Chapter 241: Old Mou Zi Was Stunned

【Reborn Starting from Chinese Entertainment 2002】【】

Children make choices; I, as an adult, want them all!

Since receiving Zhang Yimou's call, this phrase had been echoing in Cheng Chen's mind.

No matter how bad Zhang Yimou and Feng Xiaogang's two films might be, Cheng Chen was willing to act in them.

The reason was simple—these were works by renowned directors!

If he could appear in both, it would be a tremendous boost to his career.

After all, being favored by two renowned directors at once was rare across the entire entertainment circle, let alone appearing in both films.

Of course, these were all Cheng Chen's own thoughts—ordinary people would be overjoyed just to get one opportunity.

Who would dare dream of wanting to act in both?

The immediate priority was to win over these two directors!

"Director Zhang, are you currently in Jingcheng? I'd like to visit you and discuss things in person."

Cheng Chen said respectfully.

On the other end of the phone, Zhang Yimou paused slightly upon hearing Cheng Chen's words.

Over the years, whenever an actor heard they were cast in his film, who didn't immediately agree?

Yet Cheng Chen asked to meet and talk.

Interesting.

"I'm in Jingcheng. I'll send you an address on your phone—just go there."

Zhang Yimou said on the phone.

"Understood."

After hanging up, Zhang Yimou's text message arrived immediately.

"Old Mou Zi, I'm coming…"

Looking at the address in the text, Cheng Chen silently resolved.

Su Qingya had already prepared a car for Cheng Chen; he stopped her and said:

"I'll go see Director Zhang alone this time—no one else needs to come with me."

"Understood, Director Cheng."

……

Zhang Yimou's residence was still some distance from Cheng Chen's company.

After driving for over forty minutes, Cheng Chen arrived at a villa district on the outskirts of Jingcheng.

"You're here, Xiao Cheng—come in."

Inside the gate, he saw Zhang Yimou seated at a tea table in the courtyard.

"Ah, Director Zhang, I brought some fruit along for you."

Cheng Chen said with a smile, holding up a fruit basket from a premium fruit shop.

"Hey, you came over and still brought gifts?"

Zhang Yimou laughed.

Zhang Yimou looked very thin, with a broad forehead and clear wrinkles on his face.

His cheekbones were steep, his skin slightly dark—typical traits of a man from the northwest.

Old Mou Zi was from Shaanxi Province, carrying within him the steadiness and stubbornness of a northwesterner.

From past interviews, it was clear he always appeared quiet, just like his personality.

The First Clan

He had openly admitted he was a very low-key person, reserved and humble in conduct, gentle and sincere.

Yet in film creation, he seemed an entirely different person…

"It's nothing valuable, Director Zhang—are you busy with the Olympics?"

Not long ago, Old Mou Zi had been appointed by the Olympic Committee as Dazongyan for the 2008 Olympic opening and closing ceremonies.

The announcement sparked nationwide celebration; at the appointment meeting, Old Mou Zi openly said this was the most unforgettable day of his life.

In fact, the Olympic Committee's choice was correct—Old Mou Zi lived up to the people's expectations.

Anyone who watched the Beijing Olympics opening ceremony would forever remember the awe it delivered to the world.

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【Reborn Starting from Chinese Entertainment 2002】【】

Zhang Yimou perfectly captured the uniquely Chinese classical romance—ingenious, thoughtful, worthy of applause.

This was China's perfect exam paper to the world as a great nation…

Whenever people in later generations marveled at the brilliance of the 2008 Olympics,

one Chen Ase was "doxxed" online.

The Olympic opening ceremony had no designated director—it invited proposals from the entire public.

Renowned directors like Li An and Chen Kaige all participated in this call for proposals.

The unforgettable scene was when the great director Chen excitedly recited a poem on the spot to catch the committee's attention:

"Beyond the sword's realm, news suddenly came of Jiabei's recovery.

At first hearing, tears soaked my robes.

I turn to look at wife and children—where is their sorrow?

Ase, please sit down, take some vegetables…"

Hmm… the last line doesn't count.

The organizing committee stated: We need concrete ideas.

Chen the Great Director was eliminated in the first round…

"Hmm, the pressure is huge."

Zhang Yimou took the fruit basket from Cheng Chen's hands and smiled.

"With great power comes great responsibility—I'd love to have that kind of pressure too, but I certainly don't have Zhang Director's ability, hahaha."

"That's an American saying, and frankly, it's a bit of moral coercion."

Zhang Yimou smiled.

"Didn't expect Zhang Director to watch these commercial films. Then let me rephrase it—capable people should take on more work?"

Cheng Chen smiled.

"You're slippery—same medicine, different wrapper. Sit down."

