1978: Female educated youth, don’t want an illiterate husband

Stepping onto the land of Hong Kong, the humid sea breeze, carrying with it a cacophony of noise, hits you in the face.

The arrival hall at Kai Tak Airport was bustling with people, announcements in various languages, passengers rushing around with their suitcases, and flashing electronic displays, creating a busy scene at the international port.

Cheng Xuemin and his group of more than 20 people, all dressed in matching dark Zhongshan suits, stood out conspicuously amidst the colorful crowd.

It also attracted countless curious, scrutinizing, and even slightly wary glances.

Before they had even fully exited the customs area, a sudden commotion arose from the direction of the arrivals area.

Suddenly, a blinding flash of light from the camera flashes went off, and the clicking of camera shutters went off like popping beans.

A dozen reporters, holding microphones, cameras, and shoulder-mounted video cameras, swarmed forward like hyenas spotting their prey, instantly blocking the way.

"Mr. Cheng! Mr. Cheng Xuemin! Over here!"

"Director Cheng! What new plans do you have for this trip to Hong Kong?"

"Is he bringing a new movie to compete again?"

What is your response to the box office battle with the Lau Kar-leung team last time?

The questions about Cantonese and Mandarin in various accents came at Cheng Xuemin like cannonballs, and the microphone almost poked Cheng Xuemin in the face.

The cameras, long lenses and short lenses, were pointed at him and his team members behind him, the flashes so bright they were blinding.

The team members had never seen anything like this before.

Visiting delegations from the mainland are usually received in an orderly manner. When have they ever encountered such rampant press freedom?
Young people, especially Ji Chunhua and Hu Jianqiang, were so frightened that they instinctively took a half step back.

Yu Hai and Yu Chenghui frowned, while Feng Jiazhao's face turned pale, and he nervously adjusted his glasses.

Even Zhu Lin and Liu Xiaoli, who had experienced this before, were somewhat at a loss because this encirclement was even more intense than the last time.

The four accompanying staff members immediately stepped forward vigilantly, attempting to separate the crowd and protect Cheng Xuemin.

Fu Qi, the head of Great Wall Company, quickly led several of his men to maintain order, shouting loudly in Cantonese:

"Make way! Ladies and gentlemen of reporters! Mr. Cheng must be tired from his journey and needs a rest! Questions can be arranged for a later interview!"

Amid the chaos, Cheng Xuemin raised his hand to stop the staff, his face showing no anger but rather a composure that he had anticipated.

He gently pushed aside the microphone that was almost touching his mouth, his gaze sweeping over the anxious faces before him. He raised his voice, suppressing the noise of the scene:

"Thank you for your hard work, friends from the Hong Kong media!"

His voice was clear, steady, and carried an undeniable power, instantly drawing everyone's attention.

The flashes became even more frequent.

"My purpose in coming to Hong Kong this time is very simple!" He got straight to the point, without any pleasantries, his sharp gaze sweeping over the camera as he said:
"We're here with our new film from Oriental Film Studio, 'Shaolin Temple,' to meet audiences in Hong Kong and around the world!"

A commotion broke out among the reporters; it really was a new show!
"Mr. Cheng! Is 'Shaolin Temple' trying to replicate the success of 'Tai Chi'? Is it trying to grab box office revenue in Hong Kong again?" a reporter with a loud voice asked eagerly.

Cheng Xuemin's lips curled into a meaningful smile, and he spoke with undisguised confidence:

"The film market has always been about letting the works speak for themselves and letting the audience vote with their feet. It's not about fighting for something, it's about exchange, learning from each other, and... competition!"

He paused, his gaze suddenly becoming extremely aggressive, as if piercing through a camera lens and looking at a corner of a Hong Kong movie theater. His voice also rose a few decibels, carrying a clear sense of provocation:
"In particular, I'd like to ask Liu Jialiang, Master Liu!"

The entire room fell silent for a moment, all the reporters pricked up their ears, and their cameras were fixed on Cheng Xuemin.

