Nobody knows movies better than me

Chapter 12 The Great Conman

In the sweltering summer of Beijing, cicadas chirp incessantly, disturbing people's sleep.

At this moment, Zhang Jun finally overcame numerous difficulties and completed his graduation defense after hard work, successfully obtaining his graduation certificate from Tsinghua University.

"I've graduated!"

With a cheer, graduation caps were tossed into the air, symbolizing that the students were about to embark on their respective life paths.

Some are preparing to pursue postgraduate studies, aiming for master's or doctoral degrees, while others plan to study abroad. Still others have already secured jobs and are entering the workforce.

For Zhang Jun, this was an interlude in his journey from leaving school to embarking on a film career.

"Come on, cheese!"

After the group photo, the graduates took photos in twos and threes to commemorate the occasion, since they were scattered all over the country and didn't know when they would see each other again.

Several emotional female students even shed tears, and several college couples also peacefully broke up on this occasion.

Ma Qiang and Zhang Jun took a group photo together.

Afterwards, Ma Qiang said to Zhang Jun, "Brother Jun, I will definitely go to the cinema to support you when your first movie is released."

Zhang Jun also said, "You're too kind. I wish you success in your postgraduate entrance exam as well."

After graduation, Zhang Jun moved out of the school. He found a one-bedroom apartment in Xiushuiyuan Community near Chaoyang Park.

The monthly rent was 1600 yuan, and he had paid for six months. Luckily, he received a scholarship from the school; otherwise, he would have had to ask his estranged parents for money.

Although he's thick-skinned, he'd still feel awkward asking for it like that.

I've heard that the Chaoyang aunties are very powerful, so Zhang Jun is basically living under their surveillance.

Instead of rushing to seek opportunities after moving out of the school, Zhang Jun took the time to explore Beijing, visiting various tourist attractions and even climbing the Great Wall to fully experience the early 20th-century capital city.

After he had finished exploring, Zhang Jun stayed in his rented apartment, focusing on polishing the script for his first feature film.

Just then, Tsinghua University finally started its summer vacation, and Ye Xiaoyi returned home.

Ye Bingcheng was quite aware of his daughter's experiences at school. He was very proud to learn that she was the president of the film association and had achieved results and won awards.

He boasted about this to other business owners on several occasions, and it made him feel very proud.

Upon seeing his daughter return, Ye Bingcheng went up to give her a big bear hug, only to be pushed away by Ye Xiaoyi in disgust.

Ye Bingcheng laughed heartily, not caring at all.

He lost his wife in middle age and only had this one beloved daughter. Because of his love for his deceased wife and daughter, he never remarried, and even replaced his secretary and assistant with men.

Several of his old friends thought he was sick and were planning to seek out famous doctors or folk remedies for him.

Without further ado, after Ye Xiaoyi returned, Ye Bingcheng personally cooked a table full of delicious dishes. If outsiders were to see Ye Bingcheng, the successful businessman, as a stay-at-home husband, they would probably be quite astonished.

"Yi'er, try this pork rib, it's quite good!"

"Thank you, Dad. You should eat too!"

"Eat! Eat! Let's eat together!"

Even so, Ye Bingcheng didn't eat much; he just watched his daughter eat.

After a hearty meal, Ye Xiaoyi let out a long sigh of relief and sprawled out on the sofa without any regard for her image as the most beautiful girl in the Department of Economics and Management at Tsinghua University.

After washing the dishes, Ye Bingcheng watched an anti-Japanese war drama with his daughter, enjoying a precious family moment together.

Ye Xiaoyi was stunned, then suddenly remembered what Zhang Jun had told her before.

"Dad, I have a question for you!"

Ye Bingcheng, who was picking his teeth with a toothpick, asked, "What is it?"

"That's right!"

Ye Xiaoyi then recounted Zhang Jun's cooperation proposal to Ye Bingcheng, and then asked, "I'm a little undecided. Do you think I should agree to it?"

"Is this Zhang Jun the screenwriter and director of your award-winning short film?"

"yes!"

"Is he handsome?"

"He's quite handsome!"

"How is your family's financial situation?"

"I heard that both my parents are middle school teachers."

"Oh! That tutor must be quite good."

"oops!"

Ye Xiaoyi pouted unhappily: "I didn't ask you to care about other people's family circumstances. I asked you to help me figure out if there's any chance this will succeed."

After a moment of thought, Ye Bingcheng said, "According to you, Zhang Jun should be the kind of person who is talented but also somewhat worldly-wise."

If this kind of person is guided in the right direction, they can achieve great things. But if they go astray, I'm afraid they'll lead you astray.

It's clear you admire him.

Ye Xiaoyi nodded in agreement: "Senior Zhang Jun is indeed very special. I feel that he is the kind of person who is full of confidence, but also keeps his true abilities hidden."

Moreover, compared to other boys his age, Senior Zhang Jun was excessively mature.

Ye Bingcheng suddenly smiled: "In that case, why don't we test its quality?"

"How do we try it?" Ye Xiaoyi asked.

Ye Bingcheng explained, "Go back and tell him you're willing to collaborate with him, offering five million to make a film, and see his reaction."

"What does Dad mean?" Ye Xiaoyi was naive, but not stupid.

Ye Bingcheng smiled mysteriously: "Let's see if he really wants money from you, or if he has a bigger purpose..."

The purpose, needless to say, is to win over Ye Xiaoyi. Ye Bingcheng only has this one daughter, so winning over Ye Xiaoyi is tantamount to winning over Ye Bingcheng's wealth.

