Chapter 1197: Saving the People's Art Theatre

After sending Fan Beibei home to Yang Panpan, Zhao Fusheng asked Zhang Qian to drive him to the Donglaishun Hotpot Restaurant.

As a well-known time-honored brand in the capital, Zhao Fusheng was no stranger to the place. Entering the private room he had arranged with Ye Jing, he said with a smile, “What’s up? Have you decided to cultivate your character these days?”

The reason he said this was simple: Ye Jing was drinking tea instead of alcohol.

Ye Jing shook his head helplessly. “I’ve been exhausted lately. Before this, because of the *A World Without Thieves* business, I kept drinking—too many drinking parties, so many that I’m about to collapse.”

Zhao Fusheng smiled, quite agreeing with Ye Jing’s words.

That’s how business often works. Many times, it’s not that you don’t want to drink; people force you to, and if you don’t, the deal won’t go through.

In his previous life, Zhao Fusheng had encountered such drinking parties too many times. People wouldn’t refuse to talk, but in short, it was one thing: no drink, no discussion.

So, no matter how sick of it he felt inside, he still had to sit down and drink.

How could it be like now, the two of them sitting together, drinking tea and eating hotpot?

Putting some greens into the pot, Zhao Fusheng looked up at Ye Jing. “I’ve put you through a lot with what happened before.”

Ye Jing smiled and waved his hand. “Don’t say that. I’m the general manager of Future Films. When something like this happens, who else would go if not me? Besides, it was my fault for not communicating well with the review committee. I can’t blame anyone else.”

That was always his character—he rarely shirked responsibility. If there was an issue, he would always put it on the table.

“That’s two different things,” Zhao Fusheng shook his head. “Even though you’re the person in charge, you handled this yourself. At the time, I didn’t think it through thoroughly.”

“It’s a small matter, all in the past.” Ye Jing naturally wouldn’t dwell on this issue.

“By the way, why did you call me over? What’s up?”

When not drinking, eating was actually quick. Neither of them had a poor appetite, and soon they had finished a jin of hand-cut lamb. Wiping his mouth, Ye Jing asked Zhao Fusheng.

“Are you familiar with the People’s Art Theatre?”

Zhao Fusheng didn’t beat around the bush and asked Ye Jing directly.

“People’s Art Theatre?” Ye Jing frowned, then his face darkened. “What, is someone making trouble for your wife?”

Besides being the general manager of Future Films, he was also a friend of Zhao Fusheng. Since Fan Baobao was Zhao Fusheng’s fiancée, if anyone dared to make trouble for her, Ye Jing naturally wouldn’t stand for it.

Although Future Films and the People’s Art Theatre were cooperating fairly well now, if something like that really happened, in Ye Jing’s view, there was no need to continue the cooperation.

Seeing his reaction, Zhao Fusheng quickly waved his hand. “Misunderstanding. No one’s causing trouble. She asked me for help.”

“Help?”

Hearing these two words, Ye Jing was startled and found it strange. “What do you mean?”

Clearly, Zhao Fusheng had confused him. At first, he thought someone was bothering the boss’s wife, but now it seemed that wasn’t the case.

Thinking about it carefully, that made sense. The People’s Art Theatre and Future Films were cooperating quite well. Whether it was the previous stage plays or the later TV series *Soldiers’ Sortie*, both were relatively successful. Plus, with Fan Baobao and Zhao Fusheng’s relationship—though not exposed by the media—it was no secret in the industry. No one would be so blind as to openly cause her trouble.

“Here’s the thing…” Zhao Fusheng then told Ye Jing what Fan Baobao had said to him, and finally added, “I went to see their performance today. To be honest, their acting skills are really good.”

After hearing Zhao Fusheng’s words, Ye Jing was silent for a long time. Finally, he smiled bitterly and said, “This matter isn’t that easy to handle.”

Then, looking at Zhao Fusheng, he said, “Fusheng, do you know why the People’s Art Theatre has always remained outside the Beijing circle, forming its own school?”

Zhao Fusheng was taken aback. As the saying goes, one must read between the lines. Clearly, Ye Jing wasn’t speaking without reason; there was a deeper meaning.

If there were no issues, he wouldn’t have said that.

Thinking this, Zhao Fusheng looked at Ye Jing sincerely and said, “Brother Ye, if you have something to say, just say it directly.”

Ye Jing smiled bitterly and nodded. “I know your wife means well, but the problem is that the People’s Art Theatre is a unit within the system. In other words, these people aren’t like the celebrity artists we know, who are free agents and can do whatever they want. Those people at the People’s Art Theatre have to file a report to shoot a film. What’s the use of signing them?”

After hearing Ye Jing’s words, Zhao Fusheng finally understood why, for so many years, the People’s Art Theatre had a bunch of good actors but no talent agency was interested in them.

So it was all because of the system.

In simple terms, any company signs artists to make money. But these people at the People’s Art Theatre not only have to consider their schedules for filming but even have to report to their superiors.

That was just awkward.

Who would want a puppet emperor over their head?

In essence, the problem with the People’s Art Theatre was that these people had bound themselves within the system.

“Fusheng, don’t take this the wrong way, but these people at the People’s Art Theatre are just being pretentious. They want both fame and profit—where’s the good in that? If they’re set on pursuing art, they have to accept the current outcome. If they want to make money, why cling to that iron rice bowl?”

Ye Jing picked up a piece of meat with his chopsticks, eating as he spoke to Zhao Fusheng.

Zhao Fusheng remained silent. He naturally understood this reasoning.

Actually, it was simple. Everyone understood the big principles, but unless you were a born saint, you shouldn’t follow the descriptions in books about how people should behave. Those were literary works, meant to educate people, representing a universal value. As ordinary people, we can praise the virtues depicted in books, and occasionally a moral exemplar appears whom we can worship, passing down their virtues generation after generation.

But the problem is, knowing the right path doesn’t mean you have to take it. If everyone took the same path, it would easily get congested.

Having artistic pursuits is a good thing, but as Ye Jing said, wanting to cover all bases and have both the fish and the bear’s paw isn’t that easy.

“So you mean we shouldn’t sign them?”

Zhao Fusheng looked at Ye Jing and asked.

On this matter, he respected Ye Jing’s opinion. After all, Ye Jing was now the head of Future Films. Although Zhao Fusheng was the chairman of the Future Group, he knew he shouldn’t interfere too much.

“Sign!” Ye Jing looked up and said decisively. “We definitely have to sign them, but the terms will have to be a bit harsher.”

“Huh?”

This time it was Zhao Fusheng’s turn to be dumbfounded. He looked at Ye Jing strangely, clearly confused. Ye Jing had just said a lot of bad things about the People’s Art Theatre, and now suddenly he agreed to sign them.

Seeing Zhao Fusheng’s puzzled expression, Ye Jing smiled and explained, “What I mean is, we can sign them, but they can only act in our company’s productions. They can’t take outside roles. If they do, we need a cut.”

“Hmm?”

Zhao Fusheng was startled, then laughed. To be honest, if Ye Jing had acted like this a dozen years ago, he would have been denounced as a capitalist. But now, in Zhao Fusheng’s view, this was exactly what a qualified businessman should do.