Chapter 122 Exclusive Filming on Jinjiang

light bulb factory

Fang Jian stood at his door, holding the key in his hand, his back hunched, looking worried and hesitant to open the door.

Since being laid off, he felt incredibly heavy every time he returned home. The thought of his wife, children, and elderly mother looking at him with expectant eyes filled him with immense pain.

Fang Jian was originally a worker in a light bulb factory. He took over his father's job, thinking he would work in the light bulb factory for the rest of his life like his father.

The light bulb factory's performance had started to decline a few years ago, and wages were often delayed or paid in small amounts, but he still felt that things would gradually get better.

But unexpectedly, he didn't live to see the light bulb factory recover before he was laid off along with a group of other people.

Fang Jian was at an age where he had elderly parents to care for and young children to raise, and he was under immense pressure. Unfortunately, he was laid off at this time.

The wave of layoffs swept across the entire land of China, and there were countless laid-off workers like him, making it extremely difficult for them to find work outside.

At first, he was a little embarrassed. He had always been a member of the most glorious working class and had been proud of it since he was a child. How could he work for a private individual now?

But he later found that even if he abandoned his pride, it was still hard to find work.

There are far too many people in their forties like him without any special skills, and his physical strength is also average; he can't carry heavy loads as well as the people from the countryside who are strong and hardworking.

This frustrated him greatly, and every time he returned home, he felt extremely heavy-footed, afraid to see the disappointed looks in his family's eyes.

The door clicked open from the inside.

"Dad!" Fang Jian's eyes were met with the bright smile of his youngest daughter, Shan Shan. "Mom, I knew I heard Dad coming upstairs. Look, it really is Dad!"

Fang Jian took a deep breath and walked into the house with renewed vigor.

As soon as he entered the house, he noticed that the atmosphere was quite different. It was no longer as heavy as usual, but rather more cheerful.

"What happened?"

Shanshan chattered like a little magpie: "Daddy, great news! Aunt Wang from the union came to our house today."

Fang Jian remained calm. The factory had collapsed, and there was very little the union could do; they had no connections or power.

The people in the union are all looking for their own way out, so there's no point in them coming over.

However, Fang Jian didn't want to appear too dejected in front of his youngest daughter, so he forced a smile:

"Really? What's she doing here?"

"Shanshan, hurry up and get the rice. Grandpa and Grandma have been waiting for a long time." Fang Jian's wife, Liu Mei, sent Shanshan away before she could say anything more.

After Shanshan went to the kitchen, Liu Mei said:

"Old Wang came over today and said he's organizing a culinary training course for laid-off workers like us and our families. After completing the course, we can open a shop in Yayuan Food Street, the one that's been getting a lot of advertising lately. We can borrow the initial kitchen equipment first, and then buy our own when we start making money."

Fang Jian exclaimed in surprise, "Such a good thing?!"

If Fang Jian had just been laid off or in the previous two years, he would absolutely not have been willing to set up a stall and become a self-employed individual; he would have felt it was shameful and embarrassing.

But now that we can't even afford to eat, we can't care about these things anymore.

"Yes, I heard it was organized by Ruyi Clothing Company and Hongxing Real Estate in conjunction with the Provincial Trade Union. If you're not interested in cooking, there are other skills training courses available. As long as you pass the training, you can work on projects at Hongxing Real Estate."

Liu Mei felt that working on a construction site was too hard and thought it would be better to start a small business.

They used to look down on those individual vendors who set up stalls, but now Liu Mei is very envious. She knows several people who don't show off but actually earn a lot.

They used to struggle to get enough to eat, but now they've bought color TVs and refrigerators, and some are even planning to buy houses.

Although they were assigned separate rooms, the 40-square-meter room was packed with six people, making it difficult to even turn around.

And having to go to a public toilet is incredibly inconvenient.

Unlike the houses built now, which are spacious and beautiful, some even have two bathrooms!

