Chapter 0778: Young Master Ye

Ye Jing was a different person from Jiang Wen.

If Jiang Wen was a literary youth who loved cinema at heart, then Ye Jing was purely a wan zhu who enjoyed joining in the fun.

The term wan zhu originated in Beijing, referring to idlers who loafed about, formed gangs, and messed around all day, or to profligate sons of wealthy families.

And the wan zhu of the Four-Nine City had endured cruelties that ordinary people could not experience, and possessed passions that ordinary people could hardly have. After all, that generation had survived the ten years of turmoil.

A proper wan zhu was by no means equivalent to a hooligan. It was a kind of Beijing-flavored culture; loafing about was there, but it didn't necessarily mean being ignorant and incompetent.

The most important thing for a wan zhu was to treat play as a serious business, to make a splash, to play with dedication. It was a state of mind and a way of life, not necessarily tied to family background.

Of course, profligate sons were more likely to become wan zhu.

The 1960s and 1970s were the heyday of wan zhu; by the 1980s, with the arrival of reform and opening up, people were racking their brains to make money, and the wan zhu gradually declined.

So what exactly was a wan zhu? Some might think they were just thugs, hooligans, idlers who did nothing but evil. But in reality, that was not the case at all.

Truly capable wan zhu, starting in the 1980s, had already begun to figure out how to make money.

There were plenty of wan zhu like Ye Jing, who started by scalping approval documents and train cars through family connections, and were now worth a fortune. It was just that there weren't many like Ye Jing who liked to hang around the literary and artistic circles.

But it had to be said, Ye Jing did like literature and art, even if his purpose was to make money with them.

"So, what's up? You two came to see me today for something?" Ye Jing, having finished his complaints, noticed the expressions on Zhao Fusheng and Yu Feihong's faces and asked with a smile.

He was a shrewd person; Zhao Fusheng and Yu Feihong wouldn't come to him for no reason, and together at that—there must be something.

"Yeah, Brother Ye, we wouldn't come to your hall without a reason. We do have something to discuss with you," Yu Feihong said gracefully.

With someone like Ye Jing, playing games was basically useless. Although he liked to talk about feelings, he cared more about interests. Without enough interest to attract him, everything else was a waste.

"Oh?" Ye Jing was startled, then smiled and said, "In that case, tell me what it is."

"It's like this: Future Advertising recently received a script, pretty good. Sister Feihong and I both think we might try to invest in it," Zhao Fusheng said slowly.

"A TV series?" Ye Jing was quite surprised, looking at Zhao Fusheng in astonishment: "You mean, our film and TV company invests in a TV series?"

Zhao Fusheng nodded: "That's right. Since it's a film and TV investment company, it's not limited to movies. If there's a suitable script for a TV series, we can invest in that too."

As he spoke, he smiled: "As long as it makes money."

Hearing this, Ye Jing nodded in agreement: "Right, as long as it makes money."

Then he smiled and said, "So tell me, what's the story?"

Zhao Fusheng nodded and began to introduce it to Ye Jing.

The plot of "Conquest" was actually not complicated. The police, following grudges in the underworld, arrested a group of gang members rampaging through Hengzhou. Investigation revealed that Liu Huawen, the younger brother of Liu Huaqiang, the head of the gang entrenched north of the bridge, had recently been severely beaten, apparently by another gangster force led by Feng Biao. When the police questioned Liu Huawen, he remained tight-lipped, not revealing the cause of his injuries. Meanwhile, Liu Huaqiang had been on the run for two years after injuring someone, and Feng Biao had also fled the city after Wu Tian was killed. Xu Guoqing made Liu Huaqiang a key target and launched a pursuit.

Soon after, in front of a suburban dance hall, Song Yunlai, known as Song the Tiger, was also shot dead in the same manner. Song Yunlai was a notorious underworld figure in the area, one of the few surviving gang members from the city's 1970s. He had just been released from prison, focused on watching over the dance hall, and no longer meddled in underworld affairs. Wu Tian and Song Yunlai had heard of each other but had no connection. Moreover, both had intentions of retiring in recent years, and their grudges mostly dated back several years.

