Debuted right after graduating from high school

Anyway, I need to find someone to have dinner with tonight.

Thinking it would save some trouble, after touring the land he owned, Fan Wumian greeted his secretary and summoned all the senior executives who were in Yanjing.

It's like cooking a dish that's too troublesome; you might as well try a mixed stew, putting all the ingredients together to cook, which will make it much easier and less time-consuming.

This includes the head of Bosera Funds' Yanjing branch, a senior vice president of Shanzhaiwang Media, Wang Jinghua, the top female broker in mainland China who sought financing from Fan Wumian, and executives from the former Zhongxin Real Estate Yanjing branch, which was renamed "Xinhua Insurance Real Estate."

Several startup executives were also notified and rushed over after careful preparation.

To be honest, Fan Wumian has too many venture capital projects under his control. Sometimes, after reviewing the materials, he feels that certain entrepreneurial directions are interesting, so he casually invests three to five million RMB. As time goes by, he is so busy that he forgets about them and needs the other party to introduce themselves to recall some vague impressions.

For example, a real estate agency called "Xiaofang Zhongjie" in Yanjing has expanded rapidly in Yanjing this year, opening more than 20 branches in one go.

When the founder of "Xiaofang Real Estate Agency" handed him a new strategic planning document, saying that the gross profit this year was close to 1000 million RMB and that they planned to expand to Shanghai, Shenzhen, Guangzhou and other places next year, Fan Wumian just stared at the other person's fat face, wondering if he had never seen the other person before.

The founder of another "Hot Mom Maternal and Infant" company is the same.

The founders, a husband and wife, graduated from the Central University of Economics and Business. They seemed like just an ordinary couple who, after building up their business on Taobao and JD.com, started operating a physical maternity and baby store.

Fan Wumian had some impression of this small company. Around June or July of this year, he learned that this hot mom maternal and infant company had monthly sales of over one million RMB on Taobao and had opened six physical stores in one go. Feeling that it was interesting, he raised 4 million RMB in funding.

The initial idea was to seize the new blue ocean market, integrate OEM factory resources, and operate some maternal and infant products themselves. Now, judging from what the young couple says, they are busy selling baby food, diapers, milk powder, and other products.

This served as a reminder to Fan Wumian, who suggested that the couple cooperate with the quality inspection center under Jingdong, which had cost millions to build, to strengthen the quality inspection of infant products. They could then directly disclose and report any problems found, thereby mitigating risks and enhancing brand reputation.

If I remember correctly, those three little deer are going to have a major scandal within the next few years.

A few bad apples spoil the whole bunch. It's easy to ruin a brand, but it's extremely difficult to maintain a good reputation. The negative impact continued for more than a decade, making foreign brands laugh their heads off and reap huge profits, leaving people speechless.

We found a large table in Wanghailou, which can seat a total of 18 people.

The event featured business owners from small teams valued at just over ten million RMB, as well as business giants like the president of Xinhua Insurance Group.

Everyone felt the atmosphere at the dinner was a little strange, but with Fan Wumian, their common "big boss," in charge, no one commented on it. They treated it as just an internal gathering between the "bandit-affiliated" brother units, an opportunity for them to get to know each other.

People usually have vastly different social statuses and work in different industries, so they rarely have the opportunity to interact.

But the differences between them tonight are nothing compared to Fan Wumian; they are all his employees or partners.

The food was served quickly, and everyone chatted while eating.

The company had just finished negotiating a collaboration between Xinhua Insurance Real Estate Company and Longhu Real Estate to develop the "Yihe Yuanzhu" ultra-luxury villa project next to the Summer Palace, as well as some liquor companies that were performing quite well.

Following that, Daqiangzi from Jingdong Mall also talked about the arrangements for the logistics and warehousing center, hoping to first achieve next-day delivery of self-operated small commodities in major first- and second-tier cities in the east.

When the vice president of Mountain Bandit King Media took the initiative to ask, Wang Jinghua finally had the opportunity to introduce Tang Wei, the newcomer she brought that night, to Fan Wumian.

Tang Wei became incredibly famous after starring in a well-known movie, but this also brought him a lot of trouble. Recently, rumors have circulated that he might be completely blacklisted.

