Chinese Entertainment Intelligence King

Chapter 387 Jiang Wen of the Business World, "Under the Hawthorn Tree," a silent encouragement from the 85 Flowers (a term referring to actresses born in 1985).

In late February, Yan Li's Yanye Capital reached an agreement with Xiaomi to acquire a 10% stake in the company through a combination of funding and resources.

Mr. Lei was quite excited. Yan Li's joining not only brought resources and funds, but also gave him and his team a lot of confidence.

At this time, Mr. Lei had decent qualifications and reputation, but his net worth was not particularly high.

Even the seniority is more biased towards Kingsoft. Although Shunwei Capital, which it leads, has performed well, its investments in Vancl, UC, and YY are all relatively new players in the internet industry and are still in the process of rising.

Therefore, Mr. Lei's reputation currently exceeds his actual ability, and he cannot yet be considered a big shot.

Smartphones are a hot trend, but also a risky one. Xiaomi's accumulated experience in various aspects is limited, and even Lei Jun himself had his doubts. Having a business genius like Yan Li, known for his keen insight, bet on it is a great encouragement to him.

They even used Yan Li's name to attract investment and motivate employees, and the results were quite good.

Lei Jun immediately announced the news on Weibo, which also served as a way to generate buzz for Xiaomi.

Yan Li didn't take it to heart; he knew very well how Lei Jun's Xiaomi had started.

Xiaomi was quite generous in giving him 10% of the shares, mainly because of his personal charisma and the various resources he possessed that would benefit Xiaomi's marketing.

Even with just 10% of the shares, given Xiaomi's peak market capitalization, even if Yan Li only retains half, it would still be worth nearly 100 billion.

This money isn't free; you can't be sloppy about putting in the effort. On this point, Yan Li and Boss Lei are in the same boat.

As for whether Xiaomi will implicate them and they'll get some criticism, they've already secured billions, so what's a little criticism?

JD.com, Weibo, Ganji.com, Tudou.com, and even the entertainment industry—which of these things that Yan Li invests in and manages can avoid being criticized?

As I always say, if you want to make money, don't be too shameless!
Moreover, Xiaomi has its own leader. Lei Jun is even more outspoken than Liu Qiangdong of JD.com, and is highly integrated with the company, becoming its primary spokesperson and person in charge.

Currently, startups are leveraging the momentum, so they will inevitably get closer to Yanli. However, once they reach a certain point, for various reasons, they will sever ties with Yanli, eliminating or changing the relationship or positioning between Yanli and their company.

At that time, Yan Li will simply be a shareholder or supporter of JD.com and Xiaomi.

The relationship is still unbreakable, but when something happens, they can't be blamed for anything.

Tudou.com is a good example.

After Wang Wei consciously downplayed the public connection between Tudou.com and Yan Li, and stepped into the limelight himself, whatever trouble Tudou.com gets into is Wang Wei who gets criticized, and has little to do with Yan Li.

Yan Li even encouraged Boss Lei to be more active on Weibo, hoping to generate some buzz. He said it would be even better if they could exchange insults or challenge each other to a fight.

Compared to Yan Li and Lei Jun, the outside world has shown little interest in Yan Li's investment in Xiaomi.

Xiaomi was just founded, and many people outside the company didn't even know what the company did. Moreover, this wasn't the first time Yan Li had invested in a company.

So, apart from some of Lei's fans touting the powerful alliance and some of Yan Li's fans paying attention, it didn't cause much of a stir.

Even in the business world, where people have a keen sense of smell, most people are just watching with amusement.

It has external competitors like Apple, Nokia, and Samsung, as well as established companies like Lenovo, ZTE, and Coolpad internally.

Smartphones are a hot trend, but also a fiercely competitive red ocean. Coupled with the high barriers to entry in the industry, it would be strange if Lei Jun, an outsider from another field, were to be favored.

Some people mocked Lei for overestimating his abilities, while others gloated over Yan Li's rare misjudgment.

Yan Li must have lost money in investing. If you're in the investment business and you haven't lost money, you're not human, you're a god of wealth descended to earth.

However, Yan Li's investments are relatively conservative, and he rarely loses big money. He basically only invests in the angel round, throwing away a few million at most, maybe a few hundred thousand.

Even investments exceeding tens of millions can fail, but most can recover some of their losses through methods such as withdrawing shares, selling, or transferring them.

As for investments exceeding 100 million yuan, Yan Li has not yet made a mistake so far.

Companies like JD.com, Tudou.com, and Ganji.com, which he co-invested in multiple rounds of funding for, are currently making profits, or even huge profits, which is why Yan Li is considered to have good foresight.

