Huayu: From charlatan to great entertainer

Chapter 550 Daughter of Time

The uproar caused by Zheng Xiaolong's pioneering act and defection is still unfolding. In fact, Xiao Liu's previous advertisement about Double 11 has made his competitors even more terrified on a larger scale and to a greater extent.

A shopping carnival? What the heck is this?

There's a well-known meme in the Chinese internet and film industries called "Questioning the World PTSD".

The symptoms generally manifest as follows: Around key times such as leaving get off work in the evenings, Fridays, before short holidays, and the last day of the Spring Festival holiday, when the latest news about Wenjie pops up in the lower right corner of the computer screen, or when a last-minute meeting notification is received from the supervisor or team leader, other employees of internet and film companies will instantly experience the following physiological reactions:
My fingers trembled uncontrollably, my pupils dilated drastically, and a series of loud noises, like "Damn washing machines," came from my workstation.

This company has a boss who's always been a troublemaker.

For working-class people, this "troublemaking" isn't about the battles between Wenjie and other companies in the industry over the past two years; they actually enjoy watching and discussing this kind of drama.

It is said that the industry always "defies the world" and comes up with some innovative measures, which then make the employees of other competing companies who were just about to give up get whipped up.

The key issue is that some commercial promotions and movie marketing events happen to occur right before short holidays and weekends. Not only does Wenjie "exploit" its own employees, but it also drives infighting within the industry, harming the employees of other companies as well.

This situation began during the promotional tour for "Whiplash" in 2002.

In an era when most directors wouldn't arrange large-scale roadshows in second- and third-tier cities, Wenjie's first film followed the example of the later film "Warm Spring," adopting a distribution strategy of "encircling the cities from the countryside," which ultimately led to great success.

Chinese people are the best at learning. After one or two times, the bosses and employees of various companies will also suffer from "PTSD". The only time that the industry tried to fight back was when Ma Yun took the initiative to gather and form "Damai.com" in the second half of 08.

This is the first successful case in China of intercepting a time traveler, even though the final outcome was not pleasant as Lianxiang was caught in the crossfire due to its defeat.

Now, this "once-owned" old man is facing the urgent and real danger of having to "start all over again."

In the two news items related to Wenjie that came out in the evening, Qing Dynasty dramas and the like were forgotten. What kind of new weapon is this "Wenjie Double 11 Shopping Carnival"?
It looks like it has a large caliber!

Since Liu Yifei posted on Weibo, almost half of the celebrities in the entertainment industry have organized to repost the advertisement. The rest either lack star power, are competitors, or have become indifferent and refuse to give face to anyone.

At 10 p.m., the headquarters of Ali in Lin'an was brightly lit. Ali CEO Wei Zhe, who also plays the role of Liu Chiping of Tencent, was the first to give a briefing on the situation:

"The so-called 'Double 11 Shopping Festival' is very simple to play. It is a time-limited discount across the entire store, coupled with activities such as bonus gold, pre-sale discounts, etc., and supplemented by their usual celebrity traffic-driving methods. That's roughly how it works."

Ma Yun shook her head with a somber expression, her comment hitting the nail on the head: "Wenjie is playing the time anchoring effect, using a fixed date to implant consumption habits in consumers' minds, just like America's 'Black Friday'."

"However, our old rival is even more ruthless. Wenjie has too many publicity and celebrity resources. One is to attract traffic, and the other is to use pre-sales and expansion funds as leverage. These are his interest-free loans, which can in turn subsidize merchants."

"The most crucial thing is the establishment of industry standards. In the past, when domestic users thought of e-commerce and online shopping, 90% of them would think of Taobao first. Now? 'Double 11' is going to become their new brand."

"They do this every year, binding users to payment platforms, merchants to logistics, and traffic to entertainment. They do it once a year, and every time they do it, their moat gets even deeper!"

Zhang Yong rushed in, adjusted his glasses, and hesitated before speaking. Ma Yun scoffed, "What? The trademark's been registered, hasn't it?"

"Yes……"

"Do you think someone like that can leave you any openings? This time, we can't even follow suit."

Old Ma's thinking is still relatively clear, or perhaps he has thoroughly recognized the situation, adjusted his attitude, and corrected his mindset after the previous defeat at Damai.cn:
Even the old chairman, who was known as the godfather of business, has failed miserably. What is there for him to be so self-important?

Let's think of a way to brave the current and stand at the forefront once again!

He got up and paced in front of the whiteboard, occasionally writing and drawing with a signal pen, analyzing the situation and clarifying his own thoughts:

"First, the trademark has been registered. Even if we can find a roundabout way to achieve our goal, we will at least miss the 'Double 11' shopping festival this time. This is a beachhead landing in terms of naming rights."