Liu Jialiang!
Another protagonist in the earth-shattering box office battle during the Spring Festival!
"Six months have passed!" Cheng Xuemin's voice echoed in the airport hall. "I, Cheng Xuemin, am back with a new work! Coming this summer!"
I just want to ask, Mr. Liu, have you come up with anything new in the past six months?

He extended his index finger, pointing vaguely ahead, and said each word slowly and deliberately, with a firm and resounding tone: "Last time, 'Tai Chi' faced off against 'The Elders,' and thanks to the love of the Hong Kong audience, we won a narrow victory."

This time, *Shaolin Temple* is here! I, Cheng Xuemin, am setting up my arena right here!

His gaze swept across the entire arena, his imposing aura overwhelming: "I've set up the arena! I've brought the film! Is there anyone who dares to challenge this champion? Do you have the ability to dethrone this champion?"

He specifically called out again: "Master Liu Jialiang, would you like to have another round? I, Cheng Xuemin, am always ready to play!"

"Wow!"

"Wow!"

The reporters were in an uproar!

Headline!

This will definitely be the front page headline in the entertainment section of every newspaper tomorrow!
Mainland director Cheng Xuemin made a public statement at the airport, challenging Lau Kar-leung by name!
The summer movie season is set to reignite the box office battle!

The tension is palpable! This is going to be very dramatic!

"Mr. Cheng! You mean it will be released during the summer vacation?"

Are you confident about the box office performance of "Shaolin Temple"?

Do you think Hong Kong films are easily defeated?

The questions came in even more fiercely, but Cheng Xuemin said nothing more, only maintaining that confident and slightly provocative smile.

Escorted by Fu Qi and his staff, they parted the excited crowd and strode towards the airport exit.

He left behind a media frenzy and countless flashing camera lights.

The team members, still dazed, squeezed onto the bus, their minds still replaying Cheng Xuemin's earth-shattering declaration of war.

My heart was racing, my blood was boiling, and a mix of tension, excitement, and pride filled the carriage.

They knew that this trip to Hong Kong was destined to be anything but peaceful from the moment they stepped into the airport.

The convoy left the bustling airport and drove into the city center, lined with skyscrapers.

The bustling scene outside the window once again amazed the newcomers, but at this moment, everyone's thoughts were still more focused on the stunning scene at the airport.

Cheng Xuemin sat in the passenger seat of the lead car, with Fu Qi beside him, shaking his head with a wry smile:

"Teacher Cheng, you... you made such a big commotion as soon as you got off the plane? The entire Hong Kong film industry is going to be in an uproar!"

Looking at the neon lights flashing past the window, Cheng Xuemin said calmly, "Mr. Fu, in Hong Kong, being low-key is useless. To gain a foothold, you have to make a sound."

We're pressed for time and have a heavy workload; we don't have time for slow warm-up. Let's just get the fire going—it'll save us the trouble.

Fu Qi sighed, but inwardly he couldn't help but admire the young man from the mainland's boldness and his precise grasp of the rules of the game in Hong Kong.

This will immediately draw the attention of all the media, making "Shaolin Temple" a hit even before its release, saving on exorbitant publicity costs.

The convoy arrived at the Great Wall Hotel in Kowloon.

The hotel isn't top-tier, but it's clean, tidy, and conveniently located; it serves as a reception point for the Great Wall Company.

The team members settled in, two people to a room. The conditions were much better than those in the guesthouses in the mainland, but still simple compared to the dazzling world outside the window.

After a short rest, Cheng Xuemin, Huang Jianzhong, and Fu Qi met in a small conference room at the hotel.

Fu Qi brewed some tea and began to introduce the situation of the Hong Kong film industry over the past six months with a serious expression.

"Teacher Cheng, Director Huang, the Hong Kong film industry has undergone tremendous changes in the six months you've been gone," Fu Qi said, offering a cigarette and lighting one for himself.

