1982 Started from Hong Kong

Chapter 487 Big Lu
"Chen Shilong's film 'Miracle' during this year's Lunar New Year season barely broke 30 million at the box office. With all the overseas box office revenue, we initially estimate that he actually earned about 120 million Hong Kong dollars. But even so, Jiahe still lost more than 20 million on this film."

In the conference room of 91 Entertainment, the head of the distribution department was reporting the latest market trends to Shi Nansheng: "However, Chen Shilong's films are still strong in distribution channels, so we can't just analyze the figures based on box office alone. With the addition of home video and DVD sales in North America, 'Miracle' can still make up for the production losses, and the copyright revenue sharing in other regions will still be profitable in the future."

Shi Nansheng gave a light "hmm," looked down at the report in his hand, and said, "Mr. Zhai means that healthy competition in the domestic film industry is a good thing. Whether it's Chen Shilong or other Chinese film stars who can break through in the future, it ultimately represents the rise of the entire Chinese-language film market."

When a company reaches a certain level of prominence, its vision and scope naturally expand as well.

The last person to have this idea of ​​healthy competition was Raymond Chow. After Jiahe successively dominated the local market, his vision was no longer limited to Hong Kong and Taiwan. He began to let his satellite company target the Hollywood market, although the results were not satisfactory.

Shi Nansheng looked up at the executives in the conference room and continued, "Next year is another decade, 1990. 10 Entertainment's focus will continue to be on its Hollywood entertainment empire. Looking at the Western film trends of the New Treasure Cinema Alliance over the years, the trend is quite clear. Hollywood films are becoming increasingly diverse in genre, with large studios and smaller studios interacting frequently, and discussions about the films covering a wider range of topics. But fundamentally, what truly opens up the domestic market is still popcorn movies with advanced computer effects."

Several supervisors nodded in agreement and scribbled in their notebooks.

"On the issue of local special effects blockbusters, Mr. Zhai and I have similar opinions, namely that Hong Kong still lacks film talent. Even if it can rely on money to improve the technology, it is still difficult to catch up with Western films in terms of subject matter, innovation, and storytelling. This is a matter of vision, and to a certain extent, it can also be regarded as a gap in economic and cultural aspects."

Shi Nansheng continued, "Therefore, in order to develop innovation, in addition to the Chunqiu Performing Arts Academy, which will be a talent reserve institution for the future, the young creators of the Film Association also need to make changes. Li Sir, after the meeting, please contact the presidents of the association and tell them about the new system for the association's film production fund next year."

The publicity manager, addressed as Mr. Li, nodded: "Okay, Sister Nan."

Shi Nansheng pondered for a moment and said, "Next year, 91 Entertainment plans to allocate a production fund of at least 15 million yuan to support at least ten new works. However, forget about copycat films, including those currently following the trend of 'Swordsman.' The association will not provide funding for those, and 91 Entertainment will not invest either. Mr. Zhai doesn't expect local filmmakers to compete with Hollywood blockbusters, but they must first cultivate their own soil. Otherwise, they will only be making endless cop, undercover, and martial arts films. The association's willingness to give young people opportunities does not mean condoning perfunctory work. We hope that local filmmakers will explore more genres, including female perspectives, social transformation, immigration, youth, aging, the working class, and even urban loneliness..."

……

Taking advantage of the huge success of "The Smiling, Proud Wanderer", Shi Nansheng held an internal meeting.

When the meeting ended, the housekeeper went outside and found that General Manager Zhai's office door was open.

rare!

Shi Nansheng paused, turned around, and went into the office to greet Zhai Yuan.

"Mr. Zhai, you have some free time to come to the company today?"

"Just passing by, so I came up to take a look."

Zhai Yuan leaned back in his chair, a tired look on his face. He yawned and said, "By the way, have Secretary Li prepare some materials for anime and The Voice of China and send them over. I'm going on a business trip to the mainland in a couple of days, so I'll make some plans when I have some free time."

"You're still thinking about work even while on a business trip." Shi Nansheng glanced at him curiously: "That's not like you, Mr. Zhai."

Zhai Yuan yawned again and said, "I need the money. Even if Zhonggang Communications, the factory we built in Shenzhen, and Tuanyuan Food Company, in which I have a stake, produce a blockbuster movie like 'Swordsman' every month, it's still a drop in the bucket. I can only try to improve the quality of 'The Voice of China' and 'Anime & Comics' in my spare time, and boost the group's stock price so that shareholders can help me raise some funds."

Today, Zhai Yuan still holds 70% of the shares in Jiu Yi Entertainment Group. The group's stock price is generally on an upward trend, but it has not seen a significant increase for a long time.

In reality, with the quid pro quo between China Communications and Samsung, and with the support of Governor Wei Sir, it's unlikely that China Communications would be completely financially ruined.

What truly puts Zhai Yuan in a "cash shortage crisis" is the "881 Plan." If he wants to bail out this business in the future, he might have to reduce his holdings in the entertainment group to raise hot money and prepare for a high stock price in advance. This is why Mr. Zhai has recently started to actively resume work.

