NOVEL NEXT Chapter 145:
When Lynch arrived, what he noticed from the card game was that Mr. Fox actually tried to pass time by deliberately "losing" in the game. In essence, Mr. Fox was using this tactic to gather a group of ordinary old men around him by losing money.
Some people might think this was actually a manifestation of loneliness and would consider Mr. Fox a pitiful old man with no friends.
But from another perspective, at least he still had money...
Lynch saw through it at a glance. After all, for someone who dealt with money all day and wasn't exactly a saint, losing so much that he had barely any chips left in front of him wasn't a normal occurrence.
But he didn't think Mr. Fox was pitiful. Maybe in Mr. Fox's heart, those who played with him and took advantage of him were the pitiful ones. At least he wouldn't sacrifice the most precious time of his life for a tiny amount of money.
People often say that money can't buy happiness, but Lynch felt that Mr. Fox had been quite happy just now. That kind of happiness where he sat behind the scenes, letting those old men think they had found a "fool" while actually becoming one, was something others wouldn't understand.
As they settled into the rattan chairs, the pair engaged in lively conversation and shared laughter on the terrace. Unlike genuine leather or fabric sofas, which would succumb to the elements within six months due to exposure to wind, sun, and occasional harsh weather, the rattan chairs boasted greater durability. Their enduring charm and cultural appeal made them the perfect fit for this setting.
Basically, people were like that. Once basic financial needs were satisfied, they would tend to pursue spiritual fulfillment. Pursuing cultural satisfaction was a more suitable approach for the masses.
"I heard that you've found a script," Lynch said, taking a sip of the coffee the servant had brought. In truth, many young people like him preferred drinking juice because of its sweet and tangy flavor.
Mr. Fox nodded, "You know, my foolish son was a university student..." he said, deriding Fox Junior, yet the pride evident on his face revealed his true sentiments. "One of his old classmates got in touch with him and handed him this script. He found it pretty interesting, so he figured, why not give it a shot?"
Lynch could understand the feeling of being a father. In reality, every father hoped that their child would have a bright future, even if they happen to be the leader of a criminal family.
He nodded. "I mentioned this matter to the mayor over dinner tonight, and he agreed to provide us with a financial subsidy. I can't guarantee the exact amount, but I asked for as much as possible."
"Also, you can apply for assistance from the Social Services Bureau. They will arrange dedicated staff to assist with your filming work."
Mr. Fox was taken aback for a moment, then thanked Lynch, "You are a good person, Lynch!"
"We are friends, and friends should help each other, don't you think?"
Mr. Fox answered without any hesitation, "You're absolutely right, Lynch, my friend!"
Perhaps it was Lynch's arrival that distracted Young Fox, or maybe he wanted to seek validation and approval from Lynch. Shortly thereafter, he came to the terrace on the second floor, holding the script, and handed it to Lynch. "Would you like to take a look at the script? If everything goes well, this will be our first movie."
Mr. Fox and his son had established a company called "Fox Studio," in which Lynch also invested some money, holding thirty percent of the shares.
Initially, he had planned to take only ten percent of the shares. However, Mr. Fox and his son were extremely enthusiastic and insisted on giving him thirty percent. Because of this, Lynch had to fork out an additional three hundred thousand (which hadn't been transferred yet, but would eventually be).
This scheming father and son duo!
Given his responsible attitude towards his money, he looked at it very seriously. Thanks to his past experiences and expertise, he also had some connection to this fast-money-making business.
As Lynch continued reading, his eyebrows began to raise. The script unfolded as a very typical road thriller romance movie, perhaps a bit cliché, but it fit squarely within the realm of common mainstream movies.
Before faster transportation options became available, people frequently opted to travel between cities by car. One reason was the lower cost compared to train travel, and the greater sense of freedom it provided. After all, it was widely recognized that freedom was a fundamental principle enshrined in the constitution, and the spirit of freedom was deeply ingrained in the hearts of citizens across the federation.
People enjoyed the allure and poetry of driving along the highway, particularly as the sun set over the crimson horizon of the desert. That was why road movies had always been popular, with their low production costs being one of the contributing factors.
