Chapter 43

After handling his affairs in Beijing, Shen Zhenghui headed south directly and returned to his old base, Pengcheng. Shen Xingguo and his wife no longer engaged in foreign trade. As the chairman of Xinghui Culture and Media Co., Ltd., he was busy dealing with distributors and cinema chains, feeling that he had become a cultural figure. Because of this, Liang Kexiu naturally had to keep a close eye on her husband. After all, how corrupt the entertainment industry was had only been hearsay before, but now she had the chance to witness it firsthand. Liang Kexiu would not let her husband off the hook, so her main task as a director was to monitor the chairman.

Shen Zhenghui's return made Liang Kexiu the happiest. Although it seemed like only a semester had passed, Liang Kexiu showed more enthusiasm than when Shen Zhenghui came home on holiday.

Shen Xingguo naturally boasted about his efforts in the distribution of the movie "Top of the Year." He complained to his son, "Such a good movie, and I had to beg everyone to distribute and screen it. The box office share was negotiated point by point. Although we made much more money than before, it was really hard work. I might as well have stuck with foreign trade!"

"Don't listen to your father's boasting," Liang Kexiu brought the food and mercilessly exposed Shen Xingguo, "It's not as terrible as he says. Although the negotiations were tough, everyone knew this movie would make money. Distributors and cinemas are also in it for the money. Why would they leave money on the table?"

"What do you know?" Shen Xingguo felt his face was losing, and quickly changed the subject, "Why did you go back to Beijing? And stay for so long? Is everything okay?"

"Everything's fine," Shen Zhenghui picked up his bowl, "There shouldn't be any big issues in the future, so don't worry."

"Really?" Liang Kexiu was surprised, "What about that someone's son's problem?"

"Don't worry about it." Shen Zhenghui shrugged.

"Then come back," Shen Xingguo said, "I'm working so hard, and you still have time to shoot movies in Japan." He then asked, "Is shooting movies fun? Can Dad run a small role?"

"Uh, although there are no big issues, our development focus is still in Japan for the short term, so I can't come back." Shen Zhenghui forced a smile, "Running a small role...?"

"What, you can't even do that? You're not doing well in Japan, are you?" Shen Xingguo pouted, "You might as well come back earlier."

Liang Kexiu nudged Shen Xingguo's arm and put on a kind expression, "Zhenghui, Liu Xin is in Japan too. How are you two doing?"

"Nothing much, just working normally," Shen Zhenghui answered calmly and continued eating.

"Let me tell you, if you bring back a Japanese wife, I won't agree!" Shen Xingguo slapped the table.

"What's wrong with a Japanese wife? They're great!" Liang Kexiu said, "Aren't Japanese women known for being gentle and hardworking?"

"Old-fashioned talk!" Shen Xingguo said disdainfully.

"Zhenghui, the actress who plays the female lead in your movie is pretty good. Why don't you bring her back for us to see?" Liang Kexiu ignored her husband.

Shen Zhenghui rolled his eyes and put down his bowl, "Dad, I remember our company had a department that shot ads. How is that department doing?"

"There is such a department, but it's just average," Shen Xingguo replied, "It makes some money, but not as much as the magazine and animation departments."

"I want to expand that department. We should find some people and shoot TV series," Shen Zhenghui said.

"Huh?" Shen Xingguo widened his eyes, "Shoot... TV series?"

"Yep."

"Can... can we shoot TV series?" Shen Xingguo looked excited.

"It's simple. My son shoots movies, so shooting TV series is a piece of cake."

"That's too simplistic. Shooting TV series is expensive," Liang Kexiu said.

"This is a business, what are you worried about?" Shen Xingguo said to his wife, "We've successfully shot animated movies, so why be afraid of live-action movies?"

"My idea is to shoot low-budget TV series to gain experience and connections. Even if we lose some money, it's fine." Shen Zhenghui paused, "The key is to set up the framework so that we can collaborate on movies in the future without letting outsiders make the money."

"Collaborate on movies?"

"Yep. I'm developing in Japan now, but I will definitely return to China in the future. So we need to set up the framework here first, which will make things easier later."

"Son, your father doesn't understand these things. What if he can't do it well?" Liang Kexiu was full of worry.

"What's to be afraid of? If he doesn't understand, he can learn!" Shen Xingguo couldn't stand his wife's constant pessimism, "Did I know anything about foreign trade before? I still did it successfully."

"That's true. You've earned more in your lifetime than your son does in a year," Liang Kexiu mercilessly pointed out.

