Movie tycoon

Chapter 444 Star's Backbone (Part [-])

It is said that Bruce, the president of Polygram Records, and his follower "Charlie Cao" were left to the side by Chen Xiaotang to bask in the sun, but Chen Xiaotang was here happily lying under the sun umbrella drinking coconut juice.

After a long time, Fatty Wang Jing couldn't stand it any longer. Wearing sunglasses, he leaned in front of Chen Xiaotang and said, "Ah Tang, it's alright, I've kept that ghost for a long time. It’s too late, even the hairtail is almost dry!”

"Wait a minute!" Chen Xiaotang took a sip of coconut juice.

"Why, haven't you played enough?" the fat man said in surprise. "You have to give others some face, don't you..."

As soon as these words came out, Chen Xiaotang became angry.

"As the old saying goes, face is given by others and lost by ourselves. We put gold on our own faces, saying that this is called hospitality, this is called humility, and this is called the state of etiquette, but do they appreciate it? Do they have it? Because of our low profile, give us more discounts and give us more kindness? You see, even Hong Kong's biggest movie star, Brother Cheng Long, was discriminated against when he went to the United States. And then, to film "Cannonball Speed", I have to change my nationality with Xu Guanwen to play the Japanese...Why can't Chinese people play themselves? Why do Chinese people have to suffer this?"

"...We asked for this! We treat ourselves as grandchildren, so why should others respect us?" Chen Xiaotang gritted his teeth and said, "Why didn't I hear that Alain Delon, a French citizen, was discriminated against in the United States? Why haven't you heard that Austrian Schwarzenegger is discriminated against in the United States? There are so many stars in the world, why are Chinese artists recognized as easy to bully?"

"...I, Chen Xiaotang, don't believe in this evil! I don't want that etiquette gang today, I don't want that way of hospitality," Chen Xiaotang raised his chin, and said to Bruce, who was fidgeting not far away: "Starting from today's business , I will teach these Yankees how to behave, teach them what equality and respect are, and teach them how to respect us Chinese!"

Chinese people have a problem, which is also caused by being too kind and gentle-always use their own psychological logic to speculate on other people's inner thoughts.We always believe that people have the same heart and the same reason, compare hearts with hearts, and exchange hearts with hearts.

But I don't know that this heart is not that heart, and the distance between people's hearts will not be closer than the distance between the earth and the end of the Milky Way.

Chinese people talk about human feelings, while Westerners talk about rationality; Chinese people talk about humility, while Westerners talk about aggressiveness;Of course, they don't think it's snobbery, they call it pragmatism.

When you are unknown, he can blatantly despise you and treat you poorly; but when you are so popular and show that you can make a lot of money for a long period of time, he can tolerate everything about you Accommodate you, and you won't feel that there is anything embarrassing about your previous dog eyes looking down on others; until your red line comes to an end, you can no longer make a lot of money for them, and they will suddenly not know you again.

This is the American capitalist. Marx told us that when capital comes into the world, every pore is filled with blood and dirty things.They are always pursuing interests, and in the face of interests, everything is regulated and can be ignored.

However, the worship of foreigners by Chinese people has a long history, especially since the beginning of the reform and opening up in the previous life, this is the case in all walks of life in China.As long as foreign ghosts come to China, whether they come to sell technology or discuss business, they are all "foreign experts".When these experts come, they eat and live well, eat and drink with them, and a large number of people follow and visit everywhere. It seems that as long as they are foreigners, they are masters. They are afraid that they will not be well served. Points... That's it, it's also called: the state of etiquette!

There are indeed many people in China who are born with strong slavishness, who are full of slavery logic and second-class logic. When they see that others are stronger than themselves, they feel that they should be inferior to other people.

Chen Xiaotang actually despises the Chongmei tribe, just like he despises the Hari tribe, but when he first came into contact with PolyGram and met Bruce for the first time, he also inevitably had this ridiculous mentality.

Use our own thinking logic of Chinese people to speculate on the behavior of Americans.Chen Xiaotang thought that a friendly American record businessman like Bruce would not discriminate superficially against Chinese national singers; he also thought that even if Bruce looked down on the people of Moying Entertainment, he would probably not show it, and would finish this time very tactfully. Let's negotiate together!
If this kind of situation happened between two Chinese businessmen, then this kind of logic really holds true - no matter how powerful the two parties are, they will complete this meeting according to the traditional virtues of the oriental nation.Respect each other and leave room for the next meeting, even if the stronger party immediately spits on the ground with disdain.

It's a pity that the president of the Asia-Pacific region of the American record company doesn't tell you the rules of the game. In their eyes, the Chinese are called hypocrisy; in their eyes, they only see strength, which is called pragmatism.

