Chapter 62: CCTV Enters the Fray, the Top 5 Competition
The General Administration is pushing so hard?
How many parents reported this!
It seems the influence of Super Girl is truly immense, causing dissatisfaction among many parents and some higher-ups.
After all, the contestants’ every word and deed greatly influences teenagers. It’s said that many students discuss Super Girl during class and even stuff posters of Super Girls into their desks.
…
Mango TV.
Vice Station Director’s Office.
Vice Director Li was in his office, flipping through the report written by his secretary, occasionally making corrections with his pen. He was about to report to his superiors and was feeling very troubled.
The Entertainment Channel he oversees has achieved high ratings and advertising revenue, yet he also has to face accountability from above. It’s truly a double-edged sword.
Why not cancel it next year?
That won’t do!
This is our performance record; our future promotion depends on these achievements.
Therefore, it absolutely cannot be cut.
At this moment~
The female secretary in the hip-hugging skirt took a phone call.
“Director Li, Wang Peng from Tianyu is on the line. He says someone found him and wants Zhang Liangying to terminate her contract. He’s asking for your opinion… You also know the intermediary; it’s from the provincial power company…”
Director Li: “Oh? Is it Director Zhou from the power grid?”
Secretary: “Yes, that’s right.”
Heh, he’s one level below me, and he dares to talk to me?
So what if he’s from the power supply system!!
I’m not falling for this.
Unless you, little Zhou, personally send an invitation, state the location, and prepare the wine…
Station Director Li: “Don’t bother with him. Just say I’m very busy lately and don’t have time to consider these things. I’ll meet with little Zhou after I’m done with my work…”
Secretary: “Yes, yes, okay.”
Station Director Li: “Also, call Old Wang from the office over. This material isn’t good; it needs to be redone.”
…
Meanwhile.
CCTV’s News 30 Minutes.
A hot report sparked considerable interest among many viewers.
Host Lang Yongchun:
Last night, during the Super Girl competition from eight to six, Zhang Liangying’s songs “Farewell” and “Father’s Prose Poem” received a warm response… Renowned writer Liu Zhenyun stated: Zhang Liangying has sung “Farewell” to a new height, and “Father’s Prose Poem” has beautiful and simple lyrics with dissemination value.
This segment was specifically added by the program’s director. She watched the Super Girl competition last night and was completely captivated by Zhang Liangying’s singing, which reminded her of her own father—she couldn’t sleep all night.
This morning, the director requested permission from her superiors to add this segment.
Initially.
She only intended to praise “Father’s Prose Poem,” but unexpectedly, it sparked widespread discussion throughout society.
Starting in the afternoon, various media outlets followed up, dissecting the songs’ meanings.
Citizens who saw the news also participated.
The two songs spread rapidly among ordinary people, with many listening to them on repeat late at night.
Zhang Liangying’s name entered thousands of households.
Those older folks who previously disliked talent shows like Super Girl began to change their views after hearing the two songs.
These talent shows aren’t entirely trash; they have their merits!
If they develop along these lines in the future, who would criticize you unnecessarily?
…
Monday.
At a group meeting of the General Administration, the leader in charge of Mango TV mentioned the Central Media’s involvement.
Those present felt a headache coming on.
Just as they were about to issue a rectification notice to Mango TV, the Central Media stepped in. Now, should they rectify or not?
If they continue with rectification, should the wording be strict or lenient? Being too strict would be slapping the Central Media in the face, wouldn’t it?
If they don’t rectify, should they issue some guiding opinions?
This is all about strategy!!
Most of the older folks present had listened to the songs.
Because in the past two days, major radio and television stations in Beijing have been playing either “Father’s Prose Poem” or “Farewell.”
With such intense exposure, it’s hard to pretend not to notice.
The top leader silently tapped the table and then said, “Someone from Hunan Province has contacted the higher-ups. Stopping Super Girl is likely impossible. Let’s focus on guidance. Promoting contestants like Zhang Liangying isn’t entirely out of the question…”
…
Shortly after the meeting ended, the General Administration’s office called the Hunan Province Public Relations Office. An hour later, the head of Mango TV finally felt a weight lifted from his shoulders.
