Chapter 57: Excessive Modesty Is the Ultimate Flaunt

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It had to be this era—people everywhere were genuinely simple and honest. The crucial factor was the vision of those leading state-owned enterprises. Most lacked the courage or insight to see the changing times, and so they were eliminated in this phase. Triumphant Film Factory, however, stood out as one of the rare success stories of reform.

Their main business had always been movie film, but for grand productions, studios still relied on imported goods. Now, with the film industry in a steep decline following the reforms, state-run film studios were facing the same painful transition as military factories. Yet this factory, by a stroke of luck or shrewdness, identified that television was entering ordinary homes and judged it would soon replace movies. So they took early steps to develop color film and photographic paper for civilian use.

When Wei Dong heard the factory leader’s assessment during the discussion, he nearly burst out laughing. He barely managed to keep a straight face and nodded solemnly, "Truly farsighted!"

Indeed, it took courage: countless state-run factories were simply waiting and believing the government would solve everything, only to end up in bleak layoffs. This factory, however, had a strong sense of crisis. "At the recent ministry meeting, among the seven domestic photosensitive material factories, only ours is dedicated to developing our own color film. I think Xiao Rang's proposal is unique—it perfectly solves the issue of how to attract consumers to try our new product. After all, developing and printing film is a sizable expense, and no one wants to spend recklessly. Xiao Rang’s idea is excellent!"

It was exactly what they needed. With this, the launch schedule for the new color film could be greatly accelerated. Unlike those other factories that had always focused on black-and-white products, Triumphant specialized in color movie film and had the technical foundation. There were mature overseas products to reference, so producing a finished product wasn’t too hard—what was difficult was capturing market share. Foreign color film had a complete monopoly now, and other factories were anxiously choosing joint ventures with foreign companies.

Now, witnessed by a Sunlight Daily reporter, the formal agreement was signed: Wei Dong would leave twenty Aikes cameras as references for their film development, allowing them to tailor the color formula for these models. The film factory would also provide two crates of their semi-finished experimental products for Aikes camera testing and feedback.

A surge of optimism: "We aim to launch before the end of '84."

Previously, when Wei Dong met the reporter in the city, he mentioned he’d drive to Pingjing. The newspaper’s reporter joked that their big truck might have trouble entering the capital—this year’s National Day celebrations meant strict inspections, and a truck loaded with barrels of beef and mutton fat and miscellaneous goods wouldn’t be let in easily.

He hadn’t thought much of it at the time, but now he realized: this was the famous '84 military parade! It was the first time, thanks to televisions in millions of homes, that the whole nation could witness the majestic formations, greatly boosting morale.

In the difficult early days of reform, this had an immediate and powerful effect.

Wait—now, coming near Pingjing, those once distant, momentous events suddenly sprang to mind one after another.

Wei Dong frowned and asked the reporter, "Isn’t there an Olympics this year? Our country’s first return to the Olympic arena?"

The news agency was well informed: "Yes! The whole sports community is preparing—this is our return to the international stage."

Despite the conversation reaching this point, none of those present realized its significance.

Their commercial awareness was less than that of an old security guard who’d spent years watching short videos in the gatehouse.

Wei Dong quickly weighed it in his mind—the Olympics should be in the summer, less than half a year away, too late to seize any hot trends.

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Even if he knew who would win gold, it didn’t seem like Olympic champions had much commercial value at this point. They were like national treasures—hard to leverage for popularity.

So he focused on National Day, seven or eight months away: "Can we launch the film during the summer holidays in August or September? Let’s seize the National Day celebrations so the whole nation can use Triumphant film to capture joyful moments!"

The reporter was finally excited: "Yes! Let’s hold a photo exhibition! An exhibition of photos taken by the people, showing moments of reform and opening across the country!"

The film factory, with its news film background, was quick to catch on: "Let’s call it the Triumphant Photo Exhibition! Fits perfectly with the National Day theme—Xiao Rang’s idea is brilliant!"

Though only twenty years old, dressed in a cotton jacket from Jiangsu and Zhejiang, he exuded undeniable decisiveness: "Exactly—fame comes early. Foreign brands have been around for years, but the whole market is just now encountering personal cameras. Most people still go to photo studios. This is the moment to launch Triumphant film and Aikes cameras—right at the starting line with the big names. We can win!"

Triumphant film had a killer advantage: only half the price of foreign brands like Kodak and Fuji.

As long as you could take photos, it was a winning position.

A camera costing twenty or thirty yuan, with film for ten or so—what more could you ask for?

At this moment, the film factory was completely convinced it could succeed.

Sunlight Daily was also thrilled to be part of the rise of a domestic brand.

