Huang Hexiang is now the president of British American Tobacco Hong Kong, responsible for the tobacco company's business in the Asia-Pacific region. Just one month before he married Gong Li, British American Tobacco had just merged its global tobacco business.
Tobacco companies' main business in the Asia-Pacific region is now in Xiangjiang, so the return of Xiangjiang is likely to have an impact on tobacco companies' layout in the Asia-Pacific region.
In fact, what tobacco companies hope most is to enter and conduct business in mainland China, and it is best to open factories in mainland China.
They have been trying over the years, but have never gotten any chance, and the relevant departments have not let up at all.
Mainland China has very strict controls on the tobacco industry, like an iron wall that they cannot get through.
In recent years, the world's major tobacco giants have carved up the global market. As a major tobacco consumer, China will certainly not let go of this big piece of cake.
Everyone believes that whoever can win the big piece of China's cake will become the real tobacco overlord.
British American Tobacco is now the second largest tobacco group in the world, but if they can win the Chinese market, they will quickly become the first.
For British American Tobacco, they believe that entering the mainland market is not an exploration, but a return.
Because British American Tobacco Group entered China as early as the early 20th century and controlled more than 70% of China's tobacco sales in the 1920s, it can be said that they once dominated China's tobacco market.
Tobacco companies can develop so fast, but their methods are certainly not very clean.
When they first competed with the Nanyang brothers for the market, they directly used three axes.
The first is to deliberately buy Nanyang Brothers' cigarettes, put them in a dark and humid ditch to let them mold, and then put them into the market to destroy the brand power of Nanyang Brothers. Over time, customers think that the quality of Nanyang Brothers' cigarettes is not good. , and the Nanyang Brothers often face compensation claims because of this.
The second ax was to engage in a public opinion war. At that time, an unidentified reporter wrote an anonymous letter in the National Daily, accusing Nanyang Brothers of relying on Neon's raw materials, equipment and technical personnel. At the same time, British American Tobacco also sent vendors to sell Nanyang Brothers' cigarettes, and then loudly advertised them as Neon Man's cigarettes.
British American Tobacco even hired a group of hooligans to buy cigarettes from various cigarette stalls. If the boss recommended Nanyang Brothers' cigarettes, they would loudly reprimand them, saying that they were Neon People's cigarettes. After a long time, some vendors would simply reject them. I bought cigarettes from Nanyang Brothers.
The third ax is to sue Nanyang Brothers for trademark infringement. Not only did they sue in court, they also distributed leaflets warning that anyone selling Nanyang Brothers’ infringing products will be prosecuted.
This set of combos directly knocked the Nanyang brothers into confusion.
After the founding of New China, the then Ministry of Light Industry took over British American Tobacco's properties and debts in China and established the China Tobacco Company.
Therefore, some people believe that the predecessor of China Tobacco Company is British American Tobacco.
This statement is definitely not recognized, because at that time, British American Tobacco was basically an empty shell. Even if the Ministry of Light Industry did not take over BAT and instead established a new company, it would not make much difference.
Zhou Yan didn't know what Huang Hexiang was thinking. If he knew, he wouldn't be able to say anything to Huang Hexiang.
Not to mention that Zhou Yan didn't want to get involved in this matter. Even if he wanted to, I'm afraid he wouldn't have the ability.
Tobacco is not something anyone can touch if they want. Not to mention the Zhou family, even if the Zhou family is tied to the Zhan family, Li family and Huo family, it is impossible for them to touch tobacco.
If you want to eat a piece of meat or drink soup, they can do it, but if you want to intervene directly, whoever touches it will be in trouble.
The three of them chatted for a while, and then the phone on the table rang. Zhou Yan apologized to the two of them, then got up and picked up the phone.
"Old Zhou, are you in the office?" Chen Kaige's voice came from the other end of the phone.
Zhou Yan smiled and said, "Isn't this nonsense? You called my office number. If I am not in the office, can I receive your call?"
"Haha, I just asked casually. Since you are in the office, that's great. I'll bring someone to borrow your place for a trial."
"Borrow me my place?" Zhou Yan asked doubtfully.
"Why, it can't work?"
"That's fine, but why do you want to borrow a place from me?"
Chen Kaige should be the number one brother in Yanjing Factory now. He is preparing a new movie. Can he not be given a place in the factory? You don’t have to borrow a place here even for auditions, right?
"Didn't you build a special place for auditions? The equipment is complete."
