Chapter 1673
Barrier
There's a saying that the more useless a man is outside the home, the more domineering he becomes at home.
Conversely, the more useless you are at home, the stronger you become outside.
Zhang Yuan comforted himself in this way.
I'm becoming more and more subservient to Cheng Hao, probably because of my success in my career.
That must be it!
She's just a Shandong woman. If she were a Sichuan woman, this time it might have been a combination of "Great Wilderness Imprisoning Heaven Finger" and "Laozi Shu Road Mountain".
There's no other way; we can only leave it like this for now.
However, Zhang Yuan pondered it for a while after returning home.
Shouldn't be a problem.
If they really didn't care about me, they wouldn't have called on me to stand up and be used as a teaching example.
It's much better than before.
Looking at it this way, I feel better.
The generally positive trend put him in a good mood.
I finally found the yarn I'd been working on on and off for several months and finished that bright red sweater with a little red reindeer on Christmas nose.
I'm just waiting to give it as a gift during the holidays.
The next day, he made an international call to the Olsen family to inquire in detail about their plans for the Chinese market.
As expected of someone who started building a business empire in their teens, they are highly efficient and have already conducted detailed market research and planning.
The eldest sister concluded that Zhang Yuan's model of focusing on online sales was feasible.
The advantage is that it can save a lot of distributor costs, as well as channel public relations costs in foreign countries.
Their family is not a conglomerate like LVMH or Kering; they cannot expand into new markets on a group scale and establish an Asian headquarters.
They could not afford such costs and risks.
Moreover, online sales can significantly reduce cross-border logistics and warehousing costs.
The traditional ground-level sales model is under too much pressure.
Especially for mid-to-high-end brands, it's difficult to make money if they can't reach the level of luxury brands.
On the contrary, fast-fashion brands from several island nations, such as Uniqlo and Muji, which are positioned as low-end brands in other regions, have become popular brands after entering the Chinese market, selling at high prices and doing very well.
Zhang Yuan has always thought Uniqlo's products are incredibly ugly, especially the designs.
Many years later, prices and sales volumes returned to a more rational level.
Domestic brands are not popular among consumers in big cities, mainly in the low-end fast-moving consumer goods sector.
It wasn't until the rise of "Guochao" (national trend) and the improvement of domestic quality and image that those foreign brands that profited from the era's dividends, acted in a very unseemly manner, and looked down on Chinese consumers were exposed for what they truly were.
Zhang Yuan told his older sister about his further plans, especially focusing on Xiaohongshu, an emerging online shopping platform for women overseas.
The other party was very interested and even felt that the Chinese market was very dynamic and the concepts were very advanced.
Because there are no cross-border shopping platforms in North America specifically targeting women.
Many Americans still believe that the daily necessities in supermarkets are "Made in China".
As for which country it's made of, that's none of your business.
Most Western countries have a strong attachment to their own domestic products.
The Chinese, on the other hand, love imported products and consider them superior.
Just like the car market, if it weren't for the electric car era, China would still be in a chaotic situation where Japanese cars are in the south, German cars are in the north, and Japanese, American and German cars are in the central region. People would rather buy joint venture cars than domestic cars.
From a broader perspective, this is not good.
We can only truly reshuffle the deck when those "older generation" members, whose ideology was imprinted on them, are all gone.
From a current business perspective, Zhang Yuan thinks it's great.
Because you all idolize foreign things, I can sell you foreign junk—no, I mean, foreign treasures.
This is the blessing you receive for blindly trusting Western brands.
If I don't make money off you guys, who will I eat from?
The other party proposed to establish a joint venture company and set up an office in the capital, where they would send managers to supervise the work.
I will be responsible for online channels and promotion in the Chinese market, since I am more familiar with it.
Zhang Yuan was naturally happy to cooperate, but he almost laughed out of anger when the other party offered him a 10% share.
You foreigners really know how to make money!
When doing business, they don't care about personal relationships at all; money comes first.
I don't care about my relationship with your little sister at all.
After some back and forth, they finally agreed on 3%.
7% belongs to others, since they don't build their own brand or produce products; they're essentially super distributors.
Zhang Yuanxin said that for a brand of their caliber, other domestic agents would take at least 5% of the commission.
There are even dealership models like parallel import cars, where I buy at the original price and you don't care how much I sell it for.
Around the early 2000s, a Rose & Paris shirt from France could be sold for 10,000 yuan by its distributors in Shanghai, earning the distributors several times the profit of the manufacturers.
He agreed to everything, not only to make money, but also to maintain the relationship.
The other party said they would send someone to contact him as soon as possible, and would come to inspect in person before the end of the year.
He also started making preparations, contacting industry insiders he had previously met in business cooperation, preferably those in the fast fashion apparel sector, and they had to be young.
Start poaching!
A few days later, he dressed very casually and went to the China Film Building.
Today we are holding the press conference to launch the film "American Dreams in China".
It's just a press conference; work won't start immediately after it's over.
There were also internal mobilization meetings and pre-filming internal seminars, which made things very formal.
