Chapter 892: Giving In

Yu Zhiwei suppressed his anger and stated his purpose, even promising to invest 500,000 in advertising fees in their magazine every year.

Sun Jiacheng glanced at the woman beside him and said sarcastically, "Tell me, is he trying to dismiss a beggar?"

The woman chimed in, "Boss Yu, it's not that I want to lecture you, but isn't 500,000 a bit too little?"

Upon hearing this, Yu Zhiwei's temper flared up instantly—these two were clearly asking for the moon. He darkened his face, and his tone hardened: "Boss Sun, don't go too far. You publish news about deaths on our film crew every day, yet you've never once come to interview us. Do you really think we're afraid of you? We can still sue you."

Sun Jiacheng chuckled and lit a cigarette unhurriedly: "Your wolfish ambition is exposed. Then tell me, if there was no conflict between the lead actor and the lighting technician, how did the car bypass the camera crew and the director and hit the lighting technician instead? I heard it wasn't raining or snowing that day."

Yu Zhiwei gritted his teeth and explained: "The car lost control; who could calculate where it would hit? The public security bureau already investigated; the accident was caused by brake failure. The mechanic asked the apprentice if the brakes had been checked, the apprentice didn't hear clearly and just gave a random answer. You are blowing this out of proportion now, which shows you have malicious intent."

Sun Jiacheng slowly exhaled a puff of smoke: "Then go ahead and sue me."

Seeing that this brat was impervious to reason, Yu Zhiwei couldn't be bothered to waste more words: "Since Boss Sun is being so uncooperative, we'll see each other in court."

Sun Jiacheng chuckled: "Fine, I'll be waiting for you."

The two parties parted on bad terms.

Yu Zhiwei returned to Ma Rui's office and explained the whole story.

Ma Rui slammed the table, gritting his teeth in anger: "Hey, this brat is just as Teacher Hu said; he's a total bastard."

Yu Zhiwei sighed: "Ma Rui, I checked with the lawyer. That kid is very cunning; even if we win the lawsuit, it'll only be a few hundred to a few thousand yuan in compensation. The mental distress damages you mentioned aren't even recognized by the law right now."

Ma Rui thought for a long time and said in a deep voice: "It seems this matter can only be solved by my uncle. He's counting on us having no way to deal with him. Hurry and check which manufacturers are providing advertising to their magazine and newspaper."

Three days later, Ma Rui, clutching a stack of documents, rushed into the East Cross Courtyard of the No. 55 Siheyuan in a flurry.

The sunlight slanted across the courtyard, and He Yuzhu was sitting on a rattan chair under the old locust tree drinking tea, holding a newspaper, looking leisurely.

As soon as he saw He Yuzhu, Ma Rui approached with a bitter face: "Uncle, without you, I absolutely cannot solve this."

He Yuzhu chuckled and slowly set down his teacup: "Ma Rui, you're doing well; you've had your company for four or five years, and this is the first time you've come to me for help. Tell me, what is it?"

Ma Rui sat on a stone stool nearby and sighed: "My film and television company is in trouble."

He Yuzhu nodded: "I know about this; your mother told me too."

"You probably don't read the recent entertainment newspapers." Ma Rui rubbed his hands anxiously, "Now they are full of negative news about our company. Not only is the film and television side affected, but even the advertising side is implicated. Many people think our company has management problems, and it's got me running around in a panic."

He Yuzhu took the documents and began to read them carefully.

After a long while, he spoke: "If you sue him, even if you win, you won't get back the loss of reputation. In the current situation, you can only put pressure on him."

Ma Rui's eyes lit up, and he leaned forward: "Uncle, that's exactly what I mean! I brought the list of their magazine's advertising sponsors; there are a few companies you should be quite familiar with."

He Yuzhu took the list and looked—a frozen food company, a television factory, a VCD company, and finally an advertisement for a hotel. There were also several beverage companies. Most of these enterprises were members of the Industry and Commerce Association, and He Yuzhu knew their bosses.

