Chapter 481: They Are All Relationships
Inside the top suite of the Four Seasons Hotel Beijing, the lights are as bright as day, illuminating every luxurious detail.
Outside the window, the city of Peking gradually fell silent, but the room was filled with a sense of solemnity and heat because of a few thin pages of paper.
Ren Zhengfei wore reading glasses on his nose and sat upright on the sofa, reviewing the documents in his hand page by page with a focused expression.
The document was the "mysterious gift" given to Huawei by Song Ci at the end of the dinner.
A detailed draft plan for Tenda Technology Group's plan to establish China's first internet bank, "MYbank," and an invitation letter to potential shareholders.
After the dinner, he and Yu Chendong stayed here at the arrangement of Song Ci.
Obviously, the richest man had already made careful plans and wanted to let his allies digest this important news without interruption at the first time.
The document is detailed and logically rigorous.
Ren Zhengfei noted that according to the rules established by the regulatory authorities for private banks, in order to prevent risks, it is clearly required that "the shareholding ratio of a single shareholder and its affiliates shall not exceed 30%."
This means that even a strong company like Tengda Group needs to look for like-minded partners.
In the draft, Song Ci has reserved a seat for Huawei as the second largest shareholder after Tenda, which is undoubtedly a very precious and strategically significant position.
"What a generous gift! It is indeed an unexpectedly generous gift!" Ren Zhengfei slowly put down the documents, took off his glasses, and sighed softly, having already understood the profound meaning of the Song Dynasty poem.
This institution, named "MyBank", relies on WeChat's huge user ecosystem and traffic entrance, and its core dominant position is unquestionable.
Other shareholders are, to some extent, “replaceable” partners.
However, Song Ci did not choose other state-owned enterprises or large financial institutions with strong backgrounds. Instead, it gave priority to Huawei. This in itself is a gesture of trust and alliance of extremely high standards.
"If word gets out that we're collaborating with Tengda to launch an internet bank that carries the mission of financial innovation, I wonder how many domestic giants will be scrambling to get a piece of the action.
"Mr. Song's move shows that he truly views Huawei as an ally, fighting shoulder to shoulder, rather than just a business partner." Ren Zhengfei spoke slowly, his gaze fixed on his subordinate.
Yu Chendong was equally excited: "Mr. Ren, it's not just that. Tengda is extremely well prepared to establish an internet bank.
They have considerable technical accumulation and prototype verification in areas such as big data risk control models, user credit scores, and financial product design.
Once established, Ant Financial will go beyond simply moving traditional banking services online.
It is very likely that WeChat's social and payment data will be used to reshape the micro-loan and consumer finance models, and even rewrite the traditional financial game."
The more he spoke, the more excited he became: "MyBank's valuation potential is immeasurable! Huawei becoming a shareholder not only means considerable financial returns in the future, but also...
More importantly, it can quickly embrace the wave of Internet finance and provide an excellent testing ground and collaborative platform for terminal application ecology and enterprise cloud services.
This is a strategic value that cannot be bought with money!"
Ren Zhengfei's eyes were deep as he tapped lightly with his fingers on the list of several alternative shareholders listed on the document. Each name represented a giant in a certain field, and none of them were ordinary people.
"Song Ci has a far-reaching plan, a grand chess game. Ecological countermeasures, a combination of software and hardware, and data integration...
Each of these selected partners can empower the bank in their respective fields and jointly build a moat.
However, this is indeed a huge opportunity for Huawei."
After calming down, he said with admiration, "The richest man is indeed worthy of being the richest man. He is really generous and sincere."
After a brief silence and admiration for Song Ci's boldness, Ren Zhengfei suddenly changed the subject: "Chen Dong, MyBank is an unexpected strategic gain and the icing on the cake.
But don't forget, the foundation of Huawei has always been technology, hardware, and the tools we have in our hands!"
"HiSilicon Chip, since I've made the decision at the dinner table, I will fully support you within the company.
