America: My Time

Chapter 878 Cutting the Trouble with a Quick Sword

Chapter 848 Cutting Through the Gordian Knife

"I'm so sorry to have troubled Mr. Xiang!" Although John said he was sorry, his face didn't reflect that. The Xiang brothers, of course, didn't take John's words seriously. They knew their own status better than John's. To take John's polite words at face value would be foolish!
With the help of Phoenix Media and Legendary Entertainment, the Xiang brothers' film company is thriving. Backed by two world-class media groups, their films can be easily distributed in Asia, earning considerable box office revenue and making a lot of money. Most importantly, the Xiang brothers are trustworthy people, which makes it easier for them to gain recognition in the industry.

“Mr. John, you flatter me. This is what we should do. In fact, we have wanted to visit you for a long time. There is too much quick money flowing into the Hong Kong film and television industry, and we are under a lot of pressure. If this continues, it will affect everyone’s interests!”

“I know, I’ve heard Zou Daheng say that, but do you think this is a problem we can solve? If the British don’t change, this will continue indefinitely. For us, the only thing to do is protect ourselves. There’s no need to target those guys. As long as they don’t infringe on our interests, let them be. You should also be aware of the many things behind this. We’re doing legitimate business, and it’s best not to get involved in this kind of thing, or we’ll be in endless trouble.”

At this moment, John reminded the Xiang brothers what all this quick money pouring into Hong Kong was for. Although he didn't care about these guys' existence, he didn't want to offend them. There was no need for that. Cutting off someone's livelihood was not a good thing, especially since those guys were not good people. If they held a grudge against him, it would be troublesome.

"But these guys don't follow the rules. Their presence has thrown the entire industry into chaos. Many people have been forced to act, and I'm under considerable pressure as well. More quick money is pouring in, and it's all from triad funds. Where there's money to be made, there will naturally be more people. I'm worried that things will spiral out of control, and then Hong Kong's film industry will suffer a devastating blow. Those guys are cutting off our livelihoods!"

"This is something we can't solve. The British are inactive, and there's nothing we can do about it. Their inaction will only make the situation more dangerous. Phoenix Group will continue as before. If you want a film to be shown on Phoenix Cinemas, you have to get it approved by us. Otherwise, no one's face will matter. Phoenix Cinemas will not show bad films."

"But Phoenix Cinemas alone won't be enough. There's more than one cinema chain in Hong Kong; other chains will always be showing the films. If they keep doing this, Hong Kong films will become ubiquitous, and the entire industry will suffer." It has to be said that the Xiang brothers are quite capable, able to see the underlying problems, but these are not issues they can resolve.

"We just need to focus on doing our own thing. How others make their films is their own business. We'll stick to our original plan. Even if the Hong Kong market is sluggish, we still have Japan, Taiwan, South Korea, and Southeast Asia. Phoenix Cinemas is all over Asia, so what do you have to worry about? If the quality is good, we can also enter the European and American markets, since that's where the big players are!"

John's words made the Xiang brothers nod. It was indeed not a problem for them, but if the order was disrupted, the entire Hong Kong market would be in chaos, and they would also suffer losses. Moreover, they were not only facing market problems, but also those scoundrels who wanted to get involved and share the profits.

When John saw the change in the Xiang brothers' expressions, he instantly understood that they had come not only because of his invitation, but also on behalf of some greedy people. After all, how could these people not be tempted by a market where they could make money and do other things?

"You two are here today representing Hong Kong, or rather, those greedy bastards. Tell them that Phoenix Group and Legendary Entertainment don't care who they are or what they want to do. The theaters only care about the quality of their films. As long as the quality is up to standard, the two groups won't obstruct them. Just don't do anything underhanded and provoke my displeasure. Although Hong Kong has become chaotic under the indulgence of the British, I don't want my business here to be affected, or the people around me to be affected. Otherwise, they will bear my wrath. Unless they stay in Hong Kong, they will only face death. Jaguar Security Company is not just for show!"

John's words were heavy at this moment, making the Xiang brothers feel a little suffocated. Having cooperated with John for so long, they naturally knew how powerful this tycoon was. He was a true American financial magnate, a top-tier one, and possessed his own armed forces. Although they didn't seem to have much to do with this tycoon on the surface, any smart person knew the reality: angering him would have serious consequences.

