Chapter 73 Her and His Plan

Mother Liu was so delighted by Hu Ge's words that she smiled broadly, "You are such a sweet talker, young man. You and Shishi look about the same age. I am Shishi's mother, so you should call me auntie."

Hu Ge smiled and responded: "I really didn't realize that you are too young. I thought you were Shishi's sister."

Liu Shishi was also amused by Hu Ge's witty remarks and laughed. In just a few words, the atmosphere in the box suddenly became cheerful and harmonious.

After the pleasantries, Mrs. Liu got straight to the point. "Mr. Cai, I don't need to explain why Shishi and I are here. I have also learned about your company, Tangren Films, in the past few days. If Shishi signs a contract with Tangren, what arrangements will Mr. Cai make for her?"

Talking about business, Cai Yinong sat up straight with a serious face, "There are not many artists in our company, and Sun Li will soon retire and return to his family.

As long as Shishi is willing to come to Tangren, she can take over Sun Li's job, and the company will do its best to train her. I can guarantee that she and Hu Ge will be the top brother and sister of Tangren in the future."

Mother Liu nodded silently. Although Cai Yinong's words were very good, they were all empty talk. Things like full effort and future were all empty talk and had no practical benefits at all.

"Boss Cai, to be honest, we have some connections in the industry. Shishi has already starred in the movie "Moon Shadow and Wind Lotus" directed by Zhou Xianglin, and it just wrapped this morning."

Hearing what Mrs. Liu said, Cai Yinong understood that the other party was obviously well prepared, so he had to make some practical promises, otherwise it would be useless to talk big.

After thinking it over, he gritted his teeth and promised:

"There are no vacancies in the TV series produced by the company in the first half of the year. In the second half of next year or next year, I can help Shishi arrange an important supporting actress role to practice her hand. I will guarantee at least two second female roles and one first female role in the future."

Although Cai Yinong had set her sights on Liu Shishi very early on, the artist she originally wanted to sign the most was Taiwanese artist Lin Jiayu.

Unfortunately, after she came into contact with Lin Jiayu, she found that this rich girl was not very career-oriented and was more curious about the entertainment industry. She might quit at any time after acting in a few dramas.

This made Cai Yinong feel annoyed. Why are all the female artists that Tangren Film and Television meets of this type? Can they be a little more career-oriented? After entering the circle, they don’t think about working hard, but just want to get married and retire!

Finally, after learning from the painful experience, she decided to find a female artist who is willing to pursue a long-term and stable career in the circle and who can take on the banner of the number one actress in Tangren Film and Television.

After some inquiries, and with Sun Li's introduction last time, Cai Yinong became interested. She discovered that Liu Shishi was not yet 18 years old. Even if she retired at about the same time as Sun Li and got married at the age of 27, she still had nearly 10 years, which was enough time to develop a career.

Mother Liu did not comment on Cai Yinong's promise. This condition was not very good, but could only be considered average. However, her daughter was a latecomer after all, and could not compare to those who graduated from the three major universities, so it was still within an acceptable range.

"What about the contract, Mr. Cai?" Mother Liu thought for a moment and finally agreed to the conditions offered by Cai Yinong.

Cai Yinong took out a contract from his bag and handed it to Mother Liu. "This is the draft of the contract I prepared. You and Shishi can take a look at it. If you have any questions, you can ask me."

Mother Liu took the contract and read it carefully.

Liu Shishi also pretended to lean over to take a look at the contract, but she didn't understand anything. She was confused when she saw the densely packed terms and could only rely on her mother and wait for her to make the decision.

Mother Liu concentrated very hard, reading the contract carefully page by page. Cai Yinong did not urge her. The contract she provided was a very formal artist management contract. She had no need and no desire to set any trap in this regard.

After about ten minutes, Mother Liu put down the contract, and the three people looked at her, waiting for her to make a decision.

Mother Liu was comparing the information she had previously learned with the contract. Tangren's contract was a very standard ten-year agency contract.

The profit sharing between artists and companies is reasonable at 30:70, and it can be adjusted later. It is already very fair for newcomers. Some film and television companies exploit artists very harshly, with 20:80 or even 19:10 being common.

Mother Liu still raised some objections, "Mr. Cai, there is no problem with the contract, but I hope to change the contract period. Ten years is too long. I hope it can be changed to eight years."

Although ten years is a common situation in the industry, eight years is not unacceptable. The key is that Liu Shishi is really a good match for him. Cai Yinong was silent for a while, and finally made a concession, "I agree to change it to eight years. Do you have any other requirements?"

