"Director Lev and Director Huang have been revising for over a month, and they still haven't solved the headcount issue?" Shang Yechu was starting to suspect that Sergei was spreading rumors. "Then what exactly did they change?" Didn't screenwriter Lu say that it had already been resolved?
“What head…” Sergei frowned, clearly not understanding. “Please allow me to make this brief. After that script reading, Mikhail changed your character to an agent who infiltrates the Belosnezhsk factory to steal top Soviet technical secrets…”
Shang Yechu: "..."
"This would solve the problem you mentioned: 'If Wei were replaced with a Soviet, the plot could still proceed as usual.' But Lu resolutely rejected this suggestion." Sergei's speech quickened. "Later, Lu changed the plot again: the high pressure and oppression at the Belosnezhsk factory were mainly due to a shortage of supplies. She designed a group of Chinese people to cultivate greenhouses and cultivate land in the factory, becoming self-sufficient, using the vegetable garden to symbolize the changing relationship between the two countries. When the vegetable garden flourished, the relationship between the two countries was close; when Wei Bingkai and the students who cultivated the land left, the vegetable garden naturally withered, and the Belosnezhsk factory returned to its lifeless and resource-deficient state."
Shang Yechu couldn't help but say, "I think this plot is alright?"
Although it sounds like "Ice and Iron" has become "Ice and Iron Village," the idea of self-sufficiency is not a negative impression.
Sergei gave a strange look: "Lu and Huang said the same thing. But Teacher Lev and Mikhail vehemently objected. They could accept a flower or a tree as a symbol, but they absolutely could not accept a vegetable garden as a symbol of something grand..."
Shang Yechu's heart skipped a beat: "And what about you? Can you accept it?"
Sergei paused, avoiding the question: "Furthermore, Professor Lev believes it is a malicious metaphor."
Shang Yechu was surprised: "The director is thinking too much. It's just planting a few vegetables, what could it possibly symbolize?"
Sergei fell silent and stopped speaking.
Shang Yechu pondered for a moment, then suddenly realized. When the Chinese were there, the factory in Belosnezhsk was engaged in both farming and large-scale manufacturing; once the students left, the factory reverted to its lifeless state. Considering modern society, Russia's dependence on Chinese industrial products did indeed resemble a rather unkind metaphor…
Shang Yechu and screenwriter Lu didn't think much of it, but director Lev and screenwriter Mikhail were clearly hurt.
"Alright, I understand," Shang Yechu said with a smile. "You can continue." Actually, she suspected that Lao Xie thought the same thing, but unfortunately, she couldn't guess any of his thoughts from his flawless face.
"In short, both sides stuck to their own opinions," Sergei said. "Finally, thanks to the efforts of Huang and Lu, the problem was resolved."
Shang Yechu was genuinely curious: "Go ahead and tell me. Even if you say that the screenwriters on both sides designed aliens to invade, I won't blink."
Sergei slowly arranged the tableware in front of him, from chopsticks to plates and even cups, all neatly arranged: "After negotiations between the two parties, since the quality of a single film cannot be balanced, the quantity will be increased. Therefore, after negotiations, it was decided that the co-production would be increased from the original one film, 'Ice and Iron,' to two sister films: 'Ice and Iron' and 'Rain and Iron.'"
Shang Yechu felt like what she had just swallowed was about to come out: "...Hmm?"
Sergei lowered his eyes: "The first film, *Ice and Iron*, tells the story of Wei Bingkai's journey to a Soviet factory. The second film, *Rain and Iron*, tells the story of a Russian who comes to China to engage in construction. This way, the proportion of actors from both sides is balanced. In the first film, there are more Russians and fewer Chinese actors; in the second film, there are more Chinese actors and fewer Russians. When the two films are combined, the proportion of actors from both sides is roughly the same. The first film is led by the Russians, and the second film is led by the Chinese, with a 1:1 ratio of leadership. This month, Mikhail and Lu have completed the framework for *Rain and Iron*, and the project has been approved."
Shang Yechu couldn't hold back any longer: "Old Xie, do you know a proverb in our country?"
"What?" Sergei's attitude was quite surprised, clearly not expecting Shang Yechu to suddenly say such a thing.
Shang Yechu held her forehead, feeling the faint throbbing in her temples.
"Add water if there's too much flour, add flour if there's too much water..."
Continue read on readnovelmtl.com