"Secondly, if such a shopping festival is successful, our current logistics capabilities with Cainiao Network are simply no match for Wenjie's self-built logistics. Even with the same discounts, as a consumer, would you prefer a package delivered to your door in two days, or one that can't even provide a specific delivery time, or one that you have to find yourself at the courier station?"

Old Ma was well aware of the gap between the two sides in logistics service development, which was why Wenjie Mall took a different approach to catch up with its older brother.

It's really nothing special; it's just about laying a solid foundation and providing excellent service, which is Dongzi's forte.

"Finally, and this is something I suspected Lu Kuan and Liu Qiangdong had already prepared," Old Ma chuckled, plopping down in his chair. "The big-name cooperatives they've found have probably already signed exclusive agreements, so they won't be coming here again."

"Wenjie Mall is definitely going to take the first bite of this so-called online shopping carnival."

The meeting room fell into a deathly silence, seemingly devoid of the usual banter of exchanging nicknames from Jin Yong's martial arts novels, and the carefree spirit with which everyone once spoke of the world of e-commerce.

In the two niche areas that Wenjie has ventured into, e-commerce and cinemas have always been in a catching-up phase, and that catching-up has taken five or six years.

As for its pursuers, Ali has a much greater advantage in e-commerce than Wanda has in cinemas. Ma Yun is also an undisputed leader in the domestic business world, and has always suppressed the latter in its main business.

Just like in the previous life, they relentlessly suppressed JD.com.

But “unhappy families are all unhappy in their own way.” The biggest reason for Lao Ma’s suffering was that Dongzi in this life was not fighting alone. He had a systematic publicity and marketing resource base and Lu Kuan’s own strong social connections.

Without this connection, how could he have gotten PaymentTong to seize Alipay's municipal payment market share nationwide?
Without this connection, how could he coordinate the land acquisition and construction of logistics hubs in key regions?
Without him, Wenjie Mall would never have been able to obtain the top-tier supporting resources in China for every event and marketing campaign it held.

The current situation is that PaymentTong has overtaken Alipay and is firmly suppressing Alipay's expansion, leaving the latter with no room to maneuver.
Taobao and other e-commerce platforms have been blocked from their B2C transformation by the industry, with no opportunity to find alternative paths.

To be honest, when he saw this Double 11 event, his first thought was to use it to transform his business and drive traffic to his currently deserted "Taobao Mall".

But with such excellent examples already established, he himself gave three reasons for being "prohibited from following suit," so what could he do?

Such meetings will ultimately not reach any conclusions. Wenjie only launched a massive publicity campaign ten days before the event began. If they hadn't plugged the loopholes until the very end, they wouldn't have been so vigilant in preventing followers from joining now.

Instead of going straight home, Lao Ma returned to his office and paced back and forth for a long time.

Before the floor-to-ceiling windows, the lights of the riverside park shone like stars in the twilight. The buildings he had witnessed rise and fall now looked as glaring as broken pieces on a chessboard.

Directly opposite is UTStarcom's vacant R&D center, its glass curtain wall reflecting the afterglow of the setting sun. This once-glorious giant of mobile phones is now reduced to just a faded logo swaying in the evening breeze on the rooftop.

In the industrial park, in Lin'an, and throughout China, there were countless entrepreneurs who chased the latest trends, but now most of them have probably disappeared without a trace. In the reflection of the glass, he saw that the wrinkles at the corners of his eyes were even deeper than last year.

Ahri is now standing on the edge of a cliff.

Of course, for outsiders, even if they are defeated by Wenjie and become the second largest player in the industry, it is not unacceptable.

They can still live a carefree and glamorous life, spend money like water, and wield considerable influence; they are not without a chance to overtake others.

But for someone like Lao Ma, that won't work.

If Wen Jie, Lu Kuan, and Liu Qiangdong were to lead him to catch up, it would be tantamount to a major failure in his life and career in the first half of his life, a tragic ending that would leave him utterly demoralized and dejected.

The faint sound of cargo ships sounding their horns on the Qiantang River could be heard outside the window, but it was hard to make out. Old Ma suddenly recalled that afternoon in January 2004 when he had politely declined Lu Kuan's investment offer over the phone. (Chapter 224)
He jokingly called the other party Yin Zhiping, who also readily called him Feng Qingyang.

Unexpectedly, this refusal to invest has led him to this quagmire five years later, from which he is unable to extricate himself and has no way out.

Of course, if time could be reversed, Ma Yun would still ruthlessly reject Mr. Lu's investment. At that time, the latter was a well-known film director, while she had just received additional investment from SoftBank.

Money may not be inherently noble or base, but without additional investment, industry support, or industrial integration, it is merely a book value.

"The road is wide, the road is wide..."

Old Ma muttered about this troublesome brat, turned around, put on his clothes, and prepared to leave. Before leaving, he called Wei Zhe and Zhang Yong respectively.