Shi Nansheng wasn't particularly interested in anything outside of 91 Entertainment. Taking advantage of the boss's arrival at work, he briefly reported on the content of the meeting he had just attended and the company's future development direction.

Zhai Yuan listened casually, occasionally yawning, looking tired and sleepy.

Shi Nansheng finally couldn't help but ask, "After the celebration banquet last night, did Mr. Zhai throw a second party?"

Zhai Yuan revealed a meaningful smile and sighed, "More than that, Zhong Kai stayed up all night."

Shi Nansheng gave an "oh," guessing that the boss had probably gone off somewhere to have some fun last night, and a smile appeared on his face.

"This morning a gossip tabloid is saying that Mr. Zhai, you were fighting over a young man from TVB outside the hotel last night. Is that true?"

"Let them write whatever they want, it's up to them!"

"Is this really nonsense? They even published photos and said that Chiu Shu-chen slapped Shao Chung-heng because of you."

"Luckily I'm not angry today, otherwise I would have let the reporter burn down their newspaper office."

Zhai Yuan stretched and spoke lazily.

At that moment, Toshie knocked on the door and entered.

"Mr. Zhai, Sister Nan."

Li Zhi greeted Shi Nansheng, then placed a thick stack of file folders on Zhai Yuan's desk, saying, "This is some information compiled by The Voice of China and Anime. Also, managers Gu Jiahui and Dai Sicong told me that if Girls' Generation wants to hold a concert in Japan, they will need a few more Japanese-language hit songs. As for Anime, what is Anime's current situation in the Hong Kong comic book market..."

Seeing that Li Zhi had begun to report on her work, Shi Nansheng listened for a couple of sentences and then took his leave, saying, "Mr. Zhai, I'll go out and do my work first."

“Okay~” Zhai Yuan nodded, then as if he suddenly remembered something, he called out to her again: “Wait, Sister Nan.”

Shi Nansheng turned around in surprise.

Zhai Yuan yawned: "I'll give you a day off. Go to room 602 at the Peninsula Hotel and take care of Sister Qingxia for me."

Shi Nansheng asked in confusion, "Huh?"

Zhai Yuan smiled sheepishly: "Don't be fooled by how tired I am, she was also exhausted last night."

Shi Nansheng pondered those words for a moment, then his pupils dilated instantly, staring at Zhai Yuan in astonishment and horror: "You, you, you...you all...Qingxia, she..."

…………

"Sister Nan, I acted on impulse. We're all women, you know sometimes emotions can override reason..."

Room 602, Peninsula Hotel

Lin Qingxia huddled in the quilt, her face still flushed, her eyes languid, feeling as if her whole body was falling apart, not even wanting to lift a finger.

"Don't give me that crap, I don't know anything about rationality or emotion!" Shi Nansheng sat on the edge of the bed, looking at Lin Qingxia with exasperation. Lin Qingxia pouted, adopting a pitiful, womanly demeanor, and said, "That's true, at least you have Xu Ke by your side, while I'm pampered by Luo Dayou and Li Zongsheng. Of course you can't understand me."

Shi Nansheng glanced at her and said coldly, "We've known each other for so many years, so don't put on an act in front of me."

As soon as she said that, Brigitte Lin couldn't maintain her pitiful expression anymore. Her lips trembled, and she couldn't help but burst out laughing.

Shi Nansheng let out a long sigh, still unable to accept the fact that her best friend had been taken advantage of by Zhai Yuan.

I just pushed the door open, and there was that lingering scent of hormones in the room...
The most important thing was to leave Zhai Yuan's phone number with Brigitte Lin...

"Qingxia, how could you suddenly be bewitched? I was still trying to protect you from Chen Lan, and then you turned around and jumped into the fire yourself!"

Shi Nansheng sighed repeatedly, collapsed onto the bed, and embraced Lin Qingxia with mixed feelings.

"hiss--"

Lin Qingxia cried out in pain, clutching her chest with one hand and pushing against Shi Nansheng with the other, her face flushed as she said, "Sister Nan, don't press down on me, it hurts."

Shi Nansheng was slightly taken aback. Seeing Lin Qingxia's shy and bashful expression, the pent-up frustration in his chest gathered up again.

Damn you, Zhai Yuan! What did you do to Qingxia last night?!
Shi Nansheng stamped his feet and pounded his chest. Finally, he gradually calmed down, took Lin Qingxia's hand, and asked softly, "You and my little sister have different personalities. You've always taken these things seriously. Is it really because you drank a few too many drinks?"

If it were Zhang Aijia lying here today, Shi Nansheng wouldn't be surprised at all.

"Maybe so, isn't it said that drinking gives you courage?"

Lin Qingxia huddled under the covers, recalling how she had taken the initiative to call Zhai Yuan last night, and felt a little embarrassed.

