Chapter 86 Ashes to ashes, dust to dust

Chapter 86: Chapter 86 Ashes to ashes, dust to dust

“Alright, Mr. Xue, I understand. I’ll give you an answer right away!” Qin Yu said with a solemn expression as she hung up the phone.

“What did Mr. Xue say?” Qin Yuan asked from the office window, his voice grave.

“He’s planning to produce a movie for Fan Mengxue, and he wants us to be the investors!”

“What do you think?” Qin Yuan asked without turning around.

Qin Yu hesitated slightly, “Providing the funding isn’t hard, a few billion yuan isn’t much for the Qin Family, but if we do this, we’ll completely be taking a stand against the Xie Family.”

Qin Yuan chuckled, then seemingly out of the blue said, “Yu, look at this vast city outside the window, how dazzling it is.”

The office was located on the top floor of the tallest skyscraper in Beijiang City. Standing in front of the floor-to-ceiling windows, one could enjoy a view that diminished all the other buildings, as if the entire Beijiang City was underfoot.

Qin Yu was somewhat puzzled.

Qin Yuan continued, “For many years, we have kept the peace with the Xie

Family, seemingly amicable, but do you think it’s as friendly as it appears?”

“Business is a battlefield, sometimes even crueler than an actual battlefield. Do you know why Longtai Group has no industry in the provincial city? It wasn’t like that originally. Back then you were too young. I sent many capable subordinates to the provincial city to explore the market, including your father, but in the end, they lost their lives.”

Qin Yuan’s voice grew heavy at this point.

Qin Yu felt a tightness in her chest and listened quietly.

Qin Yuan sighed, “Later as I grew older, my vitality and desire for revenge faded. Fortunately, I met Mr. Xue, and thanks to him, I regained my health. Now, it’s time to settle the scores from the past!”

Qin Yu nodded thoughtfully.

“Mr. Xue is a smart man, even the wisest I’ve ever seen. He’s going to the provincial city this time, and the reason I sent Hei King with him was actually to express the Qin Family’s intentions.”

“That is, no matter what, the Qin Family will always be Mr. Xue’s loyal supporter! This is also why he wants us to invest! He… is certainly aiming for more than just a movie!”

“So… Grandfather, you mean…”

“I’ll hold the fort here. You take enough funds and go to the provincial city yourself! Mr. Xue wants five billion, so you bring ten billion there!” Qin Yuan’s eyes gleamed more sharply.

Qin Yu’s expression became solemn, and she nodded, “Yes!”

“Dust to dust, earth to earth, some things should be settled!” Qin Yuan looked down at the bustling city below, his eyes burning with flames.

Han Yao’s face was extremely unsightly.

Because all morning, she had made countless calls to fairly renowned directors in the industry, but as soon as they heard it was for a new movie starring Fan Mengxue, they all politely declined.

The dismal start made both Han Yao and Fan Mengxue’s hearts sink.

The Xie Family’s influence in the industry was obviously much larger than imagined.

Only Xue An remained unaffected, even spending the morning playing puzzles with his two daughters.

When noon arrived and the last phone call also ended in vain, even Han Yao fell into despair.

Yet at that moment, the doorbell rang. When Hei King opened the door, a man wearing a mask walked in.

Once he removed his mask, it turned out to be Stephen.

“Mr. Stephen, what brings you here…” Han Yao and Fan Mengxue quickly stood up.

Stephen gave an apologetic smile and then very formally nodded to Xue An, who was sitting in a chair. “Mr. Xue.”

Xue An nodded, “Sit down!”

Stephen shook his head, “I won’t sit. There’s a lot to do back at the studio. I came to tell you that if you’re really determined to make a movie, I can recommend someone!”

“Who?” Han Yao’s eyes lit up.

Stephen said, “This person was a good friend of mine back in the day. His directing skills are no less than mine, but because he refused to kowtow to the powerful, he offended the Xie Family and was blacklisted. Moreover, I heard his spouse later fell seriously ill, and he has since fallen into obscurity.”

“Are you referring to…” Han Yao hesitated for a moment before speaking.

Stephen nodded, “Yes, it was Cao Zheng who was once known as the genius director. ”

“Is he also in the provincial city?”

Stephen nodded, “Back then, I had invited him to go abroad, but he declined. I haven’t been in touch with him for a long time now, but I can be certain that he must still be in the provincial city!”

Han Yao became excited.

Cao Zheng was a myth in the entertainment industry back in the day.

His directional works had even won multiple awards overseas.

It was just that he suddenly disappeared from the public eye, and it turned out to be because he had offended the Xie Family.

At this moment, Stephen gave a wry smile and said, “I didn’t expect things to develop this way. Once this movie is finished, I’ll leave Huaxia and never come back again, after all… the waters here are too deep.”

“And…” Stephen hesitated.

“What’s wrong?” Mr. Xue raised an eyebrow.

“The Xie Family obviously means business this time, pouring in a lot more investment. Xie Tianci is very ambitious, even wanting to use this movie to compete in the overseas film market.”

The implication in Stephen’s words was clear; he was warning Mr. Xue that if he really wanted to teach the Xie Family a lesson through the film, it would be difficult!

Mr. Xue smiled faintly, “It’s good to have great ambition, but without equal strength, it’s nothing more than a fool’s dream!”

Stephen gave Han Yao the address and then put his mask back on and left.

Han Yao was very excited and prepared to set out to extend the invitation immediately.

Mr. Xue also stood up and said, “I’ll accompany you! Hei King will stay here to guard.”

Hei King nodded, “Understood!”

“Daddy, we want to go too!”

Mr. Xue smiled, bent down, and picked up his two daughters, “Okay!”

This was a very dilapidated neighborhood, strewn with trash everywhere on its streets due to the lack of management.

Those who lived here were mostly the bottom rung of society without any source of income.

Han Yao parked the car in front of a building that must have been around for forty or fifty years, and upon getting out, she couldn’t help but frown.

The environment around here was just too poor.

Could the once-famous, genius director Cao Zheng be living in such a place?

Upon entering the building’s hallway, a pungent smell assaulted their nostrils, and it was pitch black without a single light.

The address given by Stephen was on the fifth floor. When they arrived at the door, Han Yao was just about to knock, but the door opened.

Then, a man dressed in disheveled clothes stood in front of the door, looking at Han Yao and Mr. Xue with a wary gaze.

“Excuse me, is this the home of Teacher Cao Zheng?” Han Yao asked politely.

“No!” The man said and slammed the door shut vigorously.

Han Yao, feeling humiliated but biting her teeth in anger, persisted for the sake of the film and continued to knock on the door.

This time the knocking went on for even longer, probably about five minutes before the man opened the door impatiently.

Han Yao bit her lip, then with a smile said, “May I ask who you are to Teacher

Cao Zheng? This address was given to me by Director Stephen, you…”

“Can you not be annoying, I already said it’s not here!” The man prepared to slam the door again.

But just then, Mr. Xue calmly said, “If she doesn’t get treatment, your wife will be dead in three days at most..”