This incident taught Chen Xiaotang one thing. One of Chen Xiaotang's important advantages is that he doesn't make the same mistake twice, and he learns it once he learns it.learn by analogy.Since it is only money that decides everything, it is just the few zeros on the check; since you lower your posture and pretend to be a grandson and stand up and be a grandpa.The result is the same, so why do we Chinese people still habitually keep a low voice?
……

More than an hour passed.

The sun was getting hotter, and the bitter taste of the sea was in the air.

The big banana leaf on the top of his head has already started to turn yellow. The most pitiful thing is the copy of "Charlie Cao".Just like that, I had to accompany the smiling face, while wiping myself sweat, while comforting the master not to be angry, and to be careful of the body.

Nowadays, the competition is fierce, it is not easy to work part-time, and it is not easy to be a dog's leg.

"Charlie Cao" was full of grievances, but Bruce was full of grievances. If it weren't for the call from the headquarters, telling him to cooperate with Moying in order to run the plan of the entire Asia-Pacific record region, he would not stand up like a fool. It took more than an hour to board here!

Damn guy, you must be taking revenge, absolutely the first revenge!
Fuck you big star!

There is no such thing as the gentleness, courtesy, modesty and thrift of Chinese people!

At this moment, Bruce, who was hungry, felt like he was sweating a little. Such a ghostly place, let alone McDonald's, doesn't even have a place that sells instant noodles. It's in the wilderness, where can I get food!
The more Bruce thought about it, the hungrier he became. He closed his eyes and tried to rest for a while, but he couldn't calm down. It seemed that pieces of fried golden chicken nuggets were flying all over the sky in front of him... If he had another big glass of iced Coke, a big hot dog with cheese slices and sausage, some French fries or potato salad...

oh god!Thank you Lord for giving me food...

Over there, Chen Xiaotang had already finished filming the MV. Looking back at Bruce, this gentleman was restless, feeling that his patience had reached its limit.So he beckoned and asked the female secretary Ye Zimei to go over and explain.

Ye Zimei was wearing a professional suit, with a proud chest, and walked over in waves.

Bruce stood up immediately, first glanced greedily at the innocent Mimi, and then shouted loudly: "What's going on? Where's Chen? I came all the way from the department head, and we made an appointment It's noon, it's almost three o'clock! Has he finished filming? If not, please tell me, I need to go back and have a good rest, we can make another appointment..."

"I'm sorry, sir." Ye Zimei is definitely a very serious woman. She doesn't know what's going on here, but faithfully "recites" what Chen Xiaotang told her: "Our President Chen asked me to tell Mr. Bruce. The last time In order to meet with you, he waited for three hours, and now you only waited for two hours, won't you be angry?"

Bruce froze for a moment, suddenly speechless.Speaking of it, Chen Xiaotang didn't take advantage of him at all, so it was still a disadvantage.

Bruce spread his hands helplessly, and said, "Okay. What about now?"

"Sir, please come with me."

……

When Bruce followed Ye Zimei into the shooting location, everyone else took the initiative to "stay away", and only the fat man Wang Jing accompanied Chen Xiaotang to "receive" the Yankee.

When Bruce saw Chen Xiaotang standing under the sun umbrella, he complained resentfully: "Oh, Chen! You are such a guy with personality, but I like it!"

Chen Xiaotang greeted him with open arms, and said, "Remember today, old man. This is the custom and etiquette of the Chinese people. We have a saying that 'come without being indecent', that is to say, you How to treat a Chinese, the Chinese will treat you in the same way."

"Okay, mysterious Chinese." Bruce smiled helplessly, stepped forward to hug Chen Xiaotang, and said loudly: "But I have to admit, you are different from those Hong Kong stars I have seen, you are so It's different, Chen!"

The fat man stood aside quietly, and after they finished hugging, he took the initiative to shake hands with Bruce.He saw it in his eyes and secretly laughed in his heart, but this Bruce is unrestrained—but it’s no wonder, if you know that the other party is so popular that he can even shake your position in the company, anyone would be so unrestrained, Can't you be free and easy?
But what the fat man was surprised about was why Ah Tang had to cooperate with PolyGram. Isn't there Universal Warner and EMI to choose from? !

But the fat man didn't know that in the world Chen Xiaotang came from, Polygram made the best Chinese records, and Polygram has a specialty that other record companies don't have, that is, in the future, Polygram will focus on the release of records. It is unimaginable for other major record companies to be placed in the Asia-Pacific region instead of North America.It is precisely because of this that PolyGram finally fell into the sand and was acquired by EMI.

But Polygram at least let the world know Hong Kong singers and the power of the Chinese music scene. This is a rare sacrifice.Therefore, Chen Xiaotang had no choice but to let him go for a while after playing around with this guy whose behavior was somewhat "unpleasant".

While shaking hands with the fat man, Bruce's eyes drifted to the lunch box of the film crew on the side. The leftover lunch boxes from Chen Xiaotang and his crew just now are at least for two or three people. The snow-white lunch boxes are neatly arranged and look like new the same.