He had his secretary call Vice Director Li to inform him of the latest developments.
Vice Director Li was extremely excited.
Damn it, my official hat is safe!
If Super Girl had truly been stopped, he, as the Vice Station Director, would have surely taken the blame, and his future advancement would have been difficult.
Thinking of this.
Vice Director Li immediately instructed his secretary to convene a meeting with the Super Girl staff to discuss the future direction of the program.
Wang Peng from Tianyu received the notification and was overjoyed!!
As long as the program continues, he can discover more talented Super Girls, and his value as a CEO will only increase.
But at this moment, he received another call from Song Ke.
Song Ke: “President Wang, I saw that both the Central Media and the General Administration praised Liangying. Such an outstanding singer should be packaged and promoted as a role model, don’t you think?”
Wang Peng’s mouth twitched.
Damn it…
Just as he started feeling happy, Song Ke ruined his mood.
Wang Peng had no words to express his frustration!!!
If Song Ke had asked for someone else, like Ji Minjia, He Jie, or even Zhou Bichang, he would have readily agreed.
But Song Ke wanted Zhang Liangying…
Isn’t this like pulling the rug out from under me?
Wang Peng was greedy, not stupid. How could he not know that Zhang Liangying was the most talented contestant in this year’s Super Girl?
It was just that Zhang Liangying had been disobedient, so he had the production team suppress her.
He didn’t expect the suppression to go too far.
At this moment.
Wang Peng, clutching the phone, felt his palms redden. He suppressed his temper and said kindly, “President Song, you’re right. Liangying should indeed be promoted as a role model.”
Song Ke smiled: “President Wang, what about the suggestion I made earlier? To put it bluntly, you wouldn’t want Liangying to be praised by the Central Media only to be exposed for being trapped in a sky-high contract with Tianyu, would you?”
Wang Peng gritted his teeth: “Okay, okay, President Song…”
…
Station Director Li, after hearing Wang Peng’s report, angrily slammed the table: “You, Song Ke, are going too far!”
When a leader gets angry, especially out of helplessness, it’s best for subordinates to try and placate them, otherwise, the leader will take it out on you if they can’t find a way down.
Wang Peng: “Director Li, please calm down. If Zhang Liangying terminates her contract, so be it. We still have Li Yuchun and Zhou Bichang, and we’ve secured the right to hold the event next year. Happy Boys is also in the planning stages…”
Director Li: “Yes, there are gains and losses. You handle it. By the way, for next year’s Super Girl contracts, mull them over carefully when you get back. Hire some capable lawyers; don’t mess it up again.”
Wang Peng broke out in a cold sweat: “Yes, yes, I’ll go back and perfect them immediately.”
The reason Zhang Liangying could ‘amicably’ negotiate her contract termination, besides the assistance from CCTV and the General Administration, was the loopholes in the contract itself.
It was even the primary reason.
Even if CCTV and the General Administration hadn’t intervened, Zhang Liangying could have terminated the contract through a lawsuit, albeit with more trouble.
Looking back at the first version of the contract, it was riddled with errors.
Therefore, after the Top Ten competition, Tianyu urgently added a Supplementary Agreement to patch up the previous loopholes.
Who knew that Zhang Liangying not only refused to sign but reportedly found a whole legal team from Zhejiang University through Shen Qing!!!
Shen Qing, you bastard…
Do I have a grudge against you?
My Tianyu is just a small company with a dozen people, and we just wanted to sign a singer with potential. You actually brought in an entire legal team from Zhejiang University!! They have a top-tier university behind them. You… want to bankrupt us?
Can’t afford to offend, can’t afford to offend!
Even with Tianyu’s audacity, they wouldn’t dare to confront the Zhejiang University legal team head-on. Even if these lawyers didn’t have the school’s support, it wouldn’t matter.
