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

The room used as a temporary office by Great Wall Film Company was stuffy and humid.

The old air conditioner emitted a dull hum, but it couldn't dispel the stickiness of the rainy season.

Cheng Xuemin stood by the window, looking down at the crowds of people rushing about on the street, his face somber.

Several of the latest newspapers were spread out on the table. The entertainment section was still filled with the noisy predictions of the showdown between "The Martial Arts School" and "Shaolin Temple," as well as various speculations and analyses about the internal divisions within Cinema City.

A sudden, urgent phone call broke the silence of the room.

Tianxianma Liu Xiaoli picked up the receiver, listened for a couple of sentences, her expression changed slightly, she quickly covered the receiver with her hand, turned to Cheng Xuemin and whispered, "Teacher Cheng, it's a long-distance call from Beijing, from Director Wang of Yanying Film Studio."

Cheng Xuemin frowned slightly, quickly stubbed out his cigarette, strode over, took the receiver, and his tone instantly became both flippant and somewhat composed:
"Old factory director, I am Cheng Xuemin."

The voice of Wang Yang, the former director of Yanying Film Studio, came through the phone. Though there was static, it was still clear, carrying a distant sense of pressure through the overseas line.
"Xuemin, how are things over there? Is work going well?"

"Don't worry, Director, everything is progressing according to plan. Post-production of 'Shaolin Temple' is complete, and the finished film has been screened internally, with very positive feedback."

"Filming for 'Redemption' is more than halfway done. Morgan and Tim's performances are outstanding. We are very confident that we will have a place at this year's Cannes Film Festival!"

Cheng Xuemin reported in a steady tone, but his gaze swept over the newspapers on the table, which were filled with the smell of gunpowder.

"Yes, I've seen the film. It's well-made; they put a lot of effort into it." Old Factory Director Wang Yang paused, his tone slightly more serious. "However, Xuemin, I've heard some rumors."

"Some people in the factory are talking about how your East Factory has been established for almost half a year, but all we've seen is investment, and we haven't seen any US dollars come back yet. After all, it's almost halfway through the year."

Cheng Xuemin's fingers tightened slightly around the receiver, but his face remained impassive: "Old factory director, I understand!"

"The situation in Hong Kong is more complicated than expected, and the competition is fierce. But we already have a complete plan and are working hard to get it going."

“I know the competition is fierce, but we also need to be strategic and mindful of the impact,” said Wang Yang, the former factory director, with a hint of reminder in his voice. “Back home, Mr. Wu and Mr. Liao are supporting us under pressure; they have a heavy burden to bear.”

"You over there need to produce some tangible results as soon as possible to shut up those who are gossiping. After all, foreign exchange targets are a crucial objective."

"Yes, old factory director, please rest assured, and please also tell Elder Wu and Liao that we will definitely turn things around as soon as possible and will never let down the organization's trust."

Cheng Xuemin's voice was firm and powerful.

After briefly explaining a few more work-related details, the old factory director, Wang Yang, hung up the phone.

The receiver went dead. Cheng Xuemin slowly put down the phone, stood there, and remained silent for a few seconds.

A bolt of lightning flashed across the gloomy sky outside the window, followed by a rumble of thunder.

Looking at Cheng Xuemin's profile, which suddenly became serious, Liu Xiaoli, the "fairy mother," cautiously asked, "Teacher Cheng, is the pressure at the factory... a lot?"

Cheng Xuemin turned around, walked to the table, crumpled the newspaper with the huge "Martial Arts School" promotional poster into a ball, and threw it into the wastepaper basket with a swift and decisive action.

He looked up, the calm focus on his work that had been in his eyes replaced by a resolute determination, and said:

"It's not that we're under a lot of pressure, it's that some people are already impatient to see our Eastern Depot make a fool of itself. We haven't had any revenue for six months, and some people are starting to stir things up."

He walked to the door and said to Tianxian's mother, "Xiaoli, go and call Lao Huang and my brother-in-law Feng Jiazhao over right now."

Also, if it's convenient for Mr. Fu from the Great Wall area, please come over as well. We need to have an emergency meeting.

"Now?" Liu Xiaoli looked out the window at the increasingly dark sky.

"Right now," Cheng Xuemin said firmly. "Time waits for no one."

