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Dragging his heavy steps, Ma Rongzhen slowly walked out of the main gate of Lion Rock Film City, preparing to take a minibus back to his home in Tin Shui Wai.
Lion Rock Film City was Hong Kong's film and television production base, covering more than 5,000 mu of land. Although its scale could not compare to the three major film studio bases in Mainland China, in geographically cramped Hong Kong, it was already considered a massive project with enormous facilities.
This film studio complex had been built during the golden age of Hong Kong cinema. After several rounds of expansion, it developed into its current form, complete with multiple large-scale historical and modern filming districts. Besides accommodating film crews for daily shooting, it was also open to tourists.
Many Hong Kong film and television productions had been shot in this studio city beneath Lion Rock. Its set designs catered specifically to the distinctive style of Hong Kong cinema, and even today, it still holds an important position in the local entertainment industry.
Ma Rongzhen himself could no longer remember how many times he had entered and exited Lion Rock Film City.
He was a trainee in ATV's 7^(th) Artist Training Class in the late 1980s. After graduating, he signed with ATV and embarked on the typical career of a struggling new actor. Once his contract ended, he entered the film industry.
At that time, Hong Kong ghost and supernatural films were extremely popular. Ma Rongzhen had a good appearance, and a director with a sharp eye cast him as a Maoshan Taoist priest in a jiangshi (hopping vampire) movie. The role instantly made him famous, and he enjoyed several years in the spotlight.
But supernatural films eventually declined after reaching their peak. By the beginning of the new century, audiences had largely abandoned the genre. As a typecast actor, Ma Rongzhen was forced to face the awkward challenge of reinventing himself, and his career rapidly spiraled downward.
His business investments failed. His wife and child left him as well. Originally, Ma Rongzhen had lived in Kowloon, but he was forced to sell his apartment to repay debts, eventually moving to Tin Shui Wai, where he had now lived for ten years.
Hong Kong's wealthy districts were mainly concentrated in places like Repulse Bay, Sai Kung, Shek O, and Mid-Levels. Kowloon was considered a middle-class residential area, while places like Tin Shui Wai and Wutun were known as poor districts.
The enormous contrast in his life and the crushing pressures of reality had bent Ma Rongzhen's back. Though he had only just turned fifty, he looked at least sixty years old, with graying hair and a face weathered by hardship.
Back then, people had called him "Brother Ma" or "Uncle Ma."
Now, he was merely "Old Horse."
Many people from Tin Shui Wai worked as extras at Lion Rock Film City, so there was a minibus stop nearby connecting the two areas. Near evening, one of the minibuses was already packed full.
Seeing this, Ma Rongzhen quickly sped up and rushed aboard. If he missed this bus, the next one would arrive much later.
There were no seats left inside. Even the aisle was crowded with standing passengers. No one offered a seat to the sweating "old man." Everyone indifferently minded their own business, either playing on their phones or simply resting with their eyes closed.
Ma Rongzhen was long accustomed to this treatment. He was no longer the glamorous "Master Ma" of the past. Very few people here truly respected him anymore.
In Hong Kong, there were actually many aging actors like Ma Rongzhen.
"Uncle Ma."
Just as Ma Rongzhen prepared to stand all the way home, a young man in the front row suddenly stood up and called out:
"Take my seat. You can sit here."
Everyone looked at the young man as though he were an idiot.
Ma Rongzhen also looked at him and recognized him as one of the extras he knew. He immediately smiled.
"Xiao Wu, what a coincidence. Keep the seat for yourself. Your Uncle Ma isn't that old yet, standing is actually more comfortable."
He had met Xiao Wu about half a year earlier. The young man claimed to have watched many of Ma Rongzhen's films and considered himself his fan.
Xiao Wu came from the countryside and still possessed the warmth and sincerity typical of rural youths. While everyone else called Ma Rongzhen "Old Horse," Xiao Wu alone consistently addressed him respectfully as "Uncle Ma." He had even helped Ma Rongzhen on several occasions.
