Huayu: This producer has no bottom line.

Chapter 108 Make the Pie Solid

4 month 5 day.

I don't know what's taboo, but there shouldn't be any taboo about taking on a master.

Today is the day when Zhang Yitian, the 52nd disciple of the Zhao Family Troupe, and Dapeng, the 53rd disciple, exchange invitations and offer tea.

Although it was advertised as a small family dinner, the actual event was quite grand.

The film and television base was filled with all kinds of luxury cars. The base was decorated with lanterns and colorful decorations, and was filled with a festive atmosphere, completely lacking the solemnity of Qingming Festival.

Sitting at the main table were Zhao Bensan and his wife, several senior figures in the arts and culture world, and local bigwigs who rarely get to see each other.

Dapeng knelt on the ground and kowtowed three times.

"Master, please have some tea."

Zhao Bensan smiled and took it, then pulled an envelope from his pocket and stuffed it into Dapeng's hand.

"Open it and take a look."

Dapeng opened it, and inside was a note with the following written on it.

Stand on the ground and speak like a human.

Da Peng stared at the note for a long time, his lips pressed tightly together, and his eyes reddened again.

Several fellow apprentices nearby cheered and applauded, some shouting congratulations to their junior brother, others urging him to have a couple more drinks.

Ren Pingsheng watched the whole thing from the corner.

The ceremony was simpler than he had imagined; there was no grand spectacle of 35 people kowtowing together like in 2008, nor was it broadcast live on CCTV.

Zhao Bensan said a few more polite words, the gist of which was that although Dapeng doesn't sing Errenzhuan (a type of folk opera), they are both in the comedy business, and from now on they are family.

Not many words, but that's enough.

From today onwards, Da Peng's name will officially be associated with the Zhao Family Troupe.

After a few rounds of drinks, the atmosphere at the table became lively.

Xiao Shenyang was placed next to Ren Pingsheng, which, given the seniority system in this circle, was most likely intentional on Zhao Bensan's part.

The "slap incident" has been widely publicized. Although Ben San Media has tried every means to refute the rumors, there's no smoke without fire.

Beneath the glitz and glamour of the scene, undercurrents were swirling.

"Director Ren, is this your first time in Shenyang?"

"first."

"Then you should have a couple more drinks. This place is great, the alcohol is plentiful."

Xiao Shenyang chuckled and took a swig first.

He didn't talk much today, and his presence was far less noticeable than before.

"Old Boys was really well made; it really moved me."

"I'm glad Shen Yang likes it."

"It's not a matter of liking or disliking," Xiao Shenyang said, rubbing his fingers around the rim of his cup. "I mean, your model is pretty good. You film it yourself, post it yourself, say whatever you want, no need for..."

'

He didn't finish speaking, but Ren Pingsheng understood.

No need to worry about anyone's opinion.

"Brother Shenyang, our little bit of online traffic can't compare to the influence of the Spring Festival Gala."

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"The Spring Festival Gala... The Spring Festival Gala is my master's stage. I just go up there to lend a hand. I perform however my master tells me to perform."

Ren Pingsheng didn't accept it, but simply clinked glasses with Ren Pingsheng again.

"If Brother Shen Yang is interested, we can work together again anytime."

Xiao Shenyang smiled, a smile with something indescribable in it, "There will definitely be opportunities for cooperation. Dapeng has joined the team today, so we're practically family now."

He took another sip of his drink and suddenly asked a seemingly unrelated question, "I heard it was your idea?"

"Peng worked hard on his own, I just gave him a push."

"That was a good push," Xiao Shenyang nodded. "From now on, he'll have his master protecting him, and you too. He'll be able to attack or defend as he pleases, which is much better than those of us who knew nothing back then and just jumped in headfirst."

Ren Pingsheng remained silent.

Xiao Shenyang didn't elaborate further, but patted him on the shoulder and said, "You're a smart guy, but let me tell you something from the bottom of my heart."

His voice was very low, and the surrounding noise of toasting just drowned out his words, "Some places are easy to get into but hard to get out of. Just take good care of Dapeng."

After saying that, he raised his wine glass and clinked it with the person at the opposite table.

Ren Pingsheng watched his retreating figure, now laughing and joking again, lost in thought.

He couldn't tell how much sincerity and how much probing was in those words.

But one thing is clear: in the year following his explosive popularity on the Spring Festival Gala, Xiao Shenyang's life was not as glamorous as it appeared to the outside world.

The more you earn, the tighter the rope around your neck becomes.

Whether he will repeat the mistakes of his past life is something Ren Pingsheng cannot and does not want to control.

He just needs to make sure that Dapeng and he don't end up like that.

"My life"

Dapeng came over at some point, his face still flushed from the toast.

"Master wants you to go to the study."

The study is on the second floor. One wall is covered with photos of Zhao Bensan with various people, and the other wall is lined with bookshelves.

Zhao Bensan sat in a mahogany chair, with a pair of reading glasses and a stack of documents beside him.

"sit."

Ren Pingsheng sat down opposite him, while Dapeng stood respectfully beside his master.

Zhao Bensan pointed to the documents on the tea table, "Is this the program you were talking about? What's the situation now?"

Ren Pingsheng glanced at it; it was information about "China's Got Talent".

"Yes, the launch press conference was just held last week. The competition format has been announced, but the judges have not yet been decided."

"Six major competition regions across the country..." Zhao Bensan put on his reading glasses, his finger tracing the data, "Beijing, Shanghai, Hangzhou, Chengdu, Shenzhen, Wuhan..."

'

"What about Shencheng?"

"There is no competition area in Shenyang, only a registration point."

Zhao Bensan scoffed, "This thing called a gas station?"

He threw the documents back on the table. "To put it bluntly, it means it's optional."