"Golden Harvest is gaining momentum thanks to the Hui Brothers' quirky comedies and Sammo Hung's kung fu films. Raymond Chow is ambitious and wants to become the industry leader."

"Shaw Brothers is still the same old thing, a studio-based system, with small output and a lack of innovation. Mrs. Mona Fong is good at maintaining the status quo, but her ambition... is lacking. However, even a fallen camel is bigger than a horse, and its theater chain strength is still there."

"The most dangerous place is the newly established Art City!" Fu Qi emphasized as he continued:
"Golden Princess Cinemas owner Raymond Lui invested a lot of money. Karl Maka, Raymond Wong, Dean Shek, and these guys are quick-witted and have wild ideas. They specialize in making urban comedies and movies about chasing girls."

Low cost, quick returns, very popular with young audiences, and its growth momentum is extremely strong!

"There are also a group of New Wave directors such as Tsui Hark and Ann Hui. Although their box office performance is still unstable, their reputation is very good and they should not be underestimated."

Fu Qi finally mentioned Lau Kar-leung: "The Lau Kar-leung troupe really lost a lot of money during the Spring Festival with 'My Young Auntie.' I heard that Master Lau had to mortgage his ancestral home to pay off the debts."

He's been keeping a low profile for the past six months, focusing on a new film called "Martial Arts School" at the Clearwater Bay film studio. He's invested a lot of money in it, and it seems he's determined to make a comeback. You mentioned him by name at the airport just now; I reckon he'll react soon.”

Cheng Xuemin listened silently, his fingers tapping lightly on the table.

The competition in Hong Kong's film industry is far fiercer than in mainland China. There is no room for gentleness, courtesy, frugality, or humility here; only naked box office battles.

He likes this rhythm.

After reporting on the situation in the Hong Kong film industry, Fu Qi changed the subject, his serious expression vanishing and replaced by barely suppressed excitement and agitation.

He rubbed his hands together, leaned forward, and raised his voice an octave: "Teacher Cheng! Director Huang! Now that we've finished talking about our troubles, let's talk about our great news!"

He picked up the thermos on the coffee table and refilled Cheng Xuemin and Huang Jianzhong's teacups with a joyful gesture: "Our 'The Dead and the Dead' is a box office smash! A huge smash!"

Cheng Xuemin picked up his teacup, blew on it to cool it down, and gave a perfectly inquiring look.

Fu Qi's face lit up, his fingers tapping the table: "We put 'Tai Chi' on the Spring Festival release schedule first, and moved our 'The Dead and the Dead' to the end of March. Guess what happened?"

Not affected at all! On the contrary, because they avoided the fierce competition during the Spring Festival, their momentum is even stronger!

He held up two fingers and gestured vigorously: "After being released for more than a month, the box office has already exceeded eight million Hong Kong dollars!"

Eight million! That's a million more than the seven million from the previous film, "The Haunted Cop Shop"!

Upon hearing this, Huang Jianzhong also showed a surprised and delighted smile: "Eight million? That much? Manager Fu, congratulations!"

"Congratulations to you too!" Fu Qi waved his hands repeatedly, looking at Cheng Xuemin with eager eyes and a tone full of heartfelt gratitude, and said:
"It's all thanks to Teacher Cheng, those two notebooks you wrote! 'Humans Scaring Ghosts' and 'Humans Scaring People', those two notebooks are simply a treasure trove sent to Great Wall!"

He counted on his fingers, his voice trembling with excitement: "The total production cost of these two films is less than two million!"

But what about the box office? "The Dead and the Deadly" grossed seven million, and "The Dead and the Deadly" is currently at eight million, totaling fifteen million Hong Kong dollars!

After deducting costs, advertising, and theater revenue sharing, the net profit is at least seven million! More than seven million!

Fu Qi stood up excitedly and paced around the small conference room: "Teacher Cheng, do you know what these seven million yuan means?"

This means that our Great Wall Film Company has been able to recover thanks to your two films!

