There is no doubt that Chaplin was a great man, but he was by no means perfect.

For example, Chaplin's private life is a mess, although it has not reached the level of a humanoid self-propelled cannon, but there will definitely be no shortage of beautiful women around him. Especially after he divorced his second wife, he quickly got involved with his female secretary, who hooked up with Chaplin's own brother, and finally made the brothers turn against each other.

By the way, Chaplin got married twice because the woman was unexpectedly pregnant, and one of them was the woman who lied about her pregnancy. It can be seen that Zhou Hexuan has indeed benefited the American people, and his avoidance (harmonious) pregnancy condom business has avoided countless marriages that are destined to be tragic.

In addition to his bad private life, Chaplin also had a bad temper, was paranoid and short-tempered, and offended many of his peers because of it.

After being silent for a long time, Chaplin suddenly said: "Capital is the destroyer of art!" I would never agree to let someone who doesn't know anything about cinema invest in our company, even if that person is a good writer. ”

According to Chaplin's usual temper, he has said this very mildly, completely for the sake of Zhou Hexuan's face.

Zhou Hexuan said with a smile: "When I buy shares, I can indicate in the contract that I will never interfere in the company's professional affairs." ”

Chaplin was stunned for a moment, and suddenly asked, "What if I want to shoot, or support someone else to make a movie that will definitely lose money?" ”

"In that case, you must have your own reasons, and I respect the choice of a film artist." Zhou Hexuan said sincerely.

Chaplin suddenly smiled: "Zhou, you are a little different from the American capitalists. ”

Zhou Hexuan said extremely noblely: "They only have money in their eyes, while I value other things." I'm not short of money, I invested in the largest condom factory in the United States, and I also invested in the fastest-making pharmaceutical company in the United Kingdom. I took a stake in your Luen Mei Pictures, but I just think this company is very special. It broke the monopoly of the industry by major Hollywood corporations, it gave countless independent directors the opportunity, and it could represent the future of American cinema. ”

"Do you think Luen Pictures can represent the future of American cinema?" Chaplin was surprised.

Zhou Hexuan nodded and said, "Yes, the big studio system is doomed to decline. This model is like a backward feudal monarchy, and then forms a film hegemony empire. By the time they come someday, these powerful empires will become bloated, inefficient, and lacking in vitality and creativity. And the independent production model of Luen Mei Pictures will set off an industry revolution at that time, just as the French Revolution changed the color of Europe. ”

"I like that statement." Chaplin laughed.

When Chaplin, Fan Punk, Bi Kefu and others founded Luen Mei, their idea was very simple, that is, to get rid of the shackles of capital. Because they are fed up with the fingers of the capitalists, they want to invest themselves and make the movies they want to make. When Luen Mei Pictures developed to a certain scale, Chaplin and others became richer. So they not only make their own films, but they also support talented independent directors to make films, and even help those directors distribute independent films on their behalf.

Chaplin had obviously felt the flaws of the blockbuster system and agreed very much with what Zhou Hexuan said. Even, what Zhou Hexuan said was more far-reaching than Chaplin, after all, this belongs to a vision beyond the times.

At this moment, Chaplin suddenly felt a confidant of Zhou Hexuan.

"How much can you fund?" Chaplin asked.

Zhou Hexuan said: "Not much, 2 million US dollars." ”

In the days when millionaires meant success, $2 million was already intimidating. But for Chaplin, Van Punk and others, 2 million is really not much. As early as 18 years ago, First National Pictures paid Chaplin (a total salary for three years) as high as $1 million.

So the timing of Zhou Hexuan's choice is very coincidental, two years ago, the American film industry fell to the bottom, so bad that Hollywood giants couldn't afford to pay their employees' salaries. Although it has eased up now, everyone's life is not easy, and after Chaplin spent a lot of money to shoot "Modern Times", the liquidity of Luen Mei Pictures has been less than 100,000 US dollars.

Chaplin glanced at Van Punk and said, "My stake can be diluted by 8%." ”

Fan Punk and his wife Bi Kefu glanced at each other and said with a smile: "Then Mary and I will each take 6% in proportion." ”

Chaplin asked Zhou Hexuan: "Invest $2 million and own 20% of the shares of Luen Mei Pictures, are you willing?" ”

"Of course, I'd love to." Zhou Hexuan said with a smile.

When Luen Mei Pictures was first founded, each of the four shareholders held 25% of the shares, and then Griffith withdrew halfway, and Chaplin became the largest shareholder. If Zhou Hexuan is not involved, when Fan Punk and Bi Kefu divorce next year, Fan Punk will transfer some shares to his ex-wife, and Bi Kefu's shares will exceed Chaplin's.

But now that there is an extra Zhou Hexuan, the share composition of Luen Mei has become: Chaplin 32%, Fan Punk 24%, Bi Kefu 24%, and Zhou Hexuan 20%.

To be honest, according to the current company value of Luen Mei Pictures, Zhou Hexuan's investment is a big loss. But when "Modern Times" is released next year, it will directly make United Pictures one of the top eight in Hollywood, and Zhou Hexuan will make money. In the longer run, the film copyrights held by Luen Mei Pictures alone are enough for Zhou Hexuan to make a lot of money.

As for those domestic investments, Zhou Hexuan is not optimistic, and he does not plan to follow Chang Kaishen, Song Ziwen and others to fool around. For example, taking a stake in the Bank of Guangdong, now it seems that it is indeed a business that lies down and makes money, but two years later, Japan will fully invade China, and everything will be a thing of the past.

Of course, there are some companies that can also be invested, such as those in the Two Lakes region. That can be regarded as supporting local economic construction, which will be helpful for the future war of resistance.

It is the American companies that are really worth investing in, and the first choice must be Coca-Cola.

Coca-Cola was devastated during the Great Depression and did not recover until the outbreak of World War II. At that time, several shareholders of Coca-Cola even proposed to withdraw their shares, and they wanted to exchange their shares for cash and return to their hometowns to buy land and become farmers, which made Woodruff, the major shareholder, so worried that he couldn't sleep.

As a result, as the United States entered the war, Coca-Cola accompanied the American GIs to sell all over the world, and the company instantly increased in value by a hundredfold.

Zhou Hexuan does not plan to invest in Coca-Cola now, because he has been losing money in the past few years, and no matter how much money he invests, it is equivalent to a waste. The best time to buy shares is before the outbreak of Pearl Harbor, as long as Zhou Hexuan waving the money and roaring, Coca-Cola's shareholders will inevitably rush to sell their shares, and then get the money to go home as a farmer.

This is the welfare of the traverser, you don't need to be strong, you just need to see the right time to start.

"Here, let's toast and welcome new partners!" Van Punk stood up with a smile.

Chaplin was also very happy, with Zhou Hexuan's investment, he no longer had to worry about the distribution costs of "Modern Times".

Zhou Hexuan smiled: "I brought you a gift. ”

"What gift?" Bi Kefu asked.

"One book, one is about to take the United States by storm," Zhou Hexuan said mysteriously, "It is about to be published, and as long as it is adapted into a movie, it will inevitably be another classic!" ”