"That's what they call a tiger father having no dog of a son, and the student surpassing the teacher," Shen Xingguo said proudly, "Besides, the specific work isn't done by me. I just manage the big picture. Didn't Director Yan and the others do the heavy lifting for the animated movie?" He looked at Shen Zhenghui, "By the way, you need to give an explanation to the animation company too!"

"I know, that's why I came back for these things."

"You should also visit Uncle Liu," Liang Kexiu reminded, "Even if you and Liu Xin don't work out, he helped you a lot when you were starting your career."

"He just hitched a ride on our plan," Shen Xingguo was somewhat resentful, "Now he's with your classmate's family, and his company has grown several times over."

Shen Zhenghui licked his lips.

"He followed our plan and now has several commercial properties and a few cinemas," Shen Xingguo said, "He's either first or second in Shenzhen. He should thank us, not the other way around."

Liang Kexiu glanced at her husband, "Since he's one of the richest, you should build a good relationship with him, right?"

Shen Xingguo looked at Shen Zhenghui.

"Or I could ask him if he's interested in shooting movies and TV series?"

...

"Of course I'm interested, nephew," Liu Dekai laughed and patted Shen Zhenghui's shoulder, "When 'Shaolin Temple' came out, I was so excited. But I was already not young, so I didn't want to learn martial arts like others. I thought, one day I could shoot a movie like that and make all of China as excited as me. Isn't that great?"

"Uh..." Shen Zhenghui didn't expect Liu Dekai to be a literary youth back then, which explained why Liu Xin had her father's genes.

"But to make a living, I had to do business and build houses. Now, I think shooting movies is more fun, so when you suggested setting up a company, I was very interested."

"Uh, Uncle Liu, about setting up the film and culture company..."

"Great, I'm willing to invest," Liu Dekai said simply, with a somewhat wistful expression, "My name will be on the movies and TV series in the future."

Shang Rongmei walked in with tea and placed it in front of Shen Zhenghui, "What 'Shaolin Temple'? Pfft," she said disdainfully, "You just want to sleep with female stars!"

"Don't talk like that, there's a child here!" Liu Dekai looked embarrassed.

"Zhenghui!" Shang Rongmei smiled at Shen Zhenghui, "Liu Xin is always in Japan and doesn't come home. Although she has a career, as adults, we can't be at ease. Since you're in Japan, you should take care of her more!"

"Sure, I should," Shen Zhenghui licked his lips, feeling a bit awkward.

"About this TV company, I have some ideas. I want to talk to you about it. Do you think it's right?" Shang Rongmei sat down.

"What do you know?" Liu Dekai frowned, "You only know how to watch TV."

"That's why I have ideas and you don't," Shang Rongmei waved her hand, "Go take care of your real estate, and I'll chat with Zhenghui."

Liu Dekai stood up, "Well, Zhenghui, chat with your aunt. Don't give her face for her wild ideas, just point them out directly."

"Go away!" Shang Rongmei waved her hand and, after Liu Dekai left, she smiled at Shen Zhenghui, "Zhenghui, when I was young..."

...

"I really didn't expect things to turn out like this," Shen Zhenghui sat in the large room, where a dozen women were gathered, chatting nonstop.

Shen Xingguo sat across from Shen Zhenghui, looking at each other.

"Zhenghui, come here!" Liang Kexiu, who was talking to others, waved to her son.

Shen Zhenghui forced a smile and walked over, letting his mother proudly announce, "This is my son."

"Wow, your son is so handsome!"

"What a good young man, is he married?"

"Acted in Japan? What's his name?"

Under Shen Zhenghui's miserable gaze, Liang Kexiu proudly revealed everything about her son.

This was the 50s sisters' gathering of rich housewives in Pengcheng, where Liang Kexiu and Shang Rongmei were key members. When they announced their plan to shoot TV series in their circle, it attracted the great interest of the bored and wealthy middle-aged women. Thus, Shen Zhenghui and Shen Xingguo were dragged into their discussions about setting up a company.

...

"Son, do you think it's reliable to let these rich and idle women write and invest in shooting movies?" Shen Xingguo asked his son, "I think it's too hasty. What if the movies don't sell?"

"Didn't you hear Mom's introduction? Aunt Xu's husband is the director of Pengcheng TV."

"Is that so?"

"And Aunt Yan, who is introduced as an associate professor of Chinese literature at Pengcheng University."

"Ah, is that so?"

"And a few other rich aunts, especially Aunt Chen, whose husband is the branch manager of the People's Bank of China in Pengcheng."

"Deputy manager," Shen Xingguo corrected.

"I think with this group of people, shooting a TV series is a very ordinary thing."

"You have a point," Shen Xingguo nodded.

"Besides, isn't this a good thing?" Shen Zhenghui spread his hands, "We don't have to pay for shooting TV series."

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