Entertainment: 1990

Chapter 267 Going to Hong Kong and Going to the United States

The test results were better than expected; the cough was a lingering effect of two consecutive viral flu infections, and it would recover after taking medication for a period of time.

As for whether the chilblains on their hands will become a recurring and stubborn condition, that depends on their respective family circumstances—in this day and age, few children from ordinary families are free from chilblains, it's just that they are not as severely affected as they are.

At noon, Zhang Yan treated a few young people to a big meal, then sent them back to their hotel before going to CCTV alone.

Last year, Han Lei and Han Hong performed well on the Spring Festival Gala. This year, the chief director asked Yuan Meng to produce a program again, and Zhang Yan recommended Tian Zhen and Lao Lang.

The two have been in the Spring Festival Gala preparation team for several days now, and Zhang Yan, as the boss, will definitely take some time to go and check on them.

He was a regular at CCTV, especially after being chased by Cao Guilin, which made him famous at CCTV. So he easily got into the CCTV building by using his face.

As soon as I entered the studio, I saw this year's hosts, Ni Ping and Cheng Qian.

I heard that Zhou Tao and Yang Lan have both made it onto the shortlist. It's a pity that there are only two host positions this year. If there were six hosts like last year, Zhou Tao would definitely have been selected.

Ni Ping was somewhat distracted. Cheng Qian nudged her, and she noticed Zhang Yan. She quickly smiled and greeted him, "Mr. Zhang, what brings you here?"

"I've come to check on Tian Zhen and Lao Lang."

Zhang Yan joked, "By the way, on behalf of the people of the whole country, I'd like to inspect how your Spring Festival Gala is doing this year."

No sooner had he finished speaking than someone chimed in: "I don't believe that. Can the people be represented by capitalists?"

However, Feng Gong saw Zhang Yan and hurriedly came to greet him.

Zhang Yan joked, "Who am I talking about? Isn't this Brother Gong who's been kissing Russian girls like crazy? — Is your grape trellis still standing?"

Feng Gong's "Crazy Kiss Russia" is scheduled to air on the 24th and is currently being promoted all over the world.

Feng Gong chuckled and said, "I would have liked to sacrifice for the country, but the director wouldn't allow it, so I didn't even get to kiss him."

As he spoke, he pulled Zhang Yan aside and whispered, "Was it your idea to launch a movie channel at Beijing Film Studio?"

"correct."

Zhang Yan boasted, half-jokingly, "The newly arrived Factory Director Han visited me three times, and I really couldn't refuse, so I had to give them a suggestion—what's up, are they going to cooperate with CCTV?"

"Where are you? They're arguing!"

Feng Gong whispered, "At first, CCTV and Beijing Film Studio were arguing, and then the Optoelectronics Department also got involved. Beijing Film Studio had the upper hand, CCTV had its own platform, and Optoelectronics Department was the superior authority. Now, it's a stalemate because there are three monks with no water to drink."

[PS: The movie channel was originally run by the Optoelectronics Department, and was only transferred to the Central Propaganda Department in 18.]

Upon hearing the news, Zhang Yan immediately found a quiet place to call Han Sanping to find out the details.

Han Sanping sighed on the phone, saying that he had been careless and "let the wolf into the house." He had originally wanted to fight for a larger share of the profits, so he took the initiative to approach the optoelectronics company for a settlement.

Who knew that the optoelectronics department also took a liking to the project and planned to have the Film Bureau directly coordinate and lead it? Naturally, the Beijing Film Studio and CCTV were not happy about this, so the matter was temporarily at a stalemate.

"I should have listened to you, brother, and partnered with Tianjin TV Station—sigh, our Beijing Film Studio has been so afraid of being poor, always trying to get rich quick, but who knew we'd end up losing more than we gained..."

After pouring out his grievances for a while, Han Sanping asked, "Brother, are any of you going to Hong Kong to learn from their experience after the New Year?"

"Going to Hong Kong to learn from their experience?"

Zhang Yan asked in bewilderment, "What do you mean? Is your Beijing Film Studio going to Hong Kong to learn from their experience?"