Out of a desire to take advantage of a loophole, Wang Jinghua signed Tang Wei from her original company. She brought the girl over tonight hoping that Fan Wumian would help her continue in the industry, or perhaps take her to Hong Kong, Macau, Taiwan, Japan, or South Korea to avoid the limelight for a while.

However, there were too many strangers at the dinner party tonight, so it was inconvenient to say many things publicly. We only talked about the recent situations of artists under other companies.

Fan Wumian felt that Tang Wei had a special temperament. In his previous life, he had taken the professional, objective, and unbiased attitude of an industry insider and found that uncut version of her representative work, examining it from beginning to end with a critical mind.

It can only be said that even compared to some of the erotic films produced by Shaw Brothers, Tang Wei's film is quite daring, and the portrayal of certain details is very accurate. It is no wonder that controversy arose afterward about "acting out real sex".

Fan Wumian didn't know the specifics, and wasn't so gossipy as to insist on getting to the bottom of things.

When he met Tang Wei's gaze across the dinner table, he felt that Wang Jinghua had taken a risky move that might cause some trouble for the brokerage company they had jointly founded.

The director of that earlier film had also approached Liu Yifei and Shu Qi to star in the movie, but these already famous actresses felt that the film's content was too exaggerated and were unwilling to get involved. In the end, they had no choice but to select Tang Wei, who was 27 years old and eager for success.

Even Fan Wumian didn't know how to completely clear Tang Wei's name. Others used body doubles to film, but Tang Wei appeared on screen with his face showing, as if he wasn't afraid at all.

It's okay if she wasn't famous, but now that Tang Wei has become popular, the thorny issues have immediately surfaced. It seems the only solution is to let things cool down for a while and wait for the storm to pass before figuring out a way to bring her back into the spotlight.
The head of Bosera Funds' Beijing branch, named Chai Jun'an, spoke eloquently after a couple of drinks, saying to Fan Wumian:
"Today, the Shanghai Composite Index just fell below 3900 points, closing at only 3887 points. Investors' confidence in a market rebound has almost been eroded. According to the surveys we collected, most people are not confident about the market trend at the end of the year."

“Bosera Funds has a large number of clients, but compared with other wealth management channels, its returns of a few percentage points lack a competitive advantage. We are seeking stability in accordance with your suggestion, Mr. Fan.”

"However, there is a shortage of funds everywhere in the market. Many companies have contacted us proactively, hoping to provide bridge financing for working capital. The annualized interest rate could potentially reach around 15%. I think this area is worth paying attention to."

Fan Wumian was enjoying honey-glazed chicken wings.

At the Wanghailou Club, several dishes are replaced every quarter, and new dishes are added. Occasionally, customers are asked which dish they are not satisfied with, and a refund is arranged on the spot after receiving a reply.

This personalized service has earned Wanghailou Club a great reputation, and many chain restaurants have begun to imitate this novel approach in order to attract more repeat customers.

Unfortunately, review websites still have too little influence, so many restaurant owners remain unscrupulous, thinking "if you don't come, someone else will," and try to rip off whoever they can, especially near tourist attractions, where they can really rip people off.

After listening to Manager Chai's explanation, Fan Wumian replied:
"Bridge financing has a high rate of return because the risk of not recovering costs and losing money is relatively high."

“There is a lot of hot money in the market with nowhere to go. I think it’s good to maintain the status quo. Sectors like real estate, liquor, banking, and infrastructure that I just mentioned are actually suitable for accommodating large amounts of funds. But the problem is that the bubble has become too big recently, so we need to wait and see for a while longer.”

"When the US stock market crashes, that's when the market will have truly hit rock bottom. Until then, don't do anything; instead, focus on being responsible to your clients."

Manager Chai nodded repeatedly, then said:
“I don’t intend to use the clients’ funds. The company has a considerable amount of its own funds, and I feel that the returns from depositing them in bank fixed-term deposits or buying them into government bonds are a bit low. Of course, my perspective is not comparable to yours, Mr. Fan. This is just a suggestion, and your opinion is the final word.”

Fan Wumian smiled after hearing this, somewhat suspecting that this guy had been asked for favors by someone and was preparing to use company funds to bail out other businesses.

