hotmtlnovel Chapter 1472 Chicken talking to duck
Chapter 1472 Chicken talking to duck
The morning sunlight streamed through the floor-to-ceiling windows of the Shi family villa's living room, casting dappled shadows on the floor. Shi Fangren sat at the dining table, holding a copy of the Sing Tao Daily, intently reading the financial section. Below the front page was a small but eye-catching news item with the headline: "Sam Hui's endorsement ignites a fast-food craze across Hong Kong."
The news article was accompanied by a photo—Sam Hui standing in front of a Burger King restaurant, holding a burger and flashing his signature smile at the camera. A long queue stretched from the store entrance to the edge of the photo.
Shi Fangren looked at the newspaper, shaking his head as he read, but couldn't help but sigh:
"I have to say, this young Qin is really something. I originally thought he was just a young man who could do some small business, but I never expected that he would come up with the idea of hiring Sam Hui as a spokesperson. This has completely made 'Burger King' famous."
He paused, then tapped his fingers lightly on the newspaper:
"And the timing was perfect. They just signed Sam Hui, and the advertising was everywhere, making everyone in Hong Kong aware of 'Burger King.' Then they announced the IPO next year. Now, I'm afraid all the securities firms in Hong Kong are eyeing this lucrative opportunity."
His tone carried both admiration and a hint of regret—regret that the idea wasn't his.
Shi Xiaona, who was eating breakfast nearby, lit up when she heard this. She put down her milk glass and smiled in agreement:
"Yeah, I never expected Sam Hui's endorsement to be so effective. The Burger King near our school used to have long queues, but it wasn't nearly as bad as it is now. Now, there are long lines outside every day from morning till night, and you have to wait at least ten minutes to buy something."
As she spoke, a smile appeared on her face:
"And the 'Tea Yan Yue Se' next door is doing incredibly well. Many people who buy a burger will also buy a milk tea. Sometimes when I go to buy milk tea, I have to wait in line for ages."
But Shi Xiaojun, sitting opposite him, was not happy at all. He irritably put down his coffee cup, which made a crisp "clink" sound on the saucer.
"Dad, you still have the mind to praise him?" Shi Xiaojun's voice was filled with obvious dissatisfaction and anxiety. "That Qin Hao, now that he's gained some fame with Burger King, he's got a big head on his shoulders. I went to talk to him again yesterday, offering 15% of the shares, and he wasn't even satisfied! He said he 'needs to think about it some more.' I think he's just deliberately keeping us hanging!"
As he spoke, he grew angrier and angrier:
"Look at how smug he is now! We used to pick on him, now he's picking on us! This is so frustrating!"
Shi Fangren put down his newspaper, glanced at his son, and looked at him with disappointment. He sighed and said earnestly:
"Xiaojun, if you were in his shoes, would you give up your shares when you have the upper hand?"
Shi Xiaojun was taken aback, opened his mouth, but didn't know how to answer.
Shi Fangren continued:
"I've told you so many times, business is business, and feelings are feelings. Don't let your personal emotions interfere with business, and don't let your emotions affect your judgment. If he's not satisfied with 15%, then lower it to 10%... You need to understand, he's currently in high demand, we're the ones begging to cooperate with him, not the other way around."
He paused, then emphasized:
"If the conditions aren't satisfactory, then keep negotiating until they are. Let him see our sincerity, let him know that we genuinely want to cooperate, not that we're here to take advantage. Only in this way can we possibly reach an agreement."
Shi Xiaojun, however, was unwilling to give up:
“But Dad, if it’s only 10%, we won’t make much profit. Besides, we’ll have to use up a lot of our connections and favors to get it listed. So it’s not worth it at all.”
"You still don't understand," Shi Fangren shook his head in exasperation. "The Burger King of today is completely different from what it used to be. Before, Burger King was just a fast-food chain with a few dozen branches. It made money, but there wasn't much room for growth. Now?"
He pointed to the photo in the newspaper:
"They've already completed the first step in building their brand—hiring celebrities to endorse them and increase brand awareness. If they can successfully go public, they'll be Hong Kong's 'KFC' or 'McDonald's,' representing the local fast-food brand. At that point, 'Burger King' will no longer be just a simple fast-food restaurant, but a brand, a symbol."
