Huayu Entertainment 1995 started with hijacking.

Chapter 360 The Old Master Who Came to My Door

Since winning the bid to host the Olympics a few years ago, the 2008 Olympics have become the top priority in China. Successfully hosting the Olympics, proving China to the world, and showcasing the splendor of China have become the common goal of the entire nation, from top to bottom.

Therefore, anything related to the Olympics will be subject to stringent standards.

For example, the eight-minute black segment presented by Zhang Yimou at the closing ceremony of the 2004 Athens Olympics, to be honest, wasn't that bad in terms of reviews and public opinion abroad. However, domestic audiences were very critical after watching it, which caused a lot of resentment towards Zhang Yimou among the people of the whole country. At that time, Zhang Yimou was criticized to the point of almost becoming depressed, which shows how harsh it was.

Now, Zhang Yimou has caused another scandal involving having more children than allowed, which has naturally angered the public even more! This is the Beijing Olympics, how can Zhang Yimou be allowed to serve as the chief director of the Olympics with such behavior!
Looking at the online public opinion, Wu Yuchen could imagine the predicament that Zhang Yimou was facing.

Zhang Weiping is really ruthless!
Logically speaking, Zhang Weiping should have made a lot of money from their collaboration over the years. Even after the breakup, it shouldn't have come to this. But he did it anyway! Is this what they mean by "If I can't have it, I'll destroy it"?
Zhang Weiping ignited the incident, and the media, always eager for a good spectacle and traffic, wanted it to get as big as possible. Meanwhile, Zhang Yimou's competitors were secretly delighted by the situation and might even give it a push from behind, thus eliminating a powerful competitor.
Just then, Wu Yuchen's phone rang. When he looked at the display, he was shocked to see that it was Zhang Yimou!
Wu Yuchen immediately answered: "Hello, Senior Brother Zhang, are you alright?"

"Junior Brother Wu..." Old Zhang's voice was filled with exhaustion and a very low mood.

"Sigh, things have come to this point, how can things possibly get better? Ten years of friendship, I never imagined it would turn out like this..."

Zhang Yimou sighed and then couldn't continue.

Upon hearing this, Wu Yuchen couldn't help but curse, "Zhang Weiping is a bastard, he's a complete scoundrel!"

Upon hearing this, Zhang Yimou was also deeply distressed, realizing he had misjudged people!
He recalled his father's dying words of advice: one was to have a son to carry on the family line, and the other was: "What I worry about most is your collaboration with Zhang Weiping. Zhang Weiping has a hostile appearance and seems too vengeful. If any problems arise in the future, you won't be a match for him."

Looking back now, the old man's judgment was truly accurate! It's a pity I didn't listen to my father; I deeply regret it now!

After letting out a long sigh, Zhang Yimou spoke again: "Junior Brother Wu, I want to ask you for a favor!"

"Senior Brother Zhang, please tell me what's on your mind."

Wu Yuchen replied, while wondering to himself, "Is this because of the over-birth issue?"

This matter can no longer be suppressed now, as it has already been exposed to this extent, and there is nothing he can do to help. The best he can do now is to help Zhang Yimou clean up the mess as quickly as possible.

"I would like to ask you to take over my Olympic team."

Upon hearing Zhang Yimou's words over the phone, Wu Yuchen was taken aback: "What? Senior Brother Zhang, what do you mean?"

"I want to withdraw from the Olympic opening ceremony competition and hand it over to you..."

Upon hearing this, Wu Yuchen immediately interrupted, "No, Senior Brother Zhang, this is definitely not acceptable!"

Upon hearing Wu Yuchen's refusal, Zhang Yimou's voice grew more forceful:
“Junior Brother Wu, listen to me. Things have come to this point. Even if I really wanted to be the chief director of the Olympics, it's impossible now! Frankly speaking, the overwhelming criticism outside could drown me. Heh, I violated national policy and took advantage of loopholes; I deserve what I got…”

At this point, Zhang Yimou sighed heavily, his tone filled with regret and remorse.

Wu Yuchen remained steadfast in his refusal, firmly stating, "Senior Brother Zhang, I absolutely cannot agree to this! You've prepared this opening ceremony plan for so long; it's the culmination of your hard work!"

“Junior Brother Wu, this isn’t just my achievement. If it were just me, I could give up easily. But this is something our entire team worked hard on for six months. I can’t let my own efforts hold them back!”

