163: Chapter 164 Life as an Extra (Part 3)

Chen Sheng was very fortunate to be someone who listened to advice. Following behind his "Japanese soldier" Buddy, he managed to complete the raid with some scares but no real danger. Finally, he got shot, fell into a corner that wouldn't easily attract attention, and silently played dead until the performance ended.

When a Staff Member shouted "Cut," Chen Sheng scrambled up. Ignoring the cold sweat on his forehead, he quickly found his "Japanese soldier" Buddy and retreated with him to the Japanese camp.

Next came the rehearsal for the main leads, supporting actors, and other important crew members.

On the extras' side, once they reached the camp, everyone sat down on the ground to rest while waiting for the next call. As soon as Chen Sheng sat down, he quickly offered a cigarette to his Buddy and whispered in complaint: "Damn! That was too scary. Thanks, Buddy."

The Buddy took the cigarette, lit it with the lighter Chen Sheng handed over, and took a deep drag. Only then did he wave his hand dismissively with the hand holding the cigarette and say: "What's so scary about that? You're just new here. Once you've been on a few sets, you'll get used to it."

"Good heavens, this is nothing? I just saw several Japanese soldiers grab someone's privates. That sensation... tsk tsk, their eyes almost popped out in an instant."

The Buddy shot Chen Sheng a look that said he was overreacting: "Little brother, that's where you're an outsider. Ever heard of 'set couples'?"

Hearing this, Chen Sheng's eyes instantly lit up.

He smelled gossip.

Sure enough, the next second, the Buddy pursed his lips toward the main actors who were rehearsing, leaned closer to Chen Sheng, and lowered his voice: "Little brother, see that guy carrying the submachine gun over there? I heard that guy found two temporary wives on set. Rumor has it someone even saw the three of them enter the same hotel room and only come out the next day."

Chen Sheng looked at the muscular man carrying the submachine gun. Honestly, he certainly had the capital to find two.

Afterward, the "Japanese soldier" Buddy shared some rumors from other sets with Chen Sheng, and the two chatted until lunch was served.

Chen Sheng followed the experienced Buddy to secure a spot early and collected one meat and two vegetable dishes, plus two boxes of rice. Then, the two found a secluded spot to continue gossiping.

With Chen Sheng supplying enough cigarettes, the Buddy completely satisfied his curiosity about the industry.

Just like that, they drifted through until 1:30 PM, when the Staff Member gathered everyone to continue rehearsing. Single camp, joint drills, coordinating with important supporting actors—they rehearsed back and forth until 4:00 PM, when it finally stopped.

At this moment, the bearded middle-aged man whom everyone kept calling "Director" sat imposingly in the director's chair. After giving instructions to the crew via walkie-talkie, everyone took their places. As the clapperboard clapped, today's filming finally officially began.

"Run! The Japanese are coming!"

"Mommy, Mommy~~"

"Run to the mountains!"

"Yo shi, yo shi..."

"Die, die..."

For a moment, this area was filled with all sorts of noises.

Chen Sheng still followed the "Japanese soldier" Buddy's instructions, keeping close to his pace. Although he was inevitably nervous, he managed to complete the task of entering the village, raiding it, and getting shot down by the divine soldiers who descended from the sky, albeit stumbling along the way.

Lying on the ground playing dead, Chen Sheng squinted to peek at the scene. As a result, he realized there were bad actors among the extras... No, it should be said that the extras were all full of "Old Six".

During the previous rehearsal, the "flower girls" were caught with ease, sometimes even without trying. But when it came to the official shooting, this group of old "flower girls" instantly turned into loaches—slippery and hard to hold—completely capturing the agility of women who had engaged in manual labor in the countryside for years.

The expressions on their faces also changed from the previous enjoyment to terror, as if they had truly encountered "Japanese soldiers."

And the group of "Japanese soldiers" who seemed forced earlier now had smiles on their faces that were as lecherous as possible, as arrogant as possible—like total perverts.

He had thought everyone's acting skills were the same, but it turned out...

"Damn it, so everyone was just acting earlier."

Just then, the director yelled "Cut," then jumped straight off the director's chair, walked over to a supporting actor, and started roaring: "How many times have I told you, don't block the camera, don't block the camera! Are your ears stuffed with donkey hair or what..."

