Chapter 138: Bringing Capital into the Crew

"After Liu Ye came back from your movie crew, he kept showing off and called everyone in our class to treat them to dinner. As a result, he got drunk later, hugged the person next to him and started crying loudly, saying how difficult it was for him in his freshman year and how bitter he was in his heart. His eyes were swollen from crying, and the next day he wore a pair of sunglasses to class and was scolded severely by Teacher Chang~"

In the room, seeing Wu Yuchen ask, Zeng Li smiled and told him about Liu Ye and Chen Minghao, making Wu Yuchen shake his head and laugh: "This guy is still so funny!"

Afterward, Wu Wu Yuchen said with a smile: "Li, let me show you something good."

"What is it?" Zeng Li asked curiously.

Wu Wu Yuchen took out a thick stack of scripts and handed them to Zeng Li. It was precisely *Da Zhai Men*.

"This is..." Zeng Li asked curiously, but she also vaguely realized what Wu Wu Yuchen meant.

"A very good script. I'll accompany you today. You read the script first before talking." Wu Wu Yuchen said with a smile.

The students at school like Zeng Li didn't know much about the *Da Zhai Men* storm. However, she trusted Wu Wu Yuchen's words very much, so she nodded and took the script to

Wu Wu Yuchen was going to find Guo Guo Baochang in the next two days to discuss matters regarding "The Grand Mansion Gate." With such a classic drama, there were many good roles, and he wanted to give Zeng Li a chance.

It could not be denied that the Central Academy of Drama had strict requirements for students and built a solid foundation, but for an actor, only learning without practicing was not necessarily a good thing.

Although the Central Academy of Drama was strict and did not allow students to take on roles casually during their sophomore year, if the director was Guo Guo Baochang, they would definitely let her go.

Looking at Zeng Li reading the script, he remembered that in his past life, Zeng Li hadn't taken a single role during her four years of university and had obediently stayed at school for four years. The closest opportunity she had was the casting for the female lead in "The Road Home," but Zhang Zhang Yimou had come to the school to find Zeng Li and couldn't find her, so Zhang Zhang Ziyi picked up the scraps.

However, to tell the truth, even if Zeng Li had been there at the time, she might not have been able to truly compete with Zhang Zhang Ziyi.

Setting aside all those messy gossip stories about Zhang Zhang Ziyi, just speaking purely of talent, Zhang Zhang Ziyi also had a lot of advantages.

Many people might feel that Zhang Zhang Ziyi wasn't that beautiful or stunning.

But her face was precisely the type that directors and cinematographers loved most, known as having no dead angles in 360 degrees on camera, with no flaws from any angle on the big screen.

Zeng Li, on the other hand, was the opposite of Zhang Zhang Ziyi; she was very beautiful in reality, and as soon as she entered school, she was rated as the school beauty by the boys. But on camera, her face shape just wasn't as pleasing as Zhang Zhang Ziyi's, and she was very dependent on styling and makeup.

This point about Zhang Zhang Ziyi was truly a gift from heaven; among actors, it was a natural talent for leading the pack!

However, now that Wu Wu Yuchen was here, he naturally wanted to fight for more opportunities for Zeng Li, and the "The Grand Mansion Gate" he was about to invest in was undoubtedly a good choice.

After Zeng Li got the script for "The Grand Mansion Gate," she became completely absorbed in it without realizing it. From morning until night, a whole day had already passed.

At this moment, a large hand blocked her view. She was just about to push it away, but the script was taken away.

"Hey! I haven't finished reading it yet!" Zeng Li said hurriedly.

"Alright, rest for a while first. There's no rush for this little bit of time," Wu Wu Yuchen said with a smile.

Zeng Li frowned and pouted. She was completely engrossed at this moment, fully immersed in the story of "The Grand Mansion Gate," and being interrupted by Wu Wu Yuchen like this made her feel as if she were being scratched by a cat.

"You tell me first, how do you feel about this script? Is it good?" Wu Wu Yuchen asked.

"Good! It's too good! It's not a bit worse than those classic scripts we rehearse at school! Every person is so vivid, as if one were placed in that era," Zeng Li said very affirmatively.

