Huayu 1995

Chapter 13 Thank you, top contributor!

The originally noisy scene gradually quieted down, eventually becoming completely silent.

Music is the most infectious thing.

No matter if you're a shrewd businessman or a member of the underworld, there's always a soft spot in your heart.

Even if things don't go well, you see your sister-in-law nestled in your brother's arms; surely you wouldn't have no feelings for her at all?

Unrequited love... Yes, that's the feeling.

Su Chao sang with such passion.

No one had ever sung this song before, and it was incredibly catchy from the moment it came out, managing to make everyone in the karaoke bar depressed.

"Congratulations, you've found another promising talent. I'm going to the restroom."

Sister Hong stood up and saw someone asking a waiter to present flowers to the singer.

On his first day singing at the karaoke bar, someone presented him with flowers; this kid is definitely going to stay.

Moreover, their status will not be too low.

I just don't know how he conducts himself.

"Whether he's a good prospect or not, we'll have to wait and see. Are you alright?"

Many people in the karaoke bar may not know that "A Lifetime of Love" was not added to the karaoke bar's setlist by the music director Yan Siyuan, but by the madam, Sister Hong.

A karaoke bar madam.

He was adept at welcoming and seeing off guests, and always managed to please everyone. Occasionally, he might even have to engage in activities that forced women into prostitution.

However, she turned out to be a very sentimental person.

I can listen to songs that bring tears to my eyes.

It can only be said that people's hearts are complex, and it is difficult to define a person's entire being with a single label.

Su Chao didn't care whether people's hearts were complicated or not.

Anyway, he made money.

After the first lady who sent flowers, other older brothers and sisters followed suit, and some guests even sent flower baskets.

Thank you so much, big brother!

A flower costs twenty yuan, and the singer gets ten yuan.

A bouquet of flowers costs one hundred, and the singer gets fifty-five of it.

For a flower basket priced at 200 yuan, he can directly receive 120 yuan.

Earning a couple hundred yuan before even officially starting work, it's no wonder that Wu Xiubo and Sha Baoliang can easily earn over ten thousand yuan a month, and even five thousand yuan a day on special occasions like Christmas and Valentine's Day.

After he finished singing, Su Chao was led to the booth where Yan Siyuan and Sister Hong were.

"any drinks?"

"Beer will do."

Su Chao wasn't reserved at all; he even took the initiative to greet Sister Hong: "Hi, what's your name, beautiful sister?"

"Call me Sister Hong. I will be your manager at the karaoke bar from now on, and I will be in charge of your business."

Hongjie took out a bottle of beer and opened it for Su Chao.

Su Chao then took the beer and glass from her and poured one for himself and the other two.

His performance was not at all like that of a newcomer; on the contrary, he was like a seasoned veteran of the entertainment industry. Sister Hong even felt that she had been flirted with.

"Where did you learn your Cantonese? It's quite fluent."

As the music director of the nightclub, Yan Siyuan did not think Su Chao's singing skills were particularly good; he valued more Su Chao's ability to sing Cantonese songs.

Wealthy businessmen from Hong Kong or the South often come to Beijing to conduct business and spend money.

They like to listen to Cantonese songs.

However, the nightclub industry in the south started earlier and developed better than that in the capital, so few southern singers would go to the north to perform.

Only a few people who used to hang out in nightclubs in the south can sing some Cantonese songs.

They might fool some northerners, but southern customers can immediately tell how bad their Cantonese pronunciation is.

"I met a few guys from the South and lived with them for a few years."

Su Chao was referring to his university dormitory in his previous life.

He had six roommates in his university dormitory, four of whom spoke Cantonese, and one of them was a native Hong Konger.

After four years of university, he spent two years in Guangzhou selling stock trading software, which brought his Cantonese to near-native levels.

"When we have guests from the south later, you'll be in charge of entertaining them."

Hongjie quickly realized Su Chao's role.

"Sister, I only sell my art, not my body."

Su Chao shook his head resolutely.

"The South is economically developed, and they are very generous with tips. Moreover, there are very few wealthy female businesswomen. Female customers usually come with male customers. They wouldn't dare to touch you in front of their sugar daddies."

Sister Hong added a sentence.

"Actually, I quite like my friends from the South. They're very easy to get along with. Since our karaoke bar needs me for this job, I feel it's my duty!"

Su Chao's facial expressions changed seamlessly.

"..."

I was initially worried that he might be a stubborn type like Yang Kun, but it turns out he's a slippery character.

"Since that's the case... you can start working at the karaoke bar today, with a basic salary..."

Yan Siyuan didn't waste any words and immediately started talking about compensation.

A new nightclub called "Heaven on Earth" recently opened, stealing business from many of the high-end bars in the area.

People like Su Chao, who are handsome and can sing, are the kind of talents they most want to recruit.

Yes, it's a favorite among wealthy women.

I heard they even had designs on Wu Xiubo, since Wu Xiubo had long held the top position in Beijing's nightclubs.

However, when they saw Wu Xiubo's out-of-shape figure, they immediately gave up the idea.

“Brother, there’s something else…” Su Chao interrupted him, a little embarrassed, “I can only come here to sing occasionally, I have other things to do.”

"Other things?" Yan Siyuan immediately became unhappy.

What he wants is a new star who can live up to Casablanca's reputation.

They are not temporary workers who can come and go as they please.

Temporary workers are always used as scapegoats.

Who the hell would entrust a temporary worker with such an important task?

"Actually, I am also an actor and a creator."

When you're out and about, you can make up your own identity, and there's no such thing as a noble or lowly profession. He's just an extra and the creator of the end credits song, so there's nothing wrong with calling him an actor and a creator.