She pulled the blanket over half her face and said in a muffled voice, "I'm thirty-five years old this year. I've been filming in Hong Kong for so many years, and every day feels like I'm on a deserted island. Work, go back to the hotel, work, go back to the hotel. How can I not feel lonely?"

Shi Nansheng sighed: "But how could it be Zhai Yuan? Our boss is good in every other way, but he's notoriously promiscuous, and besides, he's so young..."

“You’re the one who said ‘old cow eating young grass,’” Lin Qingxia interrupted Shi Nansheng with a smile, then paused and said, “Actually, the few times we met before, Zhai Yuan didn’t leave a bad impression on me. Didn’t you say that I was very emotionally volatile during the time when ‘Swordsman’ was released? He once came to me alone and said that if this movie didn’t make me famous and I couldn’t get any roles in the future, I could sign with 91 Entertainment until I retired, and I could choose any project the company had to do. I could do whatever I wanted.”

Shi Nansheng scoffed, "You think you can fool me like that? I suspect my boss has the ability to predict the future. He actually foresaw that 'The Smiling, Proud Wanderer' would be a huge hit, which is why he dared to say such things!"

Lin Qingxia rolled her eyes at her and sighed, "Over the years, so many directors, producers, and bosses have come and gone, and all they ever said to me was 'be prettier and thinner.' No one could ever lie to me like that. You know, back then I felt like I was hanging on a string, ready to snap at the slightest word. If it weren't for the doctors giving me sedatives every day, I probably wouldn't have made it."

Shi Nansheng didn't speak, he just stared at her quietly.

Lin Qingxia's artistic side came out again, and she said softly, "Just like what Aunt Qiong Yao wrote in 'Paradise on Fire', 'I finally know the color of paradise. It is the red of flames, because paradise has long been on fire.' My love life and career have long been a mess. Sometimes, people suddenly want to let themselves off the hook. Maybe last night I was just lonely and he was just being gentle."

Upon hearing these words, Shi Nansheng's eyes flickered slightly, but he still coldly retorted, "Is he gentle? I doubt you'd even be able to get out of bed today!"

Lin Qingxia chuckled, then covered half her face, saying, "Don't be so vulgar!"

"What I called vulgar, what you two did was even more vulgar!"

Shi Nansheng chuckled and shook his head, reaching out to pull the blanket up for Lin Qingxia before lowering his voice to ask gossipily, "Tell me honestly, how did you feel last night?"

"How can I describe it? It's like I was floating on a cloud the whole night without coming down."

"Are you two even human? Really? Mr. Zhai... cough! I mean... is he really that big?"

"……Um!"

…………

In mid-August,
On the day the Kwun Tong Lam Tin MTR station officially opened, a water pipe burst on the platform tracks, causing severe flooding not only on the platform but also along the line, eventually affecting the Eastern Harbour Crossing.

And the victims are not limited to the MTR.

At that time, the engineering department of China Communications had just laid a section of main optical cable nearby, which was almost completely ruined by the mud.

China Communications filed a lawsuit against the Toyo Nichi-Chung Foundation, which was in charge of the franchise for the Cross-Harbour Tunnel, the Hong Kong government, and the relevant road administration departments.

"Damn it! You wasted two weeks of my time. I'll make sure Shen Wei sues those bastards to death!"

As Zhai Yuan and Li Zhi headed to the Luohu Port, he was still troubled by the matter.

Guan Weiming brought a team with him this time. Upon hearing this, he took the initiative to speak up: "I have already asked Lawyer Shen to contact the other party. The main cable between China and Hong Kong this time uses multimode multi-core optical fiber, with an average price of more than HK$700 per meter. The entire section is 600 meters long. In addition to the construction period of Samsung Group's technical department, the Ministry of Justice has filed a lawsuit in the High Court, demanding a total compensation of HK$12 million."

Zhai Yuan said unhappily, "They can't even build a subway properly, they're useless! In short, they need to pay us compensation as soon as possible, otherwise we'll just go to the House of Commons and tear down banners!"

At this time, the first phase of the data mainnet of China-Hong Kong Communications has been almost completed. In about six months, it will be able to run on a trial basis between the University of Hong Kong, the Chinese University of Hong Kong and Chung-Chung College, and then promote the commercialization process.

After the minor incident of the flooded fiber optic cable,

The group crossed the Luohu Port.

After crossing the Luohu Bridge, several Toyota sedans that had been arranged in advance were already waiting.

Zhai Yuan and the others changed vehicles and continued their journey. After about an hour, the car passed through a wasteland, and the view suddenly opened up. The road surface turned into a bumpy asphalt road, and a street appeared in front of them.

On both sides of the street, steel bars and red bricks were piled up, and scaffolding was densely erected in mid-air, with dust and heat waves hitting you in the face.

Rows of faded plaques bearing names like "Hong Kong Electrical Appliance Processing Factory," "Electronic Component OEM Factory," and "Hong Kong and Taiwan Processing Point" line both sides of the street.

In 1989, Shenzhen, a city in dire need of reconstruction, was in dire need of rebuilding.

(End of this chapter)