"There are two sides to every story..."
Xie Tieli opened with measured poise. "Orient Company shooting films under our studio's name has, to a certain degree, invigorated our work and fostered healthy competition. The equipment rental fees provide additional revenue for the studio, the crew members receive higher stipends, and some comrades have gained tangible benefits.
"However, from the standpoint of creative work and team building, I believe there is also a downside.
"The commercial entertainment pictures made by Orient Company have become wildly popular, prompting studios across the country to jump on the bandwagon, and Beijing Film Studio is no exception. Everyone is talking about how many prints were sold or which actor is the hottest. Our creative output is drifting toward commercial entertainment while neglecting artistic quality.
"What is more, it has stirred up restlessness and allowed a money-first mentality to spread. People have begun comparing stipends and perks, and some have even suggested raising our studio's daily allowance to two yuan..."
Xie Tieli spoke with utmost gravity.
A veteran director like him was meticulous about cinema, steadfast in artistic standards, and would routinely establish a Party discipline group on set to tighten the moral atmosphere. Ideological cultivation was something he took very seriously.
He voiced these concerns because he genuinely believed Beijing Film Studio was developing these problems.
At the end, he added, "I have not read the screenplay for *Life Is Beautiful*, and I hold great respect for Comrade Chen Qi. I simply feel the prevailing atmosphere is not quite right. Beijing Film Studio must stay grounded in its own roots as we move forward... That is all I have to say."
"..."
Wang Yang had a headache.
If it were only the others making a fuss, it would have been easy to handle. But with Xie Tieli speaking up in person, the leadership had to take his opinion seriously, which made it awkward to allocate three cameras to Chen Qi.
Seeing this opening, the others immediately scrambled aboard.
"Director Xie is right!"
"If we reassign all our resources to outsiders, how are we supposed to develop ourselves?"
"Like we said before, our crew will absolutely not give up those cameras!"
Seeing the mood, several studio leaders felt they could not go against the crowd. They leaned in, muttering, "Old Wang, what do you think we should do?"
Wang Yang tapped the microphone and said into it, "What kind of meeting is this, with all of you clamoring like a mob? We brought you here to discuss things together. No decision has been made yet. We have heard your opinions and will consider them carefully. Let us leave it here for now. Meeting adjourned!"
The crowd stood and filed out in twos and threes.
They exchanged glances and flashed victorious grins. When the old director spoke like that, it meant he had backed down. Even if it was only temporary, as long as they stood united, that guy Chen wouldn't get an inch!
Wang Yang returned to his office and sent someone to summon Chen Qi. After a short wait, the kid arrived.
"What's the matter, Director?"
"What else but you? Xie Tieli spoke up during today's meeting, and he's usually the last person to meddle in these things..."
Wang Yang recounted what had happened, then asked, "Can Great Wall offer some support?"
"*Life Is Beautiful* will be shot partly in Shanghai and partly in Hong Kong. Great Wall is already backing the Hong Kong portion—how could I have the nerve to ask them for more? Let me think of a way. Hey, what if I pay a bit extra in rental fees?"
"Unless you can fork over hundreds of thousands or even a million, not a chance."
"If I had hundreds of thousands or a million, I'd go buy cameras myself! Money is tight for me too. Things will be fine once I finish selling the movie."
Chen Qi frowned in thought. Having the Eastern Depot operate under Beijing Film Studio's name was bound to trigger conflicts like this.
If he could give everyone a daily stipend of two yuan, no one would have any objections. If he could extend the kind of pay Zhang Yimou received across the whole studio, they'd worship him as their ancestor: they'd fish a stone man out of Shichahai by afternoon, dump a three-meter-long white snake right at the gate of Lechunfang by tomorrow, and Liu Xiaoqing would stay up all night embroidering a dragon robe for him...
Except that was impossible!
Besides, he disliked those people anyway and only trusted a select few like Li Wenhua and Wang Haowei.
*Is there a way to scale up the benefits so every one of those guys has something to look forward to?*
He pondered for a long time, then suddenly clapped his hands. "Got it!"
"Got it?"
