Huayu: Starting from joining the mainstream entertainment industry in 96

Chapter 29, Section 29: Bargaining

noon.

Wang Sheng and Liu Xuri arrived at the agreed location, a restaurant near Beijing TV Station.

Guided by the waiter, Wang Sheng and Liu Xuri entered a quiet private room.

Hu Gang had already arrived and was leisurely sipping tea. Upon seeing the two enter, he immediately stood up with a smile to greet them.

"Director Hu."

"Director Hu, you've arrived early," Liu Xuri greeted him with a smile.

"I just arrived too. Please have a seat and try this newly arrived Longjing tea. It tastes quite good," Hu Gang said warmly, personally pouring tea for the two of them.

After a few simple pleasantries and some tea and casual conversation, the atmosphere gradually warmed up.

After seemingly casually praising the significant impact of the reports on the "sky-high wedding," Hu Gang quickly changed the subject and got to the main point.

"Mr. Wang, after I took your proposal for that dating show back, I did have a few old colleagues study it." Hu Gang blew on the floating tea leaves in his teacup, his tone unhurried: "The idea is really good, novel, sensational, and captivating. To be honest, several young directors at the station were very excited after seeing it."

Wang Sheng remained silent, waiting for him to continue.

“But,” Hu Gang put down his teacup, a perfectly measured look of unease on his face, “you should know the situation at the TV station. There are many rules and long procedures. Especially with this brand-new program format, the older members of the editorial board have a lot of concerns. They’re afraid it will be too outrageous, they’re afraid it will be difficult to control, and they’re also afraid that the resources invested will not meet the expected ratings. So, it’s really hard to say when we’ll get a definite answer.”

He glanced at Wang Sheng and continued, "However, things are all about human effort. If there are more compelling reasons, such as... well, such as the program already having clear and strong advertising revenue expectations to prove its market value, then I will have more confidence when I speak at the meeting, and the chances of it being approved will naturally increase significantly."

Wang Sheng echoed softly, "I understand. The station also has its difficulties. Of course, we hope the program will be successful, as it will be beneficial for the promotion of our 'Image Memory' brand and the Purple House brand."

Seeing that Wang Sheng had responded, Hu Gang felt the time was right and smoothly brought up his second point: "Speaking of advertising, Mr. Wang, recently quite a few people have been asking who was behind your 'veil kiss' ad. Several companies have contacted our advertising department through connections, specifically requesting that the team that produced that ad be responsible for their new commercials."

His gaze was calm, and he conveyed goodwill with a smile, saying, "I heard that your company is just starting out and expanding rapidly, so you must be short of funds. If Mr. Wang could take on the advertising production work, it would be a lifesaver. We should keep the profits in the family, so I was thinking, why not outsource it to Mr. Wang or your company?"

Wang Sheng knew exactly what the other party was planning.

Trying to use the "possibility" of dating shows to get a low-priced or even "significant" job producing advertisements is a clear case of trying to get something for nothing.

"Director Hu, I appreciate your kindness." Wang Sheng's face showed a sincere yet slightly apologetic expression: "To be honest, the company has been extremely busy lately. Orders for high-end business are booked until the month after next, and other businesses have just started to take off. There are so many things to deal with, such as equipment, staff training, and daily operations."

I really wish I could split myself into eight pieces. Shooting commercials is incredibly mentally taxing, especially the creative aspects. It's not something you can just come up with on a whim; it takes time and effort to polish. Right now, I simply don't have the manpower or time to take on extra projects. We can't afford to delay clients with already signed contracts just to take on new work, don't you think?"

Hu Gang's smile faded slightly. He hadn't expected Wang Sheng to refuse so decisively, even emphasizing the value of creative ideas. In the past few years, domestic advertising prioritized distribution channels, resulting in a rough and unrefined approach to production, with little focus on high quality. The goal was simply to highlight the product's function. While distribution channels still hold sway, the entry of foreign advertising companies into the mainland in the past two years, pushing for more refined advertising, has forced domestic companies to pay attention to production quality, amplifying the value of good creative ideas.

Hu Gang tapped the table lightly: "President Wang, cooperation is mutual. If the station can see real advertising revenue, such as the commercials you shoot and produce still being a hit in the market, then it means that your team's capabilities and market appeal have been proven. This is crucial for promoting the establishment of the dating show. It's a virtuous cycle."

He paused, his tone carrying a subtle hint of pressure: "Furthermore, Mr. Wang, your 'Shengying Media' mainly focuses on wedding video recording, and its market is primarily in Beijing. Future development will inevitably involve dealing with local television stations, and publicity, promotion, and reputation building all depend on the station's support. The wedding industry is highly regional."

The words already carried a hint and suggestion.

The atmosphere in the private room instantly became somewhat stagnant.

Seeing this, Liu Xuri quickly picked up the teapot to refill the water for the two men, and smiled as he tried to smooth things over: "Oh, Director Hu, President Wang, we're all on the same side, we can talk things out, harmony brings wealth! Director Hu is right, President Wang's future development is indeed inseparable from the station's support. But what President Wang said is also true, their company is currently booming, and the shortage of manpower is an objective difficulty."

He looked at Hu Gang, then at Wang Sheng, and suggested, "How about this? Director Hu, please understand Mr. Wang's difficulties. Let him take on one first to test the waters. It would be a way to support the station's work and gain some experience in cooperation."

As for General Manager Wang, he also squeezed out some energy to do a good job on this project and make it outstanding, just as a way to give Director Hu and the station a beautiful pledge of loyalty.

Director Hu, could you please put in more effort on the editorial board to try and get this dating show at least a pilot broadcast opportunity on a sub-channel? Let's take it one step at a time, shall we?

Wang Sheng knew that Liu Xuri was trying to save face for both sides, and he didn't want to completely offend Hu Gang, since the TV station's channels were indeed important.

He nodded in agreement, his tone softening slightly: "Brother Liu is right. Director Hu, it's not that I'm unwilling to take it on, it's just that my energy is limited. How about this, to show my sincerity, I can take on a project first. But I also have a principle: I don't do health product advertising. I hope you understand this, and I'd appreciate it if you could communicate with the company about it."

Seeing that Wang Sheng's attitude had softened and that he had drawn a line, Hu Gang knew that it was impossible to force him to accept the advertising production at a low price today.

He hesitated for a moment, then a smile returned to his face, though it was much fainter: "Alright, since Mr. Wang is indeed facing difficulties, we can't force him. One at a time. As for not doing health supplements... I can agree to that. As for which company to cooperate with and what products to use, I'll go back and think about it, and see which company better meets your requirements and has a stronger commitment to cooperation."

He picked up his teacup, took a sip, and considered it a temporary conclusion to this somewhat difficult negotiation: "I'll give you a definite answer by tomorrow afternoon at the latest."

"Alright, then I'll have to trouble Director Hu." Wang Sheng raised his teacup, offering a toast instead of wine.

The three chatted for a few more casual words, and the atmosphere seemed to have returned to harmony, but each of them knew the undercurrents beneath the surface.

After a quick lunch and a while, Wang Sheng and Liu Xuri got up to say goodbye.

　I humbly request your recommendation votes and monthly tickets, dear readers!

　　
　
(End of this chapter)