Chapter 60 Keep Bluffing, Go On Bluffing

"What is it?" Director Zhang asked, looking puzzled.

"I have a few questions about my character and was hoping to consult with you," Xu Ming said, biting the bullet.

"Alright, let's talk when we get back to the hotel," Director Zhang nodded.

Come to think of it, this was the first time Xu Ming had ever approached him to discuss acting. Though he found it a bit strange, he agreed nonetheless.

Thank goodness Master wasn't around.

The old man had other matters to attend to and would only come over for a few days of intensive filming whenever his scenes were up before leaving again.

Li Jinming sidled up to him and whispered, "Brother Ming, am I still coming over tonight?"

"What's wrong?" Xu Ming asked, uncomprehending.

Did she even need to ask?

He had survived a gauntlet of trials; what was this compared to that?

"I... my relative is visiting," Li Jinming said shyly.

Xu Ming paused to process this before asking, "You don't have canker sores, do you?"

"No," Li Jinming shook her head in confusion.

"Can you still use your hands properly?" Xu Ming asked again.

"Yes, I can," Li Jinming replied.

"Then it's fine, come on over. I just simply aren't used to sleeping alone, don't overthink it," Xu Ming said understandingly.

"Okay, thank you for understanding, Brother Ming," Li Jinming said, deeply moved.

She had originally thought she was merely a tool for him to vent his desires, but now it seemed there might be a shred of genuine affection after all.

As for the rest of the crew members who noticed the two whispering to each other, they were long past the point of finding it strange.

The production crew was only so big; who was making eyes at whom was crystal clear to everyone. Everyone knew that Li belonged to Xu Ming. This was completely normal in the industry.

Back at the hotel, Xu Ming deliberately waited until there was no one else in Director Zhang's room before knocking on the door and stepping inside. He closed the door behind him smoothly.

This made Director Zhang's eyelids twitch as he looked at Xu Ming with a puzzled expression.

"Director Zhang, to be honest with you, the real reason I came here this time is because my master sent me," Xu Ming explained.

"Your master sent you? What do you mean?"

Director Zhang frowned. What kind of message couldn't be delivered in person, requiring an intermediary instead?

However, he didn't doubt Xu Ming's words. The young man was Uncle Benshan's beloved disciple and usually followed the latter's instructions closely; he didn't seem like someone who would dare fabricate his master's orders.

If he could help it, Xu Ming wouldn't want to take such a risk.

Yet since those two stubborn old fogies refused to budge, he, the young man, had no choice but to step in and mediate.

"The main thing is that some words are inconvenient for him to say directly. He deeply agrees with your vision for the filmmaking, but the responsibility of promoting Errenzhuan rests entirely on his shoulders."

"Before coming to participate in the filming, many relevant leaders approached him, hoping to see more Errenzhuan elements expressed in the movie. You know those people find it hard to bring this up with you directly, so they could only turn to my master."

As Xu Ming fabricated how his master had been forced to compromise, he carefully observed Director Zhang's expression.

The director's face gradually shifted from initial sternness to a look of understanding. He knew all too well the pressure that came from the top down.

Seeing that Director Zhang was beginning to soften, Xu Ming cut straight to the point: "During this period of filming, there might have been some conflicts between his ideas and yours. He specifically asked me to apologize to you, and he hopes you'll bear with him."

"Also, in the upcoming shoots, he hopes you can consider accommodating more Errenzhuan elements."

Xu Ming wasn't capable of turning decay into magic and steering this inherently flawed film back onto the right track. The best he could do was try to bring the two differing voices into alignment. That way, at least the film's sense of fragmentation wouldn't be quite so jarring.

"I understand. As for how to integrate Errenzhuan, I've been pondering that myself. You can tell your master that I will take his suggestions into consideration as much as possible," Director Zhang said.

He neither made an outright promise nor flatly refused. But this response was already enough to satisfy Xu Ming.