He looked at Shi Xiaojun and said, word by word:
“Although we have fewer shares, the value of each share is far greater than before. Do you understand? That’s the key.”
At this point, Shi Fangren paused, a complex expression appearing on his face:
"To be honest, I had also considered hiring celebrities to endorse Burger King before the company went public to increase its brand awareness. I even thought of it as a condition for cooperation. But I didn't expect... Xiao Qin had already done it first, and his idea was more mature and effective than mine."
His tone contained both admiration and a hint of regret.
He turned to look at Shi Xiaona, a smile spreading across his face:
"Xiao Na, this Xiao Qin is quite something. Although he didn't go to university, he has vision, ideas, and most importantly, he dares to think and act. When he sees an opportunity, he seizes it without hesitation, without any hesitation. This kind of courage and execution is very impressive."
Shi Xiaona was listening intently when she suddenly heard her father praising Qin Hao, and even specifically mentioning him to her. Her face flushed instantly. How could she not understand the implication in her father's words?
"Dad, why are you telling me this..." she said coquettishly, her face turning even redder. She put down her milk glass and stood up: "I...I'm full, I'm going upstairs now."
With that, she dashed upstairs in a flash, her steps quick and hurried, as if she were running away from something.
"This child is getting shy." Shi Fangren looked at his daughter's back, shook his head with a smile, and then turned to look at his wife.
Both of them smiled knowingly.
Clearly, they had a good impression of Qin Hao and were satisfied with their daughter's attitude towards him.
But as Shi Xiaojun watched this scene, a sense of crisis inexplicably welled up in his heart.
He suddenly realized that if his sister really got together with Qin Hao, wouldn't Qin Hao's status in the Shi family surpass his own? At that time, would his father value Qin Hao more and ignore him?
This thought made him very uncomfortable.
But he couldn't say anything, so he could only drink his coffee in silence, his face looking rather unpleasant.
……
In the conference room of Qin Hao and Zhao Yajing's office building in Central.
Sunlight streamed through the gaps in the blinds, casting streaks of light across the conference table. A faint aroma of coffee filled the air, along with a subtle sense of tension.
On one side of the conference table sat Qin Hao and Zhao Yajing. Qin Hao wore a dark gray suit with the top button of his white shirt undone, exuding casual confidence. Zhao Yajing wore a light blue business suit, her eyes sharp.
On the other side of the conference table sat Shi Xiaojun and his two assistants. Shi Xiaojun was dressed very formally today, in a dark suit and tie, his hair neatly combed. But he didn't look well; he had heavy bags under his eyes, indicating he hadn't slept well last night.
The meeting room was quiet, with only the slight hum of the air conditioner running.
Shi Xiaojun took a thick document out of his briefcase and pushed it to the center of the table. His movements were very solemn, as if he were performing some important ceremony.
"President Qin, President Zhao, this is the latest cooperation agreement drafted by our Shi Group." Shi Xiaojun spoke, his voice a little hoarse: "This is the most generous offer we can make. I believe that no one in the entire Hong Kong will offer a lower price."
He spoke with confidence, but a hint of nervousness lurked in his eyes.
Qin Hao didn't speak, but reached for the document and began to read it. Zhao Yajing also came over, and the two of them read it together.
The document contains a detailed plan from the Smith Group to help Burger King go public. It covers all aspects, including financial auditing, legal compliance, underwriting arrangements, and roadshow plans, demonstrating a high level of professionalism.
But the most crucial factor is the shareholding ratio.
Qin Hao flipped to the last few pages and saw that number—**10%**.
The Smith Group wants a 10% stake in Burger King as compensation for the costs of its IPO.
This percentage is much lower than the 20% or 15% that Shi Xiaojun had previously offered.
When Zhao Yajing saw the number, her eyes lit up, and she almost couldn't help but laugh. But she forcibly suppressed her excitement and turned to exchange a glance with Qin Hao.
Qin Hao nodded, sensing the clue, his face expressionless.