Huawei will continue to invest, no matter how difficult it is. But even with my full support, if you want to win the hearts and minds of the people internally, you need to rely on tangible results.”
Yu Chendong felt tremendous pressure in an instant, but he was strong-willed and not afraid of difficulties.
He immediately straightened his back, his eyes gleaming, and responded decisively: "Mr. Ren, as long as you and the company give me enough trust and resources, I have confidence!
Within a year, HiSilicon chips will be commercially available on a large scale in mainstream flagship models, delivering performance and stability that will earn recognition from customers and the market!
"Okay! That's what I want you to say!"
Ren Zhengfei said no more, he understood Yu Chendong.
Knowing that capable people are not the kind of people who make boasts easily, this kind of determination and courage is exactly what Huawei needs right now.
"You should return to headquarters tomorrow and don't wait for me. Once you get back, immediately begin preparations, organize the team, and refine the technology roadmap and product timeline.
After I return from the meeting, I will immediately convene a high-level meeting to finalize the strategic cooperation with Tengda, especially the chip strategy, as well as the matters discussed tonight."
"Yes! Mr. Ren!" Yu Chendong nodded heavily, with fighting spirit burning in his eyes.
A new era for Huawei devices and HiSilicon, along with the alliance with Tenda, is about to officially begin in his hands, with hope amidst difficulties.
The next day, the atmosphere in the Great Hall of Beijing was solemn and dignified, as the national conference concerning the national economy and people's livelihood was in full swing.
Thousands of miles away at Hengdian Film and Television City, the crew of "Joy of Life" has already created a craze in the morning light.
The lighting technician carried the equipment and repeatedly calibrated the light position, the stage staff shuttled back and forth to set up the scenery, and the actors crowded in the dressing room and hurriedly put on makeup.
Director Ma Xin stood next to the monitor, frowning as he demonstrated the lighting plan for the complex shot to the photographer.
At this time, the executive producer led two young people over and said, "Director, the actors for Fan Sizhe and Fan Ruoruo are here."
Ma Xin stopped what he was doing and gave a wink to the assistant director with whom he had worked for many years.
The other party understood immediately and took over the communication with the director of photography tacitly. As an old partner, he knew the director's habits very well.
Turning around, Ma Xin looked at the person who came in calmly.
Chen Yao, who plays Fan Ruoruo, is pure but a bit shy like a student. She is said to be a new star highly praised by Tangren Film and Television, and was personally chosen by the top actress Liu Shishi. Her background is obviously extraordinary.
Nowadays, nine out of ten newcomers who can get important roles in blockbuster productions of this magnitude have capital behind them.
As for Zhang Yishan who played Fan Sizhe, Ma Xin was more impressed. The previously chosen actor was replaced because of poor acting skills.
This person was recommended by the company later. They said that his image fits the job and he has experience, but whether he is suitable for the job or not depends on his real ability.
"Follow me." Ma Xin said calmly, leading the two to a slightly quieter rest area.
Chen Yao followed closely, leaving the familiar Tangren crew and the protection of her seniors, and the new environment made her nervous.
Although Zhang Yishan is an old hand who has been on the film set since he was a child, he couldn't help but feel nervous at this moment.
With the recommendation of his good friend Yang Zi and the approval of Tengda Culture's Artist Director Ge Maoliang, he got the opportunity to take on this 400 million yuan project.
But until the contract is finalized, the role is not stable and I am always worried.
The three of them stopped in front of a folding chair. Ma Xin sat down with a big smile and pointed across at the opposite side: "Sit down."
He glanced at the two of them and said straight to the point, "I know your situation well. You all have connections to join the group."
His tone suddenly became more serious, "But in my group, Ma Xin, in the end, only ability counts.
This drama is the most invested TV series in the industry ever. It shoulders the heavy responsibility of adapting the top IP of Singularity. Countless eyes are watching it and it cannot afford to lose.
