Lu Chen: The Mad Genius Of Creativity

Chapter 11 Shrine Culture Takes Center Stage! Even Chen Sicheng Can’t Help but Admire!

“Teachers, what do you think about Lu Chen’s current situation?” Xiao Sa asked with a serious expression.

Lu Chen’s approach had clearly touched on sensitive ground. The program team would need to take a position on this.

Yan Gelin turned to Shu Ping beside her. “Teacher Shu Ping, do you think we should warn Lu Chen now?”

Shu Ping frowned, his shiny bald head gleaming even more under the light.

“I think Lu Chen’s current storyline, while bold, is reasonable given the historical context. After all, smuggling was rampant in Guangdong Province during the 1990s.

“If Lin Yaodong’s smuggling is just a temporary way to make money, a means to his first gray fortune, then it could be glossed over in the script. Objectively speaking, it’s not grounds to immediately dismiss this submission.

“The key is how he writes the next part. If Lin Yaodong really leads the entire village into smuggling for profit, that storyline would violate the program’s rules. In that case, we should definitely remind and sternly warn him. So, it all depends on what comes next!”

Yan Gelin nodded.

“Teacher Liu, what’s your take?”

She shifted the topic to Liu Heping.

Liu Heping, after a moment of contemplation, replied, “I agree with Teacher Shu Ping. It depends on whether Lu Chen focuses on smuggling or just touches on it briefly.”

Yan Gelin said, “I also agree with Teachers Liu and Shu Ping. Teacher Chen, what’s your opinion?”

“My opinion differs slightly. I think we should warn Lu Chen immediately. He’s already broken the program’s rules. If we don’t warn him now, it might seem unfair to other contestants.”

Chen Sicheng didn’t hold back and stated his perspective bluntly. Liu Heping and the others fell silent at his words.

Chen Sicheng’s argument had merit. If no warning was issued, it would indeed seem unfair to the other contestants.

“Let’s wait and see one more section, then decide,” Liu Heping concluded, breaking the silence.

“Agreed!”

“I’m fine with that!”

Seeing that Liu Heping was advocating for patience, the other two judges sided with him. Chen Sicheng thought for a moment but refrained from opposing further. After all, these three were highly respected titans in the industry, with vast networks and immense influence. Even with his billion-yuan box office achievements, he dared not offend them.

Reluctantly, he nodded.

“Fine, we’ll do as Teacher Liu suggests.”

With the judges aligned, Xiao Sa nodded as well and said, “I’ll relay your decision to the production team.”

He stepped aside and informed the director of the panel’s stance. Soon, he returned.

“The production team agrees with the teachers. However, if Lu Chen’s next section continues to test the limits, we’ll have to issue a warning. I hope you all understand.”

The judges nodded in agreement.

At that moment, the camera feed shifted.

Lu Chen appeared again. He had finished his cigarette and was no longer in sage mode.

[Finally, he’s done smoking!].

[Get back to writing! Hundreds of thousands of us are watching. Enough with the breaks!].

[Do you even realize you just dodged a bullet, 48?].

[Write, write, write! I want to see Lin Yaodong leading the village into smuggling!].

[Are you trying to get Lu Chen disqualified? Stop tempting fate!].

[If you dare to write it, then go all in!!].

Unaware of the chaos in the chat, Lu Chen focused entirely on his story.

He walked back to the whiteboard, picked up the black marker, and began writing again. His sage mode wasn’t wasted—it had given him a clear path forward!

Now, he just needed to accelerate, advancing Lin Yaodong’s storyline. Once this thread was clear, he could move on to the next.

And for this part of the story,  Lu Chen had a complete plan in mind!

Without delay, he wrote.

[Influenced by the clan ideology, Lin Yaodong had an inexplicable obsession with changing Tazhai. His family was the smallest branch of the Lin clan, ranking low even within the village—so much so that they didn’t even have a family shrine!].

[In Guangdong Province, ancestral shrines carry profound cultural significance.

Each surname typically has a central shrine, known as the ‘great ancestral hall’, along with smaller shrines built by different family branches.

A shrine represents the honor of a clan or a specific branch. Having a shrine means standing tall, not having one invites disdain.

Lin Yaodong’s family’s lack of a shrine was a major reason he had been bullied growing up. It wasn’t just their poverty—his peers from shrine-owning families had always looked down on him.

Rather than saying Lin Yaodong was influenced by clan ideology, It would be more accurate to say he was deeply shaped by the essence of clan culture—shrine culture!].

[Wow!].

As Lu Chen wrote this, viewers were deeply moved.

[This is brilliant! Lu Chen has dissected Lin Yaodong’s psyche perfectly!].

[I agree. Clan culture’s essence is shrine culture. The shrine is the totem of a clan!].

[Lin Yaodong’s childhood was so tragic. In the north, poverty might invite bullying, but in Guangdong, not having a shrine adds another layer of oppression.].

[If I were Lin Yaodong, I might have turned dark too.].

[Do you think Lin Yaodong’s goal is to build his branch a shrine? If so, that’s some serious ambition!].

[Incredible! This protagonist just keeps getting richer and more complex!].

The discussion was lively.

Undoubtedly, Lu Chen’s unique narrative perspective not only provided a fresh experience for viewers but also gave outsiders a profound insight into Guangdong’s culture. The intense clan atmosphere seemed to leap off the board!

Back in the judges’ room, they were equally captivated.

“He’s hit the mark! Shrine culture is now in play!” Shu Ping exclaimed.

Yan Gelin smiled.

“Now it feels right. Lu Chen has finally brought back the story’s sense of anticipation!”

“Not only that,” Shu Ping added, visibly excited, “Lu Chen has successfully merged the concepts of personal growth and clan shrine culture. It’s masterful!”

Even Liu Heping, whose expression was usually stoic, allowed a faint smile to flicker across his face. Clearly, he was pleased with Lu Chen’s focus. As for Chen Sicheng, he felt a chill run through him.

To be fair, the story had reached a point where even he couldn’t help but look forward to what came next. Would Lin Yaodong pour all his efforts into building a shrine for his family?

If he succeeded, It would indeed bring glory to his ancestors.

The thought startled Chen Sicheng.

What’s happening?

Why am I starting to admire Lu Chen?