Wu Wu Yuchen nodded with a smile and continued to ask: "Then which character do you like the most?"

Upon hearing this, Zeng Li hesitated for a moment. She liked many characters in it, whether it was the wise and decisive Second Mistress of the Bai family, or the daring and upright Bai Bai Jingqi... she liked them all.

Seeing her like this, Wu Wu Yuchen tapped her head lightly: "Li Zi, I'm asking which character you want to play! Don't you go saying anything about the Second Mistress of the Bai family; you can't play this role, and your age won't work either."

Zeng Li had just been engrossed in reading, and hearing Wu Wu Yuchen say this, she finally reacted and asked hurriedly: "Are you going to film this script?"

Wu Wu Yuchen shook his head: "Not me. This is the life's work of Director Guo Guo Baochang; only he can direct it himself. However, I will try my best to help you fight for a role."

After hearing Wu Wu Yuchen say this, Zeng Li felt very happy. After all, as an actor, if one could participate in such a good drama, it was undoubtedly a very happy and fortunate thing.

She was silent for a moment, carefully considering in her mind the roles she could play. A moment later, she met Wu Wu Yuchen's eyes and then said: "I want to play Yang Yang Jiuhong."

Yang Yang Jiuhong was the second concubine of the male lead Bai Bai Jingqi. Born in a brothel, she fell in love with Bai Bai Jingqi and was unwilling to accept her fate, yearning for freedom. But after entering the Grand Mansion Gate, she was always looked down upon by the Second Mistress of the Bai family because of her background as a prostitute, which led to her own daughter being taken away from childhood. She spent the second half of her life in resentment and loneliness, dying with regrets.

Wu Wu Yuchen nodded. He didn't say anything about Zeng Li's choice; she could indeed play this role with her image. Zeng Li was beautiful enough in glamorous attire and could naturally play the top courtesan from a brothel. At the same time, when she played the middle-aged Yang Yang Jiuhong, her slightly longer face shape on camera also happened to have that sense of sorrow and harshness.

In his past life, Yang Yang Jiuhong was played by He He Saifei. However, since Zeng Li wanted to play this role now, Wu Wu Yuchen was definitely on Zeng Li's side. Moreover, he had previously let He He Saifei play the female lead in "Years of Passion," which was a role that was both critically acclaimed and popular and could win awards, so he hadn't treated her unfairly.

Guo Guo Baochang had been in a great mood recently. Ever since a group of people heard he was hospitalized and came to see him, the script for "The Grand Mansion Gate" that had been snatched away was returned, and the contract issues were also resolved.

And what made him even happier was that Chen Chen Baoguo told him that even the investment had been settled. Wu Wu Yuchen, who had recently risen to fame, was willing to invest in him and support him in filming "The Grand Mansion Gate."

With his worries gone, his health recovered quickly. He had already completed the discharge procedures and moved back home to recuperate.

But he waited and waited, and after several days, he didn't see Wu Wu Yuchen contact him. He couldn't help but mutter to himself, could it be that the young man was just talking for the sake of it and was now regretting it?

Thinking of this, Guo Guo Baochang couldn't sit still anymore. He hurriedly found someone to get Wu Wu Yuchen's contact information and called him.

"Hello? Is this Wu Wu Yuchen? Yes, I am Guo Guo Baochang, I... what? You are downstairs at our house? Oh, good, good, good!"

After Guo Guo Baochang opened the door, within half a minute, he saw Wu Wu Yuchen appear at his door, with a very beautiful girl following beside him.

"Bao Ye, congratulations on your discharge. These are some health supplements I brought for you to nourish yourself~"

Wu Wu Yuchen raised the things he was carrying and then introduced: "This is Zeng Li, from the acting department of the Central Academy of Drama."

Zeng Li also respectfully greeted Guo Guo Baochang.

Seeing Wu Wu Yuchen bring a beautiful girl to see him, Guo Guo Baochang's mind raced, but he warmly welcomed the two into the house on the surface.

