Actor: Thank you.

"Enjoy the game."

"After this is over, I'll have Dandan accompany you back to China."

After talking with Brown, Zhang Yuan found Liu Qianqian, who was watching the team practice pit stops in the pit area.

"what happened?"

"I'd like to spend a few more days in Abu Dhabi?" she said, somewhat surprised.

"I'm going to a conference in Britain later, and then I'll make another trip to Shanghai."

"I still have a bunch of events I owe to attend."

"Including today's match, I haven't had much time to spend with you, as I had to attend small meetings with other people."

"Besides, I've already returned that plane to its owner, so I can only go home by commercial flight anyway."

"I don't want your plane, even though it's quite useful." Sisi smiled and patted his head in the corner.

"You're so busy, I won't bother you any longer."

"I also want to get home quickly and start working."

That's what she said, but her eyes still held a look of reluctance and longing.

"Remember to say hello to your mother for me when you get home."

"I'm grateful for her help; I'll treat her to a meal."

Zhang Yuan kissed her on the forehead, and then they went their separate ways to attend to their own business.

Despite being on the field, he had no time to watch the game at all.

I first met with the person in charge at Mercedes-Benz.

The other party's attitude is probably like this.

You're Chinese, you don't understand racing.

They should sell their shares to us; we are the professionals.

Their attitude was rather assertive.

After all, Mercedes-Benz is a world-class car brand, and it is indeed very strong now.

However, the Germans were not as arrogant as the British and Americans. They spoke cautiously and were somewhat old-fashioned, but their attitude was very direct.

Zhang Yuan said he had a different idea and they could discuss it after the match.

Then, he ran to the competition center to find someone.

"Zhang Yuan, long time no see."

Yang Ziqiong was dressed quite neatly and gave him a hug when she saw him.

She came with her boyfriend.

Her boyfriend, Jean Todt, has now become the new president of the FIA!
This is why we have to come and "pay our respects."

I offered some congratulations and auspicious blessings.

similar……

If the Chairman arrives, the heavens will be clear, and the racing industry will be saved!

Just praise them, it's tax-free to praise people anyway.

Foreigners also love to hear nice things, and the other party is quite pleased.

Zhang Yuan brought up the matter of Mercedes-Benz wanting to buy a racing team.

This matter also requires the cooperation and approval of the FIA, and it cannot be bypassed by this new president.

The other party knew about this; Ross Brawn was his old partner. The two of them, along with Schumacher, were the Ferrari Big Three back then, and their relationship was extremely close.

The FIA ​​has a nice-sounding name and a prestigious background.

However, there is a problem: while F1 is theoretically under his jurisdiction, there are other organizations involved.

So even his chairmanship isn't guaranteed anymore.

If the entire F1 racing team were to unite and disobey him, or even impeach him, his prestige in the industry would be shaken.

I admire you; you're the boss.

If you rebel, you're no longer the boss.

So when Zhang Yuan offered his goodwill and said he didn't want to sell his shares in the team, the man understood.

They just want me to act as a mediator and mediate.

Zhang Yuan needed him to put pressure on Mercedes.

At the same time, this would also make Todt need him in the future Mercedes team, so that he would have more "one of his own" to facilitate communication and ensure that someone would stand by him in special circumstances.

To some extent, this is an exchange of benefits.

Since it's an exchange, there must be conditions.

Yang Ziqiong started talking to him about things in the industry.

"You should know that Xiao Ma Ben Teng has a film project they've offered me, right?"

"Mr. Li Ming said that he has discussed this with you."

"Oh..." Zhang Yuan opened his mouth, already knowing what was going on.

Big Dog Brother mentioned to him during the Chinese New Year that he wanted to film "Reign of Assassins".

However, the film is currently tentatively titled "Reign of Assassins".

Don't be fooled by the fact that it's only two words different; it's become much more rustic.

John Woo was the producer of this film, but he still held the reins of power.

We've already approached Yang Ziqiong and want her to star in the film.

The problem is that Yang Ziqiong's box office appeal is generally low.

