Hong Kong variety show: The mastermind behind the scenes is emerging.

ATV Studio One.

The first episode of "Qiang Qiang San Ren Xing" is nearing its end.

There was no script, no audience, just a round table, three cups of tea, and three sharp-tongued people.

This attempt to localize talk shows, combined with Lok Wai-Ching's intellectual yet bold hosting style, produced a wonderful chemical reaction.

"Mr. Lung Wai, I heard you're planning to challenge Hollywood in your next film?" Lok Wai-ching asked with a sly look in her eyes, resting her chin on her hand. "I wonder if you'll be doing all your own stunts this time, without a stunt double?"

"Of course!" Although Long Wei had been somewhat embarrassed by the backlash during the hotline segment, his mysterious confidence returned when filming was mentioned. "The word 'stunt double' doesn't exist in my dictionary! I'm going to show those foreign devils what Chinese Kung Fu is all about!"

Charlie Cao, standing nearby, wiped the cold sweat from his forehead and quickly tried to smooth things over: "Ahem, well... our Dragon Force is mainly responding to those who discriminate against Asians, not referring to all foreigners..."

This mix of truth and fiction, along with the occasional revelations of insider information about the entertainment industry, keeps viewers entertained.

"That's interesting."

In the conference room of TVB, Run Run Shaw looked at the screen and immediately figured out what was going on.

"This show is similar to 'The Tonight Show' on the US, but it has been localized. This kind of program format is very novel and low-cost, but it has high requirements for the host and guests," a senior executive analyzed. "The female host, Lok Wai-ching, is quick-witted and knows how to set the pace. It seems that ATV has really struck gold this time."

"Hmph, it's just a publicity stunt. How long can a show that relies on empty talk maintain its popularity? The audience is just looking for something new." Fang Yihua still chose to be stubborn, but there was a hint of apprehension in her eyes.

However, the following program completely overturned the understanding of TVB executives.

10:30.

The scene shifts, and rousing music begins.

The screen background turned bright red, and two young hosts—the man in a red sequined outfit and the woman in a fashionable dress—appeared behind a table full of merchandise.

Their eyes were fervent, and they spoke at breakneck speed, as if they were on steroids.

"Dear viewers! I'm Ah-hao!"

"I'm Ah Zhen!"

"Welcome to ATV Home Shopping! Today is our grand opening celebration, and the factory owners have said, 'We're not doing this! We're losing money to gain publicity!' All items are at factory prices!!"

Ah Hao held up a delicate lipstick, speaking passionately to the camera: "French imported ingredients! Garreau's same craftsmanship! How much does it cost in department stores? Seventy yuan? Sixty yuan? That's robbery!!"

"Today on ATV! Not forty dollars! Not thirty dollars!"

Ah Zhen immediately chimed in, her face showing shock: "Ah Hao, are you crazy? How much will it cost?"

"Only twenty-nine yuan and ninety cents!!" Ah Hao slammed the lipstick heavily on the table. "Twenty-nine yuan and ninety cents! You won't regret it! And... buy two and get a free hand cream!!"

"Oh my god! This is such a great deal!" Ah Zhen screamed, covering her face. "I want to buy it too! The order hotline at the bottom of the screen is now open! Free delivery throughout Hong Kong Island! Cash on delivery! Only 500 sets available! Once they're gone, they're gone!!"

This series of combined attacks was something that housewives watching on TV had never seen before.

In a tenement building in Kwun Tong District.

"Wow! Twenty-nine yuan and ninety cents! And it's from the same factory as the brand name?" Ms. Chen, who was picking vegetables, stared wide-eyed. "Quick, quick! Qiang! Bring me your phone! Mom needs to make a call!"

Similar scenes are happening in countless households on Hong Kong Island.

The desire for cheap deals and the appeal of the host's highly persuasive countdown completely broke down the housewives' psychological defenses.

ATV backstage, call center.

"Ring ring ring ring ring—!!!"

Dozens of phones rang simultaneously, keeping the operators so busy they didn't even have time to drink water.

