Huayu: A master director who debuted as a singer

Upon receiving the notification, the host raised the microphone and said, "Dear friends, due to the late hour, for everyone's safety, the sales channel will be closed immediately, and no more queue slots will be added! But please rest assured—"

He looked at Zheng Hui, who was still engrossed in writing: "To ensure everyone doesn't make a wasted trip, Teacher Zheng insists on signing for everyone in the current queue! Please keep order and wait patiently!"

The initial regret and commotion from the audience subsided instantly, transforming into a wave of applause filled with emotion. Thanks to the police, the long line remained orderly.

After an unknown amount of time, when the last fan left with joy, Zheng Hui threw down his pen and slumped limply into his chair.

Seeing this, Lin Dashan quickly stepped forward and massaged his stiff shoulders, while Chen Jianguo lifted Zheng Hui's right hand to apply an ice pack.

"How many have you signed?" Zheng Hui asked weakly.

Li Zongming, who was standing nearby, was checking with Manager Zhang. After a moment, he reported a number: "Three thousand eight hundred and eighteen."

After listening, Zheng Hui's gaze fell on his right hand: "Not bad, this money... wasn't easy to earn."

……

Wahaha headquarters, chairman's office.

Manager Zhang stood at the table, holding a newly compiled report, and presented it to Zong Qinghou.

"President Zong, the data is in."

Manager Zhang placed the report on the table: "This afternoon, the event at Wulin Square sold a total of over 3,800 cases of Very Cola."

Zong Qinghou raised an eyebrow: "Three thousand eight hundred and eighteen boxes?"

"Yes! We originally prepared two thousand boxes of goods, thinking that would be enough. But they sold out by 3 PM. Later, we urgently transferred over 1,800 boxes from a nearby warehouse, and those sold out too! If the police hadn't intervened, we could have sold five thousand boxes!"

Zong Qinghou picked up the report, looked at the numbers on it, and remained silent.

One box contains twenty-four cans, and there are three thousand eight hundred boxes, which is more than ninety thousand cans.

This is just one afternoon's sales.

More importantly, this doesn't even take into account the subsequent brand effect.

Many of the fans and students who got the autographed cassette tapes became die-hard fans. They would go back and tell their friends and classmates about it, and they would put the jar with Zheng Hui's image on their desks.

This kind of reach is better than spending millions on television.

He initially signed Zheng Hui simply to cater to the tastes of young people and add a touch of fashion to Very Cola.

The GG slogan and the song "Happy Worship" are what he values ​​most.

But now it seems that Zheng Hui himself is more valuable than he estimated.

"How much is Zheng Hui's appearance fee this time?" Zong Qinghou asked.

"This is a special price, 100,000 yuan."

Manager Zhang replied, "According to the contract, he only needed to sing three songs and sign autographs for two hours. But today he signed autographs for more than eight hours straight, until he was told to stop."

Zong Qinghou nodded: "This young man is particular."

"One hundred thousand yuan bought us several thousand cases of products and created such a huge sensation. This deal was absolutely worth it."

He looked at Manager Zhang and asked, "How long do you think Zheng Hui's influence can last?"

Manager Zhang thought for a moment and said, "President Zong, I don't think he's the kind of flash in the pan. His songs have a lot of life, and he's a very smart person who knows how to deal with young people."

I saw it clearly today at the event; the way those students looked at him was genuine admiration. As long as he continues to sing, his popularity will never fade.

Zong Qinghou seemed thoughtful: "Our purified water's current spokesperson's contract is about to expire, isn't it?"

"President Zong, you mean..."

"Jinggangshan has been used for several years; although it's a classic, it's time for a fresh look. Zheng Hui is currently riding high; if we let him endorse our purified water, could we boost sales even further?"

Manager Zhang immediately replied, "Absolutely! Zheng Hui has a sunny and clean image, which perfectly matches the brand's positioning. Moreover, his influence among students far surpasses that of Jing Gangshan."

Zong Qinghou didn't immediately have Manager Zhang contact Zheng Hui for the endorsement: "Let's not rush it, let's observe further. Let's see the nationwide feedback after Very Cola's 'GG' launch. If it works out, we'll give him the endorsement for purified water next year."

"So, for this event..."

"Give Zheng Hui a red envelope," Zong Qinghou said. "He did so much extra work; we can't let him work for nothing. Give him another 100,000 yuan as a reward for his hard work."

"Yes, Mr. Zong."

……

The next day, Zheng Hui slept until noon in the hotel.

My right hand is still a bit sore, and it even shakes a little when I hold the toothbrush.

Li Zongming pushed open the door and came in, carrying two boxes of takeout food.

"You're awake? Perfect, let's have something to eat."

Li Zongming placed the lunchbox on the table: "Someone from Wahaha came by earlier and brought 100,000 yuan in cash, saying it was a reward from Boss Zong for his hard work."

"There's another piece of news. Manager Zhang let slip that Boss Zong is considering giving you the Wahaha Pure Water endorsement as well."

Zheng Hui rinsed his mouth, wiped his face, and sat down.

"Purified water? That's a big order."

Wahaha purified water is now the top bottled water brand in China, with sales even exceeding those of Coca-Cola.

"Yeah." Li Zongming handed him a pair of chopsticks. "But they're still watching and seeing how Very Cola fares after this 'GG'."

Zheng Hui picked up a piece of braised pork and put it in his mouth: "Then let them see. Once CCTV broadcasts the news about the Spring Festival Gala, the price will be different from what it is now."

Over the next two days, Zheng Hui performed four more commercial shows in Hangzhou and Ningbo.

Although it's not as big as Wahaha, it's always packed.

As soon as the intro to "Happy Worship" begins, the audience erupts in shouts of "Very Happy, worship Happy!"

This phrase has become inextricably linked to the song, its brainwashing effect comparable to the later saying "No gifts this holiday season."

November 12th, Ningbo Lishe Airport.

In the waiting hall, Zheng Hui, wearing a baseball cap and sunglasses, sat discreetly in a corner, while Li Zongming was checking in his luggage at the counter.

On this trip, Zheng Hui only brought Lin Dashan with him. Chen Jianguo was specially sent back to Zhuhai to handle the tax settlement for the commercial performance.

After three weeks of hard work, and after deducting the entertainment company's cut, Li Zongming's profit share, and estimated taxes, Zheng Hui's net profit was approximately five million.

Zheng Hui was generous, doubling Lin Dashan and Chen Jianguo's monthly salaries from 1,500 to 3,000. Furthermore, given the arduous nature of the mission, he gave each of them an extra 10,000 yuan cash bonus.

A short while later, Li Zongming returned with his boarding pass.

"Boss, there's a direct flight from Ningbo to Hong Kong, the flight is at 9 pm, I'll arrive there around 10 pm, just in time to go to sleep, so it won't interfere with my meeting with the PolyGram people tomorrow."

Zheng Hui nodded.

In 1998, Ningbo had already opened a direct flight route to Hong Kong.

The three of them entered the airport terminal, exchanged their boarding passes, went through security, and sat in the waiting room to wait.

A familiar song was playing over the airport's loudspeakers.

"I believe in freedom, I believe in hope..."

It's Zheng Hui's own song, but he's going to a new battlefield.