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

Fu Qi gripped the box office report that read "300,000" tightly, his knuckles turning white from the force.

The numbers on the report seemed to come alive, dancing before his eyes:

The 30 cinemas of the Shuangnan Cinema Circuit contributed 210,000, while the 10 cinemas leased by Shaw Brothers brought in 90,000, a figure that far exceeded his most optimistic expectations.

This night marked Great Wall Film's return to its peak!

"Old Fu, look at this!"

Early in the morning, Shi Hui rushed into the room with a stack of newspapers, and the front page entertainment section almost entirely devoted to "The Haunted House".

The Ta Kung Pao newspaper used bold font to write "The Great Wall Makes a Comeback: Ghostly Comedy Appears in Hong Kong," accompanied by a picture of Liu Xuehua as an adorable female ghost.

Wenhui Daily interviewed several audience members, among whom the words of the young man with blond hair stood out: "I originally wanted to take my girlfriend to see a bad movie and do some silly things, but I ended up becoming a fan of Liu Xuehua's 'silly devil' and laughed until my stomach hurt!"

Fu Qi's hands trembled as he flipped through the newspaper. He saw that Huang Lu's attitude in the *Hong Kong Film Weekly* had changed drastically this time. The article read:

"The most successful aspect of 'The Ghostly Man' is that it allows us to see nostalgia in the female ghost's sneeze, and shows us that the ghost stories that grandma used to tell can be so funny."

"Quickly, have the publicity department do as Teacher Cheng said!" Fu Qi suddenly jumped up, grabbed the phone, and said, "Enlarge Liu Xuehua's stills and make them into three-meter-high posters. They must be posted in front of forty cinemas before the show opens this afternoon!"

Also, contact the radio station and turn the laughter clips from the movie into commercials, playing them three times an hour!

Looking at the light in her husband's eyes, Shi Hui suddenly remembered how they looked ten years ago when they first took over the Great Wall project.

Back then, Shuangnan Cinema Circuit could still make a living by re-releasing "Liu Sanjie". However, as Hong Kong's film industry took off, young people preferred to crowd into Golden Harvest cinemas to watch action movies rather than come to Great Wall to watch "old antiques".

She quietly wiped away her tears: "I've already asked Xuehua to come to the company; she's downstairs in the dressing room right now."

Liu Xuehua sat in front of the makeup mirror, looking at herself in the mirror as the makeup artist was applying "ghost makeup" to her.

A beauty mark was placed at the corner of her eye, and her cheeks were painted with a light bluish-purple hue, but a playful dimple remained at the corner of her mouth.

This was a point that Cheng Xuemin specifically reminded him of when he returned to the hotel: "We need to make the audience feel that this female ghost is both pitiful and lovable."

"Xuehua, there will be reporters interviewing us later." Shi Hui pushed open the door, holding a costume in her hand, and said, "Wear this for the interview, it will definitely have a good effect."

Liu Xuehua accepted the white opera costume embroidered with orchids, but she was actually very resistant and hesitant.

She plans to leave next spring without renewing her contract; her friends all say there's no future in staying with Lao Zuo.

But if "The Haunted Cop Shop" really becomes a hit, will she really need to leave?
Fu Qi did not stay at the company for long. After handing over all the matters to be explained to his wife Shi Hui, he rushed into the hotel to report the good news to Cheng Xuemin!

"Thank you! Thank you! Teacher Cheng, you've given the Great Wall a wonderful gift!"

"We really don't know how to thank you this time!"

Fu Qi gripped Cheng Xuemin's hand tightly, knowing that without this young comrade from the mainland who had given them the scripts for the "Human Horror" and "Human Horror" series, they would never have achieved such success.

The film grossed 300,000 yuan in its first two screenings.

This was despite the fact that "The Haunted Cop Shop" had not been heavily promoted and was not well-regarded by Hong Kong audiences, yet it still managed to gross a whopping HK$300,000 at the box office.

