"Only five hundred thousand? Director Gong, have you been promoted, and you're really not stingy?"
Wang Shu couldn't help but frown slightly, looking at Gong Tao and saying.
"It's not me being stingy, it's just the environment of our station. Five hundred thousand is not a small amount. If we don't buy the copyright to your song, can you still sell it to others!"
Gong Tao also said somewhat awkwardly.
He had indeed been promoted and given a raise, but he was still relatively junior at the station.
Especially in terms of financial control, the station had its rules. Being able to secure fifty thousand yuan for Wang Shu was already something he had fought tooth and nail for.
He could already imagine how much effort he would have to expend later to get the money from the vice president in charge of finance.
"Alright, for the sake of our old friendship, I won't quibble with you. It can't be this price next time, alright!"
Wang Shu also smiled slightly and said.
"Alas, the more you say that, the more guilty I feel."
Seeing that Wang Shu wasn't going to haggle over the performance fee, Gong Tao's frown immediately relaxed.
A look of relief appeared on his face.
"Alright, I'll treat you to a meal, consider it my compensation. Do you have time?"
Gong Tao asked, looking at Wang Shu.
"Of course, why wouldn't I have time if you're treating me to a meal?"
Wang Shu agreed directly.
After all, he had helped Gong Tao out a lot this time. Gong Tao would definitely not forget such a great favor.
What was a mere meal in comparison?
Besides, Wang Shu and Gong Tao had gone through thick and thin together in the entertainment industry. Gong Tao could be considered his benefactor.
When Gong Tao first invited him to "Singer God," it was evident that Gong Tao was a person with great foresight.
At least he recognized a great talent like himself, who excelled in music, film, and art.
"Just the two of us?"
Wang Shu asked Gong Tao, as if this meal was just for the two of them, he would have to find an expensive restaurant and make the guy pay a lot.
After all, this guy was now a director at Jiangnan TV, so his salary must have increased quite a bit.
"There are three other mentors."
Gong Tao chuckled triumphantly.
"You sly dog, so you invited others after all!"
Wang Shu's face immediately darkened. As expected, Gong Tao was still an old fox.
"Then this banquet, wouldn't your station be paying for it?"
Wang Shu couldn't help but ask again.
"That's right. I applied to the station, and it has been approved!"
Gong Tao nodded.
"Good heavens, you! You said you were treating me to a meal, but it turns out you're using public funds for private use, aren't you? This is clearly a banquet approved by the station, and you're using it to repay my favor. That won't do."
Wang Shu said hurriedly.
"This banquet will only be considered a business meal. I'll keep your favor in mind, and you can treat me again later."
Wang Shu said, deep in thought.
...
After the meal, Wang Shu went to Shen Teng's theater for a visit.
However, Wang Shu didn't inform Shen Teng, but bought a ticket and went in with a mask and hat.
Admittedly, after participating in the show "Happy Comedian," Shen Teng's popularity had indeed soared.
Before, this small theater was basically empty.
Now, it was almost full, with many people even buying standing tickets.
Wang Shu, sitting in the audience, watched Shen Teng's performance intently.
Shen Teng was an actor with exceptionally strong comedic talent that he had witnessed in this world.
He was the kind of person who, as soon as he appeared, made you feel like laughing.
That's why Wang Shu had invested in Shen Teng without hesitation.
After watching the two-hour-plus performance, when the audience had dispersed and left,
Wang Shu took out his phone and called Shen Teng.
Shen Teng, who had just walked off stage, heard his phone ringing backstage.
He hurried to the backstage and, seeing that it was Wang Shu calling, answered the phone directly.
"I'm at your small theater!"
As soon as Shen Teng answered, Wang Shu's voice came through the phone.
"At our small theater? Where?"
Shen Teng was stunned and asked curiously.
"Take a look at the audience!"
Wang Shu said with a smile.
"You're not playing a trick on me, are you, Brother Wang Shu!"
Shen Teng asked in surprise, as he thought Wang Shu was joking.
After all, if Wang Shu were to visit, he should have informed him in advance.
Moreover, Wang Shu was supposed to be filming abroad, so how could he suddenly be at his small theater.
"Whether it's true or not, just take a look. You're in the theater anyway!"
Wang Shu continued to say with a smile.
"You know I'm in the theater?"
Shen Teng was taken aback when he heard this.
Had Wang Shu really returned, and was he at his small theater?
Shen Teng immediately turned and walked towards the front.
