Chapter 110 Jinjiang Exclusive TV Station
Su Ruyi and Lu Ting arrived at the studio, where Yang Qi was already waiting. Upon seeing the two enter, she quickly stood up to greet them.
"Hello, I am your host Yang Qi. Welcome to the 'The Common People' studio."
The "Ordinary People" column features both on-location reports and in-person interviews, primarily focusing on the lives of ordinary people.
Sometimes, we also invite outstanding professionals to conduct interviews and reports.
Su Ruyi had previously watched an episode about the work of firefighters, which was very touching.
Yang Qi is even more capable than she appears on television; she is a very charming woman.
Su Ruyi smiled and greeted her: "Hello, I'm Su Ruyi. I really like the program 'The Common People'. I'm honored to be invited by you. Before I came, my relatives and friends hoped to get your autograph. I wonder if that's possible?"
Yang Qi smiled even more: "Of course, thank you so much for your kind words."
With ten minutes to go before the recording, Yang Qi first showed the two of them around the studio, letting them know how the show would be recorded.
Su Ruyi put on makeup before coming. Her eyebrows, eyes, and lips were all light-colored so that she wouldn't look pale under the lights. Lu Ting was determined not to let her face be covered in makeup.
He was very opposed to men wearing makeup. It was just an interview program, not a beauty pageant, and he felt it was unnecessary.
Su Ruyi didn't force him. She loved beauty and liked to dress up for formal occasions, but she didn't demand it of others. Besides, Lu Ting had sharp features, thick eyebrows and eyelashes, and could withstand the lights and cameras even without makeup.
The two sat down, and Yang Qi couldn't help but praise them:
"Ms. Su, Mr. Lu, you two are a perfect match, beautiful inside and out. Of all the episodes I've done, you are the most attractive couple."
Lu Ting rarely gets compliments on his looks, so he looked uncomfortable and glanced at Su Ruyi.
"When I get back, I'm going to tell my relatives and friends who like you, so they'll know that their favorite host, Yang Qi, also complimented my looks! They'll be so envious!" Su Ruyi said playfully.
Yang Qi couldn't help but laugh, and he grew even more fond of Su Ruyi.
The program officially began recording. Unlike the Life Daily's focus on interviews, The Common People focused on uncovering the stories behind Su Ruyi and Lu Ting, with little coverage of the case itself.
The related case has already been reported on other channels, so they will not go into further detail; the focus will mainly be on these two heroes.
What made Yang Qi feel that the two were worth interviewing was that, after investigation, he discovered that they had not only done these things, but had also formed an anti-trafficking team, helping dozens of trafficked children and women return home in the past two years.
The packaging bags of products produced by Hongxing Plastics Factory and Ruyi Garment Factory would include a photo of a missing child or woman.
Yang Qi had been very interested in the people behind the scenes because of this, and had already started planning to make a related program. He never expected that Su Ruyi and Lu Ting would actually do a good deed by catching the murderer and saving people.
Yang Qi no longer hesitated and immediately discussed with the production team about making this episode.
After Su Ruyi and Lu Ting confirmed their interviews, they received the interview outline and knew that these topics would be covered.
Su Ruyi felt even more strongly that this program had to be aired, as it would allow more people to see the missing and abducted women and children through multiple channels of dissemination.
They even had a jigsaw puzzle made specifically for the missing person, hoping it could be shown on the program later.
The production team readily agreed, as this would not only help those people but also make the episode more in-depth.
As a result, Lu Ting was able to accept being told again and again how he saved people more readily. It was not a big deal for him; in fact, it seemed strange to keep bringing it up.
There must be another motive behind it, which made him feel that it wasn't entirely pure.
The program's in-depth exploration made him feel much more at ease.
To Lu Ting's surprise, the program team went even further than he had imagined, mentioning the composition of the staff at the Red Star Plastics Factory.
Lu Ting couldn't help but ask, "You even investigated this?"