Anyone who messes up the performance and drags the team down, no matter who recommended them, will be shown no mercy and will be kicked out immediately! " His words were resounding and carried an undeniable sense of oppression.
For Ma Xin, directing "Joy of Life" was a tough job. The huge investment meant huge expectations. If he failed, it would be a fatal blow to his reputation as a "billion-dollar director."
I wanted to refuse at first, but I couldn't resist the strong invitation and trust of Liu Rong, the president of Tengda Culture. As a direct descendant of the company, I had no choice but to take it and try my best.
Because of this, he has a huge say in hiring. Even the male lead Zhang Ruoyun was chosen by him against all odds. Even though Chen Yao and Zhang Yishan have backgrounds, they still had to leave if their business was not up to standard.
The two of them felt a tightness in their hearts and sat down stiffly, their backs straightening unconsciously.
"We'll arrange auditions later." Ma Xin looked at them. "Let's talk before the audition. What do you think of the character? Tell us about your biography and core personality."
"Director, let me go first." Zhang Yishan glanced at Chen Yao, whose face was delicate but whose nervousness could not be concealed, and took a deep breath before speaking. He had done his homework before coming here and knew very well how rare this opportunity was.
After a little tidying up, it is clearly explained: "Fan Sizhe is a 'money-obsessed' man with an extreme love and keen sense of smell for money, but his greed for money is not simple.
Good at using the resources and complex personal connections around him, cleverly seeking profit between the court and the underworld, and being able to thrive like a fish in water.
Zhang Yishan spoke very seriously. Due to his appearance limitations, it was more difficult for him to get roles than other young actors of the same age.
This time, Yang Zi and Director Ge paved the way for me. Not only did I study the script over and over again, I also went back to school to consult my acting instructor and did a lot of analysis and rehearsals for the role.
He cherishes this opportunity too much. The original novel of "Joy of Life" has more than four million words, and the adaptation is bound to be a blockbuster series.
If he can hold on to the likable role of Fan Sizhe, his roles and exposure in the next few years will be guaranteed, and he cannot help but attach great importance to it.
After Zhang Yishan finished speaking, Chen Yao took a deep breath and slowly expressed his understanding of Fan Ruoruo in a gentle voice: "Fan Ruoruo has a bit of a 'brother complex' attribute..."
Ma Xin listened quietly, his fingers tapping unconsciously on his knees.
Both of them spoke clearly and logically, and it was obvious that they had put in the effort to study the original work and the script. At least their attitude was correct enough.
Without further comment, he simply ordered: "Find a scene where you can play against each other and give it a try."
Soon, Zhang Yishan and Chen Yao acted out two scenes from the script that showed the interaction between Fan Sizhe and Fan Ruoruo.
After the performance, the two stood there nervously, waiting for the director's "final judgment".
Ma Xin stroked his chin and squinted his eyes to savor the performance just now.
Zhang Yishan was indeed outstanding. He captured both the unruly and dandy spirit and the shrewd and calculating spirit very accurately. It was obvious that he had hired a teacher for special training in private and had put in a lot of hard work.
Chen Yao's acting skills are a bit immature and his techniques are still a bit clumsy.
But her natural and unrefined girlish charm, along with the spirituality revealed in her big, expressive eyes, just fits Fan Ruoruo's early characteristics, which is a pleasant surprise.
The only thing that makes Ma Xin feel a little awkward is that Zhang Yishan's face looks "rougher" and more mature than Chen Yao, and it is a bit visually awkward for them to play the role of siblings.
We can only hope that more effort will be put into the makeup and styling to make Zhang Yishan look young and noble, while Chen Yao's style should be more dignified and gentle, trying to make up for the age gap.
"Okay, let's do this for now." Ma Xin finally spoke, his tone unrecognizable as either happy or angry. "Follow the stagehands to change into costumes and get ready for the final photos."
