Rebirth 2004: A lone figure in the literary world

Chapter 231: Despicable

For studio programs, whether live or recorded, the host and guests have to wear makeup. Moreover, TV makeup is different from daily life makeup. It is for the camera, so there are more tricks than daily makeup.

The location of the lights, the color of the clothes, and even the reflections on the table and the ground will affect the effect that the audience sees on the TV screen. The guests who are going to appear on the show don't know this.

However, Zhang Chao has been on many TV shows in the past two years and has a lot of experience, so he gently said to the makeup artist: "I'm a little darker, so please help me brighten it up so that I don't look dull in the camera."

The makeup artist's hand holding the large powder brush froze for a moment, and she forced a smile and said, "Mr. Zhang, don't you want to look more handsome in front of the camera?"

Zhang Chao said, "I'm not a big star. I don't need to do anything with my hairstyle or eyeshadow. - Oh, what's your name?"

The makeup artist said, "My name is Monika."

Zhang Chao said: "Good evening, Monika. My experience of coming to TVB to record the program is quite special. I may write a memoir later. Do you mind if I mention you in the article?"

Makeup artist Monika hesitated and said, "No...I don't mind."

Originally, the instruction she received was to make Zhang Chao look aggressive and a bit sarcastic, but she didn't expect Zhang Chao to resolve the issue with just a few words, and the last sentence was even subtly threatening.

You can question Zhang Chao's other things, but you cannot question the influence of his articles. If I were to be named, and in a negative light, I would forget about making it in the Hong Kong TV industry and would have to go back to being a salesgirl.

Zhang Chao took out his phone and clicked on the news from his previous appearance on CCTV10. He pointed at the photo in the news and said, "This is probably the best effect. Look, I'm wearing the same clothes."

Monika had no choice but to do a simple TV makeup for Zhang Chao. It was not worth it to give up her stable job for a few thousand extra dollars.

Zhang Chao's live interview was a temporary addition and was scheduled from 7:30 to 8:00. The original social entertainment news "Looking East and West" cancelled other content and became a special program "Looking East and West·Zhang Chao is Here".

After putting on makeup, Zhang Chao came to the studio to familiarize herself with the venue, but found that the person at the interview was not the senior host Lai Chi-shan who she had communicated with before, but an unfamiliar male host with a slicked-back hair and very capable appearance.

Zhang Chao asked the director on the scene: "Why did the host change?"

The director replied, "Sister Shan's Mandarin is not good, and you don't speak Cantonese. The senior management is worried that the live broadcast will not be effective and there will be misunderstandings. This is Lin Zhien, a Taiwanese who has worked at our TVB for many years and speaks Mandarin very well."

At this time, the host Lin Zhien also walked over to Zhang Chao, took the initiative to extend his hand and shook his hand, and said with a smile on his face: "Mr. Zhang, I am Lin Zhien, I hope we can have a pleasant cooperation tonight. My style is more relaxed and humorous, so don't be nervous."

Zhang Chao said calmly: "I don't care who the host is, I only care whether the show is effective."

Lin Zhien said in an exaggerated tone: "It must be effective! I have watched all your interviews in the past two years on the Internet, and every one of them was very successful. I believe this time will be the same."

Zhang Chao said: "I hope so."

Soon, the show began. Zhang Chao sat on a single sofa, and the host Lin Zhien sat behind a table. This is also the interview format that has become popular in recent years.

Lin Zhien quickly finished his opening remarks and briefly introduced Zhang Chao; Zhang Chao also stood up and politely greeted the audience. The interview officially began.

Lin Zhien quickly asked the first question: "You spent a lot of money to buy a piece of Tianhuang stone from Mr. Zhong Weiming's stone shop this morning. We know that Mr. Zhong Weiming has some complaints about you and the 'New Concept Essay Competition' you held. Why did you choose to go to his shop to shop?"

This was one of the predetermined contents that the TVB director and Zhang Chao had discussed before the show, so Zhang Chao answered calmly: "When I first came to Hong Kong, I heard that Mr. Zhong Weiming loved stones and his store had many fine products.

On the one hand, I wanted to have a face-to-face communication with Mr. Zhong Weiming through the stone, and on the other hand, I really wanted to buy a suitable stone that would be useful in the future.”

Lin Zhien asked with a curious expression: "Tianhuang stone is usually only used to carve seals or small ornaments. What do you want to use it for?"

Zhang Chao replied: "I haven't decided what to carve yet. But I have decided where to put it. When I came to Hong Kong this time, I said I wanted to build a venue for Mr. Lu Xun, and this stone will be used there in the future."