Half an hour later, Huang Jianzhong, Feng Jiazhao, and Fu Qi arrived at Cheng Xuemin's room one after another.

The room was small, and the four of them sat around a small round table, the atmosphere somewhat heavy. The sound of rain outside grew louder, tapping against the glass.

Cheng Xuemin didn't beat around the bush and went straight to the point: "I just received a long-distance call from the Yanjing factory!"

"The former factory director revealed that his family has been discussing the East Factory since it was established six months ago, and there has been no foreign exchange income yet. Old Wu and Liao are under a lot of pressure."

Upon hearing this, Huang Jianzhong's face darkened, and his fists clenched instinctively: "Damn it! It must be those people pulling strings behind our backs again! They just can't stand to see us doing well!"

Feng Jiazhao remained relatively calm, adjusted his glasses, and frowned: "Xuemin, is the situation serious? Will it affect the factory's continued support for the Eastern Depot?"

Fu Qi asked with some concern:

"Teacher Cheng, what do we do now? The original plan for 'Shaolin Temple' was to debut at the Cannes Film Festival, make a splash, and then release it globally. If we move it up now, will the effect be diminished?"

Cheng Xuemin placed his hands on the table, his gaze sweeping over the three of them: "The plan must be adjusted. We can no longer wait for Cannes as it is."

We must immediately produce tangible results and silence those people with US dollars! Otherwise, it's questionable whether we can even save the Eastern Depot.

He looked at Fu Qi and said decisively, "Mr. Fu, I would like to trouble you to immediately send formal invitations to all film distributors in Europe, America, Japan, South Korea, and Southeast Asia with whom we have cooperative relationships, in the joint name of Great Wall Company and our East Depot."

Inform them that our film "Shaolin Temple" will have its world premiere in Hong Kong on June 15th, along with a screening to discuss distribution rights in various regions worldwide. Please be sure to attend on time.

"June 15th?" Fu Qi was taken aback and looked at his watch. "Today is already June 3rd! That's less than two weeks! With such a rush, the big publishers might not be able to manage it!"

Moreover, if it's released commercially without going through film festivals, the price might be driven down significantly!
This completely contradicts our original strategy of leveraging the Cannes Film Festival to enhance brand value and then selling at a higher price!

Huang Jianzhong hesitated: "Xuemin, isn't this a bit too hasty? 'Shaolin Temple' is our Eastern Depot's first project. If we act hastily and the release is not ideal, it will only give others more ammunition against us."

Cheng Xuemin shook his head, his eyes sharp: "Times have changed. The original plan was based on the premise that there was no internal pressure and that we could proceed steadily."

Some people at home are already impatient; we must solve our survival problem first before we can talk about development.

Brand value is important, but that's a long-term solution that can't address the immediate crisis. What's most important right now is to have real US dollars flowing back to Yanjing immediately!
Even if the price is lower, even if the distribution is smaller, we must first make money!

He paused, then continued, "As for the short notice, it's precisely to catch them off guard."

"Right now, the world's attention is focused on the showdown between Liu Chia-liang and Shaw Brothers and Golden Harvest, and no one would have expected that we would suddenly release the product globally ahead of schedule."

Sending invitations at this time will actually pique their curiosity. As long as the film is of high quality, there's no need to worry about finding buyers. Regarding pricing, we can adopt a flexible strategy; we can charge slightly higher prices to audiences in Southeast Asia, Japan, and South Korea—areas with strong Chinese-speaking cultures.

In the European and American markets, especially the United States, we're willing to pay any price to gain a foothold and establish a stronghold!

Feng Jiazhao thought for a moment and nodded: "Xuemin is right. Internal pressure is the main contradiction right now. We must survive first before we can talk about development. I agree to the early global release."

Huang Jianzhong sighed and finally said, "Alright, you're the head of the Eastern Depot, so you make the decision. We'll definitely cooperate fully."

Seeing that Fu Qi was still somewhat hesitant, Cheng Xuemin emphasized, "Mr. Fu, I know this has disrupted the Great Wall Company's original plans. But please believe me, this is only a temporary measure."

The Eastern Depot cannot fall; the path behind us must be cleared. This is not only about the box office of a few films, but also about the strategic future of Chinese films—whether they can truly go global and control their own distribution.

He stood up, walked to the simple world map on the wall, and pointed to the regions of North America and Western Europe with his finger: "This global release of 'Shaolin Temple' is just a test, a training exercise."

