Chapter 514 Three Axe

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.

The tobacco company's main business in the Asia-Pacific region is now in Hong Kong, so this return to Hong Kong is likely to have an impact on the tobacco company's layout in the Asia-Pacific region.

In fact, what the tobacco company hopes most is to enter mainland China to conduct business, and it is best to open factories in the mainland.

They have been trying for years, but have never had any opportunities, and the relevant departments have not relaxed at all.

The mainland's control over the tobacco industry is very strict, like a copper wall and iron wall, they can't get in at all.

In recent years, several major tobacco giants in the world have divided up the global market. As a major tobacco consumer, China will certainly not let go of this big cake.

Everyone believes that whoever can take down this big cake in China can become a real tobacco overlord.

British American Tobacco is now the world's second largest tobacco group, but if they can take down the Chinese market, they will quickly become the first.

For British American Tobacco, they believe that entering the mainland market is not a development, but a return.

Because the British American Tobacco Group had entered China as early as the beginning of the 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.

And the tobacco company can develop so fast, of course, the means are not very clean.

When they first competed with Nanyang Brothers for the market, they directly used three axes.

The first axe was to deliberately buy Nanyang Brothers' cigarettes, put them in a dark and damp ditch to let them mold, and then put them on the market to destroy Nanyang Brothers' brand power. Over time, customers believed that Nanyang Brothers' cigarette quality control was not good, and Nanyang Brothers often faced compensation requests.

The second axe was to engage in a public opinion war. At that time, an unidentified reporter in the "National Daily" wrote an anonymous letter accusing Nanyang Brothers of relying on Neon's raw materials, equipment and technicians. At the same time, British American Tobacco also sent vendors to sell Nanyang Brothers' cigarettes, and then shouted loudly, claiming that they were Neon'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 denounce them, saying that they were Japanese cigarettes. Over time, some vendors simply stopped buying Nanyang Brothers' cigarettes.

The third move was to sue Nanyang products for trademark infringement. Not only did they sue in court, they also distributed leaflets, warning that anyone who sold Nanyang Brothers' infringing products would be prosecuted.

This set of moves directly beat Nanyang Brothers at a loss.

After the founding of New China, the then Ministry of Light Industry took over British American Tobacco's assets and debts in China and established China Tobacco Company.

So some people believe that the predecessor of China Tobacco Company was British American Tobacco.

This statement is definitely not recognized, because British American Tobacco at that time was basically just an empty shell. Even if the Ministry of Light Industry did not take over British American Tobacco 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 would never 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, he probably didn't have the ability to do so.

Tobacco is not something that anyone can touch. Not to mention the Zhou family alone, even if the Zhou family, the Zhan family, the Li family, and the Huo family were tied together, they couldn't touch tobacco.

If they wanted to eat a piece of meat or drink a mouthful of soup, they could do it, but if they wanted to intervene directly, basically whoever touched it would be unlucky.

The three chatted for a while, and the phone on the table rang. Zhou Yan apologized to the two of them, and then got up to answer the phone.

"Old Zhou, are you in the office?" Chen Kaige's voice came from the other end of the phone.

Zhou Yan laughed, "Isn't this nonsense? You called my office phone. If I'm not in the office, can I answer your call?"

"Haha, I just asked casually. Since you are in the office, that's good. I'll bring someone to borrow your place for an audition later."

"Borrow my place?" Zhou Yan asked in confusion.

"Why, it's not possible?"

"Of course, but why do you need to borrow space from me?"

Chen Kaige should be the boss of Yanjing Film Studio now. He is preparing a new movie. Can the studio not give him space? He doesn't have to borrow space here even for auditions, right?

"Didn't you set up a special place for auditions? All the equipment is complete."

The studio did set up a place for auditions, but the so-called audition room is not much different from an ordinary room.

It's just two rooms, one for fitting room and one for dressing room. It's more convenient to try out some roles with special requirements.

In addition, there are cameras and reflectors in the room, which are also available in places for movie auditions.

After 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, so he came here to borrow space. Anyway, it's not far away.

"Oh, then will you come in the morning or afternoon?" Zhou Yan asked.

"We'll be there soon, okay?"

Zhou Yan glanced at Gong Li, then said, "Okay, Sister Li is here too, let's have lunch together at noon."

Hearing that Gong Li was also here, Chen Kaige smiled and said, "Gong Li is here too, then 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 went by, Zhou Yan found that more and more things were changing in the world. Gong Li's not appearing in "Jing Ke Assassins the King of Qin" did not seem to be a particularly important thing, and it was 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 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 it will be more convenient to travel."

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 eyes suddenly jumped.

The original article can be found in Liu#9x-on: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 out a smile and said, "The only people 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. Is 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."

Hearing 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 a bit 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 narrower than that of ordinary actors.

Chen Kaige thinks that Zhang Ziyi has the feeling of Gong Li, but Gong Li herself does not have this feeling at all, and Zhang Ziyi does not think that she looks 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."

Gong Li certainly did not take this seriously, she also smiled, "Of course I hope that the juniors and juniors in our school can get good development. If everyone can surpass me, I will be happy. Junior sister, develop well, and let these directors beg you to film for them in the future."

Chen Kaige was joking with Gong Li, but Zhang Ziyi was a little overwhelmed. She didn't know whether she should be humble at this time or make a few bold words.

After all, she is a girl who has just entered college and has little social experience.

Seeing her stunned, Zhou Yan glanced at Chen Kaige again. He didn't know how this guy fooled her and really coaxed her to audition.

To be honest, Zhou Yan thought that if Zhang Ziyi went to act now, it would be completely over.

He had seen the skits performed by Zhang Ziyi. She lacked spirit and had poor basic skills. She definitely needed to hone her skills.

If she went out to act early and didn't study hard in school, her basic skills would always be poor.

It's not that you can't hone your basic skills after you start acting. Many people have solid basic skills after acting a lot.

Just like Zhou Yan, he had never acted before, but he learned by himself and his acting skills are not bad 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. Every day, the things arranged by the director for her are enough to make her headache.

Unless she is willing to take a half year to a year after taking a play to hone her acting skills, and then take the job.

With the accumulation of that period of time, it actually doesn't matter whether you go to school or not.

But obviously, most people can't do it. No one wants to waste their youth like this, especially actresses. They are young and they don't make more movies while they are young, otherwise they will have no chance later.

In the original world, Zhang Ziyi's acting skills didn't improve much after graduation, which is proof.

If Zhang Ziyi drops out of school this time to act in Chen Kaige's movie, I'm afraid her future will be worse than her previous life. (End of this chapter)