Chapter 159: Central Television... what's going on?

"What? You want to film a drama?"

Hearing Su Meng say this, Duan Duan Jiangping was stunned again.

*Didn't you say you were going to film a movie? How did it become a drama?*

But then he thought, *a drama is good, dramas have long shooting cycles.*

*If you go film another movie, will it take three days? Or five?*

*At this stage, you'd better keep a low profile and stay safe.*

*A drama is good, won't it take you a few months to film?*

*By the time the heat dies down, you can come back out and jump around.*

However...

Before he could think it through, Sister Qin had already spoken first.

"No problem! If you want to film, then film!"

"Let the boss be your producer and handle all those messy chores; you just focus on filming."

"How much are you planning to invest this time?"

Su Meng rubbed his chin and thought for a moment before finally making up his mind.

"This time I'm going to play big; let's set the investment at 100 million!"

"How much? 100 million?" Hearing this number, Duan Duan Jiangping's face turned green.

*Have you ever filmed a drama before? You're asking for 100 million right off the bat?*

Sister Qin glared at him, then turned back to Su Meng with a smile.

"No problem! Isn't it just 100 million? Sister has money!"

"Right, how are you planning to split the shares?"

Su Meng thought for a moment and made a lion's share request.

"I'll put in 30 million, write, direct, and star in it, and take 60% of the shares. The company puts in 70 million and takes 40%..."

"The company has no money!" Duan Duan Jiangping's face turned green.

*Are you treating the company like a sucker? Where does that leave me, the boss?*

"Get lost!" Sister Qin kicked him.

"Look at your stingy face! Isn't it just 70 million? Sister will pay it! Sister has money!"

"And let Old Duan handle those messy things; we'll just lie back and make money!"

Duan Duan Jiangping was on the verge of tears.

*You have money? Do you have any idea where your money came from?*

*Isn't it all from my private stash and the money earned from 'Flash Girl'?*

*That movie Su Meng filmed in three days took away 500 million from Bilibili alone, including guarantees and revenue sharing!*

*Plus theater box office revenue, product placement, subsequent derivative copyrights...*

*A casual calculation shows the total revenue exceeded 1 billion!*

*But the problem is, the total investment for that movie was only 3 million! How many times over is that profit?*

*In this investment, Sister Qin took 40%, which is hundreds of millions in profit!*

*This was all supposed to be my money...*

Duan Duan Jiangping's heart was bleeding.

Seeing that things were settled, Su Meng nodded and continued.

"Alright, let's settle it like that for now."

"This is a war drama with large-scale scenes; I can't handle it alone, so I need an assistant director who is good at large-scale scenes."

"And the drama project setup, filing, and those things, I'll leave to you, Boss."

"As for actors, I need a large number of veteran actors this time; I'll make a list first."

"Alright, I'm off."

Watching Su Meng walk out, Sister Qin beamed with joy.

"Our Su Meng has finally grown up; he knows to bring Sister Qin along when making money."

"Last time 3 million earned hundreds of millions, how much will this one earn?"

Duan Duan Jiangping looked at her, seeing her lost in the joy of counting money, drool almost flowing out.

He couldn't hold it in anymore and said softly.

"That... Sister Qin, I have to remind you."

"This is a drama! It has to be aired on TV stations!"

"But now, Su Meng has offended Central Television, so which TV station would dare to take it?"

"Your money..."

Huh? Sister Qin froze, her face suddenly turning pale.

"You mean... I'm going to lose 70 million this time?"

Duan Duan Jiangping nodded silently, his face heavy, but his heart was incredibly happy.

*Hahaha, that's what you get for showing off! Have you learned your lesson now?*

After a long while, Sister Qin stomped her foot and finally made up her mind.

"Damn! Isn't it just 70 million?"

"Old lady has money! I can afford to lose it!"

"At worst, I'll just treat it as spoiling a child!"

Holy crap! *That works too?*

Duan Duan Jiangping looked at her, stunned.

*Is this still my wife who loves money more than her life?*

Sister Qin turned her head, saw his stunned expression, and immediately got angry, kicking him again.

"You're the boss, why are you still standing there? Why aren't you going to make money?"

"This year's company revenue must increase by 70 million... oh no, 700 million!"

"If you can't do it, don't even think about getting into my bed!"

Standing at the door of the station director's office, Xiang Xiang Xiang Zhiming felt numb.