"No, Mr. Cai is generous, the contract is fair and very sincere." Seeing Cai Yinong compromise, Mother Liu flattered him subtly, saying that her daughter was about to make a living under him and she had to get closer to him.

The signing went smoothly. Cai Yinong smiled and said, "It's settled then. Welcome Shishi to join Tangren Films. Do you have time tomorrow? If convenient, bring your ID to the company to sign the contract and I'll take you on a tour of the company."

"If we have time, Shishi and I will go to Tangren Film and Television tomorrow to complete the formalities. Shishi will be entrusted to you from now on." Mother Liu held her daughter's hand tightly and stared at Cai Yinong, with a hint of meaning.

Cai Yinong understood what Liu's mother meant. She didn't want Liu Shishi to encounter those dirty things. Without avoiding Liu's mother's eyes, he promised carefully: "Don't worry, I will never let Shishi suffer any injustice."

"Thank you, Mr. Cai. I'll trouble you in the future." Liu Shishi also thanked the new boss repeatedly.

"You're welcome, just call me Sister K. We're all family from now on."

Cai Yinong looked at Liu Shishi carefully, and liked her more and more. Now that the matter was done, he could put his mind at ease. As for whether Liu Shishi could be the number one lady of Tangren in the future, it would depend on her luck.

"Congratulations to Sister K, congratulations to Shishi, from now on we are all part of the Tangren family." Hu Ge, who had been quiet in the front, spoke up to liven up the atmosphere when he saw that the matter was finalized.

Cai Yinong looked at the young couple with satisfaction. They were the future of Tangren Films. "Shishi will be your junior sister from now on. You have to take good care of her."

"Of course, of course." Hu Ge also felt a liking for the pure and beautiful girl in front of him.

On the morning of February 2nd, Liu Shishi, without telling Song Ci, went to the headquarters of Tangren Film and Television accompanied by her mother to sign the contract. Cai Yinong held a simple welcome ceremony at the company to celebrate her official becoming an artist under Tangren Film and Television.

While Liu Shishi and her mother were visiting Tangren Company, in the office of the chairman of Tenda Technology Company, Song Ci was having the last work exchange with Zhang Yong before the New Year.

There were only two of them in the office, and Song Ci and Zhang Yong were very casual when they interacted privately, and the atmosphere was very relaxed.

Song Ci was drinking tea and leaning on the leather sofa, feeling very comfortable. The school had already been on vacation, and after dealing with some matters in the company, he could spend the New Year with peace of mind.

Zhang Yong sat aside, reading a document in his hand carefully. His originally relaxed brows gradually frowned, and he muttered a few words in a low voice from time to time. This was the development direction plan of Tenda Technology that Song Ci had just given him.

In Songci's plan, Tenda Technology will add the four existing business segments of Toutiao, TT Mail, TD Game Platform and Game Production Center.

In the first half of 2005, the company plans to acquire the music player software Qianqian Jingting and establish the Chinese music exchange community Qianqian Music Network. At the same time, it will develop long video network and input method businesses, and will also prepare for Weibo in the second half of the year.

In the next five to eight years, three research centers will be established for cloud computing, big data, and artificial intelligence, and a time schedule will be listed for each project.

"Boss Song, this is too big a deal!" Zhang Yong was really frightened by his boss's ambition, and at the same time, his scalp was tingling. Every project plan on materials required a huge amount of funds.

Song Ci said nonchalantly: "This is just the company's five-year plan." Currently, what he listed was only the arrangements for Tenda Technology before the curtain rises on the mobile Internet era.

Zhang Yong smiled bitterly and said, "Although the company is doing well, these projects are big spenders. If you arrange it this way, I'm afraid the company will suffer huge losses."

Zhang Yong estimated that the first few items were fine and could be done with tens of millions of dollars, but the later ones like cloud computing, artificial intelligence, and big data, just by hearing the names you know that they would cost a huge amount of money. If Tenda really wants to get all these projects off the ground, it is likely that it will go bankrupt even if it loses money.

Since Song Ci dared to make such a plan, he would not leave all the problems to Zhang Yong. "The three major research centers can be slowed down for a while, and other projects must be carried out according to my schedule. As for the funding issue you are worried about, I will solve it."

To reassure Zhang Yong, Song Ci added: "The above plan can be broken down. The input method will be launched first, followed by Qianqian Jingting and Video Network in the second quarter.

Weibo can slow down for a while. These businesses don’t have to be profitable in the first two years. Just attract customers and keep moving forward.”

