Huayu: Starting from joining the mainstream entertainment industry in 96

Chapter 314, Section 312: Old Friends

The autumn winds of September swept away the last trace of summer heat in the north, and Wang Sheng's journey shifted from beyond the Great Wall to the south of the Yangtze River.

Over the next few days, he traveled south, stopping in several provinces, with his main task remaining to inspect the renovation progress of "China Film Grand Cinema" in various locations.

The itinerary was similar to that in Northeast China: arrival, receiving briefings, on-site inspections, and necessary working meals and talks with local cultural and propaganda officials.

Wherever they went, they were greeted with warm hospitality and eager anticipation.

The "China Film Prosperity" brand is a combination of the state-owned background of China Film Group and the market-oriented vitality of Shengying Media.

In the eyes of local officials, this is not only a cultural project, but also a political achievement project that can boost employment and enhance the city's image.

Despite his youth, Wang Sheng was composed. His insights into the film industry layout, cinema management, and future trends impressed many local officials who were meeting him for the first time, causing them to set aside any initial disdain due to his age and instead treat him with greater respect.

……

On September 27th, I arrived in Hangzhou, Zhejiang Province.

Before he could even appreciate the shimmering autumn scenery of West Lake, Wang Sheng plunged into his busy work. Hangzhou, a major city in the Yangtze River Delta, boasts a developed economy and a rich cultural heritage. The "China Film Grand Cinema" here is located in the core business district of Jiefang Road. It is a large-scale project with ten screening rooms, and is expected to become an important box office hub radiating throughout the province in the future.

After inspecting the construction site, they stayed at the West Lake State Guesthouse that night.

Not long after returning to his room, his assistant Li Tingting came in to report: "Mr. Wang, Mr. Chen from Lucheng has arrived. He's in the hotel lobby and wants to see you."

"Mr. Chen?" After a moment's thought, Wang Sheng immediately recalled the scene four years ago in Lucheng where he arranged a "custom-made" wedding movie for the daughter of a Zhejiang businessman. Mr. Chen, who was generous and knew how to get along with people, was the bride's father.

"Please come quickly, no, I'll go down and get him."

……

In the hotel lobby, Mr. Chen, dressed in a sharp suit with his hair neatly combed, looked even more prosperous than he had four years ago, his face beaming with the warm smile of seeing an old friend.

He was accompanied by a young man carrying a small, exquisite box, who was clearly an attendant.

"Director Wang! Oh, Mr. Wang! Long time no see, long time no see!" Boss Chen strode forward, grasped Wang Sheng's hands tightly, and shook them vigorously, his Mandarin with a strong southern Zhejiang accent was particularly loud.

"Mr. Chen, you look even more radiant than before!" Wang Sheng replied with a smile, leading him to the hotel's executive lounge. "I heard you were here. I just finished up and was wondering how to get in touch with you so we could catch up."

"Haha, Mr. Wang, you're such a busy man these days, with so many things to do. How could I dare to bother you? As soon as I heard you were in Hangzhou, I flew over from Lucheng. I had to come and pay my respects!" Mr. Chen's laughter was loud and clear, revealing the warmth and sincerity unique to businessmen.

We settled into a quiet booth in the lounge and ordered tea and snacks.

Four years seemed to have created little distance between the two. After exchanging a few pleasantries, they seemed to have returned to the familiar atmosphere of drinking and chatting in Lucheng back then, experiencing the local "nightclub Liu Yong lyrics" with elegance (or rather, romance).

"Time flies, it's been four years already." Wang Sheng sighed and casually asked, "Mr. Chen, how's your family? Have you had any grandchildren yet? I remember back then..."

"Thanks to Mr. Wang! It's wonderful!" Upon hearing this, Mr. Chen's face lit up even more, and he counted on his fingers, "In 97, the year Hong Kong returned to China, my daughter gave birth to a big, healthy grandson! Last year, in 99, she gave birth to a granddaughter, making me a perfect family with both a son and a daughter! Haha!"

"Congratulations! This is a joyous occasion," Wang Sheng sincerely congratulated.

"Joy and rejoice together!"

