Chapter 799: The Master and

The post-production work for *Infernal Affairs* is proceeding in an orderly manner.

Luo Mo and Xu Chujing have also left Hong Kong and returned to the Mainland to carry out the final few shows of their global tour.

His current ticket sales performance is temporarily ranked first on the 【Global Ticket Sales Chart】.

But there is still some time left before the end of the year, so whether he will be surpassed by others is not certain.

Regarding this, Luo Mo does not really care.

If one fights for everything and wants every single data point, then *To Live* would be far too exhausting.

After being busy for a while, he and Xu Chujing returned to Shanghai.

He is currently a bit conflicted about when to release *Infernal Affairs*.

Judging from the progress, there is plenty of time to catch the New Year's Eve release window.

On the contrary, the initial preparation work for *Farewell My Concubine* will take much longer.

The reason is simple: Luo Mo has extremely high requirements for many of the scenes in this film.

He went to select many locations, but was not satisfied with any of them.

In the end, he decided—to build them himself!

This is relatively rare in the country, but it is not unheard of.

Some directors build a garden just to shoot a single film.

These gardens can also be used to sell tickets later, or rented out to other film crews as shooting bases; the subsequent income is also quite stable.

Of course, the main thing is still to satisfy his own demand for the filming locations.

It is just that, as a result, it is quite time-consuming.

The matter of building the sets has actually been underway since the beginning of the year.

That was when Luo Mo had just revealed the news to Liu Shixiong, saying that he was going to film a movie related to Opera and intended to give his master a surprise.

He also gave him the requirement not to tell his master about this matter.

But who would have thought, Liu Shixiong—who knows what happened—actually sold him out this time.

"It makes no sense." Luo Mo thought for a long time, but could not figure it out.

Don't let Liu Shixiong's unreliable face fool you; he is actually reliable when doing things, and usually keeps his promises.

When Luo Mo was young, he often got into trouble with him, and Liu Shixiong would always say he would take the blame alone if anything happened, and then he really would shoulder it all by himself.

Perhaps it was during the concert, when he heard the entire audience of 100,000 people singing along to the Opera Singing part in *Lanting Xu*, that he got too excited?

But in all honesty, Luo Mo does not have very high box office expectations for *Farewell My Concubine*.

This film might not necessarily be a big hit.

At the same time, given his relationship with the Review Department, he is also not sure if it can pass the review directly without any edits.

He has always felt that the existence of *Farewell My Concubine* on Earth was simply a miracle.

Xu Chujing, on the other hand, offered a suggestion when they chatted about this film, which she herself was also very interested in.

"Building sets is very time-consuming, but you could also build them while filming."

"You can shoot in some of the sets that are already built," she said.

"I have thought about this; it's just that it will be slightly more troublesome in terms of adjusting the actors' schedules, but it would indeed be more time-saving," Luo Mo said with a smile.

While stealing some leisure time from his busy schedule, he had already been scouting for actors for *Farewell My Concubine*.

These days, there are almost no actors who would refuse an invitation from Luo Mo.

Whoever he takes a fancy to, as long as he lets his studio reach out, it is no different from a surprise from heaven for that actor.

……..

……..

More than half a month passed, and Mrs. Zhong Lin came to work at the Review Department in high spirits.

She is in a very good mood today because Luo Mo has brought a new work for review again.

"And it's a Hong Kong film, too," she thought to herself.

For her generation, Hong Kong films can be said to be a memory of their youth.

But in recent years, it has become increasingly rare to see Hong Kong films that suit her taste.

*Peerless*, produced by Luo Mo, was indeed good.

But compared to some of the peak works of Hong Kong cinema in the past, there is still a bit of a gap in terms of feeling.

Mrs. Zhong Lin personally believes that *Peerless* is stunning because, for one, the subject matter is novel enough, and the process of filming the production of counterfeit money is bold enough.

The other reason is the Reversal at the end, which was unexpected yet reasonable.

Her expectations for *Infernal Affairs* are higher than those for *Peerless*.

Because she could vaguely guess that *Peerless* was merely Luo Mo's small test of his skills regarding Hong Kong films.

Mrs. Zhong Lin feels that although she cannot claim to know Luo Mo inside and out, she still understands him to some extent.

