Chapter 138: Sudden Instructions

Liu Qingshan had a plan for the students from India, though it was still in the development stage and he had not yet had the chance to reveal it to Kunal and the others.

He then called Shah Rukh: "Make a copy of the sample immediately. Since the sample is finished, there is no need for you to stay there anymore. Return to the hotel with Mr. Kram; I will join you there for dinner."

His next call was to Ge Daquan. Upon receiving the news, Ge’s excitement was palpable.

"Well done, Shanzi! It’s only been a few days; how did you manage to pull this off?"

"The people I hired are professionals, most of whom possess extensive practical experience."

"Let me warn you, kid, so you can mentally prepare yourself: once the results of your research are validated by the relevant authorities, there will be requests for collaborative training. I hope you will prioritize the bigger picture when that time comes."

Liu Qingshan’s expression darkened instantly. He had anticipated that some might seek an opportunity to intervene, but he had not expected it to happen so quickly, nor so brazenly.

However, before he could flare up, the other party seemed to have anticipated his initial reaction and continued immediately.

"Set your mind at ease. With me here, there is no possibility of any power grab, nor will it have any negative impact on your business. On the contrary, in light of your selfless contribution, the state will help you solicit more business to a certain extent, and they won’t take a single cent."

Suppressing the rising agitation in his chest, Liu Qingshan tentatively asked, "What is your goal? Who exactly will be coming?"

"Hahaha," the voice on the other end laughed. "Don’t be so tense. This will only be a good thing for you, with no risk of trade secrets leaking out! I recall you once saying that the ultimate goal of establishing the Snow Domain Studio was to cultivate more professional talent for the domestic entertainment industry?"

"Yes, I did say something to that effect."

"Then there you have it. Rather than recruiting on your own, why not respond to state support? Of course, the people sent to you will be young graduates or those still in their internship period. You are completely free to retain any talent you deem suitable after they have finished their training, and make them your own employees."

"What about the others? Won't the state take them back for other purposes?"

"What would be the point of keeping them? If you haven't taken a liking to them, what real skills could they have possibly learned? The state doesn't support the useless. They will simply have to fend for themselves."

"Why does that sound so chilling to me?"

"Sounds cruel, doesn't it? But it is the most effective way to separate the wheat from the chaff! Rest assured, no one is eyeing your enterprise. The state’s primary intention is to have you help absorb some university graduates and alleviate some of the pressure regarding employment."

"Doesn't that make things too easy for me? Why would the state show me such special favor for no reason?"

"Special favor? While that might be an exaggeration, you could put it that way. In any case, listen to me—I am only being this persistent because I consider you one of our own. You know yourself whether or not there’s any personal gain involved here. Besides, these people won’t be able to master the core technology for several years, and by then, your studio will have already developed into an Asian industry giant. Who would dare move against you?"

"That sounds somewhat reasonable."

"There is an even more crucial point: certain state departments will provide actual industry monopoly support to Snow Domain. Do you have any idea what kind of obstruction a private enterprise with no background would face if it grew to that level?"

By now, Liu Qingshan’s heart had calmed significantly. He began to realize that his previous thinking had indeed been somewhat idealistic. Combining this with the overt and subtle hints from Ge Daquan, he suddenly realized that perhaps there really were no conspiracies or schemes as he had initially imagined.

Moreover, the man was right: it would be impossible for fresh graduates to master core technology within a few years. By the time they did, the comprehensive development of Snow Domain Studio would have expanded across all of Asia. Its immense influence would make it impossible for anyone to target it maliciously without fear of consequences; otherwise, the state would face questioning from the international community.

"I am basically in agreement with receiving some of these young people, but what guarantee do I have that they won't jump ship halfway through?"

"I suspect the state cannot guarantee anything there. In truth, the decision of whether someone leaves mid-way rests with you; that is a matter of your own management. I believe that with strict contract limitations or the prevention of such issues through reasonable and legal corporate disciplinary clauses, such situations can mostly be avoided."

Hearing this, Liu Qingshan’s resolve grew even firmer.

"My personal guess is that the purpose of this move by the relevant departments is not just to help solve the employment problem, but also to promote high-tech copyrights with our own intellectual property, isn't it?"

"I’ll give you credit for having a sense of the big picture; your vision is quite far-reaching. I originally estimated it would take you a whole night of thinking to grasp the brilliance of this, but I didn't expect you to figure it out so quickly."

"Very well, I know what I need to do. I certainly won't let you down, sir!"

Jin Xishan had been standing by the whole time, and seeing the shifts in emotion on Liu Qingshan’s face, she felt anxious. Although she was not from China and knew little about its national conditions and systems, that did not stop her from understanding the concerns and opportunities hidden in Ge Daquan’s words.

Unlike Liu Qingshan’s rapid understanding, she had remained worried about the potential interference of certain forces. Once her man finally hung up the phone, she couldn't wait to share her observations. Liu Qingshan patiently explained the situation to her, analyzing her concerns one by one until she was finally reassured.

It was already near five o’clock in the afternoon, and they needed to rush to the hotel; Kram and the others had likely already arrived. According to his agreement with Ge Daquan, the sample had to be delivered to a certain department within the national television station that evening. As for which group of people would be summoned to observe it, Liu Qingshan did not know.

However, he guessed that the China Film Group would definitely be there, as they had similar digital research institutions.

Liu Qingshan was not worried about the core technology being stolen. Film special effects were produced through high-end cinema-grade software combined with complex computer programming; a discrepancy in even a tiny piece of data would lead to a completely different final result. As long as the programming code remained secure, it was impossible to achieve a perfect copy by merely imitating the surface.

He knew that after this night, he and Snow Domain Studio would likely become a rising star in the entertainment industry, beginning to shine with a unique brilliance.

This was a type of invisible power that he could control at will—a proprietary asset that would no longer be subject to the whims of others. From this moment on, he had secured a place of his own in the Chinese entertainment industry.

If domestic film and television producers wanted to bypass him? They certainly could, but they would have to pay at least double the cost to purchase special effects produced with the same technology.

He had waited a long time for this day.