Chapter 1338: Brother Sanmao

Why do actresses all want to marry into wealthy families?

The reason is simple: although all roads lead to Rome, the problem is that some people are born in Rome. It's said that people prefer to cry in a BMW rather than smile on a bicycle, but the problem is that some people are born smiling in a BMW.

It's said that you shouldn't lose at the starting line, but the problem is that others start in a Bentley, while most people can only rely on their own two feet.

That's the gap between the wealthy and ordinary people.

That's why those actresses go crazy trying to marry into wealth, using all kinds of tricks. Whether it was the former golf queen or the later international Zhang on the beach, in the end, they all wanted to hook a rich husband.

But unfortunately, the circle of the rich isn't so easy to enter.

When this circle is debauched, it's certainly shocking, but when it's conservative, even if you're worth a billion, in their eyes, you're still a low-class nouveau riche bumpkin.

Zhao Fusheng understood this well.

Because in his impression, the so-called high society of Hong Kong was exactly like that.

Of course, this had nothing to do with Zhao Fusheng, because he knew that in the next ten-plus years, the wealthy in Hong Kong would become increasingly low-key. Apart from Li the Superman occasionally appearing in mainland financial news, most of the remaining Hong Kong tycoons would keep a very low profile.

On one hand, because their assets had stabilized and had little growth potential; on the other hand, because most of them had been surpassed by people like Ma Xiaoyun and Liu Qiangdong.

After all, the internet era had created too many wealth myths.

But due to the long-standing capitalist system, the social atmosphere in Hong Kong was money-oriented. In other words, whoever had money was the boss. Even the triads, though they might act superior toward entertainment industry people, would behave like lapdogs in front of top tycoons.

The reason was simple: the goal of joining a triad was to seek wealth, and who among the triad members would dare to offend those big spenders?

If they really pushed a big spender too far, putting out a bounty of several million would turn brothers into enemies in no time.

……

……

Beijing, Xilaishun Hotpot.

Jiang Wen stepped out to take a call, leaving the rest chatting in the room. A tall, sturdy man sat beside Hong Sanmao.

Hong Sanmao was very fat, looking like a horizontal barrel, while the man appeared lean and tough.

"Brother Sanmao, even though this Jiang Wen is a well-known mainland director, you don't have to give him so much face, do you?" The man, Zhou Zhaolong, was a junior trained by Hong Sanmao and a well-known action director in Hong Kong.

Hong Sanmao, though he had the black mark of marrying a foreign female disciple, was generally decent. He wasn't generous with his disciples and confidants, but at least he wasn't stingy, so his reputation was much better than Fang Shilong's.

Hearing Zhou Zhaolong's words, Hong Sanmao wasn't angry. He smiled and said, "What do you know? Do you know who's behind Jiang Wen? Do you know his current status?"

Zhou Zhaolong looked bewildered. He was just a martial arts actor, uneducated and not very shrewd—in short, a rough guy.

Someone like that naturally wouldn't understand what Hong Sanmao meant.

"You bastards! I always tell you to read more books and newspapers, but you all talk back. Now you're dumbfounded." Hong Sanmao said to Zhou Zhaolong in exasperation.

Then, making sure no one nearby was paying attention, he said in a low voice, "Jiang Wen isn't what he used to be. He's latched onto a big spender and is worth several billion Hong Kong dollars."

Several billion Hong Kong dollars!

Zhou Zhaolong gasped. He really hadn't expected Jiang Wen to have such connections.

What a joke! Several billion Hong Kong dollars—what did that mean? Zhou Zhaolong might not understand economics, but he could count. He and his boss worked hard on a movie, at most making a few million Hong Kong dollars, risking their lives and possibly getting injured at any time.

Yet even so, they couldn't guarantee the movie's box office would reach tens of millions.

But this guy was worth several billion Hong Kong dollars—that meant hundreds of movies earning tens of millions each, meaning he'd have to make tens of thousands of movies to earn that much.

Thinking about it, Zhou Zhaolong felt that this meal, as Brother Sanmao said, was worth having.

The trace of contempt he'd felt for mainland filmmakers like Jiang Wen quickly vanished without a trace after Hong Sanmao's words.

What a joke! Anyone who'd worked in the Hong Kong entertainment industry knew that even offending the audience was better than offending a big spender. The audience were fools, easily fooled and forgetful—they'd forget what they said in a blink. But if you offended a big spender, you'd really be finished in the industry.