"He chose to direct this film himself, and even stepped up to play the lead role; he definitely has his ambitions, and it can also be seen from the side how much importance he attaches to this film," Zhong Lin thought to herself.

The staff of the Review Department team, seeing that Team Leader Zhong Lin was beaming and glowing with health, found it not hard to guess—Luo Mo had pulled off another big move.

After pouring a cup of warm water, she returned to her office and closed the door.

The review of *Infernal Affairs* has two versions: a Cantonese version and a Mandarin version.

As a Beijing native, Zhong Lin would certainly prioritize watching the Mandarin version.

As for the Cantonese version, she will only conduct the initial review.

Afterward, she will find other people in charge to conduct the review.

In the past, a situation like this would often occur: in the Cantonese version, the audio and the subtitles did not mean the same thing at all!

The subtitles were merely censored.

In reality, the words spoken are meant to give the audience a taste of something.

In this way, one can muddle through the censorship process.

And don't even mention it, there have truly been many films in the past that passed censorship by using this method.

Of course, this is also because the censorship for Hong Kong films is relatively more lenient.

At this moment, as soon as Mrs. Zhong Lin opened the movie, she saw an introduction to the Avici Hell amidst a soundtrack filled with Suspense and an eerie feeling.

"Nirvana Sutra, Volume Nineteen."

"The greatest of the eight great hells is called the Avici Hell, meaning to suffer great agony without interruption, hence the name."

The beginning of the film's visuals takes place inside a temple.

The Triad boss Han Chen is currently looking pious, bowing respectfully before a Buddha statue.

After finishing his prayers, he turns to look at a row of young men behind him.

He begins to recount events from five years ago.

He describes how his "business" had been open for less than half a month, and was raided an average of 1.3 times a day.

In this segment, there is quite a bit of underworld slang from Hong Kong; although Mrs. Zhong Lin doesn't understand it, she can roughly guess the meaning.

"Within one year, six brothers died," Han Chen says to the row of young men.

He suddenly turns again, puts his hands together before the Buddha statue, and shouts, "Buddha bless me!"

Such a Triad boss is actually seeking protection from the Buddha.

Zhong Lin thinks: "Is it because he's done too many bad things and needs to find a spiritual crutch?"

Seeing Han Chen look at this row of young men again, he says: "The fortune teller said that one general's success is built on ten thousand bones, but I disagree. I think for those of us in the life, whether we live or die is decided by ourselves."

"You have been with me the shortest amount of time, and your backgrounds are the cleanest."

"How you walk your path, I'll let you choose for yourselves," he says with a smile.

For some reason, even though Han Chen is clearly very short and looks like a clown, every one of his expressions, even when he is smiling, gives Zhong Lin a sense of danger.

Each young man receives a cup, and Han Chen has one in his hand as well.

"I wish you... smooth sailing in the Police Department."

"Cheers, officers," Han Chen says.

Everyone drains the contents of their cups in one gulp.

"He's actually planning to arrange for these gangsters to become police!" Zhong Lin suddenly finds the movie interesting.

The scene shifts to the Police Training School.

Liu Jianming, who was planted by Han Chen as an Undercover, is already participating in training.

Soon, Chen Yongren, played by Luo Mo, also makes his entrance.

Inside the office, someone asks Chen Yongren: "27149, you came in ten minutes ago; how many folders were on my desk?"

Chen Yongren, played by Luo Mo, is wearing a police uniform; with his eyes slightly lowered, he recalls for a moment before confidently answering: "Six. Four beige ones on the left, one red and one white on the right, officer."

Huang Zhicheng, sitting next to the principal, speaks up and asks Chen Yongren: "What do you think of me?"

"Sorry officer, I don't know!" Chen Yongren says without stage fright, continuing: "But officer, you must be in a hurry today, because you're wearing different socks."

Huang Zhicheng looks down at his crossed legs and slowly puts them down.

The principal covers his mouth to stifle a laugh, finally saying: "27149, you go out first."

"Yes, officer!" he says to the principal.

After Chen Yongren walks out, the principal immediately says to Huang Zhicheng: "Five hundred, pay up quickly."

Huang Zhicheng takes off his own socks and throws them directly at him, saying: "Alright, I'll give it to you when the salary comes next month."

