Chapter 135: This bastard isn

In 2004, the TV drama market saw a crucial change compared to before.

Relevant authorities officially issued documents requiring all satellite TV stations to implement the "4+x" policy.

"4+x" means a single TV drama can be broadcast simultaneously on at most four satellite TV stations plus several local channels.

As previously mentioned, the industry had long agreed that a drama should air on no more than three to four satellite stations; otherwise, it would trigger vicious competition.

Thus, most production teams typically sold rights to only three or four satellite stations—selling more than that, the stations themselves rarely dared to risk buying.

But while this was the general understanding, without formal regulations, vicious competition remained unavoidable.

For instance, if a drama became extremely popular, stations might risk buying it anyway, or if the distributor was overly aggressive, sales could exceed market capacity.

Such cases were rare, but they did happen!

Now, with authorities formally issuing clear regulations, "one drama, four stars" became an industry ironclad rule.

For the TV drama market, this was a positive development—it further standardized the market and brought relatively beneficial effects.

And "Happy Heaven and Earth: Seven Fairies" might benefit from this new policy.

…

Set of "Happy Heaven and Earth: Seven Fairies"

Watching Yan Li and Wang Decai escort several people away, Jiang Xin couldn't help asking Dong Xuan.

"I heard from the production assistant that these are people from Hunan TV?"

"Mm-hmm."

Dong Xuan often shared a bed with Yan Li; in terms of inside information, she was far more informed than other actors.

"Our drama has a younger style, which suits Hunan TV well—they're quite interested. Yan… General also prefers cooperating with them; Hunan Satellite TV is a top-tier station with platform advantages, beneficial for ratings."

Fan Xiaopang couldn't help asking: "How much are they offering?"

"I don't know."

Dong Xuan shook her head—even if she knew, she wouldn't say. It involved trade secrets, and telling this bunch of women obsessed with Yan Li how much he'd earned would just invite trouble for herself.

"It depends on whether it's exclusive or joint broadcast."

Liu Xiaoqing spoke up; she had once been a producer of films and TV dramas and knew the distribution side well.

"If they want exclusive rights, the price won't be low—sometimes it covers costs and turns a profit outright. If it's joint broadcast rights, it depends on Yan General's own ability."

Most actors present were newcomers and didn't understand much—they listened, half-dazed.

They didn't care how Yan Li sold it; they only cared how much money he'd make and how much he'd earn.

"I think Yan General will make at least ten million?"

Jiang Xin made the first guess. Dong Xuan, unwilling to let Yan Li be targeted, countered: "Do you think ten million falls from the sky? How could he make that much?"

"I'm not so sure."

Li Bingbing voiced disagreement: "Didn't Yan General make over ten million from 'Conquest'? Now he's gone through all this trouble to build such a big production—surely he'll make more than he did from 'Conquest.'"

"'Conquest' was a special case—can't compare."

Fan Xiaopang didn't think highly of "Happy Heaven and Earth: Seven Fairies," or rather, didn't want to see Yan Li make so much—he was bitter inside.

"… "

"No matter if he makes millions or hundreds of thousands, it's still better than what we've got."

As they argued, Yang Xue, who had been silent until now, softly spoke one sentence that pierced everyone's heart.

The highest-paid actor on set was Fan Xiaopang—and she only got a fraction.

Currently, Li Bingbing earned the most, but she had no confidence she could earn eight figures in a year—even after a 20–30% discount, it was uncertain.

"Cell Phone" was a hit, so her pay grade would rise, but how many suitable projects would come her way? Could she even take them on? Did she have the time?

At this stage, very few artists earned annual incomes in the millions.

Those who did were either wildly popular, able to land endorsements or break into international markets for U. . dollars, or had invested in projects.

Or those who lived in Hengdian, obsessed with filming, might also earn millions.

But they had to be extremely popular—like Zhang Weijian, whose pay wasn't low—or else they'd stay in Hengdian until they died without earning a single million.

A single sentence killed the mood!

Aside from Liu Xiaoqing, who had seen the big waves, everyone fell silent. Many others avoided eye contact, lost in thought.

Yan Li, who had just left, rushed back: "Tonight I'm dining with the TV station people—who wants to come?"

To prevent misunderstandings, he emphasized: "Voluntary only—it's just dinner, maybe a little alcohol. If anyone acts up, I'll handle it."

Such situations were common on set!

When investors or TV station reps visit, you can't ignore meals—they came to see stars; you can't disrespect them.

These networking dinners weren't as dark as outsiders imagined, but neither were they pure and clean—it depended on the specific production team and individuals.

Yan Li had attended many such events; he wasn't rigid enough to ignore these unwritten rules, but he had his limits.

He protected those he brought along and would never do anything as disgusting as pimping.

"I'll go."

Hu Siyan raised her hand first, then Fan Xiaopang, Li Bingbing, and Jiang Xin, after thinking, raised theirs too.

If the dinner was safe, meeting more people benefited career growth—especially when the guests were from TV stations, it was a premium opportunity.

Before others could raise their hands, Yan Li said it was enough: the TV station delegation was small, so the crew would send three men and three women.

