Chapter 6 Section 6

"At noon, a gentleman you don't know invites you to dinner. The secretary lady on the phone said: "Our Chairman Zhou will come to the hotel lobby to pick you up on time. " "When you go down to the hall, a well-dressed gentleman comes over immediately, handing over his business card with both hands: "I have admired you for a long time," the other party also said that they watched your play, and they did not hesitate to waste your time. Would you like to have a light meal together? "You got into his Mercedes limousine, the logo of Regal. Mr. Chairman drove by himself, and asked you what you like to eat.

"Everything is good, Hong Kong is a paradise for eating," you say. "It's not like Paris, where there are so many beautiful women," Mr. Zhou said with a smile as he drove. "Not necessarily, the subway is full of homeless people," you say, beginning to believe that the other person is indeed a boss. "The car drove across the bay and entered the long undersea tunnel to Kowloon. "Mr. Zhou said:" Let's go to the Jockey Club, it's relatively quiet at noon, and it's easy to chat.When you are not racing horses, you have to be a member of the Jockey Club Club to eat there. "

"There are rich men in Hong Kong who are interested in your drama, and you start to find it interesting. "Sit down, Mr. Zhou ordered some light dishes, stop joking about the beauty! Calm down. There are only a few tables with customers in this spacious and comfortable restaurant, and the waiters are standing far away in the foyer waiting quietly, unlike the usual restaurants in Hong Kong When is it bustling and full of diners? "To tell you the truth, I came here by smuggling from the mainland. During the Cultural Revolution, I worked in a military farm in Guangdong. I have already graduated from high school. I have some brains. I can't be buried like this for the rest of my life."

"Smuggling is also very dangerous" "Of course. At that time, my parents were locked up, and the house was confiscated! Heng Zhi is a five-category bitch." "Going to meet a shark—" "That's not so scary. You can fight and see your luck. What you're afraid of is people. The searchlights of patrol ships sweep around the sea and open fire when they find stowaways." "Then how did you swim here?" "I prepared two basketball bladders. At that time, the basketball had a rubber tire and a long mouth for blowing air." "I know, when children learn to swim and use them as life buoys, plastic mouthpieces were not common at that time," you nodded.

"If you want a boat to pass, let go of your breath and dive. I have practiced for a whole summer, and I have prepared straws." Mr. Zhou smiled, but it was half a smile, which made you feel a little desolate, and no longer looked like a rich man. "Hong Kong is a good place because you can mess around in anything. I'm an upstart. No one knows my origins now. I've changed my name a long time ago. People only know Mr. Zhou, the chairman of the company." The corners of his mouth and eyes showed a bit Proud, return to the appearance of a rich man. "You understand that this is not coming for you. I have never met you before, but I have no scruples to reveal my life experience. This kind of complacency is just a habit formed by his current status.

"I appreciate your plays, but Hong Kong locals may not understand them all," he said. "Often it's too late to understand." You hesitated before saying, "This requires some special experience." "That's right," he affirmed. "You like drama?" you ask. "I don't usually go to theaters," he said, "I only watch ballets and listen to concerts. I also book tickets for famous singers from the West, operas and symphonies. Now I have to enjoy art! But I haven't seen Mr. Your kind of play." "Understood," you smiled, and asked again, "Then why did you think of watching this show?"

"A friend called me and introduced me," he said. "That means there are still people who understand?" "It's also from the mainland." "You said that this is still a play you wrote when you were in mainland China, but it can only be performed outside of mainland China. What you write today has nothing to do with mainland China. "He said he was the same. His wife and children were all born in Hong Kong! He is a Hong Kong native. He has been here for almost 30 years, and he is considered a Hong Kong native. He only has some business contacts with the mainland, and business is getting more and more difficult. He "Significant sums of money have been withdrawn anyway."

"Where are you going to invest?" You can't help but ask. "Australia," he said, "watching your play made me more determined." "You said that your play does not have a very specific Chinese background, but it is about the general relationship between people. "He said he understood that he needed a fallback. "Won't Australia exclude Chinese people? Want all Hong Kong people to flock to Australia?" you ask. "That's what I want to discuss with you." "Don't know Australia, I live in Paris," you say.