"Alright, then please get some rest early, I'll head back now," Xu Ming said.

Stepping out of the room, he let out a long breath, secretly sighing that he still had too much integrity. Pulling off such deceptive stunts several times still managed to make him nervous.

Back in his own room, Li Jinming was watching television, which was broadcasting the second episode of *Top Funny Comedian*. It was cracking the girl up endlessly.

"Brother Ming..."

"In private, what should you call me?"

"Boss."

Li Jinming called out coquettishly before excitedly saying, "The ratings for this show you planned are going to explode, it's amazing."

She had appeared in one of the episodes, thinking at the time that it was just an ordinary television variety show appearance. Now it appeared she had landed a spot on a genuinely hit variety show.

"I have even more amazing things, do you want to take a look?" Xu Ming hinted.

Regarding the ratings of *Top Funny Comedian*, Xiaoyuan had already reported to him that the first episode's rating was a mere 1.2%. Even with the hosting presence of his master, Uncle Benshan, this result was already unexpectedly good for Liaoning TV, but it hadn't yet reached his expectations. Once the show's word of mouth fermented further, he believed the results would give everyone a pleasant surprise.

Hearing this, Li Jinming looked over, her face turning red: "Boss, I can't help you with that."

"No, you can," Xu Ming said meaningfully.

...

Three days later, Uncle Benshan returned to the cast.

Everyone expected it to be another covert battle fought at dagger-point. To everyone's surprise, Director Zhang had unusually ceased to be so entangled. On many fronts, he actually followed Uncle Benshan's ideas.

For a moment, this left the latter somewhat bewildered. What is the meaning of this? Is this a Feast at Hong Gate waiting for me?

Taking advantage of the midday lunch break, Xu Ming sidled up to his master, shooing away the fellow disciples who were also trying to crowd around.

"Spit it out if you have something to say," Uncle Benshan said irritably.

Ever since the press conference, he always felt like this disciple of his was harboring malicious schemes.

"Director Zhang has thin skin and finds some things inconvenient to say to you directly, so he asked me to pass the message along," Xu Ming said.

"He asked you to pass a message to me?" Uncle Benshan instinctively found it unreliable.

Then he looked toward Director Zhang's direction. Seeing the master and disciple huddled together, Director Zhang assumed Xu Ming was reporting on their conversation from the other day and smiled, nodding in response.

Recalling today's anomalous behavior, Uncle Benshan let down his guard and asked, "What did he say?"

"Director Zhang said he understands your intention to promote Errenzhuan, and that he shot *A Simple Noodle Story* to promote our national culture as well, but his considerations lean more toward overseas judges and audiences," Xu Ming said.

Uncle Benshan couldn't help but shift into a more serious posture, lifting his chin to signal him to continue.

"Most people in our domestic audience are certainly no strangers to Errenzhuan; what's unfamiliar is the overseas audience. Director Zhang plans to take *A Simple Noodle Story* onto the international stage and try for some awards."

"Naturally, that means he has to consider those foreign judges and film fans, who find it hard to accept unadulterated, authentic Errenzhuan—much like how our Chinese cuisine gets transformed into General Tso's chicken once it spreads abroad; it needs packaging."

"Just think about those millions of dollars spent on the copyright, could it have been spent in vain?" Xu Ming bluffed with a straight face. With his previous experience, he could now talk nonsense without changing his expression or missing a heartbeat.

International stage, overseas awards.

These high-sounding buzzwords thoroughly reeled Uncle Benshan in. He knew he was earthy, and he admitted he was earthy, but if he could be sophisticated for once, who would mind?

"Put that way, I understand Director Zhang. When it comes to how to attract international friends, his methods are more suited than mine."

Uncle Benshan slapped his thigh, "Just tell Director Zhang that I understand what he means. We'll see it in the work!"

Xu Ming was momentarily stunned, his expression complex.

*I don't even fucking understand it, and you've gone and understood...*