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

The atmosphere inside the Great Wall's guesthouse room was not as relaxed as it was outside.

Fu Qi, looking somewhat grim, gave Cheng Xuemin a detailed account of the current state of the Hong Kong film industry.

It was essentially a three-way power struggle: one side represented by the Great Wall Film Company, the other by the Chiang Kai-shek regime led by the Golden Horse Film Bureau, and the third by the wavering Hong Kong filmmakers.

Great Wall Film Company, after experiencing its peak in the previous decade, suffered a strong backlash led by the Golden Horse Awards, and is now in a state of extreme decline.

The Golden Horse Film Bureau, having controlled most of the film markets in Central and South Asia, as well as Japan and South Korea, was practically all-powerful in Hong Kong.

Not only was Great Wall Film Company suppressed to the point of being unable to raise its head, but the vast majority of Hong Kong filmmakers also sided with the other side.

Even if there are still neutral filmmakers, they no longer dare to openly contact the people at Great Wall.

The best example!

The filming of Cheng Xuemin Tai Chi involved inviting the Yuan brothers from Hong Kong. They were neutral locals, but they had to go north under pseudonyms to provide martial arts instruction for Tai Chi.

Moreover, when Cheng Xuemin went to the Bolin Film Festival last time, he invited the Yuan brothers to go with him, but since they returned to Hong Kong, they have been avoiding Cheng Xuemin and his mainland friends like the plague.

They were afraid of being discovered by the Golden Horse Film Bureau, which would lead to a ban on their Golden Horse and Central and South Asian markets.

For these situations!

In fact, Fu Qi had given Cheng Xuemin a brief overview of the situation when he passed through Hong Kong last time.

When they were filming Tai Chi, the Yuen brothers also talked to Cheng Xuemin about the current state of the Hong Kong film market.

However, at the time, no one expected that Cheng Xuemin, the eunuch of the Eastern Depot, would come to Hong Kong to take over all the daily work of the mainland in Hong Kong, so the complexity of the matter had not been explained in detail beforehand.

After arranging for Cheng Xuemin to stay at the hotel, Fu Qi immediately continued:

"Teacher Cheng, I almost got into trouble at the airport today. It was the Golden Horse Film Bureau again!"

"Because of the tremendous success your 'Tai Chi' has achieved in Bolin, especially its international influence, it has caused great shock and dissatisfaction among the high-ranking officials on their own island."

"They believe that the success of our film 'Tai Chi' is a challenge to the authority of the Golden Horse Awards and has had a great negative impact on the work of the Golden Horse Film Bureau."

I've heard that the top leadership on the island has ordered the head of the Golden Horse Film Bureau to conduct a comprehensive self-examination and to come up with solutions as quickly as possible to salvage their image and influence in the international film industry.

"Therefore, this time, when you come to Hong Kong to promote and distribute Tai Chi, you will definitely encounter a lot of resistance!"

Cheng Xuemin nodded in agreement. He had actually anticipated all of these obstacles before he even planned to come to Hong Kong.

After all, in Hong Kong today, all filmmakers have to rely on the Golden Horse Film Bureau for their livelihood.

Therefore, no one dares to offend the Golden Horse Film Bureau, nor dares to openly defy it.

But Cheng Xuemin, who shoulders the heavy responsibility of generating foreign exchange for Chinese films overseas, must make removing the Golden Horse Film Bureau, a major obstacle to the Hong Kong film market, his primary task as he travels to Hong Kong.

As for how to move it?
Of course, it's like the Eight Immortals crossing the sea, each displaying their unique abilities; let's take it slow.

Huang Jianzhong, who was listening nearby, frowned and said, "President Fu, so your Great Wall Film Bureau... are you just going to stand by and watch the Golden Horse Film Bureau blockade and suppress us step by step?"

"Furthermore, does that mean our trip to Hong Kong to promote Tai Chi will be fruitless?"

Before coming to Hong Kong, Huang Jianzhong didn't think much about it. He figured it would be the same as when he went to Bolin: he would just contact the film distributors and sell them copies.

But now that I've arrived in Hong Kong, I'm surprised to find that the film market here is in such a dire situation!

No wonder all the people from the Great Wall in Hong Kong who came to Beijing before were in tears.

When Huang Jianzhong heard about it, he didn't think much of it, assuming that the people from Great Wall were deliberately being hypocritical after getting a good deal.

But now that I hear it, it seems like they're really having a tough time!

Fu Qi could only manage a wry smile, unsure how to respond to Huang Jianzhong's words.

Cheng Xuemin waved his hand at Huang Jianzhong and said, "Let's keep things separate. It's not to the point of returning empty-handed!"

"The reason why the Golden Horse Awards are angry is precisely because our 'Tai Chi' has hit their sore spot."

