Young Master Cao: Everyone present here is trash

However,

Old Fourth arrived at just the right time.

Cao Cheng still had many tasks to delegate to her.

After all, how could Young Master Cao personally step into the fray?

To put it bluntly,

the Young Master Cao of today was no longer the same as yesterday’s… let alone the one from the day before.

He had become ‘capital’ itself.

In just half a year, Young Master Cao had undergone a complete transformation.

Certain ‘influences’ are useful simply by existing.

Even if he didn’t wield them outright,

others couldn’t ignore them.

Take, for example, the backing of the Tang and Ren families.

Or the words spoken by the elders: entrepreneur, financier.

Or titles like Top Ten Young Enterprise Leaders, Top Ten Outstanding Youths… municipal, provincial, even national-level honors.

These were all unavoidable.

Even if Young Master Cao didn’t actively leverage these forces,

just standing there, draped in ‘glory,’ made him look undeniably impressive.

And it wasn’t just about influence—there was also an abundance of money.

In the world of business warfare, money truly meant ‘absolute power,’ always and forever.

Otherwise, in a few years, coal tycoons wouldn’t have been able to taint the entertainment industry so thoroughly.

Later, when major capital players entered the scene, they propelled the industry to unprecedented heights.

Sure, two decades later, there would still be plenty of naysayers looking down on showbiz.

But just compare the Chinese entertainment scene to Hollywood today.

What kind of competition was there?

None at all.

It was downright hopeless.

Any random Hollywood blockbuster with flashy effects could dominate the market—no mercy, no logic, just sheer domination.

It left many passionate filmmakers feeling disheartened, as if they’d never catch up in their lifetime.

But…

Fast forward ten years, and the difference would be staggering.

That was the real gap.

……

At this moment, Young Master Cao felt like a professional masseur.

This pair of twins—one in gray, the other in white—

both clad in silk.

As he kneaded their shoulders, he talked about investments and entertainment.

These two industries were, in fact, interdependent.

Entertainment wasn’t just about movies and TV shows—it was also about the power of promotion.

Done right, a single film or series could even push for legislative change.

Besides,

the wild west of the internet era was coming to an end.

Once major platforms emerged, it wouldn’t just be about domestic public opinion anymore—it would go global… America would have to open its eyes and crawl through the digital pipeline to settle accounts on Chinese soil.

So,

Cao Cheng wanted money.

But even more than that, he wanted fame.

With these, he could harvest an endless supply of emotional energy.

……

The next day,

Miracle Media made its move.

Though the company hadn’t yet produced any original content, its sheer ‘scale’ was already massive—no one in the industry could afford to ignore it.

Even those who’d been ‘burned’ by Miracle Media before still had to keep an eye on their next steps.

The auditions for The Voice began.

Unlike other talent shows that relied on regional qualifiers and open applications,

Miracle Media took a different approach.

They reached out directly to top music academies, asking professors and instructors to recommend their most talented—but still unsigned—students.

At the same time, they deployed an army of ‘temporary scouts’ to comb through bars, nightclubs, and entertainment venues across the country, hunting for standout live performers.

They even scoured the internet for famous street musicians and wandering singers.

Gender didn’t matter.

Appearance didn’t matter.

Height, weight—none of it mattered.

There was only one requirement: a truly great voice. The Voice of China.

That was the mission.

The brand had to stand tall.

This version was even grander than the one from his dreams, thanks to a bigger budget and a wider talent pool.

They even reached out to industry insiders—behind-the-scenes composers, obscure musicians, or gifted artists who’d never gotten their break.

In short, there were countless ways to apply.

Referrals from insiders? Sure. Self-recommendations? Absolutely. Plus, an army of talent scouts scouring the globe.

As for the judges?

Every previously invited candidate was now off the list!

What a bunch of clowns.

The company also made sure to spread the word:

“We’re not rejecting these judges because they turned us down before—Miracle Media doesn’t hold grudges.”

“It’s not that they can’t sing, or that they lack professional skills. It’s just… we can’t have only mainland judges.”

“Why, you ask?”

“Because Miracle Media is a major enterprise. We’re not just here for mindless entertainment—we uphold cultural heritage, social responsibility, and national unity…”

The prestige factor shot up instantly.

After all, the mainland, Hong Kong, and Taiwan were one big family, right?

This was about higher-level considerations.

As media professionals, as entertainers, we couldn’t just think about ourselves—we had to be magnanimous.

It wouldn’t bankrupt us, it wouldn’t leave us destitute, and it wasn’t like we couldn’t afford it…

Wait.

Wrong script.

Whatever.

You get the idea.

And once Miracle Media’s stance was out there, what could anyone else say?

Just applaud!

What else was there to do?

Even the damn officials overseeing the entertainment sector were clapping!

……

Winter arrived swiftly.

The show’s preparations were nearly complete.

At the very least, auditions had wrapped up.

Now it was time to focus on the core elements.

For instance, they’d invested tens of millions in top-tier sound systems, stage design, and lighting.

They rented a massive venue.

Hired two of the most renowned Chinese bands in the world.

