Chapter 407: Editing Complete

“That’s right!”

Luo Xiao replied immediately when he heard Teacher Li’s question.

“But these seniors… they are fundamentally unsuitable for an Elderly Singing and Dancing Troupe!”

Li Ting voiced the doubt weighing on her mind.

“I know that.”

Luo Xiao nodded. How could he not know that these elderly people weren’t the right fit for a professional troupe?

But their primary goal was never the troupe itself; it was to solve the livelihood issues of the elderly living in impoverished mountain regions.

The Elderly Song and Dance Troupe was merely one link in the chain of providing for them.

If the troupe could turn a profit, it could indirectly alleviate the financial burden of supporting these seniors. After all, if there was only expenditure with no income, the project to help these impoverished elderly people would eventually crumble.

That, he assumed, was President Chen’s ultimate objective.

“Then why are you doing this?”

Li Ting was more confused than ever.

Luo Xiao looked at the bewildered Li Ting and offered a small smile.

“Because our original intention wasn’t to establish an Elderly Song and Dance Troupe, but to help those seniors in poor mountain areas. The troupe is just a way to give the healthy ones something to do. Of course, if the troupe manages to be profitable, I would be more than happy to see that.”

Li Ting froze as she listened to his answer.

The intention wasn’t the troupe, but helping the elderly in the mountains.

The sentence echoed in her mind like a thunderclap. All her previous confusion and doubts vanished in an instant. Looking at the young Director Luo, a trace of admiration flickered in her eyes.

“So, for those seniors you’ve brought over from the mountains, what other arrangements do you have for them besides the troupe?”

“Quite a few,” Luo Xiao said, glancing at Li Ting. Since she had already joined Blue Film Studio as the mentor for the troupe, there was no need for secrets. He continued, “The healthy seniors you just saw, those not selected for the troupe, will be placed within the company to handle light labor, such as cleaning and similar tasks.”

“Naturally, we will eventually bring in seniors who are unable to work at all. President Chen has already begun preparations for the construction of an Elderly Apartment Complex. Once it’s finished, those seniors will be moved there to live.”

“At that time, we will hire professional caregivers to look after them.”

As Li Ting listened to Luo Xiao’s explanation, she couldn’t help but feel a pang of shame.

It turned out this young Director Luo had established the troupe to help the poor; yet, she had been reluctant to come, only agreeing because of the lure of a high salary.

Thinking of this, she let out a long sigh and looked at Luo Xiao.

“I didn’t understand before that you were doing this for Public Welfare. I apologize for my attitude.”

“Since this is about helping those in need, I’m willing to do my part. Regarding the compensation we agreed upon, I’m willing to take a one-third cut.”

One-third was the limit of what she could afford, as she still needed an income to support her own life and family expenses.

“You’re joking, Teacher Li,” Luo Xiao waved his hand. “Since the pay has been settled, we won’t be changing it. You are now the mentor and the leader of the Elderly Song and Dance Troupe. How far this troupe can go depends entirely on you.”

“Of course, I hope you will give it your all to make the troupe a profitable project. That way, we can help even more elderly people in the mountains.”

Luo Xiao dismissed her offer. While Li Ting’s salary was high, it was a drop in the bucket compared to the overall costs of the project.

Furthermore, he believed in a simple philosophy: if you want the horse to run, you have to feed it^[1].

If he wanted Li Ting to put her heart and soul into the troupe, he had to provide a satisfying salary. Only then would she work with full devotion.

It was just like President Chen.

He gave the employees of the group excellent benefits, and in return, every single one of them worked incredibly hard to keep their jobs. Once they left Mingri Group, they would never find another company offering such treatment.

Seeing Luo Xiao’s firm expression, Li Ting stopped insisting.

“Then I must thank you, Director Luo. I will certainly give this troupe my absolute best.”

“Don’t thank me. The one truly doing this great work is President Chen; I am merely the one executing his vision.”

Luo Xiao looked toward the direction of the Mingri Group headquarters, his eyes filled with deep respect.

Only after handling the affairs of these impoverished seniors did he realize how much President Chen had sacrificed for Public Welfare.

The Elderly Apartment Complex alone required tens of millions in capital, to say nothing of the other expenses. If President Chen hadn’t chosen to do this, all that money would have stayed in his own pocket.

“President Chen?”

Li Ting looked at Luo Xiao, wondering who this person was.

“President Chen is the head of Mingri Group. Blue Film Studio is just a subsidiary. This entire Public Welfare initiative was his command… Well, this is enough for you to know for now. You’ll understand more in time.”

Luo Xiao cut himself off, feeling that explaining everything would take too long. Once Li Ting was settled in the company, she would learn the rest on her own.

Li Ting nodded slowly, making a mental note of Mingri Group and President Chen.

Luo Xiao checked the time; it was already past one in the afternoon. Thinking of the film editing tasks waiting for him at the office, he said a few quick parting words to Li Ting and hurried away.

“Teacher Li, I have some business at the office, so I’ll be heading out. I’ll leave the troupe in your capable hands.”

*

Mingri Group,

Blue Film Studio.

Luo Xiao parked his car and rushed back to his office.

A short while later, Wang Bin knocked and entered.

“How is it? Is the film editing finished?” Luo Xiao asked the moment he saw him.

“Just finished the final touches. Here is the final cut, take a look.”

Wang Bin sat across from the desk, pulled up a video on his phone, and handed it to Luo Xiao.

Luo Xiao took the phone and began watching intently.

While he usually kept an eye on individual edited clips, this was the first time he was seeing the completed film.

Time ticked by.

Luo Xiao did a rough pass through the entire edited movie before handing the phone back to Wang Bin.

Wang Bin took the phone back, looking at Luo Xiao with an expectant expression.

“Well? How is it?”

Translator’s Notes

1. if you want the horse to run, you have to feed it: A common Chinese idiom (既要马儿跑，又要马儿不吃草 – literally ‘wanting the horse to run but not letting it eat grass’) used here in the reverse to emphasize that one cannot expect high performance or loyalty without providing proper compensation or resources. ↩