He closed the file, placed it on the table, then looked up at Shi Xiaojun:
"President Shi, this plan does indeed look much more reasonable than the previous one."
His tone was calm, revealing no emotion.
Shi Xiaojun's heart tightened, and he quickly said:
"President Qin, our Shi Group sincerely wants to cooperate with you. We know that Burger King is currently developing very well, and the endorsement by Sam Hui has been very effective. We will not take advantage of the situation, nor will we ask for exorbitant prices. A 10% stake is a reasonable percentage that we have carefully calculated."
He paused, then continued:
"Furthermore, we promise to take full responsibility for all aspects of the listing process. We will hire the best accounting firms for auditing, the best legal teams to handle legal matters, and the best underwriters to conduct roadshows and the offering. We guarantee that Burger King will be listed on the Hong Kong Stock Exchange within one year."
Qin Hao looked at him, remained silent for a few seconds, and then slowly spoke:
"Since Mr. Shi is so sincere, let's talk about the details of the cooperation."
He neither agreed nor refused outright. Instead, he steered the conversation toward details.
This in itself is a signal—he is willing to talk.
Shi Xiaojun was secretly delighted, but dared not show it on his face. He quickly nodded:
"Okay, okay! We can discuss the details later."
The ensuing negotiations entered into a protracted tug-of-war.
Qin Hao wasn't in a hurry. He knew very well that he now held the initiative. Burger King's reputation was established, and going public was only a matter of time. Moreover, with Sam Hui as the spokesperson, there were plenty of securities firms and investment banks coming to him. He could take his time and choose at his own pace.
But the Shi family is different. Shi Fangren is eager to produce results and compete with his elder brother for control of the group. The longer it drags on, the more disadvantageous it will be for the Shi family.
Therefore, Qin Hao has plenty of patience.
He would discuss and scrutinize every single detail repeatedly. Sometimes, he would spend half a day arguing with Shi Xiaojun over just one percentage point.
Shi Xiaojun was driven to the brink of collapse by the constant torment.
He had never encountered such a difficult negotiating opponent. Qin Hao was like a stubborn piece of meat, impervious to both soft and hard tactics, and completely unyielding to reason. No matter what you said, he could always find a reason to refute it.
Sometimes Shi Xiaojun wanted to flip the table and leave, but when he thought of his father's instructions, he could only grit his teeth and endure it.
Half a month passed in this mutual torment.
Shi Xiaojun's mental state deteriorated, his eye bags became heavier, and his complexion grew increasingly pale. He felt like a donkey tied to a millstone, going around in circles, unable to move forward.
Finally, just before Shi Xiaojun was on the verge of a mental breakdown, the two sides reached an agreement.
The main contents of the agreement are:
1. Qin Hao and Zhao Yajing each contributed 15% of Burger King's shares, totaling 30%, for the IPO process.
2. 10% of the shares will be used as service fees paid to the Shih Group.
3. The remaining 20% of the shares will be used for financing as public shares.
4. The Smith Group is responsible for all operations related to the listing of Burger King and has committed to completing the listing within one year.
This agreement is an acceptable outcome for both parties.
Although Qin Hao and Zhao Yajing relinquished 30% of their shares, they gained a fast track to listing and a professional operating team in return. Furthermore, they remain the controlling shareholders and retain control of the company.
Although the Shi family only acquired 10% of the shares, these were shares in Burger King, a rapidly growing brand. Moreover, by orchestrating Burger King's IPO, Shi Fangren could accumulate capital within the group, increasing his leverage in the struggle for control.
The signing ceremony was held in the conference room.
Qin Hao, Zhao Yajing, Shi Xiaojun, along with their respective lawyers and assistants, were all present. Champagne was laid out on the table, and the atmosphere appeared quite formal.
Qin Hao picked up the pen and signed his name on the last page of the agreement. His handwriting was neat and tidy, each stroke revealing his composure.
Zhao Yajing also signed the document.
Shi Xiaojun watched them sign, secretly relieved. He vowed he never wanted to negotiate with Qin Hao again. These past two weeks of torment had felt worse than six months. Throughout the negotiations, he felt completely controlled, being led by the nose.