While speaking, he puts on socks that match.

From this, it is evident that he didn't wear them wrong due to being in a rush.

This was intentional.

Otherwise, who would carry two pairs of socks with them?

"I told you, he is the most suitable to be an Undercover," the principal says to Huang Zhicheng.

Once these words are spoken, Mrs. Zhong Lin is instantly jolted, and she suddenly feels the Drama becoming more interesting and exciting.

"So they've planted Undercover agents on both sides!"

"This is getting interesting!" Mrs. Zhong Lin thinks to herself.

The early pacing of the film is very brisk, with no unnecessary filler.

The scene changes, and one sees Chen Yongren, having taken off his police uniform and changed into his own clothes, carrying a bag and luggage as he walks out the gate of the Police Training School.

His eyes are a bit unfocused.

Behind him, rows of police in training are listening to an officer's lecture.

"Once you enter the police academy, you must follow the rules! Those who don't follow the rules will end up like him—get out!"

Chen Yongren has been expelled from the police academy, and in this way, he heads toward the Triad.

After hearing the lecture, he looks back inside.

And among the row of young men, Liu Jianming, who was arranged by Han Chen to be an Undercover, watches him from afar.

When the gate of the Police Training School closes, Chen Yongren lifts his head slightly and walks forward with a bold stride.

At this time, he is still very young and full of spirit.

"Is there anyone who wants to trade places with him?" the officer uses this as an example to continue the lecture.

This kind of lecture gives Zhong Lin a sense of familiarity.

Back when she was in school, there was a teacher who especially liked to make people stand in the back as punishment.

Every time someone went to stand in the back, the whole class couldn't help but focus their gaze toward the back, and he would say loudly: "Does anyone want to trade with him?"

Unexpectedly, in the movie Drama, Liu Jianming, who clearly had something weighing on his mind, said softly, "I want to swap with him."

The frame froze at this moment.

Then, a voice finally emerged.

"27149, this is a long-term Undercover mission."

"Your records at the police academy will be deleted. Only I and Inspector Huang of the Serious Crimes Unit know your identity. You are accepting a very dangerous mission. Is that clear?"

"Clear! Sir!"

The scenes shifted constantly; first, he was burning incense before a statue of Guan Gong with a group of new recruits, then he was smashing cars, beating people, splashing paint...

In some Corner, he crouched down to call Huang Zhicheng: "Huang sir! I really can't keep going. If it's not the police interrogating me, it's the gangsters beating me."

He was so miserable, but Mrs. Zhong Lin watched and laughed.

Getting beaten by enemy gangsters, and then having to be chased for eight blocks by friendly police who didn't know the situation.

However, the way Luo Mo looked, wearing a black undershirt and a necklace, crouching on the ground making a phone call, was actually quite handsome.

On the other side, Liu Jianming, in his police uniform, sat before a group of superiors.

A superior asked: "4927, your experience is still shallow. On what grounds should I be satisfied and recommend you for a promotion?"

This scene was a bit like an interview, and also a bit like a defense.

"Haha, one is about to get promoted, the other is getting beaten." Mrs. Zhong Lin found it very funny.

Chen Yongren was seen holding the phone with a mournful face: "Endure? You come and do it then, endure my ass!"

Liu Jianming, on the contrary, said calmly: "I won the excellence award at the police academy and have received high evaluations during my tenure. Sir, I have the confidence to lead the police force!"

Zhong Lin: "Good fellow, not only did he infiltrate the enemy's interior, but he has also been rising steadily, getting promoted and receiving raises!"

During these years, Chen Yongren would tap on the wall with his fingers, leaving behind Morse Code.

Occasionally, he would also meet up with Huang Zhicheng.

Liu Jianming was also doing his own Undercover work, going to a small shop to call Han Chen.

Zhong Lin felt that having gangsters plant Undercover agents was actually quite useful.

"When eliminating dissidents, he can even let Liu Jianming make the arrest, allowing him to earn merit, get promoted faster, and grasp more information and power!" Zhong Lin couldn't help but gasp.

What she found most hilarious was that Chen Yongren, with his look of having lost all hope in life, had even been arrested by Liu Jianming.

And who knows, maybe more than once.

