Chapter 1353: Drawing the Sword

"What show? Which writer?"

After listening to Ye Jing, Zhao Fusheng casually asked.

Regardless, since he was willing to bring it up, it meant Ye Jing was definitely hesitating.

"Here's the thing: there's a TV series currently being filmed that's over budget, and the investor pulled out..." Ye Jing explained to Zhao Fusheng with a wry smile.

Zhao Fusheng was taken aback, then his expression turned helpless.

This kind of thing wasn't exactly new in the film and television circle.

From project approval to filming, a drama couldn't be summed up in just a few simple words. For example, if your budget was five million, but during filming, even weather issues could cause delays. With a crew of hundreds, daily expenses could be tens of thousands or even more—it would be strange if they didn't exceed the budget.

What to do when over budget?

Of course, keep looking for money.

For most directors and screenwriters, begging around for funds to make a film was common. Not everyone was like big directors or writers who could sit at home and have investors waving money come to them; they had to seek investments and sponsorships.

In his previous life, when Old Jiang was filming *The Sun Also Rises*, the budget overran so badly that Huayi directly pulled out. Helpless, he had someone introduce him to Yang Shoucheng and tricked Old Yang into investing over ten million, just to finish the film.

So the situation Ye Jing described was really no big deal.

"What genre is the TV series?" Zhao Fusheng asked Ye Jing with interest.

He roughly understood why Ye Jing was consulting him—after all, this was probably someone asking for a favor through connections. Ye Jing, out of face, had to help, but according to company policy, it wasn't proper, so he brought it up.

A beautiful white swan flying high in the sky, missing its duck parents and siblings, claimed it was still a duck. This might show loyalty, but it wasn't the truth.

A person turned into a beetle but still wanted to be human; no one would accept him. He could only hold a flower twisted from metal scraps and sit in a garbage dump, reminiscing about the past.

Even though Zhao Fusheng always hoped those around him would treat him equally, unconsciously, he still distanced himself from others.

Sometimes you see yourself as ordinary, but ordinary people may not see you as one of them.

Especially successful people—the more they try to play the approachable card with those around them, the more others feel they're just putting on airs.

Ye Jing probably felt this the most deeply. His feelings toward Zhao Fusheng were complex. To him, Zhao Fusheng had transformed from a kid into a collaborator, and finally into his boss. This shift in identity was hard to put into words.

Although Zhao Fusheng never acted superior, everyone knew he was no longer in the same world as them.

Even Fan Baobao knew she was different from those around her.

That's why Fan Baobao wanted to leave the People's Art Theatre. She knew that if she stayed, it would be a burden for Zhao Fusheng or for those around her.

"Tell me, what's going on?" Zhao Fusheng looked at Ye Jing and asked with a smile.

To be honest, he was curious. What TV series was worth Ye Jing bringing up to him? After all, favors were consumables—use them once, and they're gone.

"Here's the thing: the director is a friend of mine," Ye Jing said directly without beating around the bush. "The funding gap isn't big, about six million. He called me and said he's willing to let us be the producers."

Zhao Fusheng laughed: "It's not much money. If we invest, we invest. Since he's asking, we should give him face."

Ye Jing nodded: "Yeah, this *Drawing the Sword* might be a bit rough in production, but the script quality is decent."

"What?" Zhao Fusheng was stunned, staring at Ye Jing with wide eyes, almost biting his tongue.

*Drawing the Sword*?

For a moment, Zhao Fusheng wondered if he was dreaming.

Holy crap! Holy crap!

In Zhao Fusheng's mind echoed Li Youbin's domineering line: "Battalion Commander, bring out my Italian cannon!"

Zhao Fusheng knew very well how popular *Drawing the Sword* was. In later years, it was remade several times, and the wave of military dramas it sparked left a deep impression on many.

Earlier, Zhao Fusheng hadn't remembered this drama—not that he forgot, but because in his memory, it should have aired earlier.

Unexpectedly, Ye Jing's friend turned out to be the director of this drama.

And most importantly, the drama hadn't even aired yet and was already facing funding difficulties.

"What, you've heard of this drama?" Ye Jing asked, surprised by Zhao Fusheng's reaction.

Clearly, he hadn't expected Zhao Fusheng to know about it.

"I've heard a bit," Zhao Fusheng nodded. "I've read the original novel."

That was the truth—in his previous life, he had indeed read the original novel of *Drawing the Sword*.

The story of *Drawing the Sword* recounts the legendary life of the outstanding military commander Li Yunlong, from his time as the regimental commander of an independent regiment of the Eighth Route Army bravely fighting the Japanese in northwestern Shanxi, to his promotion to general in 1955.

"In the face of a powerful enemy, even knowing you can't win, you must still draw your sword. Even if you fall, you must become a mountain, a ridge." This line is the life portrayal of Li Yunlong, the 'war god' general. In the original history, the TV series only covered up to Li Yunlong being awarded the rank of major general after liberation; the second half of the novel, including the Kinmen Bombardment and Li Yunlong's suicide, was not filmed.

Of course, that was due to historical reasons, and Zhao Fusheng could understand.

But it had to be admitted that what *Drawing the Sword* presented made many in the film and television industry ponder deeply. Li Yunlong's screen image was no longer a flawless, perfect hero but a flesh-and-blood person. Patriotism and heroism, iron will and human emotions, wit and courage, friendship and love intertwined. *Drawing the Sword*'s greatest breakthrough was turning the traditional aesthetic psychology hidden in society into reality, fulfilling decades of longing in the war genre, and unearthing a Chinese-style Patton.

This point was crucial; it almost changed the entire small screen.

Before this, on many screens, especially in military-themed TV dramas, the images of our military commanders were too stereotyped, causing audiences to lose interest in this type of drama.

The emergence of *Drawing the Sword* changed that.

Hearing that Zhao Fusheng had read the original novel, Ye Jing was somewhat surprised. He hadn't expected Zhao Fusheng to have read such a book—after all, someone his age shouldn't like this old-fashioned military-themed work.

"What, didn't expect that?" Zhao Fusheng smiled, looking at Ye Jing.

Ye Jing nodded: "Honestly, if Old Jiang said he'd read it, I wouldn't be surprised. But you? I really didn't see that coming."

"What, you think there's a generation gap between us?"

Zhao Fusheng laughed heartily and waved his hand: "It's not as exaggerated as you think. I actually prefer some old-fashioned things. I usually watch old movies—they're much better than those internet songs nowadays."

He meant it. Songs like *My Skateboard Shoes*, though popular, Zhao Fusheng really didn't like. Maybe it's a matter of taste—even if many claim that since internet songs are popular, the masses enjoy this form of entertainment, Zhao Fusheng still felt he was among those being represented, because he truly didn't like them.

Of course, Zhao Fusheng didn't deny that the creators of these songs were hardworking people.

But the problem was, nothing in this world was certain. Just because you worked hard didn't mean you'd achieve results, and having talent didn't guarantee you'd stand out.

No matter who they were, most successful people were forced by their environment and tempered by reality.

Zhao Fusheng firmly believed in this.