It's finally over.
He picked up the pen and signed his name.
"It's a pleasure working with you." Qin Hao put down his pen and extended his hand.
"It's a pleasure to work with you." Shi Xiaojun shook Qin Hao's hand, feeling that Qin Hao's hand was very strong, but he let go very quickly.
Zhao Yajing also smiled and extended her hand:
"President Shi, I hope you will take good care of me in the future."
Shi Xiaojun gently squeezed it for a moment and then immediately let go, as if afraid of getting burned.
"Mr. Zhao, you're too kind. I need to go back to the company to report to the board of directors, so I'll take my leave now."
All he wanted to do now was leave this place as soon as possible, and get as far away from Qin Hao as possible.
"Take care, Mr. Shi." Qin Hao and Zhao Yajing politely saw him to the door.
After Shi Xiaojun and his assistants left, only Qin Hao and Zhao Yajing remained in the conference room.
Zhao Yajing immediately revealed her true colors. She excitedly jumped onto Qin Hao, wrapped her arms around his neck and her legs around his waist, clinging to him like a koala.
Her face flushed with excitement: "Now Burger King's IPO is a sure thing!"
Qin Hao put his arm around her waist to prevent her from falling, and shook his head with a smile:
"It's not even listed yet, and you're already dreaming of getting rich?"
"I don't care!" Zhao Yajing hooked her arms around his neck, unusually coquettish: "Tell me, how high will Burger King's stock price be when it goes public? Can it exceed one dollar per share?"
Qin Hao was amused by her money-grubbing attitude:
"Given Burger King's scale this year, it's roughly between 1 and 1.5 yuan. But don't forget, we didn't waste this year. While Burger King's branches are nearing saturation, Chayan Yuese can easily double its size. And..."
He paused, a mysterious smile playing at the corners of his lips:
"I have a secret weapon. If all goes well, the IPO price should be above three yuan."
"Three yuan?!" Zhao Yajing's eyes widened, her mouth forming an "O": "Then aren't we going to get rich?!"
Overwhelmed with excitement, she gave Qin Hao a hard kiss on the lips, making a "pop" sound.
But after the kiss, she remembered something and asked curiously:
"But what is this secret weapon you're talking about?"
Qin Hao was stunned for a moment by her kiss, then grinned mischievously:
"You think you can just get rid of me with such a small reward? That's incredibly insincere!"
Zhao Yajing said reproachfully:
"Ugh, you're always trying to take advantage of people."
"You were the one who took advantage of me just now, weren't you?" Qin Hao cried out, accusing himself of being wronged.
"I don't care!" Zhao Yajing retorted, "Tell me first, what's the secret weapon?"
Qin Hao looked at her, his eyes filled with a smile:
"Then grant me a few more 'conditions'."
"What conditions?"
“For example…” Qin Hao leaned close to her ear and whispered a few words.
Zhao Yajing's face flushed red instantly, and she punched him:
"You...you scoundrel!"
But after hesitating for a moment, she nodded, her face flushed.
"Okay... I promise you. Now you can tell me, right?"
Qin Hao smiled with satisfaction. He put his arm around Zhao Yajing, walked to the window, looked at the towering buildings of Central outside, and slowly said:
"I'm planning to make a movie."
"Making a movie?" Zhao Yajing was completely bewildered. "What do you mean? Aren't we in the fast food business? How did we get onto the topic of movies?"
"Literal meaning," Qin Hao said. "I plan to make a movie to promote Burger King."
Zhao Yajing frowned, her face full of confusion:
"Making a movie to promote Burger King? A movie like that...would anyone watch it? Who would pay to watch an advertisement?"
“Of course we can’t make a movie like an advertisement,” Qin Hao shook his head. “Nobody would watch that. But we can integrate Burger King into the movie plot, as long as it’s done reasonably enough…”
Zhao Yajing listened with skepticism:
"But...making movies is expensive, right? And we don't know anything about movies, what if we botch it?"
"Spending money is inevitable, but it's also an investment," Qin Hao said. "Think about it, if this movie is a success and a box office hit, how much will Burger King's brand awareness increase? And then, when we go public, how much will our stock price rise?"