Although Bruce didn't know what the Hong Kong-style box lunch contained, it wouldn't be fried chicken and hot dogs, but it seemed to make him even more hungry.

Chen Xiaotang gave a seat with a smile and asked him to sit under the sun umbrella, then walked over and brought over a lunch box, and said: "Before we talk about business, you must be hungry, eat something first, eat while you eat." talk."

Bruce swallowed quietly.He smiled, and said with difficulty: "It's still... oh, I mean, let's wait until the business and contract are negotiated before eating."

"Oh, no, no, no." Chen Xiaotang said very seriously: "We in China are a nation that puts a lot of emphasis on 'eating'. We like to work when we are full. Talking while eating is one of our habits. It’s more about respecting the etiquette of the guests.”

Bruce froze for a moment, and the fat man added in an unquestionable tone next to him: "Please respect the etiquette and customs of China."

Bruce was delighted to hear what the two said, and quickly said, "In that case, I'll eat it."

As he spoke, he looked at the chopsticks on the lunch box, and was stunned for two seconds, but he couldn't find the knife and fork.He thought for a while, opened the lunch box, devoured the barbecued pork rice, and picked up another shrimp dumpling.It's just three or four minutes for a box lunch to be completely finished.

Chen Xiaotang and Fatty looked at each other, I choose, this guy is a reincarnation of a starving ghost, he can eat so much!

The third bento was finished.

"Oh, hehehe...it's great, who can tell me what it is..." Bruce exclaimed excitedly after eating a shrimp dumpling, and said loudly: "I swear this is the best I've ever eaten s things!"

Chen Xiaotang looked at the fat man, and the fat man was speechless: "This thing is called barbecued pork rice! Abbreviation, box lunch! Those of us filming almost have this kind of thing every day!"

"Eat it every day? Oh god, you are so lucky, this is simply delicious in the world!"

"Of course," Chen Xiaotang sat there quietly, and said calmly, "A philosopher in China once said that the best food in the world is hunger."

"Oh, it's the best food when you're hungry! Haha, the Chinese people are amazing!" Bruce had already eaten so much that he laughed loudly: "I love China to death! But... sorry, is there a Coke? I think I need this..."

"No Coke, do you want milk tea?"

"Milk tea? Have a cup and try it first!"

……

10 minute later.

Bruce burped, sat comfortably under the sun umbrella, and wiped his big hands with a wet tissue.Then he picked up the cup and took another big sip of milk tea, and said with a smile: "Thank you, Chen. Although I have been in Hong Kong for a long time, I have never enjoyed such delicious food. I would have known that Chinese food is so delicious. Time to try it."

Chen Xiaotang smiled and said: "We still have two sayings in China. It is called 'Where the clear springs will not quench your thirst, and where the yams will not fill you'. It means that there is food that can satisfy people. After eating , Chinese food and fried chicken and chips are the same."

"Of course. Oh, no, I bet Chinese food tastes better." Bruce said with a lot to say.

"Then," Chen Xiaotang said lazily, "What about China's records. The money they earned for your record company is also colorful money, right?"

Bruce didn't understand what Chen Xiaotang meant, and had an illusion.I thought it was because Chen Xiaotang was not good at English, and there was a communication barrier.

Unexpectedly, Chen Xiaotang, who had been sitting lazily all this time, suddenly sat up straight, leaned his upper body forward aggressively, stared at Bruce sharply and said, "Chinese food is the same as American food. Both can provide calories; Chinese food Chinese singers, like American singers, can help you earn dollars! Why do you and your American counterparts always give us Chinese stars such harsh conditions, can you give me a reason first?"

Bruce was dumbfounded.He couldn't say no, because the aroma of milk tea was still wafting in his mouth, and the last piece of barbecued pork was probably still in the esophagus, so he had to think about it.She spread her hands and said, "Well, I have to say, you are the smartest Hong Kong star I have ever seen. You won! Chen! Tell me, what do you want?"

Chen Xiaotang smiled slightly, and relaxed again.

This is the Americans—they used to deliberately lower the prices of Chinese people because of their low profile and inferiority complex, but now they are not embarrassed or unnatural when pointed out by Chen Xiaotang, because they take it for granted. This is business.

If you follow the logic of the Chinese, you will definitely feel embarrassed in this situation, and take advantage of the other party's humility to take the opportunity to lower the price.This is what profiteers do—this is the logic of Confucian businessmen in the state of etiquette.It's a pity that Americans never follow this logic to do business. This is the difference in culture and thinking, and it is also the reason why Chinese people suffer when they do business with Americans.

Many Chinese businessmen thought about it all their lives but never figured it out. Chen Xiaotang figured it out after one meeting with Bruce, and took the initiative.This kind of extraordinary intelligence breaks Bruce's heart - Americans are very cute in this regard, and their emotions are direct and passionate.

Now, Bruce has to pay for his special affection for Chen Xiaotang.

(End of this chapter)