Now, several of Lao Zuo's newspapers and media outlets have joined forces to promote "The Haunted Cop Shop," and with the small success of the second screening last night, it's easy to imagine that today's box office will be at least 500,000 to 600,000 yuan for both screenings.

This is even with only forty cinemas owned by the left wing.

If they could be as financially powerful as Golden Harvest and launch a simultaneous campaign across hundreds of cinemas, their daily box office would easily reach millions.

Unfortunately, the left wing still lacks a certain depth, and its former glory is gone.

If this were a decade or two ago, when the leftists released new films, companies like Shaw Brothers and Golden Harvest would practically beg them to rent cinemas to Great Wall at low prices.

Unlike now, people can't even avoid the Great Wall of China, and when they ask one of their directors to come and help with filming, they have to use an alias.

Great Wall Film Studio has basically squandered its resources, and most of the veteran directors and actors have left.

The executive director for "The Haunted Cop Shop" was someone borrowed from Shaw Brothers by Great Wall, and he used a pseudonym.

I didn't attend the premiere last night because I was afraid of being caught by paparazzi, which would be publicized and lead to a ban from the Golden Horse Awards.

Now, the Golden Horse Awards control three cinema chains in the best locations in Hong Kong, which already makes it extremely attractive to local Hong Kong filmmakers. With the addition of the Taiwan market, it's no exaggeration to say that local Hong Kong filmmakers treat the Golden Horse Awards like royalty.

Therefore, in terms of shadow lines, they simply cannot win!
"Mr. Fu, you're too kind! As I said before, your help was invaluable in enabling Tai Chi to participate in the exhibition at Bolin!"

"Furthermore, after we return from Bolin, Tai Chi may still need to be released in Hong Kong through Mr. Fu's distribution channels!"

"Therefore, I hope that Mr. Fu can contact Yanjing as soon as possible to apply for the distribution rights of Tai Chi in Hong Kong!"

I haven't been able to find an opportunity to talk to Fu Qi alone. Hu Jian from China Film Group is keeping a close eye on them.

Li Lianjie, Gong Xue, and the others, who couldn't stay still, wanted to go out and explore Hong Kong, but Lao Hu restricted their freedom and wouldn't let them go out.

Anyway, it's the same old story: discipline is the most important thing when you're out and about. You have to follow instructions and not act on your own.

Under the weight of discipline and righteousness, even Cheng Xuemin had no choice but to stay at the hotel with them, waiting for the flight to Bolin the next morning.

So I haven't had a chance to talk to Fu Qi alone.

The opportunity to stay now is that Hu Jian went out to make connections, to visit Director Wang at the Xinhua News Agency's Hong Kong branch headquarters.

The Hong Kong branch is considered the highest-ranking mainland organization stationed in Hong Kong. Although it carries the title of a news media and cultural export agency, its main task is actually political propaganda.

Although this was just a short layover, how could Hu Jian from China Film Group not go and pay his respects?

Of course, it probably carried a hint of showing off.

After all, the Hong Kong branch has been established for many years, and China Film Group has tried many ways to bring mainland films to the international film festival stage.

Unfortunately, the Hong Kong branch never managed to pull the strings, leaving China Film Group waiting year after year.

it's good now!

They bypassed the Hong Kong branch and the Bolin International Film Festival took the initiative to send us an invitation to submit our film for selection and exhibition.

With this achievement, how could Hu Jian of China Film Group not go over and show it off?
This gave Cheng Xuemin the opportunity to speak privately with Fu Qi. Of course, it wasn't anything major; he just wanted Fu Qi to apply to Beijing for permission to import and promote "Tai Chi" in Hong Kong.

In this way, after Cheng Xuemin returns from Bolin, he can conveniently film Tai Chi in Hong Kong!
It just so happens to be the Lunar New Year season in Hong Kong, and Cheng Xuemin is very confident that he can show the people of Hong Kong what the most authentic martial arts film is like.

