Hong Kong Entertainment 1979: A Beating Up the Manager at the Start

Wang Feng's office is small and simply furnished, with just a desk, a few bookshelves, and a few sofas, but it is kept quite clean.

As soon as the three entered the office, Wang Feng warmly invited them to sit down and personally poured them several cups of tea.

After exchanging pleasantries for a while, Wang Feng finally got down to business.

"I wonder what brings Director Wang here today?"

"I wouldn't presume to offer advice, but surely a casual visit would be acceptable?" said Factory Director Wang.

Wang Feng laughed and said, "Of course, why not? I'm just afraid you, the director of the Beijing Film Studio, have ulterior motives!"

Upon hearing this, Factory Director Wang's expression turned serious. "Alright, Old Wang, I really do have something to ask of you today."

Tell me about it.

Factory Director Wang glanced at Li Jiangbo and gave him a wink.

Li Jiangbo immediately understood, then put down his teacup and briefly recounted Lin Qingxia's journey from Taiwan to the mainland to find her relatives.

Finally, he pointed to Lin Qingxia and said, "Ms. Lin came to the mainland this time to find her long-lost sister. We went to Laiyang and visited several villages, but so many years have passed and everything has changed. So we would like to ask Director Wang for a favor and to place a missing person ad on the television station."

Wang Feng's smile gradually turned serious. He sized up Lin Qingxia and then said:

"Is Ms. Lin from Taiwan?"

Lin Qingxia nodded without saying a word.

Wang Feng paused for a moment, picked up the phone on his desk, dialed a number, and said:

"Xiao Liu, come to my office."

After hanging up the phone, he said solemnly, "Director Li, Ms. Lin, please rest assured, we will do our best to handle this missing person notice. Compatriots on both sides of the Taiwan Strait are connected by blood. It is a great and good thing for Taiwanese compatriots to come to the mainland to find their relatives. Our TV station has this responsibility and this obligation to help."

These words were spoken with such force and conviction that they moved not only Lin Qingxia and Li Jiangbo, but also Director Wang, who was standing nearby.

Factory Director Wang sighed, "Old Wang is right!"

Li Jiangbo immediately stood up, shook hands with Wang Feng, and said, "Thank you, Director Wang!"

Wang Feng waved his hand, "No need to be so polite. In a moment, I'll have my staff take Ms. Lin to register and write down all the details of the missing person search. We'll arrange to broadcast it as soon as possible."

Soon, a young man knocked on the door and came in.

Wang Feng gave a few instructions and then had a staff member take Lin Qingxia to complete the formalities.

After Lin Qingxia left, only Li Jiangbo, Factory Director Wang, and Wang Feng remained in the office.

The group chatted for a few more minutes, then Li Jiangbo suddenly remembered something and asked:

"Director Wang, we overheard them discussing 'Journey to the West' inside the conference room just now?"

Wang Feng was taken aback for a moment, then laughed and said, "Director Li has really sharp ears. He was talking to us about the filming of Journey to the West."

Li Jiangbo feigned surprise and exclaimed, "Filming 'Journey to the West'? That's a massive undertaking!"

Wang Feng nodded and sighed, "Yes, it's a huge project, but no matter how big the project is, it has to be done!"

"Back in 1979, our Taiwanese delegation to the United States said that they had adapted Shakespeare's plays into television series, which were sold worldwide, making a fortune and spreading their culture. They said, 'We also have the Four Great Classical Novels in China, so why can't we adapt them?'"

"From that time on, Director Dai made up his mind to bring our literary classics to the screen. That's why we're discussing what to film today."

Li Jiangbo nodded. "So, are we preparing to approve the project now?"

Wang Feng shook his head with a wry smile. "No!"

He downed his tea in one gulp. "Director Li, don't laugh at me, but our station's biggest problem right now is a lack of money! We can overcome any difficulty if we want to film the Four Great Classical Novels well, but the only thing we can't accept is shoddy production."

