DAEYTT Chapter 007: Hotpot Tycoon, Musical Genius.

In the morning, Wang Qian made appearances at his two hotpot restaurants, letting the staff feel the pressure from the boss, checked the accounts for the past few days, and transferred the surplus money to his own account.

Shanghai is one of the highest consuming cities in China!

So, as long as it's popular, no matter what business you do, the income is extremely lucrative.

When the hotpot restaurants are at their peak, one store can earn over a hundred thousand in a day.

Wang Qian learned from the model of Hai Di Lao, a hotpot chain from his previous life on Earth, and even named his restaurants Hai Di Lao. He focused on service, spending a long time cultivating the service consciousness of the staff.

So the reputation of the two hotpot restaurants is excellent, with many repeat customers. Business is almost worry-free. Now, at lunchtime and dinner time every day, there are always many people waiting in line outside, maintaining a constant state of full capacity.

The only worry is the expansion plan ahead!

Wang Qian decided to continue his efforts and open several more branches in Shanghai. After occupying Shanghai, he would expand to the three major super cities in the north, Guangzhou, and Shenzhen, striving to become the number one hotpot chain brand in China.

The title "Hotpot Tycoon" that He Dongming mentioned wasn't a joke; it was Wang Qian's true goal.

At lunchtime, Wang Qian went to a nearby upscale Western restaurant.

Zhou Xuehua was already chatting with a middle-aged man there.

Seeing Wang Qian, Zhou Xuehua hurriedly got up to introduce, "Wang Qian, here you are. This is my friend, Li Qingyuan, a lawyer. He drafted today's contract. Take a look?"

Li Qingyuan stood up and shook hands with Wang Qian. "Hello, I heard from Huazi that you have great musical talent. I watched the video of you singing last night. Both songs were very nice, I personally liked them a lot. I just don't know where I can download them?"

Wang Qian was slightly surprised that this seemingly steady middle-aged lawyer would ask such a question right away. He chuckled, "Thank you. There's currently no source for download online. I'll find an old friend, like Zhou here, to help me find a recording studio. I'll record them this afternoon and upload them. Then you'll be able to search and download them online!"

Li Qingyuan nodded. "That's great. Take a look at this contract."

Wang Qian picked up the contract and glanced at it.

Ten years of copyright for two songs, one hundred thousand.

Trademark rights for "The Ordinary Path", fifty thousand!

A total of one hundred and fifty thousand, payable in one lump sum.

Wang Qian did some quick calculations, looked over some contract details, and nodded, "Okay, no problem."

This was quite a high price for a completely new artist.

In a world where copyright protection is highly valued, the copyright for those classic songs, for example, would typically go for about ten to twenty thousand per year.

Swish...

Wang Qian immediately wrote his name on the contract.

Zhou Xuehua also quickly wrote his name. "Straightforward, I'll transfer the money to you now."

Immediately, Zhou Xuehua transferred one hundred and fifty thousand to Wang Qian via his phone, praising, "Honestly, buddy. Your two songs are really great. Why haven't you considered releasing an album?"

Wang Qian chuckled, "I've had some thoughts, but no one has signed me. I'm planning to record and release the songs myself."

Zhou Xuehua's eyes lit up. "I have a nearly bankrupt record company over here. We still have production and distribution channels. How about signing with my company? I'll help you produce and release an album."

Wang Qian looked at Zhou Xuehua for a moment, thought about it, and didn't refuse on the spot. "I'll think about it."

Zhou Xuehua said, "Okay, think it over carefully. My company is called Donghua Records. You can ask around in the industry. It had a bit of reputation ten years ago, a second-tier company. But later, making records became increasingly difficult, and we haven't produced or released an album for five or six years. Now, nobody knows about us. If it weren't for my personal love for music, we would have closed down long ago."

Wang Qian asked, "Is the recording studio you mentioned yours?"

Zhou Xuehua nodded, "Yes, it's my company's recording studio. It hasn't been used much. It's just me and a few friends occasionally go there to record songs. If you want to use it, I'll take you there this afternoon."

Wang Qian nodded, "Okay, thank you."

Zhou Xuehua was delighted, "No trouble."

After finishing an upscale Western meal, the three of them had a pleasant conversation, as they all shared a common hobby - music!

After Zhou Xuehua settled the bill and bid farewell to Li Qingyuan, he took Wang Qian to his record company.