"What about France?" he asked, keeping his eyes on you. “Racism is everywhere, and of course it is in France,” you said. "It's also difficult for Chinese in the West..." He picked up the glass with half a glass of orange juice in it, and then put it down again. "You were a little touched, and said that since his family was born and raised here, the business can still be done in Hong Kong, so of course he might as well prepare a way out. "He said he was honored that you had the honor of having such a light meal with him, as a man, so frank. "You said it was him who was honest, Chinese people live under a mask, and it is not easy to take off the mask.

"It is also because they have no interest in each other that they can become friends." "He spoke so thoroughly, it is obvious that he has seen through the vicissitudes of life. "You still have a reporter to interview at three o'clock in the afternoon. He made an appointment at a coffee shop in Wanchai. He said he could take you there. You said he was busy too, so you're welcome. He said that you can find it when you come to Hong Kong again. Him. You thanked him for his kindness and said that this might be your last show in Hong Kong. We will see you again someday, but I hope it’s not in Australia. He quickly said no, he will definitely see you when he goes to Paris. You stay He also immediately wrote your address and telephone number on the business card and told you that if you need help, you can call him and hope to see you again.

"The reporter is" a lady wearing glasses.As soon as you enter the coffee shop, she will stand up from the seat facing the sea in front of the large glass window and wave to you.She took off her glasses and said, "I don't usually wear glasses, but I've only seen your photos in newspapers, and I'm afraid I won't recognize you." "She put the glasses into the bag, took out a small tape recorder, and asked:" Can I record? " "You said you had no worries. "I do interviews to ensure that the introduction is accurate," she said, "but many journalists in Hong Kong write it by hand, which sometimes makes mainland writers very angry and even asks for corrections. Of course I understand their situation. You are different, although you are also from the mainland. Yes, I know that." "There is no leader." You smiled. "She said that her editor-in-chief is okay. She usually doesn't touch her manuscripts. She can post whatever she writes. She can't bear the constraints. After 1997, it will be 1997 again. If she can't continue, she can leave. . "May I ask Miss where you plan to go?" "She said that she holds a Hong Kong passport from the UK and cannot settle in the UK. Besides, she doesn't like the UK. She plans to go to the US, but she likes Spain. "Why Spain and not America?" "She bit her lower lip, smiled, and said that she had a Spanish boyfriend who she met when she was traveling in Spain, but they had broken up. Her current boyfriend is also from Hong Kong, an architect, and he didn't want to leave. "It's hard to find a job elsewhere," she said. "Of course, Hong Kong is the most intuitive thing for me." She said that she has been to many countries. Traveling is certainly fun, but it is difficult to live there.Hong Kong No, she and her parents were both born in Hong Kong. She is a complete Hong Kong native. She also specializes in the study of Hong Kong's history, humanities, and customs changes, and is preparing to write a book. "Then what are you going to do in America?" you ask. "Further study, I have already contacted a university." "A PhD?" "Maybe see what jobs are available while you're reading." "Then what about your boyfriend?" "I can leave after I get married! Maybe... I don't know what to do?" Her eyes didn't look short-sighted, but rather dazed. "Am I interviewing you, or are you interviewing me?" "She withdrew her eyes and pressed the tape recorder." Okay, now please talk about your views on Hong Kong's cultural policies after the handover. Will Hong Kong's dramas be affected?This is a matter of concern and concern to the cultural circles in Hong Kong. You come from the mainland, can you share your views? " "After the interview, you take the ferry across the bay to Kowloon, go to the theater in the cultural center to explain to the actors, and then you can go back to the hotel when the play starts, so that you can have a quiet dinner with Margaret. "The sun shines obliquely on the sea from the clouds, and the blue water is shimmering! The cool breeze is naturally more comfortable than the indoor air conditioner. On the Hong Kong Island separated by the sea, there are towering buildings on the lush hillside, and the noise of the noisy city gradually Stepping away, a rhythmic impact sound became more and more distinct on the sea. Looking at the reputation, the Great Hall built for the handover ceremony between Britain and China in 1997 is under construction on the seashore, and the steam hammer is pounding and piling again and again. The statement plainly reminds you that at this very moment, this Hong Kong is becoming China without any delay. The sunlight reflected by the waves makes you squint your eyes and feel a little sleepy. The China you thought you had bid farewell to still haunts you You have to get rid of it completely. You want to go to Lan Kwai Fong with Margaret at night, that very Europeanized street, and find a bar with jazz music to get drunk.