Lin Zhien said: "Wow, I heard that the stone is worth hundreds of thousands! Then we are even more curious. We hope to see the completion of this venue as soon as possible, adding a place for citizens to be influenced by exotic culture."

Zhang Chao was about to correct him, but Lin Zhien didn't give him the chance and immediately asked the next question: "There are rumors in Hong Kong that the preliminary round of the 'New Concept Essay Contest' in Hong Kong is very unfair, and only good schools at the BAND1 level can promote the competition.

Many literary groups that receive government subsidies only go to these schools to tutor students. Do you know if this is true? "

After saying that, he looked at Zhang Chao with a slightly provocative look.

Ma Jiahui, Xu Zidong and others who were watching the live broadcast in front of the TV couldn't help but shout inwardly: "Oh no, don't be fooled..."

Lin Zhien had deliberately used the term "foreign culture" to anger Zhang Chao before, and now he is asking such a question so bluntly, with the intention of making Zhang Chao speak without thinking.

Generally speaking, when clarifying rumors on TV, if the TV station has a good relationship with the guests, they will choose to pave the way for the guest, and then try to use a questioning method that helps the guest organize his language, breaking down the question bit by bit and answering it.

How can you ask the guests to answer "yes" or "no" so directly? This is a personal interview, not a court trial.

Even the TVB program director was confused and kept calling Lin Zhien angrily through the headset: "What are you doing? Are you crazy? Follow the script!"

However, Lin Zhien simply raised his hand slightly and pressed the switch of the headset, directly blocking the director.

A director at the scene asked tremblingly: "What should we do?"

The director slammed the microphone and said, "Lin Zhien is going crazy! This is a live broadcast and it cannot be interrupted. You take over now and I will report."

Lin Zhien, who was under the spotlight, kept sneering in his heart. He had gone through so much trouble to get this opportunity just for this moment. Even if he was fired right after the live broadcast, it would be worth it.

Because if I return to Taiwan, I will have a position that will make others envious. TVB is famous for its low salary. I work hard and only earn more than 2 Hong Kong dollars a month. How can it be more comfortable than returning to Taiwan?
However, he didn't know that Zhang Chao was not only not irritated by him, but had completely calmed down. Lin Zhien's question was completely different from the script that had been discussed in advance, but Zhang Chao couldn't escape.

After sorting out his thoughts, Zhang Chao said to the camera sincerely: "As far as I know, these situations are true." As soon as he said this, the audience at the scene and in front of the TV were all shocked. Even Lin Zhien was confused - he had seen Zhang Chao's previous interviews and felt that Zhang Chao's most powerful skills were all kinds of dodging, changing concepts, and avoiding the main point.

He had already thought of dozens of ways to force Zhang Chao into a corner and label him as an "accomplice in harboring conspiracy" once he used these usual tricks.

However, among all the ideas, there is no option for Zhang Chao to openly and honestly admit that injustice has indeed occurred.

Lin Zhien panicked and asked almost instinctively, "Is there no other explanation?"

Zhang Chao asked in surprise: "Unfair is unfair, what's there to explain? We didn't run the Hong Kong preliminary well, isn't it right to be scolded? Liang Kun said - if you are wrong, you must admit it, and if you are beaten, you must stand at attention.

It's not possible that intellectuals don't even have the responsibility of being a gangster, right? "

"If you make a mistake you must admit it, and if you are beaten you must stand at attention" Zhang Chao said this in Cantonese. He practiced it hundreds of times in the hotel room and finally could pronounce it correctly.

This statement had a great effect. Not only did it make the attitude clear, but it was also humorous, making many Hong Kong people watching the live broadcast laugh and nod.

Lin Zhien's brain started to freeze. He subconsciously flipped through his hand cards, not knowing which question to ask next.

Since Lin Zhien started making trouble, Zhang Chao abandoned a lot of the content he had prepared before, including explaining to the public the reason why resources were concentrated in BAND1 school.

Because he figured it out. In fact, every Hong Kong citizen who has paid attention to the incident can guess the reason. It is nothing more than social stratification and preferential allocation of resources, which is nothing new.

So instead of explaining the reasons in a long speech, it is better to admit mistakes and take responsibility. Everyone wants to get emotional comfort from Zhang Chao's answer. If Zhang Chao can come up with a good compensation plan later, then the storm will pass.

Some problems seem complicated because they always want to evade responsibility. Although Pan Yaoming was the one who caused this incident, Zhang Chao took the blame. From now on, as long as Pan Yaoming still wants to keep his reputation, Zhang Chao will have to do everything for him in Hong Kong. This literary giant with so many titles that his business card can't cover will basically have to do everything for him.