According to the investigation, Wu Tian and Song Yunlai had incurred Liu Huaqiang's enmity. After Liu Huaqiang's brother Liu Huawen was injured, Liu Huaqiang had returned to the city. Xu Guoqing keenly sensed that Liu Huaqiang was gradually carrying out his revenge plan. While continuing the investigation, he deployed surveillance everywhere. As Xu Guoqing expected, Liu Huaqiang, along with his mistress Li Mei and two young killers, rented an apartment in a residential area, watching the police's movements and continuing his long-planned revenge. The chase and counter-chase between police and gangsters, revenge and the prevention of revenge, thus unfolded.

After a long while, Ye Jing, having heard the general plot, looked at Zhao Fusheng: "You mean, this is a police-crime TV series?"

Zhao Fusheng nodded: "Not only is it a police-crime series, but the focus is also on the criminal."

He paused and smiled: "And a ruthless one at that."

"Yeah."

Ye Jing smiled but didn't speak again. Instead, he lit a cigarette, took a silent drag, and blew a smoke ring.

He didn't speak, and Zhao Fusheng and Yu Feihong found it hard to say anything. The room fell silent.

"Where's the script?"

Ye Jing hadn't said a word for a long time. Just as Yu Feihong was about to speak, he suddenly asked.

Zhao Fusheng let out a long breath and exchanged a glance with Yu Feihong. They knew that Ye Jing was probably interested in this show.

With that thought, Yu Feihong took the script out of her bag and handed it to Ye Jing, who was sitting across from her.

"Hmm... Who is Gao Qun?" Ye Jing glanced at the screenwriter column on the script and asked curiously.

"A director, also the screenwriter of this show," Zhao Fusheng replied with a smile.

It was actually quite interesting: sometimes when investors read a script, they didn't know who the screenwriter was. This involved connections in the circle. Actors or scripts needed a talent scout, but if there was no behind-the-scenes promoter to bring a good script or actor to the talent scout, the talent scout might never see it in a lifetime.

Ye Jing didn't really like reading scripts. Because of his personality, he always found scripts a bit fake. But somehow, this script, once he started reading it, he couldn't put it down.

"Young man, don't be too arrogant!"

"If I'm not arrogant, am I still young?"

"The cop who can catch me hasn't been born yet!"

"Madman, I gave you a chance, but you couldn't take it!"

Those scenes unfolded before Ye Jing's eyes. He knew this was a good script, and he couldn't miss it no matter what.

Especially when he got to the end: Liu Huaqiang, who had been so arrogant and domineering earlier, was finally captured, along with his gang members and himself, plus the public's praise for the police. Ye Jing knew that this show would definitely pass censorship.

The reason was simple: first suppress then uplift. The more arrogant and domineering Liu Huaqiang was earlier, the more it proved that our public security organs were brilliant and mighty.

"We're investing in this script," Ye Jing put down the script and said to Zhao Fusheng. "I'll go to your company and communicate with them personally. I believe it shouldn't be a problem."

Zhao Fusheng nodded: "That's natural. But can this show really pass censorship?"

Ye Jing laughed heartily, pointing at Zhao Fusheng a few times: "You still don't understand our country's situation."

"Huh?" Zhao Fusheng looked puzzled, appropriately expressing the immaturity expected of his age, with an air of strong curiosity.

Ye Jing shrugged, pointing to the script on the coffee table: "Without that interview segment at the end, this show might have had a hard time passing censorship, because the protagonist is a gangster, and a murderous one at that, not positive enough. But with that final part, with a little maneuvering, it can still pass."

"Because the criminals are eventually brought to justice?" Yu Feihong interjected.

"Not just that. I have to admit, that person—whether screenwriter or director—is very skilled. That final part highlights the most important aspect of a police-crime drama: no matter how arrogant the criminals are, justice will ultimately triumph over evil." Ye Jing smiled. "Don't worry, leave the censorship to me."

Zhao Fusheng also smiled. He had been waiting for Ye Jing to say that.