Hong Kong films: From street thugs to Hong Kong financial tycoons

In the alley, the night wind blew, swirling up a few fallen leaves.

"Five, five million?!"

Upon hearing this number, Lin Zheng, dressed in a Bagua Taoist robe, froze completely in place, as if he had been frozen in place by a spell he himself had cast.

His signature unibrow was twitching wildly, and his eyes were wide open like copper bells.

Not only him, but the two young actors behind him, dressed in Qing Dynasty official robes and with pale, dead makeup on their faces, also forgot about zombie jumping and their legs went weak, causing them to fall to the ground.

Five million! In Hong Kong in 1987, a top-tier gunfight action blockbuster with a few of the hottest stars would only cost two or three million at most.

And this makeshift troupe, so poor that they had to carefully budget even when buying glutinous rice and sew their own robes when they were torn, suddenly had a mysterious tycoon with full-screen money power appear out of nowhere, who just opened his mouth and said he would give them five million to film zombies.

This isn't just a windfall; it's like a mountain of gold fell from the sky, almost burning out their CPUs on the spot!

"Gulp."

Lin Zheng swallowed hard, his voice trembling.

"Mr. Lin, you're not kidding, are you? This movie could actually be filmed with just 300,000, but 5 million? We couldn't even spend it all if we bought the whole film set!"

"Just take it, why are you asking so many questions?"

Without any hesitation, Lin Yao stuffed the check for five million into the collar of Lin Zheng's Taoist robe and said domineeringly.

"From today onwards, Yaosheng Film Industry is officially established, and you, Lin Zheng, are my top director!"

Lin Yao pointed at the broken copper and scrap iron on the ground, his face full of disgust: "Look at your poor and shabby appearance, the zombies you shoot will probably be malnourished."

"Listen up, with this five million, you're getting the most expensive props, a German-made camera, top-quality cinnabar for drawing talismans, and even the glutinous rice you scatter on the ground has to be the best!"

"In short, as long as you can deliver top-notch quality, money is no problem at all. I'm so poor all I have left is money!"

"Holy crap..."

Qiu Sheng and Wen Cai behind them exchanged a glance, their eyes blazing with unprecedented fervor. Where did this living god of wealth come from? This is inhumanly extravagant!

However, at this touching moment of capital-driven poverty alleviation.

"Lin Yao!!!"

A roar like a tigress descending the mountain suddenly exploded in Lin Yao's ears. Thirteen Sister's hair almost stood on end as she grabbed Lin Yao's ear and pulled him straight over.

"You spendthrift! That's five million, not five hundred! You were just bragging in Central this afternoon about buying up all of Hong Kong, and now you're throwing money around in this back alley for some lowly extras? Do you think we own a money printing factory?"

Thirteen Sister's heart ached so much that tears welled up in her eyes.

She had just earned over 20 million that afternoon, and before she could even relax, her spendthrift brother threw away 6 million.

At this rate, the siblings will have to go to the overpass tomorrow morning to grab cardboard boxes to make their bed!

"Ouch, sis, that hurts! Let go! What do you know about movie investment?!"

While covering his ears, Lin Yao struggled frantically, shouting, "This is called long-term investment! This is called IP incubation, you know? This movie will earn tens of millions, even hundreds of millions, at the box office, and we can also sell merchandise and make sequels!"

"Make money my ass! Who cares if zombies are jumping around? You get your money back!"

Thirteen Sister reached out to take the check from Lin Zheng's collar.

Lin Zheng was so frightened that he clutched his chest and took three steps back, protecting the five million check like a virgin who was determined to defend her chastity.

"Sister, you can't do that! Boss Lin has a keen eye for talent. This money is our crew's lifeline."

"I, Lin Zheng, swear that even if I have to forgo food and sleep, I will finish this movie within a month. If it fails, I, Lin Zheng, will give you my life!"

Seeing Lin Zheng's expression of resignation and Lin Yao's frantic winking, Thirteen Sister stomped her foot in anger.

"Fine, Lin Yao, you've really gotten bold. I'm not going to bother with you anymore. If this five million goes down the drain, I'll chase you down with a watermelon knife every day!"

Lin Yao chuckled, straightened his disheveled Armani suit, and turned to Lin Zheng and the others: "Alright, time is tight and the task is heavy, we won't film tonight. Come on, the boss will take you out for a big meal, Mong Kok Typhoon Shelter Crab, all you can eat!"

"The boss is so generous!!!"

The entire cast and crew erupted in cheers, which could practically lift the roof off the alley. In this day and age, to work for a boss who is both extravagant and protective of his employees is an absolute stroke of good fortune.

Half an hour later, in Mong Kok, at Hui Gor's food stall.

Lin Yao booked out more than a dozen tables, which were filled with Australian lobsters the size of washbasins, fragrant Typhoon Shelter Crab, and cases of chilled San Miguel Beer.

The crew, who were all poor souls, had never eaten anything so good before. They ate with gusto, their mouths greasy, and they looked at Lin Yao with the same affection they would show their own father.

Lin Yao picked up a glass of beer, walked to the main table, and clinked glasses with Lin Zheng.

"Uncle Zheng, do you have connections in film post-production and distribution?"

Lin Yao took a sip of his ice-cold beer and asked casually.

Upon hearing this, Lin Zheng, who had been eating with a rosy complexion, suddenly stopped, his smile gradually turning bitter. He put down his wine glass and sighed.

"Boss, to be honest, I can guarantee the film's quality. With this five million investment, it will definitely be top-notch in Hong Kong, but..."

Lin Zheng gritted his teeth, "We don't have a cinema chain."

"Theatrical releases?"