Liu Mei manages the household finances, and they've been struggling financially for the past few years. After Fang Jian was laid off, things became even more difficult, and his desire to earn money intensified. He no longer cared about losing face.

Everyone's been laid off now, so who can look down on whom?

After discussing it, the couple decided that Liu Mei would go to a culinary training class, while Fang Jian would go to an electrical training class. Fang Jian already had a basic foundation, so it wouldn't be difficult for him to learn and start working. Perhaps he could even work on a construction site to oversee the work. The couple couldn't put all their eggs in one basket.

To the family's even greater surprise, when the couple went to register, each of them received a meal ticket worth 100 yuan, which could be used at any stall in the food street.

With current prices, two hundred yuan can feed a family of six for a month if they're careful with their spending. Eating out is definitely more expensive than eating at home, but the couple figured it would last them a few days, so it's still a good deal!

Although the light bulb factory was a bit far from the match factory, which is now the food street, there was a direct bus, so it was still very convenient.

Such incidents have occurred in many laid-off and impoverished families in the provincial capital, and many people have grasped at this lifeline.

With extensive advertising, Wang Huiting's efforts, and the cooperation with the labor union in re-employment measures for laid-off workers, most of the businesses had moved in when the "Taste of the World" program team came to the food street to prepare for filming. A variety of delicious foods could be seen.

The food street is not yet officially open, but it has already begun to take shape.

"President Su, this area will definitely become one of the most prosperous areas in the future," Chen Rui exclaimed.

He didn't actually need to come today; the film crew only needed to come and check on the situation to facilitate the subsequent recording.

But Chen Rui still wanted to come and take a look, to familiarize himself with the environment, and was shocked.

Just by looking at the signs, you can tell there's a wide variety of food, and the hygiene standards are unmatched by other food streets.

Nowadays, food streets are spontaneously formed, poorly managed, with haphazard construction everywhere and questionable hygiene. But this place is clearly the result of special planning.

Su Ruyi smiled and said, "Whether it succeeds or not depends on everyone's efforts."

"There's definitely no problem!" Chen Rui was very confident.

Unlike other programs, "Taste of China" is a seasonal program, with 12 episodes recorded at once and broadcast regularly every week.

If it works well, we'll consider a second season, and then we can change the theme.

This is a new attempt for the Economic Television Station, so it is taken very seriously.

On the day the program was recorded, the food street also officially began operations, and most of the businesses opened for business on that day.

They were all notified in advance that a production crew would be coming to record the show, and they hoped everyone could maintain their best spirits for the filming.

If anyone is unwilling to leave the country, they can explain the situation in advance.

However, it's pointless to say such things. No one is unwilling to appear on camera, even if they are nervous in front of the camera. Everyone knows that this is a great opportunity for publicity.

And you could even be on TV! Who wouldn't find that interesting?

The show was filmed for about half a month, and most of the diners in the food street during that time were specially invited, and they all had meal tickets given to them by Su Ruyi.

There were laid-off workers, veterans, children from orphanages, migrant workers and their families, as well as workers from companies under the names of Su Ruyi and Lu Ting.

Besides these people, many others from the surrounding area or who had heard the news also came to join in the fun, but the entire scene was very orderly.

The "Taste of the World" team doesn't just film the show in the food street; the entire program is divided into several segments.

Half of the dishes are traditional Qing Dynasty cuisine, many of which could be applied for intangible cultural heritage status decades later, as they have historical significance.

Therefore, the filming will start with the previous business environment and introduce this cuisine through games and other means.

Searching for time-honored crafts in hidden alleyways and then moving to modern food streets signifies that these traditional crafts have entered a new era.

The program invited six regular guests, as well as two hosts, including Chen Rui.

They were divided into two teams to compete in games, which were mostly themed around food.

Those who answer incorrectly will be punished, either by working alongside the culinary inheritor or by not being allowed to eat the food. The punishments are varied and interesting, adding to the entertainment value.

The program also tells the stories of culinary inheritors, adding depth and warmth to the show, allowing viewers to not only learn about the food but also the culture behind it.

