Chapter 151

Chapter 151

After Yang Huan finished her performance, her cheeks were flushed, and a light sheen of sweat made her even more resemble the historical image of Noble Consort Yang.

It was evident that her dancing skills were exceptional.

Lu Mingzhu clapped vigorously.

"That was amazing! The dance was beautiful, and she is even more stunning," she couldn’t stop praising, turning to Wang Tao and saying, "No wonder you wanted me to write a movie tailored for her. With such looks, such a figure, and such dancing skills, she is the spitting image of Noble Consort Yang."

Even if Xia Lin were to gain weight, she might not compare to her.

The two of them were like spring orchids and autumn chrysanthemums, each excelling in their own way.

Yang Huan smiled shyly, feeling a bit uncomfortable.

Standing in front of the legendary wealthy boss, facing such a glamorous and noble beauty, she felt inadequate.

In the training class, everyone called her "Chubby Huan" because they thought she was too plump.

Wang Tao was quite proud of his judgment, "Right? It's exactly what I thought when I first saw her. Yang Huan actually has a very good background. She has been learning dance and music since she was a child. When she was in middle school, she fled the mainland with her parents and came to Hong Kong, only to be abandoned by her father. She struggled to support her mother and younger siblings. When she saw our company recruiting actors, she immediately signed up and was among the first batch of trainees. The teachers in the training class said that when Yang Huan first arrived, she was extremely thin, so thin that a gust of wind could blow her away, and they thought she could play Zhao Feiyan."

Her current figure is the result of overeating.

Perhaps because she was so hungry before, she developed a strong appetite, and as a result, she ended up looking like Noble Consort Yang.

This means that she is now suitable to play Noble Consort Yang, and if she loses weight in the future, she can still play other roles.

Yang Huan said shyly in a low voice, "The company provides such good meals, I eat to my heart's content every day. Moreover, I came for the monthly salary of 150 yuan. With this money, my mother and younger siblings can live a good life, and my mother won't have to work so hard anymore."

As she spoke, her eyes sparkled with a dazzling brilliance, exuding a striking beauty.

"Study hard, act well, and with the company's protection, your future will be even brighter." With her godfather He Yun and adoptive father Ceng Mei around, the company had no need to worry about any social disturbances.

Lu Mingzhu invited Yang Huan to sit down and called for tea. She looked at her with an appreciative gaze, her eyes clear like a pool of water in autumn, "A single flower does not make spring; a garden full of blossoms does. Chairman Wang, if the trainees in our company's training class are all of this caliber, and they rise based on their abilities, I can almost imagine a future where a hundred flowers bloom."

She would often visit the company to admire all kinds of stunning beauties; it would certainly be a feast for the eyes.

Wang Tao laughed, "There are slender ones and plump ones, a mix of both."

Lu Mingzhu was reassured.

Later, she discussed the script for Noble Consort Yang with Wang Tao, "The grandeur of the Great Tang cannot be captured by a shabby production team. Props and costumes need to be custom-made, and we must hire scholars who specialize in Tang culture as consultants. Moreover, when writing about Noble Consort Yang, there must be a scene of the 'Dance of the Rainbow and Feather Garment.' The script might only mention it in one line, but the movie must present it in its entirety."

She hoped it wouldn't be like the film industry before she time-traveled, where props were cheap, and everyone looked identical, making it impossible to distinguish between the mistress and the maid. Even in immortal fantasy dramas, everyone wore the same uniform.

The most ridiculous part was that crying looked like laughing, and laughing looked like crying, with facial muscles completely still.

If the mistress pulled out a hairpin to reward a servant, her head would be left completely bare.

Every time she was on set, Lu Mingzhu would silently rant in her mind. Unfortunately, she was just a small-time screenwriter, and screenwriters were the least valued in the industry. She could only watch helplessly as the grand dance scenes she wrote turned into simple spins and hand waves.

After listening to Lu Mingzhu, Wang Tao told her, "Don't worry about the dance part. When we were teaching the Hu Xuan dance, we had already started researching how to choreograph the 'Dance of the Rainbow and Feather Garment' and compose the music. I'll go back and have the dance teacher from the training class choreograph it, and the music teacher compose the score, using the trainees directly. Thanks to Mr. Lu, who spared no expense in hiring highly skilled teachers in various arts when the company was being established, each of them is of the highest caliber. The first thing built in the film city was the Tang Dynasty palace, which has already been completed, so we don't have to worry about shooting on real sets. We must hire cultural consultants—we had them for 'Xi Shi' and 'Zhaojun Goes Beyond the Frontier,' so how could we not have one for the Tang Dynasty? I heard that the Tang Dynasty mainly ate cakes."

Lu Mingzhu affirmed, "Hu cakes, steamed cakes, and soup cakes. Rather than saying they lived on cakes, it's more accurate to say they relied on wheat-based foods. The Tang Dynasty itself was a regime formed by the fusion of the Han and Xianbei ethnic groups, with its capital in Chang'an, influenced by the customs of Longxi and Guanzhong, and with ethnic interactions, so wheat-based foods were predominant, and the society was relatively open."

