Huayu: Starting from joining the mainstream entertainment industry in 96

Chapter 22: Dark History
The next day.

Tuesday, October 4nd.

The morning sunlight shone through the thin curtains of Shengying Media's office, illuminating the dust particles floating in the air and creating the 'Daliyuan effect'.

Inside the office.

Wang Sheng, Chen Liang, Monkey, Da Liu, Xiao Bing, Chen Yu, and the four girls from the Beijing Film Studio who had helped with the registration over the past two days and were now officially staying, a total of ten people, stood together.

The air still seemed to faintly carry the smell of ink from yesterday's money counting and the heat from the crowd gathering.

At this moment, everyone's eyes were focused on Wang Sheng.

Wang Sheng said calmly, "The two million in expansion funds have been secured, and the equipment procurement will be finalized soon. From now on, Shengying Media can no longer be a makeshift operation like a child's play."

He paused, his gaze sweeping over the young faces that made him appear serious yet youthful, and said, "We need to establish rules, define responsibilities, and ensure everyone performs their duties. Today's morning meeting is to initially establish the framework for the company's various business departments."

Everyone instinctively straightened their backs.

“First,” Wang Sheng looked at Monkey, “our high-end business—'Golden Jubilee Collection,' 'Platinum Imaging,' and 'Personalized Customization'—is our flagship business, the cornerstone for our future expansion into the national market, and also the most profitable. We can't afford any mishaps. I'll personally oversee this. Monkey—”

Hou Jia immediately responded, "Brother Sheng!"

“You’re quick-witted and skillful, with a knack for lighting and composition. You’ll be the executive director of the high-end business team, assisting me. From now on, you’ll lead the preliminary work on location scouting, lighting design, and shooting plans for all high-end projects. You’ll also be in charge of equipment scheduling; if we need to use any of the factory’s best equipment, you’ll coordinate and connect with the relevant parties.”

"Understood! Don't worry, Brother Sheng, I guarantee I'll do a perfect job!"

The monkey's face lit up; the excitement of the heavy responsibility on his shoulders made him clench his fists slightly.

“Second,” Wang Sheng said, turning his gaze to Chen Liang, Da Liu, and Xiao Bing, “'Image Memory' project is our cash flow guarantee, our foundation, with the largest order volume and the most extensive operations. Liangzi—”

"exist!"

Chen Liang's voice was as loud as a bell.

"You'll be in overall charge of this business. You'll coordinate all the orders from Purple House, including scheduling and personnel assignments. Furthermore," Wang Sheng emphasized, "your task isn't just about completing Purple House's orders. You also need to proactively negotiate and secure video recording contracts from other wedding companies in Beijing, making 'Image Memory' the largest supplier in the Beijing wedding video recording market. Da Liu, Xiao Bing—"

"Brother Sheng!"

They both responded in unison.

"You two will be assigned to the 'Image Memory' business group as supervisors, assisting Liangzi. Da Liu, you're meticulous, so you'll be responsible for the specific management and quality checks of the front-line shooting team; Xiao Bing, you'll be responsible for external liaison and some on-site coordination, and you'll be running business with Liangzi. The three of you, you need to manage and utilize the people under you effectively."

Chen Liang nodded emphatically, his usual playful expression gone, replaced by a heavy sense of responsibility emanating from his muscular physique: "Understood, Brother Sheng."

Da Liu and Xiao Bing nodded solemnly.

“Third,” Wang Sheng looked at Chen Yu and the four girls, “finance is the lifeblood of the company; the accounts must be crystal clear. Chen Yu—”

"Mr. Wang."

Chen Yu responded.

"You're the company's finance manager. There are four of them..."

Wang Sheng pointed to the girls: "You're in charge of them all. Assign them tasks like cashiering, daily expense reimbursement, answering business calls, and customer registration. Get them up to speed as soon as possible."

In addition, I will hire an experienced and reliable full-time accountant to assist you in ensuring that the accounts and taxes for both business lines are handled meticulously and without any errors. Every penny of the two million raised must be traceable.

"Okay, Mr. Wang."

