Chapter 476 Repaying others with their own methods
"Earthquake" was greeted with a wake-up call from Li Chen amidst thunderous applause.

The hot searches and portal websites are all about Li Chen’s “words to punish Zhen”!
Public opinion online was almost one-sided, and the few voices applauding "The Great Earthquake" barely made any waves.

"Leo is so outspoken. The prime time slots tonight are all showing Earthquake. If you don't know, you might think Inception has been removed from the screen!"

"Even The Founding of a Republic didn't have this kind of fun! Jumping high in the toilet, it's a waste!"

"A 15-minute commercial is unprecedented, and Feng Kuazi has become the spokesperson for the commercial!"

"Leo is right. Feng Kuzi's films can't even get past the Shenzhen River, let alone make it out of Asia."

"No problem. The international community only recognizes one poet, Mou and one poet, Li."

Some things require a leader.

Li Chen took the lead, and soon several professors from Tsinghua University and Beijing Normal University in the academic community stood up to criticize the box office controversy of "Aftershock".

More and more people are beginning to suspect that the box office of "Earthquake" is fake.

It can be said that everyone has complaints about the way "Earthquake" was produced.

Even the downstream cinema chains that make profits do not appreciate the kindness from Huayi and Feng Xiaogang.

What's more, before the film was released, the young actor blasted the cinema chains for being too sinister and taking away the bulk of the box office revenue.

Although up-and-coming directors such as Xu Zheng and Ning Hao did not dare to participate, they all sent text messages to Li Chen in tacit understanding.

Ning Hao even called and said with a smile: "It's just you. We little directors don't have enough confidence!"

"What the hell is a 500 million box office movie? I heard that the theaters in Hebei Province are often booked out. Even Boss Han has never experienced anything like this!"

Li Chen laughed and said, "I hope he can get what he wants."

Ning Hao gossiped, "Why do I feel like there's something else behind your words? Do you have a backup plan?"

Li Chen didn't expect Ning Hao to be so sensitive: "You think too much."

After hanging up Ning Hao's phone, Jiang Wen called again: "Brother, good job! Feng Xiaogang and I have a good relationship, but I still want to say one thing: well said!"

Li Chen laughed and said, "I thought you were calling to ask why Oscar didn't include you."

Jiang Wen laughed: "I haven't finished yet! You counted Jia Zhangke, but not me?"

"I don't have time to talk nonsense with you, I'm hanging up!" Li Chen didn't say much to Jiang Wen.

Because Han Sanping called again.

The bureau could no longer sit still and asked Han Saping to tell them not to escalate the situation any further.

But it seems that this time Han Sanping only acted as a messenger and did not have much personal inclination.

After hanging up the phone, Li Chen finally realized why Han Sanping stood with him this time.

China Film invested only a tiny bit in "The Great Earthquake", but Huayi Film Group managed to make it so that it may well overshadow Lao Han's "Founding of a Republic"!
Li Chen and Feng Xiaogang are considered the most popular directors in China.

The war between the two sides was so intense that everyone in the circle just wanted to watch the fun.

Feng Xiaogang is backed by the listed Huayi.

Li Chen himself is the largest entertainment capital in the country.

The impact has spread across the globe.

With this level of confrontation, celebrities are very enthusiastic about gossip.

But everyone kept silent and only dared to discuss it in private.

Hengdian Ming and Qing Palaces
The crew of "Palace Lock Heart Jade" was also hotly discussing the hot searches about Li Chen's criticism of the box office of "Earthquake".

Wearing ancient costumes on hot days is commonplace for actors.

Yang Mi had just taken two sips of the water handed to her by the assistant when Yu Zheng walked over with a smile on his face and sat next to her.

"Honey, Director Li is still Director Li! I just realized that our war of words with Cai Yinong is just like children playing house!"

Yang Mi gently wiped the sweat from her forehead and smiled proudly, "Are we at the same level as the senior?"

"Cai Yinong is jumping around again, trying to ride on Yifei's popularity. Do you think the senior has paid any attention to her? An eagle doesn't fight with a sparrow!"

"Look around the circle, can you find someone who can stand shoulder to shoulder with the senior?"

"It's not my thoughts that told me to shut up, I must support my senior!"

Yu Zheng nodded and laughed, "Boss Yang really understands you! You didn't know anything about Director Li's criticism of Earthquake beforehand."

Yang Mi rolled her eyes and said impatiently: "Come on, I'm just a small artist under the senior, how could I know such things."

Huayi Headquarters
Wang Zhonglei was still in a meeting to discuss how to respond to Li Chen's attack.

The small cannon has started firing.

He responded directly to the online controversy about the box office of "Aftershock" in a sarcastic manner on Weibo.

"Some people deliberately determined that the first-day box office of Tang was false, and they were heartbroken and thought it was impossible for the first day to exceed that of Avatar!"

"I'm so sorry to hurt your feelings. The first day and first week box office will only be lower, not higher, because bragging is taxable..."

"If you have any doubts, please help investigate. We don't have enough staff to monitor the votes. I would be very grateful."

"It's not that I'm not kind, it's that some people are too crazy!"

Li Chen was at home, but he was remotely controlling Yang Siwei and Yu Miao.