After the Tang and Song dynasties, Neo-Confucianism became the dominant philosophy, and women's status declined further, subjected to increasing oppression, suffering both mentally and physically. Even remarriage became a luxury, and chastity arches were glorified.

Fortunately, the thousands of years of feudal system finally ended, and the people rose to become their own masters.

I got sidetracked again.

Anyway, Lu Mingzhu said to Wang Tao, "I'm now working on the script. 'The Drunken Concubine' isn't quite appropriate; it's better to call it 'Noble Consort Yang,' because the drunken scene is just one part of it."

There was no love between Emperor Xuanzong of Tang and Noble Consort Yang; it was merely a case of a father-in-law's forceful advances turning into a relationship of convenience.

Wang Tao pondered for a moment and nodded, "Indeed, 'Noble Consort Yang' is better."

"I'll send the script over once I finish it," Lu Mingzhu said.

"Alright, I won't disturb you any further," Wang Tao stood up. "After I return, I'll have Yang Huan read more about Tang Dynasty culture and study the relationship between Emperor Xuanzong of Tang and Yang Yuhuan. We'll also customize costumes and props and set up the interior scenes. I hope we can capture the most classic scenes when lychees are in season."

Lu Mingzhu nodded in agreement, looking at Yang Huan, "Noble Consort Yang was also skilled in playing the pipa."

Yang Huan quickly responded, "There's a pipa teacher in the training program. I've been learning for over half a year and will continue to work hard."

"Good, once you've mastered a skill, it's yours for life, and no one can take it away," Lu Mingzhu praised her, then turned back to Wang Tao, "Chairman Wang, please prepare the contract for the 'Noble Consort Yang' script and come back to sign it with me. If everything is ready on your end but I can't deliver the script, the company would suffer a huge loss."

Wang Tao chuckled, "You own half of the company. Do you really think you wouldn't put in the effort?"

Lu Mingzhu insisted, "Business is business, personal is personal."

"No problem," Wang Tao actually preferred Lu Mingzhu's approach.

After he left with Yang Huan, Lu Mingzhu took out paper and pen and began writing the movie script for 'Noble Consort Yang.'

Before her time travel, she had written a TV script for 'Noble Consort Yang,' but it was discarded.

The reason was simple: the production team wanted to save money and asked for a simplified version, while her script included too many grand scenes. The supposed grand scenes were actually just a few classic moments like the drunken concubine, the 'Rainbow and Feather Garment Dance,' and 'A Single Rider in the Red Dust Makes the Concubine Smile.'

Even these, the production team didn't want to film, considering it a waste of funds and effort.

'A Single Rider in the Red Dust Makes the Concubine Smile' required the opening of a thousand gates atop a mountain and real horses to depict, while the 'Rainbow and Feather Garment Dance' needed exquisite costumes and props, as well as a classical dance teacher to choreograph. The lead actress didn't have the time or energy to practice one or several dances, so they later chose someone else's script. The 'Whirling Dance' and Noble Consort Yang's solo dance were reduced to simple spins and hand waves, with the visuals being surprisingly crude.

Most importantly, the lead actress was very thin, with a pointed chin, completely lacking the full-figured beauty of Noble Consort Yang.

Noble Consort Yang was clearly a dancer!

Old Lady Zhang, who was still alive at the time, joked that Lu Mingzhu was born in the wrong era for this industry.

As Lu Mingzhu wrote the movie script, she secretly resolved to rewrite the discarded script when the time came to produce a TV series, showcasing the grandeur of Great Tang culture.

Noble Consort Yang was full-figured and radiant, Prince Shou Li Mao was handsome and charming, while Emperor Xuanzong of Tang was an elderly man with wrinkled skin and white hair.

Some TV dramas depict Noble Consort Yang and Emperor Xuanzong of Tang meeting first, which is quite bizarre.

Noble Consort Yang was clearly strangled at Mawei Slope, ending her brilliant life, yet some stories have her living in Japan, wearing a kimono and geta, living out her days.

The books she had read and the Great Tang culture she had studied were still firmly etched in her mind, saving her a lot of research time. Having already written a TV script, the movie script now only needed to be streamlined from it.

Thus, she completed more than four thousand words that very day.

Brief and to the point, with no unnecessary words.

A few days later, Wang Tao arrived with a lawyer and the contract, and Lu Mingzhu had already completed the script.

It had been polished but not yet transcribed.

Wang Tao was greatly amazed, "Have you always worked at this speed?"

If that's the case, we should encourage her to write more scripts. The company is short on screenwriters, and two of them often miss their deadlines, frequently failing to meet the agreed timelines.

If it weren't for the generous pay, those two screenwriters would definitely drag their submissions until the next century.

Lu Mingzhu smiled easily, "When writing about topics I'm familiar with, the speed is relatively fast. If it's an unfamiliar subject, it would be slower because I need to do a lot of research."

Being thorough keeps you from being mocked.