"Hello! This is ATV's order hotline... Okay, two lipsticks... Deliver to Sham Shui Po... Okay, thank you!"

An hour later.

Holding a newly compiled report, Huang Xizhao's hands were trembling as he ran into the chairman's office.

"Boss! That's amazing! Absolutely amazing!"

Huang Xizhao was so excited she was almost incoherent, "In just one hour! We received over a thousand orders for just that lipstick and non-stick pan! Sales have exceeded HK$100,000!!"

Lu Chen sat in the boss's chair, looked at the excited Lao Huang, and smiled calmly.

One hundred thousand?

This is nothing compared to the live-streaming e-commerce of later generations. But in 1982, it was already a good start.

"Calm down, Lao Huang," Lu Chen pointed to the report, "This is just the beginning. Once word gets around and everyone gets used to this way of shopping, this number could potentially increase tenfold."

"And you have to remember. We don't just make money from the price difference," a shrewd glint in Lu Chen's eyes. "When all the housewives in Hong Kong are used to buying things from ATV, we'll have the power. At that point, manufacturers will be begging us to sell their goods, and the slot fees alone will be enough to make you count money until your hands cramp."

Of course, while these lipsticks and non-stick pans aren't genuine designer brands, their quality is undeniable. So, housewives and married women won't feel cheated buying them; after all, Lu Chen wouldn't do anything to tarnish ATV's reputation. This is also a good opportunity to launch some affordable brands under Golden Harvest, focusing on a low-price strategy.

……

Wireless television station.

This time, even the usually composed Uncle Shao couldn't sit still.

"One hour of wasted time... to earn 100,000?"

Upon hearing the data reported by the scout, Uncle Shao dropped the walnut in his hand onto the table with a "thud".

He'd worked in film and television his whole life, earning a considerable amount of money. But he'd never imagined that a television station could directly sell merchandise!

And this efficiency... is even faster than a money printing machine!

If there's this kind of revenue every day, how much would ATV's monthly turnover be? Millions or tens of millions?

This is much more expensive than GG!

"Genius...it's simply a genius idea."

Uncle Shao muttered to himself, his eyes gleaming, "What's wrong with Lu Chen's brain? Did he bring a department store onto television?"

"Sixth Brother! This is great!" Fang Yihua's eyes were already practically glowing with greed. "This stuff has no barriers to entry! Isn't it just about finding a couple of eloquent hosts and a few manufacturers to supply the products? We at TVB can do it too! Plus, our coverage is higher than ATV's, so we'll definitely sell more!"

As a greedy and shrewd woman, Fang Yihua instantly saw the enormous profits involved.

"Let's do it! We absolutely have to!" Fang Yihua immediately turned to the deputy general manager of the production department beside her. "Old Zhang, get someone to start preparations right away! Tomorrow... no, the day after tomorrow! We also need to launch 'Wireless Shopping' in the afternoon!"

However, the vice president, Lao Zhang, looked troubled and stammered, "Miss Fang... I'm afraid that won't work."

"Why not? Are our hosts worse than those at ATV?" Fang Yihua glared.

"It's not the host's fault," Old Zhang said cautiously, wiping his sweat. "We just received news from the legal department that... ATV has been on guard against this for a while. They not only registered the 'TV shopping' program trademark, but they even applied for patent protection for this business model of 'displaying goods on television and ordering by phone' at the Hong Kong Island Patent Office..."

"What?!" Fang Yihua's expression changed upon hearing this. "This kind of thing can be patented? That's utterly shameless!"

"Cough cough..."

A few awkward coughs echoed in the conference room.

Everyone was thinking: You were the one trying to copy someone else's idea, and now that they've taken precautions, you're calling them shameless? This double standard is just too much.

"It's just a patent. At worst, we can drag it out in court. Even if we lose, we'll just have to pay some money," Shaw waved his hand, interrupting Fang Yihua's impotent rage, and said calmly, "But I'm worried that since Lu Chen dared to do this, it means he's been on guard against us for a while. That young man's background is not simple, and we may not be able to afford to drag this out."

