Huayu Chef

105 forced me to become a strong person

Zhu Xiangyang said with a smile, "Director Zhang, Director Ding, Director Huang, let me introduce these three to you: Ms. Yang Mi, the famous actress; Ms. Zeng Jia, the general manager of Yang Mi Studio; and Mr. Zhang Jinxuan, the head chef of 'Wild Kitchen'."

Then he introduced the people from Hunan TV to Zhang Jinxuan and the other two.

"This is Director Zhang of Hunan TV, this is Director Ding of Hunan TV Satellite Channel, this is Director Huang of Hunan TV Program Production Center..."

"Hello, Director Zhang."

"Hello, Director Ding."

"Hello, Director Huang..."

"Hello." Director Zhang nodded with a smile, shook hands with Yang Mi, and jokingly said familiarly, "Ms. Yang, they say that rosy cheeks are good for you, and you're getting more and more beautiful."

Yang Mi smiled and said, "Thank you for the compliment, Director Zhang. You are even more charming than before. It's a pleasure to meet you in Beijing. You must have a few more drinks tonight!"

"As for wine, just enjoy it to the fullest," Director Zhang replied with a faint smile. He shook hands with Zeng Jia, and finally shook hands with Zhang Jinxuan, saying affectionately, "Xiao Zhang, your filming of 'Wild Kitchen' has amazed us. It's novel and beautifully made. I hope more people can see it and understand the cooking techniques and culture behind the food."

Zhang Jinxuan replied respectfully, "With the attention and support of Director Zhang, General Manager Wei, General Manager Zhu, Director Ding, and Director Huang, I believe that 'Wild Kitchen' will definitely be able to enter thousands of households."

At this moment, Wei Ming interjected, "Director Zhang, Director Ding, Director Huang, let's sit down and talk, please."

"President Wei, President Zhu, please."

After a brief exchange of pleasantries, Wei Ming, as the host, took the main seat, the Hunan TV staff took the guest of honor seat, and Yang Mi, Zhang Jinxuan, and Zeng Jia took the secondary guest seats.

The seating arrangement was very deliberate, and the disparity in status and rank was immediately apparent.

Wei Ming asked Director Zhang to order the dishes, but Director Zhang passed the order to Yang Mi, who then passed it to Zhang Jinxuan. Wei Ming then laughed and said, "Little Zhang is an expert in cooking, so it's most appropriate for him to order."

Zhang Jinxuan joked, "Mr. Wei, you flatter me. I don't know how to cook many dishes, and I haven't eaten many of them. Each dish on the menu here has two words written after it."

"Do you have it? Which two words?"

"tasty."

"Ha ha."

Everyone laughed.

Zhu Xiangyang chuckled, "Xiao Zhang, you're a professional. Just two words seem a bit perfunctory, don't you?"

"In short, it's delicious."

Everyone laughed again.

Yang Mi pressed further, "What about the four characters?"

"It's delicious."

Wei Ming said to Director Zhang, "In the words of netizens, Xiao Zhang is too witty and too good at arguing. If we let him keep going, this meal will most likely turn into his 'Wild Kitchen' show. Director Zhang, let's each order a few dishes."

"it is good."

There were many people tonight, and we ordered more than ten dishes in total. Several of them were signature dishes of Jiuchao Club, and a few others seemed to be a fusion of Chinese and Western cooking methods, as you could tell from their names, such as braised pork with truffle abalone, which was very typical.

While waiting for the food to be served, the group of people at the table drank tea and chatted amongst themselves, but no one brought up "Wild Kitchen" on their own initiative.

"Ms. Yang, I heard you've crossed over into producing. What projects are you working on lately?" Director Zhang asked.

"Director Zhang, please call me by my name." Yang Mi pursed her lips and said, "I'm currently filming 'Micro Era,' a youth idol drama invested in by H&R Century Pictures."

"Isn't Xiao Zhang an artist signed to your studio?"

Yang Mi glanced at Zhang Jinxuan and said with a bright smile, "Xiao...Xiao Zhang is a contracted artist of our studio. I was preparing for a new movie in Shanghai at the time, and I personally ran back to Beijing to sign him. I hit the jackpot."

"Ha ha."

Director Zhang praised, "You have a good eye; Xiao Zhang has great potential."