Actresses are inherently less successful than actors at the box office.

So Xiao Ma's investment was in place, accounting for half, but the remaining half was difficult to raise.

There aren't many people willing to spend money on Yang Ziqiong, and even if they do, they're not willing to spend much.

Kung Fu films are already in the "end times," and the martial arts films that follow are even more insignificant.

Zhang Yuan didn't want to vote at first either.

Even if this film doesn't lose money, it won't make a huge profit either.

So when Dog asked him several times, he always said he would think about it.

I still want him to act.

Zhang Yuan made even more excuses.

But now that Yang Ziqiong has asked about it, he can't refuse.

Zhang Yuan suddenly felt a bit empathetic towards Brother Hua.

Andy Lau is a respectable person, so he often has to play roles that involve "human relationships".

Most of them are bad movies.

Including that wildly popular but terrible film, "Dwelling in the Fuchun Mountains".

I'm pretty much the same now.

Of course, "Reign of Assassins" is not a bad movie like "Dwelling in the Fuchuan Mountains".

Although it received mixed reviews upon its release, its merits became apparent over time, especially when compared with subsequent works.

This is what you call relying entirely on the contrast with your peers.

Zhang Yuan rolled his eyes. Since they had brought it up, he had to do it; otherwise, things on his side would be difficult to handle.

The profits the convoy can obtain are enough to compensate the other side of the play.

"I'll go and learn more about the work."

“I’ll talk to Big Dog in detail, and I’ll work with him to solve any problems,” Zhang Yuan assured him.

They then went to the pit garage of the Brawn AG team under the pretext of inspecting the area, and had a very pleasant conversation.

Shortly after, the match began, and the two returned to the center of the competition to take their seats.

Zhang Yuan then held another meeting with Mercedes-Benz.

Their attitude improved a lot then.

The German was still old-fashioned and rigid, but his tone had softened considerably.

They were wary of his close personal relationship with the new FIA president, who was using his influence to intimidate them.

Zhang Yuan only needs to stroll around; Mercedes-Benz has a lot to consider...

His condition for Mercedes was that he would fully support Mercedes' acquisition of the Brawn FC team.

But the dividends must not be reduced.

And his endorsement contract with Volkswagen had just expired.

Shouldn't we cooperate?
I think that besides me, there's no one else suitable to be the brand ambassador for Mercedes-Benz's China region.

There's nothing I can do but accept it reluctantly.

The endorsement fee can't be less...

The other party said they needed to go back and work on a plan, seek feedback from headquarters, and listen to feedback from the Asia region.

Anyway, the official language was like the things in Zhang Yuan's suitcase—there were one set after another.

Being a Mercedes-Benz ambassador is a huge endorsement.

At that time, Mercedes-Benz, BMW, and Audi were the representatives of luxury cars in China.

Bentley and Rolls-Royce are indeed prestigious, but at this time they haven't lowered their standards to make SUVs.

So they always kept themselves upright, on a pedestal.

These are the only three high-end brands that ordinary people can access and understand.

Moreover, back in the early 2000s, Chinese people would unconditionally believe that German products were good and blindly trust them.

In fact, all of this is the foundation laid by the Volkswagen Group.

Just like how some people in the south blindly believe in island nation brands.

Before the country introduced Volkswagen as a joint venture, it first approached a neighboring island nation.

But the Japanese, as always, not only were they willing to provide outdated technology that no one used, but they also wanted complete control over the equipment and production process, not letting you touch anything.

They only let the Chinese pay for the processing fees at the banquet, and then let him pocket all the profits from the later stages.

Fortunately, China suffered many losses in its early years.

In the 70s, CCTV sought to purchase equipment from an island nation. Ultimately, they sold the entire set because the island nation offered the lowest price and also offered the best value for the equipment.

The results showed that it was incompatible with any European or American equipment, and the repair and maintenance costs were exorbitant.

After that, we never used anything from the Japanese again.

The same goes for high-speed rail; they buy Shinkansen technology from island nations again.

