Chapter 210: Concept of the Floating Cinema

Tank top grandpa glanced at the nearby public toilet and indeed saw the words "Lang'ai Hotel" written in large characters.

"The hotel is the hotel, and we are we."

"We're not beggars."

Tank top grandpa muttered.

Suddenly, he looked back at Chen Jianhai, "Lang'ai Hotel isn't owned by you, is it?"

Chen Jianhai calmly asked in return, "You aren't the island chief, are you?"

The air fell into a brief silence.

The two stared at each other for a long time, then suddenly burst into laughter together.

"Let's get to work!"

"Let's get to work!"

...

At night,

the sound of popcorn and potato chips mixing with the bubbles of cola created a small explosion in the ears,

the noisy shouts of children interspersed with occasional adult curses. Just as they were about to stand up and chase around, they were pulled back by their parents and sat back on the chairs.

A dozen men were stepping on chairs to lay wires, set up speakers, and several rows of connected plastic chairs were already filled with people.

Many were sitting on small folding stools they brought from home, chatting while munching on sunflower seeds.

The speakers occasionally emitted a hissing sound, causing people to cover their ears.

Some were smoking; as soon as they lit a cigarette, they were scolded by parents with children and had to put it out.

Although tank top grandpa mentioned a floating cinema, the screen was still set up on the nearshore beach, not actually placed on the water.

"Wow, so many people. Tonight I'm going to make a fortune!" 

Xiao Lang's eyes gleamed with excitement as he quickly set up the barbecue stand.

"Friday nights are really lively!"

Chen Jianhai took the cooler off the cart and looked at the crowd in front of him, his eyes wide.

"Yeah, Friday nights are always lively."

Feng Di had specially driven out his van today, and the entire trunk was filled with fresh beer and chilled drinks.

"Friday night fireworks and movie watching is a tradition on the island. Even though everyone has seen the movies before, if they have time, everyone comes out to watch. No one wants to miss it."

As the three of them were talking, they saw a light flickering on the screen,

a huge green screen appeared with a golden dragon made of film strips, accompanied by familiar opening music and the words "Public Screening License, Film Censorship Certificate."

At the start of the film, a delivery guy was riding an electric scooter, heading straight for the busiest barbecue stall in the night market.

Everyone watched the movie as scenes of sizzling charcoal, street-side barbecue, spicy crayfish, and night market scenes flashed across the screen.

Then, the words "Barbecue Brothers" appeared on the screen.

Seeing the movie title, many islanders knowingly looked at Chen Jianhai, Xiao Lang, and Feng Di, smiling knowingly.

"This movie title... seems like it's about the two of us?" Xiao Lang looked at Chen Jianhai in confusion.

Chen Jianhai was also a bit puzzled,

"Brother Chen, you guys are really popular on the island!"

Feng Di said enviously, "The content of the film is selected based on the situation on the island, so no one knows what movie will be shown each week,"

"This movie is obviously specially chosen for you two."

Hearing this, Xiao Lang paused his barbecue actions, "Really?"

Feng Di nodded, "Yes! Recently, because of your barbecue stall, more people are strolling the streets at night, and even the bar business has improved."

"My coffee shop has started getting customers during the day!"

"So this movie is definitely for you two."

The more Xiao Lang listened, the brighter his eyes shone, his face flushed, and his chest heaved with excitement.

"You guys treat me to a movie! I'll treat you to barbecue!!!"

"Tonight, Xiao Lang's barbecue is free for everyone!!"

Feng Di almost knelt down, quickly going up to cover Xiao Lang's mouth.

Ancestor, with your shout of free barbecue, what about my drinks!

Feng Di was sweating anxiously; he had been counting on tonight's barbecue to make some profit.

But Feng Di's actions were a step too late, Xiao Lang's words were already out,

Everyone present perked up their ears, "Boss Lang is generous!!!"

"Give me 30 lamb skewers!"

"I want two bottles of cola!"

"No..." Feng Di looked distressed, "He sells his skewers, I sell my drinks, drinks are not free...!"

"Come on, Old Feng, what's a little money compared to happiness." Xiao Lang said generously, waving his hand,

"With so many people supporting us, do you still have the face to charge?"

"???" Feng Di's eyes widened, why wouldn't I have the face to charge!

I'm an honest businessman, why wouldn't I charge!

Feng Di felt somewhat aggrieved.

But without Xiao Lang's barbecue, there would be no business for his drinks.

Although he was reluctant to admit it, the fact was there.

If everyone else is free and he's still charging, it just wouldn't feel right.

Besides, losing money on beer isn't as bad as Xiao Lang losing money on meat skewers.

Fine!

It's just two carts of beer!

"Tonight, beer and drinks are free, everyone enjoy!" Feng Di shouted, holding back his heartache.

"That's more like it, Old Feng, you need to have a long-term vision in business!"

Xiao Lang said with the tone of an experienced person, patting Feng Di on the shoulder, speaking earnestly.

"Long-term vision... keep doing this and your business will be doomed!" Feng Di muttered to himself.

Due to the large crowd, it wasn't long before Xiao Lang's skewers and Feng Di's drinks were all sold out.

As the sky darkened, the screen of the floating cinema became clearer.

"This cinema is even better than IMAX, the screen is much bigger."

Chen Jianhai, Xiao Lang, and Feng Di sat on the wooden boardwalk at the back, holding sodas, enjoying the movie.

"If the island hotel had a floating cinema in the future, and we bought 100 reclining chairs for movie watching, so guests could sit on the beach and watch movies, the experience would be amazing!"

The more Chen Jianhai watched, the more his mind started to wander.

"Sitting on the beach watching a movie seems a bit ordinary."

"What if we bought some double canoes, and every night, guests could sit on individual canoes,"

"Each canoe could use QR codes for ordering, with all orders being contactless, allowing them to have dinner, drink, and watch movies simultaneously, wouldn't that be amazing?!"

"As for the sound, we could use wireless headphones to ensure the movie-watching experience without disturbing others."

"As for the movie selection... we could show kids' favorites and summer adventures, as well as some family-friendly popcorn movies."

"Sounds great!"

The more Chen Jianhai thought about it, the more excited he became. He even started thinking about whether the popcorn should be buttered or wasabi flavored.

Just as Chen Jianhai was lost in his dreams of the future, Xiao Lang and Feng Di's conversation reached his ears.

"Old Feng, this week's floating cinema is showing Barbecue Brothers, what kind of movies were shown before?"

"Before?" Feng Di hesitated,

Xiao Lang frowned, "Why are you hesitating, what movies were shown before?"

Feng Di looked awkwardly at Chen Jianhai, then said:

"Before, we showed movies like Hotel Horror, Hotel Zombie War, Fatal Hotel, Hotel Catastrophe, Hotel Escape, and Hotel Rescue..."

Chen Jianhai: ???

Xiao Lang: ???