Chinese Entertainment Intelligence King

Chapter 72: Returning Home for Spring Festival, Yan Laoer Restaurant
"Director X, thank you for your support this time."

Yan Li helped a middle-aged man with glasses into the car, waved back, and Lin Jiachuan handed over a cardboard box the size of a shoe box. Yan Li put the box in the car.

"The New Year is coming soon, so I'm going to prepare some local specialties for you as a token of my appreciation. I bet you'll accept them."

After some tugging, the other party drove away, and Lin Jiachuan could no longer contain his joy.

"4 per episode, there's still a lot of money in Shenzhen."

Yan Li also smiled brightly. The information about Shenzhen TV Station provided by the system was rather general and it seemed that there was not much room for maneuver. He came here just to try his luck. His main purpose was to study how to invest in Hong Kong stocks.

As a result, when I arrived at the local area and made contact with them, I learned the detailed information and easily found the "enthusiastic person" and won the best contract at the moment.

"...2 in Jinling, 2 in Xi'an, 4 in Shenzhen. Bro, that's almost 250 million."

Lin Jiachuan counted on his fingers, his face unable to conceal his excitement, yet also a hint of regret: "If we can negotiate for that Hunan Province channel, it will probably be over 300 million."

Yan Li glanced at him and said, "That guy is too greedy and acts arrogantly. He might get into trouble any day. It's better to stay away from him."

The distribution of TV series involves dealing with major TV stations, one buying and the other selling. No one would believe that there is no gray area.

This is the unspoken rule of the industry, everyone does this. If you don't follow it, change your career as soon as possible. If Yan Li wants to make money, he can only go with the flow.

But everything has a limit. If we understand and abide by the rules, we can cooperate. But if we don't know the seriousness of the matter and have no idea what's going on, Yan Li will never get involved.

"Okay, stop thinking about it, go back and take a shower, then book a ticket home."

Yan Li greeted them and the two returned to the hotel. They flew to Beijing the next day. By the time they arrived, it was already the 26th day of the twelfth lunar month.

After finishing the work of coordinating with the Shenzhen Stock Exchange, Yan Li announced that the company would be on holiday and resume work next year.

Yan Li gave each of the three employees a red envelope of 1000 yuan in addition to their salary. As for Lin Jiachuan, he just gave him a whole stack of money.

"Brother, that's too much."

Lin Jiachuan was flattered. Yan Li paid him a lot of salary and he usually ate and drank for free, and now he gave him such a large bonus.

"Just take it. You've been running around with me these days and have suffered a lot. Don't waste this money. It's the New Year, buy some clothes and food for your uncle and aunt, so that your family can rest assured when you go back."

Although Yan Li gave the money with the intention of taking care of his brother, Lin Jiachuan has indeed done a good job recently.

He is conscientious and hardworking. I have lost weight by following him on business trips, and I have vomited several times when accompanying him for drinks. It's the end of the year, and if I don't give him a bigger red envelope, Yan Libai will be regarded as his brother.

"understood."

Lin Jiachuan took the money, nodded vigorously, and looked at Yan Li with some emotion: "Brother, you are so good to me."

"Get lost, stop annoying me."

Yan Li couldn't stand the man's tricks, so he kicked him away and started packing his luggage.

Lin Jiachuan didn't get the plane ticket, but he asked Zhang Songwen and others to buy the train ticket for him. He won't leave until 9 o'clock tomorrow night.

Yan Li chose to drive home for the New Year instead of taking a plane or train.

It was inconvenient to run business without a car before, so Yan Li bought a second-hand black Santana 2000 to run errands. Because the car was in average condition, he bought it for about 6 yuan.

I drive this car for daily commuting, and rent a better one when I need to show off.

Although it was just a transitional vehicle in the early days of his business, it was his first car after all, so Yan Li still treasured it very much.