You can underestimate the skill of lawyers from outside firms, but don’t underestimate the legal team of a 985 university. Even if there are a few incompetent ones, the rest can crush you, especially with so many loopholes in your contract.
Furthermore, Taihe Rye Music from Beijing also got involved…
Shen Qing, you’re too clever! You’re like a dung beetle pushing a ball of dung, experienced in handling excrement.
Facing all these difficulties, Wang Peng of Tianyu no longer wanted to persist. Even if it ended up in a lawsuit and they extorted tens of thousands of yuan from Zhang Liangying, it wouldn’t be very meaningful. Instead, it would alienate many people.
…
Starting August 10th.
Mango TV’s major channels began to exert their influence, simultaneously promoting Zhang Liangying’s “Father’s Prose Poem” and “Farewell.” Even “Warmth” was brought up for reporting… Moreover, they broadcast Zhang Liangying’s life story from childhood to the present with deeply moving voiceovers.
Additionally, in the promotion for the upcoming Saturday broadcast of Happy Camp, Zhang Liangying was given top priority, with Gao Yuanyuan and Hu Ge pushed back.
They clearly intended to mold her into the typical Super Girl contestant: a strong, beautiful, kind, and filial musical prodigy!
Once these propaganda tools are fully deployed, their influence is truly terrifying, capable of shaping an exemplary figure in a short period.
The citizens saw: Wow, who said Super Girls are all flashy girls? This child Zhang Liangying is quite good—inspirational, beautiful, talented. Mango TV’s Super Girl seems pretty good.
Instantly, the public perception of Super Girl was reversed.
By Friday.
Many citizens who didn’t pay much attention to Super Girl actually regarded Zhang Liangying as the representative figure of the 2005 Super Girl.
“This show isn’t as bad as everyone criticizes. Look how outstanding this girl Zhang Liangying is!!”
“It seems I shouldn’t just listen to others’ gossip. I plan to watch the competition tonight.”
“My colleagues at work all said they’re going back to watch Zhang Liangying’s competition tonight and will even bring their daughters to learn from Zhang Liangying.”
…
And at this moment~
Zhang Liangying was nestled in Shen Qing’s arms, softly saying, “Qing, do I really have to sing that song? Will it make people cry again?”
Shen Qing pinched her cheek: “Liangying, you are now an exemplary figure praised by CCTV. You need to act like one, understand?! If you make them cry again tonight, isn’t that good? What do you call this? This is educational gratitude!!”
Meanwhile.
Families in thousands of households finished dinner and took their baths.
The whole family sat in front of the television to watch.
Parents who previously didn’t allow their children to watch the competition, after hearing Zhang Liangying’s story, were no longer stubborn and decided to let their children watch an outstanding young woman—Zhang Liangying.
Those with computers were also surfing the internet, enthusiastically discussing Zhang Liangying’s recent activities.
The liveliest Super Girl forum has been occupied by Liangfen fans.
Corn fans and Lifan fans dared not speak out, fearing being shamed by the news from CCTV and Mango TV mercilessly thrown at them by the Liangfen!
At this moment, the Liangfen fans raised their heads.
“Other fans are so weak, they don’t even dare to speak, haha.”
“Looking forward to Liangying’s appearance.”
“I really want to cry. Liangying has worked so hard for so many years, and finally, she’s recognized.”
“Do you still remember Shen Qing’s speech at the Hangzhou restaurant? Shen Qing said, ‘Liangying has walked a long road and endured much hardship to stand on this stage and sing.’ He truly didn’t lie to us.”
“Shen Qing is so talented. The songs he writes are truly good, and Liangying sings them beautifully!”
“I really hope the two of them stay together forever and keep bringing us good new songs. Wuwuwu… Please, don’t bring sad songs tonight. I don’t want to cry, wuwu…”
“It definitely won’t happen. According to insider information, Liangying will sing some happy songs.”
“Really?”
“I don’t believe it. I always feel like Shen Qing is going to give us something big…”
