Clearwater Bay, TVB TV City.
Fang Yan and Gong Cie quickly arrived at Run Run Shaw's office, and the secretary guarding the door knocked on the door.
"Please Yanzai and the others come in."
I heard Fang Yihua's voice coming from inside the house, vaguely mixed with waves of subtle sobs.
Gong Jie just walked in and took a closer look. Di Boola had already burst into tears. Obviously at the movie celebration banquet a few days ago, she still looked so glorious and the mother is precious to her son. Now Sometimes the pear blossoms are wet with rain, the whole makeup is stained with tears, and the previous pride is gone.
Xie Xian's face was even more bloodless, his eyes were empty, his whole figure was bent at the waist, and he was kneeling in front of Shao Run Run with a hunched back.
"You guys get up first."
Fang Yihua asked Di Bolla to help Xie Xian get up quickly.
Seeing his trembling legs and his haggard look that had aged for decades, Fang Yan had vaguely guessed that the couple had been kneeling and begging for a while. Obviously, Shaw and Fang Yihua were regarded as life-saving straws.
"Fang Sheng, Miss Gong."
Deborah said hello with a sad face.
Fang Yan asked Gong Qian to help him and sent them all out of the office, leaving him alone to discuss countermeasures with Fang Yihua and Shao Yifu.
Gong Zhen complied with understanding. Just as she closed the door, Di Bola came up with tears in her eyes and begged again:
"Sixth uncle, sixth aunt, Fang Sir, please help us.”
“Oh.”
The moment the door closed, Fang Yihua couldn't help but sigh.
“This lousy gambler!”
Shao Run Run slammed the table with a look of hatred, “The first marriage was because of his lousy gambling. His family was ruined, and thanks to his good fortune, he met Bo La, who not only helped him pay off his debts, but also gave birth to a son. The prodigal son will turn around, but he will be fine. I didn’t expect that he is a dog who can’t change his habit of eating shit and harming others and himself!”
Fang Yihua patted his back gently to calm him down and not to get angry, then turned to look at Fang Yan. :
“Yanzi, you should know about them, right?”
"I already have a rough idea."
Fang Yan couldn't help but shake his head and laugh. At first, he heard Xie Tingfeng say that Xie Xian went to Haojiang to gamble, but he didn't take it seriously.
But who would have thought that Xie Xian could be so powerful that he not only lost all his family property, but also dug such a big hole. But if you think about it carefully, Xie Xian was in a state of triumph at that time. Although they husband My wife's acting career has gone downhill, but my precious son has become an instant hit with "Baby Stars" and has become the most popular child star in Hong Kong and even Asia. He is just around the corner to make money and become a star.
You must know that once a man is in the air, he will usually come into contact with two things easily, one is sex, and the other is gambling. This is a mistake that most men make, and it is also An old problem that most men have.
But as high as it was before, it has fallen as hard as it has now.
As soon as he thought about this, he looked at Run Run Shaw on his left and Fang Yihua on his right, "This news will definitely not be hidden for long, and the 15 million gambling debt they owe may not be repaid in a while..."
"It's not enough even if they mortgage their house, car, etc.!"
Shao Run Run said coldly.
Fang Yan did not express his thoughts immediately, but first asked about their opinions and plans.
“Your sixth uncle came forward for them.”
Fang Yihua said that she had contacted He Hongshen and waived the interest on gambling debts. You must know that the 15 million usury loan, let alone the principal, the compound interest alone could overwhelm Di Bora and Xie Xian, and they also obtained an extension. Repay the loan and let them use this time to raise money.
"Fifteen million is not a small amount, not to mention they have already invested all their deposits and cash."
Fang Yan suggested that the script for the second part of "Baby Smart Stars" is already in the creation stage, so it is better to advance it in advance They make a film date.
"Your thoughts coincide with those of your sixth aunt."
Shao Yifu drank some water and breathed a sigh of relief.
Fang Yan listened quietly. Fang Yihua was not only preparing to advance the salary for the second part, but also planned to pay the salary for the third part together with a big red envelope in the name of the box office success of "Baby, Wisdom and Stars", such as "Thousand Kings Fighting Thousands" directed by Wang Jing. "Ba" and eventually received hundreds of thousands of dividends.
The reason why I am so concerned about the troubles of Nicholas Tse's family is because the final box office of "Baby" involves his dividends. I have an agreement with Run Run Shaw and Fong Yihua in advance, and part of his royalties are based on the box office of the movie. Income is settled in separate accounts.
If I lose millions of Hong Kong dollars because of this scandal, I will really feel like a knife-edge person.
