Entertainment mogul: Starting his business with the internet

Chapter 521 The bell rings and the cauldron eats
At 3 p.m. on June 3, the capital city was bathed in warm sunshine.

Song Ci deliberately canceled all his official business in the afternoon and arrived early at his own Four Seasons Hotel.

Outside the "Penglai" banquet hall on the top floor of the hotel, four female waitresses in elegant suits bowed to greet the tycoon upon his arrival.

Song Ci nodded slightly and pushed open the solid wood door, which was intricately carved with a pine and crane motif symbolizing longevity.

Inside the private room, Liu Shishi was staring intently at the wall.

She wore a modified Suzhou embroidery cheongsam, with auspicious cloud patterns embroidered in gold thread on a bright red satin surface, and a jade ruyi buckle at the neckline that shone with a warm glow.

When she tilted her head slightly, the pearl tassels by her ears swayed gently, shimmering softly under the light.

"Move a little more to the left," Liu Shishi instructed softly after observing for a moment.

Two waiters stood on a wooden ladder and carefully adjusted the huge "longevity" character on the wall, which was pieced together with gold leaf, to the best position.

It wasn't until Song Ci approached that Liu Shishi noticed her husband's arrival. She turned around, smiled, and affectionately took his arm.

"Yi-yi," she called softly to her husband, "come quickly and help me see if there's anything else I need to buy?"

Song Ci leaned down and kissed his wife's smooth forehead, then looked around the carefully arranged space.

The private room is decorated in vermilion and dark gold tones. The eight Suzhou embroidery screens are each embroidered with the Eight Immortals celebrating longevity. In front of each screen is a rosewood display shelf, which displays a variety of antique treasures.

A glass palace lantern hangs from the ceiling, its soft light filtering through the carved longevity patterns on the lantern and casting dappled shadows on the polished marble floor.

"Elegant and dignified, yet warm and inviting." Song Ci nodded in satisfaction, her gaze falling on the exquisite brocade boxes on the round table. "What are these?"

Liu Shishi gently took her husband's arm and walked to the table: "These two are the birthday gifts we prepared. The other three are congratulatory gifts sent by Wang Sicong, Sister K, and Yuanyuan. They are all top-quality jade items."

"They've put their heart into it."

The couple sat down in rosewood armchairs by the window, and the waiter immediately served them two cups of pre-Qingming Longjing tea.

In the celadon teacup, tender green tea buds slowly unfurl in the spring water, releasing a delicate fragrance.

“I’ve already arranged for a car to pick up Grandpa, Grandma, and Grandpa and Grandma on the other side. The elders won’t arrive for a while.” Liu Shishi considerately straightened her husband’s tie. “Yiyi, you rest for a bit.”

Song Ci leaned back lazily in his chair, reached out and pulled his wife into his arms, gently inhaling the faint orchid fragrance in her hair.

Bamboo shadows sway outside the window, and the aroma of tea wafts through the air; this moment of tranquility is especially precious.

Where are my father-in-law, mother-in-law, and uncle?

“My parents and uncle drove here themselves,” Liu Shishi replied softly, her fingertips gently smoothing out the wrinkles in her husband’s suit.

At this moment, the waiter bowed respectfully and said tactfully, "Mr. Song, Madam, we will be waiting outside the door. Please let us know if you need anything."

The door to the private room closed gently, leaving only the couple inside. Song Ci pulled his wife closer to him, his chin lightly resting on the top of her head.

The two snuggled together and talked intimately for a while until the carved wooden door was pushed open again.

The hotel's general manager personally led the way, and Song Zhang and his wife Liu Xiaoxian slowly entered.

Today, the birthday celebrant is dressed in a dark red silk Tang suit, with the Five Blessings Surrounding Longevity pattern embroidered in gold thread on the lapel. Although he is over fifty years old, he is full of energy and exudes the refined temperament of a doctor.

Liu Xiaoxian wore a moon-white jacquard cheongsam with an imperial green jade brooch at the collar, exuding a dignified and elegant air with a scholarly air.

"Dad, Mom." The Song couple immediately got up to greet them.

Song Zhang looked around the private room with satisfaction, his gaze lingering on the meticulously arranged details: "Yuandan, Shishi, it's really kind of you to put in so much effort."