Lin Yao raised an eyebrow.

"yes."

The young actor playing Qiu Sheng angrily interjected, "In today's Hong Kong film industry, the cinema chains are tightly monopolized by three giants: Shengshi Film Company, Cinema City, and Shaw Brothers."

"Without their approval, no matter how well we shoot, our films will just sit in the warehouse collecting dust!"

Lin Zheng continued, "I just went to plead with Wang Baiming, the theater manager of Shengshi Pictures, yesterday, but that bastard didn't even look at me and threw our sample film into the trash can."

"They even mocked us, saying that making zombie movies is feudal superstition and garbage, and unless I kneel down and kowtow three times to them, none of their dozens of cinemas would show us a single screen!"

"Bang!"

Thirteen Sister slammed her hand on the table, making the plates on it bounce, and roared, "Damn it, these damn suit-wearing bastards are going too far! Just because they own a few shabby movie theaters doesn't mean they can be so arrogant! Tomorrow I'll bring dozens of my brothers to smash up their place and see if they'll even show their movies there!"

"Sis, calm down. We're civilized people now. The era of fighting and killing is over."

Lin Yao stopped the enraged Thirteen Sister, a cold and dangerous smile curving his lips.

Shengshi Pictures, Wang Baiming?

Lin Yao quickly accessed the information database on the system panel in his mind.

Search Target: Wang Baiming, Cinema Manager of Shengshi Film Industry.

[Character Information: This person is extremely greedy and addicted to gambling. While outwardly respectable, he has secretly embezzled eight million from the company's cinema operations, losing it all at a Macau casino. He is facing a huge financial deficit and could be exposed at any moment.]

"Oh."

Lin Yao let out a cold laugh, his eyes flashing with the ruthless glint of a capitalist.

Just when we were wondering how to quickly open up theatrical distribution channels, someone proactively delivered our weakness to our doorstep.

"Uncle Zheng, just focus on making your film and create a masterpiece that will scare people to death and make them laugh to death."

Lin Yao downed the rest of his beer in one gulp, then slammed the glass down on the table with a loud thud.

"As for the theater chain, leave it to me."

Lin Yao stood up, looking at the bustling streets of Mong Kok, his tone revealing an arrogance that suggested he held the power of life and death: "Tomorrow morning, I will personally go to Shengshi Film Industry."

"They won't give me screenings? Then I'll devour their entire theater chain, skin and bones!"

……

The next morning at 10:00 AM, Central, the headquarters building of Shengshi Film Industry.

This is one of the leading cinemas in Hong Kong, controlling more than 30% of the city's prime cinemas. Countless stars and celebrities frequent this place, basking in the limelight.

A striking black Mercedes-Benz performed a beautiful drift and came to a smooth stop in front of the building.

The car door opened, and Lin Yao, dressed in a perfectly tailored all-black suit and wearing an expensive pair of sunglasses, stepped out of the back seat.

That nonchalant yet deadly aura instantly drew the attention of countless passersby.

Thirteen Sister didn't come today. Lin Yao thought she was too impulsive and might draw her knife, so he left her at the hotel to guard the black gold card.

Lin Yao loosened his tie and strode into the magnificent lobby of Shengshi Film Industry with an air of indifference.

"Sir, do you have an appointment?"

The receptionist blushed at Lin Yao's handsome appearance, but still dutifully stopped him.

Lin Yao took off his sunglasses, leaned on the front desk, and gave what he thought was a very charming smile.

"Hey pretty lady, could you please inform Wang Baiming, the manager of your theater chain department, that his creditors have come to collect his dog's life?"

The receptionist was stunned for a moment. Before she could react, Lin Yao had already strode towards the internal elevator.

In the cinema chain manager's office, Wang Baiming sat in the boss's chair, looking extremely anxious, and frantically puffed on a cigar.

He was a balding middle-aged man in his forties, with dark circles under his eyes and covered in sweat.

The casinos in Macau have issued an ultimatum: if he doesn't fill the eight million hole by today, they'll send people to Central to chop off his hands.

Once the embezzlement is exposed, the boss of Shengshi Film Industry will not hesitate to send him to Stanley Prison!

"Ring ring—"

The intercom on the table suddenly rang urgently. Wang Baiming jumped in fright, his hands trembling as he answered the phone: "Feed?"

"Manager Wang, right? I'm already outside your door."

On the other end of the phone came an extremely arrogant and mocking young voice.

"Who are you?!"

Wang Baiming's pupils suddenly contracted.

"Bang!"

Before he could finish speaking, the heavy frosted glass door of the office was suddenly and violently kicked open from the outside, shattering glass and scattering it all over the floor with a loud crash.

Amidst the smoke and dust, Lin Yao walked slowly through the shards of glass, closed the door behind him, and locked it.

He strode confidently to Wang Baiming's desk, pulled out a chair, sat down, and put his legs directly on the desk, his leather shoes even brushing against Wang Baiming's documents.

"Let me introduce myself. This is Lin Yao from Yaosheng Capital."

Lin Yao lit a cigarette and, through the wisps of smoke, stared at Wang Baiming, who was sweating profusely, as if he were looking at a corpse.

"Manager Wang, that eight million hole in Macau is a real problem. I wonder if your boss at Shengshi knew about it, would you immediately perform a high-flying acrobatic act?"

Upon hearing this, Wang Baiming felt as if he had been struck by lightning. He collapsed onto the boss's chair with a thud, the cigar in his hand falling and burning a hole in his crotch, but he didn't even notice.

Oh no, our cards have been laid bare. This isn't some guest; this is the Black and White Impermanence, the reapers who come to claim souls!