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

The next morning, after Cheng Xuemin finished washing up and had breakfast, Fu Qi arrived at the hotel with his driver.

He then greeted Cheng Xuemin and said:

"Teacher Cheng, President Wang has already spoken to us. We'll visit the Xinhua News Agency branch this morning and then have an exclusive interview with Ta Kung Pao this afternoon. What do you think of this arrangement?"

Cheng Xuemin nodded upon hearing this and said, "Mr. Fu is very thoughtful. We should indeed visit Director Wang at the branch office."

He knew in his heart that he absolutely had to pay homage to the Xinhua branch!
Before his arrival, Mr. Wu specifically instructed that in Hong Kong, Xinhua News Agency's branch is the "face" of the mainland, and Director Wang Kuang is the leading figure among his own people, controlling all forces close to the mainland, including Great Wall Film Company.

Therefore, the role of Xinhua News Agency's branch in Hong Kong was more about political propaganda than about news reporting itself.

In fact, the role of Xinhua News Agency branches in news media reporting is now negligible.

Their current role is to lead news media such as Great Wall Film Company, Ta Kung Pao, and Wen Wei Po, and to work together to carry out political propaganda.

Therefore, this Director Wang of the Xinhua News Agency branch held the highest political position in Hong Kong during this era.

Not to mention the distant ones!

When Hu Jian from China Film Group visited President Wang on his way to the Bolin Film Festival, he immediately went to pay him a visit.

Although Cheng Xuemin is a day late, good things come to those who wait, and proper etiquette must be observed.

As the car drove towards Queen's Road East, we saw many shops with signs in both Chinese and English along the way.

It has both traditional tea restaurants and trendy department stores, exuding the unique liveliness of Hong Kong.

When Cheng Xuemin arrived at the Xinhua branch office, he got out of the car and saw that the building was not particularly eye-catching, with gray walls and wooden doors. Two comrades stood on duty at the door, their eyes sharp and exuding a solemn and dignified aura.

"Teacher Cheng, this way please. President Wang is already waiting for you in the reception room." A cadre in a Zhongshan suit came forward, his tone respectful yet measured.

Cheng Xuemin straightened his collar and followed them inside, with Fu Qi also entering the reception room.

The reception room was small, furnished with a set of dark-colored old sofas, and a map of China and a picture of the Great Wall hung on the wall.

On the table was an enamel mug with the words "Serve the People" printed on it, clearly in the style of mainland China.

An elderly man with gray hair but a sprightly spirit was sitting on the sofa reading documents.

Upon seeing Cheng Xuemin enter, he immediately put down his pen, stood up, and greeted him with a smile: "This must be Comrade Cheng Xuemin! Indeed, a promising young man!"

"Hello, Mr. Wang, I am Cheng Xuemin. I apologize for the intrusion and for disturbing your work." Cheng Xuemin quickly stepped forward, grasped President Wang's hands with both of them, and spoke respectfully.

"Don't be so polite! Please have a seat!" Director Wang pulled him to sit down, then had the cadre pour him a cup of tea, and continued:

"Old Wu called me a few days ago and said that you have brought great honor to the country in Bolin, with more than 20 million US dollars in foreign exchange, which is no small amount!"
Our mainland filmmakers are finally able to hold their heads high on the international stage!

Cheng Xuemin quickly and modestly said:

"Mr. Wang, you flatter me. The success of 'Tai Chi' is entirely due to the leadership of the ministry and Mr. Wu, as well as the help of my colleagues at Great Wall Film Studio. I only did some specific work, which is nothing."

"Young people are not arrogant or impatient, that's good!" President Wang nodded approvingly, then changed the subject and said, "I know it wasn't easy for you to come to Hong Kong this time. The Golden Horse Film Bureau has been keeping an eye on you, trying to suppress our film from being released."