Their determination to take risks and make sacrifices for the Olympics is no less than mine. I cannot let all their efforts go to waste because of my mistake!

Zhang Yimou spoke with some emotion, pouring his heart out. Wu Yuchen could completely hear the sincerity in his words. Then, his tone softened, and he continued:

"Besides, Junior Brother Wu, our Olympic Games opening ceremony planning proposal also contains a lot of your hard work. I have incorporated many of your valuable suggestions, so in a sense, it is also your proposal!"

At this point, Zhang Yimou paused, then said sincerely, "I genuinely hope, and I'm asking, that you take on this project and lead this team to participate in the selection process for the Olympic Games opening ceremony!"

After he finished speaking, Zhang Yimou didn't say anything more, and Wu Yuchen on the other end of the phone also fell silent.

After a moment, Wu Yuchen spoke up: "Senior Brother Zhang, don't panic. This matter may not have reached the worst point yet. Take care of your own business first. Go pay the fine. If you don't have enough money, I'll lend it to you first. Then, quickly issue a public apology statement. As for the Olympics, I'll think of a solution for you when I get back!"

"Junior Brother Wu..." Zhang Yimou wanted to say more.

However, Wu Yuchen said, "Senior Brother Zhang, that's enough. I'll go back to China immediately!"

After hanging up the phone, Wu Yuchen was filled with a long sigh. He never expected that Zhang Yimou would come to him wanting to give him his Olympic Games proposal.

To be honest, Wu Yuchen has completely given up on the idea of ​​becoming the chief director of the Olympics. Putting aside everything else, his schedule for the next few years conflicts with the Olympics. If he were to become the chief director, his energy would inevitably be focused on the Olympics, which would completely disrupt all his plans…

He only wanted to recite a poem!
Moreover, Zhang Yimou wanted Wu Yuchen to run for the position of chief director of the Olympics, but he really wasn't prepared!

Wu Yuchen shook his head and immediately got up to arrange his various matters in Hollywood. Two days later, Wu Yuchen boarded his private jet and headed back to China! After more than ten hours of flight, Wu Yuchen's Gulfstream G550 landed at the airport in Beijing. Without much rest, Wu Yuchen immediately rushed back to Miracle Films.

In the car, Wu Yuchen and Cai Yinong, who came to pick him up, were communicating:

"President Cai, how's the issue of Senior Brother Zhang having more children than allowed going?"

Cai Yinong said, "We have already paid the fine for Director Zhang, and after discussion, we have drafted an apology statement to the public, which has been sent out."

Then, Cai Yinong sighed and said, "To be honest, if I hadn't been involved in this matter myself, I would never have imagined that a big director like Director Zhang couldn't even afford the fine for having more children than allowed!"

In their past life, Zhang Yimou and Chen Ting had three children and paid a fine of 748 million yuan. Why was it such a high amount of 748 million yuan?

Fines are determined based on the individual's income level; those with higher incomes are fined more. Since the standard is based on the per capita disposable income of urban residents in Wuxi in that year, in 2000, Zhang Yimou's income was lower than the per capita income, meaning he had no income that year, so he was fined three times the per capita income. In 2003 and 2005, his income was higher than the per capita income, so he was fined eight times the per capita income. Furthermore, due to the severity of his offense, the portion exceeding the per capita income was also fined at twice the per capita income.

Accordingly, the court ruled that a fine of 71928 yuan would be levied on Zhang Yimou's first child, 222 million yuan on social support fees for his second child, and approximately 520 million yuan on social support fees for his third child, totaling 748.8 million yuan.

Now, because it's only 2005 and Zhang Yimou's third child hasn't been born yet, he only needs to pay a fine of about 230 million yuan this time. But even 230 million yuan is too much for Zhang Yimou to pay; the bulk of it was temporarily lent to him by Miracle Films.

After understanding the specifics, Wu Yuchen shook his head: "This Zhang Weiping is really too ruthless! He's exploited Senior Brother Zhang for so many years, and now he's done this to him!"

Cai Yinong nodded in agreement, saying, "Director Zhang has made so many excellent films, it's really unexpected that Zhang Weiping treats him so harshly!"

Upon returning to Miracle Films, Wu Yuchen met Zhang Yimou, who had been waiting for him at the company.

As soon as Zhang Yimou saw Wu Yuchen, he took the initiative to greet him, shook his hand and said gratefully, "Junior Brother Wu, thank you! You've really gone to a lot of trouble this time!"

