Zeng Jia didn't weigh every word as carefully as Li Tang did. Instead, she turned the pages very quickly. While reading, she said, "The writing is so good and delicate."
Well, after all, it is a college student who has graduated from a bachelor's degree, not a scumbag with a low educational level like Xiaopang, who cannot understand it.
She read it for about half an hour, then closed the script and said: "I haven't finished it. Personally, this book is quite interesting, realistic but not lacking in romance. It seems to be writing about many people around us." . But, brother, what’s going on?”
Li Tang sat up from the sofa, rubbed his swollen temples, and took a sip of tea before telling her what happened last night.
Finally, he said: "You are the person in charge of the studio. We will discuss this matter together in the future."
Zeng Jia's eyes flashed with a hint of brilliance, but only for a moment, and then she muttered: "Brother, what do you think?"
"Me? The script is just okay. If you just ask me to act, it's okay, but if you want to invest..." Li Tang was hesitant.
When he originally invested in "The Third Man", on the one hand, he recognized Cheng Er's ability, and on the other hand, he also liked the script. In fact, looking back now, I felt that I was also impulsive at the time. After receiving such a huge profit, he could only sigh: "Lucky!"
After all, film is an industry with high investment risks. It is as big as the six major Hollywood companies. When investing in large-scale productions, multiple investors are often involved to share the risks.
Moreover, sometimes movies are really a mystery. It is obviously a big IP and has an extremely strong cast, but after the release, the audience is not sold on it and suffers huge losses.
Sometimes there are some projects with small investment, the actors are not well-known, and even without much investment in publicity, they can rely on word-of-mouth to achieve a counterattack in the box office market.
It is precisely because of his knowledge of movies in his previous life that even though Li Tang made so much money this time, he was sober-minded and even more cautious. After all, no one can say for sure about luck. He was lucky last time. It is impossible for him to have good luck every time. Maybe he will be unlucky next time.
Zeng Jia thought for a while and said: "Brother, since you think this book is okay, I think we can consider it. That's what I think. I am definitely not as good as you in terms of grasping the book. I completely listen to you on this point. Also On the one hand, our studio is truly independent, and we must have projects to mobilize our staff. Moreover, the investment in this project itself is not large, and it can be used for training."
Li Tang agreed at the front, but he couldn't help but laugh when he heard: "Even if the investment is not big, it still costs one million. Isn't it too expensive for you to use this to train troops?"
Zeng Jia said seriously: "Since we have established our own business, I think it is worthwhile to train a team of our own."
"Aren't you afraid that when the time comes, after you have been trained, you will be poached by another company or you will find another job?"
"Brother, if you say that, there is nothing I can do." Zeng Jia said with a wry smile, but then changed the topic: "But I think if I want to retain people, on the one hand, it is a matter of remuneration, and on the other hand, there is a development prospect. If our studio develops well by then and the treatment is not bad, I believe most people will still be unwilling to leave.”
Li Tang suddenly realized that this was a bit far-fetched. After all, the studio didn't even have enough people in it. But at the same time, he also admitted that what Zeng Jia said made sense. After all, the studio will officially open after the Chinese New Year, and there must be projects to do. In addition, it is also a good suggestion to train employees by doing projects.
He knew very well that he had never been a business material in his two lifetimes, and he needed someone like Zeng Jia to help him make decisions and implement them.
Now that Zeng Jia also agrees, he has nothing to hesitate and immediately said: "Okay, I will talk to Zhang Baibai tomorrow and the day after tomorrow, but the specific investment negotiations..."
Before he finished speaking, Zeng Jia rushed to say: "I will be responsible for following up on the investment negotiations."
"good!"
…
Li Tang originally wanted to contact Zhang Baibai the next day, but was stopped by Zeng Jia. She said that since she had promised the other party to reply in two or three days, she should not be too anxious, so as not to give the other party the illusion of being on a pole. The longer the time goes by, the less at ease the other party will feel. This is called "stretching" in Beijing, and it's called "extreme pressure" in business terms.
On the third day, before Li Tang could call, Zhang Baibai called first. He didn't answer the first two times, and when it was almost evening, he called again for the third time.
Little Fatty finished work early today and came back from shopping for food. He was cooking when he heard the vibrating sound of his cell phone on the table. However, Li Tang was leisurely drinking tea. He couldn't help but ask, "Who is it?"