Zhao Yajing was swayed by his words. But she still had concerns:
"But...we don't understand movies. How do you write a script? Who do you hire as a director? Who do you cast? We don't know any of that."
"Leave these to me," Qin Hao said confidently. "I already have ideas."
Looking at his confident demeanor, Zhao Yajing still had doubts, but ultimately nodded.
"Okay, I trust you. You tell us what to do, and we'll do it."
……
That afternoon, the entrance to the Burger King branch in Causeway Bay was packed with people.
Ever since the news broke that Sam Hui was the spokesperson for Burger King, this store, located in a prime location, has become a gathering place for fans. And today, with Sam Hui himself coming here for a promotional event, it has attracted tens of thousands of movie fans and music lovers.
A makeshift stage was set up in front of the store, covered with a red carpet and adorned with huge posters of Burger King and Sam Hui. A huge crowd had gathered around the stage, stretching all the way to the street corner. Many held up posters and signs featuring Sam Hui, excitedly waiting for what was to come.
Screams and cheers erupted from the crowd from time to time, creating a festive atmosphere.
In the makeshift dressing room backstage, Sam Hui had just rushed over from the film set and hadn't even finished his makeup. He had been filming all morning and was exhausted, but he still had to force himself to stay alert and prepare for the upcoming event.
The makeup artist was touching up his makeup, while his agent stood beside him, keeping an eye on the time and whispering instructions to him.
Just then, the manager's cell phone rang. He answered it, listened for a couple of minutes, his expression changed slightly, then he leaned close to Sam Hui's ear and whispered:
"Sam, the owner of Burger King is here. He says he'd like to get to know you and have a chat."
Sam Hui paused for a moment, then nodded:
"Okay, please let them in."
Although he was exhausted, he knew in his heart that he couldn't afford to offend his sugar daddy. Burger King paid him a high endorsement fee, and the collaboration was going very well, so he couldn't afford to be negligent.
He immediately put on a professional smile, straightened his clothes, and prepared to greet them.
Soon, the door to the dressing room was pushed open. The agent led two people in.
Sam Hui looked up and froze.
A man and a woman walked in. The man was about twenty years old, tall, wearing a simple white shirt and dark trousers, without a tie, looking very casual but with a composed demeanor. The woman was about the same age, wearing a light blue business suit, with long hair flowing down her shoulders, and exquisite makeup, looking very capable.
Both of them were young, and the man was handsome and the woman was beautiful; they looked very well-matched standing together.
Sam Hui's first thought was—could this be a newcomer from some film company? Or a colleague visiting the set?
He never imagined that he would become the owner of Burger King.
“Mr. Xu, Lei Hou.” Qin Hao stepped forward, smiling and extending his hand: “We all really enjoy watching your movies.”
Sam Hui then realized what was happening and quickly grasped Qin Hao's hand:
"President Qin? Oh dear, I'm so sorry! You two are so young, and so... stylish. I thought you were colleagues. My apologies."
He was telling the truth. In his imagination, the owner of Burger King should be a middle-aged man in his forties or fifties with a big belly. He didn't expect him to be so young and handsome.
"Mr. Xu, you're too kind." Qin Hao said with a smile, "I know your time is precious and you have an event to attend to soon, so I won't linger."
He released his grip, took a folder from his briefcase, and handed it to Sam Hui:
"I need your help with something."
Sam Hui took the folder, opened it, and saw a script inside. The cover had the words "Talking the Talking Chicken and Duck" written in large characters.
"This is..." Sam Hui asked, somewhat puzzled.
“I want to invest in making a movie,” Qin Hao said. “This is the script. Could you please pass it on to your brother, Mr. Michael Hui? I’d like to ask him to take a look and see if he’s interested in directing or starring in it.”
The four Hui brothers are all very talented. The eldest, Michael Hui, is known as the first generation of "King of Comedy" in Hong Kong. His self-written, self-directed and self-acted films such as "Games Gamblers Play," "Half a Catty of Kung Fu," and "Security Unlimited" have continuously broken Hong Kong box office records. His style of street comedy is known as "deadpan comedian," and he has a very high status in the Hong Kong film industry.