The company did indeed look quite old, but Wang Qian didn't mind. He went straight to the recording studio, only to find that it was quite advanced, with many of the equipment being the latest electronic devices from recent years.

"How should we settle payment if I use it until tonight?"

Wang Qian asked after looking around.

Zhou Xuehua chuckled, "Buddy, talking about money is like slapping my face. Just use it as you like. I have nothing to do this afternoon anyway, I'll stay here and watch you record songs. I've been wanting to listen to you sing since you left yesterday. You really put a lot of feeling into those two songs!"

Wang Qian waved his hand, "If you don't want money, then I'll leave. Friendship is friendship, business is business! It costs money to maintain this place daily, and I can't just use it for free."

Saying that, Wang Qian really meant to leave!

Zhou Xuehua quickly grabbed him and said, "Alright, alright, half a day for a thousand bucks, deal?"

Wang Qian smiled and immediately transferred a thousand bucks. Then he started preparing to record his songs.

In his past life, he had been in the entertainment industry for over a decade, dabbling from actor to behind-the-scenes work, from behind-the-scenes to directing. He had done and seen everything.

Lighting, editing, costume props, recording background music, and even singing himself, he had done it all, and all professionally, without being looked down upon by anyone!

So, he took some time to get familiar, and basically, he could do everything quite professionally.

And in this life, his vocal talent was extremely outstanding.

So outstanding that he couldn't believe it himself.

It was like the new singer Zhou Sheng in his previous life, who was nicknamed "God of Feast", while Zhou Sheng was like having the food stuffed directly into his mouth by God without him needing to open it.

Because his vocal talent was so enviable that he didn't even need to sing; just listening to him humming was very enjoyable and satisfying.

Wang Qian believed that his voice was no weaker than Zhou Sheng's, or perhaps even more talented.

It's just that he had never properly showcased or explored it.

Now...

It's time to lay the cards on the table.

Actually!

I am a musical genius!

Entering the recording studio.

Wang Qian was familiar with the place, and in one go, he finished recording the original vocals for both songs.

Both Zhou Xuehua and the recording engineer gave Wang Qian a thumbs-up.

Then.

What shocked them even more was.

Wang Qian also played musical instruments himself, composed and arranged music, recorded one instrument after another, almost all in one go, and then personally went on to produce the final touches!

The music arrangement and vocals for both songs...

Were completed in just one afternoon.

It was as if every step had been planned out in advance, just going through the motions.

This was something neither Zhou Xuehua nor the recording engineer had ever seen...

Leaving the recording studio, Wang Qian packed all the music materials he had recorded onto a portable hard drive and was about to take his leave.

Zhou Xuehua's eyes were already burning with excitement, and he grabbed Wang Qian, saying, "Wang Qian, sign with my record company. I'll use all of the company's resources to produce and distribute your album. You're the most awesome musical genius I've ever seen. Whether it's the hottest male singer Wu Han or the hottest female singer Li Qingyao, they can't compare to you!"

"Believe me, as long as you debut, you will surpass them sooner or later and become the most awesome king of the Chinese music scene."

Zhou Xuehua's voice carried absolute certainty.

He had never seen a musician as awesome as Wang Qian.

Wang Qian paused for a moment when he heard Li Qingyao's name, then quickly packed up his things and made sure there were no backup files left in the machines here before shaking his head and bidding farewell, "Brother Hua, sorry. I'll think about it again. Thanks for today. I'll treat you tonight."

Zhou Xuehua was very regretful but didn't force it, "Well, think it over carefully. Nowadays, those new singers focus on hype and appearing on variety shows, and pure singers are almost gone. If you sign with a big company, they won't let you focus on music. Just making music doesn't make money and consumes resources. My company is different. I'm not in it for the money, I just want to make good music."

"If I release an album, I'll definitely collaborate with you, Brother Hua."

Wang Qian made a promise.

He could tell that Zhou Xuehua was really a person who loved music.

"Haha, that's good enough with your word. I'll treat you tonight."

Zhou Xuehua affectionately pulled Wang Qian out of the company.

After dinner.

Wang Qian declined Zhou Xuehua's invitation to go to his own music bar, instead taking a car to the hotpot restaurant and then quickly heading home.

As soon as he got home!

Wang Qian turned on his computer and logged into the largest online music platform in China - Tengfei!

He registered an independent musician account.

Named - Gentleman Qian Qian!

Then.

He uploaded his original songs.

"Once You"

"The Ordinary Path."


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