MC Bookstore Chapter 181 The Shanxi Merchants' Tea Party, the Interception by Five Major Cinema Lines
Chapter 181 The Shanxi Merchants' Tea Party, the Interception by Five Major Cinema Lines
Outside Taiyuan Wusu Airport, grayish-white smog pressed down on the distant mountains.
There's coal dust in the air; if you inhale it through your nose, your throat will feel dry.
A black Mercedes-Benz S600 with local license plates was parked at the terminal exit.
The driver, dressed in a dark suit and wearing white gloves, opened the back door for them.
Chen Yan bent down and sat down, with Su Wan following behind.
Once the car door was closed, the cold wind and the smell of coal dust were kept out.
Su Wan opened her briefcase and handed a document to Chen Yan.
The car drove onto the airport expressway.
The carriage smelled of leather and cedarwood.
"Yan Haishan".
Su Wan looked at the name on the document and said in a steady tone, "Fifty-three years old. He started his business in the late 1980s by contracting small coal mines in townships. In the mid-1990s, he took advantage of policy dividends and acquired more than twenty mining areas in Jinzhong and Datong. His company, Haishan Energy, controls one-tenth of Shanxi's coking coal production. Conservatively estimated, his personal net worth exceeds 10 billion yuan."
Chen Yan leaned back in his chair, looking out the window through the privacy film.
The highway is flanked by wasteland, and occasionally you can see abandoned blast furnaces.
"They have so much money they're burning their hands."
Chen Yan said.
Su Wan turned a page: "It's definitely a hot potato. Starting in the second half of this year, environmental policies have tightened, and the authorities are going to crack down on private coal mines. Several of Yan Haishan's main mining areas have received notices to suspend production and rectify their operations. He's now in a hurry to transform his business, looking for an officially recognized clean industry to launder his money and give himself a layer of protection."
"This is our bargaining chip."
Chen Yan looked away and tapped his fingers twice on his knee. "He wants fame, we want money. It's a win-win situation."
"We're not the only ones eyeing him."
Su Wan pulled out a secretly taken photo from under the document and handed it to Chen Yan. "The intelligence says that people from the five major cinema chains arrived in Taiyuan yesterday. The leader is Li Jianguo, the chief producer of Oriental Cinemas. They brought Zhang's proposal for 'A Better Tomorrow,' and their target is Yan Haishan's money."
Chen Yan took the photo.
In the photo, Li Jianguo is wearing a suit and drinking with several businessmen at a table.
"The project was worth 200 million, but Wall Street venture capitalists only provided half of it. They have to find someone to cover the remaining shortfall."
Chen Yan put the photo into the storage compartment. "She was quick."
"Li Jianguo has extensive connections in the industry. The five major cinema chains are trying to use this martial arts blockbuster to capture next year's market. They have already told their familiar investors that they will block the financing channels for 'The Wandering Earth'."
Su Wan closed the document. "Yan Haishan is a businessman; he understands coal, but not film. Director Zhang's reputation, coupled with the established formula for martial arts films, makes him a more reliable partner. Our chances of winning are slim if we try to negotiate with a sci-fi film that hasn't been made domestically before."
Chen Yan didn't reply, but just zipped up his windbreaker.
The Mercedes left the highway and turned onto a winding mountain road on the outskirts of TY city.
With more trees lining both sides of the road, the smell of coal ash faded, and the scent of pine needles wafted into the car.
Half an hour later, the car stopped in front of a private estate.
The building, constructed with blue bricks and high walls, resembles the courtyards of Shanxi merchants, with two white marble lions placed at the entrance.
Four security guards wearing tactical vests stepped forward to check the license plate and appointment.
The pure copper gate slowly opened.
The car drove into the manor.
It's not all traditional courtyards inside; European gardens and Chinese architecture are mixed together, which looks a bit awkward, but also very grand.
A bronze statue of Guan Yu stands in the middle of the fountain pool, with water flowing down from his Green Dragon Crescent Blade.
Chen Yan and Su Wan got out of the car and, led by the butler, walked through the corridor to the outside of the main building's reception room.
The door to the reception room was open.
Three people were sitting on a rosewood bench outside the door.
The man in the middle is Li Jianguo.
He was wearing a custom-made striped suit and flipping through a gold-embossed catalog.
On the left is a lawyer wearing black-rimmed glasses, and on the right sits a young actress with heavy makeup and an eye-catching figure.
Hearing footsteps, Li Jianguo looked up.
Chen Yan also looked at him.
Li Jianguo closed the picture album, stood up, and straightened his suit.
He walked towards Chen Yan, his leather shoes making a clear sound on the marble floor.
"Director Chen."
