Chapter 400 Hong Kong Island Reunion
"What? You're not talking nonsense, are you?"

Zhang Yimou was still in a daze and didn't care about his classmate Xiao Feng's teasing. He just shook his head and said:
"Director Chen just told me personally that a company called DreamWorks Films in Hong Kong called the factory and even the invitation letter is on its way to the mail."

Xiao Feng still didn't quite believe it, or rather, he found it unbelievable. He and Zhang Yimou had both just graduated and had never made a serious movie. As for fame, they were definitely unknown. Even though they had made a short film with Tian Zhuangzhuang at Beijing Film Academy, it was purely a practice work. Regardless of its quality, it was only shown within their academy and was unlikely to be released in Hong Kong.

The more he thought about it, the more confused he became. Even Xiao Feng himself began to scratch his head. He asked with half envy and half concern:
"So what do you think? Are you going or not?"

Zhang Yimou also had a bitter look on his face, and was obviously in a dilemma. He shook his head and sighed:

"I don't know how to choose. The higher-ups have assigned a task to the factory to help shoot a promotional film to promote tourism in the province. Mr. Gu said he could help me get it, but now this has happened. Oh, what a hassle!"

Xiao Feng rolled his eyes. How could he be so Versailles in front of his classmates? You, old man, are such a bad guy!

"How about I go for you?"

Hearing this, Zhang Yimou glared, shook his head like a rattle, and said firmly:

"They specifically called my name, and you took my place, isn't that cheating? Besides, even if I agree, it will dampen the enthusiasm of Hong Kong compatriots to communicate with us, and the factory will definitely not allow it."

Xiao Feng was stunned by what Zhang Yimou said. Is this still the simple boy from Shaanxi who never talked back when being ridiculed?
"Come on, come on, stop talking. Are you teasing me? If you want to go, just go. Don't be so fussy."

Zhang Yimou then revealed an embarrassed and honest smile and said:

"Crazy, is there anything you want to buy? I can help you get it."

Xiao Feng felt better at this point, and after thinking for a while, he said:

"Please bring me a quartz watch."

"Wow, you are so rich without revealing yourself."

Xiao Fengqi's nose was not a nose, and he snorted:
"Can't you help me choose a cheaper one? Under 100 yuan."

Zhang Yimou scratched his head and assured:
"Okay, anything else?"

Xiao Feng really thought about it for a while, and found that he didn't know what to buy. He couldn't afford the expensive ones, and he didn't know how cheap the cheap ones were, so he shook his head and said:
"You can buy whatever you want. You know how much I earn every month. Just leave me some money for food."

Zhang Yimou showed his big white teeth again, with an expression of mutual respect, and nodded:

"Okay, I promise you'll be satisfied."

Xiao Feng hummed with satisfaction, then frowned and asked:

"Did Director Chen tell you when to leave?"

"No, I'll confirm the time after receiving the invitation."

Xiao Feng asked again with a sly look:
"Did you say you were going alone or with several people?"

Zhang Yimou frowned and shook his head:
"How would I know? They didn't tell me."

Xiao Feng laughed and said:

"I guess that the factory must have already quarreled over the opportunity to go to Hong Kong this time. Maybe by the time your invitation letter arrives, they still haven't decided on the candidate." Zhang Yimou fell silent after hearing this. He was not interested in the intrigues involved. It would be better for him to use this time to think about how to improve his photography skills.

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Four days later, the candidates arranged by Guangxi Film Studio to visit Hong Kong for exchanges were finally finalized.

Zhang Yimou also knew that this visit to Hong Kong was not only from the Guangxi Film Studio, but also from the Xi'an Film Studio, Beijing Film Studio, Shanghai Film Studio, etc.

In view of the fact that flights from Hong Kong to several major cities in the Mainland have been opened one after another, although the scale of this visit has been raised for some reasons and it involves more than just exchanges with DreamWorks Pictures, the company is still willing to cover the round-trip travel expenses of all visitors.

Therefore, with the idea that it would be a waste if they didn't fleece the wool of capitalism, several major film studios agreed to their employees' request to fly to Hong Kong.

A group of three people from Guangxi Film Studio, including Zhang Yimou, first took a train to Kunming, and then took a commercial flight from Kunming Airport directly to Hong Kong.

That night, after they came out of Kai Tak Airport, they were taken directly to the hotel by the China Resources Company's shuttle bus.

The hotel was operated by Hong Kong's China Resources Company and was later transformed into the St. Regis Hotel. It is a three-star hotel in Hong Kong and generally receives mainlanders who come to Hong Kong on business trips.

What surprised and delighted Zhang Yimou was that he met acquaintances, or should we say classmates, in the hotel - Zhang Li from Xiaoxiang Film Studio, Gu Changwei from Xi'an Film Studio, Hu Mei from Bayi Film Studio, and Chen Kaige and Li Shaohong from Beijing Film Studio.

Although we are not in the same department, the Beijing Film Academy only recruits a small number of students every year, and we often work together on productions, so we are quite familiar with each other.

Zhang Yimou, Gu Changwei and Zhang Li, three classmates, first hugged each other excitedly, and then sat down to chat under the joking of others.

Although Chen Kaige had a smile on his face, he looked down on these three unsophisticated people from the photography department. In his opinion, the director is an artist, and the photographer is a craftsman carrying a camera, who is only fit to work under artists like them.

The joy I had originally felt at the invitation of a Hong Kong film company for a visit was instantly reduced by half after I saw Zhang Yimou and his team.

Although he looked down on Hong Kong films for being too commercial and vulgar, he still had two attractive conditions: a public travel package and the opportunity to show off in Hong Kong Island. So he was quite excited at first, until he saw Zhang Yimou and others.

Among these people, Li Shaohong was the most carefree person. After taking a bite of the apple, she asked:

"Hey, did you hear that our round-trip fare this time was reimbursed by a company called DreamWorks Movies?"

Gu Changwei's eyes lit up and he nodded anxiously:

"Yes, I heard about it. I also know that this company is currently the largest film company in Hong Kong."

Chen Kaige curled his lips, glanced at a few people, and said in a light tone:

"Everyone knows Fang Hexuan, right?"

Zhang Li is a calm person. He nodded and said:

"Well, I've seen reports about him on the news several times."

Chen Kaige took a sip of tea, looked at the few people for a few seconds, and then spoke again:
"DreamWorks Movies is his company. It was founded in 1978 and became the number one in Hong Kong in less than four years. Not only does it produce the most films, but its box office also frequently ranks first. Most importantly, the largest cinema chain in Hong Kong is also owned by Fong Hok Hin."

Gu Changwei gasped in shock.

"That's weird. Why would such an awesome company invite me?"

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(End of this chapter)