Rebirth 1983: Building My Business Empire-Chapter 588 - 571: Premiere of Prestigious Family

Li Huini had stayed in the Forty-nine City for nearly a month, visiting all the scenic spots and even going to Beijing University and Hua University before arranging to have dinner with Lu Jiaxin.

During the meal, Li Huini said, "The Mainland is developing quite rapidly and has a large population, which bodes well for the future. I mentioned to my grandfather that we could enter the Mainland market."

See, this is the result of being immersed and paying attention; even while having fun, she was understanding the Mainland’s economy and exploring the market.

Lu Jiaxin nodded and replied, "Yes, the Mainland has great development prospects. I’m busy this weekend. I have to go to the Mainland on Saturday and won’t be back until Monday."

She was going to the Mainland to set up a factory, as Green Forest’s factory in Hong Kong was too small. She planned to enter the Mainland market in a couple of years and needed to start preparing in advance.

Li Huini remarked, "Jiaxin, I’ve noticed that women in the Mainland don’t wear much makeup and mostly go without. Everyone has the desire to be beautiful; I think there’s a huge opportunity for cosmetics and skincare products in the Mainland."

"What, are you planning to get into the cosmetics business?"

Li Huini indeed had that idea, and looking earnestly at Lu Jiaxin, she asked, "Would you be interested, we could do it together?"

Lu Jiaxin shook her head. "I’m too swamped already."

She didn’t have the energy to collaborate on this venture, and trivial investments also seemed pointless. In fact, she had always wanted to acquire a cosmetics company, but successive issues with Xinxin Real Estate and Green Forest made her realize her management was lax and vulnerable to exploitation. She wanted to fix the problems in these two companies and manage them better before considering starting a cosmetics company.

Li Huini was somewhat disappointed.

In the blink of an eye, it was early October, and Prestigious Family had premiered. Originally, Lu Jiaxin had intended to collaborate with TVB, but that station’s boss was too stingy, wanting to buy out the rights for a common drama’s fee—the rights for both Hong Kong and overseas. Naturally, Lu Jiaxin would not agree to this, so she got in touch with Asia Television’s executives, who decided to purchase the show after watching the first two episodes. They bought out only the Hong Kong broadcasting rights, not the overseas ones.

The outline of Prestigious Family was written by Lu Jiaxin herself, and she supervised the script for all forty episodes. Needless to say, the storyline was very interesting, focusing on making the costumes and makeup look their best. The director they hired was skilled at this type of show, and the main actors all suited their roles well.

The series aired during prime time, and after two episodes, newspapers and magazines started to comment. It had nothing to do with Wanjia Film and Television; it was Asia Television wanting to hype up the show.

First, the production quality was excellent, with careful attention to costumes, props, and makeup; second, the plot was gripping, with melodrama, romance, and a sense of national identity; third, it had many points of contention and controversy, providing viewers with a delightfully critical experience....

On the fifth day after the show aired, Tian Pengyu called Lu Jiaxin and said, "Boss, our Prestigious Family has blown up. Luckily we only sold the Hong Kong rights, or we would have missed out big time."

With only six episodes aired, the show had already sparked widespread discussion, and with more exciting content to come, the ratings would continue to climb. If it blew up in Hong Kong, they could demand a high price for the overseas rights.

Lu Jiaxin chuckled, "Who was it that initially disagreed with making a TV series?"

Tian Pengyu first admitted his mistake, then made his position clear, "Boss, whatever you want to shoot in the future, I’ll shoot, even if it’s a dog, no questions asked."

In later years, a famous director did make a movie about a man and a tiger, which won awards and had great box office success, but Lu Jiaxin didn’t have the capability to engage in such ventures.

Tian Pengyu continued, "Boss, Lan Yinggu has taken the initiative to renew her contract for another five years. Boss, our company has too few stars; we need to sign more."

Lu Jiaxin nodded and asked him to present a plan, then stated, "The key is still to produce quality content. If Wanjia Film and Television becomes exemplary in the industry, stars will be clamoring to participate. Nevertheless, if we want the company to grow, we need to cultivate our own talent."

Tian Pengyu kept affirming. Back when Nie Jingting was the boss, it was he who had to beg others; he would be obsequious, and yet people still wouldn’t give him the time of day. Now, when he went out, who wouldn’t politely address him as Boss Tian, especially some stars who wanted to star in their company’s movies? They were exceedingly nice. Such treatment, he never had before!

Being flattered naturally made him happy, but Tian Pengyu’s mind was clear; the important roles in the movies had to go to actors with good acting skills who fit the roles. No amount of expensive gifts would work otherwise. Ruining the company’s reputation was like smashing his own rice bowl.

Halfway through the TV drama, Zong Shimeng called and asked, "Jiaxin, Liu Yushu isn’t dead, is he? If he is, Ah Fang would be so heartbroken."

Lu Jiaxin didn’t know whether to laugh or cry, calling especially to ask about the plot was really something else.

"Why aren’t you speaking? Could it be he really is dead? No, Liu Yushu can’t die; if he does, I won’t watch this lousy drama anymore."

Lu Jiaxin burst into laughter, "He’s not dead; it’s just that Liu Yushu’s fake death is another turning point in the female lead’s life. Sister Shimeng, how have you become so sentimental since you got pregnant?"

Zong Shimeng, now in a better mood after getting the answer she wanted, said with a laugh, "I don’t know. Ever since I got pregnant, I’ve become more sensitive. I can’t help but cry over the smallest, most insignificant things, and Zhifeng says it’s going to be a girl."

"Then that’s two strokes of good fortune."

Zong Shimeng smiled and said, "If it’s a girl, I hope she looks like me. None of the three kids I’ve had look like me, and each time I take them out, I get teased about it."

After chatting for a while, Zong Shimeng asked with a smile, "If you’re home this weekend, I’ll come over to see you."

"Are you able to go out?"

"I shouldn’t go to crowded places, but going to your house is no problem."

"Then, I’ll call Meitong to join us."

Thinking of the times when there used to be four of them hanging out and chatting together, Zong Shimeng inevitably brought up Shi Xinyu, "Her family arranged a blind date for her, with the son of her dad’s good friend. They have known each other since they were kids and can be considered childhood sweethearts. They got engaged last month, and the wedding is set for the end of the year."

Lu Jiaxin exclaimed, "How come she didn’t tell us about her engagement?"

Zong Shimeng quickly responded, "I asked Meitong, and she didn’t know about it either. She said Xinyu hasn’t called her, maybe she’s afraid that seeing us would remind her of Tao Yong?"

Lu Jiaxin said, "She still hasn’t picked up the engagement dress I designed for her. Since she’s already engaged, I put it up for sale."

Tao Yong had already paid for it; the two of them had a falling-out later, and he told Lu Jiaxin to deal with it. Since it was uncertain whether they would reconcile, she just kept it. Now that Shi Xinyu was engaged, the chances of reconciliation were practically nil, so there was no need to keep it taking up space.

Zong Shimeng said with some regret, "Back when we used to hang out together, the least good-looking ones were you and Nie Zhan. But who would’ve thought that you two are still sweet as honey, and they went their separate ways."

Mainly because Lu Jiaxin came from the Mainland, she thought Nie Zhan might have been attracted by novelty at first and would break up once he realized their values and spending habits were too different. However, after meeting and interacting with her once, she knew she had thought too much; the young woman was full of ideas and very confident.

"Breakups and makeups are a normal part of life."

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