"Mr. John, we will inform them, but as you know, there are too many social groups, large and small, in Hong Kong. Not everyone will accept this, and we cannot guarantee that they will agree to coexist peacefully with the two major groups." "Don't feel burdened, just tell them. Mr. Zou spoke with me once at the reception, and I refused because they gave me face by not affecting the development of the two major groups. So I'll give them face in return. Phoenix Cinemas is open to them, but the rules cannot be broken. Phoenix Cinemas only produces high-quality films. As for whether those guys accept it or not, that's their own decision. If anyone dares to cause trouble, I'm not someone to be trifled with! Even if they're in Hong Kong, I'm not without options. I can give the British a warning and get them to take action!"

At this moment, the Xiang brothers sensed the killing intent in John's words—the killing intent towards enemies. John was no longer the man he once was; having experienced so much, he had become ruthless and decisive. Since they couldn't waste their time and energy on them, they decided to directly warn these guys: if they didn't behave, they would make an example of them.

If it angers John, making a deal with the English isn't out of the question. It could tempt those good-for-nothings and teach those troublemakers a lesson, since even the English have weaknesses.

Controlling the cinema chains is a constraint for those looking to make a quick buck. While John can't control all the cinema chains in Hong Kong, Phoenix Cinemas is the largest and a global cinema group, capable of promoting films in Asia and even Europe and America—something other chains can't do. It won't affect those genuinely interested in entering the industry, but it's a major deterrent for those who only want to make quick money regardless of film quality.

John didn't know if he could change the future of Hong Kong's film industry, but he knew that taking action offered hope. He wasn't placing all his hopes on Hong Kong; the whole of Asia was making moves, unlike the Hong Kong companies which only knew how to cling to the status quo and lacked ambition. As a global media and entertainment giant, it naturally had an advantage over other film companies when dealing with other nations. If they were friendly, it would be under the name of Hong Kong; if they were unfriendly, it would be under the name of American film companies, using the banner of American corporations to force them to compromise.

As John watched the Xiang brothers leave with heavy expressions, he couldn't help but shake his head. He knew that these two guys were under a lot of pressure, but John couldn't help them. This was the path they had to walk themselves. Phoenix Group and Legendary Entertainment wouldn't compromise because of this little thing in Hong Kong. If they couldn't even solve this small matter, the old guys in the US would probably swarm in, and those guys in Europe weren't any better.

Because he understands the cruelty of society, John can only do this much: as long as the other party doesn't provoke him, he won't erect any barriers to keep them out. John won't do anything foolish like sacrificing himself for others, nor can he; otherwise, he wouldn't have repeatedly emphasized Mr. Zou's matter. With the Xiang brothers' intelligence, they will naturally understand his meaning and warn those guys, but how effective that will be is hard to say.

John has done what he was supposed to do. Now it's up to those guys to choose. It's up to them to see if anyone will make a move against him amidst the chaos in Hong Kong, or if anyone will become the target of his power-building efforts, the chicken that gets slaughtered.

"Are you a little surprised? Or do you think I went a bit too far?" Seeing Chung Chu-hung's puzzled look, John asked with a calm smile. He was willing to let her understand all of this better.

"It was indeed somewhat unexpected. Those social groups in Hong Kong are quite reckless. Wouldn't such a direct threat provoke their anger and make the situation even more dangerous? If we had given them some convenience, this wouldn't have happened."

“Normally, your thinking is correct, but it’s not suitable at this time and under these circumstances. What we need is not cooperation, but to establish our authority. You only see the situation in Hong Kong, but I need to consider globalization. If even these guys in Hong Kong can make me back down, what do you think Taiwan, South Korea, Japan, and Europe and America will be like? Can I keep backing down? Even if we know there will be losses, some sacrifices must be made for the sake of the overall situation. Security in Hong Kong will be strengthened. Anyone who dares to cause trouble should be prepared to die.” John didn’t intend to waste any more time and energy on this matter, so a swift and decisive approach was the best choice.

(End of this chapter)