I am a Big Player
Chapter 660 - 651, Encounter with a Black Shop_1

Chapter 660: 651, Encounter with a Black Shop_1

The convoy approached from a distance, and the five battered pickup trucks made everyone in the film crew feel that they’d probably never drive such vehicles in their lifetime. Yet, it seemed these trucks were more fitting for the desolate Desert; they were like wild beasts running through the sands.

The film crew’s coordinator hurriedly signaled the staff to pack up the equipment. They all knew that each of their professional-grade cameras could buy a luxury car, and if they were damaged, there would be nowhere to even cry over it.

Because of the week’s interaction, the local business owner had grown quite fond of Zhang Ming and the others, so he quickly spoke out to remind them, "Director Zhang, why don’t you all head back to the tents for now? I’ll cook for you after they finish dinner. They’ll only stay here for one night at most, and then you can continue filming."

In fact, the business owner was also worried that Li Kun’s group could disrupt his business. Although Li Kun and his men were regular customers, Zhang Ming’s crew had the advantage in numbers. Truthfully, if Zhang Ming’s group stayed for a month, it could easily match the expenditure of Li Kun’s group for half a year.

Who could bear to be at odds with money?

At first, the business owner thought he could use his influence to ensure that Li Kun’s group and the film crew could coexist peacefully. But after giving it some thought, he realized his influence was worth nothing in front of a group of armed poachers.

Zhang Ming, standing next to the business owner, nodded, knowing the owner meant well: "Okay, I’ll tell everyone to rest in the tents for a while, and we’ll get back to work after they leave."

In a blink, everyone was captivated by the imposing manner of the five vehicles, and they quickly followed Zhang Ming’s orders and headed to the tents. Those who needed to rehearse their lines continued to do so, while Zhang Ming figured it would be a good time to go over the script again. If there was extra time in the evening, he could rehearse with Chen Da, Liu Erbao, Li Shuaizhen, and that actress named Li Ting, as they had the most significant parts in the film.

Li Ting wasn’t particularly good-looking, so her fame had never really taken off. Luckily, her distinctive aura and solid acting skills allowed her to keep afloat in the entertainment industry.

At first, everyone was surprised why Director Zhang chose such a girl for the lead role, but later they understood that the script’s female protagonist couldn’t be too beautiful.

A girl deceived into marriage and sold to the Desert—if she looked like a fairy, it wouldn’t make for a rigorous film, and the audience would be taken out of the story.

Just as everyone had moved their stuff to the tents, ten people got out of the trucks. Some wore dark leather jackets, while others’ jackets, originally brown, had turned black with dirt, marked by the traces of wind and sand.

At first glance, the group didn’t seem extraordinary, and no one understood why Director Zhang wanted to avoid them. However, upon closer inspection, things looked different.

All of those who descended from the trucks had a chilly look in their eyes as they surveyed their surroundings, and the film crew, akin to greenhouse flowers from the city, couldn’t fathom the menace the ten people faintly radiated.

"Knives, they have knives on them," Li Shuaizhen whispered. "Dog Leg knives, sharpened edges, definitely not for show."

Li Kun and Zhang Ming locked eyes from a distance, then Li Kun buttoned up his leather jacket and turned to the approaching business owner, tilting his head and asking coldly, "What’s going on?"

"They’re a film crew from Capital, here to shoot a movie about poaching," the business owner explained.

Poaching? A movie?

After hearing this, Li Kun and his men exchanged glances and then burst into raucous laughter, finding it ironic that they were poachers themselves.

"Haha, they should have cast me as the lead, playing myself! And maybe I could get a bed scene with the leading lady," one man sneered as he eyed the film crew, especially the numerous women, with a particularly brazen look.

"Keep your voice down, do you have a death wish?" Li Kun said coldly, annoyed that the fool had gotten carried away enough to carelessly reveal his identity. Although they were poised here to poach, even idiots knew that if the government got serious and found enough clues to encircle them, no one would be able to escape.

Weren’t those big-time poachers who had met their downfall in Kekexili a lesson to learn from?

Li Kun observed the expressions of the film crew on the other side. The two groups were actually quite far apart; they probably hadn’t heard anything.

The faces of the people in the film crew had all changed. Indeed, they had not heard what that man had said, but the fact that their opponents were armed and their eyes were so brazen made everyone’s hearts pound with fear. Could it be that they had encountered bandits?

However, Li Kun and his group paid no attention to them, and instead they headed straight for the inn, "Get the hot water ready; the men want to take a hot bath, and get the mutton roasting quickly, don’t make me have to remind you."

"Alright, rest assured," the shady innkeeper promised with an ingratiating smile.

By 10 o’clock at night, Li Kun and his group were surrounded by a pile of empty bottles, yet there was no end in sight, as if they intended to drink all the way until dawn.

The film crew members looked enviously toward the inn, hugging their knees. They had been busy all day, and now they couldn’t even get a meal, their stomachs were churning!

"What do you think these people are? Coming out from the Desert, could they be poachers?"

"How long are they going to keep at it? I’m starving to death. When I came, I even brought some snacks..."

Basically, everyone had brought snacks, but now that they had been stationed here for a week, everything was gone!

Now, everyone was eagerly waiting for the group inside the inn to finish so the innkeeper could start cooking for them, but this wait took them past 10 o’clock.

"How about we go over there and discuss it with them? After all, they’ve almost finished eating, and it wouldn’t be a problem for the innkeeper to start cooking for us now," someone suggested.

Chen Da looked at Zhang Ming, who in turn looked at the hopeful expressions of everyone surrounding him, "Alright, Chen Da, let’s go talk to them."

Truth be told, Zhang Ming didn’t want to deal with these people, but as the director and the boss of the film crew, if he couldn’t stand up for his staff at a time like this, it could lead to disunity and discord in the future.

It wasn’t that Zhang Ming and his group were cowardly for not wanting to deal with these people; it was that the others were armed, and obviously not easy to handle. If an argument or conflict arose, that would truly be foolish.

Fighting simply wasn’t their forte, and if the men in the inn harassed the female staff, standing up to fight would have been meaningful. But it seemed the others were somewhat restrained and hadn’t done anything of the sort.

"Director Zhang, don’t go," Li Shuaizhen stopped Zhang Ming, "Mr. Chen and I will go together."

A few girls also chimed in, "Yeah, Director Zhang, you should stay here."

Without waiting for Zhang Ming to reply, Li Shuaizhen pulled Chen Da and walked toward the shady inn across the street. It wasn’t that he wanted to risk himself, but rather, he was someone who remembered the kindness shown to him. Zhang Ming had been good to him, and he couldn’t let Zhang Ming take the risk.