"It's not just our Beijing Film Studio, all eight state-owned film studios are going!" Han Sanping said. "Isn't it because a policy was just introduced at the beginning of the year requiring our film studios to undergo commercial transformation? It just so happens that the higher-ups intend to promote the integration and exchange between the Hong Kong film industry and the mainland—what, were you guys not included in fulfilling your dreams?"

“It originally had nothing to do with us. Our Dream Realization has always insisted on commercial operation, and it is not the same as the eight major film studios.”

“Then you should definitely go. We need someone with discernment, so that the people of Hong Kong don’t get fooled. You don’t need to worry about this. I’ll report it to the higher-ups right away.”

"This..." Zhang Yan wanted to say something, but Han Sanping had already hung up the phone.

This Factory Director Han...

Zhang Yan was speechless. This matter was originally under the leadership of Leader Lin. If he really wanted to go, would he need to report to his superiors?

It's obvious that Han Sanping's real intentions were not what they seemed.

He wasn't particularly interested in Hong Kong Island, but Chen Hong had always wanted to visit. Since they were getting married next year, he figured he'd take Chen Hong on a big shopping spree.

As he turned around, about to return to the Spring Festival Gala studio, he discovered that Zhou Tao was already waiting nearby.

"How did you come?"

Zhang Yan was a little puzzled. Ever since he had Yang Lan, his "rival," at the station, the two of them would try to meet outside whenever they wanted to.

"Did you hear that?"

Zhou Tao leaned closer and said through gritted teeth, "Yang Lan has already applied to the station to study abroad—that bitch, no wonder she spread such rumors, it turns out she's the one who really wants to go abroad!"

Zhang Yan hadn't expected this turn of events and couldn't help but chuckle, "Hasn't she seen 'A Native of Beijing in New York'?"

"I've definitely seen it, but didn't your storyline almost get you sued because it was so fabricated?"

Judging from this, Zhou Tao clearly didn't believe that America was like the TV series, or that someone like him would experience the hardships depicted on television.

Zhang Yan was too lazy to argue with her about such values, so he changed the subject and said, "Isn't this a good thing for you? With Yang Lan gone, you should be the first choice for the female host of 'Zhengda Variety Show,' right?"

"That's exactly why I came!"

Zhou Tao's expression was serious. After glancing around to make sure no one was watching, he whispered, "Have you considered that once she's abroad, she'll be free from constraints? What if she spreads more rumors about me, or... or exposes what's going on between you two?"

She never hesitated to assume the worst about her opponents, especially women like Yang Lan with a criminal record.

However, if Yang Lan gave up CCTV and the reputation he had built up over the past four years to go abroad, and if he really intends to stay in the United States and not come back, he might very well take revenge without any scruples.

Zhang Yan couldn't help but regret not having pulled back from the brink.

But it's too late to regret it now. The most urgent thing is to make sure that Yang Lan is wary and won't dare to expose the matter to the media.

Zhang Yan thought about it briefly and concluded that if he wanted Yang Lan to have some reservations, he had to make her see the country as a fallback option, or at least not make her feel that the country had nothing to do with her.

As for the specific steps...

"I'll look into it later and then talk to her."

Seeing that Zhang Yan had taken on the task, Zhou Tao didn't say anything more, since she had confidence in Zhang Yan's abilities.

So she turned to Zhang Yan and discussed whether there was anything that could be changed in the current "Zhengda Variety Show"—if she really took over "Zhengda Variety Show", she certainly couldn't just follow the old ways, she had to find a way to outdo Yang Lan.

"We'll talk about that later."

Zhang Yan waved his hand with a headache and said, "I came to watch Tian Zhen and Lao Lang rehearse today, but I haven't gotten anything important done yet."

This is the troublesome thing about having many women around; even a casual sex partner like Jiang Shan still requires some consideration.

Zhou Tao, unwilling to give up, asked, "What about that night..."

“Tonight won’t work either, I have plans—tomorrow, the ‘Sunshine’ crew is having a wrap party tomorrow at noon, we can sit down and have a good chat after that.”

(End of this chapter)