These are all preparations made by the production team in advance. They not only tell the story of the food itself, but also convey humanistic care, making it more watchable.

The games and so-called punishments make the whole program more lively, attract more viewers, and thus achieve better publicity results.

In addition to local delicacies, the program will also dedicate half of its time to cuisines from other regions, broadening viewers' horizons and helping them understand why different regions have their own unique culinary styles.

Not only does it feature food from other regions, but it also has a dedicated section on international cuisine.

Su Ruyi also put a lot of effort into this area. Unable to attract foreign cuisine, she invested in and created a Western-style fast food restaurant.

Nowadays, many people view foreign countries through a filter, especially developed countries in Europe and America, and are very interested in everything about them. Therefore, this module is also indispensable.

Su Ruyi didn't originally expect the food street to generate much revenue during the show's recording.

After all, this area is too new. Although there are many residential areas around it, the commercial area has not yet become popular.

To her surprise, after deducting the meal tickets she distributed, each stall was able to make a small profit every day.

The Western-style fast food restaurant invested and opened by Su Ruyi is packed with customers every day.

Their food is delicious, cheaper than McDonald's and KFC, and offers a wider variety of choices, making it more to the taste of locals and winning everyone's hearts.

On the day with the highest profit, the money invested in meals that day was enough to break even, which greatly shocked Su Ruyi.

"If I had known, I would have opened this fast food restaurant sooner," Su Ruyi lamented.

Wang Huiting was all smiles. Although she was exhausted these days, she felt a great sense of accomplishment.

"Everyone has given our food street very high praise, saying that the food here is delicious and clean."

The food prices in the food street are not cheap compared to similar items, but hygiene is guaranteed.

When signing contracts with merchants, Su Ruyi insisted on ensuring food hygiene and safety, and there were specific requirements for the merchants.

Furthermore, the top-performing merchants will be evaluated each month and will receive a portion of their rent waived in the future. Merchants who consistently receive excellent ratings will also have their rent reduced.

Conversely, if the performance is poor for several consecutive times, and there are too many customer complaints with conclusive evidence, Su Ruyi has the right to terminate the cooperation to avoid affecting the reputation of the food street.

This is also why Su Ruyi wanted to buy the entire street, so that she could manage it more easily.

Although too many requirements may hinder development to some extent, Su Ruyi would rather have less profit than compromise on standardization.

We won't get away with it just because the market is currently in chaos.

The cleaning staff in the commercial street work in shifts to ensure the cleanliness of the commercial street during business hours.

The cleaning staff are from impoverished families or are disabled.

Su Ruyi collaborates with the government to assist in the resettlement of special groups, providing them with jobs that enable them to support themselves.

"This is just the beginning; the real challenge lies in future management," Su Ruyi said earnestly. "What are your plans now?"

"I'll pass on the management stuff; I still prefer my old job."

Wang Huiting is very self-aware; she's willing to recruit people, as it's her hobby.

She's not capable of managing such a large operation right now.

Xu Xiaonan not only studied under Su Ruyi for several years, but also took business administration courses before entering the management position.

Even someone as outstanding as Xu Xiaonan has encountered many things at work that she couldn't handle. The last time I saw her, her hair had thinned considerably.

Wang Huiting still prefers to find delicious food, choose beautiful clothes, and look beautiful every day, without having to deal with those messy things.

Su Ruyi nodded. "As long as you have your own plan, that's fine."

Managing a food street requires not only brains but also skill.

Such places are a mixed bag and easily attract criminals; you need to be shrewd to succeed.

If Wang Huiting stays here, she can only learn from others for now.

Su Ruyi directly selected people from Lu Ting's side, finding a friend who used to work with Lu Ting to manage the food street.

This man, known as Brother Kun, is a big, burly guy who looks like someone you don't want to mess with, but he's actually bold and meticulous.

As the recording of the program progresses, it has already attracted many people to watch, even though it has not yet aired.

