Huayu: This director is pretty strong.

Chapter 198 Cross-Border Negotiations: The Entry of a Female Tycoon in the Capital

In the underground parking garage, the smell of mildew mixed with the stench of engine oil rose up from the concrete floor.

Chen Yan threw the Nokia phone on the ground.

The screen was still lit, and the call log was still showing Zhou Ming's name.

Sun Qiang slumped beside the load-bearing column, blood dripping from his nose down his chin into his oil-stained work clothes, leaving dark red patches.

He was panting heavily, his gaze shifting between Chen Yan and Wu Gang.

"Director Chen, I've told you everything."

Sun Qiang's teeth chattered, and a sob escaped his throat. "Please hand me over to the police, I beg you."

Chen Yan didn't look at him.

His gaze passed over the load-bearing pillars in the garage and landed on the patch of gray-white sunlight at the end of the ramp.

"Calling the police is too lenient on him."

Chen Yan spoke, his pace steady, "Wu Gang, copy the recording of the call, along with the confession and that loosened buckle, and put them all into a file folder."

Wu Gang nodded, stepped forward, and grabbed Sun Qiang by the collar with one hand.

"Send it to the Safety Supervision Department of the State Administration of Radio, Film and Television, and also send a copy to the film industry union."

Chen Yan turned and walked towards the slope. "Tell them that the distribution manager of Oriental Cinemas bribed the film crew to deliberately cause a major personal injury accident."

He didn't stop. "I want Sun Qiang's name to be on the industry's blacklist forever. Any production team that dares to use him is going against Yanying Culture."

Sun Qiang, having lost all his strength, slid down the concrete pillar and collapsed to the ground.

At most, they'll be locked up for a few years.

Once he's blacklisted in the industry, his career in film and television is completely over.

"As for Zhou Ming, this document is enough for the Safety Supervision Department to investigate the accounts of Oriental Cinema Line."

Chen Yan's leather shoes stomped down the ramp, the sound of his footsteps echoing in the garage. "Doesn't Li Jianguo like to play dirty tricks? Let him explain to the higher-ups himself."

Stepping out of the garage, a layer of haze hung over the Shougang plant area.

Chen Yan opened the car door and sat in the back seat of the black Santana.

Su Wan sat in the passenger seat, a thick stack of financial statements spread out on her lap.

"Let's go to Houhai."

Chen Yan closed the car door.

The Santana drove out of the factory area and merged into the congested traffic of Beijing.

"How do you plan to resolve the issue with the photo printing plant?"

Su Wan closed the report and turned to look at the back row.

"The doors in China were welded shut by Li Jianguo."

Chen Yan looked out the window at the receding street scene and said, "We're going by sea to Japan."

Su Wan opened another folder and pulled out a few sheets of paper.

"The IMAGICA laboratory in Tokyo is the best photo processing center in all of Asia."

She pressed her fingertips against the paper, "But going through the formal customs approval process, the negatives need fifteen working days for export inspection, and we can't afford to wait that long."

"Not going through official channels."

Chen Yan turned his gaze away and looked at Su Wan, "Find Lin Shufen."

Su Wan's hand, which was flipping through documents, froze in mid-air.

Lin Shufen.

A name that cannot be ignored in Beijing's film and television industry.

He started his business by reselling imported films and now controls a secret underground distribution network.

From Hong Kong and Taiwan Category III films to Hollywood B-movies, as long as it's profitable, she has a way to import film reels.

"She's a businesswoman; she won't act until she sees a tangible benefit."

Su Wan voiced her concerns, "Li Jianguo is currently riding high, and the five major cinema chains have joined forces to blacklist us. Why would Lin Shufen risk offending Li Jianguo to help us transport film?"

"Because she doesn't want to be swallowed up by Li Jianguo."

Chen Yan leaned back in his chair. "Li Jianguo established the cinema alliance, ostensibly to counter foreign capital, but in reality to monopolize distribution channels."

He looked up at the traffic outside the windshield. "Lin Shufen's film distribution network is the next thorn in his side that he's going to remove. The enemy of my enemy is my ally."

The Santana was parked in front of a courtyard house by Houhai Lake.

The vermilion gate was tightly closed, and there was no signboard hanging at the entrance.

Two white marble lions stand guard on either side of the steps.

Su Wan got out of the car.

Chen Yan lowered the car window.

"This is a transcript of Li Jianguo's speech at an internal meeting of the cinema chain last month."

Chen Yan handed a brown paper bag to Su Wan, "Inside is his detailed plan for integrating the northern distribution network. Show this to her."

Su Wan took the paper bag; the paper felt heavy in her palm.

"Remember, you are representing Yanying Culture in the negotiations."

Chen Yan looked into her eyes. "The bottom line is a 10% cut for overseas distribution, not a penny more."

Su Wan nodded and turned to walk towards the courtyard house.

After verifying her identity, the gatekeeper led Su Wan through the screen wall.

Two century-old locust trees stand in the courtyard. When the autumn wind sweeps through, fallen leaves carpet the bluestone path.

The main house was converted into a cigar bar.

The air was filled with the rich aroma of Cuban Cohiba.

Lin Shufen, dressed in a dark purple silk cheongsam, sat on a rosewood daybed.

She held a glass of iced Macallan in her hand and half a cigar between her fingers.