Zhang Yimou laughed at Cheng Chen's remark, his wrinkles bunching up in genuine delight.

"Here's the script. Read it first."

Zhang Yimou handed Cheng Chen a stack of scripts, on which was clearly written: Curse of the Golden Flower.

Sure enough, it was this script.

Cheng Chen silently murmured to himself.

He glanced at Zhang Yimou, saw him lost again in the Olympic proposal, then opened the script and began reading.

The plot was nearly identical to what he'd seen in his past life, with only minor differences—though he guessed Lao Mou Zi would still make adjustments later.

The two sat quietly in the small courtyard, each absorbed in their own tasks.

By the time Cheng Chen finished reading the entire script, an hour had passed.

He looked up at Lao Mou Zi, who was still immersed in the Olympic proposal.

"Zhang Director?"

"Just a moment."

About five more minutes passed before Lao Mou Zi put away the proposal and said:

"You've finished the script. What do you think?"

Seeing Cheng Chen hesitate, Lao Mou Zi smiled:

"Just speak freely—don't be nervous. It's your first time reading the script; I don't expect you to give me some profound answer right away."

Cheng Chen nodded and said:

"The story's structure and core are adapted from Cao Yu's Thunderstorm."

Zhang Yimou nodded; it wasn't hard to spot, given how overt some elements were.

Anyone with even a passing knowledge of Thunderstorm would know.

But Zhang Yimou was slightly surprised.

In his records, Cheng Chen was someone who hadn't even graduated from junior college, and his major had nothing to do with drama or literature.

The fact that he could immediately recognize its origin in Thunderstorm meant that even though he was famous, he hadn't stopped learning.

Or perhaps Cheng Chen had some cultural depth after all.

Thinking of this, Zhang Yimou suddenly smiled—he was right; Cheng Chen's Chinese-style lyrics couldn't have been written without some cultural grounding.

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【Rebirth Begins in 2002 Chinese Entertainment】【】

"Let's start with the title: Curse of the Golden Flower.

This line comes from the final verse of Huang Chao's 'After Failing the Imperial Exam, I Write of Chrysanthemums.'

Huang Chao was quite literary, yet due to his ugly appearance, the Tang Dynasty destroyed his years of hard work and ambition.

He saw through the corruption of power, then wrote this poem with fierce passion.

It was here that the chrysanthemum acquired a spirit of resistance—I believe when Zhang Director chose this line as the film's title,

he intended to convey precisely that: rebellion and revenge. And this is also the central theme of Thunderstorm—the two fit perfectly…"

Cheng Chen spoke slowly.

Zhang Yimou: "Hmm, good… continue."

Seeing Lao Mou Zi's reaction, Cheng Chen was baffled.

What? Did I say something wrong? I'm not doing a reading comprehension test.

Regardless of what Lao Mou Zi thought, Cheng Chen continued:

"Throughout China's long history, dynastic changes or succession struggles have been commonplace.

The plot vividly reenacts the bloodshed of imperial succession through its portrayal of power.

Humans cannot be without desire; suppressing desire means halting thought—it's more about success and achievement.

But swollen desire suffocates and leads to death; to gain power, to ascend to the highest throne of emperor.

The Third Prince plans to kill his own father, and in the end is beaten to death by his father's own hands.

A son who ignores filial bonds and coldly poisons his father—death may not be enough, yet the tragedy's deeper meaning is profoundly thought-provoking…"

After speaking, Cheng Chen looked at Lao Mou Zi with hopeful anticipation.

Zhang Yimou nodded and said:

"You spoke well. If I hadn't just seen you take the script from my hands, I'd have thought you'd read it before.

Your description is accurate, your analysis good. For now, go home—I'll notify you later, okay?"

Uh…

What do you mean, Lao Mou Zi?

Is this a rejection?

Before coming, Cheng Chen had planned to secure Lao Mou Zi, then go after Xiao Gangpao—but now, Lao Mou Zi had simply told him to go back and wait for notice!

He couldn't just go back; what if Lao Mou Zi found another actor after he left?

Just as Cheng Chen was thinking about how to stay,

Lao Mou Zi, who had picked up the documents and begun flipping through them, looked at Cheng Chen sitting in the chair and said:

"What's wrong? Is there something else?"

Cheng Chen glanced at the documents he was flipping through, a sudden insight flashed in his mind, and he asked:

"Director Zhang, has the Olympic theme song been decided yet?"

"Theme song? I forgot—you're a musician too. Want to take a shot at the Olympic theme song?"

"Not decided yet, but we've already commissioned someone to write it. We've seen a few drafts, none quite right."

More than "not quite right"—with Lao Mou Zi's picky standards, he'd probably need to sift through hundreds before choosing.

