Chapter 788: Shipping magnate Bao Xingsheng
"Cut!"
The final scene in the Hospital corridor officially ended. Once Director Zhuang confirmed there were no issues, everyone immediately sprang into action.
The originally oppressive and eerie atmosphere vanished as the main lights were turned on. Brightness flooded the area once more, and everything returned to its usual bustle, losing that chilling sensation from moments ago.
It wasn't until the staff around him began moving back and forth again that Bao Xingsheng finally snapped out of the feeling he had just witnessed.
He stood rooted to the spot, looking at the young man in the center of the set. In his heart, he vaguely understood why President Mao and the others thought so highly of this formidable junior.
Just based on that hand seal the boy had performed and the powerful aura radiating from him—let alone acting it out on set—if he were to set up a fortune-telling stall on the roadside, people would find it very easy to believe him!
Back when Bao Xingsheng was most obsessed with Daoist arts, he had wanted to join a sect and learn a thing or two. However, he was told his affinity for the Dao was shallow and he didn't have the right destiny. At the time, Bao Xingsheng was quite indignant, but seeing this now, he finally understood why a master's first impression and fate were the most important factors in taking a disciple.
"So that's Xiao He."
Bao Xingsheng couldn't help but remark, "He looks completely different from his character in 'the thief catcher 2'."
"Hahaha, naturally," Wang Sheng laughed. "Many of the characters Xiao He plays are actually quite unique. Perhaps this is what fans call an 'effective performance'?"
Zhou Zhiyi in 'Long' was a teammate who was sometimes like a ghost and sometimes like a god.
Of course, this "sometimes ghost, sometimes god" didn't involve any supernatural metaphysics.
In daily life, Zhou Zhiyi was an extremely unreliable fellow with a cavalier attitude. He managed his life so poorly that it was a complete mystery how he had managed to cultivate on the mountain with his master.
However, when it came to work, Zhou Zhiyi was exceptionally reliable—especially regarding "killing ghosts." He was particularly skilled at it. According to the complaints of his two colleagues and friends, it seemed all of Zhou Zhiyi's talent points had been dumped into the skill of killing ghosts.
And so, it became like this.
You could work with Zhou Zhiyi, but you absolutely, definitely must not live with him, or you would truly end up in tears.
—This was a sincere suggestion from "Papa" Wang Budao and "Mama" Chu Xin.
Such a character design was clearly a result of Director Zhuang's wicked sense of humor.
"Director Zhuang, about the next plot point..."
Xiao He walked over to Director Zhuang's side to discuss the script.
At that moment, Wang Sheng happened to lead Bao Xingsheng over.
"Director Zhuang, come look! Who's here?"
Before they even reached them, Wang Sheng shouted out, giving the visitor plenty of face.
The two who were in the middle of a heated discussion both looked up.
Xiao He had actually noticed this unfamiliar face while filming, but since he didn't recognize him, he hadn't reacted much. Director Zhuang, however, recognized the man immediately and greeted him with a smile: "Oh, President Bao! It's been a long time!"
He then patted Xiao He's shoulder and introduced them: "This is President Bao of the Hongyu Ocean Group. He is also one of our main investors for 'Long'."
Eh? Hongyu Ocean?
Xiao He quickly scanned the man in front of him.
If one mentioned Hong Kong and a large-scale conglomerate in the shipping sector, one couldn't help but think of those famous, titled Ship Kings—
This was a major figure!
"Hello, President Bao."
He immediately greeted him respectfully.
"Hello, hello."
Bao Xingsheng looked to be in his forties and spoke very amiably. He didn't put on the airs of a big boss at all, and he shook hands friendly with both Director Zhuang and Xiao He.
His gaze lingered on Xiao He for a moment longer before he engaged in small talk with Director Zhuang about recent events.
