan—it's fantastic!"

"Boss, I'm right here on site—I think we should buy Cheng Chen's drama!"

"Hello…"

It turned out all these perfunctory staff members had rushed out to call their superiors.

Seeing this, Xu Qiming immediately dialed his phone. The Director no longer needed to be addressed formally—he blurted out:

"Uncle, buy Wulin Waizhuan! It's incredible! You won't regret it—hurry to Jingcheng!"

…