China, Beijing, Fengzeyuan Restaurant.
Deputy Director of the Beijing Radio and Television Bureau, Chen, uncorked a bottle of red wine. If they were among locals, they would naturally drink baijiu. However, considering Eric was a foreigner and with the presence of women, red wine was perfectly acceptable.
As soon as the bottle was opened, Chen Xin recalled the advice from his elders before the meeting and instinctively wanted to take the bottle. But Eric gently tapped his leg, signaling him to hold back.
Zhang Ziyi, seated by the door with Susan, quickly stood up to take the bottle. Her English was decent, and she had been invited as a translator. At a time when there weren't many well-known actresses in Beijing, she was the most suitable choice.
Now that a translator was no longer needed, she had to show her worth in other ways.
Among those present, Director Zhou held the highest status. Han Sanping and Deputy Director Chen were on the same level, but as the head of China Film Group, Han was considered the top figure in the entertainment industry.
Zhang Ziyi moved towards Han Sanping to pour him wine, but with a squint, he gestured towards Eric and said, "Our guest from afar—pour for Mr. Cooper first."
Obediently, Zhang Ziyi approached Eric and, with a smile, poured him half a glass of red wine. The room was warm, and as she bent forward, her neckline became more noticeable. However, for Eric, used to European standards, it didn't make much of an impression.
"Mr. Cooper, my name is Zhang Ziyi. I've long wanted to meet you. In fact, if it weren't for the war, we might have met at the Oscars."
Eric looked at her. "What do you mean?"
"Director Zhang Yimou's film Hero was nominated for Best Foreign Language Film at the Oscars. We planned to go to Los Angeles, but because of the war, only the producers went. If I had gone, we might have met. I watched the live broadcast of the Oscars and saw your heroic rescue on stage. You were like a true knight!"
The whole room burst into laughter. Zhang Ziyi continued pouring wine for everyone, and when she finished, Deputy Director Chen raised his glass.
"Let's toast to our guest, the knight from afar."
After the first toast, Han Sanping gestured to the beautifully arranged dishes.
"Mr. Cooper, your Chinese is excellent, but I bet you haven't tried real Chinese food. Try these dishes—I assure you, you'll love them."
Eric sampled some sea cucumber and, with a hint of nostalgia, said, "Chairman Han, Director Zhou, back at MGM's restaurant, I specifically hired a chef from Chinatown, but his braised sea cucumber doesn't even compare to this."
Han Sanping laughed.
"That's no surprise. Fengzeyuan once hosted foreign guests at a state level. Even Henry Kissinger dined here."
He raised his glass again.
"So let's propose a second toast, for sitting at the same table as Kissinger."
Zhou, not to be outdone, chimed in.
"Han, you're not quite right. In America, they also drink at business meetings, but it's more for leisure. No one will force you. However, since we're in China, we should follow local customs. So, the third toast will be mine."
With that, Han Sanping took the lead and drank half of his glass. Zhou Xiaopeng, who couldn't contain his irritation, said, "Lao Han, why are you drinking so much? Mr. Cooper is an American, they don't do this there."
Note: In Chinese, when the surname consists of a single character, it's customary to address someone with "Xiao" or "Lao" before the surname. "Xiao" implies someone younger, while "Lao" indicates seniority. This practice is used without regard to gender.
Looking at the two men across from him, Han Sanping slapped his forehead.
"Oh, I was so excited I forgot."
"Actually, Director Zhou isn't entirely right. In the U.S., we also drink when discussing business. We also talk while eating. We have far more receptions and parties than in China."
"But there, drinking is just a way to relax. You drink as much as you want. If you can't drink, it's fine. Others won't force you."
"But since I'm in China today, I know there's a saying: 'When in Rome, do as the Romans do,' so the third toast is on me."
With that, Eric finished the rest of his wine. Everyone followed his lead, except Susan, who only sipped, and Chen Xin, who drank juice, fearing that his superior might get drunk.
Everyone else drained their glasses, and Zhang Ziyi once again started refilling. By the time it was her turn, the bottle was nearly empty, so she hurried to open another.
At such gatherings, actresses often took on a hostess role, even if they didn't always like it. The opportunity to spend the night with a powerful figure and secure good resources was a dream for many. After all, without such a night, good opportunities would never come—this was a rule the world over.
After several toasts and dishes, the conversation became more relaxed and shifted to business matters.
Han Sanping began:
"Eric, Susan mentioned MGM's plans to open a branch in China. I think it's a great idea. Hollywood studios already have offices here, but they mostly lobby for the 20-film import quota. MGM is the only one proposing a full-fledged branch, and if this succeeds, it will set a historic precedent."
Eric nodded.
"Yes, that's exactly it. We want to be the first because we see enormous potential in Chinese cinema. The market is small now, but in ten years, it will explode. With 1.4 billion people, it's a massive opportunity, and MGM wants to claim its share early."
Zhou Xiaopeng leaned back.
"The market will indeed grow. China's economy is developing, people are getting wealthier, and they want entertainment. Movies are an excellent way to provide spiritual enjoyment."
"Zhou's right. Under Han's leadership, the Chinese film market is coming to life. If MGM enters the market and brings other studios along, we'll multiply its size in just five years," Zhang Ziyi added with a smile.
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