PCJ – Chapter 402 The Film Crew Arrives

“Hey, Jiaohua, your dad mentioned that the Luoa Ridge area isn’t safe. What’s going on there exactly? This film crew is specifically headed to Luoa Ridge. See, it’s because of this photo. Last time, when a friendship delegation visited Meizi’ao, a reporter from the Huaxia Daily took some photos around Luoa Ridge, and it just happened to catch Director Lin Jianming’s eye. This is a great opportunity for our Xintian County. Director Lin Jianming and the actors in this film are all extremely well-known in the country. The four leads – Chen Stinky Cat, Zou Heming, Chen Cheng, and Tang Yan – are all top-tier stars. Don’t you want to see these celebrities up close while they film?” Luo Changjun asked.

“There’s nothing to see. I don’t recognize any of them,” Zhang Jiaohua replied, totally uninterested.

Oh, right. Luo Changjun scratched his head, suddenly recalling that this kid wasn’t like other kids. He didn’t care about these things at all.

“Anyway, tell me, what’s so dangerous about Luoa Ridge? I remember Luoa Ridge is just on the outskirts of Mount Meishan and doesn’t seem very different from other areas. I initially tried to suggest nearby scenic spots for the film crew, but they insisted on Luoa Ridge. They say there are plenty of other places that meet the criteria, some even better than Xintian County, but it had to be Luoa Ridge. Otherwise, they wouldn’t have come here.” Luo Changjun was puzzled by the film crew’s fixation on that specific location.

“It’s dangerous. I don’t fully understand why, but if they’re filming there, there’s a real chance of accidents, even fatalities. If they must film there, some areas are strictly off-limits, like Luoa Pond and the stream behind it. Other areas should be fine. But honestly, I wonder if their real purpose here is not to film a movie. Otherwise, why would they be so set on Meizi’ao when it’s nothing special?” Zhang Jiaohua said, growing suspicious.

“Maybe they’re trying to leverage our Biyu Xianyin brand too. Besides, isn’t your Biyu Xianyin also a sponsor for this film? It’s an internationally acclaimed brand, and Meizi’ao is where Biyu Xianyin is produced. That might be what attracted the film crew.” Luo Changjun also frowned, considering Zhang Jiaohua’s words, but after a moment thought it wasn’t that unusual.

“Let’s forget about the movie and eat first.” Liu Qiaoye placed the food on the table.

“Uncle Luo, with a thriving tea industry, can’t the people of Xintian County live comfortably without tourism? Wouldn’t it be better to keep things peaceful here? When crowds start pouring in, all sorts of people will come, and Xintian County might not end up better off,” Zhang Jiaohua asked, puzzled.

“Although tea has brought great profits for most farmers, not all the residents in the county are involved in the industry. Relying on tea alone is too narrow, and we haven’t even tapped into its full potential. Plus, our county is remote, and to improve infrastructure so everyone benefits from tea profits requires considerable investment. This is why we need diverse economic opportunities, and tourism is one avenue. With successful tourism, a lot of money will flow into Xintian County, creating jobs and benefiting many. With more funding, we can improve transportation, education, and so on much faster.” As county chief, Luo Changjun had a comprehensive grasp of Xintian County’s issues. Though its economy was rising rapidly thanks to Biyu Xianyin, putting the county among the province’s top ten, development remained uneven, with some remote villages still in poverty. Inadequate roads remained the county’s major bottleneck.

“Uncle Luo is right. Some mountain villages don’t even have an access road. Even if they grow tea, there’s no way to transport it. In terms of size, Xintian County is the largest in the province, which makes road construction more challenging and costly. Establishing additional income sources is essential to bring in funds to speed up our infrastructure development.” Zhang Youping had become quite insightful in his views.

“Exactly. Jiaohua should come along with me on the next village trip, to get a better understanding of the local situation,” Luo Changjun said with a smile.

“Meizi’ao was poor too. My parents even went to work in Guangdong.” Zhang Jiaohua remarked.

“Right, Jiaohua has experienced that too, but many places in our county are still very poor,” said Luo Changjun.

The opening ceremony for Tombstorm, directed by Lin Jianming, took place in Yanjing.

“Director Lin, why did you choose such an obscure place like Xintian County for this movie?” a reporter asked, focusing on the location.

“Well, I could ask, why does such an unremarkable place produce the world’s most expensive tea? There’s a saying, ‘A mountain’s not high, but a spirit gives it renown,’” Lin Jianming replied smoothly.

“Are you here because of Hongyu Xianyin? With the film crew shooting in Xintian County, will sponsor Biyu Xianyin offer its best tea as hospitality?” another reporter asked.

“I’d like to know that too! Let’s see if Biyu Xianyin Group will answer that. After all, that tea is worth more than gold!” Lin Jianming said with a hopeful expression.

“Chen Cheng, as the female lead, will you have romantic scenes with Chen Stinky Cat?” The reporters quickly shifted their focus to the actors.

Chen Cheng, a current sensation, wore a white gown that highlighted her flawless figure and beauty.

With a smile, she replied, “The crew has instructed us not to reveal spoilers, so please stay tuned.”

“Tang Yan, can your relationship with Tianchen Group’s Li You continue? Recently, Li You was caught with someone else in Donghai City. Any thoughts?”

Tang Yan, dressed more modestly, remained composed. “Li and I are good friends, but I don’t pay much attention to his private matters.”

A journalist greeted Chen Haibo.

With a laugh, he replied, “You can just call me Chen Stinky Cat; I’m used to it. When you suddenly call me Chen Haibo, it feels strange.”

Nicknamed Chen Stinky Cat for his love of cats, he embraced the moniker, often referring to himself that way.

The journalist awkwardly laughed and remarked, “Alright, Stinky Cat. Recently, there were photos of you and Chen Cheng at the airport together. You’re the leads in this film; are you two dating?”

“That’s a question for Chen Cheng. If she’s interested, I’d gladly start dating her. As the saying goes, ‘A gentleman’s pursuit is a fair lady.’ My mom thinks I’m unworthy of Chen Cheng and says a daughter-in-law like her would be the result of eight lifetimes of good karma. Honestly, I wonder if I’m even her son,” Chen Haibo quipped, skillfully deflecting a tricky question.

Chen Cheng gave him a grateful smile.

“Chen Cheng, can you share a bit about your role in the movie?” a reporter asked.

She nodded, “To clarify, I’m not the only female lead, or rather, there isn’t a traditional hierarchy of roles here. Tang Yan and I both play pivotal roles, and the same goes for Stinky Cat and Heming. Each of us has a distinct character, and this will be a great challenge. I play a lively character that I really enjoy.”

“Tang Yan, can you tell us about your role?” another reporter followed up.

Tang Yan nodded, “The director hasn’t imposed strict personality guidelines. We’re encouraged to develop our characters as the story unfolds. I’m very satisfied with my role.”

“Zou Heming, you recently split from Zhao Yuanyuan. Can you tell us who initiated it?”

Zou Heming replied, “Yuanyuan and I shared beautiful times, but being together is always a test. Two good people don’t always equal happiness, and we found it increasingly draining. So, after reflecting on our time together, we decided to let go. I’ll always wish her the best. I hope the media will respect her privacy. I’ll take responsibility for everything.”

Zou’s response moved both reporters and actors. He exemplified the responsibilities of a gentleman.

A few days later, a huge film crew convoy appeared on Xintian County’s main road.