"Boss, Feng Xiaogang responded, but he didn't dare to openly compare himself with you, the internationally recognized directors." Yang Siwei said with a smile.

Feng Xiaogang is too timid. Even when his boss criticized him by name, he only dared to speak in a sarcastic tone.

But it’s no wonder, what the boss said is true.

Feng Xiaogang's movies have repeatedly flopped in Hong Kong and Taiwan.

The highest-grossing film was If You Are the One 2, which grossed HK$600 million in Hong Kong Island.

Netizens said that the Shenzhen River is too graphic.

"I see. You met Ye Ning, right?"

"I'm here already. Mr. Ye just called me and he'll be here soon." Li Chen didn't avoid Liu Yifei when he was talking to Yang Siwei on the phone.

Seeing that Li Chen hung up the phone, Liu Yifei asked curiously, "Why did Siwei meet with Mr. Ye?"

"What for? Huayi can put pressure on the cinema chain by relying on a third party."

"I don't need it!"

"Rongchen Pictures is the bread and butter of the cinema chain!"

"They can put pressure on me, and so can I. And I believe they will definitely be happy to see it happen. Maybe they just need an excuse."

Liu Yifei seemed to understand, but she probably understood what he said.

"Are you trying to blackmail the cinema chain into increasing the screening rate of Inception?"

Looking at Miss Liu's blinking eyes, Li Chen laughed loudly and said, "Blackmail? There's no need for that at all."

"I said that maybe the cinema chain just needs a reason to refuse, and Rongchen Pictures' "threat" is just the right thing to do."

Liu Yifei didn't understand, but what happened next soon made her realize it.

In a private club on Chang'an Avenue, sitting opposite Yang Siwei were the CEOs of the two largest cinema chains in the country.

"What! No copies available!"

When Ye Ning from Wanda and Xu He from Dadi heard Yang Siwei's shocking words, they were both shocked.

The two looked at each other. Rongchen Pictures has a big drama every month this year.

The movie "Passengers" brought them success.

If the next few big dramas are not copied as Yang Siwei said, their theater chains will suffer internal losses.

"Don't be anxious, bosses. Sit down and listen to me." Yang Siwei said calmly, full of admiration for his boss.

The boss had guessed the reactions of Ye Ning and Xu He, so what else could the boss not guess?

The boss's move of using his own tactics to retaliate is quite sharp.

Even Yang Siwei was shocked when he heard it that day.

Although Zhang Weiping was arrogant back then, he still didn't dare to say that he would not give copies to theaters.

In fact, what Yang Siwei didn’t know was.

If it weren’t for her boss, the reborn one.

Two years later, Zhang Weiping would also interpret "The Flowers of War" to command the eight dukes.

But Li Chen is more confident now.

After a moment, Ye Ning was the first to react and sat down calmly.

"Siwei, is this what Director Li meant?"

Yang Siwei smiled and said, "Of course, Wanda and Dadi are the largest cinema chains in China."

"Over the years, our cooperation has always been pleasant, except this time."

Xu He hurriedly said: "Siwei, you also said that our cooperation has always been very pleasant."

"And this time, I believe Mr. Ye has also told you in advance that our theater chain has no choice."

"But outside of Hebei Province, we basically do not discriminate."

Xu He felt a little guilty when he said this. Although the Film Bureau did not issue an explicit order this time, everyone understood it tacitly.

The momentum of "Earthquake" has gradually begun to surpass the co-production "Inception" across the country.

Ye Ning didn't say anything, but kept staring at Yang Siwei's expression. Yang Siwei had a smile on his face and didn't look like he was here to quarrel with him.

"Siwei, Director Li wants to do a scene, right?" Ye Ning looked at Yang Siwei steadily.

If Rongchen Pictures does not provide copies of its future blockbusters to theaters, the theaters will certainly suffer heavy losses.

But Rongchen Pictures must be having a hard time too.

This is just talk, I'm afraid no one will take it seriously.

"Mr. Ye is right. The boss knows that your theater chain is in a difficult situation this time."

"So, now the boss has thought of all the plausible reasons for you."

"As long as you follow the trend and push it forward, the Film Bureau will be unable to do anything to you."

"Of course, everyone knows that this kind of thing is impossible, but the initiative is in our hands."

"Besides, we just want fairness. You two should be the ones who know best about the reputation of Inception and the market demand."

"You can't break the market rules just because it's a national film! Unless your cinema chain doesn't want to make money!"

Xu He breathed a sigh of relief. So that's what it was.

Yang Siwei continued, "You two are the leaders of the cinema chain. As long as you adjust the screening rate."

"If word gets out, the other six theater chains will follow suit once they learn the reason."

"After all, compared to Huayi, we are your God of Wealth. This is an indisputable fact, and everyone knows it."

Ye Ning and Xu He left.

Neither of them spoke, but they both knew the fact in their hearts.

Today's Rongchen Pictures is more powerful than the New Picture back then.

After parting with Ye Ning and Xu He, Yang Siwei quickly called her boss back.

"Boss, as you expected, Ye Ning and Xu He have no objection."

"Xu He also said that this is a good opportunity to teach Feng Xiaogang a lesson, so that Feng Xiaogang won't point at the monk and call him a bald donkey!"

Yang Siwei found it funny, but she also felt that what Xu He said was right.

(End of this chapter)