"Of the six competition zones, four are in the south. Beijing, being the capital, is a must-have, and Wuhan, being in Central China, deserves one. Shenyang? The three northeastern provinces combined are just an extra, a token registration point."

He raised his chin and looked at Dapeng, "Dapeng, you're in the same situation now."

"You do have some fame online, but in that circle where style matters, people might even think that your presence would lower the show's quality."

Da Peng blushed and lowered his head after being spoken to.

Zhao Bensan turned to Ren Pingsheng, "So your thinking is correct. If Dapeng carries my name, they'll have to think twice. But a name alone isn't enough; we need to show them tangible benefits."

"Dapeng, come with me to Shanghai next week."

Dapeng suddenly looked up, "Master?"

"When I was hospitalized in Shanghai last time, Cao Kefan came to visit me and brought me a copy of his book. He did a great job, and we're not exactly mediocre either."

Zhao Bensan's tone was indifferent, "I'll also return the favor while I'm back for the follow-up inspection."

Ren Pingsheng understood.

Returning a favor was a pretense; the real purpose was to take Dapeng to negotiate terms.

"With Teacher Zhao personally involved, this matter is assured," Ren Pingsheng chimed in at the opportune moment, knowing that Zhao Bensan wouldn't put in his effort for nothing. "So, Teacher Zhao, who do you plan to arrange for to appear on the show?"

Zhao Bensan glanced at him with a smile, "You're quite perceptive, kid. As for who to arrange, it depends on what terms those people ultimately agree to."

His smile faded slightly. "That's the main reason I called you in today."

Zhao Bensan sighed, his tone tinged with annoyance and helplessness.

"That Chinese idol group is a complete mess. After months of work, all they've done is hand me a bunch of clueless newcomer profiles, and there's been absolutely no real progress!"

He grew angrier as he spoke, slamming his hand on the armrest. "Given the current situation, by the time they've assembled the group, it'll be too late! The opportunity is right in front of us, but besides the old members of the Errenzhuan troupe, I can't even find a single decent new face!"

Zhao Bensan looked at Ren Pingsheng, his brows furrowed. "Having a baby? You're quick-witted and know what young people like. Can you give me some advice on how to handle this?"

The study fell silent.

Dapeng stood aside, not daring to breathe loudly, knowing that his master was truly angry.

Ren Pingsheng picked up his teacup and slowly took a sip.

He had been waiting to hear those words.

From Dapeng offering tea in the private room at the Capital Gymnasium on New Year's Eve to being called into the study alone after the formal apprenticeship ceremony today.

For three whole months, he didn't mention a single word about it.

Because sometimes, the other party has to speak first.

Zhao Bensan's idol group plan did indeed come to nothing in his previous life.

Since it was a case of several parties with ulterior motives making a cake, when they realized halfway through that the cake didn't taste like what they had imagined, of course they would break up.

"Teacher Zhao," Ren Pingsheng pondered for a moment before speaking, "Since progress is slow in Taiwan and Warner Music, why don't we pick a few promising talents ourselves, see how we can package them, and then use the 'China's Got Talent' stage to test the waters?"

"Testing the waters..." Zhao Bensan muttered, "You mean, put aside the group for now and push a few people up separately?"

"Yes, let's focus on single-push first, and talk about combinations later."

Zhao Bensan was silent for a few seconds, then opened the drawer.

"Take a look at this."

A thick stack of rosters, easily several hundred pages long, was tossed onto the tea table.

Ren Pingsheng took it and began to read it.

The people on the roster are completely different from the senior students downstairs; it's clear they were specifically selected for the idol project.

Most of the young people in the photos have regular facial features and well-proportioned figures.

But Ren Pingsheng, an ordinary man, frowned even more deeply.

These people might be able to make up the numbers on an idol talent show stage, but a talent show isn't an idol talent show.

To cultivate idols to appear on talent show stages.

The purpose of making this promise to Zhao Bensan was, frankly, to encourage Dapeng to become his apprentice.

But now that things have come to this point, Zhao Benshan himself has spoken up, and he's determined to make this promise a reality.

We need to change our approach.

What is the core of a talent show?

He is an ordinary person.

They're the kind of person you wouldn't even glance at on the street, but then they pull something completely different from what you expected.

This poor filming is what makes the show so entertaining.

Aunt Susan is a typical example.

However, the idol industry sells sexual appeal, and the two are on different tracks and operate in completely different ways.

To promote someone through a talent show, you need to find someone who, upon stepping onto the stage, makes everyone think they're just an ordinary passerby, but then causes a sensation.

Ren Pingsheng continued scrolling down.

Thirty...forty...fifty...

Vocal skills, with training experience in the Peninsula region, height 188cm...

No one.

Street dance, B-boy, participated in a talent show...

Not long after.

Da Peng, watching him flip through the pages without stopping, couldn't help but lean over and whisper, "So? Anything suitable?"

Ren Pingsheng ignored him.

Zhao Bensan didn't urge him, he just sat there with his teacup and watched.

After flipping through a dozen more pages, I stopped, my gaze settling on a registration certificate.

The girl in the photo has her hair tied in a simple ponytail and is not wearing makeup.

But his strikingly exotic features and expressive eyes made him stand out even among a bunch of meticulously retouched artistic photos.

Ren Pingsheng glanced at the basic information beside him.

Name: Nazha Age: 18 Specialty: Dance Place of Origin: Xinjiang

Ren Pingsheng's lips curled up slightly.

Before she became a sensation during next year's art college entrance exams, this shining star had actually applied for the idol selection of this three uncles?

It's perfectly normal for someone who's 18 years old to be carrying around a dream of becoming a star, going around trying their luck by submitting resumes everywhere.

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