[{"data":1,"prerenderedAt":-1},["ShallowReactive",2],{"origin-hong-kong-1984":3,"chapter-hong-kong-1984-hong-kong-1984-building-a-cultural-empire-chapter-66":6},{"origin":4,"title":5},"chinese","Hong Kong 1984",{"chapter":7,"nextChapterSlug":19,"prevChapterSlug":20,"totalChapters":21,"novelImage":22},{"id":8,"novel_id":9,"title":10,"slug":11,"index":12,"content":13,"wordcount":14,"created_at":15,"updated_at":15,"volume":16,"translator":17,"content_hash":18},2224050,4066,"Chapter 66: Chen Lan","hong-kong-1984-building-a-cultural-empire-chapter-66",66,"\u003Cp>Afternoon sunlight streamed through the floor-to-ceiling windows into the office, where Xiang Fei was bent over reviewing the casting list for \"Bus Forty-Four\" when a soft knock sounded at the door.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Ah Fei, busy?\" Xiang Xiang Huaqiang pushed the door open, followed by a woman with a capable demeanor.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Xiang Fei looked up, his gaze landing on the woman—Chen Lan, Xiang Xiang Huaqiang's wife, and in this life, his \"aunt.\" He immediately stood, a proper smile gracing his face.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Uncle Qiang, and this is?\" he asked, feigning ignorance.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Xiang Xiang Huaqiang laughed, pulling Chen Lan forward: \"Come, come, let me formally introduce you; this is your aunt, Chen Lan!\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Chen Lan laughed heartily, striding forward to pat Xiang Fei's shoulder: \"Aiya, so this is our family's great talent! Ah Qiang praises you daily at home until my ears are about to grow calluses!\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Infected by her straightforward nature, Xiang Fei shook his head with a smile: \"Aunt, don't listen to Uncle Qiang's nonsense; I just got lucky.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"What luck? I've read both 'Ghost Blows Out the Light' and 'Infernal Affairs'; the scripts are truly beautiful!\" Chen Lan's eyes sparkled. \"And those songs you wrote for Ah Min? I hum them all day at home!\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Xiang Xiang Huaqiang interjected: \"Enough, enough, don't start praising him endlessly the moment you meet.\" He turned to Xiang Fei: \"Your aunt heard you're short on hands here and insisted on coming to see.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Chen Lan glared at Xiang Xiang Huaqiang: \"What, can't I show concern for my own nephew?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Xiang Fei couldn't help but laugh: \"Of course you're welcome! I happen to be discussing recruiting artists with Uncle Sheng this afternoon; would you like to join us, Aunt?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Half an hour later, in the conference room of Wing Shing Pictures, the four sat around a table.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Chewing on a cigar, Xiang Sheng flipped through the list in his hand: \"Currently, the company has only three signed artists: Zhou Zhou Huimin, Liu Liu Furong, and Zhou Zhou Xingchi; indeed, far too few.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Xiang Xiang Huaqiang tapped the table: \"We only have Wang Jing and Chen Chen Kexin as directors; simply not enough.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Chen Lan suddenly spoke up: \"I actually know a few promising talents.\" She pulled a stack of documents from her bag: \"This model named Li Li Jiaxin has a very unique aura; and Zhang Zhang Jiahui, though just debuting, possesses solid acting skills.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Xiang Fei took the documents, his eyes lighting up—Li Li Jiaxin and Zhang Zhang Jiahui, both future award-winning actors! Suppressing his excitement, he remarked calmly: \"Aunt has a sharp eye; these two are indeed excellent.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Xiang Sheng leaned in to look: \"Not bad, Sister-in-Law; your connections are even wider than mine!\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Chen Lan lifted her chin proudly: \"Of course; by the time I was making my way in the industry, you lot were still playing in the mud!\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Everyone burst into laughter.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Xiang Fei wrote several names on the whiteboard: \"We need to proceed in two steps: first, sign established artists; second, cultivate new talent.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Xiang Xiang Huaqiang nodded: \"I'll handle negotiations for established artists; I know the bosses of Liu Qingyun and Tony Leung Chiu-wai well.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Chen Lan raised her hand: \"Leave the female artists to me; I can secure meetings with Joey Wong and others.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Xiang Sheng exhaled a ring of smoke: \"As for directors, I'll be responsible for poaching Tsui Hark and Johnnie To.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The meeting lasted until dusk, during which the four detailed a recruitment plan:\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>-Artists: Xiang Xiang Huaqiang and Chen Lan to leverage their networks to recruit major stars;\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>-Directors Team: Xiang Sheng to contact renowned directors while simultaneously nurturing emerging talent;\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After finalizing the last details, Xiang Xiang Huaqiang stretched: \"Alright, that's it for today.\" He turned to Xiang Fei: \"Care to come over for dinner tonight? Your aunt will cook personally.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Chen Lan's eyes lit up: \"Yes, yes, let me show off my skills!\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Xiang Fei nodded with a smile: \"Then I shall impose on you.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>In Xiang Xiang Huaqiang's mansion, the rich aroma of food wafted through the air.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Chen Lan, wearing an apron, busied herself in the kitchen; when Xiang Fei tried to help, she shooed him out: \"Go, go, men shouldn't enter the kitchen!\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Xiang Xiang Huaqiang pulled him into the living room: \"Let your aunt work; she rarely has the mood to cook.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>At the dining table, Chen Lan served her signature dishes: braised chicken with abalone, steamed leopard coral grouper, and stir-fried seasonal vegetables with crab meat. Xiang Fei took a bite and praised sincerely: \"Aunt, your culinary skills are good enough to open a restaurant!\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Chen Lan proudly placed more food in Xiang Fei's bowl: \"If you like it, come often! Look how thin you are; are you working too hard?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Xiang Sheng teased: \"Sister-in-Law, your favoritism is too obvious!\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The four chatted and laughed, enjoying a harmonious atmosphere.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As night fell, Xiang Fei stood on the balcony, gazing out at the night view of Weigang.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Chen Lan walked over and handed him a cup of hot tea: \"What are you thinking about?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Xiang Fei took the teacup and said softly: \"I just feel... it's wonderful to have family support.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Chen Lan patted his shoulder: \"Silly child, family doesn't speak two different languages.\" She paused, then added: \"By the way, that girl Ah Min is nice; when will you bring her home for a meal?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Xiang Fei's ears grew hot: \"Aunt...\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Chen Lan laughed loudly: \"Alright, alright, I won't tease you anymore. Just remember, Wing Shing is our Xiang family's business, but more importantly, it is your dream. We are merely here to build the stage for you!\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A night breeze swept past; Xiang Fei tightened his grip on the teacup, his heart filled with strength.\u003C\u002Fp>",959,"2026-06-17T20:39:14.290Z",1,"Qwen3.5 397B","18e23b066e128ddee5c9479896200d15b18a60adcf3464691319773d0d2fba21","hong-kong-1984-building-a-cultural-empire-chapter-67","hong-kong-1984-building-a-cultural-empire-chapter-65",152,"https:\u002F\u002Fnovelzhen.com\u002Fimages\u002Fcovers\u002Fhong-kong-1984-cover.jpg"]