Huayu: This director is pretty strong.

Chapter 184 One word seals life and death, 300 million forges an alliance

The central air conditioning in the reception room was constantly humming.

Yan Haishan stared at the letter of intent for cooperation with Vita Digital stamped with an English official seal, his fingers rubbing back and forth on the rim of his purple clay teacup.

"How much of this industrial park do you want?"

Yan Haishan's voice was hoarse, as if it had been exposed to coal ash for many years.

Chen Yan did not touch the tea on the table.

He looked at Yan Haishan, raised his right hand, and held up three fingers.

"Three hundred million in cash."

Chen Yan stated his first condition in a slow, deliberate manner: "In addition, I'll give you 500 acres of industrial land in the suburbs of Beijing. You'll also get 20% of the box office revenue from the movie 'The Wandering Earth,' and 30% of the shares in the special effects factory."

The purple clay teacup made a sound as it hit the base.

Yan Haishan's hand stopped.

Three hundred million in cash.

In 2000, this amount could have bought several prime mines around Taiyuan.

For Haishan Energy, withdrawing 300 million yuan in cash at once is not a trivial matter. It requires adjustments to the books, changes to relationships, and a complete overhaul of many aspects.

"Director Chen, your appetite is too big."

Yan Haishan pushed the teacup away, "Take my money and go build your business empire."

"I'm taking your money to buy you peace for the rest of your life."

Chen Yan pressed the Sony laptop screen down, preventing Yan Haishan from seeing the special effects. "Mr. Yan's seven main mining areas received four notices of production stoppage and rectification last month. The Ministry of Environmental Protection's document has been issued to the provincial department. At the latest, by next spring, Haishan Energy's production capacity will be forcibly halved."

Chen Yan placed his hands on the table.

"If you use this 300 million to grease palms now, you won't buy any substantial promises. When the policy guillotine falls, no one can protect a mere coal boss. But if you invest this 300 million in the digital effects industrial park, you'll become a director of a Sino-foreign joint venture high-tech enterprise and an investor in a key national cultural industry. To retain this only special effects base in Asia, the local government will proactively clear away all the historical issues that have been left behind for you."

Yan Haishan leaned back in his chair, closed his eyes, and went over the matter in his mind.

The heavy mahogany double doors of the reception room were pushed open from the outside.

Li Jianguo strode in with a gloomy expression.

The butler followed behind, trying to stop them, but couldn't.

Li Jianguo walked to the tea table, placed his hands on the tabletop, and looked down at Chen Yan.

He had just heard outside the corridor that Chen Yan had been invited into the main hall by Yan Haishan, and that things were no longer in his control.

"President Yan."

Li Jianguo spoke.

"I just received a notification from the headquarters of Oriental Cinemas. Director Zhang's 'A Better Tomorrow' has secured a top-tier action choreography team from across Asia, and the cast includes the most bankable stars from Mainland China, Taiwan, and Hong Kong. The five major cinema chains will jointly sign a minimum guarantee agreement to ensure that this film occupies more than 70% of the screenings during next year's National Day holiday."

Li Jianguo stood up straight and straightened the hem of his suit jacket.

"As for those science fiction projects that some people swindle and deceive with just a few broken blueprints."

Li Jianguo glanced at the laptop. "The five major cinema chains have reached a consensus. Regardless of who invests or what the film turns out like, all their affiliated cinemas will have zero screenings."

Chen Yan remained seated, staring at Yan Haishan.

Yan Haishan opened his eyes.

He first looked at Li Jianguo, then at Chen Yan.

"Mr. Li."

Yan Haishan spoke.

"Mr. Yan, you're a smart man. Throwing money into a project that can't even get into a movie theater is just throwing money down the drain."

Li Jianguo's tone was very steady.

"I covered the 50 million yuan investment shortfall for Director Zhang's film."

Yan Haishan said.

Just as Li Jianguo was about to smile, his next words followed.