We used to lose money every year, but now we finally have a substantial surplus in our accounts!

"We can upgrade our equipment, produce bigger-budget films, and give out bonuses! The whole company's morale has been boosted!"

He walked back to the table, placed his hands on the surface, and looked at Cheng Xuemin with bright eyes: "To be honest, the company's board of directors mentioned you several times during meetings, saying that you are a benefactor to Great Wall! A great contributor!"

At this point, Fu Qi suddenly slapped his forehead, turned around and quickly walked to the cabinet in the corner, taking out a bottle of Moutai liquor with a red sticker and a few small wine cups.

"Look at me! I've been so busy talking about happy things!" Fu Qi said as he deftly opened the wine bottle. "I specially prepared this wine, just waiting for you to come, so I could toast you a few times! We absolutely have to have a drink today to celebrate!"

The clear liquid was poured into a glass, and the rich aroma of the wine filled the conference room.

Fu Qi raised a glass with both hands and respectfully presented it to Cheng Xuemin, his face flushed with excitement: "Teacher Cheng! This first glass is for you on behalf of Great Wall Film Company, on behalf of our Comrade Lao Zuo, and on behalf of myself, Fu Qi!"

Thank you for your timely help; thank you for giving us at Great Wall a chance to turn things around! I'll drink it, you can do whatever you want!

After saying that, Fu Qi tilted his head back and drank the wine in his glass in one gulp. It was so spicy that he grimaced, but his smile grew even wider.

Looking at Fu Qi's sincere and excited expression, Cheng Xuemin was also quite moved.

He initially offered the scripts for "The Dead and the Deadly" and "The Deadly" to repay a favor to Great Wall Entertainment. On one hand, he valued Great Wall Entertainment's distribution network in Southeast Asia, and on the other hand, he wanted to help the old leftists in Hong Kong.

Seeing Great Wall Film Company truly turn a profit with these two low-budget comedies and gain a foothold in the fiercely competitive Hong Kong film industry proves that his initial judgment was correct.

He raised his glass without refusing, and smiled, saying, "Mr. Fu, you're too kind. The script is just a script; the film's success is due to the Great Wall Film Company's production team and distribution channels, and to everyone's hard work."

Let's raise a glass together to celebrate the box office success of "The Dead and the Deadly," and wish each other even greater success in our future collaborations!

Cheng Xuemin also raised his glass to Huang Jianzhong, and the three of them drank together.

The spicy liquor slid down my throat, bringing a warm sensation.

"Great! Teacher Cheng is so generous!" Fu Qi filled the cups for the three of them again, his spirits even higher. "This second cup is to our cooperation! The success of 'Tai Chi' has opened up new possibilities, and 'Shaolin Temple' will surely achieve even greater glory!"

From now on, our two families will be the strongest allies! We'll conquer Hong Kong together!

The three glasses clinked together again, making a crisp sound.

Setting down his wine glass, Fu Qi's excitement subsided slightly, and his tone became more pragmatic: "Teacher Cheng, Director Huang, now that the company has money in its accounts, we have more confidence!"
Rest assured about the post-production of "Shaolin Temple"! We will definitely use the best resources, the fastest speed, and the highest standards to complete it!

"Just let me know what you need! Money is no problem!"

Cheng Xuemin nodded; Fu Qi's statement was very important.

With the full support of Great Wall's funding and distribution channels, the post-production of "Shaolin Temple" and its summer promotion were well-supported.

"With Mr. Fu's words, we are relieved." Cheng Xuemin said seriously, "We will go into the studio first thing tomorrow morning. Time is tight and the task is heavy. We must finish all the work before the summer season."

"No problem!" Fu Qi patted his chest confidently. "The editing room, dubbing studio, and mixing room are all arranged! The best engineers are waiting!"

The small conference room was filled with the aroma of wine, and the atmosphere was lively.