Don't worry, in Hong Kong, they don't have the final say! Xinhua branch fully supports you. Our own newspapers, like Ta Kung Pao and Wen Wei Po, will help promote your work. If you encounter any difficulties, just come to me, don't hesitate!

As soon as he said that, Cheng Xuemin felt relieved!
With President Wang's words, it's like having a royal decree; they'll have much more confidence in dealing with the Golden Horse Awards' difficulties.

"Thank you, Mr. Wang! We will definitely do our best to live up to your expectations and ensure the successful distribution of 'Tai Chi' so as to earn more foreign exchange for the country!"

"Good! I believe in you!" President Wang patted him on the shoulder and said, "You young people are bold and enterprising, so you should take on more responsibilities."

"Hong Kong is a good place, but it's also complicated. Be careful in everything you do. If you don't understand something, ask Fu Qi. He has lived in Hong Kong for many years and knows the situation well."

"Don't worry, Mr. Wang, Teacher Cheng and I help and support each other!" Fu Qi, who was also standing nearby, quickly said politely.

The three then chatted for another half hour, from the creative concept of "Tai Chi" to the current state of the Hong Kong film market. President Wang would occasionally offer a few insightful comments, and every single one of them hit the nail on the head.

Cheng Xuemin listened attentively, secretly admiring him!

This old leader may seem mild-mannered, but he has a keen eye and knows the situation in Hong Kong like the back of his hand.

It was almost noon when I left the Xinhua News Agency branch.

Seeing Cheng Xuemin's relaxed expression, Fu Qi chuckled and joked, "Teacher Cheng, now President Wang has given us some reassurance, hasn't he?"

"That's right!" Cheng Xuemin nodded with a smile. "With Elder Wang's approval, the publicity will be much easier from now on. We'll have to cooperate well with the interview in the Ta Kung Pao this afternoon."

The afternoon interview took place in the conference room of Great Wall Film Studio.

The reporter from Ta Kung Pao was a middle-aged man who wore glasses and had a serious demeanor.

His questions were straightforward. He first asked about the feeling of "Tai Chi" winning an award at the Bolin Film Festival, then about the original intention of the film's creation, and finally about his expectations for the Hong Kong market.

Cheng Xuemin answered calmly, neither exaggerating his achievements nor hiding anything.

When it comes to creating a film, I want to make a real, hard-hitting martial arts movie so that the audience can see real kung fu.

Speaking of the Hong Kong market, I hope to let more people know that good movies can also be made in mainland China.

The reporter listened attentively, nodding frequently and taking notes occasionally. Finally, she smiled and said:
“Teacher Cheng, your idea is very practical and bold. We at Ta Kung Pao will definitely promote it well so that more Hong Kong citizens can know the charm of Tai Chi.”

Sure enough, the next morning, Ta Kung Pao published an exclusive interview in a prominent position on its front page, with a particularly eye-catching headline:
Cheng Xuemin, the creator of "Tai Chi": Showcasing Chinese culture with real kung fu and generating 20 million in foreign exchange for the country.

The article details the background of the creation of "Tai Chi," the reactions from Bolin, and also quotes Cheng Xuemin:
"Kung Fu is not just for show; it is the root of Chinese culture. I hope that through Tai Chi, more people will fall in love with Chinese Kung Fu and Chinese culture."

At almost the same time, Wen Wei Po and Oriental Daily News also joined in the effort!

Wenhui Daily published an interview with Li Lianjie, titled "From National Champion to Rising Star in Film, Li Lianjie: 'Tai Chi' Helped Me Find a New Direction."
Oriental Daily News published a film review praising Tai Chi as "a milestone in mainland Chinese kung fu films, more interesting than Hong Kong's flashy martial arts films."

For a time, discussions about "Tai Chi" were everywhere on the streets of Hong Kong!

In the tea restaurant, the waiters gathered together and said, "Mainland kung fu movies have made 20 million US dollars, which is much better than our Hong Kong movies."
In the market, the older women were chatting, "I heard there's a real kung fu performance at the premiere, we have to go see it."
Even students are discussing after school whether Li Lianjie's kung fu is really that good, whether he is as good as Bruce Lee, or as good as Cheng Long.

