Chapter 91: Peng Yuanshan's Visit
Early in the morning, after breakfast, Lu Yu packed his luggage and drove to his home near Shu Yin University. The last time he had hired a housekeeping service, so the place was still fairly clean. After putting away his clothes in the bedroom, Lu Yu wandered around the living room, estimating how many bookshelves he could fit in the available space. Once he had a rough idea, he drove to IKEA and bought a large number of bookshelves.
He and the delivery driver made several trips to carry everything upstairs. When Lu Yu saw the driver off, he slipped him two packs of cigarettes and thanked him, acknowledging that the driver had no obligation to help with the move. Returning to the living room, Lu Yu began assembling the bookshelves he had bought. They were delivered as separate pieces and needed to be put together one by one. It wasn't difficult, just rather tedious. It took him over two hours to finish assembling all of them.
Looking at the neatly arranged bookshelves, Lu Yu let out a long breath, feeling an unexpected sense of triumph, almost as if he were reviewing a parade.
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For the next few days, Lu Yu remained at home, receiving packages and becoming familiar with several deliverymen. Xu Chengliang, Yan Jun, and the rest had all reported to the company, and some equipment had arrived. Xu Chengliang immediately got to work, arranging for staff to rotate through security shifts and sometimes participating himself. Yan Jun was still waiting for the remaining equipment and vehicles, preparing to head to Lu Yu's hometown to take charge of his parents' security.
Lu Yu had already called his parents, briefly explaining the situation and asking them to rent the empty house next door for the security staff. At first, his parents were concerned, wondering why even they needed protection when nothing seemed wrong. Lu Yu had to explain that it was only a precaution and there was no immediate danger.
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Two days later, Yan Jun arrived with three teams, giving Lu Yu a detailed report on the arrangements for his parents' security. Lu Yu nodded as he listened; the specifics had been drafted by Xu Chengliang, comprehensive and thorough, leaving little room for oversight. As long as the plan was followed diligently, everything would be fine.
Lu Yu reminded Yan Jun not to let his guard down. Though the area was small and the situation straightforward, security work should not be taken lightly. He also acknowledged the difficulty of their job, promising generous year-end bonuses as long as everything went smoothly.
Yan Jun reassured him, saying he would do his duty with care, following the military ethos of caution and responsibility. With that, Yan Jun and his three teams, packed with equipment, set out for Lu Yu's hometown. Lu Yu stayed home, continuing his reading and studies.
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That morning, as Lu Yu was reading, he received a call from Liu Shichang, who said Peng Yuanshan had arrived at the company and wanted to visit him. Lu Yu had to think for a moment to recall who Peng Yuanshan was. Before the company was renamed, the cosmetics business had belonged to Peng Yuanshan. He remembered during the acquisition, Peng had advised him that it was extremely difficult for small domestic cosmetics companies to survive.
Lu Yu had a vivid impression of Peng Yuanshan—a typical straightforward Sichuan character, reminiscent of the old brotherhoods.
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He told Liu Shichang he would head to the company right away and asked him to wait a little. After hanging up, Lu Yu went to the company with the security team. Even after several days, he still wasn’t used to having security personnel follow him everywhere. But it was understandable; anyone would need time to adjust to being accompanied by silent, imposing men wherever they went.
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In the meeting room, Lu Yu found Liu Shichang chatting with Peng Yuanshan. After exchanging smiles and handshakes, they sat down.
Lu Yu said, “Mr. Peng, it’s been a while. What brings you here today?”
Peng Yuanshan laughed, “I never visit unless there’s a reason.”
Lu Yu replied, “Didn’t you say you’d take a break for a while? Is it enough rest now?”
Peng Yuanshan shrugged, “I’m just someone who can’t stop working. After years of hustle, suddenly having half a year of leisure just feels wrong. I have to keep busy.”
Lu Yu laughed and they chatted casually for a while, as was customary before getting to business.
After some time, Peng Yuanshan brought up the reason for his visit: “I’ve noticed your cosmetics company is thriving, and after asking around, I heard you’re still purchasing large amounts of traditional herbal materials. So I thought, maybe I should set up a planting base as well.”
Lu Yu nodded, “Our cosmetics company is indeed buying a lot of raw materials. If you’re interested and your products meet our quality standards, there shouldn’t be a problem.”
Peng Yuanshan said, “I’m just here to see how things are, hoping for some advice.”
