A Thousand Miles to Send Jingniang

"Brother Yang, you're not kidding me, are you?" Nazha's beautiful eyes sparkled like a pool of spring water.

Having experienced the film crew life for the past two days, she now felt like someone who had just learned to ride a bicycle, eager to try it out.

Last night, lying in bed, she had been thinking about asking Zhang Yang to help her arrange a role as an extra after a few more days of learning, to earn some pocket money and genuinely experience acting.

She hadn't expected that before she could even ask, Zhang Yang would bring her such a huge surprise, directly securing a special contract for her.

Special contracts were divided into large, medium, and small. They involved playing extras or even minor supporting roles, with independent plotlines and lines.

"I'm not that bored," Zhang Yang lightly tapped his chin. "If nothing unexpected happens, you'll have a small role to play."

Nazha suppressed the excitement in her heart, her beautiful eyes fixed on Zhang Yang's face. "What kind of role is it?"

This time, Zhang Yang didn't immediately answer Nazha's question. Instead, he sat back in his chair and patted his shoulder.

Nazha understood and sensibly walked behind Zhang Yang to give him a shoulder massage, her voice softening. "Brother Yang, is this pressure okay?"

"Mmm, not bad," Zhang Yang closed his eyes, enjoying it.

"..." Some crew members and extras around them were so envious they could barely breathe.

Nazha was naturally beautiful, her exotic features combined with her luminous skin made it hard not to notice her, to be stunned by her.

This was a woman more beautiful than many famous actresses in the industry, yet she was merely Zhang Yang's personal assistant.

They had been skeptical at first, but seeing Nazha massaging Zhang Yang now convinced them completely.

This man, he was truly damned!

Extra A: "The wind today is quite noisy."

Extra B: "Suddenly feel like being an extra in Hengdian is meaningless."

Extra C: "Yeah, I want to go back home and get married."

Extras Leader: "We're not getting paid today?"

Extras: "..."

Nazha and Zhang Yang were unaware of the extras' internal drama. Nazha, filled with curiosity, asked, "Brother Yang, how did you manage that?"

Zhang Yang opened his eyes and said calmly, "Actually, I wasn't sure if you'd get this role."

"?" Nazha paused.

Had she been tricked?

"It depends on whether Sister Ziwei agrees to let me add a scene. Here's the thing..." Zhang Yang turned back and explained the situation to Nazha.

He recounted going to see Wallace Huo last night to have him help deliver the script, and then being called in by Lin Ziwei for a detailed discussion just now.

"So that's why you didn't take me with you last night, you were secretly doing big things." Nazha suddenly understood.

The word "doing" was used very cleverly here.

"Brother Yang, what exactly is the role I'll be playing?" Nazha resumed massaging Zhang Yang's shoulders.

Her enthusiastic attitude surprised Zhang Yang a little. "You think Sister Ziwei will agree to my proposal?"

"I trust you," Nazha's beautiful eyes reflected Zhang Yang's face. "Although we haven't known each other for long, I've noticed that whatever you set out to do, you seem to accomplish."

Well, Nazha actually had such observational skills?

Zhang Yang felt surprised and smiled, "I'll take your good words."

"As for the role you'll play, it's tailor-made for you, a role where you can't get the love you desire from me."

Nazha:?

It's great that you've custom-made a role for me, Sister.

But why is it a role where I can't get the love I desire?

Nazha was about to ask more, but she saw Lin Ziwei and Liang Xin Quan walking over with a few people, and sensibly closed her mouth.

"Sister Ziwei, Director Liang, Director Lin," Zhang Yang stood up.

The drama The Legend of Dugu had two directors. Besides Liang Xin Quan, the other director was named Lin Feng, a graduate of Beijing Film Academy, who would later become the action director for The Battle at Lake Changjin.

The crew initially divided into Group A and Group B. Liang Xin Quan was responsible for the dramatic scenes, while Lin Feng handled the action sequences. Zhang Yang had just met him today.

"A'Yang, you know Director Lin?" Liang Xin Quan asked with surprise in his smile.

