Huayu: Starting from joining the mainstream entertainment industry in 96

Chapter 142, Section 140: A Timely Rain for the Beijing Circle
Tuesday, August 12, 1997, just after 8:00 AM.

In the general manager's office of Shengying Media, Wang Sheng had just brewed a strong cup of tea and was preparing to review the framework of "Enlight Media" that he had initially finalized with Wang Changtian yesterday when his mobile phone on the table started to vibrate.

The caller ID shows a number from Hunan Province.

Wang Sheng pressed the answer button, and Ouyang Changlin's strong, resonant voice with a Hunan accent immediately came through: "Good morning, Mr. Wang! I hope I haven't disturbed you?"

Wang Sheng said calmly, "It's good morning, Mr. Ouyang. I just got to the office."

"Mr. Wang, I'm boarding the plane right away and will arrive in Beijing this afternoon." Ouyang Changlin said in a cheerful voice with a hint of urgency, "I've already asked Ms. He Xiuqiong to book a private room at the Wangfu Hotel for 6 pm. Please do me the honor of having her apologize to you in person, so we can have a good drink and discuss the specifics of our cooperation in detail."

The Wangfujing Hotel, one of Beijing's top hotels catering to foreign guests in the late 1990s, was chosen for its location, demonstrating the importance that Ouyang Changlin and He Xiuqiong placed on it.

"Director Ouyang, you're too kind. Okay, I understand. See you at the Wangfujing Hotel at six o'clock tonight," Wang Sheng readily agreed.

"Great! That's wonderful! Then let's meet tonight!" Ouyang Changlin's voice was filled with obvious relaxation and joy.

Just as Ouyang Changlin hung up the phone, there was a gentle knock on the office door.

"Come in." Wang Sheng didn't even look up, continuing to look at the documents on the table.

The door was pushed open a crack, and Li Tingting poked her head in, whispering, "President Wang, there is a Ms. Cai Yinong from Hong Kong Island who wants to see you. She was introduced by Section Chief Zhao from the factory's publicity department."

"Tsai Yi-Nong?"

Wang Sheng quickly searched his memory for the name.

Is he the boss of Tangren?
"Let her in."

"Ok."

Li Tingting acknowledged and withdrew.

A moment later, the door was pushed open again.

A young woman, dressed in a well-fitting lotus-colored suit and exuding a capable air, walked in.

She looked to be about twenty-seven or twenty-eight years old, with delicate features. Her eyebrows and eyes bore a striking resemblance to the later actress Liu Shishi, exuding a unique charm that blended the gentle grace of a woman from the Jiangnan water towns with the shrewdness of a career woman.

It really is her...

Wang Sheng's eyes flickered slightly.

At this time, Cai Yinong had not yet grown into a film and television company owner, and her resume was still somewhat vague. What was known was that she had worked in the Hong Kong film and television industry, doing jobs such as casting director and project planner, and her experience was quite diverse.

"Mr. Wang, hello! I apologize for bothering you, I am Cai Yinong."

Cai Yinong's Mandarin is quite standard, with only a barely perceptible Cantonese accent at the end. She smiled and stepped forward, extending both her hands.

Wang Sheng stood up, shook her hand gently, and pointed to the chair opposite the desk: "Ms. Cai, please sit down."

At this moment, Li Tingting brought in two cups of tea, gently placed them in front of the two of them, and then quietly withdrew, closing the door behind her.

Wang Sheng sat down again and looked at Cai Yinong in front of him.

Taking this opportunity, Cai Yinong spoke again, her tone respectful yet measured: "I have long admired Mr. Wang's name, and meeting him today truly lives up to his reputation. Mr. Wang, at such a young age, has built such a great career and led a new trend in mainland film and television, which is truly admirable. In particular, his song 'Chinese People' expresses the sentiments of all Chinese people. I was deeply moved when I heard it in Hong Kong."

After a few polite compliments, Cai Yinong gradually got to the point: "To be honest, Mr. Wang, I currently work for a film and television company in Hong Kong called 'China Film Company.' We were working on a TV series project called 'Love Line Between Beijing and Hong Kong,' hoping to promote cultural exchange between the two places."

Unexpectedly, the Southeast Asian financial crisis hit, the company owner's cash flow dried up, and he absconded, leaving me with the company and this half-dead project.

She gave a wry smile, her expression showing a hint of helplessness and anxiety: "The situation in Hong Kong is very tense right now, and all the business owners are too busy to find any investment opportunities. I had no choice but to come to the mainland to look for opportunities."

