Chapter 10: One Might Mistake Him for the Protagonist

In front of the desk, Zhang Jian let go of the computer, tapped his cigarette case, took out a cigarette, lit it, and took a deep drag.

Haa~

He exhaled a long plume of white smoke and nodded with satisfaction.

As expected of soft-pack Zhonghua, the smoke is thick and steady, the aroma intense and lingering, and the tar content just right.

Every step was done to perfection.

Flicking the ash, Zhang Jian walked outside.

He wanted to check on the filming situation, as well as Zhang Ruoyun and Qi Hui.

He certainly didn't want his production to be disrupted by some graduate with no experience.

On the other side.

Du Yuming brought Qi Hui and Zhang Ruoyun to find Chen Haowei.

"Old Du, is something the matter?" Seeing Qi Hui and Zhang Ruoyun, his brows twitched, as if he had frowned slightly.

Du Yuming, however, said in a deep voice: "Old Chen, I have an idea I'd like to discuss with you."

Immediately, Du Yuming explained the connection between the white-headed spring couplets and the 19th Route Army, and incidentally mentioned the Cantonese dialect suggestion Qi Hui had made.

After listening, Chen Haowei was equally shocked: "There's actually such a thing?"

Like Du Yuming, he also held a sense of reverence for those predecessors of the War of Resistance.

Filming this drama was not just work; it was infused with strong emotions.

"This is a good suggestion, let me make a note of it." He immediately took out a small notebook and wrote down Qi Hui's suggestion.

It was too late to find new actors, but they could do post-production dubbing.

Television dramas rarely used live sound recording anyway.

Their drama still had a large number of actors speaking Japanese later on, which would also be dubbed.

Of course, Wen Zhang was not dubbed, although... his Japanese was very clumsy.

But that was fine; not many people had heard Japanese anyway, so they probably wouldn't be able to tell.

"Qi Hui, right?" Chen Haowei put away his pen and looked at Qi Hui with a smile.

The requirements weren't high, and the suggestion was good.

This wasn't someone using connections; this was clearly a good person.

Chen Haowei's perception of him improved greatly; he was a handsome guy, spoke well, and was so capable of handling things.

A talent!

It was a pity that Producer Zhang didn't seem to like him much, otherwise, he would have definitely given him a supporting role.

"I wonder if you'd be interested in making a cameo as Battalion Commander Tang De of the 19th Route Army?" Chen Haowei extended an invitation:

"As for the compensation, our crew will provide the corresponding maximum rate."

Ding~

[Host has made contact with Director Chen Haowei, obtaining one lottery chance. Would you like to draw now?]

Qi Hui's heart stirred, and after a moment of thought, he decided to draw now.

[Congratulations to the host for obtaining the skill: Explosion Scene Filming and Safety Inspection]

What do I need this skill for?

"Many thanks, Director Chen, sorry for the trouble." Qi Hui felt depressed inside, but his face remained calm as he smiled and nodded.

Zhang Ruoyun also revealed a smile on the side; he rubbed his hands together, feeling a sense of reflected glory.

As expected of my senior!

"Is this appropriate?" At this moment, a somewhat untimely voice suddenly rang out.

Wen Zhang walked over and said: "The actor playing that role has already put on his costume and makeup; isn't it bad to change people over just a few words?"

In this scene, he was playing a student who had just arrived on the battlefield, cowering in the face of artillery fire, his face full of despair and fear.

Then, this kid would save everyone like a god descending from heaven.

And he was so handsome, with such a good physique.

Who knows how handsome he would look in a military uniform.

Anyone who didn't know better would think this kid was the protagonist.

This wouldn't do!

Faced with the sudden interruption, both directors couldn't help but frown.

It was true that Wen Zhang was the male lead strongly supported by the investors, but he shouldn't interfere with their casting.

It was a bit overstepping.

"Haha, both Director Chen and I feel he can play Tang De," Du Yuming said with a kind smile.

Chen Haowei chuckled: "Old Du is right."

Hearing this, Wen Zhang was slightly stunned; he had just seen Director Chen's expression change.

Shouldn't he be very displeased with people using connections?

How did it change all of a sudden?

Thinking of this, Wen Zhang felt a bit depressed; something wasn't right.

"Alright, go back and get into position." Director Chen clapped his hands and called out: "Qi Hui, go put on your costume and makeup; we'll start filming as soon as you're ready."

"Alright." Qi Hui responded and followed the crew members to change and get his makeup done.

Old Zhang walked over slowly, watching Qi Hui leave.

"Haha, he looks quite good; he's managed to catch your eye," Zhang Jian said calmly with a smile.

"Dad, my senior is amazing; he knows everything," Zhang Ruoyun said with some pride.

Old Du's kind attitude didn't quite match his fierce appearance: "Just a bit-part actor, nothing to catch the eye."

Of course, he also knew that Producer Zhang didn't like Qi Hui much, though he didn't know why, but who let the producer be in charge of the director?

Zhang Jian smoked his soft-pack Zhonghua, but the mellow smoke couldn't quite suppress the depression in his heart.