"Our ultimate goal is to gradually build our own distribution network and cinema channels in the mainstream European and American markets, just like Sir Shaw and Raymond Chow established cinema chains in Southeast Asia!"

He turned around, his gaze intense: "My aunt, Gu Qiuna, is currently secretly working on this in the United States."

"We're trying all sorts of methods: acquisitions, equity investments, collaborations. But this takes time and requires the support of successful precedents."

Although the early release of "Shaolin Temple" may result in some short-term losses, as long as it can successfully enter Europe and America, even if it only gets into a few theaters, it will pave the way for our future proprietary distribution channels.

Once "Redemption" achieves some success at Cannes, we can leverage the recognition and attention to release it directly through our nascent self-owned theater network. That will be the real reward!

Fu Qi was moved by Cheng Xuemin's grand vision and firm determination, and finally nodded heavily: "I understand, Teacher Cheng! You have a long-term vision and are not bound by the gains and losses of a single city or battle."

Great! I'll make the arrangements as soon as I get back, and send out invitations worldwide as quickly as possible! I'll make sure this screening is a resounding success!

Cheng Xuemin nodded and continued to give instructions: "Old Huang, you are responsible for the final verification of all copies and promotional materials of 'Shaolin Temple' to ensure that nothing goes wrong."

"Brother, you will assist Mr. Fu in overseeing the specific arrangements for the premiere and screenings, including venue, reception, translation—every detail must be taken into account. Hong Kong is an international gateway; we cannot afford to lose face in front of foreigners."

"Understood!" Huang Jianzhong and Feng Jiazhao replied in unison.

“And another thing!” A cold glint flashed in Cheng Xuemin’s eyes, “The news about adding fuel to the fire for the ring matches between Liu Jialiang, Shaw Brothers, and Golden Harvest can be spread even more wildly.”

They cleverly revealed the details of their internal conflicts, especially the equity dispute of Cinema City, to those foreign media with keen senses.

The muddier the waters, the more attention it attracts, which is more advantageous for us to suddenly announce a global release.

Fu Qi understood immediately: "Don't worry, I know what to do. I'll make sure they fight like dogs and won't have time to bother us."

After the meeting ended, Huang Jianzhong, Feng Jiazhao, and Fu Qi hurriedly left to prepare separately.

Cheng Xuemin was left alone in the room. The rain outside the window was pouring down, and thunder was booming.

Liu Xiaoli, now a secretary, gently pushed open the door and entered, carrying a freshly brewed cup of hot tea, her face showing concern.

"Teacher Xuemin, have some water. The old factory manager just called... is there some trouble back home?"

Cheng Xuemin took the teacup, the warmth passing through the porcelain wall to his palm.

He took Gong Xue's hand and led her to the window, looking out at Hong Kong shrouded in torrential rain. His voice was calm, yet carried a barely perceptible hint of weariness:

"It's nothing, just a small storm. I just didn't expect that while it's easy to dodge open attacks from outside, it's much harder to guard against hidden arrows from within."

Cheng Xuemin smiled and said to her:
"Don't worry, this little trouble won't stop me. It's just that the plan needs to be moved up, and there are many things to catch up on. Once things are settled here, we can go to the United States with peace of mind. That will be the time to really show our skills."

His gaze pierced through the dense curtain of rain, as if he could see the cinema network being quietly established on the other side of the ocean, and the light and shadow of Chinese films shining on the world's screens in the future.

The current predicament is just one ko fight in this grand game; he must remain calm and make decisive moves.

In the following days, the Hong Kong film industry continued to focus on the showdown between "The Martial Arts School" and "Shaolin Temple".

And the escalating internal conflicts within Cinema City.

But an undercurrent has already begun to stir.

The invitations sent by Great Wall Film Company to dozens of film distributors around the world were like a pebble thrown into a calm lake, causing ripples of varying sizes.

Some astute industry insiders have noticed that, amidst the noisy battle surrounding the domestic market, the young director from the mainland seems to be quietly embarking on another path.

At the Shaw Studios in Clearwater Bay, the final copy of "Shaolin Temple" was carefully packaged, labeled, and prepared for transport to the theater where the premiere would be held.

Huang Jianzhong personally led the team to conduct a final quality check to ensure that every frame and every audio track was flawless.