In the end, the entire Chinese market was taken over by France.

He is short-sighted and always harbors malicious intentions.

Zhang Yuan's desire to cooperate with Mercedes-Benz was not solely driven by financial gain.

Even among the three major German luxury brands (BBA), Mercedes-Benz is considered to be of a higher status.

Especially when it comes to executive-class sedans, the other two brands can't compare to it.

Becoming a Mercedes-Benz brand ambassador would allow me to cultivate a more sophisticated business image. This is a strategic consideration for my career.

Regarding the remaining demand for vehicle advertising space, the other party also bargained, denying their requirement to maintain the previous location.

The tail wing was replaced with a canard because the canard is smaller and therefore less valuable.

The space for vehicle advertising has also been reduced in size.

Because Mercedes-Benz has an exceptionally strong ability to attract investment.

Before even buying the racing team, they had already secured more than a dozen sponsors.

This includes Petronas, Adidas, Puma, Ray-Ban, and even Qualcomm, which is not yet a globally renowned company.

After agreeing to the plan of one large and two small advertising spaces, Zhang Yuan began to discuss the other purpose of his trip with the other party.

Have you heard of Britain's Got Talent?

The German shook his head.

Zhang Yuan: …

I accept that your two countries have a deep-seated feud.

Ross Brown helped explain that he was British.

"Now, I represent the Chinese rights to Britain's Got Talent."

"A Chinese version of China's Got Talent will be produced next year."

"This program is very popular all over the world, and I believe the Chinese version should also have huge commercial value."

This isn't something Zhang Yuan made up.

After its broadcast, "China's Got Talent" broke the local viewership record for variety shows in Shanghai, which is quite astonishing.

The phenomenon of amateur talent shows was already incredibly popular.

However, it only ranked second nationwide for the entire year.

Because there were still experts in 2010!
That was the even more radical dating reality show, "If You Are the One," which suddenly appeared.

"But what does this have to do with what we're discussing right now?" the German representative asked methodically.

"I hope that Mercedes and the Mercedes team's sponsors can sponsor this program."

"I'll ask you the same question again: why?" The Mercedes people still didn't understand and weren't interested.

What connection does your talent show have with our old German luxury car brand?
We're so high-class!

But as always, Zhang Yuan came prepared.

He wanted to give the other person a reason they couldn't refuse...

After a long discussion, Zhang Yuan came out of the temporary meeting room.

The race was now well past the halfway mark, and Red Bull driver and future four-time world champion Sebastian Vettel was in the lead.

Sisi was wearing headphones and "enjoying" the game.

She widened her eyes when the camera panned across her.

When there were no cameras around, she would secretly yawn.

Zhang Yuan couldn't help but laugh.

It turns out the other person wasn't interested in racing itself, but rather in racing with him.

Call your assistant over and ask her to book your plane ticket.

Just then, Yang Yuancao and her partner arrived.

"How's it going?"

Zhang Yuanlai had told the other party beforehand to look for an opportunity to get sponsorship from Mercedes-Benz.

But the two of them thought it was unlikely.

Because Mercedes-Benz is too "high-end".

They rarely sponsor ordinary programs.

He's so arrogant, he looks down on others.

"It should be fine." Zhang Yuan ate a mint to moisten his throat and replied.

"Can?"

"An agreement has been reached?"

"It's not that simple. We can only say that we've done half of it. The other party will discuss it with headquarters."

"And I still need to contact the people in Shanghai."

"Then how did you get Mercedes to agree?" Ms. Yang asked, utterly puzzled.

At most, she can only get deals with small overseas brands or big domestic brands.

International big brands are not easy to deal with.

Zhang Yuan did not answer directly, but instead asked them a question in return.

"It will be 2010 soon."

"What was the most important event in China in 2010?"

The two looked at each other but did not answer.

I told you guys can't handle things in China, you don't understand it at all.

"Shanghai will host the World Expo in 2010!"

Not only the Beijing Olympics, but also the Shanghai World Expo can be considered unparalleled.

After all, the rest were pulled up.