Is this kid that good? Good enough for both Old Du and Old Chen to think highly of him?

Before long, Qi Hui walked over wearing a grass-yellow Central Army uniform.

His posture was tall and straight, his gaze firm and sharp.

Coupled with the pistol and duty belt on his body, the image of a heroic military officer emerged instantly.

"Little Qi, this look isn't bad at all," Old Du said, patting his bald head.

Wen Zhang, on the other hand, was somewhat depressed; great, he was really going to have his scene stolen.

"Alright, everyone to your positions—" Director Chen shouted into the microphone.

After waiting a few minutes, once the cameramen, actors, and extras were in place, Director Chen gave the order:

"Snow Leopard, Scene 37, Take 1, action!"

Boom, boom, boom!

Suddenly, explosions rang out one after another; the pre-buried charges detonated in succession, and acrid gunpowder smoke rushed toward them from the set.

The extras on both sides, who were prepared, "fought" together, recreating the 128 War of Resistance of that year.

On one side were the 19th Route Army in blue-grey uniforms with pan-shaped steel helmets, and on the other were the Japanese Marines in black naval uniforms.

One has to say, Snow Leopard was truly excellent in terms of costumes, makeup, and props.

The 128 incident did indeed start with the Japanese Navy, and it wasn't until later that the main force was replaced by the low-level "donkeys" in the yellow dog-skin uniforms familiar to the public.

"Cut!" Director Chen called for a stop: "Very good!"

"Wen Zhang, Tao Feifei, get ready; extras, take a five-minute break on the spot."

After calling out, Director Chen walked onto the set to re-examine the pre-buried charges and explosives.

Wen Zhang and Tao Feifei squatted in a corner to build up their emotions.

They needed to perform that sense of despair, unwillingness, and the emotion of confessing their feelings amidst the flames of war.

Even more, they needed the tragic heroism of holding a grenade, preparing to commit suicide, and the joy of surviving the aftermath.

The two hugged each other, trembling while holding a grenade, eyes slightly closed, summoning their emotions.

On the other side, Qi Hui walked slowly into the sandbag position and picked up a grenade from the box to fiddle with it.

"Hello, Teacher Yu." Qi Hui greeted him; this man was a professional in War of Resistance dramas, a graduate of the Central Academy of Drama, and had appeared in all sorts of such dramas.

"Heroic Deeds of the Lüliang Mountains," "China Brothers Company," and so on; Qi Hui knew of at least several.

"Eh, hello, hello." Yu Zhen nodded.

It was all just work; he would leave once he finished acting, and he had no intention of making things difficult for anyone.

"Huh?" At this moment, Qi Hui's expression changed slightly; the grenade in his hand seemed a bit off.

He subconsciously weighed it; it was indeed a bit off.

Qi Hui immediately thought of the rumored explosion accidents; could this grenade actually explode?

He couldn't help but have his expression change.

"Alright, non-essential personnel, clear the area," Director Chen shouted: "Scene 37, Take 2..."

"Director Chen, wait a moment." Qi Hui interrupted his call.

However, Wen Zhang, who was on the side, wouldn't have it.

"What is it again?!" He jumped up from the ground and yelled.

He had finally managed to build up some emotion, and you say wait just because you want to?

Qi Hui frowned, his expression darkened slightly, and he strode toward Wen Zhang.

The anger on Wenzhang's face faltered, and he felt a bit of trepidation in his heart.

Qi Hui was one meter eighty, tall and sturdy, a full half-head taller than him, who was just over one meter seventy.

Coupled with this military uniform and equipment belt, his temperament was imposing and heroic.

Standing in front of Wenzhang like this, it was impossible for him not to feel nervous.

What if he really started a fight?

"Little Qi, calm down, calm down..." In the distance, two directors shouted as they ran, fearing that these two would come to blows.

Once a fight started, things would become quite troublesome.

Although Wenzhang felt trepidation in his heart, he stiffened his neck and refused to back down.

I can't beat you, but I don't submit!

Qi Hui walked up to him and snatched the hand grenade from his hand.

He weighed it; the feel was exactly the same as the one he had just touched.

Qi Hui immediately unscrewed the safety cap, shook it in front of Wenzhang, and then yanked the pull-cord.

Sss, sss, sss~

Instantly, a series of sparks flickered at the wooden handle.

Wenzhang's expression changed slightly; this thing was a bit different from ordinary props!

Qi Hui raised his hand and tossed it behind some sandbags in the distance where no one was.

Boom!

The next moment, an explosion sounded, and pungent gunpowder smoke and billowing black smoke rose up.

"Gulp..." Wenzhang swallowed his saliva; could this thing really explode?

Damn, didn't that make it a real bomb?!

"I'm sorry, my voice was a bit loud just now..." Cold sweat broke out on Wenzhang's forehead.

He had been holding this thing for quite a long time just now.

Qi Hui smiled slightly: "Teacher Wenzhang, I actually prefer the way you were being unruly just now."