Just as Cheng Xuemin and Fu Qi were discussing post-production details, his provocative declaration at the airport was like a thunderclap, instantly spreading throughout the entire Hong Kong film industry.

Raymond Chow, the owner of Golden Harvest Company, was having afternoon tea at the Peninsula Hotel when his secretary reported to him. He was taken aback at first, then burst into laughter.

"This mainland kid is interesting! He's arrogant enough! Summer movie season? Great! My Golden Harvest's 'Money Makes the World Go Round' is just looking for a competitor! Let him go and fight alongside Lau Kar-leung! We'll reap the benefits!"

In the cramped office of Cinema City, Karl Maka, with a cigar in his mouth, watched the news on television and smiled at Raymond Wong and Dean Shek:

"Look! Look! They've started fighting! It would be best if Lau Kar-leung and that mainland guy both got seriously injured! Then we can film our 'Desperate Dog Jumps Over the Wall'!"

Meanwhile, deep within the Shaw Brothers Studio in Clearwater Bay, in a martial arts school filled with weapons and permeated with the smell of sweat and medicinal liquor.

"boom!"

A sturdy purple clay teapot was smashed to the ground, shattering into pieces!

Liu Jialiang's face was ashen, his chest heaving violently, and the veins on his neck bulging as he pointed at the Hong Kong Evening Post spread out on the table.

The front page of the newspaper's entertainment section featured a large photo of Cheng Xuemin's speech at the airport, along with the striking headline: "Cheng Xuemin issues challenge at airport, naming and shaming Liu Jialiang! A rematch this summer!"

"You dare pick that star! You damned Northerner! You've gone too far!!" Lau Kar-leung's roar shook the rooftops. "Airport roll call? Setting up a challenge? Do you think I, Lau Kar-leung, am some big shot?!"

The disciples around him fell silent, and the eldest disciple, Liu Jiahui, forced a smile and advised, "Master, calm down! That northerner just wants to get in the news, ignore him!"

"Ignore him?!" Lau Kar-leung whirled around, his eyes wide like saucers. "It's been all over the newspapers in Hong Kong! Everyone in and out of the industry is watching! If I, Lau Kar-leung, don't say a word, how am I supposed to survive in this business?!"

He grabbed the newspaper, stared intently at Cheng Xuemin's photo, and gritted his teeth:
"Shaolin Temple? Hmph! My martial arts school is almost finished! I was originally planning to play it safe and release it towards the end of the summer season! Fine! You want to fight? I'll fight you!"

He slammed his hand on the table, making the swords and spears on the weapon rack vibrate loudly.
"Pass the word! Speed ​​up post-production on 'The Martial Arts School'! Set it for the summer release! Release it on the same day as his 'Shaolin Temple'! I want to see who knocks whom off the stage!"

"Master! Think it over!" Liu Jiahui hurriedly dissuaded him. "Master, think it over! The investment in the Martial Arts School is huge; it's our capital to turn things around! Going head-on with that northerner is too risky!"

"Risk?" Liu Jialiang sneered, a fierce glint in his eyes. "I, Liu Jialiang, have been fighting for decades. When have I ever been afraid of risk?"

Last time I was careless and he took advantage of me! This time, I'm going to get it all back, with interest!

I want everyone in Hong Kong to know that authentic Southern Kung Fu is far superior to that Northern guy's fancy footwork!

He took a deep breath, forcibly suppressing his anger, and said to his quick-witted apprentice beside him:
"Ah Qiang, call the reporters you know! Tell them that I, Liu Jialiang, accept the challenge! This summer, 'The Martial Arts School' versus 'Shaolin Temple,' whoever backs down is a coward!"

The news spread like wildfire throughout Hong Kong, and Lau Kar-leung responded with great fanfare!
The summer box office battle is reignited! This time it's a head-to-head clash, with films releasing on the same day!
The entire Hong Kong film industry was in an uproar!

All eyes, from the media, film critics, and audiences, were firmly drawn to this upcoming fierce battle.

……

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