[{"data":1,"prerenderedAt":-1},["ShallowReactive",2],{"origin-the-intelligence-king-of-chinese-entertainment":3,"chapter-the-intelligence-king-of-chinese-entertainment-the-intelligence-king-of-chinese-entertainment-chapter-138":6},{"origin":4,"title":5},"chinese","The Intelligence King of Chinese Entertainment",{"chapter":7,"nextChapterSlug":19,"prevChapterSlug":20,"totalChapters":21,"novelImage":22},{"id":8,"novel_id":9,"title":10,"slug":11,"index":12,"content":13,"wordcount":14,"created_at":15,"updated_at":15,"volume":16,"translator":17,"content_hash":18},2260441,4411,"Chapter 138: Industry Debut: Left Hand Offers Coal in Snow, Right Hand Adds Brocade","the-intelligence-king-of-chinese-entertainment-chapter-138",138,"\u003Cp>In March, Yu Shengli, producer of The Great Song Inspector, called to say that the female lead role of Yinggu had been internally reserved for Qin Lan.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>For this, Yan Li also contributed some resources and favors, but for his wife, he was willing to accept it.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After that, Yan Li focused his main energy on the distribution of Water Moon Cave.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The Divine Detective Di Renjie is still in post-production; CCTV has already internally reserved its first broadcast, leaving little room for distribution maneuvering.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The Seven Fairies of Joy and Happiness hasn’t even wrapped filming yet; although many TV stations are watching, their attitudes are ambiguous and they’re still in the early stage of probing prices—no rush needed.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Yan Li still places great importance on the Water Moon Cave project.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Its production company, Zhou Yi, is well-known, and the project itself has drawn considerable industry attention; if handled well, it can not only make money but crucially boost Yian’s reputation.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As previously mentioned, Yian is still in its early stages with limited capital.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Distribution can be considered Yian’s most notable advantage compared to other film and television companies.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Yan Li doesn’t just view distribution as a major revenue pillar—he also intends to use it to steadily accumulate industry connections and prestige, even leveraging it as a springboard to participate in other projects.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Thus, the Water Moon Cave project is essentially Yan Li’s living advertisement.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>If even a renowned company like Zhou Yi is highly satisfied with Yian’s distribution capabilities, Yian won’t have to worry about distribution or project cooperation in the future.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Yan Li brought the same intensity he showed during the distribution of Conquest, personally leading the team and flying to six cities within a week, outmaneuvering TV stations at every turn.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>…\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Beijing, a certain hotel\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Jiang Xuerou, Zhou Yi’s boss lady and also the boss lady of Water Moon Cave, chatted casually with several film and television company bosses.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>This year, a certain bureau issued the “4+x” regulation and naturally invited representatives from some film and television companies to discuss and offer suggestions.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Those invited were naturally among the most prominent companies in the TV drama field.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Executives from Hai Run, Zhou Yi, Jin Ying Ma, Huayi, Tangren, Rong Xinda, and Warner Bros. Suzhou were all present.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Zhang Dahuzi, the currently hotshot producer, was also invited and became the center of attention.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The Legend of the Condor Heroes is currently wildly popular; media reports claim it sold for over one million yuan per episode.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>All of them produce TV dramas—how could they not pay attention to such market-breaking transactions that might even shift the entire industry landscape?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As a result, Zhang Dahuzi became the darling of every boss, subjected to constant probing and subtle questioning.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Zhang Dahuzi, a seasoned veteran himself, neither confirmed nor denied anything, accepted all flattery, and revealed not a single word.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Some believed his posture and considered whether to raise their own project prices accordingly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Others doubted it—right now, anyone still believing in 500,000 to 800,000 yuan per episode was plausible, but one million was clearly too high.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Not to mention Zhang Dahuzi is famously a master of hype—perhaps he’s confusing the public by stacking multiple rights together to inflate his own value.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Jiang Xuerou didn’t pay much attention to this; instead, she spoke with Cai Yinong of Tangren and Li Xiaowan of Rong Xinda.