Zhu Xiangyang was filled with regret: "Ms. Yang Mi acted too quickly. I wanted to meet Xiao Zhang when the second episode of 'Wild Kitchen' aired, but something came up and I missed it."

Yang Mi said smugly, "President Zhu, you definitely can't beat me. I signed Xiao Zhang as soon as the first episode of 'Wild Kitchen' aired."

"You celebrities are quick to act."

"Ha ha."

"Yang Mi, how did your studio agree on the copyright of 'Wild Kitchen' with Xiao Zhang?" Director Zhang asked with a smile.

"The copyright of 'Wild Kitchen' belongs to Xiao Zhang and has nothing to do with our studio, but the studio is willing to invest in and co-develop the 'Wild Kitchen' reality show with Xiao Zhang."

Director Zhang asked with interest, "How much money are you planning to invest in your studio?"

Yang Mi generously stated: "At least 500 million."

"That's bold."

Director Zhang and Wei Ming exchanged a glance. Wei Ming coughed lightly and said, "Since we're talking about 'Wild Kitchen,' and with the heads of Youku, the leaders of Hunan TV, Xiao Zhang, Ms. Yang, and President Zeng all here, let's have a proper discussion about the 'Wild Kitchen' reality show. Xiao Zhang, you are the copyright owner, the creative provider, and the producer. What are your thoughts?"

Feeling that everyone's eyes were on him, Zhang Jinxuan said humbly, "President Wei, Director Zhang, President Zhu, Director Ding, Director Huang, I am young and only have a superficial understanding of the industry. Please give me your insights."

"Xiao Zhang, you didn't say that when we first met, did you?" Zhu Xiangyang said with a playful smile.

"President Zhu understands me. You know all my thoughts. You are a great expert in content, so you must have already considered everything. How could I dare to show off my limited skills in front of you?"

"Little rascal." Zhu Xiangyang pointed at Zhang Jinxuan from a distance and said, "Alright, let me share my thoughts with everyone. After four episodes of 'Wild Kitchen,' the cumulative viewership has exceeded 30 million. At this rate, the viewership will definitely reach 100 million after the first season's twelve episodes. I'm sure everyone here can see how much potential 'Wild Kitchen' has."

The people from Youku and Hunan TV nodded slightly.

"However, there is a problem. Wild Kitchen is an original video series, not a regular variety show. According to regulations, it cannot be broadcast on television, which limits the commercial prospects of Wild Kitchen."

"The reason we've invited the leaders from Hunan TV to Beijing today is to pool our wisdom and efforts to solve problems. We can work together to develop 'Wild Kitchen' and turn it into a reality show."

"Youku provides the online platform, Hunan TV provides the TV platform, Xiao Zhang provides the publishing rights, and Ms. Yang's studio provides the funding. With the four parties complementing each other's resources, the problem is perfectly solved."

Seeing the thoughtful expressions on everyone's faces, Zhu Xiangyang continued, "We at Youku attach great importance to 'Wild Kitchen' and plan to make it a key project this year. In order to better integrate resources, maximize commercial value, and develop it in all aspects such as catering, kitchenware, games, variety shows, and cultural tourism, I suggest that the reality show 'Wild Kitchen' be renamed. Let's not call it 'Wild Kitchen' anymore."

Zhang Jinxuan's eyelids twitched wildly, and he thought to himself, "Good heavens, the first stab is aimed right at his lungs."

"Wild Kitchen" is the name of the show "Wild Kitchen." Zhang Jinxuan used the show to attract customers to his restaurant, increasing its monthly revenue to several hundred thousand yuan. Changing the name of the reality show is equivalent to cutting off Wild Kitchen's exposure and traffic channels.

Is this the consequence of rejecting capital investment in Wild Kitchen?

If you won't let me invest, then I'll just abandon you and start over.

From Zhu Xiangyang's perspective, it's reasonable and in their best interests, but it's like cutting flesh off Zhang Jinxuan's body.

Moreover, seeing that Yang Mi and Zeng Jia were listening attentively and didn't seem to find anything wrong with it, Zhang Jinxuan felt a chill run down his spine.

As the waiter served the food, Zhu Xiangyang was interrupted when Zhang Jinxuan suddenly spoke up, saying, "Mr. Zhu, there might be a slight problem with the name change."