1982 Started from Hong Kong

Chapter 404: Trip to Treasure Island
"So what I want is Chinese license, which can be published in Singapore, Malaysia and Formosa, not necessarily limited to Hong Kong."

The number of overseas Chinese educated in Chinese throughout East Asia is many times the population of Hong Kong. If the authorization was only for Hong Kong, Zhai Yuan would not be so foolish as to pay a huge licensing fee of 70 million Hong Kong dollars.

Zhai Yuan did not think much about how much money Dongyang could make from licensing the twenty comic books in the next five years.

After all, it's someone else's property. Shueisha is such a big company, and they're very picky. It's impossible for them to agree to renew the lease for ten years at this price. They must have calculated the profit in advance.

Putting aside various costs, there is little hope of making a big profit in these five years, but it will not be a loss either.

Zhai Yuan's real purpose is to use the influence of these comics to promote his own cultural industry.

What does it mean to be an agent?
It’s not like I don’t have any works!
"Slam Dunk", "Sailor Moon", "Pokemon", and "Dead Fire Sea"...

It’s a pity that Akira Toriyama and Masami Kurumada copied too quickly. They copied "Dragon Ball" and "Saint Seiya" before Mr. Zhai even started writing. Otherwise, he wouldn’t even have to pay the licensing fee today.

Li Huizhen suddenly noticed an indignant expression on her boss's face.

The old lady coughed lightly and reminded: "We also need to consider the issue of piracy."

Zhai Yuan collected his thoughts and said with a smile, "It doesn't matter. I'll have someone negotiate with the pirates."

Piracy is something that cannot be allowed to stand in the open, and it is just a question of whether the Hong Kong government wants to regulate it.

Li Huizhen remembered that her boss not only had connections with the Hong Kong government, but was also said to have connections with Xin Kee. She nodded and didn't say much.

No one in Hong Kong dares to pirate Yulang Group's comics.

Because Huang Yulang is not only a tycoon, but also a 'respectful and righteous' big water pipe, and he really knows how to chop people.

That night.

Zhai Yuan invited cartoonists from Japan to have dinner at the Regal Hotel.

There is no need for Kenji Sato to be present this time.

During the dinner, Zhai Yuan greeted everyone as usual and said some nice words.

What? I am your loyal reader~ You are all the backbone of the comics industry~ It is an honor to communicate with you face to face~
Chen Shilong, who was sitting next to him, glanced at Zhai Yuan.

Haha~ hypocrisy!

After three rounds of drinks, Zhai Yuan took the initiative to speak again: "The comics industry of Jiuyi Entertainment is an important business of our group in the future, so I hope to promote more excellent works to the global market through cooperation with all the teachers."

Toriyama Akira and others put down their wine glasses and looked at Zhai Yuan with hesitation on their faces.

"I know that most of you have contracts with Shueisha and your projects are not yet completed, but cooperation does not necessarily have to be a commercial matter, it can also be a cultural exchange."

Zhai Yuan smiled amiably, obviously having considered them in advance, and added: "So I hope that all teachers can spare some time to come to Hong Kong to teach. In the future, Jiuyi Entertainment also plans to hold a comic festival and set up a creation fund..."

After a pause, Zhai Yuan turned his head to look at Michiko and added: "Of course, there is a huge reward."

Michiko Nishiwaki raised the corner of her mouth and translated it back in a more elegant way.

Several famous comic artists showed signs of understanding and immediately expressed their willingness to cooperate or to consider the idea.

Let’s put cultural exchange aside first.
If you can earn money just by teaching classes and increase your influence in the Chinese market at the same time, it is truly a win-win situation.

After the banquet, the second half was arranged to go to a nightclub.

During this period, Zhai Yuan took Chen Shilong to privately find Hojo Tsukasa and his assistant.

Zhai Yuanxiao said, "Mr. Beitiao, as the boss of a film company, I really like the comic "City Hunter", so I plan to make a movie with Chen Shilong as the protagonist. I wonder if you have the honor?"

Hojo Tsukasa widened his eyes in disbelief, looked at Zhai Yuan and then at Chen Shilon, almost thinking that he had heard something wrong.

A superstar of Chen Shilong's level making his own movie?
Hojo Tsukasa, shocked!

Even if you don’t have the copyright, you have to buy it back from the company!
Seeing the other party nodded hurriedly.

Zhai Yuan spoke again: "But the production cycle will be longer. If possible, I hope your assistant Mr. Inoue Takehiko can stay in Hong Kong to help plan the project..."

at the same time,

Michiko Nishiwaki also found Naoko Takeuchi.

"Naoko-chan, President Zhai really appreciates the style of your work in the New Manga Awards and hopes to invite you to help create a girls' comic at Jiuyi Entertainment."

Michiko said succinctly: "President Zhai will take care of your contract with Shueisha. After the work comes out, the company will help you promote it in the greatest possible way. In addition, no matter how the sales of this comic will be in the future, you can be paid an annual salary of 500 million Hong Kong dollars..."

