Six o'clock in the evening, Magnolia Hall on the second floor of the Shangri-La Hotel.
Chen Yang and Chu Xiaobai sat in a private tea room, chatting and drinking tea. A beautiful female manager from Chu Tian Company's Fuzhou office served them tea.
Chen Yang took the initiative to talk to Chu Xiaobai about his radio channel operation, explaining in detail his market analysis and the station's positioning.
Chu Xiaobai had been immersed in the cultural industry for many years and had a keen sense of business. Moreover, he had personally overseen this project in his previous life, so he immediately realized the immense business opportunities it held.
Chu Xiaobai knew that even by the standards of a second-tier city radio station, the 1.2 million yuan contract fee was only equivalent to one or two months' advertising revenue. Even including operating costs and labor costs, the profit was substantial. If managed well, it would be a veritable money tree.
Of course, to reach a monthly advertising budget of over a million, it's not just about content and influence; a vast network of connections is also required. But for someone like Chu Xiaobai, connections are the last thing he lacks.
In comparison, the projects his company's Fuzhou office proposed—model agency and micro-film production—felt much less impressive. Chu Xiaobai couldn't help but feel a little dissatisfied with the Fuzhou office's work. The entire team had spent so much time researching in Fuzhou, only for Chen Yang to snatch the most profitable project with a mere million yuan. What were these people doing?!
The beautiful manager also looked embarrassed, but Chu Xiaobai didn't show it. Chen Yang was Liu Zhengyi's brother, and Chu Xiaobai was a man of great loyalty. Since Chen Yang had entered this industry, he not only couldn't sabotage him, but he would definitely give him his full support.
Just as Chen Yang was about to casually mention bringing up the possibility of importing programs from Chutian Culture Media Company, the door to the private room was pushed open, and Liu Zhengyi's voice preceded his arrival:
"Xiao Bai! You came to Rongcheng and actually had Chen Yang pick you up? Don't you even see me as your brother? Is my Cheetah command vehicle inferior to his Audi Q7?"
Liu Zhengyi had changed into casual clothes, but his neat buzz cut and ramrod-straight posture still gave him a strong military bearing; he would stand out immediately in a crowd. Chu Xiaobai didn't even look up, rolling his eyes and saying:
"Damn it! How was I supposed to know if you were free? I thought your old man had grounded you! Daring to cause a scene at the police station in Beijing, you've got some nerve!"
Speaking of this, Liu Zhengyi was furious, glaring at Chen Yang's smirking face and saying:
"Damn it! It's all because of this kid! Chen Yang, you still have the nerve to laugh? I almost got sprayed to death by my old Liu's spittle..."
"Alright! Alright! Brother Zhengyi, who made your name Zhengyi? We were upholding justice that day! You're the one who should step up for this kind of thing!" Chen Yang suppressed a laugh, pretending to be serious.
"You're a complete liar!" Liu Zhengyi was still indignant. Liu Zhengyi suddenly remembered something and said to Chu Xiaobai:
"Seeing this kid reminded me of something. He's really good at talking nonsense. My cousin, Zhengfeng, who's always tinkering with weapons, I don't know what kind of magic potion Chen Yang gave him, but now he's always engrossed in some book on strategy and Northeast Asian affairs. I heard he's going to take a strategic training course at the National Defense University soon, which has my uncle overjoyed..."
Chu Xiaobai was also very surprised:
"Really? Isn't Zhengfeng the one who hates school the most? He can study theoretical books? Did the sun rise in the west?"
Liu Zhengyi curled his lip and said:
"Who knows if he's taken the wrong medicine! I heard from Xinyao that it was when Chen Yang visited her house last time..." "Hou's suggestion... I heard that kid can talk a good game about strategy, he even convinced my uncle and cousin!"
"What do you mean 'convinced'?!" Chen Yang retorted, "Those were golden words, okay... If I'm wrong, does that mean your uncle, a major general and chief of staff, has no vision at all?"
"I believe you!" Chu Xiaobai said earnestly, "Chen Yang's thinking is very forward-thinking; he handled the 89.6 matter very well this time!"
Liu Zhengyi immediately became interested and said with a smile:
"What's the situation? Tell me! There aren't many people who can impress President Chu!"
"Sit down and talk! We didn't invite anyone else today, just the few of us brothers getting together!" Chu Xiaobai said.
Everyone sat down at the table, and the beautiful manager immediately busied herself with having the waiters serve food and drinks. After a flurry of activity, she quietly slipped out, closing the door behind her. The manager knew when to make a good impression and when to avoid trouble. Today was clearly a small, private gathering hosted by President Chu, so she tactfully took her leave.
