Chapter 1463: An Invitation from a Brother

Heritage, in many cases, is multifaceted.

Especially cultural heritage, even more so.

From ancient times to the present, the Chinese nation has never lacked wisdom. Yet countless sparks of wisdom have ultimately been extinguished in the long river of history, most of them due to the iron hooves of foreign tribes.

Those barbarians who only knew how to eat raw meat and drink blood destroyed one of the greatest civilizations on this planet with their sabers, trampling our ancestors. The term 'two-legged sheep'—many people probably have no idea what it means.

We are hardworking and good at creating, but we are not good at fighting.

Zhao Fusheng had never really agreed with Jiang Wen's key point. Jiang Wen always believed that what is ethnic is what is global.

But in Zhao Fusheng's view, what is ethnic is ethnic. Others will not easily identify with your culture and other aspects. To earn respect, the most important thing is to make yourself strong.

Extending this idea to the cultural circle, the meaning becomes even simpler.

"Since these sixth-generation directors have chosen to integrate into society and accept the call of the authorities, they must bear the consequences of doing so," Zhao Fusheng said slowly, looking at Jiang Wen. "Poverty has never been an excuse, don't you think?"

Jiang Wen smiled bitterly, helplessly.

He naturally understood what Zhao Fusheng meant and knew that Zhao Fusheng was not joking casually.

But the problem now was that some things were not something Jiang Wen could solve alone. The issues existing in the film circle, or specifically among the sixth-generation directors, were not isolated cases but a common phenomenon.

Knowing is hard, doing is easy—both Jiang Wen and Zhao Fusheng understood this principle.

"Actually, I think Future Film and Television could consider investing in some art films," Jiang Wen said, looking at Zhao Fusheng, hesitating for a moment before voicing his thoughts.

Zhao Fusheng smiled upon hearing this.

In fact, when Old Jiang invited him to watch a movie today for no apparent reason, and it was Jia Zhangke's film, he knew there must be something behind it.

After all, Jiang Wen was not the type to drag him to watch movies.

It turned out that Zhao Fusheng knew him quite well.

"What are you laughing at?"

Seeing Zhao Fusheng's expression, Jiang Wen was somewhat baffled and asked in confusion.

Zhao Fusheng waved his hand: "Nothing, I just find you quite interesting like this."

"Me? Interesting?" Jiang Wen frowned, even more puzzled.

Zhao Fusheng nodded with a smile: "Yeah, don't you think you look particularly interesting right now?"

Then, Zhao Fusheng said to Jiang Wen, "I understand what you're thinking. You just hope I can give more support to those directors who used to make underground films and are now having a tough time, right?"

Jiang Wen nodded somewhat sheepishly, then explained to Zhao Fusheng, "Well, they are actually very talented..."

"I know that."

Zhao Fusheng said, "I acknowledge their talent."

That was a fact. Although the films made by Old Jia, Lou Ye, and others had never been able to be released, they were indeed extremely talented.

If it weren't for that, they wouldn't be considered the cream of the sixth-generation directors.

These were genuine sixth-generation directors, not scumbags like that young director who got slashed for hitting on someone and then hyped up a bunch of news.

"So, you agree?"

Jiang Wen said in surprise.

He really hadn't expected Zhao Fusheng to agree to him.

"You know, from now on, just say what you have to say directly. Don't beat around the bush—it doesn't suit you." Zhao Fusheng waved his hand and smiled at Jiang Wen.

To be honest, this feeling was actually not pleasant.

The higher you climb, the colder it gets. Zhao Fusheng could increasingly feel this truth. The people around him gradually kept their distance, and when they interacted, they no longer acted as freely as before. Instead, they had learned to speak indirectly, as if afraid of offending him.

Even Jiang Wen had become like this now.

After seeing off the overjoyed Old Jiang, Zhao Fusheng's mood actually turned somewhat uncomfortable. He sat in the car, silent, not saying a word.

Since the boss himself wasn't speaking, Wu Sijie and Hu Donghai, who were accompanying him, dared not speak either. For a moment, the atmosphere in the car became quite quiet.

"Ring, ring, ring!"

A phone rang, breaking the沉闷 atmosphere in the car.

Glancing at the caller ID, Zhao Fusheng pressed the answer button.

"Busy man, what made you think to call me?"

Zhao Fusheng said with a smile.

A hearty laugh came from the other end of the line: "You, a big boss, calling me, a retired man, busy—isn't that slander? Careful, I might sue you any minute!"

Zhao Fusheng burst out laughing: "Brother, you don't know this, but who says a boss has to be busy? I've been incredibly idle lately."

The caller was none other than Brother Leslie Cheung, who had been missing for a long time.

Ever since Zhao Fusheng changed Leslie Cheung's fate back then, allowing him to retire safely, this big shot and his lover had vanished. The two had been traveling the world for the past few years, and even the ubiquitous paparazzi in Hong Kong couldn't track them down.

Zhao Fusheng felt that this was actually a good thing for him.

Some people, even if they only live in the news, are enough to make us happy.

"Are you in the capital recently?" Zhang Guorong asked Zhao Fusheng with a smile.

Zhao Fusheng was startled: "Yes, what's up, are you coming over?"

Zhang Guorong smiled: "I happen to be going to the capital tomorrow. Shall we meet?"

Zhao Fusheng was taken aback, and although he had some doubts in his heart, he still nodded: "Okay, I'll wait for your call tomorrow."

After hanging up the phone, a strange expression appeared on Zhao Fusheng's face.

He was really a bit surprised. Zhang Guorong actually wanted to see him. What was going on?

After thinking for a moment, Zhao Fusheng simply took out his phone and called Ye Jing.

"What are you busy with?"

"In a meeting. Something up?"

Ye Jing was obviously busy over there, but because the caller was Zhao Fusheng, he simply interrupted the ongoing meeting.

"Zhang Guorong contacted me," Zhao Fusheng said directly. "Can you find out if anything has happened recently in Hong Kong?"

Nothing comes for free; if someone is being overly nice, they likely have ulterior motives.

Although Zhao Fusheng still respected Zhang Guorong as a senior in the industry, it was naturally impossible for him to trust him unconditionally.

How could a big shot who had reached the status of a king in the entertainment industry be a spotless, innocent white lotus?

The two of them only had a relationship as light as water between gentlemen, usually just sending a text message to greet each other. Now Zhang Guorong was actually coming to the capital specifically to see him. If there was nothing wrong with this, Zhao Fusheng wouldn't believe it even if he were beaten to death.