This dinner was organized by Jiang Wen. When he'd attended the Hong Kong Film Awards before, Hong Sanmao had hosted a banquet for him. Now that the other was in Beijing, he naturally wanted to return the favor.

Hong Sanmao had considerable connections in the Hong Kong entertainment industry. Back when he made the movie "The Millionaire's Express," he'd managed to get over a hundred celebrities to make cameo appearances, enjoying a moment of glory.

Today, though no longer a film mogul who could command a crowd, he still held a certain status in the circle. When he arrived in Beijing, many Hong Kong artists working there came to see him.

"Brother Sanmao, long time no see."

"Brother Sanmao, how's your health lately?"

People came over to exchange pleasantries, so Zhou Zhaolong naturally couldn't continue chatting with Hong Sanmao and had to step aside.

……

……

Where there are people, there are rivalries—the film industry is no exception.

Actresses in the entertainment industry may appear pure on the surface but be conservative at heart; they might play a pure jade maiden on screen but be fickle in real life. Conversely, those who seem sexy may not be promiscuous; their screen roles might be seductive, but in reality, they stay faithful.

Who knows? The so-called ageless goddesses of later generations might have messy love lives, juggling several men.

Jiang Wen's dinner was a big event, not a small private gathering. A group had booked an entire restaurant, with several tables of people eating and drinking. Looking around, one could see plenty of glamorous women.

This kind of dinner was similar to the social balls of later times. Some people networked, some had fun, and others used their bodies to gain more opportunities.

There was no choice. In the entertainment industry, there were too many wolves and too little meat. Whether male or female actors, it was the same. If you wanted to stand out, you had to lower your head and take a bite—how else would you get a chance?

Hong Sanmao naturally had many actresses around him, but he was an old hand and wouldn't be easily fooled. Besides, this wasn't his turf in Hong Kong; it was better to keep a low profile.

"Brother Sanmao, you must give me a role in your movie sometime." A scantily clad woman clung to Hong Sanmao's arm, pressing her two mounds against him, cooing.

"Sure, sure."

Feeling the sensation on his arm, Hong Sanmao smiled calmly.

He was a veteran, a tough guy who'd rolled through piles of flesh in his day. This kind of goods, even in Hong Kong, would have long been played out, let alone in the mainland.

Seeing that Hong Sanmao wasn't taking the bait, the women around weren't worried. After all, such things weren't suitable in public; there would be other opportunities.

Just then, Jiang Wen, who had gone out to make a call, returned. Seeing the crowd around Hong Sanmao, he frowned slightly but said nothing. Composing his expression, he walked over and smiled, "Brother Sanmao..."

"Awen, something up?" Hong Sanmao asked Jiang Wen curiously.

Jiang Wen nodded and glanced at the actresses around Hong Sanmao. Seeing they had something to discuss, those people naturally moved away. After all, no one in the entertainment industry was stupid enough to think an actress would become someone's mistress for nothing—that would be foolish.

Without real money, you wanted an actress to lower her head and eat a banana? Hah, dream on?

"There's something." Jiang Wen, seeing that everyone nearby had left, said to Hong Sanmao, "I have a friend who plans to come see you, Brother Sanmao, in a bit."

"That's great! Your friend is my friend. No need to be shy." Hong Sanmao laughed heartily.

That was his nature—generous and fond of making friends.

Of course, most of his friends were fair-weather friends. When real trouble came, only a few would lend a hand.

Jiang Wen gave a wry smile and explained helplessly, "My friend's situation is a bit special. He doesn't like such lively occasions. So, it might be better if we change places. What do you think?"

Hong Sanmao's brow furrowed, a hint of displeasure rising in his heart.

He was used to being a big shot. Though he needed to build connections in Beijing and thus kept a low profile, that didn't mean he could be looked down upon.

If not for Jiang Wen's sake, Hong Sanmao might not have shown up at today's dinner. Now this friend of Jiang Wen's hadn't even arrived but was already putting on airs—this irritated Hong Sanmao, who was always proud.

Looking at Jiang Wen, Hong Sanmao opened his mouth to speak, but then a thought struck him. He exhaled, calming himself, and looked at Jiang Wen, asking casually, "Is your friend also in the industry?"

Jiang Wen didn't hide it and replied offhandedly, "No, no. He's a businessman. He's written a few scripts, but now he mainly does business."

At these words, Hong Sanmao's heart leaped with joy. He knew that the big spender he wanted to cultivate had finally appeared!