The exact amount Yan Li invested in Xiaomi is unknown to outsiders, but it is rumored that he acquired a double-digit percentage of shares.

Boss Lei is a well-known figure, so he shouldn't be selling off so many shares for just a few million. Yan Li's investment must be at least in the tens of millions.

The smartphone industry burns through cash extremely quickly. To preserve your shares as much as possible, you need to invest tens of millions or even hundreds of millions in a single subsequent round of follow-up investment.

In that case, Yan Li might actually suffer a setback at Boss Lei's hands.

Jiang Wen, a prominent figure in the business world!

As one of the very few times that Boss Yan had a major mishap, Jiang Wen successfully went viral, becoming quite well-known even in the business world, and was even used as an adjective.

Before Yan Li and Boss Lei could do anything about it, Jiang Wen was furious.

Murder is just a matter of beheading someone; plenty of directors have paid compensation. Is it really necessary to repeatedly desecrate a corpse like this?

Jiang Wen, who was already eager to avenge his previous defeat, became even more interested in "Let the Bullets Fly".

This film absolutely cannot afford to lose money; if it does, he will be permanently disgraced.

...

Limingxuan, Private Room
Yan Li poured a cup of tea for Zhang Yimou: "Director Zhang, it's all just a joke, please don't feel pressured."

Previously, when Zhang Yimou left New Pictures, Yan Li provided a lot of help. Yi An herself was powerful and had a very close relationship with China Film Group.

Naturally, Zhang Yimou began to seek collaboration with Yan Li for his new film.

However, Zhang Yimou has taken some rather bold steps in this new film, and it's hard to say how it will perform at the box office. Fearing that Yan Li might give some instructions, he used Jiang Wen's amusement to test Yan Li.

Yan Li understood what he meant and emphasized again: "Director Zhang, I'm not talking nonsense. If you're going to say that I can leave everything to you and not worry about anything, I can't do it, and you wouldn't believe me."

"However, our company will recommend actors and offer some suggestions, but we respect your rights as a director. We can discuss things slowly. If you feel that you really cannot compromise, artistically, we will definitely prioritize you."

Yan Li's words were very practical. Yi An had invested money, and she couldn't let Lao Zhangzi do things on his own. Yi An wouldn't give up the interests she deserved.

However, Yi An will not force Zhang Yimou, and will try her best to reach a consensus and find a balance that is acceptable to both parties.

If it's truly impossible to achieve that, then filming will still be primarily the responsibility of director Zhang Yimou.

This condition isn't particularly good, but it's not unreasonable either; every director is inevitably affected by various factors.

Even Feng Xiaogang, who was highly praised by Huayi Brothers, could not disregard Huayi Brothers' interests.

Zhang Yimou could accept it; in fact, having suffered enough at Zhang Yimou's hands, he felt that Yi'an's attitude was mild and her conditions were relatively lenient.

After taking a sip of tea, Zhang Yimou began discussing the casting for "Under the Hawthorn Tree" with Yan Li.

Since the news broke after the Lunar New Year that he was going to film this movie, various rumors have been circulating, and many popular young actors and actresses want to participate, including some of Yi An's artists.

Zhang Yimou was not satisfied; he wanted to use newcomers.

Yan Li wasn't surprised. Zhang Yimou is known for his fondness for using newcomers. He believes that newcomers have talent and are like blank canvases that can be splashed with ink, which has led to the creation of a series of "Zhang Yimou girls".

He did some mental calculations. The investment in "Under the Hawthorn Tree" was not high, and given the limitations of its subject matter, even with the use of stars, the chances of it becoming a box office hit were not high.

Using newcomers not only promotes them and saves costs, but more importantly, it leaves a good impression on Zhang Yimou.

Yan Li understood that the old strategist had just escaped one danger and was on edge, fearing he might jump into another.

Therefore, Yan Li intentionally used "Under the Hawthorn Tree" to appease the other party, making them feel that Yi An was much better than New Pictures, thus deepening the cooperation between the two parties.

"No problem, Director Zhang has the final say on casting."

With Yan Li's approval, Lao Zhangzi breathed a sigh of relief. With Yan Li's support, he could be more assertive, which was why he sought Yan Li's advice. Otherwise, he might not have been able to withstand the various attempts to influence him.

"Director Zhang, is the newcomer you're talking about a complete amateur, someone who has never acted in a film or television series, or someone who has acted in films but isn't very famous? We're looking to discover, nurture, and cultivate this talent."

Yan Li thought for a moment, then asked another question. The old strategist thought for a moment and said, "It would be best if they were complete novices, but the latter is also acceptable."

