Sometimes, people in this industry spend most of their time just trying to prove a point. Fan Bing was like that with Aunt Zhang back in the day, and later on, she was the same with the other "Bing."
It wasn’t really about the money—not that they didn't care about it, but for them, it was merely a question of earning more or less. Once you reach Fan Bing’s level, you care more about awards. You can easily make money through events, commercials, and endorsements, but films are the foundation that earns you those opportunities.
Later on, many artists got this order backward. Normally, you should build your popularity through your work and then use that to make money. Making movies solely to cash in is never a long-term strategy. Fans aren't stupid; as their taste and experience grow, they eventually realize who is fooling them and who is genuinely committed to their craft.
Chapter 163