Back when information wasn't as accessible, it was still manageable; the audience wasn't too picky about details. Whatever the film company produced, they would watch. But in the future, any old work could be scrutinized and criticized.

Wang Tao then asked, "Writing about historical figures must be your strong suit, right?"

"With history as a guide, the outcome is predetermined. Writing within its framework is indeed smoother," Lu Mingzhu was grateful that most of the current themes are historical stories or folk legends, making the writing flow smoothly.

Wang Tao laughed, "In that case, please write us a few more scripts—the more, the better."

Lu Mingzhu neither agreed nor refused, "It depends on my availability."

You can't always stay in your comfort zone; there needs to be innovation to keep life interesting. Serializing in newspapers is a great outlet, and she has promised Editor Wang to write a new novel after the New Year.

As the boss, Wang Tao couldn't push too hard; he could only suggest.

After signing, he left with the contract and a script copy.

Lu Mingzhu didn't want to copy it herself, so she bought a photocopier for her home, giving them a copy to have someone else rewrite and then photocopy to distribute to the directors and actors.

Nowadays, printers exist, but when she tried the photocopier, it wasn't very easy to use.

For now, it's still handwritten; it has a certain charm.

Whether it was the original or the copy, Wang Tao didn't mind.

After all, the content was the same.

The reason she decided to promote Yang Huan now was simple; Xia Lin, the female lead in 'The Swordsman,' is swamped.

Xia Lin's fame is at its height, and the company relies on her. Although not afraid of any of her thoughts and decisions, sometimes you need to show a little respect to keep things smooth.

At the company, Wang Tao noticed that Li Qingyun, who used to constantly bother Xia Lin, was no longer around.

After pondering for a few seconds, he had guessed the reason.

Honestly, Li Qingyun is pretty sharp. Whether he succeeded in pursuing Xia Lin or not, just the fact that he made headlines by pursuing her has made his clothing factory's business better day by day.

Although it was just some entertainment tabloids, there was still an advertising effect.

If he focused on the right things, Li Qingyun's future would be boundless.

Lu Changgen also found out that Qingyun Clothing Factory had expanded dozens of times compared to its initial size. In just a short year, it had transformed into a medium-sized clothing factory with sales exceeding a million.

Probably intimidated by the financial power of the Lu family, Li Qingyun didn't tamper with the equity structure.

When he met Lu Changgen, he promptly handed over the dividends belonging to Lu Feifei, totaling HKD 140,000, exactly covering the amount spent by the fourth concubine to redeem jewelry for Lu Feifei, and from then on, it would be pure profit.

Lu Changgen glanced at Li Qingyun, "Since you have found another love, the matter between you and Feifei is over."

As long as he doesn't covet the Lu family's daughters, he can do whatever he wants.

Li Qingyun looked surprised, "Didn't you already end it by sending my cousin abroad? I always thought her sudden departure meant we had broken up."

Lu Changgen was momentarily stunned, then chuckled and said, "Indeed."

Li Qingyun was the smartest of the bunch.

He probably knew he couldn't get anything out of Lu Feifei, so he cut ties.

This was just as well.

Lu Changgen didn't want to make a scene either, as it could tarnish Lu Feifei's reputation.

She wasn't exactly a star to begin with, and a scandal would definitely give her in-laws something to talk about.

Lu Changgen wasn't exactly a hardliner himself. Before leaving, he only warned Li Qingyun, "As long as you stay honest and don't scheme, we won't stand in your way."

But if he messed with Lu Feifei's share, they wouldn't hold back.

He might not be capable himself, but with his father, elder brother, and eighth sister who had her godfather's backing, taking care of Li Qingyun would be a breeze.

Li Qingyun put on a righteous face, "I've always been genuine and never had any ulterior motives."

Whether that was true or not, only he knew.

When Lu Mingzhu heard Lu Changgen mention this on the phone, she couldn't help but marvel, "Li Qingyun really is something!"

Maybe he never really wanted to win Xia Lin over; it was all about the chase.

She then gave her father a call to fill him in.

Previously, they hadn't restricted Li Qingyun's growth, but from now on, they would have to keep him in check, all because he had a father named Li Defu, who was one of the executioners who nearly killed the original body.

Her father said calmly on the phone, "Don't sweat it."

Lu Mingzhu asked with curiosity, "What happened to Li Defu? How did you and godfather handle him?"

"We're civilized now; no need for violence. We put him to work to pay off his debts. Once he's done, it's over." Working in the mines is still a job, just tougher and more exhausting, and without any freedom.

Regular miners have their freedom, but someone like Li Defu? Not a chance.

Lu Mingzhu didn't press further.

After hanging up, she grabbed today's paper.

The two phone calls had thrown off her inspiration, leaving her stuck. She decided to put the new novel on hold and check out the news in the Hong Kong Daily instead. That's when she spotted an ad for the release of "The Swordsman."

Not just in the Hong Kong Daily, but identical advertisements were in several other newspapers.

It informed everyone that "The Swordsman" was available for sale in major bookstores, in three volumes, priced at 4 yuan.