Huayu: Starting from joining the mainstream entertainment industry in 96

Chapter 36: Somersault Cloud (Revised)

The afterglow of the setting sun casts a layer of old-world charm on the hutongs and alleys of Beijing.

After a day of filming, Li Xiaoran felt inexplicably irritable and empty.

Wang Sheng's question, "Can your cat do somersaults?" which seemed to have a hidden meaning, kept echoing in my ears.

She found herself at a flower and bird market in the southern part of the city, almost as if by magic.

In all her years, Li Xiaoran had never heard of a market in Beijing that specialized in selling cats and dogs; she had only heard that people occasionally sold them at flower and bird markets.

The market was bustling with people, and the air was filled with the fragrance of flowers, birdsong, and a faint fishy smell.

Li Xiaoran wandered aimlessly, her eyes scanning the stalls, searching for anyone selling cats.

There were indeed only a few cat vendors; most of the stalls here sold goldfish, parrots, and flowers.

Ok?
Cat and dog market?

Perhaps this is also a business opportunity?
Near Zhu Zhechi, near the ink is black.

Being so close to Wang Sheng, I feel like he's about to become a business prodigy.

Li Xiaoran was lost in thought.

Finally, she saw an old farmer selling cats next to a stall selling cricket jars.

The kittens, their fur a mix of colors, huddled together in a simple bamboo basket, meowing timidly.

"Grandpa, can your cat... do somersaults?" Li Xiaoran squatted down and asked tentatively, feeling a little silly after asking.

The old farmer was taken aback by the question, his wrinkled face filled with bewilderment: "Somersaults? Young lady, how can cats do somersaults? These are all kittens born to my old cat, they're excellent at catching mice, I'll sell them to you cheap."

Li Xiaoran shook her head in disappointment, stood up, and continued shopping.

She asked two or three more cat sellers, but the responses she received were either looks at her as if she were an idiot or a simple, honest laugh.

Just as she was about to give up on this absurd idea, an inconspicuous stall in a corner of the market caught her attention.

The stall owner was a middle-aged man wearing a clean, old military uniform. He looked quite energetic. In front of him was a cardboard box covered with a soft cloth, and inside the box was a fluffy little cat.

This kitten is of excellent quality; it is a standard Chinese domestic calico, with its black, white, and orange fur evenly and beautifully distributed. Its large amber eyes are curiously looking around.

Li Xiaoran's heart was struck, and she quickly walked over.

"Master, this cat..."

Before she could finish her question, the middle-aged stall owner looked up, his eyes filled with a certainty unlike that of other vendors, and continued, "Young lady, you want to know if this cat can do somersaults, right?"

Li Xiaoran's eyes widened in surprise: "How did you know?"

The stall owner smiled, revealing a set of white teeth: "I just heard you asking about this over there. This one of mine is actually a little different."

As he spoke, he pulled a homemade stick from his pocket, decorated with colorful feathers and bells, which looked just like a simple cat toy.

He gently shook the stick to attract the kitten's attention.

The calico kitten was immediately attracted, its eyes fixed on the feathers, its body lowered, its rear end slightly raised, poised to pounce.

Just as the feather brushed past its head, the kitten leaped to the side, nimbly rolled in the air, and landed steadily, continuing to chase the feather. Its movements were fluid and endearingly clumsy, making it look as if it had actually done a somersault.

"ah!"

Li Xiaoran exclaimed in surprise, "It really can flip over!"

The stall owner put away the cat toy, and the kitten rubbed against his trouser leg, still wanting more.

"This little guy is clever; he's always loved splashing around like this since he was little. He learned it after just a few lessons. Girl, what a coincidence!"

"I'll take it!" Li Xiaoran asked immediately without hesitation, "How much?"

The stall owner quoted a price, which wasn't cheap, but it was within a reasonable range.

Li Xiaoran readily paid the money, then carefully took the kitten, which was still flailing its fingers, into her arms. The inexplicable irritation in her heart was instantly filled with soft warmth.

"What should I name you?" She gently tapped the kitten's wet nose, recalling Wang Sheng's teasing tone and the legend of Sun Wukong's somersault covering 108,000 li, and laughed, "I'll call you 'Somersault Cloud'! I'll take you to see that strange man later and give him a fright!"

"Somersault Cloud" meowed in her arms, as if in response.

……

The next morning, Wang Sheng, accompanied by his assistant Li Tingting who helped carry his briefcase, and a lawyer he had specifically hired to assist him, arrived at Beijing TV station on time.

The television station building exuded a busy yet serious atmosphere.

