Chapter 156: Galloping on Horseback

Guanyuan Apartment Phase Two was the housing estate that Zhang Tan's family finally chose. It was located in a building close to Financial Street within the residential community.

The property was on the third floor, with a built-up area of 168 square meters, facing north-south, consisting of four bedrooms, two living rooms, one kitchen, and two bathrooms. The total height of the building was only four floors, with two households per floor, apartment-style management, 24-hour security, and 24-hour hot water.

The large living room was about thirty square meters, featuring a balcony facing south. The master bedroom was twenty-two square meters, also facing south and equipped with an en-suite bathroom. The two smaller bedrooms faced north—one was fourteen square meters and the other ten square meters. The kitchen was about eight square meters, with a north-facing balcony. The developer had already built a model unit, and the stove, pots, and kitchenware were all fully prepared.

There were also parking spaces downstairs.

The selling price was 1,710 yuan per square meter, which was slightly higher than the average price due to the prime location, bringing the total price to 2.9 million yuan. Buyers could choose to pay a 30% down payment and take out a monthly mortgage, or opt for a one-time lump-sum payment, which came with a discount. Zhang Tan chose the second option.

This was because the advance royalties for The Return of the Condor Heroes would arrive in a couple of days, and when combined, the funds would be just enough to cover the full price of the apartment.

Naturally, the developer preferred a lump-sum full payment.

Furthermore, upon learning of Zhang Tan's identity, the owner of the developer company personally came to meet Zhang Tan, shared a meal with him, and very generously offered him a 15% discount, instantly waiving over 400,000 yuan.

"Thank you for looking out for us, President Chen." Zhang Quansun, representing Zhang Tan, clinked glasses a few times with President Chen, the head of the development company.

President Chen smiled and replied, "Zhang Tan is a renowned figure in the cultural circle today. For him to move into our residential complex brings great luster to our property. As the saying goes, it adds radiance to our humble dwelling."

This was an exaggeration, but the halo of a celebrity had its perks. Having a writer live in the community instantly elevated its status and prestige.

Once the apartment was secured, it needed to be renovated. Since the developer had provided a discount, saving over 400,000 yuan, the money could be used directly for fine decoration. Although the apartment was registered under Zhang Tan's name, his parents would be staying there when they visited Beijing, so he let them call the shots on the interior design style.

The completion of the new home put Zhang Tan in high spirits.

Even his book-writing was filled with passion. The Legend of the Four Constables: Envy of Waters was being fleshed out stroke by stroke under his pen. His writing speed, which had initially been a struggle, now almost matched the pace he maintained when writing The Legend of the Condor Heroes and The Return of the Condor Heroes. It must be noted that for this particular installment, Zhang Tan had independently created a massive narrative framework, making it much more challenging than his previous works.

Time slipped away, and a few days passed in a flash.

On this day, Director Yu Min called, asking Zhang Tan to come over and participate in an audition. While the selection of actors was primarily up to Producer Zhang Jizhong, Zhang Tan, as the original author, could provide substantial and valuable reference opinions.

"Auditioning who?"

"Yang Kang. Er Kang is here to audition," Yu Min said over the phone. "I'm not too satisfied with him either, and aren't you unhappy with the choice too? Let's check out the audition first, and if the effect isn't good, we can jointly propose changing the actor to Director Zhang."

Yu Min was also dissatisfied with Er Kang playing the role of Yang Kang. It wasn't that Er Kang lacked fame or was unattractive, but his acting style was completely incompatible with the character of Yang Kang.

Zhang Tan immediately perked up. "Alright, I'll be right there."

His dissatisfaction with Er Kang had been brewing for a long time.

Upon arriving at the production crew's location, the audition soon began. Zhang Weishen, Yu Min, Zhao Jian, Zhang Tan, and two assistant directors sat together in the audition room.

Before long, Er Kang walked out of the dressing room.

Setting aside his preconceived biases, Zhang Tan could barely give Er Kang a passing grade based on his costume and makeup. Although not as handsome as Li Jixiong, he was at least presentable and dignified. However, the moment Er Kang started performing, a distinct vibe of a Qiong Yao romance drama immediately emerged. It wasn't that his acting skills were poor, but rather that his image and temperament genuinely did not fit.