For several years, Shanghai has been undergoing massive construction, demolishing not only residential buildings but also several factories.

Just to make room for the World Expo.

The cost of building the venues and exhibition areas alone is in the billions.

The demolition and supporting rail transit cost nearly 500 billion yuan.

Only China can afford to undertake construction on this scale.

In other countries, they either lack money and technology, or they have the technology but the cost is many times higher.

The Olympics and the World Expo, two major events, showcased China's soft and hard power from different perspectives.

These are all massive projects that require the full support of the nation.

After the World Expo, Shanghai was so busy attracting investment that the resulting industrial effects far exceeded the amount of investment.

It's often said that people from Shanghai are shrewd, and that's certainly true.

But they are indeed willing to invest.

As for Li Ruigang, the president of SMG, whom Zhang Yuan had known for a long time, what do you think he's saying now?

Good news from the delivery room: she got promoted!

In charge of cultural affairs related to the World Expo!

So Zhang Yuan's "empty promise" to Mercedes-Benz was that he would guarantee that China's Got Talent would be held at the World Expo venue during the World Expo!

Mention this and the Mercedes guys get really excited!

Sponsoring this program is the same as advertising at the World Expo!
There was a German pavilion at the World Expo, but advertising wasn't allowed inside, otherwise Mercedes would have arrived much earlier.

Furthermore, Mercedes-Benz actually attaches great importance to the Chinese market.

Despite their arrogance, the number of cars they sell every year is a fact.

It is now the fourth largest market.

The other party immediately said that they would contact headquarters.

The two British had nothing to say.

What do I do?!

They've pinned their hopes on the World Expo; with such a huge incentive, of course they're willing to participate.

I would do the same.

It's not that I couldn't think of it, it's that I couldn't handle it.

The advantage of living in Shanghai is that people there make no secret of their desire to make money.

As long as it brings economic benefits, everything is negotiable.

In this respect, the capital city can only be described as slow and inefficient, as there are too many things to consider and too many potential consequences.

"Next, you will handle the copyright for ITV."

"I'll go and discuss this matter with Shanghai TV."

"Let's keep in touch if there's any progress." Zhang Yuan indirectly indicated what he needed to do, said goodbye, and then turned to leave.

These two men felt that what made this Chinese man even more ruthless than his actions was his ambition.

Zhang Yuan led the team to the Red Bull Racing pit garage after the race ended, while everyone was celebrating.

Their team won the championship and were in high spirits.

They're spraying champagne and taking a group photo.

He spoke with the other team's liaison officer.

It's all for Wang Shi.

You have to keep your promises, or people will ignore you in the future.

When Red Bull heard that the wealthy Chinese man wanted to go sailing, they didn't refuse.

If a wealthy tycoon were to sponsor some money, that would be a good thing.

Every year, the team holds an open day to invite potential sponsors to visit and participate in activities.

After finishing all that, he found his assistant and Sisi, who were about to leave the stadium.

"Let's go."

"Didn't you say you'd have Dandan take me? Are you going to a meeting in Britain?" Little Dragon Girl asked, puzzled, as he arrived.

"I changed my mind."

I had actually planned to go with her anyway.

But saying it directly would be pointless.

First say you're busy, then pop up—that's a pleasant surprise.

“I think spending time with you is more important than attending meetings or working.” He opened his arms.

Sisi smiled and then threw herself into his arms for a hug.

The same thing, handled differently, can lead to completely different results.

Zhang Yuan thought to himself, "I can fool a Mercedes, and I can fool a woman."

I might be a genius!
"Dandan told me before." At this moment, his aunt, who was hugging him, spoke in his ear: "You asked her to book a plane ticket for you to go back with me."

Zhang Yuan: …

“I’ll occasionally play along with your act too.” Sisi laughed, her body trembling. “Surprised?”

Zhang Yuan didn't answer, but looked at his assistant.

"Your actions will be reflected in your year-end bonus."

The assistant pointed to himself, thinking, "Why am I always the one who gets hurt...?" (End of Chapter)