Chen Hao Nan was feeling very down lately.
He had always thought he was a big shot because he truly was a big shot.
But after losing his two powerful lieutenants, Da Tian Er and Shan Ji, one after another, he began to realize something.
He wasn't that great after all.
So, he had been drowning his sorrows in alcohol recently.
Now, Boss B called him, asking him to organize a group of his brothers to go watch a movie?
To support Lu Wen Dong’s film?
Chen Hao Nan was both angry and resentful.
But Boss B had spoken, so he had to call his brothers, Bao Pi and Chao Pi, to discuss it.
“Go be extras?”
Bao Pi asked the most critical question: "South Brother, is Boss B paying?"
Going to a movie certainly required money.
One or two tickets would be no problem, but what about dozens, or even hundreds?
Chen Hao Nan's face twitched.
Boss B hadn't mentioned anything about it.
He simply said, "Just a few thousand bucks, we'll sort it out ourselves."
Bao Pi immediately protested: "South Brother, the brothers haven't been making much lately."
Seeing Chen Hao Nan's grim expression, Chao Pi quickly said, "South Brother, Boss B didn't specify when we have to go, right?"
“In that case, why not go to the midnight show?”
“Tickets are cheaper then, and the brothers will be free.”
This was exactly what Chen Hao Nan was thinking, but he was too embarrassed to say it.
Now that Chao Pi had brought it up, he cleared his throat and said, “That’s fine.”
“South Brother.”
Since losing Da Tian Er and Shan Ji, Bao Pi realized life had taken a sudden turn for the worse.
Thankfully, his family ran a newspaper stand, so they didn’t have to worry about food or rent.
Otherwise, he would have already considered leaving the underworld.
He complained, "We're so screwed. Lu Wen Dong is making a movie, and he wants us to be extras, and then he wants us to pay out of our own pockets to watch it."
“Boss B is so biased."
“South Brother, you need to figure something out. If things continue like this, we’re all going to be living on the streets.”
“Alright.”
Chen Hao Nan said sarcastically, "Do you think I don't want to rise to the top? If you hadn't gone and burned down Boss B's shop, would we be in this situation?”
Bao Pi protested: “We were doing it for you.”
Chao Pi quickly tried to smooth things over: "South Brother, Bao Pi doesn't mean it that way.”
Chen Hao Nan’s closest confidants were Bao Pi and Chao Pi.
He needed them to help him gather people, so he said, “I, Chen Hao Nan, swear to you all, I will rise to the top.”
Aside from Boss B's group, Shi San Mei and Xi Yan also went back and told their own people.
Boss B opened the door, but it was up to them to walk through it.
They could only help Lu Wen Dong generate some initial hype.
As for whether the film would actually be a success, well, that depended on the market.
The next day, in her office, Shi San Mei was so angry she was banging on the table.
Yun Piao Piao, the quirky one, brought her a glass of water: "Big Sister, why are you so angry?"
“Drink some cool water to calm down.”
“It’s all because of that deadbeat of yours!”
Shi San Mei took the cup, then squeezed Yun Piao Piao’s hand: "You little minx, you've got a different look about you after getting your first boyfriend. You're becoming more womanly.”
“You're so gross."
Yun Piao Piao quickly pulled her hand back, but still asked: "What’s wrong with him?"
“His movie premiers tonight.”
Shi San Mei said: "We're all family, of course I'll help him find some film distributors to buy the film."
At that time, there was a policy in Taiwan regarding films. It was difficult for foreign films to be released there.
However, Taiwan considered Hong Kong films as national language films, and they were allowed to be released without restrictions.
At the time, Taiwan’s economy was booming, and there was a strong market for film purchases. Film distributors from Taiwan constantly threw money at Hong Kong, and most of them had connections to the underworld.
They had two criteria for buying films.
First, they looked at the lead actors, and second, they looked at the box office potential.
Although they were friendly with Shi San Mei, no one would lose money for the sake of friendship.
At the moment, the film "A Better Tomorrow" hadn't been released, and the main cast consisted of a bunch of past-their-prime actors. Of course, they were not willing to pay for it.
However, a few of them were willing to pay 50,000 NT dollars, out of respect for Shi San Mei’s face…
“Crap!”
Shi San Mei became even angrier: "50,000? Are they trying to insult me?”
Yun Piao Piao quickly massaged Shi San Mei's shoulders: "These guys deserve karma for daring to anger Big Sister."
“Big Sister, don't be upset. You have such a wide network, you'll definitely find a way to help Dong Ge."
“You little fox.”
Shi San Mei lamented: "I really owe you two.”
“Alright, alright. Thankfully, I know a few friends in Southeast Asia.”
At that time, the main overseas market for Hong Kong films was Taiwan and Southeast Asia.
As long as these two markets accepted the film, it would definitely make a profit!
After making a few more calls, Shi San Mei shook her head: "Making films really isn’t for humans. It’s too hard to make money from this."
“Wen Dong, I, Shi San Mei, have done my best for you. I’ve tried my hardest.”
Yun Piao Piao felt a sinking in her heart.
She thought to herself,
I wonder if Dong Ge can handle this blow.