Yang Kang should exude an air of wicked charm mixed with nobility, portraying a youthful young master. According to the description in the book, he possessed a striking and handsome appearance, wore luxurious garments, had a face like jade and lips like painted cinnabar—truly radiating aristocratic elegance. Yet, the feeling Er Kang gave Zhang Tan, whether walking around, delivering lines, or making expressions, was entirely that of acting in a Qiong Yao soap opera.

After Er Kang finished performing a segment, Zhang Tan and Yu Min instinctively exchanged glances, sharing a tacit understanding without needing words.

Er Kang stepped out of his performance and casually asked, "Director Zhang, directors, how was my performance?"

Producer Zhang Jizhong clapped his hands and said, "Not bad, quite good."

Er Kang nodded. "If it's acceptable, you can discuss the signing matters with my manager. I have some other matters to attend to and need to leave first."

With that, he prepared to leave with his assistant.

Yu Min hurriedly called out, "Hey, there's another audition performance scheduled later."

Er Kang's assistant stepped forward and said, "Wasn't the performance good enough? Our Er Kang has to go to the television station to record a program later, and his time is rather limited. Let's cancel the subsequent performances; this section of the performance is enough for reference."

While the assistant was speaking, Er Kang had already walked out of the audition room.

The remaining people found it pointless to argue with an assistant, so they just waved their hand for her to leave as well.

Once everyone had gone, Yu Min angrily blurted out, "So what if he starred in Qiong Yao dramas? What kind of airs is he putting on! Director Zhang, I have severe objections to Er Kang playing Yang Kang. I do not support this."

Producer Zhang Jizhong calmly said, "Although Er Kang's actions just now might have been inappropriate, he is a very good actor with sufficient fame. He is still a very good candidate."

"His acting is fine, but no matter what he plays, it looks like a Qiong Yao drama. He cannot portray the unique aura of Yang Kang."

"What's so hard about playing Yang Kang? I think he matches the image Xiaozhang wrote very well." With that, Producer Zhang Jizhong looked at Zhang Tan.

Zhang Tan kept his hands in his pants pockets and shook his head bluntly, showing no regard for saving face. "This isn't Yang Kang; this is Prince Yang. I didn't write a Qing Dynasty palace drama; I wrote about the struggle between the Song, Jin, and Mongol empires. I respect Director Zhang's casting decisions, but I can only say that Er Kang cannot play Yang Kang. He completely lacks that temperament."

Although rationally, Zhang Tan felt that the adaptation rights had already been sold to Zhang Jizhong's studio, and since the script had adopted his own suggestions, the remaining contents should respect the production team's ideas.

He had previously warned himself not to act as an outsider meddling blindly in the work of professionals, but he simply had this kind of temper.

If something felt wrong, he had to speak his mind.

The pursuit of this lifetime was to live freely and boldly; hiding things and holding back grievances was simply not his style.

Since Zhang Jizhong asked, he spoke the absolute truth.

Seeing that Zhang Tan also shared this view, Zhang Jizhong lost a bit of face.

Fortunately, although Zhao Jian had a background in martial arts choreography, he was sharp-minded and noticed the atmosphere in the room turning tense. He quickly smoothed things over. "We've already recorded Er Kang's audition performance. Let's study the tape again, analyze whether it fits the novel's description, and avoid rushing to conclusions."

Regarding the selection of the role of Yang Kang, Zhang Tan had made his stance unequivocally clear.

No Er Kang.

Afterward, Zhang Tan did not continue participating in the crew's discussions.

However, since both Zhang Tan and Yu Min opposed the casting, and Er Kang's diva-like behavior had rubbed people the wrong way, it ultimately influenced Zhang Jizhong's decision. He abandoned the plan to sign Er Kang and instead cast another newcomer actor from the mainland.

With this, all the roles for The Legend of the Condor Heroes were finalized.

...

On October 22, 2003, an auspicious day deemed suitable for all endeavors, the production crew held their grand boot ceremony at their first location site, the Khorchin Grassland in Inner Mongolia. Zhang Tan was also invited to attend the opening ceremony.