After all, it bears the logo of China Film Group and is a work that reflects the times, so it has a very high profile.
At the press conference, the three main characters were dressed up as businessmen, each wearing an ill-fitting suit that didn't look very expensive.
"I'm very happy to be able to play a successful real-life entrepreneur."
After the microphone was handed to him, he began to speak eloquently.
"This kind of opportunity is very rare, because the roles I usually play are either fictional or characters from history textbooks."
"But being able to resonate with a real person this time is a huge challenge for me."
Yu Minhong would certainly not attend such an event; he still does not approve of the film.
But everyone knows who he's talking about.
I've finally gotten to play a real person!
From now on, when discussing Yu Minhong's image, take my word for it; Old Yu's opinion doesn't count...
Of course, you can't say it out loud.
"The characters we portray are characters from the story and the movie script. They have nothing to do with being similar to the characters. Please don't confuse them."
"Whether or not it meets everyone's expectations, please bear with us."
He was giving a heads-up beforehand; actually, he wasn't saying this to the audience, but to Lao Yu.
"There are many photos of you appearing at the Central Academy of Drama online."
"Is this a field trip or pre-shooting?" a reporter asked.
"While I was in school, after working for many years, I felt that my abilities were insufficient, so I decided to go to the Central Academy of Drama, the country's highest performing arts institution, for further studies."
Now that I'm a student at the Central Academy of Drama, I definitely have to speak up for the Central Academy of Drama.
Deng Chao, who was standing to the side, nodded slightly in agreement; he was also from the Central Academy of Drama.
Tong Dawei didn't react much because he was from the Shanghai Theatre Academy, while his wife was from the Beijing Film Academy and stayed on as a teacher.
So I know that Zhang Yuan originally wanted to go to Beijing Film Academy.
So when I heard him say that, I only glanced at him secretly.
After the press conference, they were taken to a small conference room at China Film Group.
Old Han personally attended the event and gave a pep talk; this is the last major production by China Film Group that he is credited as a producer.
After retirement, this opportunity will no longer be available.
Old Han took it very seriously and gave a long, impassioned speech.
As he finished speaking, he stood with one foot on a stool and held a cigarette in one hand, using increasingly "civilized" language.
The film has three producers: the vice president of China Film Group, and Chen Kexin's old friend, Hong Kong filmmaker He Lichang, who had just been humiliated for producing "Back to 1942".
The last one was Zhang Yuan's "old acquaintance".
“Speaking of which, I’m actually your senior from school,” Tian Pujun said, her eyebrows curving as she smiled at him.
Zhang Yuan: ...
Didn't you get expelled from the Central Academy of Drama for not going to school?
Returning to my senior.
Looking at this woman who was clearly in her thirties but kept claiming to be in her twenties, with her mouth and eyes slightly stiffened due to cosmetic surgery, Zhang Yuan felt helpless.
With the help of men, this man started a film and television company and made a comeback in the film and television industry.
And he invested in the film through connections.
She was given the title of producer, but her actual share was small. The entertainment circle viewed her and her man as easy prey.
However, she, or rather Wang Shi behind the scenes, did make some contributions to this film.
For example, they brought in several business celebrities to make cameo appearances.
Among them was Feng Lun, whom Zhang Yuan had met when his invested company went public.
People in the real estate and business circles have been mocking him ever since Lao Wang and Tian Pujun got together.
Abandoning one's wife who has shared hardships, especially when one's wealth is built on the support of one's father-in-law, and kicking his wife to the curb after his father-in-law's death.
This kind of thing might seem like a heinous crime to ordinary people, a despicable act like that of Chen Shimei (a notorious figure in Chinese folklore known for abandoning his wife).
But it's not unusual in the business world at all; people won't laugh at him because so many people do it.
There's nothing funny about dating a young woman; everyone does it.
It was common for older generations of business people to have a group of women with them.
The internet industry is much better in this respect.
People laughed at him because the girl he dated had "problems".
How did Sister Tian gradually get to be with Old Wang?
He first mingled in Hong Kong's social circles, and through that connection, he got into Cheung Kong Graduate School of Business.
She was a well-known "social butterfly" at Cheung Kong Graduate School of Business, and her social circle eventually led her to Feng Lun.
After spending some time with her, Feng Lun introduced her to Wang Shi.
The original intention was to have toys for everyone to play with together.
But Old Wang fell for it!
This is love!
Sister Tian finally got her hands on it.
At first, the businessmen from the Southern Group thought that Lao Wang was just playing the sentimental persona, and that he would wake up after a while.
I never expected that we'd get married while just hanging out!
Later, they even had children.
Everyone then realized what was happening and burst out laughing.
You married a geisha who's already been discarded by a businessman, treating her like a precious treasure. You've brought shame upon your Wang family for eighteen generations... That's what everyone thinks.
This is because this campus belle from Cheung Kong Graduate School of Business has not only interacted with many people, but also with them individually, and even with them all at once.
My good friend said he wanted to buy a car, but he ended up buying a bus to take home. What do you guys think?
Old Wang is also a good friend of Feng Lun.