"Regarding the cooperation and equity investment requests put forward by Tencent, we need to make a prudent decision in the near future. Please first come up with a negotiation plan for cross-shareholding between the two companies. The specific shareholding ratio and details will not be settled in one or two rounds of negotiations."

"Let's set this timeline after November 13th."

The subordinates who received the notification knew perfectly well that this was to see to what extent Wenjie Mall could take advantage of this carnival. The scene, reputation, and data at that time would all be a testament to its success.

If Alibaba were to truly and infinitely approach Tencent's core business in the realm of e-commerce alone, then the conditions and circumstances under which Tencent declined its offer after the collapse of Damai.cn would no longer exist. (Chapter 544)
In other words, with the Wenjie system constantly expanding and squeezing the strategic living space of all competitors, these two domestic giants from the original timeline now have a real basis for cooperation.

The cross-shareholding he just mentioned represents a different level of collaboration in terms of depth and hierarchy compared to joint ventures like Damai.cn.

Joint ventures are usually established as independent legal entities with multiple investors, and they are easily dissolved due to differences in profit distribution or strategic disagreements.
Cross-shareholding, on the other hand, is a capital bond formed between companies through cross-shareholding, which maintains their independence while establishing a long-term and stable strategic alliance.

On the way out of the park, Ma Yun looked at the bustling traffic outside the car window with a complicated expression, and at that moment, the image of Liu Chuanzhi flashed through her mind.

Liu Chuanzhi's attempt to acquire shares in Wenjie failed, so he, Baidu, and Wanda attempted to secretly use Damai.com. If it weren't for the black swan event of Lianxiang's shareholding reform, the outcome would still be uncertain.
Lu Kuan's actions were exactly the same as his own. Five years ago, he tried to invest in Ali but failed. Instead, he somehow found Liu Qiangdong, who owned an electronics store, and actually managed to set up this e-commerce business...

One is a covert attack by a group of top companies in the industry, while the other is a startup from scratch in the e-commerce field to catch up with the industry leader.

In fact, Lu Kuan and Liu Chuanzhi's methods and styles are not much different. They both make good use of public opinion and legitimate business relationships, and have an extremely strong desire to control and possess their companies.

But why is it that the latter is able to achieve great success, while Damai.cn, which has advantages in funding and connections, fails miserably?
This seemed destined to be a problem that plagued Lao Ma for the rest of his life, much like Feng Qingyang hiding behind Mount Hua to explore the different paths of sword and qi.

Actually, this is the difference between technique and principle.

Ma Yun is a master of the art of business, but he is far from understanding the so-called "Tao" like a transmigrator who has lived two lives.

On this land, anyone who controls top resources and holds power should follow the trend of the times and history if they want to achieve great things, and represent the direction of the most advanced culture and productivity, instead of turning back the clock of history after gaining power like him and his idol, the old chairman, and ultimately standing on the opposite side of the people.

In the present day, the "way" for those in power is to resonate with the nation's destiny, to seize the historical opportunity of the digital economy empowering the real economy, and to uphold the core spirit of cultural confidence.
We must abandon the simplistic mindset of plundering commercial resources and, like Wenjie creating the Beiping Film Festival and turning this TV series into a "cultural resource platform," become problem solvers for the challenges of our time.

These are things that Old Ma, who has only lived half his life, still cannot understand, or even if he does understand, he is unwilling to do.
-

LeEco Culture, Ali, and even Tencent are all having a sleepless night.

As one of the instigators of the two major events related to Wenjie, Zheng Xiaolong posted on Weibo with Zhao Sha's assistance and then drove home, turning off his phone on the way.

This is a case of killing without burying; in his old circle, at least a hundred people now want to call him to inquire about the details.

After all, such a clear-cut defection is quite rare for Chinese people who value moderation.

Although Lao Zheng himself was somewhat uneasy, his decision to turn off his phone was not an escape, but rather an unwillingness to waste words. As more official information from Wenjie was released, revealing only the tip of the iceberg of this grand project, he would receive even more calls.

However, a considerable number of people will shift from questioning, cursing, and doubting to building relationships, getting close to others, and asking for roles.

For Zheng Xiaolong, who has been immersed in the TV drama industry since the 80s, this was entirely predictable.

But now, I still have to firmly shoulder the blame that should have been taken by that person.

Before this, no matter how much Fu Zuoyi imagined, he could not have guessed that the richest man had no intention of personally taking the stage. The warnings he gave from the Manchus, which he used to curry favor with them, all became his own guidelines for action.

But to be honest, even he himself was astonished after learning the full picture of the project.

This may be the largest, most influential, and most star-studded TV series project since the founding of the People's Republic of China.