"We can only help so much. We can't take the initiative to tear up the contract and give Feng Zai a salary of three to five million yuan based on the current market conditions, right?" Fang Yihua said, "Once this hole is opened, If Zhou Xingchi, Wu Mengda and others haven't started making trouble, this movie can still be made!"
Fang Yan nodded in agreement. It was with these considerations in mind that he suggested that Shaw Brothers and the leading actors should sign at least one contract. Long-term contract for 3 plays.
"Perhaps we can sign it a little longer?"
"What Yan Zai means..."
Fang Yihua couldn't help but move, but Run Run Shaw waved his hand, "No, no, this is a bit of taking advantage of the situation. "
"But it is indeed to save them. "In fire and water."
Fang Yan disagreed. When Xie Tingfeng was 16 years old, he signed a 10-year selling contract with Yinghuang in order to pay off the debts of Xie Xian, who failed in gambling and investment. A "cheating" father, Nicholas Tse will face this disaster sooner or later.
However, after some calculation, Run Run Shaw felt that it was not worthwhile for Shaw Brothers to sign Nicholas Tse's Youth for 15 million.
Today's TVB artist training classes are full of talents. Even Andy Lau, the leader of the Five Tigers of TVB, TVB has put so much effort and resources into cultivating. It's not just hiding in the snow. Can Nicholas Tse still compare to Andy Lau? ?
What's more, Nicholas Tse is famous now, but he is still a child star. Many child stars who are famous for a while eventually disappear into the public after they grow up. Run Run Shaw, who has been in the film industry for so many years, knows very well that child stars "die in infancy" "Product rate" is far greater than "productivity rate".
If Xie Xian owes 1.5 million, Run Run Shao is willing to pay it back for them for Nicholas Tse's lottery ticket.
But this is 15 million. The price of winning Nicholas Tse's lottery ticket is too high. It may not be as good as TVB's artist who earns several hundred yuan a month.
"Uncle Liu is not unreasonable."
He held his forehead in dialect and had a headache.
“Forget it, Yan Zai, let’s do it like this.”
Shao Yifu waved his hand, “Actually, if it were me when I was young, I would probably be the first to encounter this kind of thing. I tore up the film contract for a while and gave them some compensation, and then Later, we held an audition just like the Miss Hong Kong election to select a child who can replace Nicholas Tse." Fang Yan muttered in his heart, why not just choose two more to form a "dung-picking boy". Nurture system combination?
But before he could speak, Fang Yihua was the first to disagree:
“How can this be done!”
“Jiahe and Xinyi City dare not easily put "Best Partner", If we change the protagonist of "Lucky Star Series", if we replace "Baby Zhiduoxing" Changing the protagonist will definitely affect the box office of the second and third movies, right? ""Aunt Six is right."
Dialect: Eyes look at the nose, nose looks at the heart, and the main idea is that neither side will be offended.
"I'm just talking."
Shao Yifu said: "Anyway, we have done our best, and they will have to figure out the remaining gambling debts themselves."
The three of them again After discussing for a while, Xie Xian borrowed the money from He Hongshen Casino, which was actually money owed to He Hongshen.
As long as he is willing to write off his gambling debts, those debt collectors, Junket Operators and Young and Dangerous Boys will never dare to come to collect debts again.
But it is not easy to get He Hongshen to open this mouth. I am afraid that Run Run Shaw will have to do it himself, but why should he owe this debt of gratitude?
Di Bora also knew it well. After thanking Shaw, Fang Yan and others, he resolutely decided:
"I'll ask He Sheng to show your noble hand!"
"This... …”
Fang Yan, Gong Cie and others looked at each other in confusion.
Dibora explained that she was once He Hongshen’s exclusive dance partner. There was a deep friendship between the two. They would definitely not be able to repay such a huge debt. She only hoped that He Hongshen could take advantage of their friendship back then. For the sake of Xie Xian, the gambling debt owed by Xie Xian can be forgiven.
Fang Yihua thought for a while, sent Buddha to the west, and then called He Hongshen again on behalf of Di Bolla.
Unexpectedly, He Hongshen welcomed Di Bola very much, and also wanted to invite Fang Yan and Gong Zhen to Haojiang by name.
Facing Di Bolla’s pleading eyes, Fang Yan glanced at Gong Xie aside, and Gong Xie said bluntly:
“Go! They invite you so kindly, and we can’t refuse!”
………………
The passenger terminal from Xiangjiang to Haojiang was officially opened in September this year and is located in the Shun Tak Center on the island of Xiangjiang.
On New Year's Day, Fang Yan and his party took a high-speed ferry and quickly arrived at the port.
Unexpectedly, He Hongshen not only sent an extended version of the luxury car to pick him up, but also sent He Chaoqiong to greet him.
"Miss He."
"Hello, Lagu."