Within just a few days, with the help of Miracle Films, Zhang Yimou paid his fine, issued an apology, and is now being helped with crisis management in various aspects. Zhang Yimou has seen all of this. Moreover, Miracle Films didn't make any demands on him at all; Zhang Yimou knows it was all arranged by Wu Yuchen.

To be honest, the reason why Zhang Yimou was made to suffer so much by Zhang Weiping is because he was really not good at or willing to deal with these kinds of trivial matters. Otherwise, how could he have ended up in this situation?
The exposure of his violation of the one-child policy has left Zhang Yimou in a very difficult situation, with a barrage of criticism. Now that Miracle Films and Wu Yuchen have stepped forward to help him, he is naturally extremely grateful.

Wu Yuchen smiled and waved his hand: "Senior Brother Zhang, these are all small matters. Let's not stand on ceremony, we are brothers."

Then Wu Yuchen pulled Zhang Yimou to sit down: "The main problem we need to solve now is the issue of you, Senior Brother Zhang, being the chief director of the Olympics."

Upon hearing this, Zhang Yimou immediately said to Wu Yuchen, "Junior Brother Wu, I really don't have the face to continue as the chief director after this..."

Wu Yuchen waved his hand, intending to dismiss the old strategist, and looked at him, asking, "Senior Brother Zhang, all your current judgments are influenced and coerced by public opinion. If you simply choose to withdraw, that would truly fulfill those people's wishes, which is exactly what they want to achieve!"
Senior Zhang, I just want to ask you one question: do you want to be the chief director of the Olympic Games opening ceremony?

Zhang Yimou opened his mouth, then smiled wryly, "Junior Brother Wu, to be honest, I definitely wanted to be the chief director of the Olympics, otherwise I wouldn't have prepared for it for half a year. But, given my current situation, it's really not suitable, and it's impossible..."

Wu Yuchen shook his head upon hearing this: "Senior Brother Zhang, although public opinion is currently very unfavorable to you, the decision-making power for the chief director of the Olympics actually does not lie with these opinions, but with the Organizing Committee. Ultimately, who will be the chief director of the Olympics is still up to the Organizing Committee to make the final decision. As the saying goes, 'Man proposes, God disposes.' How will you know if you can become the chief director this time if you don't try?"

Zhang Yimou sighed and said with difficulty, "Junior Brother Wu, the hope is too small..."

Wu Yuchen chuckled and said, "Senior Brother Zhang, come with me tomorrow. We can't decide the situation ourselves; let's meet with the organizing committee first!"

……

The following day, in a private room, Wu Yuchen, along with Zhang Yimou, was chatting and laughing with a leader from the Beijing Organizing Committee for the Olympic Games.

Both men were already familiar with this leader. During the Olympic bid, Wu Yuchen was one of the bid representatives and spokespersons, and they had known each other for a long time. Zhang Yimou also had dealings with this leader when preparing for the 8-minute segment of the Athens Olympics last year.

After a good while of toasting and drinking, seeing that the atmosphere was just right, Wu Yuchen asked:
“Boss, as you know, Senior Brother Zhang has been preparing for the Olympic opening ceremony for more than half a year. I think it would be such a pity if he were forced to withdraw from the competition like this. What do you think…”

Upon hearing this, the leader did not directly answer Wu Yuchen, but instead smiled at him and asked:

"Director Wu, from what you're saying, it seems you yourself don't want to participate?"

Logically speaking, Wu Yuchen is currently the most renowned director in China, a shining example for the Chinese people, and internationally famous. His influence is undisputed. Therefore, he is one of the most favored Olympic Games chief directors by the entire nation, from top to bottom. So, he and Zhang Yimou should be competitors. However, Wu Yuchen's current assistance to Zhang Yimou has naturally aroused surprise and suspicion from leadership.

Wu Yuchen has not told anyone, except Zhang Yimou, that he doesn't intend to run for the position of chief director of the Olympics. When it comes to the Olympics, whether one has the ability and can do a good job is one question, but the right attitude is essential.

Therefore, Wu Yuchen immediately replied:

"Leader, the Olympics is a major event for our country, and I naturally want to do my part. At the beginning, I was full of enthusiasm. But after seeing the plan prepared by Senior Brother Zhang and his team, I suddenly felt a sense of 'why did fate create both Zhou Yu and Zhuge Liang?' All my enthusiasm and vigor were thwarted by Senior Brother Zhang's plan!"

(End of this chapter)