Takeuchi Naoko, shocked X2!

An annual salary of 500 million is considered high-income even among Japanese cartoonists, and is definitely not a price that a newcomer like Takeuchi Naoko can get.

Looking at the whole of Hong Kong, apart from Ma Rongcheng, who is undisputedly the number one in Yulang Group, he received a bonus of 600 million Hong Kong dollars this year.

Even Huang Yulang’s own work sales don’t bring him that much share.

Sailor Moon was overwhelmed by the money, while Sakuragi Hanamichi was told by his old mentor to stay in Hong Kong and work hard for his own film IP.

Since then,

Jiuyi Entertainment's comics business has finally taken its first step.

…………

In the last few days of October, Zhai Yuan finally set up the framework of the entire entertainment group.

All kinds of businesses including film, television, music, newspapers, novels and comics are ready.

Next, we just have to wait for the giant Jiuyi Entertainment Group to go public.

But before that, Zhai Yuan still had one thing to do.

A trip to Treasure Island.

The "September 1st Daily News" plans to set up a branch in Taiwan to expand its territory.

The process was smooth.

This period coincided with the lifting of martial law in Formosa.

Although some people were unhappy about Zhai Yuan setting foot on the island, they did not dare to show up at this time. They were even afraid that something might happen to Zhai Yuan on the island, and then the lifting of martial law would become a laughing stock.

Even so, on October 10, Zhai Yuan still cautiously brought the Four Shaolin Patriarchs with him.

Mark Simon, an official from the U.S. intelligence department and current marketing director of the September 1st Daily, also arrived in Taiwan.

In the afternoon,

Zhai Yuan received an invitation to the 24th Golden Horse Awards.

"I remember that I still have two dramas in stock, "A Woman at Forty" and "Days of Being Wild."

After arriving in Formosa, Mark Simon did not stay in the hotel for too long, but went straight to Beigang Chaotian Palace to meet with senior officials of Formosa.

Zhai Yuan was in the hotel room, holding the invitation letter in his hand, turning it around between his fingertips for a few times, and made a decision after hesitating for a moment.

With a snap of his fingers, the invitation letter to the Golden Horse Awards flew into the trash can.

Art films don’t make money anyway, so let Ann Hui and Kar-wai’s films stay in inventory for a while.

Do the whole show.
It is obviously not the time to attend the Golden Horse Awards yet.

Mark Simon is still working on the front line to promote the September 1st Daily News in Taiwan.
Zhai Yuan was afraid that if he were to step onto the Golden Horse Awards stage, he would be unable to hold back and say a few more words, thus exposing his identity as Yu Zecheng.

"At most half a year, hold on, hold on!"

Suppressing the idea of enjoying the stage, Zhai Yuan took the Shaolin Five Patriarchs out of the hotel and walked around the scenery of the treasure island. The island is divided into north and south.

The southern part of the island is notorious for being a gathering place for gangsters, while the northern part of the island is relatively stable.

Around ten o'clock in the evening, Taiwan is still bustling with traffic.

Unlike Hong Kong, the streets and alleys here are full of electric scooters. Dozens or even hundreds of motorcycles can be seen lined up at a traffic light, most of whom are working class people returning home after overtime work.

Zhai Yuan reasonably suspected that the word "motorcycle" was born from this.

Several grown men did not go to the so-called high-end places.

People squatting on the roadside were holding a Hongshuangxi cigarette, squinting their eyes and puffing out smoke.

Satellite and the others looked at the traffic and neon lights, muttering:

"Is this Formosa? Besides having more people, it doesn't look as prosperous as Hong Kong."

Zhai Yuan smiled and nodded.

At this time, the island was a place of great wealth and prosperity, and the economy was making three leaps forward.

However, in terms of urban development, it is indeed not as good as Hong Kong.

Because the martial law order had just been implemented, even night travel was only recently relaxed. If we come here at this time, the nearby shops and houses should be closed.

That is to say, starting from this year, Taiwan has ushered in the second wave of entertainment industry boom.

The general focus is on nightlife, with legal dance halls emerging for the first time, followed by mass-market KTVs, and clubs and night movies growing like mushrooms after a rain.

"Come back in a few years, it should look more prosperous than Hong Kong."

Zhai Yuan squatted on the side of the road, extinguished his cigarette, exhaled a cloud of smoke and said with a smile: "After all, it's a provincial capital, and it develops very quickly~"

Wei Xing and the others giggled and sighed, "We don't know when our provincial capital in southern Henan will develop."

Amsterdam?
Zhai Yuan lowered his head and smiled, then he stood up on his knees and clapped his hands: "Let's go! Let's visit another attraction."

Five people took two taxis.

At this time, the people in Taiwan spoke more normally, without such a strong motorcycle accent.

The driver could tell that the guys didn't speak local accents. He glanced at Zhai Yuan and the others through the rearview mirror and asked, "Are you guys from the mainland?"