He nodded and took a sip from his teacup: "I can speak to about seventy percent of these companies. Some are private enterprises, and they might not necessarily give me face. But I'll try calling them one by one; I'll pull down as many as I can."

Upon hearing this, the stone in Ma Rui's heart finally fell to the ground, and he grinned: "Thank you, Uncle! You don't know, this matter was worrying me to death; I haven't slept soundly for several days."

He Yuzhu patted his shoulder and said earnestly: "You must remember in the future to buy insurance for your crew members, and you must have your own team; don't just throw together a makeshift troupe. It'll be too late to regret it after something happens."

Ma Rui nodded repeatedly: "I'll remember, I'll remember. By the way, Uncle, when will that video website you mentioned be up and running?"

He Yuzhu laughed, his eyes narrowing into slits: "You still remember that! The timing isn't ripe yet."

Ma Rui scratched his head and chuckled: "Of course. By the way, the kid who is going against me is named Sun Jiacheng. His father is in the Film Bureau in charge of approving films. My mother submitted several film scripts, and they were all rejected; it's Sun Jiacheng's father who is playing tricks. I have no choice, I'm just hoping for the day when film censorship isn't so strict..."

He Yuzhu shook his head with a smile and picked up his teacup: "Since that line doesn't work, just hang around in the TV drama circle; there isn't only one path."

Ma Rui nodded thoughtfully.

Three days later, Sun Jiacheng's office was in a mess.

He had just received termination notices from several advertisers and was so angry that he smashed the tea set on the table to pieces.

Broken porcelain shards were scattered all over the floor, tea water dripped along the edge of the table, and the whole office was filled with the scent of Tieguanyin tea.

The female secretary, Xie Jing, walked over cautiously, stepping on the porcelain shards: "Boss, I told you, you should have agreed to Yu Zhiwei at the time. If you had asked for one million, he definitely would have accepted. Now it's done, Chairman He has taken action; which enterprise in Si Jiu Cheng doesn't give him face? I'm afraid this magazine and newspaper of ours won't be able to continue."

Sun Jiacheng's face was livid, his chest heaving violently: "Stop being a Monday-morning quarterback with me! I'm going to find my dad and have him step in, and make those enterprises weigh the consequences of pissing me off."

He finished speaking and slammed the door as he left.

Unexpectedly, as soon as he got home and told his father what happened, he was immediately scolded by his father, Sun Yong.

Sun Yong was so angry his face turned green, and he slammed the table and roared: "Do you think your old man is a Minister? I'm just a Section Chief! I can still say a few words in the film circle, but getting sponsorships for your crappy magazine was all done by me begging with this old face! Do you really think people wanted to? Your magazines and newspapers can't even sell out of Si Jiu Cheng..."

Sun Jiacheng was still unconvinced and muttered under his breath: "You're only fifty, there's still room for promotion..."

When Sun Yong heard this, he almost fainted and pointed at his nose, cursing: "I can still get promoted? I don't think so at all! You offended the Chairman of the Industry and Commerce Association! Those enterprises are all under his hand. He Yuzhu recently raised over ten billion in relief funds; who doesn't want to cling to the He Family and get this life-saving money? Open your eyes and look, Southeast Asia is wailing right now, who has spare money? Only the He Family can get money! Why would those enterprises offend the He Family for our sake? Is your brain filled with water?"

Sun Jiacheng shrank his neck from the scolding, only then realizing he had provoked someone he shouldn't have, and his voice became smaller: "Then... then what should I do?"

Sun Yong took a deep breath, trying to suppress his anger, and sat back down in his chair: "Go and apologize to Ma Rui. Tell him that if he modifies those film projects of his and submits them, I will seriously find people to review them."

The sky outside the window darkened, and only one desk lamp was on in the living room, casting light on Sun Yong's tired and helpless face.

Sun Jiacheng kept his head down and didn't say a word for a long time.