Although the second brother, Ricky Hui, is not very famous, he has always worked behind the scenes and is a veteran photographer and director. The third brother, Ricky Hui, is also a very famous comedian, most famous for his role as "Man-choi" in "Mr. Vampire," which left a deep impression on the audience.
The fourth one is Sam Hui, a singer and actor with extremely high popularity.
Qin Hao's decision to have Sam Hui pass the script to Michael Hui was a well-thought-out one. Michael Hui is currently at the peak of his career, and ordinary scripts simply don't catch his eye. But if it's a script passed on by his own brother, especially one from a wealthy patron, he'll at least take a look.
Looking at the script in his hand, Sam Hui felt somewhat dissatisfied.
Is the barrier to entry for making movies really that low now? It's one thing for triads to get involved, but now even people in the restaurant business want to make movies? Do they really think that making movies is something just anyone can do?
He glanced at the author's signature—Qin Hao.
"Did you write this script yourself?" Sam Hui asked cautiously, trying to make his tone sound polite.
"Yes." Qin Hao nodded: "I spent some time writing it, and there may still be many shortcomings, but I think the story is pretty good."
Okay. Sam Hui mentally sentenced this script to death.
Although the Hong Kong film industry generally doesn't pay much attention to scripts, and many films are written as they are made, or even started filming without a script, what kind of good script can a young restaurant owner write? It's probably the kind of thing that he thinks is great but is actually a complete mess.
However, since he was a major client, he couldn't afford to offend him. Out of politeness, Xu Guanjie forced a smile.
"Yes, Mr. Qin. I will definitely deliver it to my elder brother personally."
"Thank you very much then." Qin Hao nodded with a smile. "Then we won't bother you any longer. You go ahead with your work."
"Goodbye, President Qin and President Zhao." Xu Guanjie politely saw them out.
After Qin Hao and Zhao Yajing left, the smile on Xu Guanjie's face vanished immediately. He casually tossed the script to his assistant, his tone laced with disdain:
"These days are really crazy. Even fried chicken vendors are making movies. Do they really think they can make money just by making any movie? If making movies were that easy, who would bother with other businesses?"
The assistant took the script, not daring to say anything, and could only nod in agreement.
Sam Hui sat back down at the makeup table and let the makeup artist continue touching up his makeup. He closed his eyes, wanting to rest for a while, but he couldn't help thinking about what had just happened.
The more I think about it, the more ridiculous it seems.
A fast food restaurant owner wants to make a movie? And even write his own script? That's a joke.
However… he is the big spender after all, so I still have to give him face. I'll show the script to my older brother later; even if he doesn't like it, I'll have accomplished my mission.
The makeup was done quickly. A staff member came to announce that the event would begin soon.
Sam Hui took a deep breath, put on a professional smile, walked out of the dressing room, and came to the front desk.
When the fans outside saw him appear, they immediately erupted in deafening screams and cheers. Sam Hui waved in response and then began his promotional activities.
The entire event lasted two hours. During that time, he sang and danced, performed several classic songs, and also participated in games, a raffle, and interacted with fans. Finally, he personally handed out Burger King burgers to several lucky fans and took photos with them.
After two hours, Sam Hui was exhausted, covered in sweat, and his makeup was ruined. But he still had to keep smiling and maintain his composure.
It must be said that most Hong Kong artists are quite dedicated. They put in a lot of effort after getting paid.
The event finally came to an end. Escorted by bodyguards, Sam Hui finally managed to squeeze through the crowd, get into a car, and leave the scene.
The car drove towards his residence. On the way, Sam Hui slumped in the back seat, not wanting to move at all. He closed his eyes, wanting to sleep for a while, but his mind was a mess, and he couldn't fall asleep no matter what.
Suddenly, he remembered something, opened his eyes, and said to his assistant:
"Oh, by the way, that script... let me take a look at it."
The assistant paused for a moment:
Which script?
"It's the one with President Qin."
The assistant quickly rummaged through his bag and pulled out the script, handing it to him.