Before the words were finished, footsteps sounded outside the door again. Liu Xiaochen and her family had arrived right on time.

"Congratulations, brother-in-law! May you enjoy a long and healthy life." Liu Xiaochen, beaming with joy, and his wife clasped their hands in a gesture of congratulations.

Liu Yuqing stood gracefully and obediently stepped forward to bow: "May my uncle enjoy boundless happiness and longevity."

Song Zhang laughed heartily and patted his niece on the shoulder affectionately: "Yuqing is becoming more and more sensible, a good child."

Just as everyone was exchanging pleasantries, Liu Shishi's parents arrived on time. The two families greeted each other warmly.

The last to arrive were the ancestors of Song Dynasty poets.

Grandpa and Grandma Song entered slowly, supported by their housekeeper, Sister Li. Both were dressed in festive dark red traditional clothing and looked very energetic.

Grandpa and Grandma arrived shortly after, with Grandma holding a string of sandalwood prayer beads, adding to the Zen-like atmosphere.

Seeing that all his relatives had arrived, Song Ci glanced at the time. The auspicious hour was approaching, so he signaled to the hotel manager that the birthday celebration ceremony could begin.

The well-trained waiters placed a pair of rosewood armchairs in the center of the hall, with gold-embroidered longevity-patterned cushions laid in front of them.

Song Zhang and Liu Xiaoxian sat upright, receiving birthday wishes from their son and daughter-in-law.

Song Ci and Liu Shishi solemnly performed the three kneelings and nine kowtows ceremony in front of the prayer mat.

As she kowtowed, the gold embroidery on Liu Shishi's cheongsam shimmered under the lights, echoing the sapphire brooch on Song Ci's dark suit.

"Your son wishes you, Father, evergreen like a pine and cypress, and a long and blessed life." After bowing, Song Ci presented an exquisite long box with both hands.

Upon opening it, one finds a pair of ruyi scepters carved from mutton fat jade. The jade is warm and smooth like solidified fat, and the carving is exquisite. Under the light, it gleams with a lustrous sheen.

Liu Shishi then presented a rosewood book box, saying, "Your daughter-in-law wishes you good health, happiness, and longevity."

Inside the box is a copy of the "Huangdi Neijing" printed during the Wanli period of the Ming Dynasty. Although the pages have yellowed, the ink is as fresh as new, making it a true treasure for physicians.

Song Zhang accepted the gift with satisfaction, saying repeatedly, "Thank you, thank you for your thoughtfulness."

Next, relatives presented birthday gifts to the birthday celebrant.

After the birthday celebration was completed, a waiter pushed a gilded food cart into the private room. On the cart was a nine-tiered peach cake, with a huge peach-shaped decoration on the top tier.

Amidst the blessings of the crowd, Song Zhang symbolically cut a slice of cake with a knife.

The birthday celebration ceremony concluded successfully in a solemn and peaceful atmosphere, and the carved wooden door of the private room was pushed open. Two rows of waiters dressed in Suzhou embroidered cheongsams, carrying food trays, filed in with light steps.

Their movements were synchronized, presenting a variety of exquisite dishes to the guests.

The opening four-course welcoming platter, featuring shrimp balls wrapped in gold leaf, foie gras in crystal, cabbage rolls wrapped in coral, and scallops wrapped in jade belt, immediately whetted the appetite.

Song Ci picked up a pair of ivory chopsticks wrapped in gold and served food to her father. Calmly and considerately, she gently placed a piece of gold-leaf shrimp ball on the gilded porcelain plate in front of Song Zhang.

"Dad, try this." Song Ci said gently, "Tonight's dishes are specially prepared by Shishi, who invited a state banquet chef and a French Michelin three-star chef to work together. It is a fusion of Chinese and Western styles, each with its own unique characteristics."

As the chief physician of Peking Union Medical College Hospital, Song Zhang held a prestigious position in the medical field and had seen countless delicacies throughout his life.

However, the lavish feast before him still left him secretly in awe.

Italian Alba white truffles, Japanese Nagasaki bluefin tuna belly, and French Périgord caviar.
These top-quality ingredients, air-freighted in by air, are already quite valuable, not to mention the exquisite cooking and beautiful presentation.

