Just as things were wrapping up here, Zhao Yun called.
"Teacher Zhou, you've made a name for yourself in the investment circle now. Everyone knows you've got deep pockets and are willing to fund documentaries. A film has come knocking, asking if you're interested."
When you're sleepy, someone hands you a pillow. The previous moves had indeed attracted some people.
Although these people might see him as an easy mark, like some clueless coal boss, he wasn't stupid. He knew which projects were worth investing in and which weren't.
And documentaries were purely a hobby. Spending money on his passion was worth it.
This was far better than buying luxury goods or a yacht.
"What film? What's it about? Give me the rundown first, Brother Yun," Zhou You said, ready to listen. If it worked, fine; if not, he wouldn't be a sucker.
"It's directed by Han, starring Wang Baoqiang. The title seems to be something like 'Mr. Tree.' The overall investment isn't huge. They're asking if you're interested."
Hearing this, Zhou You had a hunch. It must be Wang Baoqiang's masterpiece, *Hello, Mr. Tree*.
He'd seen the film before and loved it. The storyline, though hard to fully grasp, captured a certain essence.
It portrayed the little guy with striking depth. Over time, as word of mouth spread, "Mr. Tree" became synonymous with "Ah Q"—everyone at the bottom was Mr. Tree, everyone was Ah Q.
But the film had bombed at the box office. It won some awards abroad, gaining acclaim but not profit.
Now Zhou You was torn. He knew it would lose money, but investing in this film would cement his reputation in the film investment circle. And that reputation would only grow over time.
"How much investment are they looking for? Let me think it over. I've got nothing going on right now. If it works, bring them over for a face-to-face talk another day," Zhou You said. He couldn't make the first move in this situation.
He figured the investors and director knew this wasn't a box-office blockbuster. It was probably an art film.
"Alright, I'll bring them over in a couple of days. They didn't reveal the exact amount, but it's probably a few million," Zhao Yun said casually, since it wasn't his money.
Wang Baoqiang's performance in *Mr. Tree* had even made it into film school textbooks, proving his acting chops.
The film had many iconic scenes that were clipped into various memes, growing more popular over time.
Zhou You himself really liked the film, but he knew it would lose money, only earning him fame.
His liquid assets weren't that abundant yet, and they needed time to grow. Documentaries and films were two different circles. Without a guide, it was hard for an outsider to break in.
Fine, he'd treat it as buying a reputation, like paying a fortune for a horse's bones. At least he'd get some name recognition. But he couldn't go over 2 million. Anything above that wouldn't be right.
And through Wang Baoqiang, he could get in touch with Xu Zheng. When Xu directed his first film, many investors were skeptical and didn't back it. Who knew it would become a massive hit?
The next day, Zhao Yun and Director Han showed up. This showed how urgently they needed funds—art films rarely made money at the box office.
Director Han, wearing a cap and black pants, sat chatting with Zhao Yun in the restaurant. When they saw Zhou You approach, both stood up to greet him.
As an investor, Zhou You had some status, especially since he only put in money and didn't meddle.
"Hello, Director Han. I've heard a lot about you. Zhao Yun mentioned you yesterday. I've seen *Still Life*, the one you co-directed with Jia," Zhou You said politely, laying on the flattery.
Director Han looked a bit awkward. He'd only been an assistant director on that film, and everyone knew that role was mostly grunt work.
But every director starts as an assistant. Now he wanted to direct his own film, and he'd learned how hard it was to find investors.
Those with box-office appeal had it easier. For an art film director like him, without any awards, it was all about luck.
"Thank you, Mr. Zhou, for the opportunity. When Zhao Yun mentioned you, I knew you were someone with vision. That's rare, so I took the liberty of visiting," Director Han said humbly.
Once they sat down, Director Han briefly outlined the film.
The film aimed to depict the helpless, hopeless tragedy of the lowest rural folk in China, struggling with reality. That's why he'd cast Wang Baoqiang—it was practically a role tailored for him.
It was about the coldness of the world and the warmth of human connection. For the poorest villagers, life boiled down to money and survival.
Society judged people by wealth and status. People's views shifted with changes in money and position. In the film, a friend escapes poverty by opening a school in the city.
There's a huge gap between how "Mr. Tree" sees himself and others. He feels they're no longer on the same level, yet he also feels sympathy.
Though Mr. Tree tries to live better, his limited education traps him. He can't change his fate through effort.
Mr. Tree is a tragic, miserable little guy. His traits mirror those of many in his class: kind, timid, lacking basic security.
At the bottom of society, he's like plankton, devoured by various forces—thugs, authorities, the newly rich.
Only love gives him hope and a fantasy beyond reality. When he gains a shred of "dignity," he numbs himself into oblivion.
Zhou You listened to Director Han's summary, feeling like he understood but also didn't.
He could only say politely, "This film is truly profound. I'd love to see it released. How much funding is still needed?"
"The budget isn't big. It mainly covers actor salaries. Many are doing it as a favor, so fees are low. I've also pulled in a few companies to invest. We're still short 3 million," Director Han said, padding the number a bit.
After all, who wouldn't want more money for their film?
The amount wasn't huge and matched Zhou You's estimate, but he couldn't just give whatever they asked. Otherwise, he'd earn the label of a sucker, even if the grapevine already painted him as one.
"I've invested in other projects recently—Zhao Yun knows about some. My liquid cash is limited, and I have other uses for it. I can offer at most 2 million."
Director Han was overjoyed. He'd expected at most a million or so.
Now he'd hit his target. Filming could start right away.
Zhou You: Rich and clueless, come quickly.
The collection count has broken 100. Maybe throw in some recommendation votes for motivation. Writing alone is getting hard to sustain.