Money Magnet

Currently, the county-level TV stations across various regions of Sanjiang Province are performing disastrously in terms of viewership, with many teetering on the edge of bankruptcy. If not for a bill pushed by the Sanjiang Provincial Assembly, which mandated that the default channel on cable TV be the local one, nearly ninety percent of these stations would have already folded. As things stand, there are barely enough county-level stations with a viewership rate exceeding one percent to count on one hand.

Yet this time, at least thirty county stations seem to have been injected with new life, already preparing to renew their contracts for a second round of broadcast with “Creative Ability Ltd.” The reason is simple: “Masked Gourd Hero: The Power of Red,” which aired at five in the afternoon on New Year’s Day, achieved a staggering 0.9% viewership at its peak, and even at its lowest, managed 0.3%. To put this in perspective, before the default channel bill was enacted, most county-level stations recorded zero viewership throughout the day—a literal zero. No one watched at all. At most, someone might leave the TV on while cooking, but as soon as dinner was over, the television would be switched off.

“Masked Gourd Hero: The Power of Red”… it truly is powerful.

Many organizations and companies got their hands on these numbers. The provincial station immediately considered buying exclusive rights to the show, though their offer was rather modest. Multiple media conglomerates expressed interest in acquiring “Creative Ability Ltd.,” which of course included all rights to “Masked Gourd Hero.” The seven major satellite channels each have their own parent media groups, and Sanjiang Satellite TV is no exception. Once the New Year’s data emerged, Sanjiang Broadcasting and Audiovisual Media Group decided to offer Boss Li a friendly price—two hundred million.

Before Li Jie himself learned of this, his father, Ai Shoujin, was already in the know.

“What? That costumed children’s show of his is worth two hundred million?” Ai Shoujin was utterly incredulous, feeling a tad melancholic as soon as the holiday ended. Never in his life had he encountered such a sum. This newly acknowledged son of his hadn’t even needed any help, and yet was on the verge of securing a retirement fit for the elite.

“What would an old man like you know about what kids like? Big Brother is with the children at the orphanage every day—no one understands them better than he does!” Qin Yuandai rolled her eyes, unwilling to bicker further with her husband. She ladled a bowl of soup and set it aside to cool, then continued, “Honestly, you’re completely useless. The child makes a few moves and achieves more than you have your entire life. And now, outsiders are trying to snatch his work, and you’re thinking of lending a hand? Tsk, tsk…”

“Two hundred million is no small sum, and besides, this is Sanjiang Media Group. If we establish a connection, any future projects Big Brother creates would have an open door at Sanjiang Satellite. That’s one of the top-ranked channels among the big seven.”

“You didn’t even ask the child’s opinion. How can you just make decisions on your own? And don’t tell me you’re planning to spring this as a surprise for him?”

Caught out by his wife, Ai Shoujin fell silent, then seriously reconsidered. “You’re right, you have a point. This is something Big Brother should decide for himself. He’s young and far more capable than I ever was. Two hundred million is nothing to him.”

Saying this, he pulled out paper and pen to estimate the real value of “Masked Gourd Hero.” But once he did the math, Director Ai was left speechless.

“Damn… I truly envy this little rascal’s talent! The heavens are so unfair—why does all the talent go to someone else?!”

“You’re in your sixties. No matter how envious you are, it’s pointless. You’ll only work yourself up for nothing, you old fool!”

Qin Yuandai took the draft paper her husband had scribbled on, glancing at his projected evaluation for “Masked Gourd Hero.” Just the premiere on the major channels would bring in just over ten million. That’s not including internet television or online streaming. If you add in the mobile platforms, given the quality of “Masked Gourd Hero,” and using the average rate of mid-to-upper-tier shows, Ai Shoujin calculated that selling at a million per episode was entirely feasible.

But that’s not the end of it. Director Ai was no small fry; even if he lacked talent, he had plenty of connections. If the foreign rights to “Masked Gourd Hero” were sold separately, the Japanese and Korean markets alone represented a combined audience of two hundred million. Based on local licensing prices, being conservative could fetch three hundred thousand dollars, aggressive negotiating might yield three million per episode. The final figures would depend on the negotiations, but Director Ai believed that if he handled it himself, the Japanese and Korean deals could net around two million dollars.

Moreover, since “Masked Gourd Hero” didn’t rely on conventional beauty, it could be pitched to America and Europe—areas where Ai Shoujin actually shone. Years ago, to help students shoot the cultural documentary “Dialogue with the First Emperor,” he’d brokered a deal with Western media conglomerates for $25,000 per episode—a remarkable price at the time.

That was twenty years ago. Now, with his own son in a prime position, and bearing the name “Shoujin”—Protector of Gold—there was no way he’d settle for less. He had his own rights management company, though most of the time it dealt in imports, which were then handed off to the Chang’an Dubbing Studio and bundled for TV stations in the Guanzhong region. It brought in decent, if unspectacular, profits.

But compared to Li Jie, who could pull in two hundred million in one go… there was just no comparison. Not even close. Even without mentioning the buyout offer from Sanjiang Satellite, with Li Jie’s current maneuvers, he’d already made several million.

Before he’d met his father-in-law, Ai Shoujin’s monthly salary had barely topped a hundred yuan. How could he possibly compete? There was no comparison at all.

And then there was the merchandise. Ai Shoujin knew Li Jie had opened two small factories, one called “Shake Shake Crafts.” Sales from the main factory alone were now over ten thousand a day. Factoring in previously commissioned merchandise, that was another several million in revenue.

Damn!

Old Ai felt as if he’d been living his life in vain. What were young people eating these days to grow up like this?

Meanwhile, after the New Year holiday, Li Jie returned to campus on his electric scooter, taking Su Mengyao along for a ride. Normally he’d avoid school, but his counselor, Guo Rong, was genuinely concerned. How could a star student like Li Jie possibly be so addicted to studying that he neglected everything else?

He was told to focus on preparing for competitions. At the same time, Guo Rong helped Li Jie get a staff dining card, which granted access to the teachers’ cafeteria—with better and more varied food, albeit at a higher price. Now, Li Jie would take Su Mengyao there every mealtime, indulging in good food and drink together.

To their delight, the cafeteria even served barbecue at noon. Who could have predicted such luxury?

Li Jie and Su Mengyao were enjoying themselves, but three girls from the School of Cultural Industries found it hard to swallow.

“Why doesn’t he go to the student canteen and instead eats at the staff cafeteria on the third floor?”

“His girlfriend has such fair skin…”

“Forget about her complexion—let’s think of a solution. We took Li’s money, and he already chased us up for it this morning.”

“How about… we wait by the elevator?”

“The elevator? But it’s always crowded.”

“That’s the point! When it’s packed, we’ll have a chance…”

“Right!”

“So, it’s settled?”

“It’s settled!”

The three girls stealthily followed to the third-floor restaurant to see how long Li Jie would take to eat. Seeing him and Su Mengyao order a mountain of barbecue and cold dishes, they were stunned. Wouldn’t that take an hour or more? By then, the only things left in the cafeteria would be the flies!

But soon they relaxed, because Li Jie was wolfing down the barbecue at lightning speed—an entire tray of meat devoured in under ten minutes.

Great! Excellent!

In ten minutes, let the judgment come!

You gluttonous fool, Li!