Zhang Yuan didn't quite understand this kind of "brotherly affection".
Old Wang has now been sidelined at Vanke, and his status in the southern business district has also declined significantly.
So his attitude towards Tian Pujun was... what the hell?
He even patted me on the shoulder, acting like a senior.
Zhang Yuanyuan called her the Megan of China.
That's Meghan, the one who married the British royal family's idiot.
The two did very similar things: they both started in the entertainment industry, married wealthy men, and then pretended to be socialites, but no matter how they pretended, they could never wash away the sullenness and vulgarity on them.
But he's a producer, and this is a China Film Group production, so I couldn't complain and had to keep him company.
Fortunately, someone came shortly afterward.
He quickly got up.
"Mr. Xu."
Xu Xiaoping, the original scriptwriter and founder of New Oriental, has arrived.
He took the initiative to shake hands, as did the other lead actors.
"Oh, Mr. Xu, you've lost weight since we last met at dinner."
"Have you been working hard on this film lately?"
"My husband often mentions you, and we should have dinner together sometime."
Sister Tian wore that stiff smile again as she stepped forward to shake hands and chat with Xu Xiaoping.
This person immediately tried to get close to the boss, mentioning their previous meal together and her husband, all to make it seem like she was very familiar with him and had status and connections.
Zhang Yuan thought to himself, "I know, everyone knows too. Why don't you take a megaphone and go to Tiananmen Square to shout it out?"
“President Xu…we should call him Screenwriter Xu.” Zhang Yuan waited until the woman finished speaking before stepping forward again.
Upon hearing this, Xu Xiaoping's business smile revealed a hint of sincerity.
We're used to calling him the boss.
They say they're screenwriters? I'd love to hear that!
Just like Old Wang, she doesn't care if you call her a diva, but if you call her a mahjong master, she'll be so happy you can see her tonsils from three meters away.
Xu Xiaoping is a very "artistic" person with a wide range of interests, the exact opposite of Lao Yu.
Such people are naturally pleased to hear titles related to art and literature.
If he didn't like the title, why did he work so hard to write the script in seclusion?
Those around them saw that Zhang Yuan's words made the big boss laugh.
Xu Xiaoping chatted briefly with all the lead actors before waiting for the final pre-shoot meeting, which included a script reading.
Taking advantage of this moment, Zhang Yuan sat down beside him and started talking about something unrelated to the topic.
"Mr. Xu, you invested in an internet company called Xiaohongshu a few months ago, right?"
"You're still so well-informed." Old Xu looked up.
You know I invested in film and television companies before, and you know this time too.
You're amazing.
“This company contacted me a few days ago, saying they wanted me to be their spokesperson.”
He gave a brief account of the main events.
"I think these two founders are organized in their speech and actions, have excellent resumes, and are quite capable in handling matters."
"I thought there was no better time than now, so I decided to forgo the endorsement deal and just invest in him for a Series A funding round."
"You're an angel investor, so I need to ask you if you'd be willing for me to participate in this project?"
He was quite polite.
Whether Xu Xiaoping is willing or not is not a big deal.
He doesn't care about investing in dozens of such companies a year.
If you can grow big, you can make money by going public; if you can't grow big, you might as well die.
That's how venture capital works; it profits by casting a wide net.
"It's good that you're interested." The other person seemed quite pleased.
If you give me money, it can guarantee that my investment will last for a few more months or years. What's wrong with that?
Are you still going to invest?
"I'll go back and take a look at the financial report. You just went there, what did you think? Tell me in detail."
Having heard that he was a successful investor, Xu Xiaoping's interest now gave him even more confidence.
They used technical jargon that Deng Chao and Tong Dawei couldn't understand at all.
The two of them looked completely bewildered.
He immediately felt a deep sense of respect.
We can only get to meet investment tycoons and famous founders by acting.
They may be polite, but that doesn't necessarily mean they think highly of us.
But Zhang Yuan was different; he genuinely engaged in equal communication with the other party.
Are you talking about...investment?
It's too advanced; we can't even get a word in edgewise.
They could sense that, as fellow lead actors, there was a hateful barrier between them and Zhang Yuan!
"Hey, Chao, I have a question for you." Tong Dawei raised his hand and gently patted Deng Chao.
"how?"
"I heard you took shares in his company?" the older brother whispered after glancing in Zhang Yuan's direction.
"Yes, my wife and I took it together."
"Then you've struck it rich, what good luck!" Tong Dawei said with an envious look.
"Not bad, I can make a living by working for Boss Zhang." Deng Chao's eyes crinkled with laughter.
In a way, our choices outweighed our efforts.
Tian Pujun, who was always smiling, seemed to wear a mask of smiles on his face as he watched and listened.
His arrogance subsided slightly.
She's not stupid; if she were, she wouldn't have been able to win over Lao Wang.
Xu Xiaoping's attitude towards himself was clearly different from his attitude towards Zhang Yuan.
He was very perfunctory with her, but when he chatted with Zhang Yuan, he was serious and they had a very pleasant conversation.
The difference between relying on yourself and relying on others is obvious. (End of Chapter)