*Is the result of Su Meng blasting the Spring Festival Gala finally coming today?*

*No wonder people say, do more, err more; do less, err less; do nothing, err nothing.*

*You could have just done the gala step-by-step, why did you have to be so proactive?*

*For the sake of two good programs, you provoked Su Meng.*

*Now it's great, I'm the one who has to take the blame...*

Taking a few deep breaths, Xiang Xiang Xiang Zhiming knocked on the door twice.

"Come in!"

Pushing the door open, Xiang Xiang Xiang Zhiming kept his head down, his voice lacking confidence.

"Director, you were looking for me?"

The director looked up at him and said lightly.

"Director Xiang, you've been busy with the gala lately, you must be exhausted, right?"

"Do you have any plans for your next stage of work?"

*Here it comes!*

Hearing this, Xiang Xiang Xiang Zhiming was on the verge of tears.

*I'm just a director at Central Television, and the leader is personally concerned about my work?*

*Don't you understand what this means?*

*This is a demotion!*

*They've even given me the reason!*

*You've been so busy with the gala, you must be tired!*

*Letting you rest well is the leader showing concern for their subordinates!*

Xiang Xiang Xiang Zhiming felt bitter, but didn't dare show it on his face.

"I'm mainly doing the finishing work for the gala right now."

"I don't have any other work arrangements for the time being."

The director nodded and said lightly.

"Since you don't have any work arrangements, I happen to have a small matter to hand over to you."

*Here it comes...*

*If it's a blessing, it's not a curse; if it's a curse, you can't avoid it!*

Xiang Xiang Xiang Zhiming took a deep breath, adopting a "death-defying" stance.

"Director, please instruct me, I will definitely... obey the organization's arrangements..."

"Report!"

"Come in!"

The office door pushed open, Shi Shi Shi Dazhi strode in, stood at attention, and saluted with a slap.

"Good day, Brigade Commander!"

Brigade Commander He He Weiguo returned the salute and pointed to a chair, signaling him to sit down.

"Shi Shi Dazhi, how is the training of the Second Squadron going recently?"

"Report to the Brigade Commander, everything is going smoothly!"

He He Weiguo nodded and said lightly.

"But I heard that your Second Squadron has been getting a bit cocky lately."

Shi Shi Shi Dazhi smiled confidently, his face full of pride.

"Brigade Commander, our Second Squadron is a special squadron, the elite of the elite!"

"In the exercises just conducted, we performed so well, cutting through those ordinary troops like chopping melons and vegetables."

"It's inevitable that everyone is a bit proud, right?"

"But please rest assured, Brigade Commander, I will definitely do a good job with the soldiers' psychological work and keep up the good work!"

He He Weiguo shook his head slightly and said slowly.

"Arrogant soldiers are bound to fail; this is a bloody lesson from countless people in history."

"Our brigade is a special warfare brigade, and your Second Squadron is the special forces of the special forces."

"Once war comes, we are the ones who have to be on the front lines first!"

"Your current mindset..."

He glanced at Shi Shi Shi Dazhi and saw a hint of disdain in the depths of his eyes; he clearly hadn't taken his words to heart.

Sighing slightly, He He Weiguo changed the subject directly.

"In a while, your squadron's training work will be paused."

"Take a month to carry out a special mission."

"Yes!" Hearing the word "mission," Shi Shi Shi Dazhi's eyes were glowing.

He stood at attention and said loudly.

"Please rest assured, Brigade Commander, I guarantee to complete the mission!"

"May I ask, Brigade Commander, what kind of mission requires using our trump card?"

He He Weiguo stood up, picked up a document from the table, and said lightly.

"Go and feel the glory of the martyrs!"

Shi Shi Shi Dazhi took the document in confusion, glanced at it, and was instantly stunned.

"Brigade Commander, you want us... to go be... extras?"

"We are special forces!"

"This is an order!"

"...Yes!"

"Oh, Director Xiang, why are you here?"

Duan Duan Jiangping greeted him warmly with a full face of smiles.

But inside, he was already starting to wail.

*Why would the dignified general director of the Spring Festival Gala come here? Do I even need to ask?*

*Isn't it to hold me accountable?*

*Su Meng, you little bastard, you've killed me!*

Xiang Xiang Xiang Zhiming showed no signs of anger, but was instead full of enthusiasm.

"Oh, President Duan, I've come uninvited, it's very rude of me, please don't take offense!"

"I've come this time because I have something I'd like to discuss with you and Teacher Su, what do you think?"

*It's over, he's going to curse us to our faces!*

Sighing in his heart, he still kept a smile on his face.

"Please, please, let's go to my office and have a cup of tea first!"

"Someone, go call Su Meng to my office!"