To show the people of Hong Kong, who were used to eating coarse food, what truly fine grains were.

"Yes, yes! Don't worry, Teacher Cheng, I'll apply to Old Wu right away!" Fu Qi nodded repeatedly upon hearing this. In fact, he had already discussed these things with the old factory director Wang Yang and others back in Yanjing when he was still at the Literary and Art Congress!

All instructions were to be given by Cheng Xuemin, who was taking Tai Chi to Bolin.

As soon as Cheng Xuemin gave the order, Fu Qi's Great Wall team immediately reported to Old Wu in Yanjing to apply for the import and release of "Tai Chi" in Hong Kong.

"Thank you very much, Mr. Fu!" Cheng Xuemin nodded and expressed his gratitude again.
"Teacher Cheng, please don't say that!" Fu Qi waved his hands repeatedly and then said, "It's definitely too late now! I wish Teacher Cheng's Tai Chi will shine brightly at the Bolin Film Festival!"

"Meanwhile, I'm hosting a celebration banquet in Hong Kong, eagerly awaiting your triumphant return, Teacher Cheng!"

"Huh?! Mr. Fu, aren't you going to Bolin?" Cheng Xuemin was taken aback. Did Fu Qi mean that the Great Wall team wasn't planning to go to Bolin?
Upon hearing this, Fu Qi's expression turned slightly awkward, and he said sheepishly, "We didn't receive an invitation!"

"Actually, we have received invitations in the past, but we can't come up with any decent new films. We only send in old films with strong political propaganda, which they don't want at all. We don't even get a chance to enter!"

"After sending them out a few times, people realized we only sent out these kinds of films, so they stopped bothering to send out invitations!"

"Our film 'The Ghostly Man' was quite good, but we didn't submit it in advance and didn't expect it to be so successful!"

Fu Qi explained repeatedly, then comforted himself, saying, "But this is good too. This way we can find enough time to get 'The Dead and the Deadly' out, so it can take over the time slot of 'The Dead and the Ghostly' and compete for the Spring Festival box office this year!"

"The Deadly Ghost" gave Fu Qi such a big surprise, and also gave him more confidence in "The Deadly Ghost," which was already in post-production.

"That's fine too!" Cheng Xuemin didn't know how to comfort him after hearing that!
Old Zuo has fallen so low that even the Bolin Film Festival is too lazy to send them an invitation.

But then again!

You send politically charged films to film festivals year after year; no wonder they don't welcome them.

Moreover, it's the leftist propaganda, so how can the three major film festivals, whose public opinion is controlled by the United States, send you an invitation?

"This is pointless. Why should he be allowed to go out and about while we're locked up in the hotel? What kind of nonsense is this!"

After Fu Qi left, Cheng Xuemin turned back and heard Xiao Li complaining that he was just a child and it was unrealistic to use any record organization or anything to restrain him!
He doesn't have that level of awareness yet, otherwise he wouldn't have been so focused on bringing his business to Hong Kong after the Shaolin Temple fire.

"What's wrong? Can't sit still anymore?!"

"If you can't sit still, you can watch TV! In Hong Kong, besides movies, TV dramas are actually the main way to pass the time!"

Cheng Xuemin smiled and reassured him.

In China, we don't really have the concept of TV dramas yet; it's mostly movies. Apart from news broadcasts, TV stations mainly show old movies.

Of course, there are also TV series imported from abroad, such as "Infiltrating Enemy Lines" which was imported from Yugoslavia two years ago, and can be considered the first TV series imported into China.

Several more were subsequently imported, but on average, only two TV series were broadcast per year.

Our country's first truly meaningful TV series was "Enemy Camp Eighteen Years" in 1981, about a year later. Although it only had nine episodes, it achieved a terrifying 99% viewership rating, which has not been broken or surpassed to this day.