However, this script... Lynch wasn't optimistic about it. The story followed a woman whose car broke down, prompting her to hitchhike and inadvertently end up in a car with a psychopathic killer. What unfolded was even more bewildering: despite enduring trauma and torture, she inexplicably fell in love with him, leading to a perplexing redemption where the killer returned to normalcy and willingly turned himself in. To top it off, she even bore a child for the psychopathic killer.
The thrilling aspect wasn't in the story, but in the screenwriter's mind. After setting down the script, Lynch attempted to find more moderate words to describe it by incorporating some body language, but he failed.
"I don't know how to describe it..."
Perhaps misunderstood Lynch's words, Fox Junior said, "Were you also impressed by it?"
Lynch glanced at Mr. Fox, who seemed to be watching him attentively, seeking some valuable feedback. He frowned, "Maybe I don't understand the deeper meaning of this script, but I know it's not a script I like. I wouldn't spend money to buy tickets to go to the cinema for it."
There was a hint of disbelief on Fox Junior's face, "It's a very excellent script. There are a lot of allegories in it. Haven't you noticed it's actually related to some religious stories?"
Next, Fox Junior began to explain to Lynch what a certain part of the script represented, what metaphors were behind it, and what else it alluded to. Through his description and interpretation, some deeper aspects of the script were revealed.
Actually, this script, like its author, lacked someone who could clearly interpret it, which meant many interesting and deeper contents hadn't been discovered by people.
However, Lynch wasn't very interested in this. "Entertainment pursues happiness, not contemplation. That's what philosophy is for."
"Audiences won't spend a few bucks and sit in a cinema for one or two hours to think about why this is happening or what that means. They just want happiness. And unfortunately, I didn't find even a bit of happiness in what you presented."
"Saying this might upset you, but I have to speak my mind because I also have to take responsibility for my money."
Mr. Fox kept a smile on his face. He didn't understand movies much, but he knew what interested people and what didn't. He didn't think it was a good story either, but these university kids thought it was great.
As a father, he was definitely inadequate, so he hoped to make up for some of what Fox Junior lacked in some way. He didn't say it was bad, but remained silent.
If old Mr. Fox tried to stop Fox Junior from filming this script, it might not be very effective. But Lynch was different. From some angles, Fox Junior admired Lynch even more than he respected Mr. Fox. At least, they both became successful with Lynch's help, which was just a small step in Lynch's plan.
"Is it really that bad?" Fox Junior began to emerge from his enthusiasm and faintly felt that maybe it really was... not good?
"Take it out and let people on the street who have nothing to do with this matter have a look. They'll tell you the most genuine opinion."
Fox Junior left feeling a bit down, but Mr. Fox asked, "Do you have any good suggestions?"
This question left Lynch a bit puzzled. "Which aspect are you referring to?"
"The script, the story of the movie." Mr. Fox continued, "Actually, he has already rented all the equipment needed for filming. These things are not cheap, and the rental company said even if we don't use them, they won't issue refunds..."
During times of economic downturn, getting a refund was completely out of the question. Some might argue that it was just a few hundred thousand bucks, so what if it couldn't be refunded? With Mr. Fox and his son's successful business ventures, would they even concern themselves with such amounts?
Perhaps that was the case when the economy was good, but now the situation was different.
Moreover, these things weren't sold to them. It wasn't the case that even if they couldn't get a refund, they could still keep them. These were all rented, and once the time limit specified in the contract expired, they would have to return them to the rental company, leaving nothing behind.
Originally, Mr. Fox intended for Fox Junior to face a setback. He always believed that society was straightforward, and even felt that they could succeed regardless of whether they followed their current path.
If Lynch didn't know about this, everything would proceed according to Mr. Fox's plan. They would finish filming, then the movie would fail at the box office. Fox Junior would realize the complexity of society and the correctness of Mr. Fox's experience, which would have a positive impact on the relationship between them.
But now, not only did Lynch know, the mayor also knew. So, if this matter continued to be done according to his initial plan, not only would Fox Junior suffer losses, but he himself might suffer as well.
People would witness the birth of a big joke, which was not part of Mr. Fox's cunning plan; he had to salvage the situation.Please vote for this novel at https://www.novelupdates.com/series/blackstone-code/There are advance chapters available nowAccess will be granted 24 hours after the donationTier 1: 7 Advance chapters Link
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