This birthday banquet must have cost at least several million.

Song Zhang was filled with emotion. Under his son's leadership, the Song family had truly become a family of great wealth and influence.

Gently picking up a shrimp ball and putting it in her mouth, she felt it was crispy on the outside and tender on the inside, with a fresh and fragrant taste that filled her mouth, and she couldn't help but nod in satisfaction. At the same time, Liu Shishi also picked up a Hetian jade spoon and served her mother-in-law, Liu Xiaoxian, a bowl of stewed bird's nest with snow frog.

The bird's nest is selected from cave bird's nests in Nakhon Si Thammarat Province, Thailand, and is milky white in color with thick strands; the snow frog comes from forest frogs in Changbai Mountain and is rich in collagen.

When stewed together, the broth is clear as jade and has a delicate aroma.

“Mom, bird’s nest is the best for beauty,” Liu Shishi said softly. “Please use more of it.”

Following that, the main courses were served one after another: braised shark fin, garlic Australian lobster, and black truffle pan-fried Wagyu beef.
The tableware used during the meal was all specially made porcelain from Jingdezhen, each piece decorated with gold longevity characters, which complemented the decoration of the private room.

The waiters were well-trained; their actions—serving dishes, changing plates, and pouring wine—were precise and elegant.

The atmosphere at the banquet was warm and harmonious.

Song Zhang had a very pleasant conversation with his father-in-law, Liu, discussing everything from the health preservation principles in the "Huangdi Neijing" to the essence of dietary therapy in the "Qianjin Yaofang".

The Suwen states: "In ancient times, those who understood the Dao followed the principles of Yin and Yang, harmonized with the arts of numerology, ate and drank in moderation, and maintained regular daily routines."

Song Zhang sighed softly, "Although today's banquet is full of delicacies, we must remember to eat in moderation."

Mr. Liu nodded with a smile: "What you say is absolutely right, my dear in-law. However, today is your birthday, and it is the children's way of showing filial piety. It is only right to make an exception once in a while."

On the other side, Liu Xiaoxian, her sister-in-law Shen Hanyue, and her mother-in-law Liu's mother were whispering and exchanging tips on flower arranging.

Liu Shishi whispered to her cousin Liu Yuqing.

Today, the little girl wore a light pink dress, which made her look even more youthful and beautiful. She was excitedly telling her cousin-in-law about her summer vacation travel plans to the United States.

"I want to go to New York to see the Statue of Liberty first, and then go to Disneyland in Los Angeles."

Liu Shishi listened gently, occasionally offering suggestions: "If you go to Los Angeles, you might want to check out the Getty Center; it has a very rich collection of art."

Halfway through the banquet, Song Ci's conversation with her uncle Liu Xiaochen attracted everyone's attention.

After a few glasses of fine vintage wine, Liu Xiaochen's face was flushed, her expression excited, and her voice unconsciously rose a few decibels.

"On New Year's Day, your uncle got promoted!" His voice was filled with excitement, and his hand holding the wine glass trembled slightly.

Song Ci was taken aback upon hearing this, then her face lit up with surprise: "Uncle got promoted?"

All eyes at the table turned toward it, filled with anticipation.

Liu Xiaochen nodded excitedly: "Yes, he's been promoted! He's now the Vice President and Chief Risk Officer of the Head Office. The announcement was just made this morning!"

"Double happiness!" Liu Xiaoxian exclaimed in surprise, her eyes shining with joy. Her husband was celebrating his birthday, and her younger brother was getting a promotion. Both the Song and Liu families were thriving.

Song Ci immediately raised his wine cup and said sincerely, "I toast to my uncle, congratulations on your promotion!"

Liu Xiaochen was filled with emotion. After clinking glasses with Song Ci, she drank it all in one gulp, then lowered her voice and said, "New Year's Day, you really were farsighted!"

In the first half of the year, following your suggestion, I conducted an anti-money laundering pilot program at the Beiping branch, which yielded significant results and was appreciated by the central bank leadership. Coincidentally, Director Jiang retired and Director Yi took over, thus promoting me.”

“Yi Xing?” Song Ci’s heart sank. He was very familiar with this Yi Xing.