"Brother Cheng, we still want to go out for a walk!"

"Actually, I'm fine. I've been to Hong Kong several times before, and I've already been to all the must-see places!"

"It's mainly because of Sister Lin, Sister Xue, Director Huang, and the others. It's a rare opportunity for them to come to Hong Kong, but they're stuck in the hotel and can't move. It's so frustrating and a complete waste of this great opportunity!"

"When I get back, my friends and family will ask me if I had fun in Hong Kong. They'll ask what fun things there were, what delicious food I could eat, and what interesting things I could do. My sister and the others won't be able to tell me anything. It'll be so embarrassing!"

Li Lianjie was stirring up trouble again, and even using Gong Xue and Zhu Lin as shields.

"I think it's just that you want to go out and have fun!" Cheng Xuemin glanced at Zhu Lin, Gong Xue, Lao Huang, and the others, who were indeed eager to go, but he still retorted to Li Lianjie!

"Oh right, Brother Cheng, you're the best to us! Can you come up with an idea and take us out for a walk?"

"How about we just wander around the neighborhood without going far?"

Li Lianjie revealed her true colors and pleaded with Cheng Xuemin.

Logically speaking, Cheng Xuemin should not have taken the lead in such a violation of discipline, but since everyone except Hu Jian from China Film Group had always regarded him as the leader!

"You're such a busybody!" Cheng Xuemin pointed at Li Lianjie, glanced at his watch, and nodded, saying, "How about this, we'll just wander around the neighborhood and I'll treat everyone to some Hong Kong-style fast food!"

"Xuemin, Lao Zhao and I won't be going. You guys go and come back quickly!"

Xie Jin, an older comrade, wouldn't join in the fun. He mentioned it to Cheng Xuemin, and Zhao, the deputy factory director next to him, hesitated for a moment before nodding.

Logically, he should have been with Lao Xie to persuade them not to go out, emphasizing the importance of discipline!

However, Xie Jin didn't say anything. Deputy Factory Director Zhao wanted to say a few words of advice, but the words he was about to say were directly rejected by Xie Jin's words just now, so he didn't say anything more and tacitly agreed!
"Okay, okay, Sister Lin and Sister Xue, did you hear that? I knew Brother Cheng would agree to take us out!"

Li Lianjie's boasting instantly betrayed Zhu Lin and Gong Xue!

Actually, the ones who most want to go shopping are definitely Zhu Lin and Gong Xue, since they're women!
At 10 a.m., the area in front of the Causeway Bay Cinema was in an uproar.

A crowd had gathered in front of the three-meter-tall poster of Liu Xuehua as a "female ghost," with a young man snapping photos. His girlfriend complained, "If I had known it would be this popular, I shouldn't have scolded you yesterday."

Several middle school students held up their notebooks, clamoring for Liu Xuehua to sign them.

Cheng Xuemin and the others stood at the back of the crowd, watching the lively scene. Huang Jianzhong exclaimed, "Xuemin, your script is truly amazing. Yesterday it was deserted, but today it's like celebrating the New Year."

Zhu Lin and Gong Xue were also joining in the fun, grinning from ear to ear.

Around noon, Fu Qi also obtained the opening day box office data from several other cinemas. Golden Harvest's "Industry Rules" grossed 700,000 yuan. With the help of hundreds of cinemas, this result was mediocre and not particularly outstanding.
Following closely behind "The Rules of the Game" was the Hui Brothers' "Money Crazy," which inherited the explosive success of its predecessor, "Half a Catty of Eight Taels," and also garnered 530,000 in box office revenue. With only 40 cinemas showing the film, this was considered a blockbuster.
The newly formed novel "Meiling and the Monk" only sold 320,000 copies, which is considered a flop.

However, another piece of good news came at noon: Shaw Brothers called to say they wanted to add another film line and ten more cinemas to Great Wall, which made Fu Qi clap his hands in delight!
……

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