Everything was top-tier.

In reality, though…

It didn’t cost much.

On the surface, it looked extravagant, but the only real expenses were the sound and camera equipment—which could be reused.

As for the rest? The venue fees were discounted by the state.

The famous bands? They were just doing a favor.

Everyone knew Miracle Media had the ‘future richest man’ backing it.

You had to give face.

And the auditions?

Those didn’t cost a dime—they were giving people opportunities!

Not only did they not spend money, they made money. But don’t ask how—too many questions would just feed Young Master Cao’s negative emotional reserves.

Everything progressed smoothly.

By year’s end,

CCTV’s entertainment division secured an interview with Cao Cheng.

A personal profile.

By now, the public was intensely curious about this young man—branded a financial ‘thief’ by the West, yet hailed as the ‘Eastern Stock God’ by his followers.

……

The interviewer was none other than ‘Bei Ning’!

Despite his youth, he’d already made a name for himself at CCTV.

No high-profile interview was complete without him.

He’d even been a torchbearer this year and was slated to host the Spring Festival Gala.

A rising star in his own right!

In a couple of years, after some reforms, Bei Ning would truly shine—multitasking like a pro, his path to stardom smooth as ever.

“Hey there, fellow countryman.”

“Hello, countryman.”

The two shook hands warmly, even sharing a brief hug.

Both hailed from Sanjiang.

Their thick Sanjiang accents instantly bridged the gap.

Plus, they’d crossed paths before during the Olympics as fellow torchbearers.

“It’s not easy to get you these days. My boss said we have to strip you bare this time,” Bei Ning teased, eyebrows wiggling.

Cao Cheng clutched his chest in mock horror. “Strip me bare? Then I demand a female host!”

“Hahaha…”

Before the interview, they chatted and reviewed the questions.

CCTV didn’t do underhanded tricks,

but they still respected their guests.

Only a handful of hosts ever dared to stray from the script—and only because of their status.

It's not unusual for hosts to ask off-script questions or improvise, but some really cross the line, daring to ask anything—relying on the assumption that the other party won’t dare make trouble for them.

Clearly,

Bei Ning isn’t that kind of person.

Especially when it comes to fellow locals—there’s always some face and hometown sentiment involved.

Soon,

The equipment was adjusted, the lighting checked, and the makeup artist did final touch-ups.

Action!

"Welcome to News..."

After a brief opening, a few warm-up questions followed.

Then came the main topic.

The one everyone was curious about.

"Some people are calling you the 'Eastern Stock God.' How do you feel about that title?"

"Absolutely deserved!" Cao Cheng nodded.

Bei Ning nearly laughed out loud before asking, "No modesty at all?"

"Modesty has nothing to do with it. The title 'Eastern Stock God' came from Wall Street. Given their culture, I should be bold about it—otherwise, they might mistake our ancestors’ virtue of humility for weakness," Cao Cheng replied with a smile.

Besides,

Cao Cheng genuinely didn’t care.

He could carry the title with ease.

Sure, a few billion dollars might not seem like much compared to real financial dynasties.

But...

When it comes to the stock market alone, calling him a "stock god" isn’t an exaggeration.

Remember, a few years ago, that guy surnamed Soros wreaked havoc in Southeast Asia, plundering assets from entire nations, and even he only made that much.

And that was with coordinated moves in forex markets and backing from major players.

So,

Even if that was years ago and money isn’t worth what it used to be, it still proves that Cao Cheng’s moves have pissed off the right people.

There’s also the matter of pride—

He smacked Wall Street in the face.

Otherwise, why would they call him a "financial thief"?

Damn it.

Soros gets called a "tycoon,"

But Cao Cheng is a "thief"?

Talk about a double standard.

Besides,

A little arrogance brings in more emotional engagement.

His fans will love him regardless.

The haters? Even if he were modest, they’d call him pretentious or hypocritical.

The interview covered a lot.

Cao Cheng’s answers were consistently bold.

Even when it came to donations,

He spoke with official grace and grandeur.

Eventually, the topic shifted to the entertainment industry.

Bei Ning asked, "I know you’ve invested in equity across various industries, but recently, you’ve been working on a major entertainment project. What prompted this shift from finance to entertainment? Are you bullish on the industry, or is there another reason?"

Cao Cheng smiled. "It’s not really a shift—both are part of the tertiary sector. Besides, my grandmother was a musician in this field, and so are my sister and cousin. Maybe their influence gave me a certain fondness for the industry."

"Plus, I’ve got some spare cash now, so I’ll probably invest more in entertainment."

"But..."

Cao Cheng started seriously, then pivoted.

Bei Ning’s heart skipped a beat.

After half an hour of interviewing, he knew this fellow villager too well.

The man loved twists.

Sometimes, he’d say the most shocking things without batting an eye.

As thrilling as the content was, who knew how much would actually make it to air?

It still had to go through review.

"But that’s not the main reason."

"The main reason is... I think most people in this industry are trash."

"..." Bei Ning fought the urge to facepalm.

Bro, did you have to be that blunt?