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>All three of them are female bosses and female producers, all focused on TV dramas, each with notable achievements, hence frequently compared and mentioned together.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As a result, their relationship isn’t particularly friendly—they’re constantly competing.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But since they’re all women, they’ve formed their own small circle, so during such events, they usually stick together and chat.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“I heard your company is planning to film Strange Tales from a Chinese Studio?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Jiang Xuerou looked at Cai Yinong—this question carried a hint of Shitan ; Strange Tales from a Chinese Studio is a major project, crucial for launching stars.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Indeed, upon hearing this, Li Xiaowan, who had been indifferent earlier, leaned over, offering that if Tangren lacked personnel, Rong Xinda could lend a hand.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Though they had some friction, mutual benefits were common.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As always, the film and entertainment circles are intertwined—you’re in me, I’m in you; competition doesn’t preclude cooperation, and those who remain completely separate and refuse all contact are the minority.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Cai Yinong was straightforward: Strange Tales is an anthology series, and since Tangren lacks enough staff, she had no objection to exchanging roles for favors and resources.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>She also recommended another game-adapted drama, but Jiang and Li listened and showed little interest.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Cai Yinong didn’t mind and turned to Jiang Xuerou: “I heard your new drama switched distribution companies—how capable are they?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Among these three companies, Rong Xinda’s Li Xiaowan graduated from Peking University, grew up at Beijing Film Studio, and her partner Li Shaohong is a renowned female director and a leading figure in mainland cinema.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Thus, Rong Xinda never lacks distribution resources—The Emperor in Han Dynasty and Red Orange and the Red were both premiered directly on CCTV.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Zhou Yi and Tangren don’t have the strength or connections of the two Lis; both built themselves up episode by episode with solid results.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Zhou Yi’s strength lies in scriptwriting and creation; Tangren excels in its mature production team centered on Hong Kong and Taiwan; distribution has always been a weakness for both.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Many of their flagship works were first broadcast repeatedly on local channels, gradually building momentum before finally reaching satellite TV.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>This is their advantage—their dramas are popular and influential, great for launching stars—but their disadvantage is slow capital recovery and tight cash flow.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Tangren is better off, able to secure some Hong Kong and Taiwan capital support; Zhou Yi has always operated alone, and if their funding chain breaks, trouble looms large.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Precisely because of this, Jiang Xuerou took the risk of partnering with Yan Li’s Yian, hoping its distribution strength could ease Zhou Yi’s pressure.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Jiang Xuerou sipped her coffee: “It’s hard to say yet—we’ve negotiated with two terrestrial channels, but no word from satellite TV.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Normal. Getting on satellite TV isn’t that simple. Take it slow, go through terrestrial channels first.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Cai Yinong offered reassurance—this was the usual distribution pattern for both Tangren and Zhou Yi.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Jiang Xuerou smiled bitterly; she knew perfectly well this was how things were done, but why did she seek out Yian if not to get on satellite TV sooner?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Yet upon sober reflection, she realized she’d been a bit greedy.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Even if Yian’s distribution ability surpasses Zhou Yi’s, there’s still a process—better to let the drama ferment on terrestrial channels first before aiming straight for satellite TV; that’s asking too much.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Just as they were speaking, Jiang Xuerou’s phone suddenly rang. She pulled it from her bag and smiled at Cai Yinong.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Speak of the devil—he’s the head of the distribution company I contacted.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Saying this, she stood up and walked aside to take the call, while Cai Yinong continued talking to Li Xiaowan, trying to get Zhou Young Master, their top actress, to play a role in Strange Tales.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Xiaowan gave no clear answer, saying she needed to see the script’s cast and roles, and must consult Zhou’s opinion—she now preferred films.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As the two were playing their usual diplomatic game, they suddenly heard Jiang Xuerou exclaim: “550,000 per episode?!