While the director was scolding someone, the "Japanese soldier" Buddy strolled over and poked Chen Sheng, who was secretly watching the show, with his prop gun: "Alright, stop watching. Be careful about becoming a target to vent their frustration."

As Chen Sheng followed his Buddy back to their position, he sighed: "So when filming, the director is really fierce."

"Of course. If he wasn't fierce, how could he be a director? But none of this concerns us. Only the big guest stars qualify for that. For us, who are just playing bit parts, as long as we're roughly okay, the Staff Member won't come looking for trouble."

The two returned to their starting positions, and the second take soon began.

"Villagers, the Japanese are here..."

"Run to the mountains!"

"Yo shi, yo shi..."

As "Action" rang out, everyone performed diligently according to the pre-planned track again.

Then the third take, the fourth take—they shot a total of five times, but it still didn't meet the director's requirements. By now, the sky was darkening, and the director was so angry he threw his walkie-talkie to the ground.

"Alright, that's it for today. Continue first thing tomorrow morning." After leaving these words and giving a few instructions to the Staff Member next to him, the director left the set.

Soon, a Staff Member came to the "Japanese soldier" group: "Today's scenes continue tomorrow, 220 per day. If you're coming, let me know when you get paid later. We'll arrange a shuttle bus at the small square tomorrow at five o'clock?"

"Buddy, why the sudden price hike?"

"It's not a hike. This crew has always been this price. The reason you got less the first time is because the rest was skimmed off by the group leader."

"That bastard." Chen Sheng couldn't help but curse in his heart.

Skimming seventy from one person, fifty people meant 3,500. This money was easier to make than a lawyer's.

When it was time to settle the payment, Chen Sheng signed up for tomorrow and boarded the bus provided by the crew to return to the city. The first thing he did after getting off the bus was to drag his Buddy to grab some barbecue.

"Buddy, if you hadn't brought me along today, I wouldn't have known how much I was being ripped off. Nothing more to say, it's all in the drink."

After clinking glasses, Chen Sheng performed a "bottoms up" for his Buddy... No, it could only be called chugging from the bottle.

The Buddy, on the other hand, held the bottle mouth with his lips, tilted his head back, and the liquor flowed into his stomach with a gurgle, without ever using his hands.

"Awesome~" Chen Sheng quickly gave a thumbs up and asked curiously: "Buddy, I'm curious, do you people working in Hengdian all have some special tricks when it comes to drinking?"

"Yesterday I was eating with someone, he covered the bottle mouth, shook it for a bit, and chugged a whole bottle in three seconds."

The Buddy lit a cigarette. As the smoke exhaled, his eyes, shrouded in smoke, quickly became hazy: "Little brother, what kind of place do you think this is? If you want to make it here, you have to go all out. Chugging a bottle is nothing, it's a basic operation. I've seen people chug eight bottles in a row. I've even seen someone drink with that place for a role..."

"In short, it's the same thing: when you've stayed here long enough, you won't find anything strange anymore."

Hearing this, Chen Sheng felt that his Buddy was definitely a man with a story.

Just like that, while talking, he downed another bottle.

After the barbecue, Chen Sheng's curiosity was greatly satisfied again. After agreeing on a time to meet tomorrow, Chen Sheng walked slowly along the sidewalk toward the hotel.

They say that when a person walks with a calm mind, you will definitely see a different kind of scenery.

Chen Sheng saw it.

He saw a greasy fat man hugging a pretty girl walking into a hotel, saw a woman leaning over a lamppost, desperately poking her throat to induce vomiting, saw a stylish man walking into a club with an auntie...

This is indeed a place to chase dreams, and it is also highly likely a place where dreams are shattered.

Back at the hotel, lighting a cigarette, letting the wind blow half away, and smoking the other half into his stomach—that's what you call having too much time on his hands.

That's right! When Chen Sheng told An Xiaonuan his thoughts, lamenting his potential to be a poet, that was how An Xiaonuan replied... no, retorted him.

"I think you just have a few coins in your pocket and lost your way. Think about the miserable days we had a few months ago. You still have the leisure to lament about others. Everyone has their own way of living, and everyone must be responsible for their own choices... I think you're purely bored and have nothing better to do."