Yang Qi smiled and said, "What you have done is very worthy of being publicized, and it also shows everyone the difference of our socialist entrepreneurs, that they have their own beliefs and convictions."
Lu Ting blushed with pride at the compliment, and lowered his head, unsure how to respond. This genuine reaction revealed his purity and simplicity.
Su Ruyi couldn't help but laugh, her eyes full of admiration.
Yang Qi also didn't forget Su Ruyi, a girl from a rural area in the south who became a wealthy entrepreneur in a short period of time. Such a legendary experience is well worth a separate interview.
The fact that these two legendary figures were a pair made Yang Qi feel that one episode simply couldn't contain all the content.
Yang Qi is not only the host of the program, but also its planner; she was the one who conceived the program in the first place.
At first, the station wasn't optimistic.
Yang Qi had relatively little seniority at the station. Although she was good in appearance and work ability, she never had the opportunity to enter the station's flagship program and could only linger on the sidelines.
She decided to take a different approach and applied to plan and record a new program.
This is also why she has some connections; otherwise, no one would pay any attention to her.
Originally, "The Common People" aired during a time slot with very low viewership, but after just two episodes, the ratings exploded, setting a record for the highest viewership in the same time slot, almost catching up with the most popular time slot.
Concerned viewers called the TV station, hoping to change the broadcast time or rebroadcast it during a break, otherwise they wouldn't have time to watch it.
After five episodes, the show's broadcast time was adjusted. Although it wasn't in prime time, it was still quite good.
This took off and became an instant hit, turning into the station's flagship program.
Because Yang Qi was the chief planner, and the program team initially consisted of only two people, she was involved in almost every segment and had a great deal of influence, so no one could take the host's position from her.
Therefore, after a thorough investigation of Su Ruyi and Lu Ting, she made a bold decision to report on the two in two installments.
This is the first time the program has done this, and nobody knows if it will affect the audience's experience.
Yang Qi was initially a little worried, but after formally interviewing the two, she felt it was absolutely necessary.
Although Lu Ting didn't say much, every word he uttered was to the point.
Su Ruyi appeared very experienced, consistently controlling the pace of the program and making the interview lively and interesting, while also prompting deep reflection on some of her remarks. When the topic of abducted children and women came up, her exceptional eloquence brought tears to the eyes of the studio staff.
The entire interview was smooth and highly engaging, with the emotions rising and falling with the interviewer – sometimes crying, sometimes laughing, and sometimes prompting deep thought.
Yang Qi's interview went as smoothly as the first one; she hardly needed to control the flow, as she had already mastered the rhythm perfectly.
She usually interacts with ordinary people, and even those who excel in certain professions often have a rather awkward way of expressing themselves, at least in their performances on television programs.
Some people easily get caught up in their own logic, repeating themselves over and over without a focus. Or their language is too clumsy or overly slick and deliberate, but Su Ruyi is just right.
Yang Qi no longer needs to rack her brains to control the situation and guide the conversation; all her attention can be focused on the interview itself, rather than controlling the pace.
Halfway through the recording, Yang Qi knew that this episode was a sure thing.
Although Su Ruyi seems very experienced, she is also very sincere and will not go against the true theme of "Ordinary People", but only make the program more vivid.
This split format, consisting of two parts, is something that viewers are really looking forward to.
After the recording of the show ended, Yang Qi sincerely praised Ruyi, saying, "If everyone on my show is like you, I won't have to worry about the show's effect at all."
Su Ruyi smiled and shook her head: "If every episode has the same style, then 'The Common People' will no longer express the myriad aspects of life."
Yang Qi paused slightly, then sighed:
"No wonder you have achieved so much at such a young age; you have a very sharp eye for problems."
Su Ruyi smiled. She was just more experienced and had seen more.
They are jacks-of-all-trades, master of none, and only stand out in this era when everything is in its infancy.
Because they still needed to go back and discuss it, Yang Qi did not tell the two that the program might be broadcast in two parts.