The three parties decided to sign another agreement: Sunlight Daily would promote the exhibition, camera sales would include film, with advertising for consumers, and the film factory would—at no cost—receive the creative rights to name the brand.

They themselves had no sales channels. It was entirely thanks to the young reform leader and Sunlight Daily that the brand could go from nothing to market presence.

Previously, apart from a handful in the film industry, who had ever heard of Triumphant Film?

But with Wei Dong—a village boy—linked to the factory responsible for official film in the capital, that endorsement meant everything.

They warmly invited him and the reporters to dine together.

Bringing Gou Dan along had its advantages—no worries about what he and the young men, or the oil merchants, would eat.

Heading downstairs, Wei Dong saw distant wisps of smoke rising behind the big truck parked at the street corner—clearly, someone was already grilling food.

The oil merchants watched from afar as the southwestern youngster was surrounded by factory leaders and reporters, not daring to disturb him.

It wasn’t until the banquet that the reporter and factory finally asked, "Where are you selling hundreds of cameras every day?"

Wei Dong gritted his teeth and kept silent, "The reporter has already interviewed at the Xishan factory. Three thousand units a week is no exaggeration, but the sales method is truly unique. Soon, you’ll find out for yourselves. I’ll keep it under wraps for now. If the film factory can get their product out early, they can match this sales model. Not to brag—two or three thousand rolls of film a day won’t be a problem."

The film factory’s main worry was making a huge investment and then failing to sell.

Now, reassured, they promised rapid production.

The head office reporter suggested, "Can’t we allocate some goods for sale in Pingjing? If we publish scenes of lively sales, but even Pingjing can’t see it, won’t people find it hard to believe?"

Wei Dong considered it: "I’ll check things out in Pingjing. Shouldn’t be a problem—it all depends on whether the camera factory can increase production..."

They had to!

When Wei Dong drove the two head office reporters back to Pingjing, Yu Songhai was already excitedly faxing his article to the head office, though the photos would have to be sent by postal courier.

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He’d already emphasized that the Xishan factory was expanding its production line, aiming for fifteen thousand units next month!

Thanks only to a reporter’s credentials, the strictly managed truck with a Sichuan plate was allowed into the capital—here, traffic was clearly heavier than anywhere else.

Fortunately, trucks could still get within the Second Ring Road, finally parking in the newspaper’s lot beside the Temple of Heaven.

Wei Dong was originally just a country bumpkin here to sightsee.

But the head office reporters insisted he attend several work meetings and interviews, solidifying the narrative of a military-to-civilian enterprise transforming, and the rise of a domestic brand.

Ordinary people would buy new clothes for such occasions.

But Wei Dong, never wanting to stand out, just wanted to get it over with. After all, those singing programs on TV still had people in sheepskin jackets and white headscarves performing on stage.

He was just himself—a native of eastern Sichuan, why bother looking flashy? Staying humble was the way to survive.

Yet he hadn’t expected that, back in his county, selling sunflower seeds at the market could get him arrested, opening a trading company in a prefecture-level city would cause trouble, and in a special economic city, business was encouraged. Now, in Pingjing, he was being promoted as a model.

Wei Dong joked to Yu Songhai that it was best to set up an example.

He never thought he’d be the one!

How could he stay low-profile now?

The newspaper appreciated his attitude—this was no ordinary person. He stubbornly clung to his identity as a farmer, which made the contrast even more striking and persuasive.

Think about who wore farmer or ethnic clothes at meetings in the Great Hall—they were all significant figures.

The excitement grew.

For three dizzying days, Wei Dong was swept along, finally getting the chance to take Gou Dan and the others out to explore Pingjing, with a reporter trailing them, capturing images of these exemplary individuals visiting the capital.

What status was that?

In fact, the city was full of people dressed just like them, workers, farmers, and soldiers from all over the country coming to admire the capital.

Everyone walked the broad, majestic Chang’an Avenue, marveled at the towering buildings, then took a proud photo in front of the square and city gate.

This market was surely more reliable than the lakeside in West Lake: seeing the scenery didn’t guarantee a photo, but in front of the square and gate, everyone took pictures.

Yet Wei Dong carefully observed and was disappointed to find the area too sensitive—no room for anyone to set up a stall selling cameras.

Nowhere in the country could you find a place like West Lake: conveniently located in the provincial capital, not a dense cluster of official buildings, purely scenic, spacious, and with massive tourist flow.

Go to places like Huangshan or the Great Wall, and tourists either come prepared or every spot already has someone doing business.

As for famous shopping streets like Dongdan and Xidan, they were still mostly pastry shops and noodle restaurants, with two department stores packed to the brim. Selling cameras there would be like trying to get into a mall on Sujing Road.

It was a headache.