In addition, the food street is indeed very attractive, and more and more people are coming to stroll around.

As a result, the number of pickpockets also increased. Brother Kun and his security team could catch several pickpockets and lewd men who wanted to take advantage of women every day.

Everyone felt very safe and secure as long as he was around.

Wu Xiaohui is one of them. She is a single woman and belongs to the group most vulnerable to being bullied.

She used to set up a stall elsewhere, and every day she would carry a large machete and place it on the stall so as to deter malicious people.

Even so, I still live in constant fear every day.

She hesitated when Wang Huiting invited her, but she came anyway.

Just because Wang Huiting is a girl and can shoulder such heavy responsibilities, she felt that the place might be more welcoming to single girls like her.

As for business, Wu Xiaohui will stay as long as it's not too bad.

On the first day, business was dismal. If it weren't for the rent exemption and the meal tickets given by the boss, she would definitely have lost money.

The condition gradually improved on the second day, and the cost was almost broken even.

When the production crew arrived at the food street to film, her business suddenly boomed, especially after the guests stopped by her stall, which attracted many customers to try it.

This gave Wu Xiaohui great confidence. When she discovered that there was a professional security team here, and those who wanted to cause trouble here were taken away one by one, Wu Xiaohui decided that she would settle down here!

Although it's just the beginning and it might be more formal because of the cameras, Wu Xiaohui still has a lot of confidence in this place.

Learning that many of the stall owners were laid-off workers who were able to open their shops here with the support of the government, Ruyi Clothing, and Hongxing Real Estate made me feel even more at ease.

On the last day of filming for "A Bite of China", Su Ruyi came over to deliver flowers to celebrate and invited the guests and all the staff to dinner.

Gao Nan actually hated these kinds of social engagements, but he knew that in the entertainment industry, it was impossible not to attend them.

He's not a particularly famous actor, so if he wants to get more opportunities, he has to build connections with all sorts of people.

He had also heard of Su Ruyi and knew that she was a shrewd businesswoman who had her eye on a program that had been invested in and which had achieved both critical acclaim and high viewership.

Although he already knew that Su Ruyi was very young, he was still shocked when he saw her.

That's so young!

Unlike other bosses, Su Ruyi is very easygoing. When she invites people to dinner, she really means it. There's no need for toasts or small talk, and no need for anyone to flatter her.

Gao Nan had been in the entertainment industry for several years and felt that the atmosphere was getting worse and worse. He had seen many big bosses making unwanted advances towards actresses and singers, and some rich women were no better.

Seeing such a normal boss, Gao Nan even felt a little uncomfortable.

Of the six guests on "A Taste of Life," two are veteran actors in the industry, two are relatively well-known young actors (Gao Nan is one of them), and the other two are newcomers just starting out. One has just graduated from film school and has only acted in one movie, which has not yet been released. The other is a singer-songwriter who wrote and sang the end credits song. He is also a newcomer with little fame.

Gao Nan is the most famous among them, but he is only familiar to everyone. Many people do not know his name when they see him. He plays the second or third male lead.

The guest lineup is actually quite weak, but it's cheap and the guests are very cooperative.

The singer was chosen by Su Ruyi. She once heard Fang Yusheng sing in a bar and thought he sang very well. Not only did he have a good voice, but he also had a very high level of singing ability, which immediately drew people into the atmosphere of the song.

Su Ruyi became even more interested when she heard that the songs he sang were written by himself.

Fang Yusheng also had a good image, and many women in the audience gave him flowers and gifts.

Just then, the "Taste of China" team didn't have enough guests, so Su Ruyi introduced him to the production team.

The production team came to investigate and found that Fang Yusheng was indeed very talented and had no messy private life, so they extended an invitation to him.

The young actress Zhou Tongyi also had a close relationship with Su Ruyi. When Su Ruyi was planning to find a new model to shoot promotional photos for Ruyi clothing, she ultimately chose Zhou Tongyi.

