With the office now orderly, Fu Zan ushered the officials toward the testing area.
A 29-inch Sony color television, connected to a Jupiter console, sat at the center of the room.
Fu Zan pressed the power button; the screen flickered to life, illuminating scenes from "Investiture of the Gods: The Legend of Yang Jian."
"Is this the product you intend to export to Japan?" Deputy Director Liu of the Cultural Bureau asked, adjusting his spectacles as he leaned in to inspect the display.
Fu Zan picked up the controller, demonstrating a sequence of combat and character transformations. "Indeed. It draws upon the lore of our traditional 'Investiture of the Gods' while incorporating the most sophisticated 32-bit console technology currently available in Japan. As you can see, the character on screen is Yang Jian."
On the display, Yang Jian swung his three-pointed, double-edged blade, leaving translucent arcs of light in his wake.
Upon encountering a cave entrance sealed by a massive boulder, Fu Zan toggled the command key, prompting Erlang Shen to shift into the form of a black hound and slip inside. When confronted by spell-casting adversaries, he reverted to his divine stature, wielding the Qiankun Mirror to deflect incoming fireballs.
Deputy Director Liu watched the gameplay unfold, nodding in frequent approval. "Impressive. We were once perpetually reliant on importing foreign electronics and animation. Now, you have taken the myths of our ancestors and transmuted them into high-tech commodities for the global market; this is what we define as cultural export. Furthermore, the graphics are exquisitely detailed and capture our cultural essence with remarkable authenticity. This places you at the vanguard, not merely within our province, but across the entire nation."
Director Wang tapped the television casing. "Technology provides the stage, while culture performs the play. This is foreign currency earned with honor. Xiao Fu, what is your vision for the future?"
"Sega is highly satisfied with the initial sales, and the second production run is already underway. The traditional Chinese version is also performing exceptionally well in Hong Kong and Taiwan. We intend to expand our team, recruit additional technical and artistic staff, and prepare to develop our next product or evolve this title into a series," Fu Zan reported.
"Excellent." Director Wang turned to Secretary Chen. "Jianming, make a note of this. The bureau must provide key support to high-value, export-oriented, high-tech cultural enterprises like Mercury Technology. Tax incentives, assistance with office expansion—we should leverage every available policy to support them.
Draft a proposal; we will review it at the bureau's party group meeting next week."
Secretary Chen opened his notebook and swiftly recorded the instructions with his fountain pen.
With the inspection concluded, the leaders retired to the conference room to enjoy some tea.
Director Wang and Deputy Director Liu were reviewing Mercury Technology's business license alongside a copy of the firm's cooperation agreement with Sega.
A publicity officer, who had accompanied the group from the city, stood nearby, interviewing several key staff members regarding the achievements of Investiture of the Gods: The Legend of Erlang Shen.
Secretary Chen stepped out into the hallway, a teacup in hand.
Observing this, Fu Zan snatched up a pack of Zhonghua cigarettes he had recently purchased and followed him.
At the far end of the corridor lay the designated smoking area.
Fu Zan offered him a cigarette and held a light for the Secretary.
"Secretary Chen, thank you so much for the heads-up today."
Secretary Chen exhaled a plume of smoke and waved a dismissive hand. "It is only because the Director values your work. However, Xiao Fu, there is something I must bring to your attention."
Fu Zan pocketed his lighter, his demeanor deferential. "Please, go ahead."
"You have expanded your operations, turned a profit, and established a reputation. From this point forward, you will find yourself under increasing scrutiny—not merely from the city, but potentially from the provincial level as well," Secretary Chen remarked, flicking the ash from his cigarette. "You are in the business of games and cultural products. While exporting such goods to earn foreign currency is commendable, one must ask: where is the bottom line, and who is to oversee it?"
Fu Zan replied promptly, "During the initial development phase, we submitted our script outlines and final products to the Cultural Bureau for filing, all of which Director Liu approved. Furthermore, Sega has dispatched a dedicated legal team to supervise our operations and ensure there are no copyright infringements."
"Navigating administrative approvals is a matter of business procedure; legal oversight is a commercial necessity. What I am discussing, however, is organizational development." Secretary Chen looked at Fu Zan, his cadence slowing. "The sophisticated advancement of hardware and software within the electronics industry, coupled with the global dissemination of our culture—such a grand undertaking must be conducted under the stewardship of the Party to ensure it does not deviate from its course. Your company does not even have a Party branch yet, does it?"
Fu Zan paused for a moment.
Back when they were at Yanshan Software, they had been little more than a technical service center, barely managing to make ends meet.
Later, when they reorganized into Mercury, their focus had been entirely consumed by writing code, securing investment, and developing games. With their eyes glued to their screens day in and day out, how could they have possibly spared a thought for such matters?
"No, we don't. None of us are even Party members," Fu Zan replied with candid honesty.
Secretary Chen lowered his voice. "No matter how rigorous the administrative approval process may be, it remains merely an external force. You require a core within your organization. Without a Party branch, the efficacy of policy communication and ideological development will inevitably falter. You are a key enterprise now; you cannot afford to focus solely on the economic bottom line while neglecting the political one. Sega is foreign-owned, and yours is a joint venture. The more complex a company's composition, the more vital it is to have a backbone.
Do you understand my meaning?"
Fu Zan's mind raced.
Having spent years navigating the fringes of the system, he grasped the gravity of Secretary Chen's words.
This was no mere reminder; it was a masterclass in securing the most impenetrable armor available in this land.
With a Party branch, Mercury Technology would cease to be a mere private joint-venture workshop focused on foreign exchange, evolving instead into a legitimate entity woven into the mainstream institutional fabric.
In the future, whether navigating policy support, land-use applications, or talent recruitment—or even weathering unforeseen crises—this credential would prove more effective than any other.
"I understand," Fu Zan said, nodding. "Several of our key veteran staff were activists during their university years and at their previous firms. We will submit our applications for Party membership to the Cangshan District Committee as soon as possible."
"That is the correct approach," Secretary Chen replied with a smile. "Develop your key personnel into Party members, and cultivate your Party members into key personnel. Once the conditions are ripe, apply to the higher-level committee to establish a Mercury Technology Party branch. When that time comes, the Bureau Chief will personally attend to unveil the plaque. With this anchor in place, you can charge ahead to secure foreign exchange while your rear remains protected. As an enterprise matures, it requires not only a technological moat but a political one as well."
Just then, the conference room door swung open, and Bureau Chief Wang emerged.
"That is all for today. Keep up the momentum. Focus on both technology and culture—they are of equal importance. Continue to foster the company's growth, strengthen its foundations, and strive to increase your foreign exchange earnings. Do not let the city's expectations of you go unfulfilled."
Hearing this, Fu Zan and Secretary Chen simultaneously extinguished their half-smoked Zhongnanhai cigarettes against the rim of the hallway trash receptacle.
The two men hurried from the smoking area to intercept the bureau chiefs as they emerged.
"Goodbye, Bureau Chiefs. We will resolutely implement your instructions." Fu Zan remained half a step behind Director Wang as they made their way downstairs.
Director Wang waved a hand dismissively. "I trust you will maintain your pragmatic approach. Developing the next product and securing more foreign exchange will be the greatest contribution you can make to this city."
By the time they reached the ground floor, the driver had already pulled the Santana up to the main entrance.
Just before sliding into his car, Deputy Director Liu turned back to Fu Zan. "Xiao Fu, that Howling Celestial Dog in your game is remarkably lifelike. When the time is right, you might consider incorporating our local Fujian Mazu culture; I am certain the overseas Chinese-speaking market would find such themes deeply resonant."
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