"Actually, something else happened at the beginning of the year that really bothered us. Japan filmed a version of 'Journey to the West' and brought it here to air, but after only a few episodes, the higher-ups stopped it!"

Before Li Jiangbo could ask, Factory Director Wang interrupted, "Why?"

Wang Feng slammed his teacup on the table. "Why? Because they've ruined our classics! Tang Sanzang is a woman, Sha Wujing is a kappa, Buddha is a woman, and Golden Horn and Silver Horn are a couple? Isn't this a disgrace to our cultural heritage? Our own stuff has been ruined like this, can't you believe it?"

Li Jiangbo nodded, indicating his understanding.

Wang Feng softened his tone and continued, "So Director Dai said we should film 'Journey to the West' first, and it has to be a good one! We're not just going to make a quick buck, we have to prove those Japanese devils rightfully theirs!"

Li Jiangbo remained silent for a few seconds without saying a word.

Factory Director Wang sighed, "I never imagined things were so difficult at the station! Our movies and TV dramas are facing so many challenges right now!"

Li Jiangbo calculated that if he were to bring the mainland productions of the Four Great Classical Novels to Hong Kong for broadcast, he would absolutely crush TVB's dramas!

By then, the RTV station I bought will definitely be able to reverse its decline.

Thinking of this, he said, "Master Wang, what if—and I mean, what if—I were willing to invest?"

Wang Feng was stunned for a moment, looking at Li Jiangbo with an incredulous expression. "Director Li, this is no joke."

Li Jiangbo smiled without saying a word.

Factory Director Wang, standing to the side, chuckled and said, "Old Wang, do you know who this Director Li is?"

Wang Feng shook his head, indicating that he did not know.

Factory Director Wang pointed at Li Jiangbo, "Every movie that Director Li makes in Hong Kong is a box office champion. Last year's 'A Better Tomorrow' alone grossed more than 20 million Hong Kong dollars in Hong Kong! He has more money than both of our families combined."

Upon hearing this, Wang Feng was completely stunned.

He looked at Li Jiangbo, his eyes shifting from confusion to shock, and then to ecstatic joy.

After a while, he suddenly stood up, took a step to Li Jiangbo's side, and pulled Li Jiangbo along.

"Director Li, are you serious?"

"Really? But there's a condition."

"What are your conditions? Please tell me!"

Li Jiangbo slowly began, "I'll invest 20 million Hong Kong dollars in the four classic novels, five million for each. But I want the broadcasting rights!"

Wang Feng hesitated for a moment, then said thoughtfully, "I can't make that decision. Let's go see Director Dai now!"

Before Li Jiangbo could reply, Wang Feng pulled him straight to the fourth floor.

The two rushed to the station director's office and barged in without even knocking.

This action startled Dai Linfeng, who was reading a book. "Old Wang, what's the rush? Don't you know how to knock?"

Wang Feng completely ignored what Dai Linfeng said and excitedly recounted the whole story.

After listening, Dai Linfeng remained silent for a few seconds, then took off his glasses and carefully examined Li Jiangbo.

"Director Li, are you serious?"

Li Jiangbo nodded. "Seriously!"

"Twenty million Hong Kong dollars, that's no small sum. Aren't you afraid of losing money?"

Li Jiangbo shook his head. "If it were any other film, I think it might be a loss. But when it comes to filming the Four Great Classical Novels, I trust the judgment of the Chinese people!"

Dai Linfeng looked at Li Jiangbo, as if trying to see through him.

After a moment, he said three times, "Good, good, good!"

"Definitely! On behalf of the television station and all viewers who love the Four Great Classical Novels, thank you!"

Li Jiangbo laughed and said, "Of course, it's a win-win situation!"

Dai Linfeng turned to Wang Feng and said, "Old Wang, you personally oversee this matter. The agreement must be clearly stated; we can't let Director Li suffer any losses!"

Wang Feng nodded, then hurriedly pulled Li Jiangbo aside to discuss the contract!