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Not just Cai Yinong and Li Xiaowan—many other film and television company bosses nearby also turned to look.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Realizing her outburst, Jiang Xuerou forced a smile and nodded to everyone, then quickly walked to a corner with her phone.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Mr. Yan, you’re not joking, are you?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>On the other end of the line, Yan Li couldn’t help smiling; he’d spoken with Jiang Xuerou multiple times since taking on Water Moon Cave, but this was the first time he’d heard the honorific “you.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Madam Jiang, I must clarify—this 550,000 yuan is a joint offer from the Sichuan and Guizhou satellite channels, equivalent to 275,000 yuan per channel, and selling to these two will definitely influence future distribution to other satellite TV stations.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Jiang Xuerou nodded quickly: “I understand. Since the distribution rights are entrusted to Mr. Yan, you decide.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Come on—if Zhou Yi handled this themselves, not only would it take forever to reach satellite TV, even getting 400,000 yuan per episode would be a miracle.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>She’d dealt with those TV station people before—they’re sharp-eyed, ruthless, and every single one is a nightmare.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Alright, I’ll keep pushing forward. If there’s progress, I’ll notify you.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Yan Li wasn’t surprised by Jiang Xuerou’s reaction—she couldn’t possibly be dissatisfied.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Water Moon Cave has 30 episodes; 550,000 yuan per episode equals 16.5 million yuan.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>And what was the total investment for this drama?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Although Zhou Yi publicly claimed “no cost limits” and “a lavish 20 million yuan,” the actual cost was only about 15 million yuan.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After all, Water Moon Cave’s costume, makeup, and set quality, along with its episode count, were already set; most lead actors were their own company’s artists, so salaries were controllable—actors like Cai Shaofen and Chen Farong had slightly lower popularity on the mainland and could be pressured on price.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Had it not been for the heavy use of special effects, cost-conscious Zhou Yi could have kept the budget under 10 million yuan.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Honestly, when Yan Li first learned Water Moon Cave’s cost, he was stunned.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>They were ridiculously good at cutting costs!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He’d been called Yan the Skinflint on the Seven Fairies set, and thought he was bad enough.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But after comparing himself to these veteran industry figures, he realized he was still green.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Still, while he marveled, Yan Li had no intention of copying them—Zhou Yi’s extreme cost-cutting, in his view, was unacceptable.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>They saved money, but sacrificed quality!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Honestly, Water Moon Cave’s costume, makeup, and sets were so bad that even he, as the distributor, wanted to complain.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>TV station staff who watched the footage initially all frowned; some even got up and walked out. Later, Yan Li had someone edit a few episodes focusing purely on plot, and only then did the TV stations begin to show interest.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Because of Water Moon Cave’s terrible costume and set design, distribution became much harder, and TV stations gained more leverage to drive down prices.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Yan Li still had professional ethics—he didn’t care much about projects he merely invested in, but for projects he controlled, he pursued aesthetics and quality.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The costume, makeup, and sets of Seven Fairies of Joy and Happiness weren’t outstanding, but they were definitely above standard.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Though Yan Li didn’t contribute a single yuan to the 20 million yuan investment, he didn’t pocket a single cent either.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Even the money saved from actor salaries was reinvested into costume, makeup, sets, and special effects.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Leaving aside plot and acting, the exquisite care evident in Seven Fairies of Joy and Happiness utterly crushed Water Moon Cave’s “shoddy production.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>When showing Seven Fairies to TV stations, Yan Li felt proud—he could hype it to the max and confidently raise prices.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>With Water Moon Cave, Yan Li sometimes felt embarrassed by the TV station staff’s disdainful glances—he couldn’t even make a decent excuse, repeating only that the plot was fresh and brilliant.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Under these circumstances, Yan Li overcame countless obstacles—not only securing satellite broadcast quickly, but also recovering costs and making a small profit outright.