After he had his wife serve them tea, he smiled and said: "Wu Wu Yuchen, you don't have to keep calling me Bao Ye like they do~"

Wu Wu Yuchen smiled and said: "I call Teacher Professor Xie 'Teacher,' so if we're talking about seniority, I really should call you 'Grandmaster'!"

Guo Guo Baochang waved his hand with a smile:

"They are flattering me. Actually, I didn't do much back then. Their talent was visible to the naked eye, and they could have succeeded without me. At most, I just did the logistical support work for them. Don't follow their lead; let's treat each other as equals. Just call me Teacher Guo."

Guo Guo Baochang knew clearly in his heart that he was the one begging Wu Wu Yuchen for money now, so he couldn't put on airs in front of him, even though he had the qualifications.

"Alright then, Teacher Guo!"

Wu Wu Yuchen nodded with a smile, and after asking about Guo Guo Baochang's health, he brought up the main topic:

"Teacher Guo, I came here this time to talk to you about 'The Grand Mansion Gate.' I've read the script, and it's excellent. I want to invest in your drama; I wonder if you are willing?"

Hearing this, Guo Guo Baochang showed a heartfelt smile:

"Willing! How could I not be? This is something I've been praying for. You don't know, I almost ran my legs off looking for investors before. Since 1995, I've looked for seventy or eighty companies back and forth. I'm not bragging, but just the drinking I've done adds up to several tons. I didn't expect to be cheated in the end. If you hadn't pulled me up, sigh!"

Then Guo Guo Baochang waved his hand: "Let's not talk about disappointing things. Wu Wu Yuchen, I sincerely thank you for being willing to invest in my 'The Grand Mansion Gate'! But I must say this first: I want to film 'The Grand Mansion Gate' without doing a sloppy job. I want to bring out everything in the script one hundred percent.

In the old Beijing of the past, there was a catchphrase: wear a hat from Ma Juyuan, wear cloth shoes from Neiliansheng, wear clothes from Badaxiang, and have money from Sidahang.

The hats from Ma Juyuan, the cloth shoes from Neiliansheng, the clothes from Badaxiang, the bills from Sidahang—I want to make all of these exactly as they were."

Hearing this, Wu Wu Yuchen finally understood why Guo Guo Baochang had looked for so many TV stations and film companies, only for them all to fall through and be unwilling to invest in him. With his way of filming, the cost was truly uncontrollable.

Wu Wu Yuchen smiled: "Teacher Guo, we are both directors, so I naturally understand your feelings. I also admire your spirit of striving for perfection. I also agree with your idea of restoring the original scenery of the Grand Mansion Gate. How about this, I'll invest 20 million for you."

Hearing this, Guo Guo Baochang was immediately overjoyed. 20 million was twice as much as the 10 million the TV station was willing to give him back then!

Just as he was about to say something, Wu Wu Yuchen held out a hand:

"Teacher Guo, please listen to me finish first. I personally like 'The Grand Mansion Gate' very much and am willing to invest this much, but I also have a group of employees in my company who depend on me for a living. So, for such a large sum of money, I can't just invest it and not care. I definitely still want to make a profit, or at least not lose too much.

The 20 million is settled; I won't give you a penny less, but I can't give you any more either. With this much money, if you think the funds are sufficient, then whether it's Ma Juyuan's hats or Neiliansheng's cloth shoes, you can make as many as you want. But if the filming funds are not enough, don't come to me crying poverty later."

Guo Guo Baochang opened his mouth, then thought of his experiences over the past few years. Now that he had finally encountered a Wu Wu Yuchen willing to invest a huge sum of 20 million in him, what more could he ask for? Just this action of Wu Wu Yuchen's was already benevolent and righteous enough, worthy of the description "righteousness reaching the heavens" given by Chen Chen Baoguo.

At the same time, Guo Guo Baochang secretly made up his mind. Since a director of his grandson's generation was willing to help him, he couldn't be too willful either. Just as he said, he couldn't let others lose too much. He would make more use of the connections he had accumulated over the years to gather as many good actors as possible to participate!

Seeing that Guo Guo Baochang didn't object, Wu Wu Yuchen grinned and said:

"Teacher Guo, regarding the actors, I have absolutely no objection to Teacher Chen playing Seventh Master Bai. However, I have one small request..."

