The objects at Liulichang are highly fluid.

Despite the number of shops, the real treasures in each are few and far between, mainly consisting of Ming and Qing dynasty items, which Su Yehao doesn't consider worth collecting.

With someone to help him appraise, Su Yehao acquired two more paintings by Qi Baishi, plus Zhang Daqian's *Celestial Maiden Scattering Flowers* and a Begonia-shaped flowerpot from the Ge kiln of the Yuan Dynasty, spending more than nine million RMB in total.

He needed to figure out a way to bring them back to his mansion at Big Wave Bay in Hong Kong. If that didn't work out, he could leave them in the mainland, since he'd likely be visiting often anyway.

In addition, the three items from Rongbaozhai were also authenticated, and he transferred the money from the bank to claim them.

The deal was done.

Seven collectibles, costing more than twenty million in total.

That evening, Su Yehao brought them back to the courtyard house and carefully admired them on his desk. He wondered whether, now that he had Ding kiln and Ge kiln pieces, he should try to collect the other three of the five famous kilns.

He was just learning to collect as a hobby, purely for enjoyment.

So many objects had been passed down over the centuries. He'd heard that the Palace Museum alone housed over a million pieces. Buying too many would be pointless, only suitable as a pastime for entertainment.

In terms of appreciation potential, it might not be much higher than investing in stocks.

He was always thinking about buying them, but now that he actually held the Ding kiln bowl, it didn't seem like such a big deal. Worth two or three large courtyard houses in Siheyuan. Leaving it on his desk, Su Yehao went to take a bath with Nong Qingying.

Judging by the atmosphere, it would probably take a while…

The fourth day in Siheyuan.

In the morning, the designer, knowing that Su Yehao wanted to buy more houses, brought an agent to visit, saying they had a good one.

He walked over to see it, a ten-minute walk away.

He found it was also in an alley, and not near the lake. It wasn't as good as the current courtyard, so he rejected it on the spot.

On the film censorship side, they worked overtime to produce a list of rectification suggestions, with only a few lines of dialogue needing to be modified and re-dubbed.

So, while still in Siheyuan, Su Yehao went to the State Administration of Radio, Film, and Television again in the afternoon. Private cinema chains hadn't been liberalized yet, so if he wanted the film to be shown on the big screen, he needed help from the State Administration to arrange screenings nationwide.

At this moment.

Director Zhao, whom he had met before, stood up and smiled when he saw Su Yehao:

"You're here! I've already signed the documents. There are basically no problems with the censorship, and it doesn't need much changing. You mentioned on the phone that you wanted to arrange a screening as soon as possible, right? I'll take you to ask them about it, but the specifics depend on how they arrange it. I can't say for sure."

"I'm already embarrassed that you're willing to help. Thank you so much."

After Su Yehao finished speaking, Director Zhao said politely, "It's a small matter. Anyway, I'm not busy right now. The quality of domestic films in recent years has been uneven, failing to attract too many people. It's difficult for the cinema chains to earn much money. They support a large number of people, all clamoring to be fed. It's a good thing for us to be able to introduce a new film."

"I heard that there are mandatory regulations on the number of films imported from abroad each year?" Su Yehao asked curiously.

Director Zhao nodded, "Yes, ten films a year at first, and it should be possible to add a few more later. This year's *Titanic* has grossed over 300 million nationwide, and over a billion dollars worldwide. It must have scared many of our directors. Everyone wants to see foreign blockbusters. If we import too many, where will domestic films find space to survive? It's unavoidable."

Following his topic, Su Yehao said with a smile:

"...It's good to have a few catfish in the pond, easy to stir up the market. People mainly go to the cinema for fun. Too much preaching feels like an art film and fails to attract the audience's interest. I estimate that commercial films on the mainland will develop soon. The market size is there, so development is relatively easy. Even if everyone in Hong Kong went to the cinema, it would only be a few million people."

He smiled upon hearing this.

Director Zhao continued, "It seems you've seen mainland films. I have to admit, grudgingly, that they're not as interesting as theirs. *Titanic* cost billions to invest in. I really don't know how they spent the money. Our total national box office revenue each year isn't as high as the cost of making one of their films."

They chatted as they walked, descending two floors.

Arriving at the door of an office, Director Zhao glanced inside. Seeing a desk empty, he knocked on the door and asked, "Where's Director Si?"

"Director Zhao, come in and sit down? The director is at a meeting, I'm afraid you'll have to wait until tomorrow for him to return."

The short, middle-aged man speaking, wearing thin-rimmed glasses, looked to the side after speaking cheerfully and was stunned when he saw Su Yehao.

Su Yehao was also stunned.

He knew this middle-aged man. Wasn't he the one called "Yao Ke," from the courtyard house with the old roses growing outside the wall?

Director Zhao was just about to help introduce them when the man surnamed Yao smiled, extended his hand, and said excitedly, "Oh dear, I've been wandering around your Beiyanjie neighborhood for two days without seeing you. The little boss from Casino, how do you do! Just buying a flower, how could I trouble Director Zhao to come to my office?"

"...Hello, it's really a coincidence to meet an acquaintance here in such a big Siheyuan. I'm here on business today, not to buy flowers. You've misunderstood."

Su Yehao had a smile on his face.

Although he was unhappy when buying the flowers, disliking the pettiness of the couple in their courtyard, those little emotions were insignificant when it came to the release of a film he had invested in.

Director Zhao was stunned for a moment and asked in confusion, "You two know each other?"

"We've met once. We bumped into each other at the door a few days ago. This little boss from Casino is extraordinary. He rebuilt a courtyard house near the Prince Chun Mansion, I heard it cost more than twenty million. When he went out for breakfast, he took a fancy to an old rose in our courtyard and wanted to buy it back to plant."

Section Chief Yao couldn't stop smiling. He originally thought he'd missed out on a windfall, but unexpectedly, he'd found a new opportunity.

Hearing this, Su Yehao immediately guessed that the people in the small courtyard must have gone to Beiyanjie to inquire about him because of the old rose.

He had mentioned where he lived that morning, and the newly built courtyard house was quite grand. If they seriously wanted to find out, they could always find clues from the nearby residents.

After some conversation, Director Zhao left first.

While Section Chief Yao helped pour tea, he continued to praise, "When I saw you the other morning, I knew you weren't ordinary. Who else would be willing to spend 20,000 yuan to buy flowers. So you're the big boss from Hong Kong who invests in movies. It's really lucky that you met me."

Su Yehao smiled even more and asked, "Are the flowers outside your courtyard wall still there? Let's not rush to talk about that first. Director Zhao just told me that you have a new revenue-sharing distribution model here. Can my film be distributed under that model?"

The method of introducing foreign films using revenue-sharing distribution was a new rule that appeared in 1994.

The uncut version of *Titanic* was released at the beginning of this year, and its box office success surprised the State Administration. It not only broke records but also sparked a wave of moviegoing.

With the idea that every little bit helps, many foreign film companies began to contact the mainland, but there were regulations on the number of films introduced each year.

Section Chief Yao said with a smile, "Since we're all acquaintances, I'll definitely help you if I can. Have you brought the approval documents? Let me take a look first. I don't even know what type of film it is yet. We happen to have support regulations for Hong Kong films, which are easier than importing American films..."