Lu Yu responded, “I can’t really advise you. The planting bases are managed by the company, but for herbal cultivation, soil and water are crucial factors.”
Peng Yuanshan asked, “I heard your company doesn’t have any planting bases near the capital of Shu?”
Lu Yu replied, “No, we don’t. The first base and processing center were set up in my hometown, and later most were in your province.”
Peng Yuanshan inquired, “Is it because the soil near Shu’s capital isn’t suitable?”
Lu Yu shook his head, “Not really. Initially, I just wanted to invest in my hometown, to help local development a bit. The rest is just company expansion.”
Peng Yuanshan pondered, “Maybe I should invest in your hometown, too? There’s a processing center there, so it could save on transportation costs.”
Lu Yu smiled, “Then I must thank you on behalf of my hometown.”
Peng Yuanshan replied, “You’re too formal. Investing there saves freight costs and allows me to refer to your existing base, so it’s a win-win.”
Lu Yu assured him, “I’ll inform the company, and you’re welcome to visit anytime, to observe and guide the work.”
Peng Yuanshan shook his head, “I’m no expert, just there to learn.”
After chatting a while longer, Peng Yuanshan took his leave.
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After Peng Yuanshan left, Liu Shichang spoke to Lu Yu about recruiting researchers.
Currently, there were two suitable candidates, both with years of experience in plant genetic engineering—one at a research institute, one working in an agricultural company. Lu Yu looked over their profiles, finding both quite promising. He told Liu Shichang to reach out; as long as they were willing to join, salary would not be an issue, research funding would be ample, and bonuses for achievements would be generous.
The only drawback was the remote location: the plant research park out in the Western Regions.
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Liu Shichang agreed and mentioned the recruitment of ordinary research staff, most of whom were recent graduates or had only worked a year or two. Their academic backgrounds were solid, but practical experience was lacking. Lu Yu wasn’t concerned; he would participate in the first project at the research park himself, and the supervisors being hired had extensive experience and would mentor them. Experience is accumulated over time—no one is born with it.
Construction in the Western Regions had mostly stopped, due to the cold weather making outdoor work impossible. They’d have to wait until spring to continue. Overall, progress was swift.
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Lu Yu left Nebula Beyond and went upstairs to Yunhan Tech. Ge Yuncong’s progress had been steady; apart from two complex modules, the rest were in final testing. The special effects team transferred from the effects company was also involved in practical testing. The process was simple: use the new software to create a complex special effects video, which would reveal any issues.
Speaking of special effects software, it was necessary to mention the newly reorganized and merged effects company, now bearing the name of one of the original firms—Fantasia Digital. After the reorganization, Lu Yu and Chen Xiaofei both invested again according to their shares, purchasing new hardware and recruiting effects artists.
At present, the company hadn’t taken on any projects, focusing instead on refining the team and familiarizing them with the new software.
From conversations with those directly involved, Lu Yu realized the reality was far less optimistic than his research had suggested. Without doubt, the demand and investment in domestic special effects had grown in recent years, and on the surface, the industry seemed to have entered a better era.
Yet the truth was quite different, beset by both internal and external troubles.
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Externally, limited by the development timeline and level of the domestic film industry, special effects production still lagged far behind the world’s best. Especially in Hollywood, where the United States leads by at least ten to fifteen years in effects technology. Though there are domestic effects artists brave enough to pursue excellence, relying solely on them yields little progress.
With increasing demand for effects and a flourishing film industry, foreign effects companies have flooded the domestic market. Not just American firms, but also those from Korea, Britain, Australia, and others seeking profit in China.
Weta handled the “Animal World” project, Digital Domain worked on “Hidden Man,” and so on.
Lack of trade protection and more favorable policies abroad meant many domestic projects were outsourced overseas. For example, in Korea, film crews could simply go to Seoul, where officials would connect them with effects companies and even subsidize the price difference: if the film’s budget was eight million and the Korean company quoted ten million, the government would cover the extra two million.
At one point, the majority of domestic effects-heavy films were sent to Korea for production.
Other countries with strong effects industries, like Canada, Britain, and New Zealand, also have state-led initiatives—Canada offers up to forty percent tax rebates.
With the influx of foreign effects firms and intensifying competition, combined with these factors, projects have flowed abroad, making the situation for domestic effects companies even more difficult.
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