Ye Xiaoyi shook her head and said, "Dad, I think his goal isn't me, but money, or rather, the money from making the movie."

I feel that he is someone who values ​​his career more than women and money. I observed him during the filming of the short film, and I think he was very happy at that time.

He enjoys the process of making films so much that everything else can take a backseat.

Moreover, I felt that the way he looked at me... was a bit like how he looked at the neighbor's kid.

On the contrary, it was at the student film festival that day, when he saw those female celebrities, that I could sense the desire in his eyes.

"Hey!"

Ye Bingcheng was intrigued: "This is quite an oddball, isn't he? Interesting, very interesting! I must meet him!"

"So, you can contact him and invite him to our house for a visit, and I'll talk to him. If he can persuade me, investing in him might be a good idea."

"And what about me?" Ye Xiaoyi pointed to herself.

"You should just go to school obediently. You can't handle someone like Zhang Jun. Let your dad handle it!" Ye Bingcheng had been in the business world for many years and had this much confidence.

When Ye Xiaoyi called him, Zhang Jun thought he had successfully tricked her, but he didn't expect that she was just inviting him to her home as a guest.

Ye Xiaoyi's home is in Tianjin, which is not far from Beijing. Zhang Jun arrived in the afternoon.

Ye Xiaoyi greeted him at the door and invited him into the living room, where Zhang Jun met Ye Xiaoyi's father, Ye Bingcheng.

"Dad, this is Zhang Jun," Ye Xiaoyi introduced.

Zhang Jun's attitude was appropriate, neither humble nor arrogant: "Mr. Ye, hello."

Ye Bingcheng looked Zhang Jun up and down. Just as his daughter had said, he was indeed very handsome, tall, and probably quite strong.

Facing this business tycoon, Zhang Jun did not behave as poorly as the younger generation he had seen. Instead, he was very relaxed and calm, and did not even mention the gifts he had brought.

"Usually, when people visit, even if they don't bring expensive gifts, they at least bring something. Why did you come empty-handed?"

"Dad..." Ye Xiaoyi was anxious and was about to explain for Zhang Jun.

Zhang Jun preemptively answered, "Because those who come to our door usually need something from us, so they naturally try their best to curry favor in order to leave a good impression."

"Oh?"

This answer surprised Ye Bingcheng, which made him even more interested: "And what about you?"

"I'm different. I'm here to discuss cooperation. As collaborators, but meeting for the first time, we should have an equal dialogue," Zhang Jun said matter-of-factly.

Zhang Jun wouldn't have spoken like that to anyone else, not even a coal mine owner. But before coming, Zhang Jun specifically researched Ye Bingcheng's background, including the newspapers and magazines where he had been interviewed.

I had never heard of this person in my previous life; I guess it was a butterfly effect caused by his time travel.

Ye Bingcheng's rise to power was similar to that of his neighbor Wang Yiwan. He was a soldier, a man of great loyalty and affection, and he did not remarry after the death of his wife, which shows his deep affection for her.

He also deeply loved his daughter and was afraid that she would suffer any injustice.

However, he had been a powerful figure in the business world, and had seen all sorts of deceit and trickery.

You can't deal with this kind of person using conventional methods; you have to use unconventional methods.

Sure enough, Ye Bingcheng became interested: "You're quite special. Sit down, I'd like to hear your thoughts on how you want to cooperate with me."

Ye Xiaoyi was also very curious. After brewing a pot of tea for the two of them, she rested her chin on her hand and listened attentively.

Zhang Jun didn't stand on ceremony and thoroughly enjoyed the tea brewed from these precious tea leaves; the taste was truly exceptional.

Then he spoke, "The business I want to discuss with you is called the future."

"What kind of future?"

"The future of the film market."

Before Ye Bingcheng could ask further, Zhang Jun said, "As a popular art form, the fundamental value of film lies in providing entertainment and leisure."

A film of about two hours can bring viewers a pleasant sensory experience and emotional relaxation.

Top-tier films transcend mere entertainment and become nourishment for people's souls.

Through their profound ideological content, exquisite artistic expression, and strong emotional resonance, these works can touch the soul, inspire thought, and bring deep satisfaction and nourishment to the audience, often with a more lasting and far-reaching impact.

Ye Bingcheng sipped his tea: "What does this have to do with the business you wanted to discuss with me?"

"The above is just my explanation of the importance of film as an art form at this stage. In an era with few entertainment options, film is one of the few forms of entertainment people have."

Zhang Jun continued, "Let me talk about the market size. The total box office revenue in the film market was 8.6 million yuan in 2002 and 10 billion yuan in 2003."

"And this year, the first half alone has already exceeded 7 million, so exceeding 14 billion for the whole year is no problem."

"so what?"

Ye Bingcheng was still a bit out of sync with Zhang Jun's thinking: "Even if the box office exceeds 14 billion this year, the scale is still not as good as my real estate revenue."

I don't see what kind of big business opportunities are available here.

"As intelligent as Mr. Ye is, he must have noticed that since China joined the WTO, the size of the Chinese film market has been continuously expanding."

Zhang Jun stared into Ye Bingcheng's eyes: "Mr. Ye, do you dare to believe that the film market will break through the 10 billion level in just five or six years?"

"Ten billion?"

"Not just tens of billions, it could even be two hundred billion, four hundred billion, or six hundred billion!"

Zhang Jun's expression was exaggerated: "Moreover, this is just the box office revenue; the real value lies in the associated industrial value."