Once the hype started, the Golden Horse Film Bureau couldn't suppress it no matter what they tried.

Fu Qi called early in the morning, his voice brimming with excitement, saying, "Teacher Cheng, great news! Thanks to this wave of hype, Shaw Brothers, who originally only agreed to rent one theater chain to us, has now agreed to add another one!"

"In that case, we will have four theater chains for the first round of releases, and a total of at least sixty theaters, which is more than twenty more than expected!"

Furthermore, the guests for the premiere are almost finalized. Besides people from the film industry, there are many celebrities from the business and cultural sectors, and President Wang has also agreed to attend!

Cheng Xuemin was also pleased, as this meant that "Tai Chi" had taken a solid first step in Hong Kong. Previously, Fu Qi's "The Haunted Cop Shop" was only distributed in three theater chains and forty-odd cinemas.

Now his Tai Chi franchise has expanded to over sixty stores, so his box office performance should be pretty much guaranteed.

Two days later!
The premiere of "Tai Chi" was officially held at Nanhua Cinema, the flagship cinema chain of Great Wall Film Group.

Fu Qi specially laid out a red carpet, stretching from the cinema entrance all the way to the roadside, and set up a row of lights. Reporters crowded around, and even passersby gathered to watch the spectacle.

Some people held up signs with the name 'Li Lianjie' on them, while others took photos with their cameras. The atmosphere was as lively as if it were Chinese New Year.

Cheng Xuemin, along with Huang Jianzhong, Zhu Lin, Li Lianjie, Yu Hai, Yu Chenghui, Ji Chunhua, Hu Jianqiang, and Liu Xiaoli, arrived backstage early.

Huang Jianzhong was holding Yu Hai's hand when Yu Chenghui gave him instructions:

"When the premiere starts, our martial arts performance will just be a formality, a rehearsal of moves. It's fine as long as it looks good, but don't go all out. It wouldn't be good if it hurts the harmony."

Yu Hai nodded and said, "Director Huang, don't worry, we know what we're doing."

Yu Chenghui chimed in, saying, "It's just a martial arts performance, but it really gets heated!!"

At this moment, Fu Qi hurried over, followed by two elderly men dressed in Tang suits.

"Teacher Cheng, let me introduce you. This is Master Huang Chunliang, a disciple of Grandmaster Ip Man, senior brother of Li Xiaolong, and a famous Wing Chun master."

This is Master Liu Fameng, a successor of the Northern School of Chaquan, who has been teaching in Hong Kong for many years.

Cheng Xuemin quickly stepped forward, clasped his hands in greeting, and said, "Master Huang, Master Liu, we have long admired your names. It is truly an honor for us to have you two here to support us."

Huang Chunliang waved his hand and said in a calm tone, "Mr. Cheng, you are too kind. I have long heard that 'Tai Chi' is a good film, so I came here today to see it."

Liu Fameng smiled and said, "It is my honor to be able to exchange skills with martial arts masters from the mainland."

Fu Qi, standing to the side, secretly added to Cheng Xuemin:
"We originally wanted to invite more people, but many declined because they were concerned about the influence of Jinma. It was already quite difficult to invite Master Huang and Master Liu."

Cheng Xuemin knew that the fact that these two had come was already a great honor for Xinhua News Agency and Great Wall Film Company, so he quickly thanked them.

Not long after, a commotion arose outside, and Fu Qi said with a smile, "President Wang is here!"

Cheng Xuemin quickly led everyone out to greet them.

President Wang Kuang got out of the car, dressed in a Zhongshan suit, looking very energetic.

"Mr. Wang, we are truly flattered by your presence. We extend a warm welcome!" Cheng Xuemin quickly stepped forward, grasped his hand, and said.

