Shadow of Chinese Entertainment

Chapter 243 Stocks and the Spring Festival Gala

Hu Xiaobei specifically checked the stock information of Hudong Heavy Machinery.

In January 2006, Hudong Heavy Machinery's shares were around 7 yuan each.

Compared to 5.5 yuan per share, this represents an increase of over 27%.

If you sell now, you can make a small profit.

However, in Hu Xiaobei's view, this price is still considered extremely low.

So he spent another 5618 million RMB to buy 800 million shares of Hudong Heavy Machinery stock.

Including the previous 400 million shares, Hu Xiaobei now holds 1200 million shares of Hudong Heavy Machinery stock, as well as 04 shares of Tencent stock purchased in 15.

At his suggestion, An Xiaoqian and Liu Xiaoli also bought shares of Hudong Heavy Machinery.

An Xiaoqian spent 1966 million yuan to purchase 280 million shares, bringing her total holdings of Hudong Heavy Machinery shares to 20 million shares, including the 300 shares she had previously held.

Liu Xiaoli spent 914 million yuan to purchase 130 million shares, bringing her total holdings of Hudong Heavy Machinery shares to 20 million, including the 150 shares she had previously held.

By this point, the two had essentially converted their earnings from the second half of the year into shares of Hudong Heavy Machinery, leaving each with less than a million RMB in pocket money.

Hu Xiaobei originally had an income of 6650 million yuan and a personal balance of about 30 yuan. This time, he spent 5618 million yuan to buy stocks and 100 million yuan for graduation expenses, leaving him with 932 million yuan.

Now, he has transferred a small portion of the funds into his personal account, which has a balance of around 60 RMB.

The company's account has 900 million RMB available for use, plus 600 million RMB for the filming of "The Legend of the Grandmasters," totaling 1500 million RMB.

January 2006, 1, New Year's Eve.

Thanks to the immense popularity of the two TV series "Dialogue Between Ancient and Modern Times," the huge success of her self-titled album "An Xiaoqian," and her excellent working relationship with CCTV.

The CCTV Spring Festival Gala program team specially invited An Xiaoqian to participate in this year's Year of the Dog Spring Festival Gala, where she sang a song from her album, "Ode to the Goddess of the Luo River".

Because of this, An Xiaoqian had very little free time this month, and Hu Xiaobei was happy to have some free time.

Because the program was scheduled relatively early, they needed to prepare earlier.

The so-called preparation was really just helping An Xiaoqian with her makeup in advance, which wouldn't take Hu Xiaobei much time at all, so there was no rush.

Because the meals served backstage at the CCTV Spring Festival Gala were boxed lunches, Hu Xiaobei focused her main energy on preparing the New Year's Eve dinner.

After they finished a sumptuous New Year's Eve dinner, urged by the production team, the three arrived backstage at the CCTV Spring Festival Gala within the allotted time, with one hour left before the show started.

Generally speaking, singers and dancers will arrive backstage about 2 to 3 hours in advance to prepare, as this involves things like changing costumes and rehearsing formations.

They arrived an hour early, which is already quite tight in terms of time.

Even though Hu Xiaobei meticulously applied makeup to An Xiaoqian, it only took him ten minutes, and that was only because he deliberately slowed down.

After finishing her makeup, An Xiaoqian sat on a chair backstage, dressed in a gorgeous ancient costume, her clothes fluttering, just like the beautiful goddess Luo in Cao Zhi's poem.

Hu Xiaobei and Liu Xiaoli were checking and tidying up the costumes she would use for her performance.

Although the clothes were already on An Xiaoqian's body, there was no room for carelessness.

After all, the whole nation is watching!
The backstage area was bustling with people.

Some actors were nervously memorizing their lines, some were repeatedly practicing dance moves, and some staff members were hurrying by carrying various equipment.

Looking at the bustling scene around her, An Xiaoqian took a deep breath.

Although it wasn't her first time on a big stage, the significance of the Spring Festival Gala made her feel a little nervous.

In the original timeline, An Xiaoqian participated in the Federation of Literary and Art Circles' Spring Festival Gala when she was a minor, and sang a song called "The North Wind Blows".

She participated in the Beijing Spring Festival Gala in 2011, wearing a yellow dress and a tiger belt, and sang a song called "Drizzle".