"Pfft! Hahahaha!" For some reason, seeing Luo Mo's frustrated expression, Mrs. Zhong Lin always found it very interesting.

As expected of a Luo Mo production!

She continued watching with a relaxed mood, then the more she watched, the more wrong it felt, the more wrong it felt.

By the halfway point, Mrs. Zhong Lin was already feeling a bit uncomfortable.

The Drama was compelling and exciting.

Yet the characters' inner struggles were intense, one after another!

Right and evil were intertwined.

One wrong step, and every step is wrong!

Besides that, she also felt that many lines were truly worth savoring!

Only after finishing it did she understand why the movie was called Infernal Affairs, and why the film began by talking about the so-called Avici Hell.

In her view, this was a commercial film, but it was also more than just a commercial film.

"Intuition tells me that after this movie is released, the word-of-mouth will explode!"

"Perhaps, it really can inject new vitality into the stagnant Hong Kong film market?"

Infernal Affairs soon passed censorship.

Luo Mo, having finished his work, took Xu Chujing back to Beijing.

A significant portion of Farewell My Concubine would be filmed in Beijing.

Before officially launching this project, he also intended to tell his master and ask his master a few questions.

Arriving at that familiar Siheyuan, it was still Liu Shixiong who opened the door for Luo Mo.

"Eh? Liu Shixiong, why does your expression look a bit unnatural?" Luo Mo asked.

Liu Gongming gave a dry laugh, took the fruit and tea leaves Luo Mo was carrying, and said: "Little Junior Brother, Master is actually... actually, his health hasn't been very good lately, but he kept telling me not to tell you."

Upon hearing this, Luo Mo became anxious instantly. He suddenly thought of something and pressed: "Did it start before I held my concert in Beijing!"

Liu Gongming looked at him and finally nodded slightly.

"No wonder, no wonder." Many things suddenly made sense to Luo Mo.

"Where did the problem arise? An old ailment?" Luo Mo asked.

"No, it was just about two weeks before your concert, Master had a fall when he got up at night," Liu Gongming said.

Hearing this, Luo Mo's heart skipped a beat.

He knew very well what a fall meant for an old man of Tong Qinglin's age.

"Don't just stand there. Master knows I came to open the door for you, let's go in first," Liu Gongming urged Luo Mo and Xu Chujing.

Throughout the process of walking inside, Luo Mo kept his head slightly lowered.

But upon seeing Tong Qinglin, the expression on his face immediately returned to normal.

Luo Mo knew very well that the old man did not want him to worry.

But he could tell that his master seemed to have lost a little weight, and he didn't have the same spirit as before, even though he was trying very hard to keep his spirits up.

On the mahogany table sat a type of Beijing snack that Luo Mo had loved to eat since he was a child.

Back then it sold for fifty cents a pack, and now it has only gone up to one yuan.

It tastes good, is cheap, and is also clean.

This also results in its short shelf life, which is only three months.

Every time Luo Mo comes here, this snack is on the table.

In fact, after he grew up, he rarely ate snacks anymore.

But the old man would prepare it specifically, and he would definitely eat it when he came.

Luo Mo sat and chatted idly with his master, discussing with him in a calm manner his plans for *Farewell My Concubine*, as well as the elements he wanted to highlight in this film.

The old man listened very attentively, his eyes brightening slightly from time to time.

As they chatted, Luo Mo tore open a pack of the snack.

After eating a bite, he knew the taste was wrong; it was likely expired.

But Luo Mo said nothing and swallowed it quite naturally.

Until Liu Shixiong also opened a pack.

"The taste is wrong!" Liu Gongming said immediately.

He checked the shelf life right away and said, "It's expired!"

Upon hearing this, Tong Qinglin immediately picked up a bag to look at it, then laughed and said, "Oh my, I'm getting old and really can't remember things clearly; I thought I had bought it when I went to the supermarket last time."

"Little Luo, stop eating, hurry up and stop eating."

"Yes!" Luo Mo replied.

"Oh my, I'm truly getting senile; it's rare for you to come back, and I specifically took out expired things," Tong Qinglin continued to say.

Hearing these words, Luo Mo felt inexplicably uncomfortable, very uncomfortable.

Because he knew deep down that the food being expired was not the elder's fault.

—It was that you came back too late.

(End of this chapter)