Looking strictly at his own outfit and Great Wall, the slate slated for theatrical release next year definitely included: *Tai Chi 2*, *The Shaolin Temple*, *Mama, Love Me Once More*, *Orphan*, as well as the *Wrong Turn* and *The Descent* series.
He had two Mainland release quotas each year. One was already allocated to *Tai Chi 2*, leaving one left. *Orphan* was a co-production, so it didn't count against the quota.
As for the projects to undertake next year, first was *Tai Chi 3*. Once the trilogy was wrapped, that saga would take a bow for the time being, and he intended to have Li Lianjie star in modern action movies. Contemporary action flicks actually commanded a much broader market, and the West loved them as well.
Then another film tailor-made for North America.
These two were must-makes.
"As for the rest..."
His thoughts first went to Gong Xue. According to his roadmap, Sister Xue needed to win the Hundred Flowers Award for Best Actress three consecutive times, crowning her the undisputed number one in the country, before she ventured abroad. In this era, bringing back a trophy from the Big Three European film festivals yielded prestige that packed just as much punch as foreign currency.
"One festival contender!"
He jotted down a note in his notebook.
"What else should I do? A Hong Kong movie?"
Truth be told, Chen Qi had no real inclination to fuss over the Hong Kong market right now because it was just too small. But on second thought, producing one wouldn't hurt.
Next year in January, Cinema City's *Aces Go Places* would hit theaters, setting an attendance record and raking in 26 million at the box office. Then *Aces Go Places II* and *Aces Go Places III* would sweep the top spot for the next two consecutive years, pushing Cinema City to its absolute zenith.
He wanted to dismantle them ahead of time. Poaching their talent was one goal, but proving his own mettle was equally necessary.
Otherwise, if he only churned out foreign-exchange-earning films like *Orphan*, the Hong Kong box office would definitely be underwhelming, and his appeal to local talent might fall short. You had to show you were a force to be reckoned with in Hong Kong as well.
"A Hong Kong movie it is, then!"
"Just right for bringing over Liu Dehua and Liang Jiahui!"
And so, with a bold stroke of his pen, Chen Qi locked in four productions: *Tai Chi 3*, a North American specialty film, an awards contender, and a Hong Kong movie.
…………
The next day, on set.
Qiu Shuzhen felt utterly out of sorts today, because her shifu hadn't shown up.
She had been uneasy since morning. After muddling through a few scenes, lunch was called, yet there was still no sign of him. Unable to hold back, she asked a crew member, "Excuse me, where did my shifu go?"
"No idea! I just deliver the box lunches!"
"Does my shifu have other business today?"
"No idea either! I just eat the box lunches!"
After asking around, she finally reached an assistant director and got an answer: "Mr. Chen went out to gather material!"
"Gather material?"
She didn't quite understand the term.
"Oh, it means he got some new inspiration, so he went out to wander around, observe things, and collect some reference material."
Tsui Hark wandered over as well, asking curiously, "He's writing a new script?"
"Seems like it. I'm not entirely sure, but either way, he won't be coming today."
"Mm..."
Qiu Shuzhen pouted, thoroughly dispirited.
…………
Night, Temple Street.
Temple Street was located in Yau Ma Tei, Kowloon, home to Hong Kong's most renowned night market. The goods were dirt-cheap, and people from every walk of life mingled amid an eclectic, chaotic spectacle where anything and everything could be found. Countless films had used Temple Street as their backdrop—*C'est la vie, mon chéri*, *The God of Cookery*, *The Prince of Temple Street*, and so on and so forth.
Chen Qi, along with Xiao Mo and Xiao Geng, had already spent the entire day exploring.
They had visited the famous Wong Tai Sin Temple, Man Mo Temple, Po Lin Monastery, and more. Regardless of whether he ran into Taoist priests or Buddhist monks, Chen Qi struck up a conversation immediately, chatting about the Four Pillars of Destiny, Plum Blossom Divination, and Purple Star Astrology with spit flying in lively debates.
Xiao Mo had nearly tackled him to the ground and escorted him straight back to Beijing.
*You're a state-owned enterprise cadre consulting soothsayers and diviners—what the hell are you trying to pull? Where are your core convictions? Where is your red spirit? Are you attempting a restoration of feudal superstition?!*
Chen Qi had offered endless explanations: *I'm gathering creative material! Creative material!*
Right now, the three of them had just finished an authentic bowl of Stephen Chow-style mixed offal noodles topped with juicy beef balls, and were strolling along Temple Street.