After the three sat down, Chu Xiaobai suggested they all have a drink. After Liu Zhengyi finished his drink, he eagerly asked about what had happened earlier, so Chu Xiaobai explained Chen Yang's plans for taking over the radio channel and some of his business ideas.
Liu Zhengyi, after hearing this, said in surprise:
"You're quite something, kid! Lots of clever ideas! But Xiaobai's just about to open a branch in the Southeast, and you're already meddling in his territory—that's a bit underhanded..."
Chen Yang said with a smile:
"Brother Xiaobai is a man of great things, he wouldn't stoop to such a small amount of money! My little business will need your help in the future!"
Chu Xiaobai said modestly:
"Chen Yang's ideas are endless, he doesn't need my help at all!"
Chu Xiaobai was speaking sincerely. Many of the business philosophies and channel positioning Chen Yang had just shared with him coincided with his own thoughts. Chu Xiaobai even couldn't help but feel a sense of kinship.
These were originally ideas that had been in his mind in his previous life! Chen Yang said earnestly:
"Brother Xiaobai, I'm not just being polite, I really need your help right now!"
"Just say the word! If it's something I can help with, it's a piece of cake!" Chu Xiaobai said readily.
"Our channel is severely lacking in program content. Besides our key live programs, we also need a lot of readily available, high-quality recorded programs. Although the city station has opened up their database to us, their program content is just too outdated; it hasn't been updated in years. Now, sometimes their hosts have to download songs from the internet just because they don't have them in their song library."
Chen Yang paused, then continued:
"I know Brother Xiaobai's company collaborates with many radio stations across the country and has the copyrights to many high-quality programs, so I'd like to import some from you."
Chu Xiaobai replied without hesitation:
"That's easy. I'll have our marketing manager give you a list. Just tell him which programs you like, and you can use them!"
"Thank you, Brother Xiaobai!" Chen Yang said with a smile. "But I can't use your programs for free. Whatever price you sell them to other radio stations, we'll pay the same..."
Chu Xiaobai glared, feigning anger, and said:
"Chen Yang! Aren't you slapping me in the face? Huh? My own brother wants to use a few programs, and I'm not charging him? Don't you consider me a brother anymore?"
Liu Zhengyi also chimed in with a smile:
"Chen Yang, don't be so polite with Xiaobai. He's sold his programs to countless stations; he's already made enough money. He doesn't need your money..."
Chen Yang chuckled and said:
"Brother Xiaobai, Brother Zhengyi, I wasn't finished! Our company has just been established, and we have too many expenses. Asking me to suddenly come up with a large sum of money to buy programs is really beyond our means..."
Hearing this, Chu Xiaobai's expression softened slightly. But Chen Yang changed the subject, saying:
"However, I can't take advantage of Brother Bai's company! Even brothers need to keep clear accounts! So I'm thinking of exchanging advertising for resources. Brother Bai is about to establish a branch in Southeast China, and promotion in all aspects is very important. Although our channel is short on funds, we have plenty of advertising slots! I can take ten seconds of advertising time each from the three prime-time slots of 6 PM, 7 PM, and 8 PM every evening. Then we'll see how much the programs we've purchased cost in total, and I'll use that to pay for all of it! Brother Bai, what do you think?"
Chu Xiaobai thought about it and realized Chen Yang's words made sense. He could tell that Chen Yang definitely didn't want to take advantage for nothing. Exchanging for advertising would be beneficial for both sides. Chen Yang could save a lot of cash, and Chu Tian Media, wanting to open up new markets in Southeast China, would naturally need advertising. It was better to invest in their own company than to invest elsewhere! Exchanging program slots for resources without spending any money! Regarding the channel's influence, Chu Xiaobai had never worried. With the creative ideas and concepts Chen Yang had mentioned, the channel's success was just around the corner.
Having figured these things out, Chu Xiaobai pointed at Chen Yang and said,
"You... alright! We'll do it your way! But you can't discount the advertising price you give me. Give me the same price you give others, otherwise, this is off the table!"
"Okay! We'll do it your way, Brother Xiaobai!" Chen Yang said with a smile.
He understood Chu Xiaobai's temperament and didn't stand on ceremony with him on this point.
After discussing this matter, they changed the subject, talking about the inspection trip to Nanpu tomorrow. Chu Xiaobai originally wanted Liu Zhengyi to go along, but although Liu Zhengyi really wanted to go, he had recently been reprimanded by Liu Zhengyi and needed to play the good boy, so he had to regretfully give up.
Pilots need approval from their division commander to take leave and stay overnight. Liu Zhengyi dared not hope that his father would grant him leave.
The three chatted and drank when there was a knock on the door of the private room. A man peeked in, then pushed the door open, exclaiming with delight:
"Chen Yang! It really is you! I thought I heard you speaking… Zhengyi, Xiaobai! You're here too!"