"Today's interview was too short. I think there were many things that were not covered. I hope we can continue to work together."
Su Ruyi is still so young, and her future will only be brighter. Yang Qi firmly believes that there will be opportunities for future interviews and collaborations.
She also wanted to see what Su Ruyi would be like a few years from now.
"I hope I'll have this opportunity again." Su Ruyi was very happy to receive the autographed photo from Yang Qi.
She only asked for autographs, but Yang Qi gave her a stack of autographed photos. Yang Qi also asked Su Ruyi the names of the people she wanted autographs for and wrote different messages based on their characteristics, showing great care.
If we take this back, Li Guangqian and his men will be overjoyed.
Su Ruyi greatly admired such a capable and gentle person.
Before leaving, Yang Qi raised an eyebrow and asked, "I'd like to ask you a little gossip, it's a personal question."
Lu Ting, who was about to leave, stopped. He quickly realized what Yang Qi wanted to ask and his ears perked up.
Su Ruyi smiled and said, "Go ahead."
"You've been together for two years now, when do you plan to get married?"
Yang Qi felt that the two were a perfect match, as they were very compatible in terms of appearance, personality, and values.
It's relatively rare to find people like them who have been dating for so long but haven't gotten married yet.
Yang Qi didn't ask about it during the show. Although she knew it would be of great interest to the audience, she felt it wasn't quite appropriate and only mentioned it briefly.
The mutual admiration in their eyes made Yang Qi's heart beat faster than usual.
Lu Ting's body tensed up, and he didn't say a word, but his attention was clearly on Su Ruyi.
Su Ruyi laughed and said, "I'm not even twenty yet, not old enough to get married."
Lu Ting pursed his lips. If it weren't mentioned, he would often forget this point, and a strange sense of guilt began to creep into his heart.
Yang Qi also realized that she rarely made such a basic mistake. She knew the interviewee's information by heart, but she had forgotten this point and only remembered that the interviewee was very young.
In truth, Su Ruyi didn't act like a girl her age at all. She was calm and wise, as if she had experienced a lot, which was why she was so mature.
Su Ruyi knew that she was acting differently, but there were too many smart people in this era, and she didn't think about deliberately pretending.
She has lived through many lifetimes, but her intelligence has not changed as a result, so she is not particularly unusual.
Yang Qi looked annoyed: "I almost forgot about that."
Seeing Lu Ting's disappointed figure, Su Ruyi said again:
"We will definitely let you know when we get married, and we hope you will have time to attend."
"Then I absolutely have to get there!"
Lu Ting's entire demeanor changed instantly, and he was filled with excitement.
Su Ruyi explained to him that they needed to wait a while before getting married, and he understood and agreed.
Hearing about related matters inevitably stirs up emotions.
As Su Ruyi and Lu Ting walked out of the studio, they saw Liu Quan already waiting at the door.
Liu Quan saw the two of them and smiled with a hint of flattery.
He glanced at his watch casually: "It's lunchtime right now, would you two gentlemen do me the honor of joining us?"
Su Ruyi and Lu Ting exchanged a glance, completely baffled.
Liu Quan was originally the deputy director of the advertising department. Although he usually needed to find clients, the provincial TV station had a certain air about it, and usually others would come with money. He rarely had to be so humble. What happened to him now?
Besides, isn't Liu Quan no longer in the advertising department?
The two were puzzled, but simply followed Liu Quan to a nearby restaurant.
The restaurant wasn't luxurious, but the ambiance was nice, with private rooms available, and the food was decent.
Liu Quan didn't rush to reveal his intentions at the dinner table, but instead chatted casually, occasionally mentioning their current careers.
Liu Quan wanted to open a bottle of Moutai, but Lu Ting and Su Ruyi politely declined.
As they were finishing their meal, Lu Ting spoke up, "Minister Liu, you can speak frankly with us."