"Of course, I do," Zhang Yang smiled. "For dramas like The Return of the Condor Heroes, Sweet Honey, New Shanghai Bund, and New Three Kingdoms, I remember the action director was always Director Lin."

Lin Feng was usually a man of few words, but at this moment, his face showed a hint of emotion.

He had indeed participated in the filming of many well-known works, but as an action director, he rarely appeared in front of the camera.

People who hadn't worked with him rarely knew him, let alone a young man like Zhang Yang.

"Hello," Lin Feng extended his hand proactively.

Zhang Yang immediately shook it.

Lin Ziwei spoke at the opportune moment, "Since A'Yang knows Director Lin, your collaboration should go smoothly from now on."

Upon hearing this, a perfectly feigned look of surprise appeared on Zhang Yang's face. "Sister Ziwei, you agreed?"

"That's right, after we read the script, we felt your ideas were excellent and approved it unanimously," Liang Xin Quan said with a smile. "We discussed it and decided to have Director Lin lead a team to handle the relevant filming."

What is a surprise?

This is what a surprise is.

A talented director like Lin Feng, who works diligently and quietly, is definitely worth befriending.

"Thank you all for your recognition. I will definitely perform well," Zhang Yang promised.

At this moment, a young woman next to Director Liang suddenly spoke up, "Zhang Yang, did you draw inspiration from any existing works for this plot? I feel like I've seen something similar before."

She was Shao Sihan, one of the two screenwriters for The Legend of Dugu. After seeing what Zhang Yang had written, she felt a part of it was familiar.

"Screenwriter Shao knows so much. I only got the inspiration after searching on Baidu, referencing the story of A Thousand Miles to Send Jingniang," Zhang Yang said, playing along and flattering her.

Shao Sihan felt her face flush. She had actually come to find trouble with Zhang Yang.

If you're going to add plot points, what does that make us screenwriters?

But seeing Zhang Yang's face, she suddenly didn't feel so angry anymore.

She continued to ask, merely out of concern for potential plagiarism.

She hadn't expected Zhang Yang to admit it so readily.

"A Thousand Miles to Send Jingniang?" Shao Sihan frowned. She seemed to have heard of this story before.

However, people like Lin Ziwei were completely clueless.

Zhang Yang, of course, didn't let them ask. He proactively explained, "A Thousand Miles to Send Jingniang is a widely circulated folk tale. It tells how Emperor Taizu of Song, Zhao Kuangyin, disguised himself and left Bianjing to avoid trouble when he was young. Passing by the Qingyou Temple in Taiyuan, he rescued the unfortunate woman Zhao Jingniang, who was imprisoned in a dark room by bandits. He escorted her a thousand miles, treating her like a sister along the way, traveling day and night, and maintaining proper conduct throughout their journey."

"A Thousand Miles to Send Jingniang is a Peking Opera, but it also exists in Yue Opera, Kunqu Opera, Chao Opera, Sichuan Opera, and other regional opera forms."

Everyone understood. Zhang Yang had drawn inspiration from "history" or, rather, widely circulated "unofficial history."

"This is good," Liang Xin Quan couldn't help but praise. "Drawing from history can serve as a bridge, allowing the audience to connect more deeply and enhancing their evaluation of our drama."

Hearing this, Lin Ziwei couldn't help but secretly roll her eyes at Zhang Yang.

If Zhang Yang had said earlier that the story was inspired by A Thousand Miles to Send Jingniang, she would have approved it immediately, showcasing her foresight as a producer.

Zhang Yang noticed Lin Ziwei's expression and thought to himself, You're uncultured, and you blame me?

"Then the role of Zhao Jingniang can't just be given to anyone," Lin Ziwei said.

This statement made Nazha's heart leap into her throat.

After listening to everything, she felt that the role Zhang Yang had fought for her was Zhao Jingniang.

If Lin Ziwei took this seriously, her chances of playing the role would be slim.

Just then, she heard Zhang Yang say, "Sister Ziwei, do you think my little assistant here would be suitable?"

Nazha: !?!

O! M! G!

How could this man be so handsome!?