Entertainment: Since 1990

Chapter 141 VCD Launch
The girl who came for the interview was with her father. Although she looked younger than eighteen-year-old Wang Yan, there was no denying that she was really beautiful.

"Hello, teachers. My name is Li Xiaoran. I am seventeen years old and I study at the Affiliated Dance School of Beijing Dance Academy."

The girl seemed a bit reserved; when introducing herself, she didn't dare to look Cao Jian and Qiong Yao in the eye.

"Xiao Cao, this girl is not bad either."

Qiong Yao had to admit that advertising for actors in the newspaper did have some effect; otherwise, how could she have attracted such a beautiful woman to come for an audition?

"Indeed, it is excellent."

Cao Jian nodded. How could this girl not be outstanding? She's Li Dabai, after all.

He laughed and said, "I've said before that there are still many very good actors in mainland China, but they sometimes hide their talents very well."

"That's true."

Qiong Yao herself had to admit this.

She thought Lin Xinru was quite good when she first met her, but after seeing Wang Yan and Li Xiaoran these past two days, it seems that Lin Xinru is really just like that.

Aside from her soft, sweet voice and slightly innocent demeanor, she seems really quite ordinary.

She looked Li Xiaoran up and down and felt that at sixteen years old, she had already developed into a graceful and well-proportioned woman, not inferior to Chen Derong in the slightest.

Moreover, with her fair skin and beautiful appearance, she definitely has the potential to become a star.

She immediately took notice of his talent and asked, "When will you graduate? Would you be willing to go to Taiwan to film a movie?"

"Isn't this movie being filmed in Beijing? Why is it being filmed in Taiwan?"

Li Xiaoran came here with her father mainly because "Plum Blossom Mark" was being filmed in Yanjing.

Taiwan Province is too far away, and she is still so young. She is a little scared to go there and not know anyone.

Qiong Yao explained with a smile, "Of course, this drama will be filmed in Yanjing. After filming, I can sign you to our company, and you can participate in any good TV series in the future."

"this."

Li Xiaoran glanced at her father outside the window, still a little worried.

Qiong Yao noticed the girl's worry and pointed at Cao Jian, saying, "Actually, you don't need to worry. You should know this Cao Jian. He also came from the mainland to develop his career in Hong Kong and Taiwan. Maybe he can take care of you."

Besides, after filming this movie, you'll be exactly eighteen years old, and you're perfectly capable of going out and making your own way in the world.

Young Li Xiaoran was also a fan of celebrities. She looked at Cao Jian and thought to herself, "This man is one of the Four Heavenly Kings. Would he take care of a little girl like me?"
Cao Jian quietly gave Qiong Yao a thumbs up.

That was a brilliant assist from you! You said exactly what I was thinking, saving me the trouble of saying it myself.

He immediately nodded: "Don't worry, classmate. If you're willing to go to Taiwan, you can come to me if you need anything in the future."

Li Xiaoran lowered her head, rubbed the hem of her clothes, hesitated for a moment, and said, "I'll go back and discuss it with my dad."

"Okay, but you can participate in this play."

This play needs seven or eight girls who can dance. Wang Yan is one, and now Li Xiaoran is another.

After finalizing the selections of Wang Yan and Li Xiaoran, Qiong Yao interviewed another group of people and selected a few more good girls, thus finalizing the list of all the dancers.

Meanwhile, some mainland actors were also selected to play supporting roles, making this trip to Yanjing a successful one.

"Aunt Qiongyao, I'll be going now."

Cao Jian has been in Yanjing for almost the past two days. The electronics factory is all set up, just waiting for the boss's approval. The world's first VCD player is ready to be launched.

After bidding farewell to Qiongyao, Boss Cao immediately boarded a plane to Guangzhou.

As for whether Li Xiaoran will call Qiong Yao, it's pointless to worry about it now.

Anyway, we'll be filming together next year, so we'll find out then.

Even if the other party doesn't agree now, I have ways to get her to agree.

As the lead actor and assistant director of "Plum Blossom Mark," I certainly have the ability to persuade a little girl.

The only regret of this trip to Yanjing was not seeing the future beauty Jiang Qinqin and others.

"Boss, you've finally arrived."