Upon returning to the stage, Shen Teng indeed found Wang Shu sitting in the audience, munching on sunflower seeds.
"Brother Wang Shu, when did you get here?"
Shen Teng asked with great surprise.
"About two or three hours ago!"
Wang Shu replied.
"Three or four hours? You watched my performance?"
Shen Teng looked at Wang Shu in astonishment.
"Your performance was excellent. I really didn't misjudge you!"
Wang Shu said directly.
"I'm so excited to hear you say that. After all, your comedic talent is far above mine, and it was thanks to the scripts you wrote for me that I won the championship!"
Shen Teng said somewhat sheepishly.
After all, the reason he had achieved the fame he had today was largely due to Wang Shu.
If it weren't for Wang Shu helping him write scripts, and if it weren't for Wang Shu withdrawing from the competition at the last minute,
he might have been eliminated long ago and wouldn't have had the opportunity to be where he was today.
"These were always meant to be yours."
Wang Shu said calmly.
"Your achievements will not stop here. I believe you can become a comedic star in China and even the world!"
Wang Shu said with a serious expression.
"Being able to have over a hundred people filling the theater every day to watch my performances is already enough for me.
As for becoming a comedic superstar in China or the world, I can't even imagine that."
Shen Teng smiled, as he felt what Wang Shu said was too far-fetched.
"You can imagine it, because I believe you have the potential!"
Wang Shu patted Shen Teng on the shoulder and said seriously.
Because he had already tailored several film production plans for Shen Teng.
After he finished his current matters.
As soon as his affairs were settled, he would immediately start the filming of "Goodbye Mr. Loser."
After all, these films were box office hits.
Wang Shu intended to establish himself in the film industry with these two films.
According to his plan, since he was constantly being constrained by Qianyin Group in the music industry, he would temporarily give up on music and turn to other fields.
Whether it was the publishing industry or the film industry, he intended to make a name for himself.
Ideally, he would also create a colossal company, even larger than Qianyin Group.
At that time, he would let Qianyin Group experience what it felt like to be blacklisted in the industry.
"I still can't imagine it, but since you say I can, then I believe you!"
Although Shen Teng wasn't sure if what Wang Shu said was true, since Wang Shu had confidence in him, he would also have confidence.
"Last time on the phone, I heard that Deyushe wanted me to invest?"
Wang Shu looked at Shen Teng and asked again.
Although he hadn't discussed it in detail on the phone last time, he had taken this matter to heart.
After all, the two members of Deyushe were quite good at crosstalk, to be honest.
They had a bit of the flavor of crosstalk masters.
"That's right. People from Deyushe talked to me. They said they were about to go out of business. Young people nowadays are no longer very interested in crosstalk, this ancient art form."
Shen Teng said seriously. He understood the current predicament of Deyushe.
After all, he had been in a similar situation before.
Now, it was only because Wang Shu had helped him that he had achieved his current success.
However, Deyushe did not have Wang Shu. The art of crosstalk was even more niche compared to skits.
He had also personally visited crosstalk theaters in Beijing. Most of the audience were over forty years old.
Even among these audiences, there were only about a dozen people per show.
At the end of the month, they couldn't even earn the rent for the venue, let alone make a living.
It was precisely because of this that Deyushe wanted Wang Shu to invest and help them.
"This is indeed a problem. I've heard Deyushe's performances too, and they are indeed very good. If you hadn't met me, this cheat, this time, I'm afraid Deyushe would have been your formidable opponent."
Wang Shu said, recalling.
Deyushe's crosstalk performances were indeed very good. Although the two actors were no longer young,
they were still full of energy on stage, and they delivered every punchline in the jokes perfectly.
From a professional crosstalk perspective, these two could be considered masters of crosstalk techniques.
"How many people are in their venue?"
Wang Shu asked again.
"There are about a dozen people now. They have their own disciples, so about a dozen people in total."
Shen Teng thought for a moment and replied.
"Are you free tomorrow?"
Wang Shu asked Shen Teng.
"I'm free tomorrow. Tomorrow is a rest day, no performances."
Shen Teng replied.
"Good, then tomorrow you'll come with me to see the situation at their venue."
Wang Shu said directly to Shen Teng.
Because he felt it was necessary to interact with Deyushe, after all, crosstalk still had a market.
In his previous life, Wang Shu on Earth really enjoyed listening to crosstalk.
Whenever he couldn't sleep, he would turn on Teacher Guo's crosstalk as a bedtime story.
Wang Shu even wanted to apprentice himself to a master when he was young.