Time has left fine lines around her eyes, but it cannot conceal the aura she has forged in the world of fame and fortune.

Su Wan sat down in the mahogany armchair and placed the kraft paper bag on the coffee table.

"Director Chen is such a busy man."

Lin Shufen exhaled a puff of smoke, which obscured half of her face. "The photo printing factory was choked by Li Jianguo, so I'm hiding in Shougang filming blind films. I sent you, a young girl, to investigate me."

Su Wan did not respond.

She untied the thread from the brown paper bag, pulled out the meeting minutes, and pushed them in front of Lin Shufen.

"President Lin, this is an internal document from Li Jianguo regarding the integration of the northern distribution network."

Su Wan cut straight to the point, "On the third page of the document, it is clearly stated that all non-cinema alliance film supply sources will be cut off. Your business is number one on Li Jianguo's cleanup list."

Lin Shufen picked up the document and scanned the pages with her eyes.

She didn't say anything, but simply picked up her glass and took a sip.

The ice cubes hit the glass, making a crisp, soft sound.

"Little Su."

Lin Shufen put down the documents and said calmly, "Li Jianguo has been trying to take me over for a long time."

The cigar between her fingers glowed red. "He's in the open, I'm in the shadows. I have my own channels; he can't touch me. Why should I get involved in your mess?"

"Because times have changed."

Su Wan straightened her back and looked directly at Lin Shufen, saying, "The era of film is coming to an end; digital projection is the future."

She pushed another page of information over, saying, "Li Jianguo monopolizes physical cinemas. Once digital technology becomes widespread, your underground channels will lose their advantage. You need a content producer who can break the cinema monopoly."

Lin Shufen paused for a moment, the ash falling onto the edge of the ashtray.

"Chen Yan's 'The Wandering Earth' is the hammer that breaks this deadlock."

Suwan continued to increase its investment, saying, "We have the technical support of Weta Digital and top-notch heavy industry audiovisual equipment. As long as the sample film is developed, this movie can open up the international market."

She calmed down and said, "At that time, the domestic cinema scheduling will be a joke."

Lin Shufen looked at the young girl in front of her.

A few years ago, Su Wan was a newcomer who was driven to a dead end by a contract trap.

Now, sitting at the negotiating table, she speaks sharply and speaks with impeccable logic, already displaying the demeanor of a top producer.

"What does Chen Yan want?"

Lin Shufen asked.

"A dedicated film transport line from Beijing to Tokyo."

Su Wan offered a deal: "We guarantee that the negatives taken each day will be delivered to the IMAGICA laboratory in Tokyo within 24 hours. After the printing is completed, the digital samples will be transmitted back to Beijing via satellite link."

Lin Shufen smiled.

She stubbed out the cigar in the ashtray.

"Smuggling film also requires the use of satellite links."

Lin Shufen leaned forward, the lamplight on the table falling into her eyes. "The fees for this line, plus the expedited printing fees in Tokyo, cost over six figures every day."

She stared at Su Wan. "How many more days can the money in your account last?"

"Yanying Culture will solve its own funding problems."

Su Wan did not back down.

"I can help you build this line."

Lin Shufen leaned back in her chair, "But I don't want the money. I want 20% of the profits from the overseas distribution of 'The Wandering Earth'."

Two percent.

They're asking for an exorbitant amount.

Su Wan remembered the bottom line Chen Yan had given her.

"Ten percent."

Suzhou Evening News reported the figures, stating, "This is the highest level of sincerity that Yanying Culture can offer."

Her palms were pressed against her knees, her fingertips already soaked with sweat. "President Lin, you're not just investing in a movie, you're buying yourself a ticket to a new era."

She looked up and said, "Li Jianguo's noose is already around your neck. Chen Yan is the only one who can help you cut the rope."

The tea room fell silent.

The clock on the wall ticked away.

Lin Shufen stared at Su Wan for a full minute.

She picked up the wine glass on the table and drank the last bit of wine in one gulp.

"Ten percent."

Lin Shufen stood up, walked to her desk, pressed the speakerphone button, and dialed an international long-distance number.

The call was connected.

A greeting in Japanese came through the receiver.

"Mr. Watanabe."

Lin Shufen spoke in fluent Japanese, "I have a batch of high-quality film negatives here. They're on a red-eye flight tonight and will land at Narita Airport tomorrow morning."

She glanced at Su Wan and said, "Customs clearance procedures remain the same. Notify the IMAGICA laboratory to vacate the No. 3 developing machine and have it on standby 24 hours a day."

Su Wan loosened her clenched fist, her palms covered in cold sweat.

Lin Shufen hung up the phone and turned to look at Su Wan.

"Go back and tell Chen Yan."

Lin Shufen's tone revealed the ruthlessness of a tyrant: "I'll protect this line and let him make a good movie."

She picked up her glass again and tapped the bottom of it lightly on the table. "If this hammer doesn't break Li Jianguo's rice bowl, I'll get it back from him with interest."

Su Wan walked out of the courtyard, got back into the car, and let out a long sigh.

"It's settled."

Chen Yan hummed in response, without looking at her.

His gaze fell on a text message that Wu had just sent.

The message was brief, containing only one name.

Chen Yan turned off his phone screen, and the light in the carriage dimmed, leaving only his dark, brooding gaze.

"The fire outside has been put out."

He spoke, his voice low and steady.

"Now, it's time to clean house."