Chapter 477: Spring Festival Gala Advertisement

Time flies like a shuttle; in the blink of an eye another year has passed.

On New Year's Eve, before dawn, Chen Yang went to Chen Chunmei's house to eat the reunion meal, then drove back to Qingshui City.

The Spring Festival travel rush in Dongjiangsheng was as congested as ever; a three‑hour drive took six hours before he finally returned to Qingshui City.

After arriving in Qingshui City, Chen Yang went to the Old Hundreds Meat Industry Co., Ltd. to attend the annual meeting, and after delivering his speech there he went to Shuangfeng Town to pick up Lin Wei.

By the time he reached Lin Lao Yezi's house, it was already 6:30 p. m.

"Chen Yang, how is your second uncle's matter?" Lin Lao Yezi's main concern was Lin Jianye's future. Chen Yang had just finished a cup of tea when he began asking.

Chen Yang glanced at Lin Jianye and his wife, saw their eyes also on him, and said: "Yesterday Governor Liu spoke with me, saying that Secretary Yan Hua had already recommended my second uncle to take over his position."

Upon hearing this, Lin Lao Yezi immediately said to Chen Yang: "Then have you said a few good words to Governor Liu?"

Chen Yang said to him: "Grandfather, since Governor Liu brought this up on his own, it shows he will respect Secretary Yan's opinion; there's no need for me to add extra commentary."

Lin Lao Yezi, rather dissatisfied, said: "Chen Yang, you have a better relationship with Governor Liu. You should mention it; that way he'll keep it in mind."

Chen Yang felt Lin Lao Yezi was simply worrying needlessly. Since Governor Liu had spelled things out clearly, Lin Jianye's matter was basically a done deal. In order to enjoy the New Year's Eve meal smoothly, he immediately said: "When I go to Governor Liu's house to pay New Year's respects during the Spring Festival, I'll bring it up then. I'll certainly get this settled."

Upon hearing this, Lin Lao Yezi finally felt satisfied.

At this moment, Hu Qingwan suddenly interjected: "Chen Yang, what did Governor Liu say about your father's matter?"

Chen Yang replied with a smile: "The Political and Legal Committee's Chen Lao Yezi and Secretary Kong Jie both recommended my father to become mayor of Qingshui City. This should be nine out of ten certain."

"Good! Good news!" Upon hearing this, Lin Lao Yezi's expression instantly turned excited. He said to Lin Jianguo: "Jianguo, since the Provincial Committee values you so highly, you must seize this opportunity well!"

"Dad, rest assured, I will not let the senior leaders and Governor Liu down." Although Lin Jianguo had never overseen economic work, he had a son‑in‑law who understands economics, and moreover had helped lay the foundations of Qingshui City in advance. Under these circumstances, making a mistake would be hard.

And when Hu Qingwan heard that her husband had a prospect of becoming mayor, tears of joy streamed down her face. She said to Chen Yang: "Your father doesn't understand economics, so from now on you'll need to give him more advice."

Chen Yang immediately shook his head and said: "Mom, managing economic affairs and running a company are two different concepts. In this regard, my second uncle should have more say than I do."

"Moreover, Governor Liu told me that if things work out, my investments in Qingshui City and Xian'an County will have to be gradually reduced."

Hu Qingwan said displeasedly: "So many officials' offspring in Xingcheng do business under their parents' patronage, yet Governor Liu insists on restricting you. This is totally unfair!"

Chen Yang found it awkward to respond, merely smiling without speaking.

At this point Lin Lao Yezi actually agreed with Governor Liu's opinion. He told Hu Qingwan: "Since Jianguo and Jianye have both been promoted, it's appropriate for Chen Yang to avoid a conflict of interest; we shouldn't take all the benefits."

Hu Qingwan was actually just venting, with no ill intent toward Governor Liu. After all, if Lin Jianguo truly becomes mayor of Qingshui City, Governor Liu is a benefactor to the Lin family; she could never repay kindness with betrayal.

After finishing the discussion about Lin Jianguo's and Lin Jianye's promotions, the family began eating the New Year's Eve meal.

At 8:00 p. m., the Spring Festival Gala officially began.

Lin Xiaomi, who had been watching TV, immediately noticed something different in the program and excitedly shouted at Chen Yang: "Uncle, hurry and look—our company is on TV again!"

The crowd, drawn to the TV by Lin Xiaomi's call, indeed found that the host of the Spring Festival Gala was introducing the Old Hundreds E‑commerce Platform.

"Serving the people, warming countless homes! Welcome to watch the 2004 Spring Festival Gala sponsored by the Old Hundreds E‑commerce Platform—I am the host, XX……"

"Chen Yang, isn't this advertising fee expensive?" Hu Qingwan saw her son‑in‑law's company actually placing the ad on the Spring Festival Gala, feeling both happy and a bit pained.

Chen Yang replied with a smile: "Mom, this is Governor Liu's demand; no matter how costly, I'll manage it."

Hu Qingwan finally understood why Lin Jianguo's promotion went so smoothly—it was all Chen Yang currying favor with Governor Liu by throwing money around.

Without Chen Yang, Lin Jianguo would probably have spent his entire career stuck in the Political and Legal System until retirement.

"Chen Yang, for your father's job transfer, this time you've had to spend money."

"Mom, you're being too formal. Besides, my father's matter was already settled long ago; it has little to do with me."

Chen Yang didn't want to take credit. For if it weren't for the recommendations of Chen Lao Yezi and Secretary Kong Jie, even if he could please Governor Liu, he couldn't get Lin Jianguo into the mayor's seat of Qingshui City.

But Hu Qingwan didn't believe it, and even the whole Lin family thought it was Chen Yang's doing that ultimately made Lin Jianguo's and Lin Jianye's promotions proceed as a matter of course.

"Everyone, quick look—you can still win a ten‑thousand‑yuan prize by calling in." Lin Xiaomi shouted again, shifting everyone's gaze back to the TV.

"Honey, when the host takes a viewer's call, our company has to give out ten thousand yuan—how much prize money will we have to pay?" Lin Wei asked Chen Yang while watching TV.

"Not much!" Chen Yang answered calmly: "The Spring Festival Gala lasts four hours total, with so many performances; there isn't much time left for the host to draw lots. At most, each program segment allows one draw, so over the night it's only a few hundred thousand."

"Only a few hundred thousand… that's far inferior to the rewards of the Collect Five Blessings Card event you run on your e‑commerce platform." Lin Wei sighed. As the wife of the boss of the Old Hundreds Agricultural Products Trading Company, she also took part in the Collect Five Blessings Card activity, never expecting to miss out on a win.

What's more vexing to her is that a clerk in the town government office actually managed to collect a full set of cards.

"Chen Yang, by handing out money everywhere, you're probably spending all the profit you made this year. What's the point of running your company then?" Lin Lao Yezi looked at Chen Yang, incomprehension.

"Grandfather, you have to give to get." Chen Yang explained: "To retain old customers and develop new ones, we must constantly carry out all kinds of advertising promotion. Don't look at the current few hundred thousand; advertising costs of several million are already high. In fact, when market competition becomes fiercer later, this amount will double and increase."