In his past life memories, this person was later transferred to the China Securities Regulatory Commission. During his tenure, the A-share market fell below 3000 points twenty times, harming countless investors and earning him the reputation of a "retail investor harvester."

Thinking of this, Song Ci couldn't help but frown slightly.

After a moment's thought, he softly offered a suggestion: "Uncle, if I may be so bold as to say this: it's best to keep a proper distance from this Yi Xing, but there's no need to offend him. Just be conscientious and do your job well."

Liu Xiaochen was taken aback upon hearing this, and her expression changed slightly.

He had originally planned to take this opportunity to build a closer relationship with the new bank president, but after hearing his nephew's words, the situation seemed somewhat delicate. He quickly pressed, "Did you hear something on New Year's Day?"

Song Ci shook his head slightly, his expression enigmatic: "Some things cannot be said openly."

Liu Xiaochen frowned, lost in thought. Her nephew was always shrewd and far-sighted, with extensive connections that reached even the highest levels of government. Since he had offered this advice, there must be a reason for it.

It seems that from now on at the head office, I can only maintain a superficial respect and feign courtesy with Yi Xing, and cannot get too close to him.

Seeing the slightly somber atmosphere, Liu Shishi picked up her wine glass at the right moment and smiled sweetly: "Honey, today is Dad's birthday. Let's discuss work matters tomorrow. Come, let's toast Dad again."

"It was my fault." Song Ci smiled knowingly, and raised his glass with his wife. "Dad, let's toast you again, wishing you good health and longevity!"

The banquet continued, and the following dishes were even more breathtaking:
Traditional famous dishes such as clear soup bird's nest, Buddha Jumps Over the Wall, braised shark fin, and boiled cabbage are presented alternately with Western delicacies such as French baked snails, Italian white truffle risotto, and Spanish Iberian ham.

Each dish is meticulously crafted, making it a feast for the eyes.

Once all twenty-eight dishes had been served, a waiter pushed a food cart back into the room.

On the vehicle was an exquisite cloisonné longevity noodle bowl, containing a single, unbroken longevity noodle.

This bowl of longevity noodles is made with the most exquisite ingredients. The noodles are hand-pulled by a pastry chef who also serves at state banquets. They are as thin as hair but incredibly chewy. The entire bowl uses only one noodle, symbolizing longevity and endless prosperity.

Amidst the blessings of his loved ones, Song Zhang picked up the golden chopsticks, symbolically lifted a noodle, and savored it with a radiant smile.

The private room was filled with laughter and warm family atmosphere, creating a beautiful picture of a grand family reunion.

As the hustle and bustle of the birthday banquet gradually subsided, Song Ci and Liu Shishi returned to Jingyuan Villa after properly settling all the elders in.

Night had fallen, but the city of Beiping outside the car window was still brightly lit.

The vehicle drove smoothly on the street, and a faint sandalwood scent filled the interior.

Song Ci closed her eyes slightly, feeling the slight drowsiness brought on by the drinking at the banquet.

He reached out and rolled down the car window, and the early summer evening breeze immediately rushed in, brushing against his face and instantly making him more awake.

I rubbed my temples. It was my father's birthday today, and I was so happy that I couldn't help but drink a few more cups.

Slightly tipsy, I found myself in a rather pleasant mood.

He was stunned for a while before he noticed that his wife was leaning gently on his shoulder, her bright eyes fixed on her phone screen, her fingers occasionally swiping lightly.

Her focused profile looked exceptionally serene and beautiful under the soft lighting inside the car.

"What are you looking at so intently?" Song Ci asked softly, his arm naturally encircling his wife's shoulder.

Upon hearing this, Liu Shishi looked up with a gentle smile and tilted her phone screen slightly toward her husband: "I'm looking at information about Asia Television."

Song Ci looked slightly surprised: "Why are you suddenly interested in ATV?"

Liu Shishi gently put down her phone, turned slightly to the side, and gazed at her husband's handsome face in the dim light.

Her gaze was like still water as she quietly observed him for a long while before gently parting her lips and smiling.

"Honey, ATV is suffering huge losses and is on the verge of bankruptcy. Do you think there's any hope for this TV station?"

Outside the car window, a bright moon hung high in the sky, its gentle light bathing the journey home.

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(End of this chapter)