"I have a song here. Could I ask you to listen to it? I won't take much of your time, is that okay?"

Hearing Cheng Chen's words, Zhang Yimou replied cheerfully:

"Of course."

Cheng Chen took the paper and pen from the desk and began writing.

After about ten minutes, Cheng Chen handed the sheet covered in lyrics to Zhang Yimou and said:

"Director Zhang, take a look."

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【Rebirth Starting from Huayu 2002】【】

Zhang Yimou took the paper and muttered:

"'Beijing Welcomes You'?"

He read through it silently at first, then grew increasingly delighted with each line.

Originally, Zhang Yimou had been wondering: how could one express the happiness and joy of the Chinese people facing the Olympic Games?

How could one convey the hospitality and warmth of the Chinese toward friends from around the world?

Cheng Chen's lyrics gave him the answer directly.

He chose a unique perspective to showcase the enthusiasm and grandeur of the Chinese people.

Simply saying "Welcome, welcome, warmly welcome" was clichéd and dull.

But these lyrics felt intimate and warm.

"My home" became a symbol of Beijing, a concrete representation of the Chinese people.

For example: "My front door is always open, arms wide waiting for you."

It was both a vivid artistic moment and a powerful abstract summary.

It fully expressed the tradition of hospitality in "my home."

Another line:

"No matter how far or near, you're a guest—no need to be formal." It sounded like a warm-hearted Beijinger speaking gently.

The words overflowed with joy and friendliness—it was both a narrative description of "my home" and a confident vision of its future.

This artistic treatment of "my home" used a small detail to reflect the whole, a technique of seeing the vast through the minute…

In short, Cheng Chen's lyrics used no ornate or flowery words, yet they felt refreshingly sincere…

Lao Mou Zi held the lyrics and looked at Cheng Chen:

"You—you're the lyricist? Then who composed it? Could you sing it for me right now?"

Seeing Lao Mou Zi's reaction, Cheng Chen immediately felt more at ease. He cleared his throat and sang:

"Welcome another dawn, bringing fresh air.

The air has changed, but the feeling remains, the tea's fragrance fills with friendship.

My front door is always open, arms wide waiting for you.

Embrace, and a bond is formed—you'll fall in love with this place.

No matter how far or near, you're a guest—no need to be formal.

Let's meet together, we welcome you…"

After finishing, Lao Mou Zi's eyes brimmed with admiration. He gave Cheng Chen a thumbs-up and said:

"Good. You sang it beautifully, and the lyrics are excellent—deeply meaningful."

Hearing Lao Mou Zi's praise, Cheng Chen said:

"Director Zhang, you flatter me. I just feel this song fits perfectly with our Olympics."

"Beijing Welcomes You" is performed in a folk style, from the perspective of an ordinary Beijing household.

It's soothing to listen to, and extends a welcoming, open-hearted invitation to friends from all nations.

"But one thing—if you sing it alone, it might sound a bit plain…"

"But one thing—singing it yourself might get a bit dull..."

Cheng Chen thought: No wonder Lao Mou Zi is Lao Mou Zi—his artistic sense is top-tier.

"We could choose well-known singers from China's entertainment industry to perform it together.

After all, the song needs to spread—using the influence of famous singers will help it reach far.

And since the song repeats, each singer can take their turn without disrupting the rhythm.

Choosing a star-studded ensemble would make this song feel like a cultural celebration."

Choose the Star Choir to perform, making this song feel more like a humanistic grand ceremony.

It is also the elegance and romance ingrained in the hearts of the Chinese, symbolizing an unbroken, resilient, and vigorous vitality.

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【Rebirth Starting from Chinese Entertainment 2002】【】

Hearing Cheng Chen's words, Lao Mou Zi clapped his hands in praise and said:

"Well said. I thought you wouldn't want to let anyone else sing this song."

To be honest, the ensemble singing style is the best way to present this song—I already have the visuals in my mind…"

Cheng Chen also smiled slightly and said:

"Before the Olympics, no detail is small. Being able to contribute to the Olympics, I think it's great."

"You've got vision."

"Um, Director Zhang, I have something I'd like to ask you."

Seeing Cheng Chen rubbing his hands, looking embarrassed, Lao Mou Zi thought for a moment, then burst out laughing:

"You're asking about Curse of the Golden Flower? I originally cast you as an actor—you're the one who insisted on coming to meet me in person."

Before you came, I was already thinking about your role. Don't worry—there's a part for you in this film."

Upon hearing this, Cheng Chen first paused in surprise, then shook his head and said:

"Director Zhang, that's not what I mean. I'm saying Director Feng Xiaogang has also invited me to appear in his film The Banquet…"

"Do you think I can appear in both films at the same time?"

…

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