Li Tingting, carrying her briefcase, followed closely behind the two, acting as their little follower.

……

There are guests in Hu Gang's office.

While waiting in the corridor outside the advertising department, Wang Sheng casually glanced around.

Several figures were walking out of the office next door, seemingly having just finished a meeting; snippets of their conversation drifted over.

A middle-aged man who looked like a director or producer was saying to a young man in his early twenties who still looked like a student: "The script needs to be polished more. Cost control is key for indoor dramas. The jokes need to be more frequent. We should learn from the style of 'I Love My Family,' but not exactly the same..."

The young man nodded repeatedly, his attitude humble and earnest: "Okay, Director, I'll go back and revise it again. Regarding the living room setting, I think it could be improved..."

Indoor sitcom...

Wang Sheng pondered for a moment.

It was indeed very popular in the 1990s. The success of shows like "Stories from the Editorial Department" and "I Love My Family" made TV stations very keen to produce such dramas.

For example, "Temporary Family" and "Happy Family".

On the other side, a stylish and beautiful young woman was holding several resume-like documents and waiting nervously outside an office. She seemed to be there to interview for a host or a TV show actor position.

Wang Sheng felt that she looked somewhat familiar, but in 96, there were too many beautiful faces like her waiting for opportunities outside various TV stations with dreams in their hearts. Perhaps she was a minor actress who later played supporting roles on local TV stations or in TV dramas, but had not yet made a name for herself.

"Mr. Wang, Assistant Director Hu said we can go in now," Li Tingting whispered a reminder.

Wang Sheng nodded, straightened his collar, took the briefcase, and with his usual calm expression returning, knocked on Hu Gang's office door.

……

Lawyer Wang Shenghe entered the office, and Hu Gang stood up to greet him.

"Director Hu, this is Attorney Tang, who's here to help me sign the contract," Wang Sheng introduced.

"Yo……"

Hu Gang looked at the very professional-looking lawyer Tang and said, "President Wang even hired a lawyer. That's really professional."

Attorney Tang extended his hand: "Director Hu, hello."

"Hello, hello, please have a seat."

Both parties took their seats.

Hu Gang's assistant came in to pour tea for Wang Sheng and the lawyer.

Hu Gang took the proposal and began to read it.

Advertising Creative Proposal: [Fatherly Love]

Advertisement content: A farmer's son (Hu Yingjun) is admitted to university, leaves the countryside, and starts working. With his first earnings, he buys two pairs of "Baihua Cloth Shoes" and sends them to his father. Due to his busy work schedule, Hu Yingjun hasn't been home for a long time, saying he'll take his annual leave to go back once he gets a promotion. Unexpectedly, his father has prepared a surprise for him and comes to Beijing to visit his son. Thinking that his son is about to be promoted to a leadership position, Hu's father goes to a shopping mall to buy his son a pair of leather shoes as a gift. He happens to see a Baihua Leather Shoes specialty store. In the end, the son wears the leather shoes his father gave him and successfully gets promoted, leading to the advertising slogan: "Baihua Leather Shoes, rising step by step!"

After reviewing the proposal, Hu Gang leaned back in his large office chair, relaxed, and preemptively said, "President Wang, your company is very efficient. This proposal is quite interesting. From cloth shoes to leather shoes, the concept of 'rising step by step' fits the product very well and has a good meaning. It seems that the success of 'Veil Kiss' is not accidental."

His words contained praise, but more than anything, they were a condescending assessment.

"Director Hu, you flatter me. Of course, we must value the skill of cooking," Wang Sheng said calmly.

Hu Gang put down the proposal and got to the point: "The idea is fine. Let's talk about the contract details. According to the station's practice, the production fee for this advertisement you're shooting is 50,000 yuan, after tax. Shengying will be responsible for all the equipment, personnel, venues, and post-production required for the shooting. Payment will be made in full upon delivery of the finished product. This is a preliminary draft of the contract, please take a look."

Before coming, Wang Sheng had asked Liu Xuri about the market price, which was about this much. He didn't expect to make a fortune by producing advertisements; this was purely a way to establish connections with the TV station.

Talking about copyright and price with a TV station in 1996 is utterly useless.

Even in twenty or a hundred years, 99% of the contractors will still not have the power to negotiate with TV stations.

It was already quite an achievement that we were able to secure a deal not to accept health product advertisements during the last negotiation.

Of course, you shouldn't suffer losses that you shouldn't suffer.

Wang Sheng nodded slightly, indicating to Attorney Tang to review the contract.

(End of this chapter)