The electronics factory project was initially managed by Hong Zhibo, but it has now been handed over to a man named Xu Zekai, who has become the factory manager.

"Let me take a look at the product first."

Upon arriving at the factory, Cao Jian immediately became very energetic, checking the finished products and inventory as soon as possible.

He asked Factory Director Xu, "How much inventory do you have prepared now?" "Three thousand units. If sales are good in the early stages, we will continue to increase the quantity."

"Too little."

Cao Jian frowned and said, "I prepared two production lines for VCDs, and you only produced three thousand units? What kind of factory manager are you?"

"boss"

Xu Zekai was scolded, and for the first time he felt that this young boss was not easy to serve.

He could only carefully explain, "We did market research in Guangzhou. Although people are interested in this product, the price is a bit high. I'm afraid... I'm afraid it might not sell out before the trade fair."

Although the production cost of a VCD is less than 2,000, Cao Jian set the suggested retail price at around 4500 and the ex-factory price at around 3,500.

This price is indeed a bit high for Chinese people whose average monthly salary is only around 300 yuan.

"Just do as I say. The production line can't stop. Keep producing with confidence and make sure to produce at least another five thousand units."

Cao Jian knew very well that although the average person's monthly salary was not high, China had 9.6 million square kilometers and 1.2 billion people. Even if the wealthy didn't have tens of millions, they would always have several million.

Are those officials really incapable of absorbing tens of thousands of units?
This Xu Zekai is from Hong Kong, so it seems he doesn't know much about the mainland.

Besides, there's the added bonus of "The Legend of the White Snake".

In addition, my VCD player has not only a Chinese version, but also an English version.

In addition to domestic sales, Cao Jian has also prepared for exports. The company will participate in the Canton Fair in the second half of the year, where it can make a fortune.

Upon arriving at the warehouse, one finds boxes upon boxes of VCDs already stored there.

However, Cao Jian only released the black version for the first batch.

Anyway, it's the first one in the world, so those who want to buy it have no choice.

In the future, we can gradually introduce colors such as gold and silver, and then make another profit.

When Xu Zekai heard his boss ask for another 5,000 units, he had no choice but to agree, saying, "I'll arrange it as soon as possible."

But he was still a little resentful after being reprimanded. He felt that his boss was still young and that if he added another 5,000 units, it would be a ten million yuan investment.

If you can't sell them and they become a burden, you'll be in for a lot of trouble.

However, Cao Jian felt that the factory manager's judgment was lacking, and he became even more eager to recruit Guo Aiming.

Afterwards, he conducted a spot check on this batch of products, held a small meeting with the sales department, and then announced that the first batch of VCDs would be launched on the market on August 10th.

The product exhibition and sales fair doesn't start until September.

However, he believes that this pre-event promotion is necessary to allow the market to accept the products first. VCD discs can be made available first so that distributors can place large orders when the trade fair begins.

Currently, there is no internet, and sales channels are mainly through shopping malls.

After the meeting, following the boss's instructions, the sales team of fifty people, carrying materials and sample machines, headed to major cities across the country.

After finishing up his business at the electronics factory, Cao Jian stayed there, personally supervising and directing the product launch.

In mid-August, Guangzhou was still scorching hot.

But what's even more exciting is the production workshop at Ruifeng Electronics Factory.

Within just two days of the sales staff leaving, major shopping malls in Guangzhou placed orders for two thousand units.

Subsequently, Shenzhen, not far away, also ordered 1,200 units.

This made Xu Zekai, who had been worried that the VCDs wouldn't sell, feel a bit embarrassed.

Are people from mainland China already this rich?
The price of a VCD player, even in Hong Kong, is equivalent to a month's salary for an average person.

In China, however, the two cities had already used up their previous three thousand units.

To his surprise, a week later, good news came from the Shanghai market: an order for 1,500 VCD players.

At the same time, many manufacturers that originally produced CDs also keenly sensed the business opportunity and began to mass-produce VCD discs.

In a short time, the Flying Swallow brand VCD player actually boosted an entire industry.

"I wonder when the auntie who sells CDs on the main street will show up."

Looking at the booming sales, Cao Jian was reminded of the aunties who sold DVDs when he first graduated.

That greeting, "Young man, want a disc?" was very friendly.

What a great era!
(End of this chapter)