"Fourth," Wang Sheng looked at Chen Liang again, "personnel training is of paramount importance. If the equipment arrives but no one knows how to use it, everything is for naught."

Liangzi, you'll be in charge of leading and organizing the training. Go to the factory and hire a few skilled and patient photography and lighting assistants to be practical instructors, teaching classes. The fees will be settled by the class hour and will come from the project budget.

"Understood!" Chen Liang nodded.

"Fifth," Wang Sheng added, "Liangzi, when you go to these photography assistants and lighting assistants, ask them privately if they are willing. Make a list and see who is willing to get out of the factory where they have to wait in line for a permanent position and officially join our Shengying Media. Tell them that we distribute according to work here, the more you work, the more you earn. As long as you are skilled and willing to work, your income will definitely be better than waiting in line in the factory."

"Okay, I've got it. I'll get on with it later." Chen Liang took out a small notebook and wrote it down. "Sixth," Wang Sheng looked at Monkey again, "Monkey, you're in charge of compiling a list of the factory's children and finalizing the list of those willing to receive our free training. Make sure you make it clear to them that there's no such thing as a free lunch."

The company provides free skills training, but this involves investment in facilities, equipment, and instructors, which incurs costs. Therefore, upon successful completion of the training program, participants must sign a five-year employment contract with the company.

He paused for a moment, allowing the weight of his words to settle.

"During the contract period, employees may not resign without the company's consent. Any behavior that disobeys the company's reasonable work arrangements, engages in passive resistance, or takes on private work behind the company's back, thereby harming the company's interests..."

"This is considered a serious breach of contract, and the company must refund the training fee of 10,000 yuan in one lump sum."

"Ten thousand yuan?"

The four new girls couldn't help but gasp.

In 1996, this amount was an enormous sum that would have crushed the backbone of any ordinary family.

The binding force of this contract is considerable.

The office was silent, with only the faint sound of the factory's broadcast coming from outside the window.

Chen Liang and the others didn't react much. They were all in the same boat. At most, a hint of confusion flashed in their eyes as they wondered why Wang Sheng would do this, before they fell into thought.

"Where you sit determines where you look." After being promoted to management positions, their perspective on issues underwent a dramatic change.

Wang Sheng slowly began to explain, “We used to be playmates, childhood friends. But from the moment we successfully raised funds, we started a company and ventured into the market. The business world is a battlefield; there’s not much room for sentimentality.”

"To give you an example, if I were the commander-in-chief, you would be the generals, and those who are trained and will join the army in the future would be the soldiers! If the soldiers are well-trained and become independent, they can run away at will, or even run to the enemy's side to fight us. How can we fight then? The two million we have saved up with our life savings is not meant to benefit others!"

"The rules are strict, not to harm our own people, but to protect all of us, to protect this fledgling cause, so that our Beijing Film Studio employees can unite as one, fight as one, and gain a firm foothold! Do you understand?"

Chen Liang was the first to react and immediately stated, "President Sheng... you're right, we need to establish rules; without rules, nothing can be accomplished."

The others also expressed their understanding.

"Um...Mr. Wang, should we sign as well?"

The four girls asked.

Wang Sheng told the truth: "Your work doesn't require much skill. You just need to sign a labor contract, and there's no liability for breach of contract."

"Oh~"

The four girls felt that Wang Sheng's words were a bit harsh.

Seeing Chen Liang and others who were close to Wang Sheng rise to prominence and suddenly become the ones in charge of them, it would be a lie to say they weren't envious. Who wouldn't want to be part of the privileged class?

Human nature is what it is.

But upon closer reflection, they should be among the earliest employees to join Shengying Media, and perhaps they too will have the opportunity to rise to prominence in the future?
In an instant, I felt full of energy.

……

Chen Liang and the others left to attend to training and the tasks that Wang Sheng had just assigned.

Chen Yu, along with four girls, also began training.

Wang Sheng sat down at his desk and, following the model of "If You Are the One," began writing a proposal for a dating show.

As I write, my thoughts wander freely.

If you trick students from Beijing Film Academy and Central Academy of Drama into playing guest roles, will this show become a dark chapter in their history if it resurfaces years later?

Hehehe...

(End of this chapter)