Shuang Bing had fame, Hu Siyan had good alcohol tolerance and a cheerful, sociable personality—she was chosen.

Then Yan Li called Qiao Zhenyu and Wu Jian—he'd noticed the female director glancing at them twice.

…

At the dinner

Yan Li kept toasting—there was no choice; Hunan TV's offer was genuinely generous.

First-run exclusive broadcast rights: 500, 00 yuan per episode!

"Happy Heaven and Earth: Seven Fairies" had 38 episodes—so direct revenue could reach 19 million yuan.

If they could raise it slightly to 20 million, "Happy Heaven and Earth: Seven Fairies" could break even almost immediately.

The second- and third-round broadcast rights, local channel rights, and DVD rights would all be pure profit—if the drama performed well, a few million more was no problem.

Of course, this was just the opening bid—there was still plenty of room for negotiation.

Yan Li had invested heavily, brought in Liu Xiaoqing and Shuang Bing, and even staked his own reputation on promotion—he didn't aim to make just a few million.

Hunan TV wanted exclusive first-run rights; Yan Li wouldn't hold firm at 30 million, but he'd still aim to make several million profit.

During Yan Li's negotiations with Hunan TV officials, Li Bingbing and others got a rough sense of "Happy Heaven and Earth: Seven Fairies"'s price range.

Though they didn't know the production cost, the figure alone stirred some hearts.

After dinner, Yan Li, who had served as the main drinker, saw off the TV station guests and sat slumped on the hotel steps, trying to sober up.

Wu Maowen, Yan Li's driver, fetched a bottle of mineral water from the car to hand him, but Hu Siyan took it.

"Let me feed Yan General."

Watching Hu Siyan gently and carefully help Yan Li drink and pat his back, Wu Maowen hesitated, then stood aside.

After a while, Yan Li's complexion improved, but he staggered as he walked. With help from Qiao Zhenyu and Wu Jian, Wu Maowen helped carry him into the car; Hu Siyan picked up his bag and tried to follow.

But as she pulled open the car door, Li Bingbing blocked her, smirking.

"That's enough—I'll handle the rest. You ride in the car behind."

Hu Siyan refused, but dared not argue with the popular Li Bingbing, so she pleaded softly: "Let me come too—Yan General's drunk and uncomfortable. If he acts up, I'm afraid you can't handle him alone."

"What about me?"

Fan Xiaopang shoved Hu Siyan aside without hesitation: "You're taking advantage of someone drunk? Do you think we're blind? Go play somewhere else."

Saying this, Fan Xiaopang slid into the back seat. Li Bingbing climbed in from the other side, called out, and Wu Maowen drove off.

Left behind, Hu Siyan stamped her foot angrily: "I'm taking advantage? What are you two planning?"

"I have no ulterior motives."

On the way, Fan Xiaopang spoke first, asserting her innocence: "I just can't stand that Hu woman—I'm deliberately ruining her plans."

She glanced at Li Bingbing, who calmly smoothed her hair.

"Don't look at me—I'm helping someone else."

The "someone else" was naturally her younger sister, Li Xue. No matter what, since her sister had feelings for Yan Li, as a half-sister-in-law, she couldn't stand idly by while other foxes took advantage of him.

Dong Xuan was fine—she was his legitimate girlfriend; she couldn't and wouldn't interfere.

But Hu Siyan, a fox trying to climb up by exploiting drunkenness—she had to be crushed hard.

Fan Xiaopang didn't say whether she believed Li Bingbing's excuse; she turned to scold the driver Wu Maowen.

"You're the driver—you can't just sit there and drive blindly. When someone's drunk like this, with no judgment or defense, you must watch over him closely. Otherwise, if a woman like that just now takes advantage and clings to him, your boss will have headaches."

Wu Maowen, driving, glanced at Yan Li in the rearview mirror and murmured:

"Understood."

Fan Xiaopang nodded, satisfied, then glared at Yan Li, sprawled in the back seat.

"Chasing money like you're dying—drinking this much? You'll earn money but won't live to spend it."

Before she finished, Yan Li gagged. Li Bingbing and Fan Xiaopang were terrified, scrambling away.

Luckily, he didn't vomit—just gagged twice and settled down.

But the back seat seemed too low; Yan Li shifted his posture, slumping sideways, resting his head on Fan Xiaopang's lap, then propping one leg across Li Bingbing's lap.

Fan Xiaopang shifted left and right but couldn't escape—he nudged her abdomen.

Li Bingbing tried to move his leg but couldn't budge it—then Yan Li placed his other leg on top too.

Feeling something was wrong, Fan Xiaopang gritted her teeth: "This bastard's too good at lying down—could he be faking drunk to take advantage of us?"

Li Bingbing also had serious doubts; she pinched her own thigh twice, but Yu Yanli merely shifted slightly in discomfort before settling back comfortably on her lap.

Wu Maowen, the driver, glanced at this and his honest, simple face grew slightly uneasy.

He had grown up with Yu Yanli since childhood and had drunk with him more times than anyone else—how could he not know Yu Yanli's tolerance?

(End of Chapter)