"However," Yan Haishan's voice turned cold, and he tapped his fingers on the table, "this 50 million is my personal sponsorship. I don't own any shares, I don't want a share of the box office revenue, and I don't even need Haishan Energy's name to be featured in the opening credits."

Li Jianguo's face twitched slightly.

Yan Haishan stood up, walked around the tea table, and went to Chen Yan's side.

"Director Chen just taught me a lesson. In business, you have to distinguish between what's an add-on and what's the main course."

Yan Haishan looked at Li Jianguo and said, "Fifty million to give Director Zhang face and to make the five major cinema chains happy is just a bonus. It's just money for the sake of making a sound."

Yan Haishan turned his head and continued to look at Li Jianguo.

"As for the main course..."

Yan Haishan pointed to Weta Digital's letter of intent, "I want to invest in high-tech industries, which are in line with national policy. Mr. Li, whether your cinemas schedule screenings or not won't affect the central ministries' approval of my land and policy. I, Yan Haishan, really don't care about your box office revenue sharing."

Li Jianguo's face darkened.

His most prized cinema resources suddenly seemed less valuable on this table.

"President Yan, you'll regret this."

Li Jianguo said through gritted teeth.

"housekeeper."

Yan Haishan didn't look at him again. "Take President Li to the airport. Also, inform the finance department to transfer the 50 million to the Oriental Cinema Line's account tomorrow. Consider it a firecracker that Haishan Energy is setting off for Director Zhang's filming."

Two burly bodyguards entered the hall, stood on either side of Li Jianguo, and gestured for him to enter.

Li Jianguo glanced at Chen Yan's retreating figure, snorted coldly, and turned to leave.

The hall fell silent again.

Yan Haishan sat back down in his chair.

He took out a checkbook and a personal seal from the drawer.

"Three hundred million in cash will be transferred to your company's account in three installments within a month. As for the 500 acres of land in the suburbs of Beijing, I will have Haishan Real Estate's legal team complete the acquisition and transfer within a week."

Yan Haishan pulled out the pen. "Director Chen, I'll take this deal."

Chen Yan watched as Yan Haishan signed the first advance payment check for 50 million.

"It's a pleasure working with you."

Chen Yan took the check and handed it to Su Wan behind him.

"There's one more thing."

Yan Haishan capped his pen, looked up at Chen Yan, and said, "That Wang the comprador. You just said you'd hand him over to the police."

Yan Haishan took out a walkie-talkie from under the table and pressed the call button.

"Take the people to the mine in the backyard."

Yan Haishan gave instructions over the walkie-talkie.

Chen Yan picked up the now-cold Pu'er tea from the table, looked at the tea leaves floating in the water, and said nothing.

"Director Chen, you saved my life, I am grateful to you."

Yan Haishan put down the walkie-talkie. "But I don't like leaving loose ends. Police investigations require evidence and follow procedures. That guy is carrying Lu Haiming's secrets and is a mad dog who might bite back at any time. If he's really in jail, who knows when he'll be released on medical parole."

Yan Haishan walked to the French windows and looked at the gloomy sky outside.

"There are countless abandoned mines around Taiyuan. They're hundreds of meters deep; if you fill them with cement, even a god couldn't dig them out."

Yan Haishan turned around. "This is called eliminating the weeds and pulling out the roots. It's also my pledge of loyalty to you."

Chen Yan finished the tea in his cup.

He didn't stop him.

"President Yan is a straightforward person."

Chen Yan put down his teacup.

After saying that, their relationship was officially established.

inside the car.

Su Wan looked at the check in her hand that said fifty million, her breathing still a little erratic.

"Director Chen, did we really... get 300 million?"

Chen Yan looked out the car window at the distant Western Hills.

"Money is just the first step."

His voice was steady. "Notify Wu Gang to take his men and prepare to depart for New Zealand. It's time to drive the first pile for our industrial behemoth."