"It's Zhang Baibai, urging me to invest money."
"Since you have already discussed it with Jiajia, why don't you answer the call?"
"No rush, just stretch it out first. Hey, be careful not to get confused."
Fortunately, the other party is also a decent person and won't keep calling me endlessly. After dinner, Li Tang took the initiative to dial the phone.
The phone only rang once and was answered.
"Hello, Teacher Li!"
If you listen carefully, you can clearly hear the other party's rapid breathing.
It looks like the heat is almost done.
Li Tang said hypocritically: "Director Zhang, I'm really sorry to talk to someone about something. I muted my phone. I just saw it."
Zhang Baibai said hurriedly: "It's okay, it's okay."
Then he said cautiously: "Teacher Li, have you read the script?"
"Look, it's pretty good."
"Okay, okay, I'm relieved if you say that. Look at this investment..."
"Director Zhang, let's see when you are free. Let's talk about the book first."
"Uh... Okay, let's do it tomorrow. What do you think at noon tomorrow?"
"Can."
"Then we will pick you up tomorrow?"
"No need to bother with this. Just send me the address on your mobile phone later."
"Okay, Teacher Li. I'll send it over in a moment. Then we'll see you tomorrow."
"Okay, see you tomorrow!"
After Xiaopang finished cleaning up the kitchen, he cut another plate of fruit and brought it over. She knew that Li Tang was not adapted to the dry climate of the capital, and the fruit at home never ran out.
Li Tang took a toothpick and inserted a piece of pear. It was very moist and sweet.
I have to say that he is very lucky that Xiaopang was able to take the role of An Xin. Xiaopang has changed a lot in the past six months. Not only has he learned to cook and do housework, but he can also do such considerate details very well, which makes him Find the feeling you had with your ex-girlfriend.
Xiaopang sat down opposite him, holding his chin and looking at him.
"What's wrong?"
Li Tang thought there was something on his face.
But Xiaopang said quietly: "Do you think you men tend to go bad when doing business?"
"What went bad? What do you mean?"
Li Tang was a little confused.
"Just like you did just now, you just tell lies when you open your mouth, and you deliberately drag others down even though you have already decided the matter."
"Hey, do you understand this is called a negotiation strategy? Besides, I can't say that I didn't answer his call on purpose, right?"
But Xiaopang said with a tangled face: "But...but I still like you the way you are, otherwise, what's the difference between you and Mao Jie!"
Yes, I am still too deep into the drama.
Xiaopang has become very sensitive now. He actually compares himself with Mao Jie in "Jade Guanyin". Do he and Mao Jie have anything to do with each other?
In this situation, Li Tang could only comfort him with kind words: "Actually, I don't want to be like this. It was Jiajia who taught me. And my studio is now independent. They say that shopping malls are like battlefields. Otherwise, it would be stupid. You will be led by others, you know?"
Xiaopang tilted his head and thought for a while, and finally nodded, but still frowned and said, "I know, but don't always be like this. The changes are too big. I, I'm a little scared."
Li Tang stood up, walked around behind her, held her in his arms, and said softly: "Fool, I'm still me, what do you have to be afraid of? Your task now is to finish filming the scene and then rest for a while. I’ll take some time to relax with you.”
"Will you have time then?"
"Time, there will always be a squeeze."
…
The weather was good the next day, the sun was shining brightly, but the temperature was always below freezing. Fortunately, it was dry and cold here in Beijing, unlike Shanghai, where it was also several degrees below zero. The cold air penetrated directly into the seams of people's bones and flesh, no matter how much they wore, does not work.
At eleven o'clock at noon, Li Tang wrapped himself in a black down sweater with a large Canada Goose logo embroidered on the top of the sleeve. This kind of brand of down jackets is almost impossible to find in China these days. My mother sent it from the United States a few years ago.
As Li Tang became famous, I also heard about it in the United States. Especially after he won the Best Actor in the Against the Current section of the Venice Film Festival, I made a special call to congratulate him.
Li Tang is rich now, and there is no need for her to send money or clothes every year. But I am still very persistent, the money is still five thousand US dollars, but the clothes I send are of a higher quality, and I try to choose some brands that are not common in China. For example, the Canada Goose he is wearing is not cheap in the United States, costing at least seven to eight hundred dollars a piece.
In this case, Li Tang can't stop him anymore. This is probably my only psychological comfort to make up for the past guilt.