The reason I say "cast" rather than "star cast" is because he was quite excited about this kind of casting arrangement, unlike "Empresses in the Palace," which was brought in by Haiyan, a Beijing-based entertainment circle, when it was still in the early stages of production, who insisted that he give her a significant role.

It's not that Sun Li is bad, it's just that the entertainment industry is too corrupt and closed-minded.

Now that he's stepped out, it feels like a completely different world. However, the first thing Lao Zheng has to face is the "warm greetings" from his old comrades-in-arms.

Wang Shuo had kept a low profile since returning from the United States a few years ago, but as a prominent figure, he couldn't let such a matter go unresolved. So, after making more than ten unsuccessful attempts to contact her and confirming that the situation had changed, he brazenly used Xu Jinglei's Weibo account to speak out.

Because of her large number of Weibo followers, a large group of fans flocked to her because of her reputation as a "talented woman."

Even as he fades into obscurity and loses his voice, Wang Shuo's satirical skills remain undiminished:
I've known Xiaolong for almost twenty years, but today is the first time I've truly gotten to know him. He's like an unofficial researcher at the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences, yet he understands his master's thoughts better than even the eunuchs in the Forbidden City.

As for who the master is, everyone knows the answer. If you don't say it, I won't say it either.

Back when we were compiling "Stories from the Editorial Department," we'd squat at the alley entrance, eating pancakes and chatting about the dark side of human nature. You said, "Fiction is true satire." Now, you're criticizing the food while holding up a golden bowl. It seems the new employer's rocket launcher has a longer range than the emperor's musket.

A seasoned veteran, a veteran soldier, succumbed to someone's financial offensive, and even started acting as a cultural commissar in front of the media. It's truly baffling, leaving one speechless. It just goes to show—

If someone blocks my way, I'll kneel down for them; I won't indulge myself.

Xiaolong, is that how it works?

Finally, let me give you a piece of my heart: from now on, let's just forget about each other and go our separate ways.

Since you've accepted the money from the new trends, don't try to maintain the facade of the old ways. Otherwise, your "Farewell, Stuart" might be even more absurd and bizarre than "A Peking Man in New York."

……

After accepting a research project from LeEco Culture, Xiao Ying, a doctoral supervisor at Tsinghua University, commented on Zheng Xiaolong's views:
Director Zheng Xiaolong's "cultural awakening" is perhaps too extreme and even reeks of hypocrisy and opportunism.

The essence of Qing Dynasty dramas is artistic creation, not history textbooks. Otherwise, following this logic, should "Journey to the West" be criticized for "feudal superstition"? Should "Romance of the Three Kingdoms" be condemned for "promoting power struggles"?
The core function of literary and artistic works is to provide aesthetic experiences and observations of human nature, rather than to act as a mouthpiece for politics and correctness.

The queue and the cheongsam are merely visual symbols. What truly needs reflection is creative inertia rather than cultural stance. Binding artistic creation to ideological criticism is the real harm to cultural confidence. This mechanical historical materialism will only stifle the diversity of art.

I believe that instead of criticizing the queue (traditional Manchu hairstyle), we should examine the erosion of creative work by capital.

Industry insiders are widely speculating that Director Zheng's shift to collaborating with Wenjie is another form of compromise with traffic and capital. If he truly insists on cultural purity, why not devote himself to the fields of documentaries or serious dramas?

This shift is less a sign of cultural awakening and more a sophisticated business strategy, a warning to us all.

……

The entire Beijing area... no, the entire Beijing circle is in complete chaos.

With the advent of the Internet age, everyone has a common understanding that this circle is gradually declining. However, just like those who still fantasize about the British Empire, who is willing to admit that their own decline is inevitable?

But Zheng Xiaolong's blatant instigation of rebellion dealt a fatal blow to the already dwindling inner circle.

Teng Huatao, Feng Xiaogang, and others had already left and were flirting with the new capital elites in the entertainment industry. Now, a veteran captain not only wants to leave, but also comes back to make a "final judgment" and erase everyone's past glory and noble status. How can we tolerate this?
As a result, a large number of ethnic association members, cultural figures, and cadres from the Federation of Literary and Art Circles and the Writers Association publicly criticized, reported, and even petitioned against Zheng Xiaolong's "biased" assertions.

The next day, many veterans sat in protest at the entrance of the Beiping Cultural and Art Center. Some even wore traditional Manchu clothing, hoping to embarrass Zheng Xiaolong. However, not only did Zheng turn off his phone, but he also refused to come to his workplace.

So, under the command of someone with a purpose, the large group marched to the television station. Back in 2009, before the restructuring, the art center's superior unit was the municipal television station.

