Chapter 18: with translation of chapter title

The bustling Copper Gong Bay, with vehicles and horses flowing like water on the streets, pedestrian volume always large, this is Gangdao's most prosperous commercial district; in later generations, the land prices here rank among the world's highest.

Gangdao, this prosperous international metropolis, hides countless wealthy families behind it; compared to them, gangs are like rats in the sewers, unseen.

They not only sit on astonishing wealth, but also occupy a pivotal position in political, business, and cultural spheres.

They all must craft a beautiful facade for themselves, daring not let others see the bloody maw inside.

But in this wealthy elite's hall, the distribution of wealth is not even.

The difference between new money and old money is like an invisible chasm, lying between these wealthy families.

When speaking of new money families, Gangdao residents first think of Li Jiasheng, Guo Desheng, Li Zhaoji, Zheng Yutong, the shipping king, Huo Shahuang, and other business tycoons.

Um, currently Huo Shahuang is living a bit stifled; the Hong Kong government constantly watches him, keeping a low profile.

It's no wonder those foreigners keep an eye on him; this old gentleman is too fierce, the things he's done, Li Xin admires.

(Interested friends can go look up Huo Shahuang's interesting anecdotes; they're more entertaining than damn novels! Makes my blood boil.)

Their names represent the pinnacle of Gangdao's Chinese business world.

But compared to these new money families, there are also some earlier wealthy families; their names are equally familiar: the Zhou Yongtai family, the He Dong family, the Li Peicai family, and the Li Xizhen family. (Not a typo, those who understand get it).

Not mentioning He Dong, his family's branch is none other than Ao Island's gambling king He Xin; Li Xin has long coveted He Qiong, the eldest daughter of his second house, but just never managed to connect!

It's not that I'm after his family's money; if I really need money, I, Li Xin, can go steal and rob—it's not the first time, I'm practiced.

He and those people are all robbing, but Li Xin's technique is far worse than theirs!

Too crude!

Just this person alone is already so tempting; it could save him a lot of trouble.

These people mostly come from comprador backgrounds; the Li family may not be well known to everyone, but mention a company and you'll know—TVB originally belonged to the Li family, later acquired by Shao Lao Liu.

The Li family got its start from opium.

Initially spending three hundred plus wan, they bought a large plot of land in Copper Gong Bay, earning the title 'Land King of Copper Gong Bay'.

Such families can even launder their reputation, and are still called old money families.

Really, there's no justice!

These old money families not only possess deep wealth foundations, but also hold an unshakable position in political, business, and cultural spheres.

Li Huanggua is even more of a white-wolf-with-nothing-in-hand, in seven nine year he took over Hutchison Whampoa, and behind the scenes he also received strong support from HSBC, showing how deep his ties with foreigners are.

Li Xin also wanted a taste of the real estate industry's sweetness, but he couldn't get in! So he could only stick his hand in from the outside.

The difference between new and old money lies not only in the accumulation time of wealth, but also in the family's influence.

These old money families have taken root in Gangdao for a hundred years; the waters beneath are unfathomably deep.

In this Gangdao full of miracles, the old and new alternate, wealth and power intertwine, forming a magnificent scroll; Li Xin wants to draw a circle on this scroll.

There's still one year left; that John Niu old lady will soon be kneeling and kowtowing.

So he must hurry to launder the money, otherwise he'll never be able to get his hand into the real estate industry.

Xiao Pangzi isn't good at big-scene action movies, but he knows what everyone likes to watch. They're all top-notch.

In this era we still need to find Wu Baige; as long as we don't let him film historical dramas, this person is still reliable.

In his previous life, when he watched A Better Tomorrow, he felt that the line 'I haven't been a Big Brother for many years!' was the most flavorful.

He, Li Xin, also hasn't been a Big Brother for many days!

……

Three days later.

Copper Gong Bay Jiahe Cinema, many jianghu people came one after another to attend the film premiere.

Because it's his first film, Li Xin is very conscientious, personally doing the greeter; Luo Tianhong and Chen Yaoxing follow at his side to help.

"Ay, Min Ge being able to come in person really gives A Xin face, makes me shine; at the later banquet I definitely need to drink a few more cups."

Li Xin enthusiastically grabbed the hand of Shui Shui Min of the Number Gang.

"Your A Xin film company just opened, of course I had to come; otherwise I'd be afraid you'd badmouth me behind my back," Shui Shui Min teased.

"That won't do, I'll go to your house and scold you to your face." After saying that, he pulled him inside, walking and saying, "Shui Ge, do you have any ideas? Want to make a movie?"

Shui Shui Min slapped Li Xin's arm, annoyed, and said: "Damn, I'm the Double Flower Red Pole of the Number Gang, and you want me to make a movie for you? You can even say that!"

Seeing this old guy and a few familiar friends shooting the breeze, Li Xin thought to himself, "Old timer, there will be a day when you beg me."

Hmm, he's still young now; he'll be better in a few years; for now, just call him.

More and more people came to the door; they, the few of them, were overwhelmed, so they also pulled Han Bin and Jingkun out.

"Water Buffalo Brother, welcome, welcome, please come inside."

"Uncle Tian, you've come all this way and still disturbed us; sorry, sorry, Tianhong, quickly take Uncle Tian to Mr. Jiang's table." After being busy for over an hour, they finally waited for the movie to start.

The result was pleasing; everyone said it was something they had experienced, although somewhat exaggerated, but it had a strong jianghu flavor.

Word spread ten to a hundred, and this movie quickly exploded among the short donkeys.

Lately, there have always been riffraff going to Causeway Bay to find Chen Haonan, saying they want to follow him, to give Big Brother B joy, making him unable to stop grinning.

Now, when recruiting, they have to go through screening: no Daoists, no those not strong enough, no those too short.

Even Big Brother B can damn say that, with his height of 1.5 meters, he still looks down on others for being short.

Where can one even reason about this?

……

In the company office, Li Xin lay comfortably on Qiuti's thigh, eyes closed, asking: "How's the box office?"

Qiuti wrapped her right hand around Li Xin's neck, her happy voice tinged with pleasure: "In just three days we've already got nearly ten million in box office; the theater manager said, 'After the screening ends, we'll at least have sixty or seventy million, this is truly a great start,' and after saying that she lowered her head and kissed him."

(I looked up the data; in 1982 the top ten film box offices, the highest was over twenty million, and even tenth place had over ten million; possibly a bit exaggerated, but not many.)

After changing to a more comfortable pose, "Hmm, not bad, did the Wu Baige you contacted reply?"

"No, their company people said he went to London to feed pigeons, can't get in touch."

Um, normal, it's said this person just has this hobby, so let's wait for him to come back.

Gangdao film just has this one problem, it reeks of petty bourgeoisie, lacks the foundation of cultural heritage, they can't shoot those grand, magnificent scenes.

Especially historical dramas, they're all damn historically illiterate; look at what they film, not a single one is watchable!

Flying saucer hats are all good, Guan Yu, Guan Erye, they all damn know modern close-quarters combat now!

There can be four Embroidered Uniform Guard commanders, I'm damn impressed, don't they have to fight all day?

Li Xin hurriedly cleared the images in his head, soon it would be time for that line 'Mengmeng stand up, you can do it.'

Ma: I damn can't.