He Chaoqiong first greeted him in Cantonese, and then asked questions in fluent Mandarin and dialects.
Gong Qie was very surprised. He heard everything about the eldest daughter of the gambling king's second wife from Fang Yihua and Di Bola.
When he was just born, He Hongshen was taking over the casino business in Haojiang. He was regarded as his lucky star and was pampered.
After returning from his studies, he first worked at Crédit Agricole in Hong Kong. Now he is responsible for running the family’s charity. He often attends important social events with He Hongshen, meets celebrities, collects connections, and keeps up with Hong Kong The entertainment industry maintains close ties.
So I never expected that she could speak Mandarin so well!
"Thank you, Mrs. Fang for the compliment."
He Chaoqiong smiled and explained that he originally planned to go to the United States to study, but he knew that if he went to the United States, he might not be able to study for a long time in the future. I had the opportunity to learn Mandarin, so I discussed with He Hongshen and Lan Qiongying to learn Mandarin well before studying abroad.
Fangyan sees things through but doesn’t tell them. In fact, like Jimmy Tsai, “I can also learn it, and I can also be patriotic.”
He Chaoqiong shook hands with him and claimed to be a fan of Teacher Fang's books. Especially when he was studying in the United States, he often heard about what he saw and heard. His favorite was his "Overlord" "Farewell My Concubine", "Guns, Viruses and Steel", and the "Once Upon a Time" trilogy.
“I am very happy to be liked by Miss He.”
Dialect got into the car, and the extended body was quite spacious.
He Chaoqiong said excitedly: "I applied for Vassar College because I liked literature and drama. However, my father wanted me to choose a business-related school, so I changed to Santa Clara University Business School. College, but when I was in school, I always paid attention to literature..."
Seeing them exchanging literature and movies, Di Boola was so anxious that she couldn't help but interrupt:
"Miss He, about my husband in the casino..."
"La Auntie, you also know that I have never been involved in my family’s casino business.”
He Chaoqiong showed a helpless expression. I'm afraid Di Bora would have to talk to He Hongshen in person about this matter.
Seeing Di Bola dejected, Gong Yue felt very unhappy and was very hostile to casinos that caused other people to lose their fortunes and destroy their families.
But when I got off the bus and arrived at the Lisboa Casino Hotel, I was still shocked by the feasting and magnificent Portuguese-style architecture in front of me.
The main building looks like a birdcage from a distance. There is an annex building on the east and west sides, which are connected to the cylindrical main building.
"Is there a doorway here? Does it look like a birdcage to you?"
Dialect briefly introduced, "This man entered like a caged bird. If you look at it from the side, it looks like a big ship. The column behind the 'bird cage' is the chimney of the ship. This man entered Going to the casino is like taking a boat and leaving your life to the captain."
"What you said is too weird."
Gong Zhen didn't agree with this set of Feng Shui superstitions.
He Chaoqiong said with a smile that there are almost no gamblers who do not believe in Feng Shui metaphysics.
“It is not so much feudal superstition as it is psychology and mathematics...”
Fang Yan pointed to the splendid hotel decoration.
The casino will first work hard on the visual aspect. For example, the carpet will use wild patterns with warm colors and flashing lights everywhere to stimulate the gamblers' nerves, lower their alertness, and stimulate desire. Then there will be the taste, the casino It is also a disguised drinking party, which provides gamblers with all kinds of free drinks for free. After three rounds of drinking, people's rational judgment declines and they are prone to impulsiveness, so they keep adding bets and borrowing money.
The second is the sense of smell. The casino will spray perfume on the slot machines and inject oxygen into the room. Indoor oxygen concentration exceeds 30%, which can increase the player's excitement, increase the amount of bets, and finally the hearing. When winning money, the dropped gold coins make a loud noise when they hit the metal plate, giving people the illusion that winning is easier than losing. , even if they lose money, some game machines will use verbal humiliation to stimulate players' competitiveness and make players gamble more and more.
“Hiss~”
Gong Qie took a breath of air, completely unexpected that the casino had so many tricks.
Di Bora smiled bitterly. Xie Xian won hundreds of thousands in the beginning, thinking that wealth would come to him, and felt that he was already a gambling god on the pedestal. Besides, he had also acted in gambling movies such as "The King of Kings". Gradually, the characters in the movie were substituted into reality.
“The tricks of gambling keep people, just like the appearance of this hotel, it is a cage, using money and fame as bait.”
Fang Yan said: “In the end, the gambler is trapped in the cage In the process, he became a beast bound by money and fame..."
"Mr. Fang is indeed Mr. Fang, he really hit the nail on the head."
He Chaoqiong's stunned eyes were mixed with a bit of admiration. color. (End of chapter)