For a long time, the Golden Horse Film Bureau has used its special status to monopolize most of the Chinese-language film market and resources in Hong Kong and even the whole of Southeast Asia, squeezing out its peers and remaining stagnant.

The success of our "Tai Chi" program was undoubtedly a slap in the face to them, preventing them from easily controlling and manipulating everything and seizing maximum profits through the Golden Horse and Southeast Asian markets as they used to.

Cheng Xuemin picked up his teacup, took a sip, and continued his analysis, saying, "They're panicking and scared now, which is why they're jumping out to criticize us and even trying to suppress us."

But this precisely proves that we are on the right track. We are not only coming, but we are coming with dignity and integrity, and we are going to create a powerful "Tai Chi wave" in the Hong Kong film industry!

Fu Qi, listening from the side, nodded repeatedly, his eyes filled with admiration, and said, "Teacher Cheng, your insight is brilliant! Brilliant! With your words, we feel much more confident."

"In fact, Great Wall Film Studio has been under tremendous pressure in recent years."

"Thanks to Teacher Cheng, our film 'The Haunted Cop Shop' achieved quite good box office results in the second half of this year. It also proves that no matter how much the Golden Horse Awards block and suppress us, as long as we make good films, we will not have to worry about not having an audience in Hong Kong!"

"Moreover, Mr. Cheng, your film 'Tai Chi' has achieved great acclaim in the international film industry. I'm sure the whole of Hong Kong is eagerly anticipating its release. In fact, I'm very optimistic about Tai Chi's box office performance in Hong Kong!"

And for our Great Wall, this is also a huge encouragement!

Cheng Xuemin put down his teacup and nodded, saying, "Mr. Fu, you are absolutely right. We are here today to work with you to break this monopoly."

I believe that as long as we filmmakers unite and produce more excellent works like 'Tai Chi,' we will definitely be able to gain a foothold in Hong Kong and completely shatter the Golden Horse Film Bureau's hegemony!

That night, Cheng Xuemin and Fu Qi talked all night long, and they all had a pleasant conversation.

The following morning, accompanied by Fu Qi, Cheng Xuemin and his entourage visited and exchanged ideas with the South China Cinema Circuit, the No. 1 cinema chain of Great Wall Film Company in Kowloon.

As soon as the convoy entered Kowloon, Cheng Xuemin keenly sensed that the atmosphere seemed even more tense than the day before.

Along the streets, it seemed that even more people were watching their convoy.

Some newsstands prominently featured photos of Tai Chi winning an award in Bolin on their front pages, but the accompanying commentary articles were filled with a sour tone, and even contained some negative speculations.

"Mr. Cheng, our flagship Nanhua Cinema Line is just ahead."

"Our Great Wall Cinema only has one or two top-tier cinema chains left!"

Actually, Fu Qi didn't need to introduce it. Earlier, when I passed through Hong Kong on my way to Bolin, I happened to witness the premiere of Great Wall Pictures' own production, *The Haunted Cop Shop*. Cheng Xuemin, as the producer and screenwriter, was fortunate enough to be invited to the premiere. I also know that Great Wall Pictures still owns two very competitive, top-tier cinema chains: the South China Cinema Chain and the South Yang Cinema Chain, known as Great Wall's flagship "Double South China Cinema Chain."

The entire box office performance of Great Wall Film Company almost entirely depends on these two flagship cinema chains in southern China.

Cheng Xuemin's trip south to Hong Kong to release Tai Chi also relies mainly on these two super cinema chains for box office revenue.

If necessary, Cheng Xuemin would privately visit a few film studios, hoping to lease two or three more theaters from them.

That's the situation in Hong Kong. Whether it's the leftist Great Wall, the neutral Shaw Brothers, or the Golden Horse Film Bureau, they all control their own cinema chains.

In Hong Kong, controlling the number of cinemas means controlling the lifeline of the Hong Kong film market.

New movies produced by different factions can generally only be shown in theaters within their own sphere of influence, or they can rent theaters from other factions.

But the Great Wall and the Golden Horse are already at odds, it's a fight to the death, so there's no point in talking about mutual leasing.

It further severely restricted neutral parties and prohibited them from leasing theater chains to Great Wall Film Company.

This is what is known as market blockade.

Fortunately, Great Wall Pictures used to release only two new films a year, so its demand for theatrical releases wasn't very high.

This is also the root cause of Great Wall Film Company's complacency.

Because of policy and institutional requirements, only model operas could be shown, and no new movies were released all year round, so how could they attract audiences to watch them?
No audience means no money, and without funding from above, the only way to survive is to sell theaters.