"I'm here to cheer you on!" President Wang said with a smile, his voice coming through the microphone. "I've been wanting to see this film that has generated over 20 million in foreign exchange earnings for a long time, and today my wish has finally come true!"
I'm eager to see what kind of amazing film can captivate foreigners like this!

As soon as he finished speaking, the entire audience erupted in applause!
Everyone knows that President Wang is personally endorsing "Tai Chi," and this level of support is no ordinary gesture.

The highlight before the premiere is almost here!

The martial arts performance segment.

Li Lianjie was the first to take the stage.

Wearing a white training uniform, he walked to the center of the stage, clasped his hands in a salute, and then performed a set of long fist punches with great force.

The aerial somersaults, spinning kicks, and lunge punches were all clean, crisp, and powerful.

In particular, a high-flying spinning kick, with both feet almost reaching the top of his head, instantly drew cheers from the audience, and the flashbulbs of reporters went off everywhere.

"Good! Well played!"

Someone shouted from the audience, followed by a chorus of cheers.

Leonardo DiCaprio's profession is this: martial arts performances for the country's exchange programs. How could his fighting not be good?

If he doesn't play well, Cheng Xuemin won't give him the chance to make a standout debut on his own.

After Li Lianjie finished her performance, she clasped her hands in a fist salute once more, and the applause from the audience lasted for a long time.

Next up is the sparring session!

Yu Hai will face Huang Chunliang, and Yu Chenghui will face Liu Fameng.

Backstage, Huang Jianzhong was still reminding Yu Hai: "Remember Master Yu, just rehearse the moves, don't actually do it."

Meanwhile, Cheng Xuemin had already privately found the two masters in Hong Kong, poured them a cup of tea, and said, "Master Huang, Master Liu, there's something I'd like to discuss with you two."

The sparring session later is just a formality, but our Coach Yu Hai is straightforward and doesn't know his own strength. I'm afraid he won't be able to control himself and will embarrass you two.

I've already had protective gear prepared; we might need two Master Lius to put it on for protection later!

Liu Fameng immediately put down his teacup, raised an eyebrow, and said, "Mr. Cheng, are you looking down on us? Martial arts practitioners value real combat and training. What kind of image do you have wearing protective gear?"
You should remind Master Yu Hai that Hong Kong kung fu isn't made of paper; tell him to be careful so he doesn't lose face.

Although Huang Chunliang didn't speak, the arrogance in his eyes said it all.

He is a disciple of Ip Man and a master of Wing Chun. A martial arts performance doesn't necessarily require protective gear.

Cheng Xuemin chuckled inwardly, but put on a troubled expression and said, "Yes, yes, Master Liu is right. I didn't think it through. I'll go and tell Master Yu Hai to be careful."

After leaving the lounge, Cheng Xuemin found Yu Hai and deliberately lowered his voice, saying:
“Coach Yu, I just talked to Master Huang and Master Liu. They said that when you spar, you have to go all out. They also said they were worried that your skills weren’t good enough and that you might hurt someone because you couldn’t control your strength. They told you to wear protective gear so that you don’t embarrass the mainland martial arts community.”

Yu Hai immediately became angry upon hearing this and retorted:

"What? You look down on me? You really think I'm just a show-off? Even dogs don't wear protective gear! Today I'll show them what real kung fu from the mainland is!"

Yu Chenghui, who was listening nearby, frowned and asked, "They really said that? That's too impolite."

"That's right!" Cheng Xuemin added fuel to the fire, suppressing a laugh, and said, "Master Liu also said that their Chaquan is ruthless, and he's afraid that they might not be able to control their strength and hurt us, which would be bad."

Although Yu Chenghui was composed, his competitive spirit was also aroused, and he said, "Xuemin, don't worry, we know what we're doing, but we can't let others look down on us."

Cheng Xuemin nodded: "Don't worry, we'll stop here, but we still need to show off our skills!"

Soon, the sparring began.

……

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