Sam Hui was only curious and wanted to casually flip through the pages to see what kind of bizarre stuff this amateur boss could write. Incidentally, it was also so that when he saw Qin Hao next time, he would have something to show for it—at least he had read it and hadn't completely ignored it.
But once he started watching, he couldn't stop.
The script tells the story of a Hong Kong-born roast meat shop owner, how he faces the impact of Western fast food, how he struggles between tradition and modernity, and how he outwits and outmaneuvers his employees and competitors.
But as he laughed, Sam Hui suddenly realized that there were many deeper things in this story.
It depicts the helplessness and struggles of ordinary people, the confusion and anxiety of a time of transition, and the unique local flavor and human touch of Hong Kong.
What's even more remarkable is that this story captures the complex emotions deep within the hearts of Hong Kong people.
Sam Hui is all too familiar with this kind of emotion.
He became more and more engrossed in watching, and before he knew it, the car had arrived at his doorstep.
"Sam, we've arrived," the assistant whispered.
Sam Hui finally snapped out of his daze. He closed the script, a hint of surprise flashing in his eyes.
This script... is quite interesting!
It was far better than he had imagined. No, it should be said that this was a professional-grade script. It had a complete structure, vivid characters, a lot of jokes, and also depth and sentiment.
Did this really come from the fast food restaurant owner? How could a young man in his twenties write such a mature and profound script?
Sam Hui could hardly believe it.
However, the author's name is indeed "Qin Hao," and Qin Hao himself just confirmed it.
He got out of the car with the script in his hand and went inside. But his mind was still on the plot of the script.
The more I think about it, the more I feel that this script... might actually be made into a good movie.
Moreover, he suddenly realized that the script was practically tailor-made for his older brother, Michael Hui.
Michael Hui's forte is this kind of comedy about ordinary people, stories of small characters, and themes of conflict between the old and the new.
Thinking of this, Sam Hui immediately picked up the phone and dialed his older brother Michael Hui's number.
The phone rang for a long time before being answered. Hui Koon-man's somewhat tired voice came from the other end:
"Sam? What's up so late? I just went to bed."
"Brother, don't sleep yet, listen to me," Sam Hui said urgently. "I have a script here, you must take a look."
"A script? What script? Who wrote it?"
"Don't worry about who wrote it. I'll just read you a passage, and you'll understand."
At first, Michael Hui was yawning on the other end of the phone, but after a while, he fell silent.
After Sam Hui finished reading, Michael Hui was silent for a few seconds, then asked:
"Who wrote this script?"
His voice was serious, completely devoid of the fatigue he had just displayed.
“Tell me first, what do you think?” Sam Hui countered.
“Very good.” Michael Hui said without hesitation, “The humor is very natural, not the kind that’s forced. It also has a sense of life and a Hong Kong flavor. Most importantly, the theme—tradition vs. modernity—has a lot of room for development and can be explored in great depth.”
Sam Hui smiled wryly:
"You might not believe it, but this was written by a fast food restaurant owner."
"A fast food restaurant owner?" Hui Koon-man was taken aback. "What fast food restaurant owner?"
"Qin Hao, the owner of Burger King. That's the company that asked me to be their spokesperson."
"What?!" Michael Hui's voice rose eight octaves: "You mean... that hamburger vendor wrote this script?"
"Yes. And he gave me the script today, wanting you to take a look and see if you're interested in directing or starring in it."
There was a long silence on the other end of the phone.
Sam Hui could hear pacing sounds coming from the other end of the phone; clearly, his older brother was thinking.
After a while, Michael Hui asked:
Did you bring the script back?
"Bring it."
Are you home now?
"exist."
"Wait, I'll be right over."
After saying that, the phone hung up.
Sam Hui looked at the phone in his hand, not knowing whether to laugh or cry. His older brother's impatient nature really hadn't changed in decades.
Less than half an hour later, the doorbell rang. Sam Hui went to open the door and saw Michael Hui wearing pajamas with a coat over them, his hair disheveled, clearly having rushed over.
"Where's the script?" Michael Hui asked as soon as he entered the room.