So back in the day, Great Wall Cinemas' top-tier theaters could stretch from South China to more than a dozen other theaters, not to mention the lower-tier and higher-tier theaters!
It can be said that twenty years ago, the Hong Kong film market was completely dominated by Great Wall.

What a pity, what a pity...

Cheng Xuemin didn't want to regret it anymore. Since he had taken on the pilot project of earning foreign exchange, he had to follow the old path of the Great Wall. The first step was to restore the glory of the old left in Hong Kong.

We should first buy back all the cinema chains that Great Wall Entertainment sold off, and then expand our territory.

When you think about it this way, it's actually quite a challenge for Cheng Xuemin!
After Cheng Xuemin calmed Fu Qi down, just as the convoy was about to reach its destination, a commotion suddenly broke out at the intersection ahead.

A group of reporters armed with cameras and microphones suddenly appeared out of nowhere and completely blocked the intersection.

Instead of waiting for the interview in a friendly manner, they wore obvious hostility, and some even held up signs with offensive words written on them.

"Mainland Chinese films, get out of Hong Kong!"

"Tai Chi is garbage!"

"Resist cultural aggression!"

The shrill slogans rose and fell in waves.

"What happened?" Tianxian's mother, Liu Xiaoli, turned pale with fright and instinctively tightened her grip on Zhu Lin's arm.

"You want to fight, huh?" Ji Chunhua, who had a bald head, became excited instead.

Encouraged by Ji Chunhua, Li Lianjie and Hu Jianqiang were eager to try, as were coaches Yu Hai and Yu Chenghui.

I already tolerated it at the airport yesterday, and now this again!?
"Teachers, please don't be impulsive!" Fu Qi quickly reassured everyone, saying, "These are some reporters and some...unfriendly people instigated by the Golden Horse Film Bureau. They want to give us a hard time here."

Cheng Xuemin's face also darkened. He glanced at the two bodyguards in the front row and saw that they were also on high alert, waiting for Cheng Xuemin, the person in charge, to speak.

He then looked coldly through the car window at the emotionally charged reporters and crowd outside.

I knew it; this was expected.

Since the Golden Horse Film Bureau cannot openly prevent "Tai Chi" from coming to Hong Kong, it will inevitably resort to such underhanded tactics to harass the film.

"Stop the car," Cheng Xuemin suddenly said.

“Mr. Cheng, it’s not safe here…” Fu Qi quickly advised.

"Stop the car!" Cheng Xuemin's tone left no room for argument.

The convoy slowly came to a stop, and Cheng Xuemin pushed open the car door and was the first to get out.

When they saw Cheng Xuemin come down, everyone knew he was the person in charge from the mainland. The dark crowd pushed forward, their flashing lights flashing.

There's a strong momentum that will definitely cause this mainland guy who just got off the train to be completely overwhelmed.

But very soon!
When Ji Chunhua and Hu Jianqiang, both bald, got out of the car and stood guard on either side of Cheng Xuemin.

The black-clad reporters, who were about to launch a group attack, were instantly stunned!
Ji Chunhua and Hu Jianqiang were truly villains, born with the appearance of evil, and both had menacing bald heads, which frightened the crowd so much that they dared not push forward and all retreated in unison.

I was getting really scared. Was this some kind of gangster gang?

With the two villains, Ji Chunhua and Hu Jianqiang, keeping order, and with Yu Hai and Yu Chenghui, along with their two bodyguards, getting out of the car, the scene was finally brought under control!
Cheng Xuemin didn't tolerate the media's attitude and stated firmly, "We respect our colleagues in the Hong Kong film industry and understand the existence of market competition."

"But we firmly oppose any form of malicious attack, slander, and unfriendly behavior. The charm of film art lies in communication and sharing, not blocking and exclusion."

“We believe that Hong Kong audiences have discernment and can distinguish what is a truly good film.”

"As for those offensive slogans just now," Cheng Xuemin said bluntly, his gaze sweeping over the people holding the slogans, "I just want to say that this is a desecration of Chinese culture and an insult to the civility of Hong Kong citizens."

"I believe that true Hong Kong filmmakers are open-minded and inclusive. We hope to work with our colleagues in the Hong Kong film industry to jointly promote the prosperity and development of Chinese-language films in a respectful, equal and mutually beneficial manner."

Cheng Xuemin's words were forceful and his attitude was neither humble nor arrogant, which actually quieted down the originally noisy and chaotic scene.

Those reporters who were originally arrogant were now caught off guard.

They never expected that this seemingly refined mainland boy would have such courage and boldness.

The Golden Horse Film Bureau members who incited the rioters looked extremely displeased.

They had intended to embarrass Cheng Xuemin and force him to submit, but unexpectedly, Cheng Xuemin turned the tables and left them speechless.

……

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