Wu Wu Yuchen took Zeng Li's hand, had her stand up, and then said to Guo Guo Baochang:

"After Li Zi read the script for 'The Grand Mansion Gate,' she fell in love with the role of Yang Yang Jiuhong. She can't think about tea or food, is restless, and can't sleep at night. Could you let her play this role?"

Zeng Li immediately cooperated by bowing to Guo Guo Baochang.

When Guo Guo Baochang saw Wu Wu Yuchen bring a beautiful girl over just now, he was already prepared, knowing that there was a high probability he was asking for a role. It wasn't as if he hadn't experienced such things before; even in that era, it was the same.

But letting Zeng Li play Yang Yang Jiuhong...

Guo Guo Baochang showed a hint of difficulty on his face and said: "Wu Wu Yuchen, this, wouldn't she be a bit too young?"

Wu Wu Yuchen smiled and said:

"Teacher Guo, I'm not worried about the age. After all, Teacher Chen Chen Baoguo also played from 18 to old age, and won't the Second Mistress of the Bai family have to play from 18 to having a head full of white hair when she enters the house? In the end, it all depends on makeup. The role of Yang Yang Jiuhong happens to go from a young girl to middle age, so it won't be out of place for Li Zi to play it.

As for the acting, I'll have to trouble Teacher Guo to spend more effort guiding her. Li Zi's attitude is absolutely good; you can scold her whenever you need to!"

Feng Feng Xiaogang still maintained his smile: "Director Wu, Third Master told me personally that if it weren't for the big sale of *My Brothers and Sisters* earning this sum, he wouldn't have been able to scrape together 4 million for me, and my first film would have been out of the question. If I don't remember your kindness, I'd be heartless!"

Guo Guo Baochang was silent for a moment, then sized up Zeng Li in front of him. She was truly beautiful, and it was absolutely acceptable for her to play Yang Yang Jiuhong, the second concubine born in a brothel. Coming from the Central Academy of Drama, her foundation should be good, and since they had already said he could train her acting, there shouldn't be any problem with her attitude.

Then he thought about the 20 million Wu Wu Yuchen was investing. With so much money invested, was it too much to insert an actress who wasn't the female lead?

Guo Guo Baochang understood in his heart that this was already his best choice. During this hospitalization, he also felt that his health was not as good as before. If he waited a few more years, what if he couldn't film even if he wanted to?

Guo Guo Baochang smiled: "Alright, Director Wu, I also think Zeng Li is quite suitable."

Wu Wu Yuchen and Zeng Li looked at each other, then smiled at Guo Guo Baochang: "Good, Teacher Guo, then it's settled. We can sign the contract at any time!"

After leaving Guo Guo Baochang's house, Wu Wu Yuchen walked with his arm around Zeng Li. Seeing her happy appearance at this moment, he couldn't help but smile and exhorted her:

"I've introduced Director Guo Guo Baochang to you. The actors invited for this drama will definitely be the top batch in the industry. Some might not be famous, but their acting skills are all top-notch.

Once you join the crew, keep a low profile and be sure to learn and practice well. This is truly a very good opportunity for you. You will inevitably have scenes with Teacher Chen Chen Baoguo. Tomorrow, I'll go and talk to him again to ask him to guide you well. Also..."

Seeing Wu Wu Yuchen constantly nagging her about various matters and looking at his caring appearance, Zeng Li felt even sweeter in her heart. She couldn't help but stand on her tiptoes and kiss him on the cheek.

Wu Wu Yuchen was stunned for a moment, then cupped her face and responded passionately.

For the "The Grand Mansion Gate" crew, the director was definitely Guo Guo Baochang, and Kang Sun Honglei, who had been very interested in it before, volunteered to be the assistant director. Wu Wu Yuchen naturally wouldn't forbid it, and Guo Guo Baochang had no objections either.

However, this drama couldn't be filmed just because one wanted to. Just building the sets and making preparations in all aspects would take some time. It would be good to prepare this year and start filming next year.

These things had nothing to do with Wu Wu Yuchen anymore; he had already boarded the plane to America.