Zhai Yuan smiled and said, "That's right, martial law has been lifted, come over for a trip~"

"That's great. People from the same family should visit each other more often. You came at the right time. There are many new nightclubs that have opened recently. You can go and check them out."

The driver held the steering wheel and chattered with interest: "I am from eastern Shaanxi. I am applying to go back to my hometown to visit my relatives. They said martial law has been lifted and the number of people who can return home is limited every month. I haven't been back for more than 20 years. I have two sisters in my hometown. We have relied on letters to keep in touch over the years. I have a little nephew who is not young anymore but still hasn't married. They said he has polio and his left leg is a little disabled, so he can't get a wife. I'm going back to my hometown this year. I'll take out 100,000 yuan and I don't believe I can't get this done..."

Zhai Yuan sat in the car, listening to the driver's chatter, and occasionally responding with a smile.

It seems like a lifetime ago.

Why do each generation become worse than the previous one?
The taxi stopped in the northwest of the city.
Treasure Island Hsinchu.

After paying the fare, the driver enthusiastically left a business card and told Zhai Yuan to contact him at any time if he needed a guide.

It was approaching the early morning hours.

After getting off the car, Zhai Yuan looked at the night view near Hsinchu. The city was not much different from what he had imagined.

In later generations, this place was known as the Silicon Valley of the Treasure Island and the base camp of the sacred mountain that protects the island.

At the moment, it seems that there are fewer factory parks, and the traffic volume is even less than that in the northern urban area of the island.

At least in Zhai Yuan's impression, Hsinchu after midnight should be the most congested traffic during the evening rush hour.

Because it’s time for the employees of the Island Guardian Shenshan Company to get off work.

Just like the semiconductor company he works for in Japan, at this point in time the employees should still be working overtime to fulfill orders and do research and development, with lights on and goods moving around like clockwork.

But now the situation has reversed.

"Without employees and factories, there is no work to do and no orders to receive...It seems that Toyo's production line is still useful."

In a parallel universe, after the establishment of the Protectorate Island Mountain, it started out as an OEM factory, with orders pouring in from all over the world. It became one of Treasure Island’s biggest reliances and bargaining chips later on.

Today, Zhai Yuan and Toshiba's semiconductor company have intercepted orders for the island-protecting sacred mountain at the source.

As both were engaged in OEM, Toshiba's mature technology and high-end talents in the 1980s undoubtedly formed an overwhelming advantage over the newly established sacred mountain in Taiwan.

Therefore, Intel will give the first foundry order in East Asia to Zhai Yuan’s company instead of Sun Zhongmou of the Guardian Mountain.

Zhai Yuan looked at the few factories that had turned off their lights and closed their doors, and couldn't help but think of what he had said to Guan Weiming:

'Nothing about it matters to me.'

I wandered around the streets of Hsinchu for half an hour.

Although I didn't see any construction work on the island-protecting sacred mountain, I did meet many young prostitutes soliciting customers.

After the lifting of martial law, the sex industry in Taiwan also flourished.

"Go back, or should I arrange two for each of you?"

Zhai Yuan yawned, nodded at the window with a small pink light not far away, and asked the four people from Satellite in a joking manner.

The fourth patriarch of Shaolin smiled awkwardly and said, "Go back, go back!"

But Zhai Yuan always felt that these guys were reluctant?

10 month 28 day.

On the second day after arriving in Taiwan, the 24th Golden Horse Awards officially opened.

During this period, Mark Simon came back once, talked with Zhai Yuan about the newspaper, and left in a hurry.

That night in the hotel, Zhai Yuan watched the live broadcast of this year's Golden Horse Awards.

It is indeed an award that complements each other. Jiuyi Entertainment did not submit any films for the competition, so there are less than half of Hong Kong films in this year's Golden Horse Awards.

Thanks to Chen Shilong's "Police Story 2"

Qi Qin's "Green Grasses All Over the Sky" filled the scene.

There were also Taiwan’s own movies such as “The Scarecrow” and “Osmanthus Lane”. The best actress award was given to a pretty girl named Xiao Hongmei, and the leading actor was actually Chyi Chin.

A special award was also set up and given to Chen Shilon and Tong Yuejuan respectively.

Chen Shilong was forced to stay in Hong Kong to greet Dongyang cartoonists, and he didn't even show up to receive the award!

"No wonder I was invited to attend the Golden Horse Awards as soon as I arrived in Taiwan..."

Zhai Yuan was amused by the watery Golden Horse Awards this year. Without Hong Kong films participating, the value of the Golden Horse Awards dropped sharply. On the contrary, the Hong Kong Film Awards seemed to be on the rise this year.

I waited for another two days in Taiwan for news.

October 10th, Double Ninth Festival.

Mark Simon rushed back from Chaotian Palace and nodded to Zhai Yuan.

"The procedures for opening a branch of the Jiuyi Daily here are almost complete. Tomorrow I will take you to meet several officials from the Executive Yuan and the Information Agency. After that, we will select a site and build a building to secure an office location. If nothing goes wrong, our newspaper will be published here by the end of the year..."

(End of this chapter)