Upon hearing this, Zhang Yishan and Chen Yao breathed a sigh of relief and exchanged relieved glances.
I finally passed the first, most difficult hurdle! As long as the director didn't reject it right away, it was almost done.
Looking at the two people's backs as they walked away, Ma Xin raised his hand to rub his temples and sighed silently.
Most of the cast members of "Joy of Life", from the main characters to the supporting roles, are "people with connections", and their backgrounds are more complicated than each other.
Fortunately, he came from the film industry to make TV series, and his prestige is high enough. In addition, he has the support of Tengda Culture, a giant that has the final say, so he can keep the situation under control and no one dares to cause trouble easily.
Otherwise, just coordinating these personnel relationships would be enough to make him overwhelmed and unable to concentrate on filming.
On the other side, Zhang Yishan followed the stagehand into the public dressing room for male actors.
The crew of "Joy of Life" is huge, but the management is extremely strict. Under Tengda Culture's iron rule of "project-oriented", no star can act like a big shot or ask for special treatment. Regardless of their status, male actors share the same dressing room.
After Zhang Yishan entered, he immediately bowed slightly and politely greeted the seniors who were already in makeup: "Hello everyone, I am Zhang Yishan, playing the role of Fan Sizhe. Sorry to bother you all."
There were several actors in the dressing room, including some highly respected veteran actors. Most of them nodded in agreement, and the atmosphere was quite harmonious.
Only a young-looking male actor not far away had been staring at Zhang Yishan since he came in. His eyes were complicated and there was a bit of resentment on his face that he couldn't hide.
Chen Daoming, who was closing his eyes and letting the makeup artist put on makeup for him, noticed the subtle movement. He opened his eyes slightly, caught a glimpse of the young man's expression through the mirror, and couldn't help but shake his head helplessly.
I thought: I am still too young. All my emotions are clearly written on my face and I can’t hide them.
However, the other party is the son of agent Wang Jinghua after all, and Wang Jinghua specifically asked him to take good care of him before joining the group.
Chen Daoming coughed lightly and reminded, "Dong Zijian, concentrate on putting on makeup and don't look around."
Dong Zijian, who was named, suddenly came back to his senses and restrained some of his outward emotions, but the unwillingness in his eyes was still not completely gone.
His mother is Wang Jinghua, an ace agent in the circle, who has extensive connections. This time, he also used this relationship to follow Chen Daoming into the crew of "Joy of Life".
But the role he originally wanted was actually Fan Sizhe, who had a lot of screen time and a distinct and colorful character. Unfortunately, he failed to get it in the end and only ended up with a relatively ordinary supporting role.
He curled his lips, lowered his voice, and muttered with a hint of sourness: "So it's 'Liu Xing'!
I don't think you're any better than me!" He obviously recognized Zhang Yishan as a child star, and his tone was full of the rivalry between colleagues.
Chen Daoming's face darkened upon hearing this, and he rebuked, "Control your temper. The director has his own considerations when hiring people, and it's not your place to criticize him."
He knew clearly in his mind: if it were another film and television company, they might still give Wang Jing face and make some considerations in the casting.
But Tengda Culture is different. It is rich and powerful and has a tough style. It never buys into the social customs of the traditional circle, and does not take the power of agents seriously. Wang Jinghua's face is here, and it is useless.
Dong Zijian seemed a little unwilling, but he didn't dare to refute. Although he was still unwilling to accept it in his heart, he finally restrained himself a lot on the surface.
Chen Daoming was still worried and reminded him: "There are many talented people in the crew, and most of them have some background.
Just stay still, focus on your role, and don't cause trouble for your mother, do you hear me?"
Dong Zijian responded sullenly, with some reluctance: "I understand, Uncle Chen."
But she couldn't help but glance at Zhang Yishan who was putting on makeup on the other side. Her eyes flickered, and she didn't know what she was thinking.
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(End of this chapter)
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