The studio did have a place specifically for auditions, but the so-called audition room was not much different from an ordinary room.
It's nothing more than two rooms separated. One is a fitting room and the other is a dressing room. When you encounter some characters who have special requirements, it will be more convenient to try on.
In addition, there are cameras and reflectors in the room, which are usually found in places used for film auditions.
Hearing what Chen Kaige said, Zhou Yan didn't think much about it. He just thought that he probably didn't want to move the camera into the room anymore, so he came here to borrow a place, since it was not far away anyway.
"Oh, are you coming in the morning or afternoon?" Zhou Yan asked.
"We'll be there soon, okay?"
Zhou Yan glanced at Gong Li, and then said, "Okay, sister Li happens to be here too, let's have a meal together at noon."
Hearing that Gong Li was also there, Chen Kaige smiled and said, "Gong Li is also here, so we'll see you later."
After hanging up the phone, Zhou Yan said to Gong Li, "It's Mr. Kai. He said he wanted to borrow a place for actors to audition."
"Is it his new movie? I've seen it in the newspaper before."
Hearing Gong Li's words, Zhou Yan narrowed his eyes.
In the original world, Gong Li participated in "Jing Ke Assassins the King of Qin", in which she played Ying Zheng's childhood sweetheart's playmate.
But now that Gong Li means it, Chen Kaige has never looked for her.
Is it because Chen Kaige hasn't found her yet, or is she not planning to find him at all? Will Gong Li play Zhao Ji in the future?
As time goes by, Zhou Yan discovers that more and more things have changed in the world. Gong Li's not appearing in "Jing Ke Assassins the King of Qin" does not seem to be a particularly important thing, and it is normal for the change to happen.
"Well, his new movie "Jing Ke Assassins the King of Qin"."
"Why did he audition at your place?" Gong Li was also very confused.
"Maybe he thinks it's more convenient for me to be here." Zhou Yan smiled, "He will be here soon. Let's have lunch together. Don't you mind."
"Of course I don't mind." Gong Li waved her hand.
Although Gong Li and Chen Kaige have a normal relationship, they have collaborated in two movies after all, so they are at least acquaintances.
And now that Gong Li and Zhang Yimou are separated, if her relationship with Chen Kaige is not good, there will be fewer scenes to film in the future.
"We won't go out at noon, let's eat in the cafeteria."
"You can arrange this. It doesn't matter where I eat. Our old man is not very particular about what he eats."
Huang Hexiang nodded, "Well, I have no problem, I'll just follow Director Zhou's arrangements."
Gong Li patted her thighs and stood up, "Where is your toilet?" "Go out and turn right."
Zhou Yan stood up and went out to show her the way, but she waved her hand and said, "I'll look for it myself."
After Gong Li left, Huang Hexiang took a sip from his tea cup, then pushed up his glasses with a smile, "Director Zhou, we usually spend most of our time in Xiangjiang. If you go to Xiangjiang, you must tell us, let's go." We will do our best to serve as landlords.”
"Don't worry, Mr. Huang. If I go there, I will definitely find Sister Li."
"Yes, Xiangjiang is coming back soon, and traveling will be more convenient."
Zhou Yan smiled, did not pick a fight, and asked instead, "Has Mr. Huang been to Yanjing before?"
"I've been here a few times."
"What's your impression of Yanjing?" Zhou Yan asked again.
“Although I have been here a few times, the time I spent each time was relatively short and I didn’t have time to wander around.”
"That's such a pity. Yanjing is always different from Xiangjiang and the Lion City. If you have time, you can ask Sister Li to take you around. Or if you have other acquaintances in Yanjing, you can also ask others to take you around."
Upon hearing this, Huang Hexiang's eyelids jumped suddenly.
Read the original text in Liu#9@书/吧!
He felt that there was something in Zhou Yan's words, but how could Zhou Yan know about him? This shouldn't be the case.
Maybe Zhou Yan just said it casually and didn't mean anything else.
Huang Hexiang thought it was better not to scare himself. He forced a smile and said, "The only friends I met in Yanjing were business friends, and no one took me to play."
"Oh, that's a pity." Zhou Yan nodded, picked up the tea cup and drank tea.
Huang Hexiang had something on his mind and didn't know what to talk about for a while, and the atmosphere suddenly became cold.
After a while, Gong Li came back from going to the toilet. She said with a smile, "I seemed to have seen that neon female singer just now. Was she called Kudo or something?"