Seeing him made warmth rise in Ma Rongzhen's heart.
Ring-ring-ring…
At that moment, the phone in Ma Rongzhen's pocket suddenly rang.
He waved toward Xiao Wu, then hurriedly pulled out the phone.
'Probably his ex-wife calling again to demand living expenses,' he thought bitterly.
Placing the old-fashioned mobile phone against his ear, he lowered his voice and asked:
"Hello?"
"Is this Brother Ma Rongzhen?"
The voice coming through the receiver was completely unfamiliar.
Just moments ago, Xiao Wu had called him "Uncle Ma," and now someone else was calling him "Brother Ma." The emotions stirring inside Ma Rongzhen were difficult to describe.
He quickly replied,
"Yes, this is me. May I ask who's speaking?"
The caller laughed.
"I'm Chen Wenqiang. You probably don't remember me anymore. Three years ago, we had dinner together over in Kowloon Tong; Brother Biao and Hu Zi were there too."
"Oh, oh, hello, hello."
Ma Rongzhen did vaguely remember the dinner gathering, but he truly could not recall who the other party was. The voice only sounded somewhat familiar.
Fortunately, the other man had no intention of reminiscing and went straight to the point.
"Brother Ma, are you free recently?"
Free?
Of course, he was free!
Recently, Ma Rongzhen was more than merely free; he was free beyond belief.
Nowadays, he drifted around Lion Rock Film City, hardly any different from ordinary extras, basically just playing nameless background roles.
If there was work for a day, he worked for a day, earning just enough wages to fill his stomach.
"I'm free. May I ask what this is about?"
"It's like this…" Chen Wenqiang said, "We're currently preparing a new film. There's an important role in it that suits you very well, so I recommended you to our boss. Would you be willing to come audition?"
A new production? A new movie! An important role!
Ma Rongzhen jolted violently with excitement and blurted out impatiently:
"An audition? No problem, I'll come right now!"
While he had been speaking with Chen Wenqiang, many of the passengers on the minibus had quietly perked up their ears to listen. The moment they heard the word "audition," everyone felt disbelief.
Someone wanted Ma Rongzhen to audition?
An audition was not something casually handed out. Not just any random nobody was qualified to audition. At minimum, the role had to belong to a somewhat significant movie or television production before actors would even need to audition for it.
Could this ancient "salted fish" of a has-been actually be turning his life around?
Most people on the minibus knew Ma Rongzhen and knew about his past, which was why they were so shocked.
What film company nowadays would still ask this old guy to audition?
Chen Wenqiang himself had not expected such an eager response. He truly hadn't anticipated Ma Rongzhen sounding this desperate.
Left with no choice, he turned and asked Lu Chen a couple of questions before saying into the phone:
"How about this then, come to Shun Kee Restaurant in Kowloon Tong. We'll wait for you there. Call this number when you arrive."
"Alright! Okay!"
Ma Rongzhen straightened his back. His entire spirit transformed, as though he had suddenly become more than ten years younger. Even his voice grew noticeably louder and more energetic.
"I'll come over immediately!"
After ending the call, Ma Rongzhen swept his gaze across the bus and saw that everyone was looking at him with complicated expressions.
Disdainful.
Suspicious.
Curious.
Envious.
Suddenly, he felt the urge to burst out laughing.
Then Ma Rongzhen saw Xiao Wu, the young man who had offered him his seat earlier. Xiao Wu wore a bright smile, clearly happy for him.
A surge of hot blood rushed through Ma Rongzhen's body. He grabbed Xiao Wu by the arm and declared:
"Come with me! I'll take you to meet the boss making the movie. Maybe you can even land a role yourself!"
Completely bewildered, Xiao Wu was dragged off the minibus by him.
Low curses immediately sounded from inside the bus.
"Bah, who knows if he'll even pass the audition? What's he acting smug for?"
Ma Rongzhen never heard any of it.
At this moment, there was only one thought filling his mind:
I'm going to act in a movie again!
—
(End of Chapter)