Mr. Chen waved his hand, then leaned forward slightly, his tone filled with undisguised gratitude: "Mr. Wang, to be honest, it was all thanks to your 'personalized customization' back then! You don't know, after that incident, my reputation in our area skyrocketed! Everyone says that I, Old Chen, have good taste and managed to connect with such a capable person from Beijing."

He lowered his voice: "To be honest, back in 98, during the financial crisis, the external environment was terrible!"
Many factories couldn't survive. But because of my reputation, the bank thought I had connections and connections, and they gave me a crucial loan, which allowed my hardware factory to pull through! Then last year, when the country took that crucial step of joining the WTO, hey, orders came pouring in like snowflakes! I made several times more money than before!" Wang Sheng listened quietly with a faint smile on his face. He could understand the ups and downs and opportunities that grassroots private entrepreneurs face in the tides of the times.

Of course, he never expected that the "personalized customization" service back then would become an invisible but powerful brand for Mr. Chen's strength and reputation in the local area.

After catching up for a while, Boss Chen finally rubbed his hands together and got down to business: "President Wang, besides visiting you, I also have a favor to ask of you."

"Please speak, Mr. Chen. We're old friends." Wang Sheng nodded.

"That's right. I see that movie theaters are getting more and more beautiful, and young people love to watch them. I discussed it with some fellow villagers from Lucheng, and we're thinking of investing in a modern movie theater with multiple screens in Lucheng."

As Mr. Chen spoke, his eyes were filled with anticipation and probing: "We're just a bunch of country bumpkins, we don't know the ins and outs of this business, but we trust you, Mr. Wang. I wonder... if your 'China Film Grand Cinema' could give us a chance to invest as well? Or, could you at least point us in the right direction?"

Wang Sheng pondered for a moment.

The desire of private capital to enter the cinema industry is a sign that they have sensed a favorable market trend.

“Mr. Chen, it’s great that you have this idea; it shows you see the future trend of cultural consumption,” Wang Sheng said calmly. “However, cinema investment and operation are highly specialized and involve a long chain of processes. I personally appreciate your trust in this proposal, but it requires detailed evaluation and discussion at the company level. This includes site selection, investment ratio, management model, and so on—it’s not something that can be decided in a single sentence.”

"Understood, understood!" Boss Chen nodded repeatedly, showing no embarrassment at being politely refused. On the contrary, he seemed very happy that Wang Sheng did not reject him outright. "No rush, no rush! Mr. Wang, you go ahead with your important business. We can talk in detail when you have time and it's convenient for you."

I'm here mainly to catch up; this is just a side note, and I certainly won't put you in a difficult position!

He regained his previous enthusiasm, never mentioning the cinema investment again, and instead chatted about the changes in Lucheng over the years, talking about everyday matters, creating a harmonious atmosphere.

After the conversation ended, Boss Chen personally escorted Wang Sheng to the door of his room.

As he was leaving, he took the exquisite little box that his attendant had been carrying.

"Mr. Wang, this is just a small token of our appreciation." Mr. Chen handed over the box with a beaming smile. "We know you have everything you need, this is just a keepsake, representing the sentiments of us fellow townsmen from Lucheng, and also a way to thank you for your timely help back then!"

Unable to refuse, Wang Sheng took the box, and immediately felt its weight.

Upon opening it, a gleaming, meticulously crafted, life-size camera model lay quietly on a red velvet cushion.

Pure gold.

Under the corridor lights, it exudes a heavy, golden glow, truly "full of sincerity".

Wang Sheng couldn't help but chuckle at the overly practical "gift." This was very much in keeping with Mr. Chen, and very much in keeping with Zhejiang businessmen.

"Mr. Chen, you've gone to too much trouble."

"It's nothing, nothing at all! Compared to what you did for me, Mr. Wang, this is nothing." Boss Chen laughed heartily, "Keep it and admire it. Seeing it will remind you that you have an old friend like me in Lucheng!"

"Hahaha, unforgettable."

Boss Chen knew what Wang Sheng was talking about, and laughed along, saying, "Things are different now, I wouldn't dare."

"Hahaha……"

The two exchanged knowing smiles.

(End of this chapter)