At this point, Song Ci paused for a moment, "As for the three major research centers, the company will set up the framework and recruit talents first. I will deal with the funding issues later."

He had already made a comprehensive plan. During the subprime mortgage crisis in 2008, he was going to short the US stock market and make a fortune. Part of the profit would be used to invest in three major research centers.

After hearing Song Ci's methodical words, Zhang Yong breathed a sigh of relief and stopped trying to persuade him. "As long as you have a plan in mind, I will fully cooperate with you."

At present, Tenda Technology is also considered to be wealthy. As of the end of January, "Minecraft" alone has sold 4.85 million copies worldwide, bringing the company US$145 million in revenue. Even after deducting taxes and channel sharing, it is still a huge sum of money, enough for Song Ci to squander for a long time.

"After the New Year, the group will be reorganized around these business segments. Don't disclose this before the New Year, so that everyone can have a happy New Year."

The establishment of a group will inevitably involve personnel changes, and Song Ci did not want his employees to be nervous during the New Year, so he specifically instructed Zhang Yong.

Zhang Yong nodded and agreed: "This is natural."

"I have already signed the year-end bonus distribution you reported. The Chinese New Year is just a few days away. Ask the finance department to transfer the money as soon as possible."

Tenda Technology is currently thriving, with revenue and profits continuing to improve. Based on the year-end performance evaluation, the company has paid out a one-time salary from June to December as a year-end bonus.

Song Ci and Zhang Yong discussed several urgent matters from previous years one by one, and it took about an hour and a half to finish everything.

Song Ci stretched and suddenly remembered something, "There are two more things, Lao Zhang, please remember. They are the key tasks of the video network next year."

"Xiang Province Satellite TV has a talent show called 'Super Girl'. Send someone to contact them and make sure they get the online broadcasting rights for this year's show."

"Talent show variety show, is this show very popular?" Although Zhang Yong is usually busy with work and doesn't watch variety shows, he still has some impression of popular shows, but he really has no memory of "Super Girl".

"I asked someone to do some research, and found out that this program will be very popular this year. Obtaining the online broadcasting rights will be of great help to the development of video networks including Toutiao." Song Ci was unable to explain, so he could only say it perfunctorily.

The first "Super Girl" in 2004 was not very popular. It was the second session in 2005 that became really popular all over the country. When Chen Sisi helped Song Ci set up a book club that day, Song Ci remembered this incident. He knew about it in his previous life. Many fans formed QQ groups to canvass votes for their favorite contestants. It was the most popular program in 2005.

Since his boss said so, Zhang Yong naturally followed his instructions and quickly wrote down the matter in his notebook, "After the New Year, I will send someone to contact Hunan Satellite TV and I will definitely get the broadcasting rights for Super Girl."

Song Ci pondered for a moment and said the second thing, "According to the original idea of ​​Toutiao.com when it was first established, now the time is ripe. We can already contact the NBA and the European Football League. This year we want to obtain the exclusive network operation rights for the event."

In Zhang Yong's view, this is the company's top priority. "I will handle this myself and fly to the United States after the New Year."

In a foreign country, Song Ci was still worried and advised: "Old Zhang, you can hire a negotiation expert and a public relations team to assist you. You can make appropriate concessions on the copyright fee, and the longer the contract period, the better."

Zhang Yong wrote down Song Ci's request again and said, "I will report the specific contract terms to you after we get in touch."

"With just these two things, there shouldn't be anything for me to deal with before the New Year." Although Song Ci doesn't come to the company often, Zhang Yong and other senior executives often report on their work via email, so he still has a strong control over the company.

"Not yet. I'll call if there's anything. By the way, are you really not going to the company's annual meeting tonight?"

"I won't go. Shishi is returning to Peking today. I have to go to the airport to pick her up in the afternoon. I haven't seen her for three and a half months." Thinking of seeing Miss Liu in the afternoon, Song Ci was in good spirits and a gentle smile appeared on his face.

Zhang Yong knew that his boss was usually a reserved person, but now that he said these words to him, it was clear that he was expressing his true feelings and really missed his girlfriend.

"Congratulations on your reunion with Miss Liu after a long separation." Zhang Yong congratulated him while secretly marveling at his boss's condition. He was truly a gentleman, yet he actually fell in love with a young actress. It really was like love had no logic at all.

However, he felt that Song Ci and Liu Shishi still had a long way to go. Just the identity of the female actor alone would be a great test for their relationship if they had to shoot any intimate scenes in the future and rumors of scandals arose.

(End of this chapter)