Liu Quan then revealed his intentions: "I am now working at the newly established Economic and Social Channel of the Provincial Radio and Television Bureau. It is a brand new channel, and I serve as the deputy director."
"Congratulations, Director Liu, you've been promoted!" Lu Ting said hurriedly.
Su Ruyi usually makes time to watch the news on CCTV and provincial TV stations to keep up with the latest developments. Although she has memories of her previous life, she can't remember many things unless they trigger a specific event.
When I have some free time, I also watch other programs.
There are relatively few TV stations and programs nowadays, so even if you don't watch many, you still have a general understanding. Su Ruyi had no impression of the Economic and Technological Television Station. Did such a station really exist?
Liu Quan noticed Su Ruyi's confusion and explained, "It hasn't been officially launched yet; it's still under intensive preparation and is expected to launch on October 1st."
Su Ruyi understood, and she said that she had no recollection of it at all.
"This is a brand new attempt by the provincial radio and television station. We have a great deal of control, and we will focus on innovation, independence and competition to get closer to the audience and meet their needs."
Liu Quan spoke very broadly, and Su Ruyi couldn't discern anything special about the channel, let alone Lu Ting, who didn't watch much television.
What does this have to do with us?
The thought flashed through their minds, but neither of them uttered a sound.
Liu Quan felt embarrassed. He used to work in the advertising department, where others often had to beg him to do things, and he never got the chance to bring in clients.
Now that I've arrived at the new station, I thought I'd been promoted, but it turns out it's just a trap.
The provincial radio and television station provides very little funding, so the new station needs to be self-sufficient. Most of the funding for the programs they want to launch comes from sponsorships they have to raise themselves.
But they are a new channel, and it hasn't been launched yet. Who knows what the ratings will be like, or whether the programs they broadcast will be well-received?
With everything uncertain, advertisers find it hard to trust and therefore won't invest.
Liu Quan has been running himself ragged and getting his face trampled on during this period, but with little effect.
Some people invested a little out of respect for him, but that amount was far from enough.
Their programs are all new, so there's money to be spent on studio setup, building new teams, and so on.
The station director is very strict about the funds allocated by the higher authorities, making them extremely difficult to approve. Currently, most of the work is done by ourselves.
The station director is especially cautious about investing in new projects.
Liu Quan is very optimistic about a program, thinking it is very special and a new attempt, but the investment is not low.
Many leaders at the station felt it was too risky. They thought no one could like such a program; it was too noisy, out of touch with reality, and lacked any educational value or depth.
Liu Quan, however, was very optimistic about it, believing that if the program were produced, it could very well set a precedent, but he couldn't convince others.
The station director has reservations about the program; he neither opposes nor supports it. If Liu Quanneng can organize a team to get the program going, he can arrange a suitable time.
As long as the viewership ratings reach the passing grade, it can be maintained.
But all of this is contingent on them finding a way to get the show going on their own, and they need to find the funding themselves.
This is also a competitive model within the station, requiring everyone to consider viewership ratings when producing programs. Unlike before, when they worked at provincial or other stations, they could simply focus on their own tasks and viewership ratings didn't matter much to them.
The current model is that if the ratings are not good, then it has to step down and give way, which is a competitive mechanism.
Every new program initially has the opportunity to appear in a good time slot, but what time slot it can secure later, or whether it can be retained at all, depends on its own abilities.
Liu Quan has been hitting roadblocks lately. Other programs are doing alright, basically the same type as the common programs nowadays, and he has a rough estimate of the ratings.
The program that Liu Quan was optimistic about was quite different; there was no similar program on the market, making it difficult to attract sponsors.
Although Liu Quan is currently only the deputy director, the higher-ups have made it clear that if he achieves results, he can be directly promoted from deputy to director.
The current station director is nearing retirement. He is merely acting as a stabilizing force at the new station. Once the new station is on track, he can retire with honor.
Therefore, he didn't have many opinions on many things at the station. He couldn't understand the program that Liu Quan had his eye on, but he didn't object and still gave him a chance.