Li Jianguo stopped two steps away from Chen Yan. "Venice is over, but you're still as charming as ever. I heard 'Thunder' sold for a good price in Europe. What, fifteen million euros isn't enough for you? You've come all the way to this Loess Plateau to beg for money?"
Chen Yan looked at the other person.
"Mr. Li is very well-informed."
Chen Yan spoke.
Li Jianguo turned to the side and showed the picture album in his hand, which had the words "A Better Tomorrow" printed on it.
"Director Zhang's script. All-star cast, Hollywood action choreography team. Guaranteed distribution by five major theater chains. This is what you call a heavy-industry commercial film."
He patted the catalog in his palm. "Director Chen, we accept your awards in Europe. Art always needs someone to promote it. But the rules of the domestic market can't be changed by a Golden Lion trophy. Sci-fi? Pushing the Earth along?"
Li Jianguo shook his head, his tone condescending: "You're too young; you don't know the depths of capital. Boss Yan is a businessman; he wants sure-fire deals, not childish games of saving the world with you. I advise you not to go in and embarrass yourself. Go back to Beijing, make your art films; the five major cinema chains will still reserve a few screens for you."
Su Wan took a step forward.
Chen Yan raised his hand to stop her.
Chen Yan looked at Li Jianguo, then glanced at the gold-embossed album in his hand.
"Wielding swords and guns, does that even deserve to be called heavy industry?"
This sentence was spoken very softly.
Li Jianguo's face darkened.
Li Jianguo: "Director Zhang's box office appeal, coupled with top-notch audiovisual effects, is the current market ceiling."
"ceiling."
Chen Yan repeated it.
He didn't look at Li Jianguo again, and walked straight to the door of the reception room. "Then I'll smash this ceiling."
Li Jianguo stared at Chen Yan's back, sneered, and sat back down on the rosewood bench.
"Ignorant of one's own limitations."
Li Jianguo flipped through the picture book, "Wait until Yan Haishan kicks you out."
The butler came out of the reception room and bowed to Chen Yan: "Mr. Chen, President Yan invites you in."
Chen Yan stepped over the threshold.
The reception room was very large, with a crystal chandelier hanging from the dome and a Persian carpet on the floor.
The room smelled of cigars and Pu'er tea.
A golden nanmu tea table was placed in the center of the hall.
A burly man sat in the main seat.
He wore a loose Tang suit, had a buzz cut, rough and dark skin, and a string of sandalwood beads on his wrist.
Yan Haishan.
He didn't get up, but instead used his thick fingers to hold the purple clay teacup and slowly skimmed off the tea foam.
On the other side of the tea table was a picture book of "A Better Tomorrow," just like the one Li Jianguo was holding.
"Director Chen."
Yan Haishan put down his teacup and looked up at Chen Yan.
The look in his eyes wasn't like he was looking at a director; it was more like he was looking at a mine, estimating whether it could be mined and how much could be extracted.
"I've heard so much about you. The youngest winner of the Golden Lion at Venice. Please have a seat."
Chen Yan pulled out a mahogany chair and sat down.
Su Wan stood to the side and placed the combination lock box at her feet.
Yan Haishan didn't look at Su Wan; his gaze remained fixed on Chen Yan's face.
He picked up the martial arts picture book on the table and opened it to the first page.
"That Mr. Li outside just talked to me for half an hour about sword fights. He said that if I invest 50 million in this film, he can make me get back 100 million with interest during next year's National Day holiday."
Yan Haishan slammed the catalog onto the table with a dull thud. "Profits double. Very tempting."
He leaned back in his chair and placed his hands on his stomach.
"Mr. Li also told me that Director Chen has a script called 'The Wandering Earth'."
Yan Haishan stared at Chen Yan. "He said you're going to build tens of thousands of engines to push the Earth out of the solar system. He said you're crazy."
Yan Haishan leaned forward slightly, resting his elbows on the table.
"Director Chen, give me a heads-up. Mr. Li makes a hundred million from his swordplay. Can your thing, which's practically pushing the Earth, make more than that?"
Chen Yan didn't rush to answer.
He glanced at Su Wan.
Su Wan bent down and opened the black alloy combination lock box at her feet.
There was no script or proposal in the box.
Inside, there was only a blue drawing in a moisture-proof bag, and a letter of intent for cooperation with New Zealand's Vita Digital.
Chen Yan took out the letter of intent and pushed it to the center of the tea table.
"Mr. Yan, Mr. Li is talking to you about movies, it's business."
Chen Yan's voice wasn't loud, but Yan Haishan slowly sat up straight.
"What I'm talking to you about is reputation, about leaving a mark on history."