Also in 2011, she participated in the Spring Festival Gala in her hometown of Hubei, where she sang "Lucky Clover" while wearing a silver sequined outfit.

Besides, An Xiaoqian has never participated in CCTV's Spring Festival Gala.

It's quite a strange thing, really.

Of course, it might be because local Spring Festival galas have lower requirements and don't require extensive rehearsals. The specific reasons... are unclear.

But the reasons are nothing more than personal choice to decline, scheduling conflicts, mismatch between program types, or being blocked or suppressed by certain companies.

Many people also say that it is due to the indirect influence of nationality.

That shouldn't be the case.

After all, quite a few foreigners have appeared on CCTV's Spring Festival Gala.

Hu Xiaobei noticed An Xiaoqian's emotions and stepped forward to comfort her gently, "Qianqian, don't be nervous. Just like in a normal rehearsal, you'll definitely be fine with your skill level."

An Xiaoqian turned to look at him and gave him a relaxed smile: "Okay, I understand. With you here, I feel much more at ease."

Liu Xiaoli: "..."

With half an hour to go before the show started, the production team came over again to check on An Xiaoqian's preparations.

After learning that everything was ready, the director nodded in satisfaction and then hurried off to check other locations.

As time ticked by, the opening bell drew ever closer.

The atmosphere backstage became increasingly tense. An Xiaoqian stood up, stretched her arms and legs, and familiarized herself with the melody and rhythm of the song once again.

Hu Xiaobei and Liu Xiaoli followed behind her, ready to help her at any time.

Finally, the host's enthusiastic opening remarks came from the stage, and the audience burst into applause.

As time passes by.

An Xiaoqian took a deep breath and, guided by the staff, walked towards the side of the stage.

Hu Xiaobei and Liu Xiaoli whispered encouragement from behind: "Go for it, we're sitting down here waiting for you."

An Xiaoqian turned around and nodded firmly, then turned to wait for her turn on stage. As the lights gradually focused, her performance moment was about to arrive.

She stepped steadily onto the CCTV Spring Festival Gala stage, and in an instant, all the lights in the venue converged, illuminating her entire body.

An Xiaoqian was dressed in a moon-white ancient costume, the soft fabric resembling moonlight.

The hem and cuffs are embroidered with delicate and intricate cloud patterns, interspersed with light pink floral embroidery.

As she walks, the hem of her skirt flows like a galaxy, swaying gracefully with every step, light and agile.

Her cascading black hair was styled into an exquisite high bun, with a few wisps of hair falling naturally beside her fair, snow-white cheeks, further accentuating her beautiful features.

Her straight back and elegant posture made her stand tall and graceful, and her every glance was full of vitality.

Every gesture and movement exudes an ethereal quality, as if she were a goddess descended from the heavens by Cao Zhi a thousand years ago, her beauty transcendent and unforgettable.

The melodious classical music slowly began to play, a tune woven from chime bells, guzheng and erhu, as if traversing a thousand years of time, taking the audience to the dreamlike Luo River described by Cao Zhi.

An Xiaoqian parted her lips slightly, and her singing voice floated out: "Graceful as a startled swan, lithe as a swimming dragon, radiant as autumn chrysanthemums, flourishing as spring pines..."

Her voice was clear and melodious, yet it contained a deep affection. Every note was like a graceful fairy dancing in the air above the stage.

The audience was instantly immersed in the dreamlike singing; all was quiet except for the echoing music in the studio.

Her singing voice conveys both the shyness and gentleness of the goddess Luo, as well as a longing and persistence for love.

The delicate emotions were conveyed to every listener through the musical notes, making people feel as if they were witnessing the poignant story of Cao Zhi's encounter, acquaintance, and parting with the Goddess of the Luo River.

As she sang the climax, An Xiaoqian's voice became increasingly clear and bright, yet still retained an ethereal quality.

At this moment, her mind was filled with the beautiful encounter between the Goddess of the Luo River and Cao Zhi.

Although Cao Zhi was deeply in love, they were ultimately unable to stay together because of the difference between humans and gods, which inevitably caused her to feel a pang of sorrow and pity.

This emotion surged within her chest, building momentum for an impending emotional outburst.

(End of this chapter)