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>If another satellite TV station is negotiated later, plus terrestrial channels, DVD rights, and second- and third-round broadcast rights—all pure profit—estimated at 10 to 20 million yuan.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Honestly, Yan Li was a little envious.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Zhou Yi’s reputation still carried weight—TV stations recognized it and were willing to pay, even more readily than they paid for Seven Fairies of Joy and Happiness.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But Jiang Xuerou and Zhou Yi themselves couldn’t find the right buyers, or if they did, couldn’t get accurate pricing or secure maximum value.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Zhou Yi’s drama and brand, combined with Yan Li’s distribution, was like adding wings to a tiger, like fish returning to water, like Yan Li and a soldier sharing a bed—two words.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Powerful and Beautiful!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Yan Li also calculated his own earnings: Zhou Yi, unlike Snow Goddess Dragon, had Diqi  and thus offered a low split—only 12%. If all goes well, his share should be 3 to 4.5 million yuan.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The returns were still quite substantial—more work, more reward.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>In a year or so, handling a few distribution projects could match the returns of running several film and television productions, and crucially, with zero risk.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As he was pondering this, his phone rang—a text from Jiang Xuerou, revealing she was currently in Beijing for a meeting and could help promote Yian.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>「……」\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Yan Li fell silent for a moment, then sent a text message to Jiang Xue.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>【Sister Jiang, I’ve thought it over—we can still negotiate the price. I have confidence in our drama; let’s sign a guaranteed viewership contract to push the per-episode price to 600,000.】\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Jingcheng, hotel\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Jiang Xue handed the text directly to Tang Ren’s Cai Yinong, pretending to sip her coffee, her eyelids trembling slightly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Could “Water Moon Grotto” really sell for 600,000 per episode?!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Is Yan Li pulling a scam on the TV station—did he take naked photos of them?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Cai Yinong stared at the message for a full half-minute, then immediately pulled out her phone to jot down the number.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Is this Yan Zong from Yi’an? I’ll reach out to him later.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Xiaowan didn’t have high demands for distribution partnerships, but after hearing the number Jiang Xue mentioned, she cleared her throat lightly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Add me to the list too.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>At this moment, several CEOs who had been watching this side approached to inquire; Jiang Xue and Yan Li, mutually understanding their deal, enthusiastically praised it.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Many companies struggling with distribution, like Tang Ren and Zhou Yi, became deeply interested.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Even Hai Run’s boss, Liu Yanming, came over to write down Yan Li’s number.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Over the past few years, Hai Run, centered on its “Hai Yan Dramas,” had produced blockbusters like “Never Close My Eyes,” “What Can Save My Love?,” and “Jade Guanyin,” supplemented by popular series such as “Major Case Unit 6” and “The Young Master’s Sword.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>With many hits and strong momentum, it had quietly become the de facto leader in the television drama field.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Hai Run’s dramas never had trouble with distribution—but not having trouble selling was one thing; selling at high prices versus low prices was another.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>For companies like Zhou Yi and Tang Ren, lacking distribution capability, Yan Li was a lifeline in the snow.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>For companies like Rong Xinda and Hai Run, who could already distribute themselves, Yan Li offered a bonus flourish.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Now, everyone was still watching, waiting to see whether Jiang Xue and Yan Li were just blowing smoke or truly had the ability.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Once “Water Moon Grotto” was actually sold at a high price, some companies would likely come knocking; if more distribution successes followed, perhaps next time they met, Yan Li would be one of them…\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>(End of Chapter)\u003C\u002Fp>",2504,"2026-06-19T16:16:52.605Z",1,"Qwen3-Next 80B","02b77ab741e89f3766b5b98ecba296d504a071512e512075e0f80add96940500","the-intelligence-king-of-chinese-entertainment-chapter-139","the-intelligence-king-of-chinese-entertainment-chapter-137",405,"https:\u002F\u002Fnovelzhen.com\u002Fimages\u002Fcovers\u002Fthe-intelligence-king-of-chinese-entertainment-cover.jpg"]