Shaw thought of Lu Chen's billion-dollar fortune and his relationship with the shipping magnate, Sir Guo, and others.

If a lawsuit were to be filed, TVB might not come out on top; instead, it would only cause more trouble.

"Forget it." Uncle Shao took a deep breath, suppressing his greed. "Let's put this matter aside for now and see what happens."

Fang Yihua gritted her teeth in resentment, but dared not utter another word. She knew that even her sixth uncle was wary of someone she couldn't afford to offend.

……

Noon.

"Legal Report"

This show didn't have any lighthearted moments; instead, it immediately grabbed everyone's attention with a dark and eerie melody.

The Happy Valley cardboard box murder case of 1974 remains shrouded in mystery to this day…

On the screen, the reenactment of the scene was filmed with the quality of a suspense movie. The host sat in the studio, analyzing the case meticulously in an almost ghost story-telling tone, while interspersing legal knowledge explanations.

This "curiosity + legal education" format captivated the middle-aged men who had just finished lunch, making them forget even to smoke their post-lunch cigarettes.

Five o'clock in the afternoon.

The school bell rang throughout Hong Kong.

This time, a spectacle unfolded on the streets.

The elementary school students, who usually like to play football on the playground or linger in the convenience store after school, all seemed to have made a pact to run home today.

"Hurry! Armor Hero is about to start!"

When the red-armored warrior on the TV screen shouted "Flame Dragon Armor, combine!", countless little boys sitting in front of the TV jumped up from the sofa excitedly, waving their arms as if they had become heroes themselves.

During the middle of the series when the show ended, the "Flame Dragon Summoner" and "Blazing Blade" produced by Jiahe Toy Factory were also released.

The parents looked into their children's longing eyes and helplessly touched their wallets.

Lu Chen's "combination punches" were incredibly accurate.

……

at last.

Night falls.

7 PM.

This is the "prime time" in Hong Kong's television industry, and also the strongest bastion of TVB's ratings.

But today, this fortress is crumbling.

On the television screens of countless households, an ancient longsword appeared, piercing straight into the sky.

As the melodious, poignant, and grand prelude began, a dashing figure appeared on screen, riding a flying sword and weaving through a sea of ​​clouds.

Li Xiaoyao.

Immediately afterwards, the camera shifts to a pond full of lotus flowers, where a beautiful and ethereal young woman, like a celestial maiden, turns her head and smiles.

Zhao Ling'er.

[Produced by Golden Harvest Pictures]

[The Legend of Sword and Fairy - A Large-Scale Fantasy Drama]

The opening sequence alone was enough to completely stun all viewers sitting in front of their televisions—whether they were switching channels from TVB to catch a glimpse or were already glued to ATV.

"Wow...this scene..."

"Is this a movie shoot? The scenery is absolutely stunning!"

"How did they do that flying sword? It looks just like the real thing!"

Compared to the martial arts dramas produced by TVB in cramped studios with backdrops that were often wrinkled, the visual impact of "Chinese Paladin" was devastating.

It features magnificent landscapes filmed on location, optical effects created at great expense, elegant ancient costumes meticulously designed and sewn, and the concept of "fantasy martial arts" that had never appeared on screen before in that era.

At the beginning of the story, Li Xiaoyao, a small-time hoodlum in Yuhang Town, went to the legendary Fairy Island in order to save his aunt.

The moment that ethereal island appeared on the television screen, ATV's ratings curve, like a giant dragon raising its head, surged upwards, instantly breaking through its historical high and continuing to soar!

TVB, on the other hand, was shrouded in gloom and despair.

"Chairman... the ratings..." The staff member's voice trembled as he looked at the plummeting TV ratings curve, "It's fallen below 25 points... and it's still falling..."

Uncle Shao stared at the young man flying on a sword on the screen, his fingers trembling as he took off his glasses, remaining silent for a long time.

He knew that the wolves were not only coming.

Moreover, this wolf bit through Wireless's throat in one bite.