Upon learning that the Manchu bannermen, who usually spent their days playing with cats and dogs, listening to operas, and walking their birds, had gathered at the station entrance, with their leader boasting that they would rather die here than not see the leaders, Deputy Director Wang Qiu immediately called the supervisor in charge. The Dongda TV station was under the jurisdiction of several departments, subject to both industry regulation by the State Administration of Radio, Film and Television and administrative management by the city government.

The deputy governor of Beijing in charge of the television station was none other than Lao Cai, who had been assigned by Leader Liu to be in charge of culture and health; otherwise, the task of organizing the Beiping Film Festival would not have fallen to him.

Isn't that a coincidence?
Old Zheng thought the same way, which is why he could turn off his phone with peace of mind and "retreat into his own little world, oblivious to spring, summer, autumn, and winter."

Wang Qiu hung up the phone, smiled, and went out to greet the old folks in the conference room. Many of them were his elders, so he had to patiently explain things to them like a grandson.

"Fellow veterans, please calm down! The higher-ups are considering measures to handle Director Zheng's matter these past two days. To give everyone an explanation, I just consulted with the leadership—"

Wang Qiu pretended not to know the truth: "The notice will be published no later than the end of the workday tonight, and it is proposed to remove Zheng Xiaolong from his position as director of the Beiping Television Art Center."

"Okay! Well done!"

"Director Wang, you're truly a very honest and upright person!"

"That bastard, now he's become a rebel vanguard, busy currying favor with the richest man, huh? Bah!"

"Exactly! They still can't control him!"

A group of people escorted several old men out, their leather shoes clattering on the marble of the corridor.

A man with slicked-back hair walked along, slapping his thigh as he said, "We should have done this a long time ago! That bastard Zheng Xiaolong, he eats our food and then smashes our pot!"

He then took out his cigarette case, swiped it around, and grinned, saying, "Tomorrow I'll ask Master Shuo to write another article, titled 'The Cultural Traitor Exposed'!"

The crowd laughed and pushed open the glass door. Someone whistled in the cold wind, and someone else started humming the tune of "Taking Tiger Mountain by Strategy." The sound drifted into the cold wind and disappeared without a trace.

Wang Qiu's words were true; an official document from the station that afternoon turned his promise into reality.

The old folks, their wishes fulfilled, gathered around the copper pot for hot pot that night, stirring chive blossoms with sesame sauce, pouring Erguotou (a type of Chinese liquor) into their porcelain bowls, and enjoying it with pickled garlic—it was a truly joyful and carefree time.

Oh, the glory of our ancestors! We, their unfilial descendants, are unable to carry it forward, but we have still punished those villains on your behalf!
Unfortunately, the only one who showed up from beginning to end was the traitor Zheng Xiaolong, and the richest man who was hiding behind the scenes and making underhanded moves was not exposed!

Even more unfortunately, this joyous occasion of "drinking a big toast" didn't last long. Just one day later, someone learned the latest news from within—

Zheng Xiaolong hadn't even had time to warm up his seat before taking up the post of deputy general manager of Beijing Broadcasting Media Group, paving the way for his subsequent position at Gehua Media.

Beijing Broadcasting is a wholly-owned subsidiary of Gehua.

This serves as protection for Zheng Xiaolong, who is currently in the eye of the storm, and also makes a clear statement to the outside world:
Director Xiaolong is fine; the organization intends to continue using him. In response to your clamor, we have already done more than enough by making a slight compromise and dismissing him from his post. Please stop making noise.

Only then did the shocked old folks realize that what Wang Qiu had said yesterday was dismissal!
This bastard!
It's not entirely their fault for lacking common sense; at Tokyo University, "dismissal" is a neutral personnel management term, and various possibilities exist.
It is possible that due to normal job changes, the person may be dismissed first, and then routinely promoted, transferred, or rotated.
It's also possible that the organization doesn't have a high opinion of the cadre, but doesn't want to resort to more drastic words or measures, so they simply dismiss them and then make other arrangements.

The most serious case is that the person is dismissed from their post before being investigated by the Embroidered Uniform Guard for suspected violations of discipline and law.

How could these people possibly guess which one it is?
Seeing the deputy director's obsequious attitude yesterday, I thought it was one of the latter two types. Turns out you, Wang Qiu, are also a damn scoundrel!
The saying goes, "One effort is enough, but a second will be weaker, and a third will be exhausted." LeEco Culture, feeling miserable and disheartened, was unwilling to let this confrontation end. They found multiple ways to continue encouraging and supporting these people who already had the will to cause trouble to continue their clamor, and even threatened to file a petition.

This trend continued until November 4th, when major institutions such as the State Administration of Radio, Film and Television, CCTV, Wenjie, and the Pan-Asia Film Academy jointly released a major announcement:
A press conference will be held in two days at the Media Center Hotel in Beiping to announce a cultural project spanning China, Japan, South Korea, and North America.

