Chapter 118 - 119 The TV Factory Situation

Words : 1293 Updated : Sep 17th, 2025

Chapter 118: Chapter 119 The TV Factory Situation In the evening By 6 p.m. neither of them had any appetite. Just then, the phone in the room rang. The producer, being closer, answered, "This is the Léon crew. Who’s calling?" "This is the film commission. We’re notifying you that you can resume filming tomorrow." "Really?" He could hardly believe it. Was the issue resolved? "Of course. We will deliver the penalty notice tomorrow. Due to the accident, your crew will be fined $2000. We hope there will be no more incidents." The producer was sure now. He was ecstatic. "Thank you, thank you. We accept the penalty." "See you tomorrow." "Yes, see you tomorrow." The producer hung up and excitedly told Hitchcock, "Director, the issue is resolved. The commission said we can resume filming tomorrow, and the fine is only $2000." Stopping the crew for a day was a significant loss. "Great, I’ll have the crew ready to start on time tomorrow," Hitchcock said. Then he asked, "What about the stuntmen’s compensation?" The producer hesitated. He didn’t know either. Just then, the phone rang again. This time, it was the head of the company that provided the demolition expert and stuntmen. The producer, still a bit apprehensive, exchanged pleasantries before the other party said, "Our stuntmen were injured. Considering medical expenses and lost wages, we hope the crew can compensate them $2,000 each. What do you think?" Earlier, they had demanded $100,000. Now, it was only $2,000. There was no hesitation; the producer immediately agreed, saying he’d send the money over right away. After hanging up, the producer was still in disbelief. The matter was resolved so smoothly, far better than he had expected. It must have been their boss Mayer’s connections at work. The boss was indeed impressive. He called Mayer at home. The call connected. The producer cheerfully said, "Boss, you’re amazing. You resolved the issue so quickly." Mayer was puzzled. He didn’t understand what his subordinate was talking about. The producer continued, "First, the film commission called, saying we can resume filming tomorrow and fined us $2000 for the accident." "Then the film company called, asking for $2,000 in compensation for each injured stuntman." Mayer was bewildered. Did he handle this? He was sure he hadn’t. He suddenly thought of Hardy. He had informed Hardy about this earlier, and Hardy said he’d make a call to see what he could do. Did Hardy solve it already? If so, Hardy’s connections in New York must be incredibly strong! Meyer put down the phone and thought for a moment before calling Hardy, "Hardy, the issue was resolved unexpectedly well." "How was it resolved?" Hardy asked. "You don’t know yet?" Meyer asked in surprise. "Hehe, I just made a call. I don’t know how it was resolved." Meyer explained the resolution to Hardy, who laughed after hearing it and said, "Looks like I need to thank the old man properly when I go to New York." Meyer didn’t ask who the old man Hardy referred to was. He could guess that it must be an important figure. Previously, Meyer viewed Hardy as just a junior, a subordinate of Sigel. However, after this incident, Meyer realized he was wrong. Hardy was more influential than he had imagined. Now, in Meyer’s eyes, Hardy had become an equal, someone to look straight at. Meyer smiled and said, "Hardy, partnering with you was indeed a good choice." "We’ll have many more opportunities to cooperate in the future," Hardy said with a smile. After hanging up the phone, Hardy made another call. Michael didn’t know about the crew’s situation, and Hardy didn’t tell him. "Michael, I’m planning to go to New York tomorrow. I’ve already booked a ticket," Hardy said. "Finally, you’re coming over. The TV factory is now on track. Come and see if there’s anything that needs improvement," Michael said with a smile. "I trust your capability," Hardy said. "Thanks for your trust. I’ll pick you up at the airport tomorrow," Michael said. Hardy went to the artwork storage room. The old godfather helped solve his problem, so Hardy needed to bring some gifts when he visited. He planned to pick an appropriate gift from the treasure trove. He looked at the most expensive Oil painting he had.... Never mind it was French, the old god father was Italian. He decided to keep that for his own collection. Among a pile of paintings, he found a painting by an 18th-century Italian painter named Canaletto, who specialized in landscapes with detailed styles. Elena had introduced the artist to him. The acquisition price of this painting was $4,500. It was impressive enough. ... The next day, Hardy flew to New York. After a flight of over ten hours, he finally arrived in New York. It was already past 10 p.m. As soon as he stepped out of the airport, he saw Michael waiting outside. "Hardy." "Michael." The two warmly embraced. The driver put Hardy’s luggage and the painting in the trunk and drove to the hotel. Michael didn’t leave he stayed at the hotel with Hardy that night. They talked until late. "With the production lines running at full speed, the TV factory can produce 120 TVs per day, or approximately 40,000 units per year." "Professor Ward designed a new production model, reducing the cost to $58 per TV. Our wholesale price is $85, and the retail price in stores is $127." With an annual production of 40,000 units and a profit of $27 per TV, the annual profit would be $1.08 million. The initial investment was $2 million, so it would take two years to break even. This is assuming TV sales are good, with low return rates and minimal losses. Additionally, they planned to launch new production lines for 17-inch, 19-inch, and 21-inch TVs, which would require substantial investment. And that’s not all. Future plans included producing color TVs. Some countries like Britain had already developed color TVs, though they hadn’t reached mass production. Hardy knew it wouldn’t be long before color TVs appeared. So, getting money out of the TV factory anytime soon seemed unlikely. That’s the nature of manufacturing. Earnings need to be reinvested, continuing in an endless cycle. "How are TV sales?" Hardy asked. Michael’s excitement dimmed a bit, "Not great. We’re selling about ten units a day." "Recently, I’ve focused mainly on sales. I asked customers, and many are interested in buying TVs, but the $127 price makes them hesitate. The war has just ended and people are short of money." "Now we produce more and sell less, which puts a lot of pressure on the factory’s funds. If this continues, there will be no funds to buy electronic raw materials in two months." Michael said with some embarrassment. A TV cost $127. Richard washed dishes in a restaurant, earning $120 a month. Henry shoveled manure in a cattle barn, making $160 a month. Matthew, who drove a big truck, made about $300 a month. Life wasn’t easy and Americans generally don’t save money. Spending a month’s earnings on a TV was considered a luxury. "How do you plan to solve the sales problem?" Hardy asked. "Advertising to increase interest, running promotions, and lowering prices to attract buyers," Michael suggested. These were common strategies for sales. "Do you have any ideas, Hardy?" Michael asked. Hardy thought for a moment, "I don’t have a better idea yet. Let me think about it. Maybe I’ll have something tomorrow." Michael smiled after hearing this. The next day. Michael took Hardy to the TV factory. The factory was in full production. The TVs were housed in wooden cabinets, making each TV a standalone piece of furniture.

Chapter 118 - 119 The TV Factory Situation

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