With the Tin Hau Temple as the dividing landmark, Temple Street was split into two halves. One side was lined entirely with stalls for physiognomy and fortune-telling. The stall owners all looked the part of divine seers, enjoying booming business and drawing crowds of devout patrons.
The other side was a gathering hub for Cantonese opera. Simple open-air spaces were partitioned off with microphones, accompanied by live musical instruments playing along as a woman sang in dramatic operatic cadence. Entering to watch required an admission fee, or one could pay to request specific songs—which cost considerably more.
"Aw, let's go in and take a look!"
"It's not your money! I'll treat you two to the opera!"
"What is there to listen to? Don't you go causing the loss of state assets!"
"How come you didn't mention the loss of state assets when you were stuffing your face with steak rice?"
With a stern, wooden face, Xiao Mo physically dragged Chen Qi away. Filled with deep regret, Chen Qi could only catch a passing earful from outside. It sounded like the famous Cantonese opera piece *Fragrant Sacrifice*: *"Falling blossoms blot the moonlight from the sky; offering a cup of wine to dedicate upon the Phoenix Terrace, the Princess ascends with tears..."*
Resigned, he made his way back over to the fortune-telling side.
There, fortune-tellers of all ages and genders set up stalls crammed side by side, their faces practically screaming "charlatan." Their banners bore grandiose titles: "The Divine Seer of Temple Street," "Immortal Tan: Fortune-Telling and Feng Shui Master," "Spiritual Talismans for Good Fortune"...
Xiao Mo and Xiao Geng were both dumbfounded.
"Is this a capitalist society? Looks more like a feudal society!"
"Haven't the history textbooks taught you anything? This is called a semi-colonial, semi-feudal society. Did neither of you go to school? Come on, let's take a look!"
Chen Qi randomly picked the stall of "Immortal Tan: Fortune-Telling and Feng Shui Master." A middle-aged woman in a traditional Chinese jacket sat on a folding stool, clutching a hand fan and sporting a pair of pitch-black sunglasses. She wore an ever-present genial smile, and upon spotting customers approaching, she put on an exaggerated show of astonishment:
"My, my! What an extraordinary countenance you have, boss!"
"How so?" Chen Qi asked with a chuckle.
"I see you have a broad and full forehead, a square mouth with ruby lips, a straight nose bridge with unexposed nostrils, high yet fleshy cheekbones, clear and arched eyebrows, a dragon's crest, and phoenix eyes. This is the very countenance of boundless wealth and supreme nobility!
"At best, you could reach the highest echelons of power; at least, you will enjoy lifelong fortune, wives and concubines in abundance, and a house filled with children and grandchildren. However, I perceive a dark shadow between your brows, an evil star looming above—I fear an ordeal awaits you in the coming days..."
"Alright, alright. Aside from physiognomy, what other services do you offer?"
"Look here!"
With a flourish, Immortal Tan stood up a sign listing Feng Shui Arrangements, Commercial and Residential Properties, Eight Characters Astrology, Infant Name Alterations, Auspicious Date Selection...
"Quite the comprehensive catalog!" Chen Qi chuckled and asked, "Do you know anything about spirit mediums?"
"Sp-Spirit mediums?"
"The kind who channel the spirits of the deceased to possess them and converse with the living."
"You mean spirit summoning! Bridging the underworld and the mortal realm isn't in my line of work. You'd best seek help elsewhere!"
"Is there anyone around here who can do it?"
"This is a public venue! How could anyone summon spirits here? Of course not. You'd have to go to private residences and seek out spirit mediums who do *wenmi* and planchette writing."
"*Wenmi*?"
Chen Qi nodded. He had gathered enough material. Though he hadn't had his fortune told, he handed over a bit of cash as a consultation tip. Immortal Tan was quite enthusiastic, waving after him and calling out, "Boss, my readings never miss! You truly have the countenance of wealth and fortune, with wives and concubines in abundance! Don't forget me once you strike it rich!"
After walking a big circuit, they were all thoroughly exhausted.
On the way back, with Xiao Geng behind the wheel, Xiao Mo couldn't help asking, "Brother Qi, are you really going to make a movie about feudal superstition? Won't the higher-ups have objections?"
"The leadership granted me the authority to handle special matters with special measures. Besides, it's not like I'm releasing it in the Mainland. What's there to fear about showing it in Hong Kong? Look at this place—people here are obsessed with this stuff. It's all to earn foreign exchange.
"Besides, the core of my story isn't feudal superstition at all. It's deeply touching!"
Chapter 239