Anyone with eyes can see that this is the best conclusion and explanation for the recent heated debate on Qing Dynasty dramas and the "Wenjie Big Move".

On the afternoon of the 6th, the press conference hall of the Media Center Hotel in Beiping was packed with people.

The backdrop of the stage was printed with the words "Global Launch Ceremony of the Historical Epic 'Taiping Shu'" in gold, and the logo below, "Exclusive Sponsor of Wenjie Double 11 Shopping Carnival," was particularly eye-catching under the spotlight.

There was only one sponsor at the event, which was obviously a well-timed product placement. Even the host was Liu Qiangdong, who had just taken office as the vice president of Wenjie.

Reporters stood ready, and a media matrix of over a hundred outlets, ranging from national to market-oriented and from traditional to emerging, were also on high alert.

The portal editors from Sina and NetEase have already set up their photography equipment;
Political reporters from Xinhua News Agency and China News Service sat side by side with reporters from the culture section of People's Daily;

Industry observers from Caijing and CBN are adjusting their recording pens;
Entertainment reporters from Nandu and Xinjingbao used telephoto lenses to capture details on stage. These two companies were not excluded, just as Weibo never arbitrarily blocks marketing information from competitors, except for illegal activities and online trolls.

This is a guarantee of the media's credibility; sometimes, having dissenting voices is actually a form of protection.

There were very few fan slots available today, but the large lineup of journalists at the press conference set the tone for this high-profile project from the very beginning.

Open, enthusiastic, inclusive, and grand!

"Hello, fellow journalists and guests." Dongzi walked onto the stage, speaking Mandarin with a northern Jiangsu accent, which sounded surprisingly down-to-earth:

"Our CEO is not here today, as he is busy presenting excellent domestic science fiction works to everyone in North America. Therefore, he has entrusted me, an outsider, to host this cultural event."

He paused for a moment: "Actually, I also have my own reasons. First, I want to introduce the sole global title sponsor and sponsor of this press conference—"

"Thank you to Wenjie Mall for bringing us the 'Double 11 Shopping Carnival'! We welcome everyone to visit our mall on November 11th to shop for discounted items, with everything starting at 11% off!"

A burst of laughter erupted from the audience, followed by enthusiastic applause and jeers.

Liu Qiangdong, naturally aware of the importance of today's task, stopped wasting words and solemnly introduced the guests, turning slightly to the side:

"Let me give a warm round of applause to welcome—"

"Mr. Son Kyung-sik, Vice President of CJ Entertainment, South Korea!"

"Mr. Yoshinari Shimatani, Director and Vice President of Nihon Toho Co., Ltd."

"Mr. Zhang Zhizhong, Executive Vice President and Managing Director of The Walt Disney Company Greater China!"

"Ms. Zhong Lifang, General Manager of Wenjie Film & Television!"

"Ms. Liu Yifei, internationally renowned film star, Berlin Film Festival Best Actress, and young actress."

"Mr. Zheng Xiaolong, Deputy General Manager of Beijing Broadcasting Media Group and a renowned director in China!"

"Mr. Zhang Heping, the director of the Beiping People's Art Theatre!"

"Mr. Zhou Zhiqiang, the director of the National Theatre of China!"

"Mr. Han Shanping, Deputy Director of the State Administration of Radio, Film and Television and Chairman of China Film Group Corporation!"

Each name that was called out was accompanied by a chorus of camera shutters clicking, like a fierce symphony.

Looking at the entire list, foreign guests come first, officials last, and the middle section consists of people from the arts and culture circles, which is typical of Southeast University and makes reporters and media even more eager to see this mysterious project.

This is almost a combination of top-tier capital, artistic influence, and official endorsement. Today, Lao Han has two identities, but he mainly represents the newly appointed deputy director.

Dongzi's main tasks today are advertising and hosting as the vice president, highlighting the importance that Wenjie attaches to this cultural project.

He quickly stepped down from the stage, and then Zhong Lifang, representing Wenjie, introduced the project details:
"Thank you for attending, leaders, colleagues and media friends. In response to the call of the National Cultural Industry Revitalization Law, Wenjie has recently joined forces with top production companies from China, Japan and South Korea to jointly create this epic masterpiece spanning two thousand years, 'The Book of Peace'."

"This project is jointly invested by China Film Group, Wenjie, Toho Co., Ltd., CJ Entertainment, and Disney. We have invited the Institute of History of the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences to serve as an academic advisor, striving to restore the essence of Chinese civilization, such as the clothing of the Han and Tang dynasties and the rituals and music of the Song and Ming dynasties."

Zhong Lifang clicked the page-turning button with some unfamiliarity, and several makeup and styling pictures that Xiao Liu had hastily made appeared on the big screen. They were mainly to create hype for today's press conference and to facilitate the explanation of the theme.

