Huayu 1999: Starting with nothing but getting something for nothing

Yang Che slowly spoke in front of Wang Wei.

"Everyone, if you do not wish to work with me, please leave now."

The air in the room seemed to freeze instantly. Everyone present subconsciously looked at Wang Wei and found that the big leader was keeping his eyes down, his nose down, and a smile on his lips.

Yang Che looked around again: "I know many people are unhappy with me being the producer. That's fine. As long as you complete your tasks on time, with quality and quantity, feel free to criticize. But if anyone fails to complete their tasks on time and with quality, or drags the team down, no matter the reason, I will immediately remove them from the production team and report the matter to their employer."

I just want to serve my country. I have no interest, and I have no time or energy to be anyone's father or to take care of anyone's feelings.

So, do you have any objections?

At this moment, everyone's faces were solemn, and there was no longer any indifference or blank expression, nor any resentment or dissatisfaction.

Wang Wei waited three seconds, then smiled and said, "Don't be so serious. Let's talk things out. Okay, you guys discuss the specifics, I have another meeting. Xiao Yang, stay a little longer, I have some publicity-related things to discuss with you."

"Yes, Secretary General."

Wang Wei smiled again and left.

Yang Che opened the document: "Let's begin the formal meeting..."

And so, Yang Che's work at the Olympic Bid Committee got on track, with Zhou Bing from CCTV serving as the video director. While meetings were important, Yang Che remained respectful in private, often paying out of his own pocket to buy cigarettes and treat his team members to meals.

With a simple slap in one hand and a sweet treat in the other, they got along very well. After all, they weren't here to hold grudges, but to serve their country.

The theme of Yang Che and his team's film was "What We Have Prepared for the Olympics," showcasing the aspects that the Olympic Bid Committee was most concerned about, such as economy, law, culture, environmental protection, finance, transportation, medical care, and security. There was no need for exaggeration or special effects; simply presenting it in a straightforward manner was enough to be impactful.

Although it was a simple project, it still took more than half a month to film, mainly because there were so many places to shoot.

On the afternoon of April 14, Wang Wei signed the document, which meant that the presentation video had been approved.

"You've worked hard. Director Zhang is also going to shoot the touring film, which uses the same ideas you had before. You'll have to put in the effort too."

"I will communicate with Director Zhang."

That's what they say, but Yang Che didn't intend to say anything more. He couldn't possibly match Zhang Yimou's ability to make this kind of promotional video. Besides, he had already made the biggest contribution by getting the leaders to agree to present the exhibition video from the perspective of ordinary people.

Moreover, Zhang Yimou's team has already planned over 30 promotional video proposals and intends to film them all. This is...

Of course, he still has to show up, since the leaders have spoken.

After Yang Che took his leave, Wang Wei smiled and gestured for him to sit down.

Have you had any insights or experiences regarding recent publicity work?

Yang Che was quite helpless. He really had no intention of doing publicity work, but since the leader who valued him had cultivated him and taught him real skills, he naturally couldn't be perfunctory in the test now.

He paused for a moment and then said, "Yes, I understand why the decision-makers don't engage in external propaganda and strongly control public opinion like the US and Western countries."

Wang Wei's eyes showed satisfaction: "Tell me about it."

"If the state forcibly unifies thought and controls public opinion, then those who are the minority and outcasts will most likely disappear. When outcasts disappear, cronyism in management and inbreeding in ideology will inevitably emerge. What is visible will become very clear, and what is invisible will be forever hidden."

When that time comes, "Why not eat meat porridge?" will become the norm, because of "political correctness".

Secondly, it is essential to ensure a mechanism for public oversight; otherwise, relying solely on the system's internal self-cleaning mechanisms will not be enough to catch so many corrupt officials.

Finally, our country is at the forefront of the world in terms of its system, and we have no experience to draw upon. Therefore, we need different voices to correct our mistakes, even if they come from outside, even if they are rebellious. Just as we allow British remnants in the Hong Kong government, we need small experimental fields to test various results, such as whether Western-style elections can succeed on our land.

Looking back, it's infuriating that in the decade or so before the millennium, various public intellectuals ran rampant while the government turned a blind eye.

Is the government incapable of managing this? No, the government is all too aware of the dangers of controlling public opinion. For example, there's the saying: "A single radish weighs a thousand pounds, and two donkeys can't pull it."

More than a decade later, anti-China sentiment in the US has become politically correct, leading to abstract policy decisions regarding China, with people knowingly stepping into traps. The idea of ​​"zero-dollar purchases" stemming from minority issues is utterly ridiculous.

Are you saying the people who made these policies are idiots? Of course not, it's because of political correctness. The public has been manipulated and controlled by public opinion, and politicians, for the sake of votes, will naturally resort to abstract rhetoric.

There was once a saying online: if the Chinese government used one-tenth of the funds it spends on poverty alleviation for external propaganda, then the whole world would think that there is no poor person in China.

Wang Wei's eyes revealed a mixture of relief and disappointment. It was a pity that this young man would rather expose his chaotic romantic relationships than express his unwillingness to enter politics. Otherwise, given his theoretical and practical abilities, his future would have been limitless.

"Okay, go back now. You've been so busy lately, get some rest."

"OK."

As Yang Che leisurely descended the stairs, he felt as happy as if he had left work an hour early.

I had just started the car when I received a text message from Gao Yuanyuan.

"Honey, call me back when you're not busy. I need your help with something."

Yang Che dialed the number.

"Oh, you're not busy?"

"Just finished working, aren't you going to class?"

"I didn't go on. I went home. Wang Xiaoshuai asked me to act in a movie, and I don't need to take off my braces."

Yang Che was amused by her: "Then act if you like, just don't do kissing scenes or bed scenes."

"You... never mind, let's talk about it when you get back."

Yang Che suddenly remembered something: "I just remembered it's Friday today. Aren't you going back to Fengtai?"

"I'm not going back, I'm going to read the script... Why?"

"It's okay, I'll try to get back as soon as possible."

"Won't this take up too much of your time?"

"Your matter takes priority."

"Um?"

Gao Yuanyuan found it strange; what was wrong with her boyfriend today? He was being so sweet-talking.

Yang Che felt inexplicably guilty: "I'll hang up now."

"Oh, bye-bye."

Yang Che sighed after hanging up the phone, then dialed Cheng Hong's number, which rang once before being disconnected.

After a while, she called back.

"Sister Hong, where did you go?"

Cheng Hong was very puzzled: "We just passed Beitaiping, what's wrong?"

Yang Che hesitated for a moment: "It's nothing, I just missed you and wanted to say hello."

"You haven't already arrived, have you?"

"Not yet, we're leaving right away."

Cheng Hong urged, "Hurry up."