"I never imagined that after such a long absence, the mainland film and television industry would produce someone as powerful as Mr. Wang, capable of turning the tide with a flick of his wrist. Therefore, I specifically asked someone to introduce me, hoping to establish a connection and see if there's a possibility of collaboration." Wang Sheng listened quietly, and only after she finished speaking did he ask, "Has the director been decided for this film, 'Love Line Between Beijing and Hong Kong'?"

“It’s settled. It’s a friend of mine, director Li Guoli. He just returned from Canada and has a lot of ideas,” Cai Yinong replied quickly, a barely perceptible glint in her eyes.

Wang Sheng chuckled inwardly, thinking, "What friend? He's clearly a lover."

Tsai Yi-nong met Li Kuo-li in 1993 during the promotion of the movie "Stock Fever".

Lee Kuo-li once praised her as "like a seventeen-year-old girl".

Then, Cai Yinong, knowing she was the third party, and the two of them ended up sleeping together.

It seems that Li Guoli fled to Canada because this affair was exposed.

However, this "playboy and his wife" do have some unique talent in producing period idol dramas and romance dramas.

"I have heard of Li Guoli."

In previous years, when Hong Kong filmmakers went north, Li Guoli had collaborated with the Beijing Film Studio and even received an award from the Beijing Radio and Television Bureau.

Wang Sheng pondered for a moment, then looked at Cai Yinong and said, "Ms. Cai, I can invest in your project."

"Love in Beijing and Hong Kong" was Tangren's debut work, benefiting from the historical context and achieving impressive ratings in mainland China, making it a minor hit.

That's not important; what Wang Sheng values ​​is the abilities of this "romantic couple."

Upon hearing this, Cai Yinong's face lit up with surprise and delight: "Really? Thank you so much, President Wang!"

“However,” Wang Sheng changed the subject, “we need to change the investment method. The ‘China Film Company’ you’re with is now defunct and has nothing to do with you anymore. What I mean is, you should bring this project and director Li Guoli to my company.”

He leaned forward slightly, his tone filled with undeniable confidence and a desire to recruit: "I happen to be planning to shoot some film and television works involving themes from both Hong Kong and mainland China, and there will only be more and more projects in the future. The economy in Hong Kong is not good right now, and you won't be able to make a living there either. Why don't you work hard with me? I'll give you a platform and resources."

Cai Yinong was completely stunned by Wang Sheng's "all-inclusive" recruitment, and it took her several seconds to react.

She quickly weighed her options. The Mr. Wang in front of her was incredibly powerful, a real figure in the alliance between Beijing Film Studio and film studios. Sheng Ying Media's business was booming. Getting on board this big ship was undoubtedly the best way out at the moment, far better than her wandering around like a headless fly in Hong Kong.

"Mr. Wang, do you mean that I and Guoli should both join Shengying Media?" she asked tentatively, her heart racing.

“That’s one way to understand it, but to be more specific,” Wang Sheng nodded. “I’m about to establish a new subsidiary focused on television content production and talent management. You’ll be the vice president of this company, in charge of the talent management department and the television drama production department.”

Li Guoli will be coming over to direct and also serve as the deputy head of the television drama production department. "You guys are going to film 'Love Line Between Beijing and Hong Kong,' right? This is perfect as your inaugural project. After that, you'll have plenty of projects for martial arts dramas and romance dramas. You can also serve as a producer, leveraging your strengths."

The position and authority that Wang Sheng offered far exceeded Cai Yinong's expectations.

This is no longer just about investing in a project; it's about giving them a brand new, higher starting point and a stable foundation.

Cai Yinong knew how tall and strong the tree in front of her was, and without much further thought, a strong sense of opportunity prompted her to make a decision immediately.

She took a deep breath and nodded solemnly: "I am honored that you think so highly of me, Mr. Wang! I, Cai Yinong, am willing to join Mr. Wang's team with the project and Director Li! I will definitely do my best to serve you, Mr. Wang!"

"Great!" Wang Sheng smiled with satisfaction. "Welcome to the team. I'll have my assistant, Li Tingting, discuss the specific contract details with you in a couple of days."

……

In the original timeline, the "Love Line Between Beijing and Hong Kong" project was a cash cow for Yangshi, but Tsai Yi-nong obviously did not seize this opportunity to pave the way for success. Instead, she relied on Taiwan's capital and developed quietly for several years until the policies were fully liberalized before she was able to establish herself in Shanghai.

The establishment of a new artist management department is to maintain Shengying Media's glorious tradition of not signing artists with less than a bachelor's degree, and to support the development of subsequent business.

(End of this chapter)