Entertainment: 1990

Chapter 326 It still requires someone in the court.

While Zhang Yan and Chen Hong were busy with important business at the company, Zhang Fang also took a stroll around the film and television base with Cao Ying.

When they went in, everyone had a string of candied hawthorns in their hand; when they came out, they were eating jianbing guozi (Chinese crepes).

Overall, the entertainment options at the film and television city are still too limited, but it offers a unique experience in China and is enhanced by the filters provided by popular TV dramas, which has led to a growing number of visitors since its opening.

Seeing that Zhang Fang was still somewhat unsatisfied, Cao Ying smiled and said, "Let's come again on Sunday. There will be a parade of Jinshi (successful candidates in the highest imperial examinations) and an audience with the emperor. If you're willing to spend money, you can even experience what it's like to be a Jinshi."

"Could I play an emperor?"

"Uh~"

Cao Ying paused for a moment before saying, "It's definitely not possible for others, but it shouldn't be a problem if you want to experience it."

Zhang Fang immediately refused, saying, "Then forget it. I just want to have some fun. How can I make things special for myself?"

Cao Ying glanced at the Mercedes-Benz W14 parked across the street, a sentence stuck in her throat.

Then Zhang Fang thought of something else: "Should a Jinshi (successful candidate in the highest imperial examination) kneel when he meets the emperor?"

"They said it follows the rules of the Tang and Song dynasties, so there's no need to kneel; just a bow is enough."

As the two were talking, the driver got off the Tiger Head Ben and looked over.

"We'll go over after we finish eating."

Zhang Fang waved to the other person and sped up her eating. They had studied dining etiquette at school, so even when they were eating on the roadside, they looked different from ordinary people.

Cao Ying didn't realize this. If she weren't with Zhang Fang, she would prefer to squat on the curb to eat—or even better, eat at Hutouben.

Now, in order to keep up with Zhang Fang, I have to slow down.

The two of them munched on the crispy crackers, remaining silent for a moment.

Only after finishing the jianbing guozi (Chinese crepe) and cleaning his hands and mouth with a wet wipe from the car did he finally sit comfortably in the back seat.

After getting on the bus, Cao Ying carefully put the wet wipe box back into the armrest box. Although this thing is everywhere twenty years later, in the early 94, wet wipes were basically only provided to commercial airliners and foreign hotels.

Zhang Fang, having shed her elegant facade, rubbed her calves and said, "Now that the film and television base is fully open, it would be best to prepare more benches or something. Walking around like this is a bit tiring."

"Then you should just tell General Manager Zhang directly."

Cao Ying laughed and said, "Although we at Yuanmeng are only small shareholders, President Zhang's influence is by no means small."

Just as Zhang Fang was about to reply, the pager with a Chinese display, the same model as Tao Hong's, went off at her waist. She took it out, glanced at it, and said to the driver who had just started the car, "Brother Chen, could you stop in front of the store up ahead? I need to make a call."

"Need not."

The driver was Chen Hong's distant cousin. As he drove, he took a mobile phone from the console and handed it to her, saying, "The company gave me a mobile phone. You can use this to make calls."

Watching Zhang Fang take the pager and start dialing, Cao Ying's eyes flashed with envy—it really is true that having connections in high places makes it easier to get ahead; even President Chen's driver is using a mobile phone.

"A host on the movie channel?"

At that moment, Zhang Fang's surprised voice reached Cao Ying's ears: "What does the movie channel need a host for? Aren't they just showing old movies 24/7? Oh, so they're after my brother after all..."

Upon hearing the words "movie channel host," Cao Ying secretly perked up her ears. Although she knew this had nothing to do with her, she couldn't help but feel curious.

Zhang Fang clearly noticed this, so after hanging up the phone, she took the initiative to explain: "The movie channel's ratings are good, but the advertising revenue is not as expected. I want to ask my brother, the 'instigator,' to take a look. The benefit he offered is that I become a host on the movie channel."

It's true what they say, having connections in the court makes it easier to get ahead in officialdom!
Cao Ying couldn't help but sigh again, then asked enviously, "This is a satellite channel directly under the Optoelectronics Group. What were you thinking?"

"Let me ask my brother first."

Without saying a word, Zhang Fang started dialing again.

After listening to her explain the whole story, Zhang Yan simply said, "Let's put it off for now, this isn't urgent."

We certainly have to give face to the optoelectronics company, but not in this way. We should at least wait until Leader Lin returns to Beijing before discussing it further—without Leader Lin's influence, the optoelectronics company wouldn't be so polite in exchanging benefits.

"Okay, I'll have Kang Hui inquire about it later."