The road bike I bought when I was filming "A Very Summer" was taken out again and tidied up, wiped clean, oiled the gears and chain, and pumped it up enough.
Today he put on sunglasses and a peaked cap, rode a bicycle, and went along Paoju Hutong to Berlin Hutong, then to Beixin Hutong, and then along Beixin Hutong to Yonghegong Street. Fifty meters south of Yonghegong Street is Fangjia Hutong. Less than a hundred meters further into the alley, there is a family with a sign saying Liu's Shabu Shabu Shabu.
This is the address Zhang Baibai sent to his mobile phone yesterday.
The alleys in Dongcheng extend in all directions. It is very close to Paoju Alley and only takes about ten minutes by bike. Moreover, this place is not far from Zhongxi. The stronghold of Zhang Baibai and his gang may be in this area.
Li Tang turned into Fang's alley and saw a short fat man wearing a woolen hat standing in front of the store and looking in the distance.
Maybe it was because he was riding a bicycle. It wasn't until Li Tang rode in front of him and stopped with the brakes that Zhang Baibai recognized him and said in surprise: "Teacher Li, you came here on a bicycle!"
"It's not far from here, convenient."
Zhang Baibai hurriedly followed his words and said with a smile: "That's right. The traffic jam in Beijing is getting worse and worse now... Hey, Teacher Li, let me park it for you. It's not safe for you to park your car here. Wait until you come out after dinner. , maybe the car will be gone.”
Li Tang was about to park his car on the side of the road when Zhang Baibai hurriedly ran over, grabbed the bicycle and pushed it to the door of a grocery store next to the hotel. After saying a few words to the shop owner, he parked Li Tang's high-end road bicycle. At the door of the grocery store.
He ran back and said cheerfully: "I know the store owner, let him help and make sure it's not lost."
It seemed that he was indeed from the old land here. Li Tang was also used to living in Paoju Hutong, and he had forgotten that there was not a detention center stationed everywhere.
"Director Zhang, we're in trouble!"
"It's okay, let's go. Fendou and Yinan are here."
Although this shabu-shabu restaurant doesn't have a big front, it's quite big inside. The lobby is steaming and crowded, and business is very good. Zhang Baibai led him through the lobby, and there was a row of boxes behind it.
Pushing open the door of one of the rooms: "Teacher Li, please!"
The two people sitting inside stood up. Liu Fendou, the smooth-headed and spirited young man...well, he almost had four photos and it seemed that he couldn't be called a young man, but he was so young that even if he was in his twenties and thirties, there would probably be no one there. will doubt.
The other one is Diao Yinan, a taciturn and handsome guy with glasses. Not only is he handsome, he is also tall. He looks similar to Li Tang.
"Teacher Liu, Teacher Diao, I'm sorry for being late!"
Diao Yinan just smiled and nodded, while Liu Fendou said enthusiastically: "It's not too late, it's because we came early. Come on, come on, Teacher Li, please sit down quickly. Please take your seat."
Everyone present here can be regarded as his seniors, how could Li Tang be willing to sit down? The so-called seating arrangement may not be very particular in Shanghai, but in Beijing it is very particular.
But in the end they couldn't stand the eloquent Zhang Baibai and Liu Fendou, so they forced him to sit on the seat.
A small round table for six people is very spacious for four people. As the stove was brought to the table, Liu Fendou was still trying to smile and introduced: "Teacher Li, this is an authentic shabu-shabu restaurant in the old capital. It has been open for hundreds of years. You must try it."
Liu Fendou was exaggerating. Although Li Tang looked very interested on the surface, he actually didn't take it seriously.
Beijing is, to put it bluntly, a food desert. When he came to the capital in his previous life, the streets were full of the old capital and all kinds of time-honored brands. In fact, these things were all in ruins and had no characteristics at all.
A plate of sliced lamb and lamb tripe is then served, as well as vermicelli, mushrooms, vegetables, etc., as well as prepared sesame sauce. Li Tang added two more spoonfuls of chive flowers, a piece of fermented bean curd, and a few drops of sesame oil according to his own taste, and then stirred it evenly.
Neither Zhang Baibai nor Diao Yinan are from Beijing. One is from Sichuan and the other is from Xi'an. However, Liu Fendou is a native of the country. When he saw Li Tang's operation, he immediately gave a thumbs up and said: "Authentic!"
(End of chapter)