Those who have never acted before are indeed blank slates, but knowing nothing doesn't necessarily mean they can act well.

On the contrary, some basic "blank slates" are actually easier to sculpt. Many of the "Mou Girls" in the past were students from major art colleges.

Yan Li nodded. In this way, the scope would actually be expanded, and Yi An could also select some promising talents to enter. Whoever was selected would be signed directly.

The male and female protagonists of "Under the Hawthorn Tree" are Yan Li and Bu Tan, and at least one of them signed a contract with Yi An.

Compared to "Under the Hawthorn Tree", Yan Li was more interested in "The Flowers of War".

There were already rumors about this film after Zhang Yimou directed the opening ceremony of the Olympic Games. It attracted a lot of attention, including from Yan Li, who wanted Yi An to lead the film.

Faced with Yan Li's probing, Zhang Yimou did not refuse, but he also did not give in, saying that he would film "Under the Hawthorn Tree" first, and then consider the next film.

Putting everything else aside, his reputation was completely ruined after "A Simple Noodle Story," and he needed a movie to salvage his image.

This is also a major reason why Zhang Yimou chose to film "Under the Hawthorn Tree" first. He was afraid that if he filmed "The Flowers of War" right away, the audience would resist and reject it, so he simply scrapped the film.

Yan Li didn't ask any more questions. Now that Lao Mouzi was half-tied up by Yi An, he wasn't afraid that Lao Mouzi would run away.

After finishing his tea, Yan Li took a car back to Xinghewan. Fan Xiaopang had been coming here quite often since returning from his hometown for the Chinese New Year.

Upon entering, he saw his brother-in-law, Fan Chengcheng, watching cartoons on TV, while Fan Xiaopang was whispering with Yang Tianzhen and a staff member in the restaurant.

"Chairman."

Upon seeing Yan Li, Yang Tianzhen and the others stood up to greet him, and Yan Li smiled.

In private, Yang Tianzhen would occasionally call him "brother-in-law" when the atmosphere was right, but she mostly addressed him by his title, especially when other people were present.

"What are you talking about?"

Yan Li pulled up a stool and sat down, and Yang Tianzhen tactfully handed him a glass of water.

Fan Xiaopang fiddled with a bunch of photos: "We're picking out dresses for the Cannes Film Festival."

"Isn't Cannes in May?"

"Only after you've made your selection can it be tailored to your needs, and there will be various fittings and alterations. It's normal to do this one or two months in advance."

Fan Xiaopang explained, and Yan Li was speechless: "It's just the Cannes Film Festival, not the main competition. You're not going to win any awards, so why are you so enthusiastic?"

Fan Xiaopang had chosen similar dresses before, but he hadn't started choosing them this early; he had started preparing more than two months ago.

In Yan Li's memory, the last time she was certain to win the Golden Horse Award, it was only about half a month in advance, I think less.

Fan Xiaopang rolled his eyes at him: "You don't understand."

"If you don't understand something, just walk the red carpet, raise your status, and re-import it from export to domestic sales."

Who is Yan Li? He certainly understands Fan Xiaopang's ways. In the past two years, Fan Xiaopang has been doing well and has a lot of influence in Asia, but her performance in the European and American markets has been lukewarm. She has always been thinking about going international and gaining a global reputation.

On the other hand, Zhang Ziyi has now suffered a setback and is in turmoil. All four top actresses and two top actresses want to take her place and become a unique "international superstar".

Others may lack the necessary conditions for various reasons, but it's still worth trying to get two soldiers.

Li Bingbing snatched the role in "Snow Flower and the Secret Fan" and plans to enter Hollywood, while Fan Xiaopang intends to use "Buddha Mountain" to win international awards, raise his profile, and maybe even sign two international brands.

Crabs that go to Yangcheng Lake become Yangcheng Lake hairy crabs; crabs that walk the Cannes red carpet, if handled well, become international stars.

"If you know what you're talking about, why are you arguing? Come on, help me pick one out."

"You take your pick."

Yan Li understood things too well, so he felt that Fan Xiaopang didn't need to take it so seriously.

This kind of operation is mainly for marketing purposes, and it's just a little bit of publicity. Do you really expect to shine on the red carpet?
Ignoring Fan Xiaopang, Yan Li sat down on the sofa in the living room and rubbed his brother-in-law's head.

Fan Chengcheng is a chubby little boy with a round face and a watermelon-shaped haircut, which makes him look simple and honest.

"All he does is watch TV, and he never calls me brother-in-law when we meet."

"Brother-in-law."

Fan Chengcheng called out, his eyes still fixed on the TV, while Yan Li took out his wallet.

"I was thinking of giving you some New Year's money since we didn't meet during the Spring Festival..."