"Could he be an extra?"

Sister Hong has seen countless people, and from Su Chao's age and his behavior of singing at the nightclub, she can basically make a judgment that is about 80-90% accurate.

"They're definitely not extras. Have you heard of 'Prime Minister Liu Luoguo'? It's directed by Zhang Zien and stars Li Baotian, Wang Gang, and Zhang Guoli. I not only acted in it, but I also participated in composing the end credits song. We're having a wrap party next week, and I'll see if I can get them to come to our karaoke bar to support us..."

Boasting is an art, and Su Chao graduated from that art long ago.

If you were in the training business in your past life, and you couldn't boast, you wouldn't even be able to recruit students, let alone have any teaching quality to speak of.

Even a seasoned veteran like Sister Hong couldn't find any flaws.

"Actually, nothing you do now is as profitable as singing in our bar."

Yan Siyuan still wanted to try.

“I know that too. I’ve heard that Uncle Bo at our karaoke bar earns over ten thousand a month. Even Li Baotian doesn’t earn as much as him.”

Su Chao knew exactly how to communicate. At this moment, he couldn't argue; he had to agree with what the other person was saying.

"Uncle Bo..."

Sister Hong broke out in a cold sweat. Wu Xiubo wasn't even thirty yet, and calling him "Uncle Bo" was extremely insulting.

"Li Baotian's income is not as high as Wu Xiubo's?"

Information was too limited in this era. Although Yan Siyuan was the music director, he didn't know much about the film and television industry.

"He was paid 2,000 yuan per episode, and he filmed 40 episodes in total, so at most he would only earn 80,000 yuan. Even with bonuses and profit sharing, it wouldn't exceed 120,000 yuan. This TV series took 14 months to make, and during that time he also refused three advertisements, saying that he couldn't let Liu Luoguo sell fake medicine. Haha, damn, that's hilarious."

Facing two powerful figures who could determine the future of his nightclub career, Su Chao was not at all reserved.

The resident singers in the distance stared in disbelief.

Sister Hong is a difficult woman to deal with.

Even top performer Wu Xiubo has suffered at her hands, and he can't relax in front of her like Su Chao does.

Zhou Xun, who had just arrived at the scene, was extremely envious.

Sister Hong didn't like her very much.

I always felt that she had a bad temper and offended all the customers.

Damn it, that guy had his hand on her butt. If you don't slap him, are you going to let him stick his hand inside her pants?
"You're quite familiar with Li Baotian?"

Yan Siyuan was clearly taken aback. The TV series hadn't even been released yet, and there hadn't even been any promotion. Such a secretive matter was impossible for anyone other than the person involved to know.

"It's alright. I'm mainly familiar with his son. We've known each other for several years. He's the one who introduced me to the role in 'Prime Minister Liu Luoguo'."

Su Chao’s words may seem casual, but every sentence and every point has been carefully designed.

Having lived two lives, he is definitely not a reckless fool.

"So, you just want to make some quick money at our bar..."

Yan Siyuan was very dissatisfied with this.

"Brother, don't blame me for being young and not being tactful. The truth is, who comes to a bar to sing if not to make some quick money? Who really wants to settle down and be a permanent resident here? Actually, this isn't a bad thing. Fresh blood makes it more attractive. If it's the same few faces all day long, even if the customers don't mind, you'll get tired of it..."

Su Chao didn't simply show weakness.

He then shifted the focus of his conversation, attributing his refusal to stay permanently to a common problem in the industry.

Even if Yan Siyuan didn't want to admit it, he really couldn't find a reason to refute it.

After giving him a stern talking-to, Su Chao didn't forget to offer a sweet treat: "Brother, I really love singing and I especially love the atmosphere of karaoke bars, which is why I decided to come to Casablanca. I'll definitely be coming more often in the future, but if I have other work, I might ask you for leave. If you're worried, I can sign an exclusive agreement; I won't go to any other karaoke bar, no matter how much money they offer."

"Ah~"

What could Yan Siyuan do?

He frowned, took a deep drag on his cigarette, and then tapped the table, saying, "Don't even mention temporary residency, otherwise your pay will be much lower. Try to make sure you sing five days a week, with at least one weekend day, for at least three hours each time, and no fewer than five songs. If you really can't come, call me and I'll deduct your pay."

"Brother, can you pay me on a daily basis? There are mosquitoes where I'm staying now, and I want to move to a better place..."

Since the other party has made concessions, then pushing your luck a little further will not provoke them.

"Okay, you can take a month's salary in advance and buy yourself some new clothes!"

Yan Siyuan is not usually this easy to talk to, but he made an exception several times today.

“Brother, you’re my own brother, come on,” Su Chao poured wine for Yan Siyuan, and then also for Sister Hong, saying, “If you ever become successful, you will never forget the help you received from your older brother and sister.”

When Su Chao said he had made it big, he was very confident.

"Alright, hurry up and get ready, someone asked you to sing."

Sister Hong could tell that President Yan had been completely fooled, but she didn't say anything.

"Um... please stop singing 'A Lifetime of Love.' We're an entertainment venue; this atmosphere isn't right. It's extinguishing our customers' enthusiasm for spending money!"

General Manager Yan quickly offered a reminder.

"I added the song to the playlist, I'll delete it later."

Sister Hong chuckled.

This was the first time someone had sung this song in a karaoke bar. Most of the people in the room had never seen the movie and couldn't connect with it or the song.

However, the destructive power was unexpectedly astonishing.

"Sister Hong likes to hear it, right? I'll sing it for her next time if I have the chance..."

Su Chao was indeed very surprised.

He finally understood why the madam had helped him.

He thought he would be given a hard time today.

(End of this chapter)