Zhou Yan smiled and said, "It's Akina Nakamori, she has been in China recently."
"Nakamori Akina...is she..."
Gong Li thought of the gossip about her good friend Anita Mui and wanted to ask, but in the end she held back. She and Zhou Yan are both friends of Anita Mui. It would not be very good if the two of them discuss Anita Mui's gossip behind her back.
If Anita Mui herself were here, it would be easier to say. Anita Mui probably wouldn't care about this matter.
Since she held back, Zhou Yan naturally didn't say anything further.
Everyone who pays attention to the entertainment industry knows what happened between Akina Nakamori and Anita Mui, and it is not a secret.
Now Akina Nakamori's announcements in China have been completed, and she has no work for the next time, so she went to the studio to practice singing.
By the time Zhou Yan returns to Nanjing, she will probably return to Neon too.
Another half hour later, Chen Kaige came and brought a girl with him.
When Zhou Yan saw the girl, he couldn't help but roll his eyes.
He didn't expect that Chen Kaige would eventually find Zhang Ziyi.
"Teacher Zhou." Zhang Ziyi said hello to Zhou Yan first, and then saw Gong Li. Her eyes were full of surprise. She didn't expect to see Gong Li here.
For Zhang Ziyi and other Chinese drama students, Gong Li is a role model, and many people regard Gong Li as a target to catch up with.
She wanted to call Senior Sister Gong Li, but she was embarrassed.
Zhou Yan nodded and introduced to Gong Li, "This is Zhang Ziyi, a student from China National Theater 96, your junior sister."
When she heard that it was her junior sister, Gong Li also smiled, "I heard that there are many beautiful female classmates in this class. It seems that the rumors are true."
In fact, Gong Li's words are a bit coaxing, because Zhang Ziyi is not very good-looking.
Some people say that Gong Li's face is too big and her figure is too burly.
But in fact, Gong Li in reality is not burly at all. She has a very normal, even thin figure. Her face is not big at all, and she is obviously one size smaller than ordinary people.
Zhang Ziyi is a bit too thin, like a bamboo pole, and her head is one size narrower than that of ordinary actors.
Chen Kaige felt that Zhang Ziyi looked like Gong Li, but Gong Li didn't feel that way at all, and Zhang Ziyi didn't think she looked like Gong Li.
Zhang Ziyi even has a little inferiority complex. She thinks she looks a bit rustic.
Chen Kaige said with a smile, "The waves behind the Yangtze River push the waves ahead. Maybe Ziyi will surpass you in the future."
Of course Gong Li didn't take this seriously. She also smiled and said, "Of course I hope that all the juniors and juniors in our school will develop well. If everyone can surpass me, then it's not too late for me to be happy. Juniors and juniors develop well, From now on, these directors will beg you to film for them.”
Chen Kaige and Gong Li were joking, but Zhang Ziyi was a little overwhelmed. She didn't know whether she should be humble at this time or make some bold words.
After all, she is a girl who has just entered college and has little social experience.
Zhou Yan saw her stunned and looked at Chen Kaige again. He didn't know how this guy fooled her into coaxing her into auditioning.
To be honest, Zhou Yan thinks that if Zhang Ziyi goes to act now, it will be completely over.
He had seen Zhang Ziyi's sketches, and he lacked spiritual energy and poor basic skills. He definitely needed to hone his skills.
If she goes out to act early and doesn't study well in school, her basic skills will remain poor.
That doesn’t mean that after you start acting, you can’t hone your basic skills. Many people have started to solidify their basic skills after acting a lot.
Just like Zhou Yan, he had never acted before, but through self-study, his acting skills are pretty good now.
But not everyone can do this. Many people have no time and energy to think about these things after they start acting. Especially in Zhang Ziyi's current situation, just the things the director arranges for her every day are enough to give her a headache. .
Unless she is willing to stop for half a year to a year after taking on a film to hone her acting skills before taking on another job.
With the accumulation of the intervening period, it is actually the same whether I am in school or not.
But obviously, most people can't do it. No one wants to waste their youth like this, especially actresses who are young. If they don't make more movies while they are young, they will have no chance later.
In the original world, Zhang Ziyi's acting skills did not improve much after graduation, and this is proof.
If Zhang Ziyi drops out of school this time to star in Chen Kaige's movie, I'm afraid the road ahead will not be as good as her previous life. (End of chapter)