In the gaps of their conversation, Xiao He overheard something that sounded familiar—
"Isn't it September? We're organizing a cruise party, so I wanted to ask Daoist Hu to calculate an auspicious date. Then I'll officially invite everyone to the ship for a gathering."
Bao Xingsheng said enthusiastically.
Xiao He immediately thought of the cruise party Director Zhuang had mentioned to him before.
It turned out that one of the organizers of this party was the Bao family and their Hongyu Ocean Group, and the massive cruise ship used for the event would also be provided by the Bao family.
This brought to mind the nature of maritime operations—
Coastal shipping families and merchants like the Ship Kings relied on the sea for their livelihoods for generations. Compared to ordinary businessmen, they believed even more strongly in Feng Shui and metaphysics. After all, the wind and waves at sea are unpredictable, and ocean currents are treacherous. Weather and shipwrecks are entirely up to fate and beyond human control. The less people can control their destiny, the more they feel a sense of awe. Combined with the coastal tradition of heavy emphasis on ghost and god worship and numerous maritime taboos, over time, the wealthy tycoons in the shipping industry came to value Feng Shui theories immensely.
Consequently, they had always respected metaphysical masters with real talent, and they even believed in the words of some masters without a shadow of a doubt.
Perhaps because of this, ever since the Bao family's rise, their successors had all been quite capable. Even in the face of the current complex situation, they were able to stabilize their vast family business and continue to develop steadily.
While they couldn't compare to the former wealthiest family, the Chen family, the Bao family's influence in Hong Kong was likewise not to be underestimated. Bao Xingsheng was one of the new generation of Ship Kings. Even Director Zhuang, who had a strong background himself, didn't dare to be casual right now. He spoke very respectfully, with an attitude better than Xiao He had ever seen before.
"Speaking of which, I heard Daoist Hu and President Mao are both at the filming location today..."
At the end of the chat, Bao Xingsheng didn't forget to mention his main purpose for coming.
Just as he asked, he saw President Mao walking over with his hands behind his back.
"President Mao!"
Bao Xingsheng immediately focused his attention on President Mao and strode toward him.
Director Zhuang naturally followed along, but he signaled to Xiao He to go ahead with his own business.
Xiao He had no interest in following them to chat with this big shot, and the future development wouldn't involve these areas anyway, so he nodded readily and turned to leave.
"Let's go this way—"
Director Zhuang continued to lead the way as the group walked toward the exit of the set.
Once they were far away, Liu Rulan came over with her arms crossed.
"Bao Xingsheng, that's the third-generation Ship King of Hong Kong. To think he'd personally come here, it's truly surprising."
Clearly, Liu Rulan had recognized the man while they were chatting earlier, but she hadn't come over, choosing instead to watch from the sidelines.
"Yeah, I suppose he's here for President Mao and Daoist Hu."
Xiao He nodded.
Liu Rulan mused, "This is already the third wave, isn't it? Quite a few people came during the opening ceremony, but I didn't expect the real heavyweights to only show up now."
When 'Long' first started filming, many people had come, but large conglomerates like Hongyu Ocean had only sent an executive to deliver a flower basket; it hadn't reached the level of the big boss personally visiting the site.
However, recently, perhaps because President Mao and that big shot called Grandmaster Hu had been running to the 'Long' set every day, other bosses in Hong Kong who heard the rumors couldn't help but want to come and see the situation for themselves.
And so, over the past few days, people had been visiting one after another, and they immediately looked for Daoist Hu upon arrival.
Only then did Liu Rulan and Xiao He learn that this Daoist Hu no longer performed divinations. It was hard to get him to speak even for a thousand pieces of gold; everything was left to fate, and he was rarely seen in public.
Seeing him appear in the Film Crew of 'Long' this time, the tycoons of Hong Kong felt as if they had seen hope, all wishing for Daoist Hu to perform a divination once more!
Liu Rulan and Xiao He:...Are you talking about that old man who occasionally wanders around the set?
It was clear that people here truly believed in these things.