Entertainment: I am the peak

Chapter 755 Asking for help
On Christmas Day, Li Qiutang had a meeting to attend, so she didn't go out to eat with her mother and daughter.

This gathering was hosted by a leader from the Yanjing area, who invited several celebrities from the industry.

Such gatherings are very common at the end of the year. Many film and television professionals from other places will take time out of their schedules to come to Beijing for these gatherings.

There were acquaintances and unfamiliar faces, but since most of us worked in the same industry, we weren't strangers and quickly became friends after a few jokes.

"I'm shameless, so I'll take this opportunity to toast Director Li." A film company executive smiled as he raised his glass. "This year has been tough for everyone, but our company has invested in two projects this fall."

"Just tell us how much you made!" someone in the room jeered.

"I can't tell you that, but my group will have a good New Year this year. Director Li, that's great."

Li Qiutang even added a touch of affectation: "Your investment in our company is a sign of trust, and trust is priceless. I should be the one toasting you this time."

"Your company is really amazing this year. You have four spots in the top 10, and all of them are in the top four."

These four films are "Operation Red Sea", "Detective Chinatown 2", "Dying to Survive", and "Hello Mr. Billionaire".

If we look at the annual Top 20, one company occupied 7 spots in the fall!
"The best domestic filmmaking can achieve is like this."

But Li Qiutang said, "I'm not being pretentious in front of you bosses, it's really as I said before, this is the peak we've reached in China. I'm not trying to belittle myself, everyone understands the principle that what goes up must come down, can I really make it into the top 10 with four or five spots? I dare to make that claim, but I need people to believe me."

The business owners present all nodded in agreement. They were all experts and understood that maintaining this level of output and market share in the fall was virtually impossible. Everyone also understood that this fall's explosive growth was entirely due to the culmination of the large investments and productions of the previous two years.

This fall, the film company did not invest in a single movie with a budget exceeding 3 million.

Li Qiutang didn't hide anything and stated his judgment: "Everyone knows that the industry is in a downturn. Our company also needs to take a defensive approach. It's very difficult for super projects with investments exceeding 5 million to pass the internal review. It would be more cost-effective to invest the money in small and medium-sized projects."

Li Qiutang is a director who is very willing to share his experience. He generously pointed out that the reason why "Dying to Survive" was so successful was not only because of the quality of the film, but also because it catered to or stirred up social emotions.

"Catering to social sentiment is a major secret to a film's success, especially for realistic films. Once you capture social sentiment, as long as the film's quality isn't too bad, the audience will push your film up."

He suggested that the business owners present should pay more attention to projects adapted from real-life events, as such projects are likely to generate box office revenue.

Especially cases like the Lu Yong case, which have a positive impact on society.

"Everyone prefers to watch positive content. Who would spend money to buy a ticket to the cinema just to upset themselves?"

Such films earn both box office success and a good reputation.

"If you have any cases, you can bring them to us and work on them together." Every boss present has some skills; what Li Qiutang can't do, they might be able to.

At the end of the year, a group of friends from the same industry were having a good time eating, drinking, and chatting. Just then, the leader who organized the gathering said, "Today, I'd like to introduce a junior to everyone." A young woman around 30 years old was then brought in.

Li Qiutang had never met her.

Before she could speak, one of the CEOs who knew her said, "Siyu, what brings you here?"

The woman glanced around before nodding slightly to everyone and greeting them, "Greetings, uncles and elders."

The person next to Li Qiutang introduced her to him: "Feng Xiaogang's daughter."

Li Qiutang smiled, waiting to see the show.

You can investigate anytime, anywhere, and no one can say that Li Qiutang has anything to do with Feng Xiaogang.

Many people in the industry know that Li Qiutang and Feng Xiaogang don't get along, but no one believes that Li Qiutang has the ability to handle things like this.

This matter had nothing to do with Li Qiutang in the first place!
He didn't give her the contract, and Xiao Cui wasn't familiar with him. Li Qiutang was just a bystander from beginning to end.

Most of the business owners present had some prior relationship with Feng Xiaogang, and the leader meant that, "Everyone should lend a hand, so that our past efforts won't have been in vain."

Those in the film and television business are prone to acting on emotions, but Feng Xiaogang is currently a hot potato that no one wants to touch.

“Siyu, it’s not that we don’t want to help. Your heartless stepmother already borrowed money from us once before, and she ran away. We accepted that, but now you… sigh!” Giving one sum of money is already generous enough; there’s no reason for her to give a second. Feng Siyu isn’t an unreasonable person, but in this critical moment, she can’t be reasonable.

“I know she ran away, but I can’t run away. That’s my own father. I have to save him no matter what. Please, uncles and elders, help me one more time. I’m only 28 years old. I’m young and capable. What Xu Fan owes, what my father owes, what I owe, I will repay.” It was truly a case of filial piety that moved heaven and earth.

Li Qiutang had no doubt about Feng Siyu's ability to repay the debt. As long as Feng Xiaogang didn't talk nonsense or attack people inside, it would be easy for Feng Siyu to make money outside. She was not even 30 years old, and it wouldn't be a big problem for her to repay two or three billion yuan in debt over ten or twenty years.

It is a fact that we are reluctant to admit. At best, Feng Xiaogang's case can be classified as an economic crime, but economic crimes have actually been abolished.

Feng Xiaogang will have his day again. As long as he's still alive, there's still a chance for him to turn things around.

But as I said before, since they've already paid, there's no reason to ask for more money, so many people are unwilling to pay again.

"I gave Xu Fan more than 3000 million yuan before, and I'm out of money!"

"I paid her a hundred million! She ran away, I guess I'm just unlucky! I don't want the money back, but I don't have any more to pay!"

"Boss, it's not that I'm not giving you face, this matter is indeed difficult to handle."

That leader was a respectable person and understood the difficulty involved; it was indeed inappropriate to force everyone to spend money.

However, some people suggested that Feng Siyu borrow money from people in the internet, finance, and real estate industries, as they have plenty of money, while those in the film and television industry don't have much.

Feng Xiaogang definitely knows these bosses.

Having reached this point, Feng Siyu has likely already contacted those business owners, so she doesn't ask for much today—just 3 million.

3 million is neither a lot nor a little.

Li Qiutang remained neutral, and his refrain from taking advantage of the situation was already an act of great kindness.

Li Qiutang still felt that Feng Siyu had something he hadn't taken out, but it was best not to take out those things.

Feng Siyu said, "Before my dad went in, he burned a lot of ledgers, notebooks and USB drives."

Sure enough, as soon as he said that, many bosses' expressions changed.

“I saw him burn it with my own eyes. He said that keeping these things would only bring me death. I know what he was thinking. I understand all of this. I won’t say anything out of line.”

"Didn't you leave anything behind?" someone asked maliciously.

“If I had left something behind, how could I dare to come here so openly to ask you all for help? You all know that my father forbids me from getting involved in his company’s affairs.”

That's true.

"Bosses, I only need 3 million. My whole family's lives are on this 3 million."

Perhaps moved by Feng Siyu's tears, the business owners present exchanged a few words, and finally sent a representative who, gritting his teeth, said:

"Alright! 300 million it is! Xiaogang has had a good working relationship with us before, we'll cover that cost for you!"

"thanks, thanks!"

"But you have to tell me first, how much did those two Wang brothers give you?"

"They paid out 12 billion in two installments."

"Damn, those two brothers are really stingy. Xiaogang worked for them for 20 years and only got 12 billion in return."

The bosses who provided the funds promised Feng Siyu that they would transfer the money to her this week.

After watching the play, Li Qiutang felt that tonight's dinner party was pointless.

(End of this chapter)