"The story begins with Gu Nan, a female swordswoman who travels back to the late Warring States period. Through a fortuitous encounter, she gains immortality and witnesses the unification of the Qin Dynasty, the flourishing of the Tang Dynasty, the transition from the Song to the Yuan Dynasty, and the Ming to the Qing Dynasty, ultimately completing her spiritual quest for 'peace under heaven'."

"At the same time, peace, harmony and tranquility are the common aspirations of the Chinese people and the world, and have extremely high universal value. Therefore, the Chinese title of this film and television work that will be presented to audiences around the world is 'The Book of Peace'."

Reporters snapped photos incessantly, expressing their admiration and surprise that Liu Yifei, who had just returned to acting after being pregnant and giving birth to "Under the Hawthorn Tree" last year, was already leading such an international project that was not a movie but was even better than a movie.

Looking at her dashing female swordsman costume photos on the screen, even media outlets like *Nanfang* and *Xinjingbao*, which were initially looking to find fault, had to admit—

Given this plot setting, the choice of this female swordsman within the country is simply unthinkable.

There are already few female warrior roles, and even fewer with built-in popularity and recognition from international audiences and the international community.

The saying "When some people appear, others become mere substitutes" couldn't be more fitting for Xiao Liu, who returned to acting after giving birth and starred in her first project.

Zhong Lifang's introduction continues:

“The Taiping Book will be produced by Lu Kuan, an internationally renowned director and president of Wenjie, and Han Shanping, deputy director of the State Administration of Radio, Film and Television and chairman of China Film Group.”

"The entire series will adopt an episodic format, with Mr. Zheng Xiaolong, the director of classic TV series such as 'Beijing People in New York,' 'Gua Sha,' and 'Golden Wedding,' serving as the general director. We plan to invite outstanding directors from China, Japan, and South Korea who are all influenced by the Chinese cultural system to be responsible for different dynasty episodes."

"Regarding the cast, we will conduct a closed casting call, strictly based on the script and the characters, with outstanding young domestic actors, actors from national-level theaters such as Beijing People's Art Theatre and National Theatre of China as the main cast, and foreign actors with high suitability for the roles as a supplement, to jointly complete this epic production."

"Okay, friends." The final shot of the scene lingered on a still of Xiao Liu, and Zhong Lifang concluded:
"The Book of Peace is not a simple historical novel, but a profound inquiry into 'Why China is China?' We hope that through this international cultural platform, the world can appreciate Chinese aesthetics and showcase the diversity and depth of Chinese culture."

"thank you all!"

The audience erupted in applause, and flashes of light from cameras streaked across the room. Fans, looking at Liu Yifei's photos, almost forgot to scream, instead being awestruck by the grand scale of the event.

Not to mention the reporters and media present at the scene.

In the previous life and even in 2025, there has never been a film and television project with such a clear goal, such a large capital scale, and such a grand cultural ambition.

The power of capital is limitless, but it is ultimately controlled by specific individuals and groups.

It's not that no one wants to do it, it's that there isn't a time traveler like Boss Lu who has spent seven or eight years defeating all sorts of obstacles, restoring the old order of the arts and literature world, and is now preparing to set sail with an aircraft carrier.

Zhong Lifang's introduction was merely a "starter," because the subsequent speeches and introductions from each guest made everyone feel even more amazed and impressed by the prospects of such a project.

Old Han excitedly represented the official position:
"As a representative of the State Administration of Radio, Film and Television, I would like to describe the Taiping Shu project with three unprecedented features: it is a benchmark project with unprecedented resource integration, unprecedented cultural innovation pattern, and unprecedented depth of international collaboration since the promulgation of the National Cultural Industry Revitalization Law."

He glanced around at the hundreds of media outlets below the stage, pausing deliberately to quiet the clicking of camera shutters:

"We will provide full support for the project's initiation, filming, and distribution, and coordinate the participation of key personnel from arts and cultural troupes across the country in the creation process. It is worth noting that this project has been included in the 'Cultural Going Global' key project database and enjoys a series of green channel policies, including export tax rebates and special effects subsidies."

Knowing he couldn't steal the spotlight today, the man with the buzz cut succinctly summarized:

"Today, standing at a new starting point of cultural confidence, we use light and shadow to tell Chinese stories and art to convey Eastern wisdom. This is not just a play, but a bridge connecting the past and the future, and communicating between China and the world."

"Let us join hands and make the Taiping Book an envoy for dialogue between different civilizations. On the basis of respecting history, let us build a bridge of understanding with an open and inclusive attitude—let the world see the depth of Chinese culture, and let Chinese civilization radiate new vitality through exchanges and mutual learning!"

