118: Chapter 118 Sponsor of the Spring Festival Gala

As the end of the year approached,

just as the middle of the twelfth lunar month arrived,

Bai Jingqing gave the vast majority of the factory employees an early holiday,

letting them go back to prepare well,

and tidy things up to have a good New Year.

However, some employees insisted on working overtime;

some felt they had nothing to do back home anyway,

and rather than wandering the streets of their villages like idlers,

it was better to work overtime here for a few days

to earn triple pay during the holiday period.

Many employees were also locals from the areas surrounding Shi City;

they could go back at any time,

so they weren't in a hurry for these one or two days.

Bai Jingqing didn't stop them,

letting them do as they pleased.

Although even if there were no employees in production,

he could still rely on the system to bring out the machines needed for sales,

it would ultimately be difficult to explain the origin of the machines,

so Bai Jingqing left the decision of how many employees would stay for overtime during the New Year to the heads of each series.

He was quite comfortable being a hands-off manager.

However, among all these matters,

Bai Jingqing was particularly concerned about one thing.

The Spring Festival Gala!

He wasn't just looking forward to watching it;

in fact, as time went on,

the Spring Festival Gala became increasingly boring,

with less and less worth watching.

But the Spring Festival Gala was an arena for major manufacturers,

especially domestic ones!

Smartphone manufacturers were no exception.

Basically, all manufacturers took pride in appearing at this gala;

it was an excellent opportunity to gain exposure in front of the entire nation!

Whether it was the props needed for sketches,

or the phones the hosts held to use as teleprompters,

or the phones in the hands of the audience sitting below the stage,

they were definitely not just picked at random;

they were basically all sponsored by phone manufacturers.

Bai Jingqing had done some special investigation,

and in previous years, the smartphone sponsors for the Spring Festival Gala were basically Huayao and Ideal taking turns.

After Huayao Technology went bankrupt, and even for several years before that,

Ideal had already appeared on the Spring Festival Gala as the sole smartphone sponsor many times!

Using various connections, Bai Jingqing immediately got in touch with the person in charge of the Spring Festival Gala, Yan Ruifeng.

Their first meeting was in the hall outside the Spring Festival Gala recording venue.

Bai Jingqing intercepted Yan Ruifeng,

but when he proposed his idea,

the person in charge of the Spring Festival Gala, Yan Ruifeng, appeared to be in a difficult position.

The reason was simple:

the Spring Festival Gala was almost ready to air,

and all the major sponsors had long been finalized.

The smartphone sponsor had also been confirmed to continue as Li Xiang Technology from previous years.

Only then did Bai Jingqing realize that the bidding for Spring Festival Gala sponsors started so early;

coming this late was indeed somewhat inappropriate.

He couldn't help but marvel

at the influence of the Spring Festival Gala;

although everyone said it was getting worse,

its influence was still top-notch,

with a bunch of manufacturers even rushing to give them money,

to the point that he couldn't even get in line even if he wanted to give some.

But hearing that this year's smartphone sponsor was Li Xiang Technology,

Bai Jingqing didn't want to give up just like that.

Even if he couldn't secure the sponsorship slot this year,

he was going to give Xue Haixin a hard time!

"Director Yan, I know this is indeed a bit against the rules,

but we at Huayao Communications still want to give it a try.

As you know, our Huayao Communications is just a newly established small company,

but we recently won honor for the country at the World Mobile Communications Conference.

We really lack this kind of exposure opportunity,

so I hope Director Yan can give it some serious thought

and give Huayao Communications a chance!"

Bai Jingqing's words were very sincere.

But the Spring Festival Gala director, Yan Ruifeng, couldn't help but complain in her heart,

when did Huayao also become a small company?

Although it's now called Huayao Communications

instead of Huayao Technology,

did you think I wouldn't recognize you just because you changed your name?

At this moment, she also had a troubled look on her face: "There really is no such precedent!

Besides, we've already finalized everything with Ideal;

if we change our minds now,

it would put us in a very difficult position."

Bai Jingqing said, "Director Yan,

how about this—to show Huayao's sincerity,

we are willing to provide double the sponsorship funds of Li Xiang Technology for the Spring Festival Gala!"

Yan Ruifeng shook her head: "We don't lack sponsors,

and of course, we don't lack money.

Young man, if you are truly interested,

you should prepare earlier next year."

With that, she turned and left.

Bai Jingqing stood there,

a bitter smile appearing on his face.

But of course, he didn't plan to give up just like that;

he had to fight for it no matter what.

He still had a trump card.

After returning from the Spring Festival Gala Recording Base,

he tirelessly contacted several ministers

and asked them to help put in a few good words.

Those ministers were also protective sorts;

it wasn't easy for such an impressive lone standout to emerge in Dragon Country's manufacturing industry,

so they naturally had to nurture it well.

Thus, they took turns calling Yan Ruifeng,

giving her a series of hints.

Yan Ruifeng was baffled;

these three ministers usually had nothing to do with her,

so why were they all calling her today?

Moreover, they all seemed to ask about the Spring Festival Gala smartphone sponsor

and all mentioned Huayao Communications?

Yan Ruifeng was certainly not stupid

and soon understood the meaning of the three ministers.

Although the three ministers were not her direct superiors,

every one of them held a higher rank than she did!

She had no choice,

but to send someone to contact Bai Jingqing again,

inviting him to negotiate the cooperation.

This time, the two of them met in Yan Ruifeng's office.

Although he had the backing of three ministers,

Bai Jingqing was not at all arrogant;

he still maintained a very humble and sincere expression,

asking Yan Ruifeng while knowing the answer: "Director Yan,

have you had a change of heart?

Are you willing to give Huayao Communications a chance?"

Yan Ruifeng spoke: "Actually, this sponsorship slot isn't set in stone;

giving it to Huayao isn't impossible.

Ideal's side said it was a sponsorship,

but they just sent us some of Ideal's newly released phones,

which couldn't strictly be considered a sponsorship relationship,

so I think there's still room for maneuver."

Bai Jingqing nodded repeatedly: "Thank you, Director Yan, for giving Huayao such an opportunity!

Besides being willing to provide the phones used for the gala,

Huayao is also willing to provide a certain amount of money as sponsorship;

you can just name a price."

Yan Ruifeng frowned;

if the three ministers hadn't given her those hints,

she really wouldn't want to give this young man a chance.

Why always talk about money?

They were people who pursued art;

wasn't talking about money just being vulgar?

Yan Ruifeng shook her head: "As I said,

our Spring Festival Gala doesn't lack sponsors,

nor are we short on money!

I called you here today

to discuss it with you.

After all, we've long since finalized things with Ideal,

and it wouldn't be good to just flake on them like that,

as for your side...

Forget it, let's just say our Spring Festival Gala is doing this to support domestic enterprises;

we are also willing to give Huayao Communications a chance,

as it represents our country's high-end manufacturing after all.

How about this:

for the phones used during the gala,

the ratio of Li Xiang Phones to Huayao Phones will be seven to three.

What do you think?"