Until both parties felt that the favor had been repaid. Zhang Chao thought about it and found that he was a good person to take the blame, because everyone could see that he took the blame on his own initiative, and no one really thought it was his responsibility.

The key point is that this blame will hardly cause him any actual loss, it is nothing more than a little travel expenses and a piece of worthwhile Tianhuang stone.

"Great, great!" Jin Yong praised the TV in his office. Then he turned to Pan Yaoming and said, "Look at Zhang Chao, his way of handling the situation is much better than yours."

Pan Yaoming blushed and whispered, "I didn't know the host was changed at the last minute."

Jin Yong said: "Good change, good change. If you ask the questions in a hesitant and hesitant manner as you communicated with TVB, the citizens are not fools. The eyes of the masses..." He said half of the sentence and swallowed it back.

Pan Yaoming said suspiciously, "Won't it make public opinion worse if we admit it directly?"

Jin Yong said: "If you make a mistake, you must admit it. Not admitting it will always be your weakness. You always wanted to cover up your mistakes, digest them internally, and solve them internally, but what happened? It was still exposed by others.

Zhang Chao's move is to "use clumsiness to defeat cleverness" and "use directness to penetrate the curve"! "

Pan Yaoming suddenly realized and blurted out: "'Zhenlong Chess Game'!"

Jin Yong almost smiled with joy when he heard this, but after all, he had practiced Qi cultivation for decades and had a profound level of skill. He suppressed his emotions and managed to remain unmoved, just nodding slightly.

"Zhenlong Chess Game" is a chess game created by Wuyazi, the head of Xiaoyao Sect, in Jin Yong's novel "The Demi-Gods and Semi-Devils". This chess game has disasters within disasters, including co-existence and immortality, counterattack or gathering energy, and it is extremely complicated.

Wuyazi created the "Zhenlong chess game" for decades, and no chess master could crack it. In the end, Xuzhu, who did not know how to play Go, cracked it by randomly placing pieces with his eyes closed. It turns out that in order to crack this game, one can only "self-destruct" a good piece first, so as to revitalize the situation and find another chance to win.

Although there is no "Zhenlong chess game" in real Go, Zhang Chao's response strategy is indeed similar to Xu Zhu's.

At this time, Zhang Chao said to Lin Zhien coldly: "You seem dissatisfied with my response."

Lin Zhien realized that he had lost his composure, so he forced a smile and said, "How is that possible! You are very frank, which is indeed admirable. Then what do you think of these students who obtained the right to compete in the rematch through unfair means?
Are they still eligible to go to Shanghai for the semi-finals?"

After hearing the question, Zhang Chao suddenly leaned slightly towards Lin Zhien, stared into Lin Zhien's eyes and said, "Are you confusing me?"

Lin Zhien looked at Zhang Chao's sharp eyes, and panicked again. He reluctantly said, "What's wrong with what I said? Aren't they just..."

Zhang Chao immediately interrupted Lin Zhien and said word by word: "It is us organizers who made the mistake. These students did not have any subjective intention to obtain the qualification for the semi-finals by unfair means.

It's not 'they used unfair means', but 'we used unfair methods'. The adults are at fault, the children are innocent! They are certainly eligible for the rematch! "

The audience in front of the TV nodded again, and their impression of Zhang Chao improved greatly again.

Lin Zhien was at a loss for words. According to common sense, the question he should have asked at this time was either "How do you ensure the fairness of the semi-finals?" or "How do you compensate other students who did not receive tutoring?"

But this is equivalent to giving Zhang Chao an assist. He must be well prepared and certainly cannot fall into the trap.

Lin Zhien took a deep breath, and suddenly he caught a glimpse of several dark figures standing at the director's workstation below the stage. As expected, they should be senior executives of TVB, and among them there was a red figure that frightened him.

In fact, it is not that Hong Kong TV stations cannot tolerate hosts expressing themselves freely, or even embarrassing guests - as long as the program is effective and has high ratings, and the image of the TV station is not damaged, even if someone wants to fire them, there will definitely be voices speaking up for them.

But on the other hand, the TV station executives will definitely not tolerate it and may even insert advertisements or interrupt the live broadcast.

Lin Zhien made up his mind and said with a hint of ridicule: "Mr. Zhang Chao, although you claim to be an intellectual and a cultured person, I seriously doubt that there is something wrong with your personal morality.

To be honest, I am very worried that if the young people in Hong Kong and Taiwan take you as a role model, it will lead to the loss of cultural conscience and the decline of personal cultivation! "

(End of this chapter)