She is youthful and energetic, and very expressive in front of the camera.

Zhou Tongyi is a cheerful, generous, and emotionally intelligent person in private, and she is also very humorous, so Su Ruyi recommended her to the program team.

When Su Ruyi saw that the people she recommended had all appeared on the show, she specifically went to the production team to tell them that she was only recommending them for reference, not that they were indispensable.

Chen Mingsheng was Su Ruyi's long-time collaborator, so it's quite clear that it was just a coincidence that they fit the bill.

That is indeed one reason. Another reason is that Chen Mingsheng thinks Su Ruyi has excellent taste; the people she chooses must be good.

People in this line of work are somewhat superstitious, and Chen Mingsheng felt that Su Ruyi possessed a bit of mysticism. Just like her name, she was someone who brought good fortune in everything.

Su Ruyi's invitation to the guests was also purposeful; she wanted them to attend the food festival she was hosting.

The food festival not only features delicious food, but also includes performances on the first day, as well as a lucky draw and other activities.

Upon hearing this, the group readily agreed.

"I wonder how the show will turn out," an old actor couldn't help but say.

He missed the opportunity to participate in "Happy Club" before, and seeing his old partners get a lot more work because of the show, it would be a lie to say he wasn't envious and regretful.

Therefore, when invited by the director of "Happy Club" to participate in the new program, he participated without hesitation.

Everyone else came with the same idea, wanting more opportunities to be in the spotlight.

Chen Mingsheng laughed and said, "President Su has never failed before, and I believe this time will also be a great success!"

Su Ruyi said helplessly, "I've told you so many times, don't idolize me. Everyone do their best, and the rest is up to fate."

The TV station began airing the first episode of "A Taste of Life" the week after the program was recorded.

The previous content has been completed; it will only start airing after all recording is finished.

The week before, "Happy Club" had already promoted the show and brought several representative dishes to the program, firing the first shot for "A Bite of China".

On the day "A Bite of China" officially aired, many people turned on their TVs.

This show airs on Saturday nights at 6 p.m., making it perfect for watching while having dinner.

The next day, because it was the weekend, the TV station hadn't yet reported the specific viewership data to Su Ruyi, so Kun called her first.

"The number of visitors has increased significantly today, which shows that yesterday's program was effective."

Kun watched yesterday's program, and he was present throughout the entire recording process to maintain order.

But seeing it on TV actually feels quite different.

Over the past few years, the TV station has evolved and become increasingly sophisticated in its post-production. It not only adds various interesting special effects to enhance the program's appeal but also adds many interesting narration subtitles and other features.

Thanks to the upgraded equipment, the food looked incredibly tempting in the photos, making viewers feel how delicious it was even through the screen.

Kun Ge got hungry last night after watching the show, so he went to the food street to look for delicious food as soon as he came to work today.

If someone like him, who doesn't have a strong craving for food, is like this, then it's no wonder that others are like this too.

Today is Sunday, and many people flocked here after watching the program.

Su Ruyi breathed a sigh of relief and smiled, "Brother Kun, please make sure to maintain order and learn from this experience. There will be even more people during the food festival."

Kun laughed and said, "Don't worry, even several times more people wouldn't be a problem."

To Kun's surprise, the "Taste of China" program had such a powerful impact. It was already crowded on weekdays, but on weekends it was packed with people.

Even before the food street officially opened, Ya Yuan Food Street had already made a name for itself. Not only do locals from the provincial capital enjoy strolling around here, but visitors from other places also want to visit the main filming location of the "Taste of the World" program and try the food featured on the show.

Originally, they needed to advertise to attract merchants to join, but now a group of people are flocking to them, willing to give up the first year's rent-free period and want to cooperate with them.

The shops in the commercial street outside the food street were quickly rented out, and the mall also welcomed a large number of tenants.

Many of the shops in the mall that hadn't been sold yet have now been sold.

The supermarket area on the basement level had been struggling to attract businesses, but finally some merchants have come to discuss cooperation.