Betrayal often occurs because the benefits are significant enough. Even a senior executive in a company may not be entirely aligned with their boss, so it's always wise to be cautious.

With tens of thousands of employees under his command, countless trivial matters arise every day, and there are bound to be many "little rats" hiding among them. However, Fan Wumian also understands the principle that "if the water is too clear, there will be no fish." As long as some senior executives are truly capable and do not overstep their bounds or do anything too outrageous, he will let some minor problems slide.

In many of his companies, a separate "risk control" department has been set up to receive internal reports from employees year-round. Every quarter, employees are also asked to give anonymous evaluations and scores to their superiors, which directly affects the promotion opportunities and bonuses of management.

The methods may seem unoriginal, but they are very effective. The entire risk control system was developed independently, and the risk control department is jointly managed by the secretariat office and the family office to ensure that employee feedback can be communicated freely and not be suppressed by the various companies under its umbrella.

Fan Wumian then said to Manager Chai, "Investing with the company's own funds can indeed increase the profit margin, but it will only increase it by a few percentage points, which is negligible. It's better to wait for the right opportunity, buy at the bottom, or raise funds to acquire some new projects."

The global economy is in a downturn, and he himself cannot find suitable investment channels, let alone rely on his senior executives.

Only the venture capital department remains, which can still pick out some promising talents, try to nurture and incubate them, and cast a wide net to try and catch some small fish.

The authorities also contacted Fan Wumian, hoping that he could make use of the nearly 2000 billion RMB in cash he had on hand. However, he only replied that he had already invested in industries such as automobiles, real estate, and the Internet. He couldn't just knowingly lead his clients, who trusted him, into a trap, leaving the other party speechless.

Done.

Let's skip the topic of investing in bridge loan companies.

Fan Wumian then inquired about the viewership ratings of "A Bite of China" from the vice president of Mountain Bandit King Media. He learned that the data was steadily rising, and almost every episode sparked heated discussions online.

Especially the episodes featuring Fan Wumian saw a surge in viewership. Zhang, the vice president of Shanzhaiwang Media, even half-jokingly and half-seriously suggested that he personally take charge of a reality show.

Recalling Kim Kardashian's reality TV show "Keeping Up with Kim Kardashian," Fan Wumian was slightly interested in the suggestion, thinking that while showcasing his own life, he could also help advertise his company.

The problem is that his lifestyle is too luxurious, which easily attracts envy, jealousy and hatred from others.

On second thought, Fan Wumian felt that since everyone already knew he was rich, instead of hiding it, he might as well show it off openly and win people's favor with his down-to-earth personality.

Many people may show hostility towards someone they don't know for no reason, but if they are very familiar with them, it can actually help to reduce the hostility many people feel towards them.

------------

Eat and drink enough.

As others took their leave, Wang Jinghua, along with Tang Wei, remained.

Guessing that they wanted to have a private chat with him, Fan Wumian arranged a clean and tidy lounge. Apart from the lingering smell of cigarette smoke, the atmosphere was quite comfortable, and it offered a view of the tranquil Houhai Lake at night.

As Wang Jinghua reached out and poked Tang Wei's waist, Tang Wei spoke first, forcing a smile and saying politely:
"Mr. Fan, have you heard anything about me?"

“Last year, I received 500,000 yuan in payment for a film, which premiered at the Venice Film Festival at the end of August and was released in mainland China on November 1. Currently, the box office in mainland China has reached 120 million yuan. The version shown in mainland China is the censored version. The news about my nude scenes has now blown up, which may lead to me being blacklisted.”

"Looking across the entire country, I'm afraid only you can help me. Please, I beg you, find me a way to survive."

Wang Jinghua chimed in:

"Xiao Wei is a very sensible girl. She knew she had done something wrong and that no other company could help her. She switched to our company without receiving much signing fee. After the movie was released, it generated a lot of buzz, and several companies wanted to hire her as their spokesperson. She's also very popular in Hong Kong, and the box office has already exceeded HK$4000 million."

The subtext is nothing more than "helping Tang Wei out will bring considerable benefits to the company."

The phrase "quite sensible" left Fan Wumian somewhat puzzled, suspecting there was a hidden meaning behind it, unsure whether it meant what he thought.