As soon as I got the car, I cleaned it up from inside to outside and took good care of it. Zhou Yiwei and his friends would occasionally borrow the car, so the oil didn't matter, but they had to wash and clean the car.

If an outsider doesn't look carefully, at first glance it looks like a brand new car that is about 80% to 90% new.

After putting the luggage in the trunk, Yan Li said goodbye to Lin Jiachuan, drove to refuel, and then set off on the way home.

————It is about 650+ kilometers from the residence in Beijing to Yan Li’s hometown, Zao City, Shandong Province.

Yan Li set out in the morning and drove until almost dusk before finally arriving at the destination. He was exhausted and his back and waist were a little uncomfortable. He regretted it so much that he wanted to slap himself.

Why show off by buying a junky car? It would be better to just take a plane!
But no matter what, the joy of going home for the New Year is greater than anything else. I stepped on the brakes and the Santana slowly stopped in front of the door of my restaurant.

Yan Laoer Restaurant!

That’s right, the name of Yan Li’s Restaurant is so simple and unpretentious.

Grandpa Yan Li had three sons, the eldest Yan Hai, the second Yan Jiang, and the third Yan He. Yan Li’s father Yan Jiang was the second son, so he was given this name.

This is also related to the local catering culture. Many restaurants in Yan Li’s hometown, Yi County, Zao City, are named according to [surname + ranking].

There is a Shi Laowu Restaurant and Zhu Laoda Mutton Soup near Yan Li's home. When he was in junior high school, he often passed by a Wang Er Mutton Soup Restaurant.

Although this naming method sounds a bit tacky and not nice, its advantage is that it is friendly and easy to remember, which is enough for a small restaurant.

After getting out of the car and opening the door, Yan Li discovered that the business at home was good and there was an empty table in the hall.

After all, it is the New Year, and many people who go home to celebrate the New Year make appointments with friends and classmates to have a drink or two. It is a small peak season.

Yan Li was looking around when he saw his mother Zhang Hong coming out of the kitchen with a plate of food. She glanced at him quickly and greeted him casually.

"There's a menu at the door."

Then he put the dishes on one of the tables and returned to the kitchen without stopping.

Yan Li: “…”

Didn’t I just change my hairstyle and wear clothes that are higher-end and more suitable for me? Am I so handsome that even my own mother can’t recognize me?
Just when I was doubting, Zhang Hong, who had just entered the kitchen, turned around again, looked at me uncertainly for a few times, and finally showed a look of joy.

"Son, why didn't you call when you got home?"

Yan Li breathed a sigh of relief. It would have been too embarrassing if his mother hadn't recognized him twice.

"Lao Yan, your son is back."

Zhang Hong no longer cared about the guests and happily pulled Yan Li to the kitchen. Comrade Yan was concentrating on cooking over a high fire. The noisy kitchen made him fail to hear the greeting for a while. He only reacted when Yan Li stood in front of him.

Having worked as a chef for more than 30 years, Comrade Lao Yan inevitably has some occupational diseases.

He has a big face, a thick neck, and a round pot belly, but one can still vaguely see some of his youthful handsomeness from his eyebrows and eyes. Yan Li's good looks are probably inherited from him.

Seeing his son, Yan Jiang wiped the sweat off his face with a towel, grinned, and asked a question.

"Have you got a meal yet?"

As a cook, Comrade Lao Yan's fatherly care is always so simple and direct.

Yan Li was used to it, so he ordered directly: "Dad, I want to eat spicy chicken."

"Okay, I'll get it for you."

Comrade Lao Yan nodded, fried the previous dish, then picked a large and well-cleaned local rooster and started chopping the meat with a chopping knife.

Zhang Hong pulled her son aside to talk, but after just a few words, he was called away by the guests outside.

Looking at his busy parents, Yan Li sighed, rolled up his sleeves and washed his hands.

Okay, let’s do it together!
It’s always like this, when others go home for holidays, I go home to work overtime…

(End of this chapter)