"I have three strategies: the superior, the middling, and the inferior. Which would you like to hear..."
"Cut the crap and spit it out!"
So Chen Qi leaned in close to Wang Yang's ear. There was no one else in the room, but the flair of the gesture was what counted. He whispered several sentences into the old man's ear.
"Haha, good! Wonderful! That's an open gambit—you clever rascal!"
Wang Yang grinned from ear to ear.
***
Just one day later, Beijing Film Studio called a general meeting in the main cafeteria. Even Gong Xue had to attend.
She found it odd too. Why call a meeting out of the blue? Carrying a small stool, she sat beside Zhang Jinling. Zhang Jinling had pocketed a handful of sunflower seeds, and the two kept their heads down, secretly cracking them while Cai Ming watched from beside them.
Meanwhile, several directors whispered among themselves:
"Why another meeting?"
"Are they deliberating resource allocation again?"
"Can't be. This is an all-hands assembly. They wouldn't bring that up in front of the entire crowd."
"Who cares! Either way, if they tell us to surrender our cameras, the answer is no!"
They had made up their minds not to yield an inch.
After a short wait, the studio leaders arrived, seated in a row on the stage with Wang Yang in the center.
"I called everyone here on short notice because there is an announcement to make..."
Wang Yang spoke at an unhurried pace. "As the studio's staff grows year by year, the housing problem has become increasingly severe. It is not uncommon for two or even three generations to squeeze into a single room, and I hear our offices have been completely occupied as well.
"Working there by day and sleeping there by night, with people fighting tooth and nail over space.
"As studio director, I feel deep remorse. But you all know our situation: funds are tight, and we cannot afford the cost of new housing construction. We have been trying to find a way through this.
"Just recently, we reached an agreement with Orient Company.
"To the left of the main gate, there is an orchard. You all know it, right? It has been decided that we will make use of that land, clear out all the fruit trees, and let Orient Company provide the funds while we provide the land. We will first build two apartment buildings, one for each party... Down the road, this may expand to six buildings, three for each side.
"The preliminary plan is for two-bedroom units starting at fifty square meters, complete with plumbing—the kind with indoor flush toilets..."
Hiss!
The entire room gasped so hard they practically inhaled a septic tank.
Flush toilets!
Most people had only ever heard of them and had never seen one in person. You meant they'd be able to take a dump right inside their own home? No more chamber pots? No more trekking out in the dead of winter and freezing their backsides rock solid?
Ignoring the commotion below, Wang Yang continued on his own, "To carry out this major initiative with maximum efficiency, the studio has decided to establish a Housing Allocation Committee, with myself serving as director..."
A glittering, golden pie hung high above the stage, its radiant glow illuminating every face.
In this day and age, the masses held immense sway. When the studio director spoke, people might not listen; but when the Housing Allocation Committee director spoke, no one dared defy him!
"This is a promising start! We will definitely solve the housing problem for everyone... All right, meeting adjourned!"
Wang Yang finished and walked right off.
A chaotic buzz broke out below.
Gong Xue, who knew a bit of the inside story, pressed her lips together and smiled. Only Chen Qi could come up with such a wicked trick. She also understood that his funds were tight at the moment and he genuinely couldn't spare extra cash, but once he struck it rich, he certainly wouldn't mistreat anyone.
*If they allocate apartments, I'd like one too. That way, when Mom and Dad visit Beijing, they'll have a place to stay.*
She looked forward to it as well. Who wouldn't want a home like that?
***
The old man hadn't even been back in his office for ten minutes when there was a knock at the door.
"Come in!"
"Director!"
The door swung open, and a director stepped inside, radiating righteous solemnity. "I gave it thorough thought all night! Beijing Film Studio is a major studio, and a major studio needs breadth of mind and magnanimity. We cannot let people look down on us!
"I am willing to surrender my equipment to those who need it more!"
"Have you made up your mind?"
"I have!"
"Very well. Coordinate with them later."
"Then I'll take my leave, Director. But you have to remember—I volunteered this contribution! I made this sacrifice!"
Chapter 306