Sam Hui handed him the script.
Michael Hui took the script and, without even sitting down, stood in the living room and began to read it. He read it very carefully, turning each page one by one, his brows sometimes furrowing, sometimes relaxing, sometimes smiling, and sometimes lost in thought.
Sam Hui didn't dare disturb him and could only sit on the sofa and wait.
This wait lasted for more than an hour.
Michael Hui finally finished reading the last page. He closed the script, shut his eyes, and took a deep breath.
"Big brother, how is it?" Sam Hui asked cautiously.
Michael Hui opened his eyes, his expression complex. He looked at the script in his hand, then at Sam Hui, and said with a wry smile:
"This script...it's practically tailor-made for me."
Sam Hui was secretly delighted:
"So...you're planning to accept it?"
"I have to accept it, absolutely." Michael Hui said without hesitation, "Such a good script, it would be foolish not to take it. Besides..."
He paused, his eyes sharpening:
"I'm very curious about who this Qin Hao is. How can a hamburger vendor write such a good script? It's unbelievable."
Sam Hui briefly explained Qin Hao's situation—in his twenties, from mainland China, he started from scratch and built Burger King into a chain with 100 branches across Hong Kong in just two years, and even hired Sam Hui as its spokesperson…
After listening, Michael Hui remained silent for a long time, then shook his head:
"It seems that Hong Kong is about to produce another extraordinary person."
The next morning, the three brothers, Michael Hui, Sam Hui, and Ricky Hui, arrived at Burger King's office in Central.
Qin Hao and Zhao Yajing were already waiting for them.
Upon meeting, the two sides quickly got to the point without much small talk.
Michael Hui gets straight to the point:
"Mr. Qin, I've read the script. It's very well written, and I like it a lot. My question is, what is your main purpose in making this film? Is it to promote Burger King, or do you genuinely want to make a good movie?"
This question is critical.
Qin Hao was also very frank:
“Mr. Xu, I’m not lying. I did make this film to promote Burger King. But I’m also very clear that if the film itself isn’t good, nobody will watch it, and the promotional effect will be zero. So my requirement is that the film must be good, it must be a good film that makes the audience laugh, makes the audience cry, and makes the audience remember it. Under this premise, I will appropriately incorporate elements of Burger King.”
His answer was both honest and clever.
Michael Hui listened, nodded, and smiled.
“Okay, Mr. Qin is very frank. Then I’ll be frank too—I’ll take this script. I’ll direct it myself and star in it. Ah Sam and Ah Ying will also be in it. The three of us brothers will work together to make this movie a success.”
Qin Hao's eyes lit up:
"That's great! With Mr. Xu and his two brothers involved, this movie is sure to be a success!"
Michael Hui waved his hand:
"Don't get too excited yet. Making a movie is no small matter; it takes time, money, and a team. There are still about seven months until the Chinese New Year, so time is tight. We need to start preparations immediately and try to release the film before the New Year."
"Release it during the Chinese New Year?" Zhao Yajing was somewhat surprised: "Seven months... is that enough time?"
"There's enough time." Michael Hui said confidently: "With the speed of Hong Kong films, as long as the funding is in place, the script is mature, and the actors are all available, seven months is more than enough to shoot a movie."
He paused and continued:
"Moreover, the Spring Festival period is the golden period, with the best box office. If we can release the film during the Spring Festival, the box office is guaranteed, and the publicity effect will be the best."
Qin Hao and Zhao Yajing exchanged a glance, both seeing excitement in each other's eyes.
"Great!" Qin Hao slammed his hand on the table. "It's settled then! Don't worry about funding, I'll give you as much as you need. As for the team, you're the experts, you can assemble it. I only have one requirement—the movie has to be good."
Michael Hui laughed:
"Don't worry, Mr. Qin, we are professionals in filmmaking. Since we've taken on this project, we'll definitely make it well."
The two sides hit it off immediately and quickly finalized the details of the cooperation.
The three Hui brothers were responsible for the creation and filming of the film, while Qin Hao was responsible for investment and production.
The movie is called "Talking to a Fool". (End of Chapter)