Representatives from Disney China, CJ Entertainment, and Toho Co., Ltd. then took turns speaking, expressing their support and optimism for such cultural projects. The cooperation between the Japanese and Korean parties was mainly achieved through the television channels they control.

Disney was just there to make a show of it, since Netflix could handle the DVD distribution of "The Book of Peace" in North America all by itself.

After Zheng Xiaolong and the two directors of Beijing People's Art Theatre and National Theatre of China expressed their excitement and anticipation, the fans in the audience screamed and cheered as Liu Yifei walked gracefully onto the stage, and the reporters and media were also invigorated.

The two most talked-about figures in the Chinese entertainment industry: even though the washing machine is not around, his wife is still quite something!
The bonus is here!

The large screen behind her flashed the last set of promotional photos. In a rush, Xiao Liu only managed to take these few pictures for today's promotion.

Liu Yifei stood gracefully in front of the microphone, her figure slender and upright. The effects of her hard work in postpartum care were evident, and she even had a more mature charm after giving birth.

At 22, having experienced the joys of love and family, Xiao Liu's physical appearance is simply a masterpiece, impossible to replicate.

"Hello everyone, the leaders and colleagues have just explained the connotation and core of this TV series from various perspectives. As an actress, I will briefly talk about my understanding and perception of the female swordsman character, which can be regarded as giving everyone a preliminary glimpse of the tip of the iceberg of this magnificent story."

"Just now, Mr. Zhong introduced its Chinese title as 'The Book of Peace.' Actually, I've been involved in the scriptwriting and discussion for the past month. As a work destined to be marketed overseas and seen by audiences in various countries, I think its English title is also very meaningful—"

The actress paused, then explained in English, "The Daughter of Time."

"The name comes from a famous quote by the ancient Greek philosopher Herodotus: 'History is the daughter of time.'"

"That's right, the character I play, Gu Nan, is a witness to history, and she has also become a part of history itself, becoming a daughter of time."

Foreign journalists in the audience frequently expressed their admiration, noting that the production company's ambition was evident from the extremely fitting English title of the series.

"The Book of Peace" expresses the expectation of peace and world harmony, while "The Daughter of Time" presents the vast and boundless history of China to the audience in a more direct way.

Xiao Liu offered another perspective on the profound meaning of the series, so I won't elaborate further:

"I am grateful to the producers for giving me the opportunity to interpret this epic of civilization spanning two thousand years. As an actor, it is both an honor and a responsibility to participate in such a work that carries a cultural mission."

"I will use all my professional expertise to shape this 'Daughter of Time,' from the cold gleam of the Warring States bronze sword to the patterns of the Tang Dynasty silk, from the fireworks of the Song Dynasty market to the roar of the Ming Dynasty firearms, so that every historical detail becomes a footnote to civilization."

"Special thanks to China Film Group, Wenjie, and the teams from Japan, South Korea, and North America for collaborating to build an international stage, allowing us to use light and shadow to complete this dialogue between civilizations that transcends time and space."

Liu Yifei gave a slight bow at the end, her gaze sincerely sweeping across the entire audience: "Please look forward to it!"

The atmosphere reached its peak; there was a moment of stunned silence, followed by a wave of applause that surged from all directions.

Whether you're a fan or a journalist, who wouldn't want to see such a distinctive cultural product set sail overseas?
Leaving aside Europe and America, at least in Hong Kong, Taiwan, Japan and South Korea, where the entertainment industry has always suppressed and looked down on the mainland, they can hold their heads high and make a name for themselves, which is enough to earn praise from the vast majority of people.

The press conference moved into the Q&A session, but because project details were still under discussion, there was limited information to reveal today, and the session ended quickly.

Zheng Xiaolong strode out of the venue with his head held high. As a veteran director from the Beijing film circle, he must have been the one with the most complex emotions in the room today, because he was the only person from the arts and culture industry who had stepped from the old ship onto new soil.

As for the commotion caused by the old guard and former friends who have turned against each other in the past few days, it has long been drowned out by the overwhelming applause and flashing lights at the scene, and can no longer be a concern.

November 6, 2009, should receive a high degree of recognition and introduction in the accounts of later cultural scholars and art historians:
The creation of the "Taiping Shu" project originated from the top-level design of the "Cultural Industry Revitalization Law" promulgated by the state, marking a strategic shift in China's cultural industry from passive defense to active export.

Under the leadership of Wenjie, then the largest cultural media group in China, and Lu Kuan, and with the strong support of various art and industry capital such as China Film Group, Beijing People's Art Theatre, National Theatre of China, and Pan-Asian Film Academy, the first step of cultural expedition was taken, starting from Hong Kong, Taiwan, Japan and South Korea.

Like the first arrow shot into the world, its piercing sound will eventually awaken the dormant discourse of Eastern aesthetics.

(End of this chapter)