The provincial radio and television station said it would give the new station a great deal of autonomy, and it could try anything as long as it did not violate policies and laws.
Liu Quan was competing with two other people. Liu Quan was not formally trained in the field and had previously worked in investment promotion. He was relatively inexperienced in the industry, and if he wanted to advance further, he needed to create a hit program like "The Common People".
"I really think it's a good product. If it can be made, it will definitely be loved by the people."
Liu Quan spoke with certainty, but his expression revealed helplessness.
He's been saying this so many times lately, but he hasn't gotten any approval.
Those who were willing to support his work have switched to sponsoring other programs, showing a lack of confidence in this one.
He's desperate and has come here to try his luck, having learned that the provincial TV station's "Ordinary People" program is going to interview Su Ruyi and Lu Ting today, and having some knowledge of them.
Currently, both the new and provincial TV stations are located in the same office building, and many equipment and resources are shared.
The two are young, so perhaps they are more open to new things.
Su Ruyi understood. Qing Province Radio and Television was going to reform. She originally thought that they would be more conservative, but they were so proactive in seeking new paths.
However, nobody knows what this new TV station will look like. Their money didn't fall from the sky, so they have to be careful.
"Director Liu, how about this: could you show us the proposal for the program you're interested in, and then we'll decide whether to invest? If we're interested, I'd also like to meet with the person in charge of the program team and the host."
Su Ruyi felt that since they had run into each other, they should see what the situation was. Since Liu Quan was being so humble, they should give him some face.
Although he went to the new TV station, he still has connections in the provincial TV station.
Controlling the discourse is very important. Television broadcasting will dominate for decades to come. Su Ruyi felt that she might not need it, but she had to cultivate good relationships with the people.
Liu Quan's eyes lit up. He hadn't expected that Su Ruyi would be so accommodating even though he had been vague.
Moreover, according to her words, she clearly took it seriously, unlike the previous people who just went through the motions and didn't actually read the proposal at all.
He's been talking for so long, he's getting a little tired, and he didn't even explain what kind of program it was.
Based on past experience, many people simply don't have the patience to listen. The more excited he gets, the more people just want to leave, which leaves him feeling very frustrated.
"Thank you so much, Boss Su! A young person like you will definitely like it. Here is the program proposal. You'll definitely like it once you read it!"
Liu Quan quickly took out the proposal from his briefcase and gave one copy to Su Ruyi and one to Lu Ting.
Su Ruyi took it and saw the words "Variety Show Saturday" written in big letters on the cover of the proposal.
Su Ruyi raised her eyebrows. CCTV's "Variety Show" is a very popular program nowadays, and it is also a new attempt in this era. It is the first variety show in mainland China.
Judging from the title of this proposal, the program should also be purely for entertainment.
Judging from Liu Quan's reaction, there must be a big difference; otherwise, it wouldn't have been so difficult for him to attract investment.
After all, with such excellent examples before us, people are quite interested in similar programs.
"Okay, I'll go back and take a look, and I'll get back to you as soon as possible." Su Ruyi put the proposal away.
Lu Ting had no interest in these things, but he didn't refuse either.
Liu Quan could tell that Su Ruyi was in control of the situation, so he left her contact information.
"If you feel that the proposal is not clear enough, we can also have the program planner explain it to you face-to-face."
Su Ruyi smiled and agreed, while Lu Ting secretly paid the bill.
Upon learning this, Liu Quan sighed. Despite his high position, his salary was meager, and he had been treating people to meals lately, leaving him penniless.
His wife was very supportive of his work before, but she also had her opinions, thinking he was too stubborn.
Nobody is optimistic about it, and I estimate that it won't be well received when it airs. He's not a professional in television, so we should listen to the elders' opinions.
If all else fails, it's not too late to restart the show once he's established himself.
But Liu Quan was unwilling to give up and always wanted to try.
"Sigh, this is the last time. If it doesn't work out, then forget it."
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