Fan Wumian said frankly:

“I’ve heard about that movie. It seems that it’s about to surpass my film ‘The Invisible Guest’ at the Hong Kong box office and has a chance to become the Hong Kong box office champion of the year, but I haven’t had a chance to see it yet.”

"The problem now is not that the relevant authorities want to ban you, otherwise how could this movie be released smoothly in mainland China? The most troublesome thing is that the outside world is making a big fuss, and the relevant authorities have to step in to quell the situation and give everyone a satisfactory explanation."

"Don't rush into accepting advertising endorsements or the like. The most important thing right now is to reduce her exposure. Here's what we'll do, Sister Hua, can you help her release a statement saying that Ms. Tang deeply regrets her actions, is experiencing depression, and has decided to seriously reflect on her behavior and temporarily retire from the entertainment industry?"

Unable to discern Fan Wumian's meaning, Wang Jinghua guessed that he might be looking for an excuse to get rid of Tang Wei, and tentatively asked, "Retiring from the entertainment industry? How long will it take?"

Fan Wumian thought for a moment, then clicked his tongue and said:

"It will take at least a year."

"During this time, you can find a performance training class, even if it's just for show, it's very necessary. Occasionally post some life photos to maintain exposure, but don't do it too frequently. Take the route of an artistic goddess."

"If anyone asks, just say you had no idea beforehand, that you didn't know the content would be this explicit. I'll try to find a way to get the director to clarify things for you."

Tang Wei quickly explained:
“I really didn’t know anything during the audition. There wasn’t even a script. The script I received at the beginning was different. I only found out there was another script after I joined the crew. I had signed a contract at the time, and refusing to act would have meant paying a lot of penalty fees. Even if I wanted to quit, it was too late. So in the end, I had no choice but to bite the bullet and finish filming. I didn’t expect the director to release so many bedroom scenes.”

To film this movie, Tang Wei broke up with her ex-boyfriend in the entertainment industry, with whom she had already begun discussing marriage.

Having just tasted the sweetness of fame, the rumors of a ban left him terrified and at a loss, so he decisively abandoned other agencies that offered higher prices, hoping to find a powerful backer to save his life.

Fearing she might overthink things, Fan Wumian added:
"Advertisers are offering you high endorsement fees right now, but taking that money is like putting a noose around your neck. It's not too late to come out after things have completely calmed down. Doing what I say will make a better impression on people. I'll arrange for you to go to Hong Kong for training for a while, okay?"

Before Tang Wei could speak, Wang Jinghua said first:

"Okay, let's arrange it like this. The plot of the whole movie is not very interesting. I think the investors and director are just using them as a selling point and have never considered how the actors will make a living in the future. They are completely unscrupulous."

Fan Wumian said:
"The director tasted success in 2005 with 'Brokeback Mountain,' but after losing a fortune with 'Hulk' in 2003, no Hollywood company dared to use him for commercial blockbusters. He could only choose to take a risky approach and fight with his back against the wall."

"Ms. Tang, your situation is the same now. It's impossible to go back to the past completely. Let's get rid of the troubles in front of us for now. At least the obstacles we will encounter in our careers in the future will be much smaller."

"Even if you've taken money from advertisers now, you'll still have to give it all back, plus interest, once the ban is implemented. Those companies can't possibly avoid signing breach of contract clauses with you; they might have been hoping to ride your coattails from the very beginning."

Tang Wei was initially a little reluctant to pay the tens of millions of RMB endorsement fee, but after hearing these words, she immediately accepted it and nodded earnestly, saying:

"Okay, I'll follow your arrangements. All the remaining activities will be cancelled?"

Wang Jinghua glanced at Fan Wumian and replied, "Then let's stop everything. I'll have someone write the announcement tonight and release it tomorrow morning."

After chatting for a few minutes, Tang Wei and Wang Jinghua left together.

Tang Wei had initially thought that asking Fan Wumian for help would likely come at a price, but the process went much more smoothly than he expected.

But thinking of the actresses under Fan Wumian's command, the girl realized that what she valued might not be valued by him, and she felt she had been a bit presumptuous before. (End of Chapter)