Fan Chengcheng turned his head and looked at the stack of red bills in Yan Li's hand, and he burst out laughing.

Fan's mother was very strict with him, and all his New Year's money was confiscated and stored away. He had no power to resist this unexpected windfall.

After Fan Xiaopang and Yang Tianzhen finished their work and saw the two off, they came to the sofa and saw their younger brother fawning over Yan Li, giving him a leg massage.

"Have you no shame? You even bully kids."

Fan Xiaopang complained, and Yan Li waved the banknotes in his hand: "What's wrong? I paid for it. Chengcheng, would you like to give your brother-in-law a massage?"

Fan Chengcheng pointed at Fan Xiaopang and said, "Mind your own business."

"You've gone too far!"

Fan Xiaopang rolled up his sleeves, ready to use family discipline, but Fan Chengcheng hid behind Yan Li: "If you dare touch me, I'll tell my brother-in-law how you scolded him."

Yan Lilai perked up: "Oh, so you're talking about me behind my back, huh?"

"Don't listen to his attempts to sow discord."

Fan Xiaopang got anxious and grabbed Fan Chengcheng's ear: "When did I ever insult your brother-in-law?"

"Brother-in-law, save me!"

Fan Chengcheng asked for help, and Yan Li seized the opportunity to ask, "Tell me how your sister insulted me, and I'll avenge you."

She called you a donkey.

Fan Chengcheng blurted out, and fearing Yan Li wouldn't believe him, added, "I overheard it myself. She even told my mom she couldn't stand you, saying you're like a dog, never getting enough of eating..."

Before he could finish speaking, Fan Xiaopang covered his mouth, leaving Yan Li both amused and slightly embarrassed.

"Why do you tell your mother everything?"

"Who told you to be so inhuman? That time I overslept and my mom saw me. She was worried I'd get hurt, so she asked me a few more questions. I couldn't tell anyone else, so I'd chat with my mom occasionally, but who knew this little brat would overhear me."

Fan Xiaopang was even more embarrassed than Yan Li. He complained to his mother, and then his younger brother found out, and now Yan Li knows too.

After saying that, she grabbed Fan Chengcheng by the back of the neck and said, "Besides your brother-in-law, who else did you tell about this?"

Fan Chengcheng was a little scared: "I didn't say anything."

"That's good. Keep your mouth shut. If I find out you're spreading rumors, I'll hang you up and whip you. Even Mom can't save you."

After Fan Xiaopang launched into a barrage of threats and intimidation, Yan Li tried to appease and entice him: "We have a conflict as a couple, and we can't tell outsiders. Your brother-in-law is so good to you, you can't betray him."

Having been beaten by Fan Xiaopang a lot since childhood, intimidation had little effect on Fan Chengcheng, but bribery was a different story.

Holding the banknotes, Fan Chengcheng's face was full of loyalty: "Brother-in-law, don't worry, if my sister scolds you again, I'll tell you. By the way, last time my parents said you were a womanizer..."

Fan Xiaopang covered his mouth tightly and said through gritted teeth, "If you don't speak, no one will think you're mute."

Yan Li didn't take it too seriously; everyone talks about others behind their backs.

It's normal for his parents-in-law to have complaints about his lifestyle. If they were to fuss over this, he would have died of anger long ago.

After chatting for a while, he sent Fan Chengcheng to his room to play games and sleep. As the only younger brother, he had his own bedroom at Fan Xiaopang's house.

Fan Xiaopang explained to Yan Li, "My parents didn't mean anything by it."

Yan Li raised his hand to stop him: "I understand. What's wrong with an elder saying a few words? I'm not that petty."

Fan Xiaopang breathed a sigh of relief, and then heard Yan Li ask with great interest: "But explain to me what you mean by 'can't stand me'."

"..."

Fan Xiaopang paused briefly, then took off running, only to be caught by Yan Li in a few strides. Today, he was going to show him what true unbearable behavior really meant…

...

Yan Li spoke harshly, but he still took care of Fan Xiaopang. At least Fan Xiaopang was able to get up and eat breakfast the next morning.

"Is 'Under the Hawthorn Tree' using newcomers?"

When Fan Xiaopang heard Yan Li talking about his conversation with Zhang Yimou, he was somewhat surprised: "That's it, Sun Li even asked me to put in a good word for her."

"She wants to act in this movie?"

"Not only that, you didn't see her Weibo post. She publicly expressed her love for 'Under the Hawthorn Tree,' and she was just short of tagging Zhang Yimou."

The two actresses who were most eager to star in this drama were Sun Li and Tang Wei. Tang Wei also expressed her love for the original work in an interview.