Feng Jiazhao worked closely with Fu Qi to finalize every detail of the premiere, from the guest list to the venue setup, striving to showcase a professional and international standard.

Cheng Xuemin was simultaneously overseeing the final filming of "Redemption" while remotely directing the entire operation.

He knew that this premature battle was not only about the survival of the Eastern Depot, but also about whether he could open a door for Chinese films in foreign markets before other forces could react.

The rainy season in Hong Kong continues, but a silent battle for overseas distribution rights has already begun.

The sense of urgency and the pressure from Yanjing were like two whips, urging everyone to move forward faster.

……

Three days after the invitation was sent out, the first batch of feedback arrived at Great Wall Company’s office in Wan Chai.

Fu Qi, carrying several faxes, hurried into Cheng Xuemin's temporary office.

"Teacher Cheng, we've received a response!" Fu Qi's tone was a mix of excitement and nervousness. "The Japanese company Toho, South Korea's Showbo Entertainment, and Chinese film distributors from several Southeast Asian countries have all indicated that they will send representatives to the screening on time."

“However…” He paused, pulled out several other faxes, and said:
"Several major companies in Europe and America, such as Warner Bros. and MGM in the United States, and Hawkeye Pictures in the United Kingdom, gave rather official replies, only saying that they had received the invitation and would consider it, but did not make a clear statement on whether they would send anyone. I guess... they still feel that we are not significant enough, or they have doubts about the sudden advance of the release plan."

Cheng Xuemin took the fax, quickly glanced through it, and showed no disappointment on his face, but rather a look of expectation: "Normal!"

"Large Western companies are arrogant, slow in their processes, and lack understanding of us. If they can even reply, that's already a good start."

"However, we're focusing on film distributors in Japan, South Korea, and Southeast Asia. These regions have similar cultures, and our previous film, 'Tai Chi,' sold very well, making them our primary target for this initial battle."

"As for the US, our old friends will give positive feedback, just wait and see!"

At the end of last year in Bolin, Cheng Xuemin made a fortune of over 15 million US dollars from the American Brian; that was the real money.

Moreover, according to her aunt Gu Qiuna's inquiries in the United States, Brian made a fortune in both the American and Japanese markets with "Tai Chi".

Therefore, the American was probably the most enthusiastic about Cheng Xuemin's "Shaolin Temple".

However, Cheng Xuemin did not ask Fu Qi to send him an invitation, intending to lure him in, so Fu Qi has not yet given any feedback.

But with Fu Qi's global invitations already sent out, it's impossible that the American Brian wouldn't have noticed them!

Wait!
It won't be long before that American comes to Hong Kong uninvited to meet and negotiate with Cheng Xuemin.

Cheng Xuemin then inquired about the largest buyer in the European market when Tai Chi was sold last time, asking, "Also, is there any news from the French company Gaumont? They spent five million US dollars to buy our Tai Chi last time, and I heard they made a lot of money. They should be there this time too."

“Gaumont has not yet given a formal reply, but through indirect information, their Asian film selectors seem to be very interested in our Shaolin Temple, especially after hearing that you are also making a Spanish-language art film about a prison.”

Fu Qi replied.

“Very good.” Cheng Xuemin nodded. “Continue to follow up. For the film companies that have already confirmed their participation, upgrade the level of hospitality.”

"However, we can leave the Japanese film producers aside for now and give them a taste of their own medicine!"

The Japanese have always taken advantage of our film sources for free. They almost got their hands on Cheng Xuemin's "Tai Chi" for free before.

So when he was in Bolin, Cheng Xuemin bypassed the Japanese film distributors and directly sold the Japanese market distribution rights to the American Brian in one go.

I heard that when the American Brian released the film in the Japanese market, he was really shameless. He spent three million US dollars to buy the rights and managed to make it a box office record of tens of millions of US dollars in the Japanese market.

He made a whopping five million!

So this time, the Japanese were determined to buy the first-hand distribution rights from Cheng Xuemin, the film's original producer.

Otherwise, if we sell it to the Americans and distribute it domestically, they'll just have to watch helplessly.

Therefore, the distribution of this Shaolin Temple film was handled by the Japanese film distributors, in addition to the Americans.

Hopefully, they can engage in cutthroat competition; that would be perfect!

……

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