Of course, the main reason he wanted to join the excitement was simply to tour the vast desert grassland. The magnificent rivers and mountains of the motherland should be explored and experienced whenever the opportunity arose. The northern desert indeed did not disappoint Zhang Tan, offering boundless grassland scenery where the undulations of the horizon were barely visible.

The entire world suddenly opened up wide, making one feel like a tiny speck of dust placed between heaven and earth.

Such heaven and earth possessed the power to cleanse the soul.

Washing away the restlessness and restoring one's true essence.

The rest of the crew wasn't as relaxed as Zhang Tan. After attending the boot ceremony, paying respects to the deities, burning incense, and giving brief interviews to reporters, formal filming commenced immediately. Because they were shooting on the grassland, there were many horseback riding scenes, and horse-riding lessons were provided right on set.

Zhang Tan stood at the riding ground, watching the riding instructor teach the female actress playing Huazheng how to ride a horse.

The horse realized that the actress playing Huazheng was just a young girl, so once she climbed onto its back, it stood completely still, lowering its head to graze right where it stood.

The riding instructor shouted loudly from the side, telling her to stay steady, straighten her back, and take control of the horse.

"You have to give it signals! Use your reins and your legs to tell it that you want it to move!"

"It won't move, teacher!" The actress was too nervous to straighten her back.

The riding instructor offered another round of explanations.

"Teacher Li, do you know what? Every time I see someone riding a horse, a song plays in my mind," Zhang Tan turned and said to the dancer Li Meiping, who was standing nearby.

Li Meiping had only joined the cast a few days prior. Harboring many anxieties about playing the villain Mei Chaofeng, and learning that the novel's author, Zhang Tan, was also with the crew, she frequently came over to consult him to deepen her understanding of the character.

After going back and forth a few times, they were no longer strangers.

Li Meiping asked with curiosity, "What song is it?"

Zhang Tan hummed softly, "Let us wander the mortal world hand in hand, living a carefree and dashing life, galloping on horseback, sharing the prosperity of the human world! Ah... ah... ah... Teacher Li, do you remember Xia Yuhe by Daming Lake?"

Li Meiping, who was nearing forty-five, laughed like a young girl and said, "Hehe, I've heard that song."

Amidst the laughter and jokes, the female actress in the riding lesson gradually relaxed on horseback, with the riding instructor holding the reins and leading the horse forward at a slow walk.

This lesson lasted for over an hour, and by the end, the actress could barely manage to lead the horse around. However, horses tended to bully beginners. With the riding instructor on its back, it went wherever directed without hesitation. But with the actress on its back, telling it to go left resulted in it eating grass, and telling it to trot caused it to back up. It was uncontrollable, just like trying to walk an untrained dog, and required someone else to hold the reins and lead it.

Despite the meager results, the actress's lesson had to come to an end because she needed to go film her scenes.

At that moment, Zhang Tan walked over, handed the riding instructor a bottle of beverage, and smoothly secured himself a horseback riding lesson. While the instructor was teaching the actress, Zhang Tan had quietly observed for a long time and had already formed his own initial insights. He changed into riding pants, riding boots, and a riding cap, and walked over to the horse that the instructor was holding.

First, he patted and stroked the horse, murmuring gentle words of endearment to get familiar with it.

Only when the horse accepted you would it listen to your commands and run.

Then, with the assistance of the riding instructor, he mounted the horse, straightened his back firmly, and leaned his upper body slightly backward. The preparatory steps went extremely smoothly. Sitting atop the horse's back, Zhang Tan felt as if he had grown a meter or two taller, and his field of vision was vastly broader than on solid ground.

With a handsome pat on the neck of the yellowish horse he was riding, Zhang Tan applied the equestrian theory and techniques he had summarized, pulled the reins, squeezed his legs, and shouted, "Hyah!"

The moment to gallop on horseback and sweep across the vast grassland had arrived!

...

A few minutes later.

An anxious voice belonging to Zhang Tan echoed across the riding ground: "Hey, teacher, what's going on here? No matter how I tell it to move, it won't budge!"