Zhang Fang hung up the phone without a care. With her older brother's meteoric rise to fame, a job that would be a dream for most people was just commonplace for her.

Even if she missed that opportunity, she could still get into CCTV—or at the very least, Tianjin TV. To be honest, if it weren't for her boyfriend Kang Hui, Zhang Fang would have preferred to come to Tianjin TV. Firstly, with her brother's connections, she would definitely thrive; secondly, local TV stations don't have the same constraints as CCTV.

But this scene made Cao Ying feel a pang of sadness, though she dared not show it on the surface. She chatted and laughed with Zhang Fang all the way back to the apartment building.

After getting out of the car, Zhang Fang said to the driver, "Brother Chen, we probably won't be going far this afternoon. Why don't you go back to the company and rest first?"

"How can that be done!"

The driver hurriedly replied, "Sister Hong specifically instructed me to wait downstairs at the apartment building for the next two days."

As he spoke, he handed over a business card: "My phone number is on this. If you need anything, just give me a call."

Zhang Fang accepted the business card and thanked them before the two went upstairs.

As they passed the men's dormitory on the second floor, they heard someone swearing in the corridor. Zhang Fang curiously peeked out and turned to Cao Ying, whispering, "That looks like Xu Wei, doesn't it?"

"It's definitely him."

Cao Ying also lowered his voice and said, "He's been like this lately whenever he's drunk, but he usually curses in the dorm. This is the first time he's cursed in the hallway."

"For what?"

"It seems to be money that I lent to a friend before, and now I can't get it back. He's been spending money recklessly and has accumulated a lot of debt."

Cao Ying shrugged as she spoke. Ever since moving into this apartment, she had truly experienced the meaning of the words "living a life of debauchery" and "extravagance."

"Is he alright?"

"Don't worry, my assistant should be here soon."

As they were talking, the two went up to the third floor and saw Sun Yue standing at the top of the stairs, looking dazed.

"cough~"

Zhang Fang coughed lightly, and Sun Yue finally came to her senses, forcing a smile as she said, "Sister Fang, Xiao Cao, you're back?"

Sun Yue and Zhang Fang were both born in 72. Zhang Fang's birthday is two months older than hers. In addition, Zhang Fang is the company's CEO and a program host, so Sun Yue has always called her Sister Fang.

Seeing her distraught appearance, Cao Ying gestured towards the downstairs area with his chin and asked, "What's it to you?"

Sun Yue shook her head vigorously like a rattle drum and explained in a low voice, "Today, Gao Feng, Zhang Yadong, Teng Ge'er, and I were discussing how to pass the restaurant's money to Xu Wei, since the restaurant isn't making any money right now—but Xu Wei got angry at the dinner table and almost got into a fight with Gao Feng and Teng Ge'er."

After a pause, she shook her head helplessly and said, "Brother Xu is a good person. He's usually very generous, but he's just too concerned about saving face."

"Being too proud is a recipe for suffering."

Cao Ying made an accurate assessment, just then they heard someone downstairs shouting, "Who's home? Come out a few people, at least help him inside, otherwise it'll be a disgrace to our Dream Fulfillment team if word gets out!"

"It's Sister Luyao who's back."

Cao Ying and Sun Yue immediately recognized who it was. Even if they couldn't recognize the voice, the only person in the apartment who would use the company as an excuse was Wang Luyao, the maidservant.

"Should we go down and take a look?"

When Zhang Fang heard Wang Luyao's call, she asked for their opinions.

Actually, if it weren't for Zhang Fang, Cao Ying and Sun Yue probably wouldn't have gotten involved in this matter. But since Zhang Fang took the lead, the two of them felt at ease and went down to the second floor.

Wang Luyao was standing at the top of the stairs with her hands on her hips. Gao Feng and Teng Ge'er had already come out from inside after hearing the shouts, but neither of them made a move.

Seeing this, Wang Luyao was about to urge them on when Sun Yue quickly leaned over and whispered, "Sister Luyao, they almost got into a fight earlier."

Wang Luyao was taken aback for a moment, but still insisted, "Even so, we can't let him keep cursing in the hallway, can we? Let's take him back to his room first!"

Gao Feng and Teng Ge'er exchanged glances before stepping forward to support Xu Wei on either side and escort him back to his room.

Xu Wei didn't struggle, but just mumbled drunken ramblings like "I'm rich" and "Money is a bastard."

Wang Luyao nodded in satisfaction, turned around and was about to say something when she suddenly saw Zhang Fang, and her smug expression froze on her face.

A moment later, her back slumped and her shoulders drooped, and she greeted him with a beaming smile, "Fangfang's here too! When did you arrive?"

(End of this chapter)