Of course, some actresses are also eyeing the project, such as Yang Mi from Yi An and Liu Shishi from Tangren Media, who are eager to make a move.

Many netizens on Weibo also discussed and enthusiastically recommended actresses, with Zhang Jingchu, Jiang Yiyan, and Liu Yifei being popular choices.

Of course, there are also opponents who feel that the characters are older, prettier, and have worse acting skills than those in the original work.

There's also been a lot of discussion about the male lead, with comments like Liu Yunlong being too old, Liu Huohua being too roguish, Deng Chao not being simple enough, Tong Dawei having small eyes, and Hu Ge being too fashionable, etc.

Zhang Yimou also had this concern when using newcomers.

Established celebrities have such strong personal impressions that there will be opponents no matter who you use. It's better to use new faces, as they are less likely to be criticized and offer a sense of novelty.

Fan Xiaopang felt sorry for Sun Li. Her image was definitely not suitable for the role in "Under the Hawthorn Tree". Rather than letting Qin Dong's Yang Mi get the role, it would have been better to let Sun Li play it. At least the latter was on good terms with her and could be considered half of Yi An's own people.

Yan Li didn't speak; he was looking for an artist to try out for Pan Yi'an.

Yang Mi is unlikely to be a good fit, and Wang Ou and the others are probably not suitable in terms of image and age.

Well, Tong Yaya could give it a try, she's not exactly famous, but there's still some novelty to it.

Another option is to send suitable packages to some new employees in the company for testing. If they are selected, it will save you a lot of trouble.

Fan Xiaopang also seemed to have an idea, and after Yan Li went to work, he took out his phone and made a call.

"Liying, do you have time? Go to Yi'an and find Tianzhen. Have her take you to submit your audition materials. Hmm, we can talk about it later."

After making that call, Fan Xiaopang made two more calls, both to promising young talents she had met recently.

When filming "Go Lala Go!" and "Buddha Mountain", she mentored him and observed his attitude, temperament and ability, and would occasionally give him a helping hand.

The same applies to "Under the Hawthorn Tree".

Fan Xiaopang had them sign up, and even had his agent take them there, to see how they performed.

If someone performs well and even makes it to the later stages of the game, Fan Xiaopang will lend a hand at crucial moments.

If you're lucky enough to land a role, you could become a key target for Fan Xiaopang's promotion, sign with Yi An, and receive various resources and support.

Of course, if all else fails, then just keep going.

Fan Xiaopang believes in the art of raising Gu poison, and every now and then he picks out a few promising talents to see who can rise to the top.

What emerged from this situation was her top general in the Fan faction, with a bright future ahead of her, and she might even one day become Fan Xiaopang's successor and take over as Yi An's number one sister.

Compared to Yang Mi, who was supported by Chairman Qin, Fan Xiaopang prefers to support someone from his own circle.

Meanwhile, upon receiving a call from Fan Xiaopang, Zhao Liying rushed to Yi'an.

As soon as they arrived downstairs at Yi An's building, they ran into Yang Mi, who was coming down from the company. Yang Mi, wearing sunglasses and a designer coat, was surrounded by fans and escorted by her manager, assistant, and bodyguards as she walked towards the parking lot.
Zhao Liying couldn't help but stand there and take a few more glances, but unexpectedly Yang Mi noticed her, waved as if she were just a passerby, and then left.

"..."

Zhao Liying's situation can't be described as humiliating. Yang Mi is now one of the new "Four Little Actresses" and the most popular actress born in the mid-1980s. It's normal for Zhao Liying, who is just a nobody in the industry, to be ignored.

But seeing Yang Mi's glamorous life, Zhao Liying's heart was stirred with a hint of ambition.

Although she is currently a subordinate, it's not impossible for her to rise to a higher position. At least Sister Bingbing has high hopes for her and is willing to give her a chance.

She must seize the opportunity; given time, Yang Mi's present may very well be her future.

Zhao Liying walked towards Yi An, while Yang Mi, who had already gotten into the car, also seemed to have lost her earlier spirits and let out a listless hum.

"Liu Yifei, I'll remember you!"

I just received news from the company that the artist management department had approached her for the film "The Legend of the Feast at Hongmen," but she was outshone by Liu Yifei and was unfortunately rejected.

With the huge success of "Chinese Paladin 3" and her subsequent starring roles in several movies, Yang Mi thought she could rival Liu Yifei, but she was easily defeated.

However, Yang Mi was not in a hurry.

They're both only in their early twenties. She's on the rise, while he's subtly declining. Sooner or later, she'll be able to overpower him...

　(4000/273000)

　　
　
(End of this chapter)