Chapter 484: The Profound Influence of "Young and Dangerous" on the Post-80s Generation

Chapter 484: The Profound Influence of "Young and Dangerous" on the Post-80s Generation

On the 21st day of the first lunar month, it was a propitious day for weddings.

On this day, a wedding was being held at a hotel in Fuzhou, Fujian Province. It was a low-key event with a hidden grandeur.

It was considered low-key because only eight tables were set up, which, in an era of extravagant celebrations, was quite modest.

The hidden grandeur came from the fact that most of the guests were not ordinary people.

The bride and groom were none other than Wu Weiguo and Song Yu, two late bloomers, or as people would say in later times, "leftover men and leftover women."

From the time Deng Yunheng introduced them to each other until they walked down the aisle, it hadn't been very long.

This wasn't surprising, as both were already in their thirties. Their parents had been worried about their marriage prospects for years, and now that they had finally found suitable partners, there was no time to waste. Getting married and having children was the top priority.

Deng Yunheng and Song Yu were very good friends and alumni, and Deng Shirong and Song Yu's father were also close friends.

Naturally, Deng Shirong would attend the wedding since Song Yu was getting married.

In Bobai, weddings usually take place between 11 AM and 1 PM, while in Fuzhou, they typically occur between 6 PM and 8 PM.

By the time the wedding ended, it was already past 8 PM. As the bride's family, the Song family naturally didn't want to stay at the groom's house and instead checked into a hotel.

Deng Shirong didn't want to stay at his second son's place either, so he went to the hotel with the Song family.

The hotel was arranged by the Wu family. If the bride's family had to travel a long distance to attend the wedding and then pay for their own accommodation, it would be a sign of poor hospitality on the groom's side. The Wu family, being a well-respected family, would never make such a mistake.

At the hotel, it was still early, so Deng Shirong and Song Yu's father sat together, drinking tea and chatting.

Deng Shirong took a sip of tea and said, "Xiao Yu has finally found a good home, you can finally breathe a sigh of relief, Old Song."

Song Yu's father smiled with a rosy complexion and said, "Yes, I can finally breathe a sigh of relief. These past few years have been a source of great worry for both my wife and me. Thanks to your son Yunheng for matchmaking; otherwise, who knows when this girl would have gotten married."

Deng Shirong said, "Marrying into the Wu family means she won't have to worry about anything in the future. I think Xiao Yu's status will soon surpass yours."

"Excelling beyond the teacher is what every parent hopes to see."

At this, Song Yu's father couldn't help but smile contentedly, but then he sighed and said, "Unfortunately, among my three children, only Xiao Yu has made something of herself. The other two are not very capable. Unlike you, Uncle Jiu, whose children are all outstanding, it's truly enviable."

Deng Shirong modestly replied, "They're not that outstanding. My children are just average, not the best but not the worst either."

Song Yu's father took a sip of tea and said, "Uncle Jiu, you're too modest. If your children don't qualify as outstanding, then I don't think many people in this world deserve that title."

Deng Shirong smiled and changed the subject, "Old Song, you know about the Ye Deng Film City we're building. If you're willing to let Xiao Yu's brother and sister give up their government jobs to do business, there are many opportunities there. I can also take care of them."

Song Yu's father's heart stirred. His eldest son and youngest daughter were just ordinary civil servants, and it was thanks to his efforts that they had secured these positions. Given their backgrounds and abilities, they would likely never rise beyond the deputy section level, with only a slim chance of reaching the section level.

This was the main reason he often scolded them for being incompetent.

If they were to remain content with their current status, their entire lives would be predictable and uneventful. For most people, such a life might be acceptable, but for their family, it was far from ideal.

If they were willing to give up their government jobs and start a business, with Uncle Jiu's help, earning a million in assets would be quite simple.

Thinking about this, Song Yu's father said, "Thank you, Uncle Jiu. I'll talk to them. If they're willing to do business, I'll contact you to give them some guidance. If they prefer their current peaceful lives, I won't force them. As the saying goes, 'Children have their own destinies, and parents can only do so much.'"

"People have different aspirations. Some people can save for months or even longer just to go on a trip, while others think it's not worth it to save so much for a single trip."

"That's true. Everyone has their own way of living, and we parents shouldn't interfere too much."

Song Yu's father nodded and said, "My views are similar to yours, Uncle Jiu. This is why we never forced Xiao Yu to get married, even though she was already quite old. Forcing our children's marriages and careers isn't always a good thing."

"You're a good father, Old Song."

"In this aspect, I still have a lot to learn from you, Uncle Jiu."

At this, both men couldn't help but smile at each other.

...

By late March, the crew of "The Opium War" officially moved into the Ye Deng Film City. They were accommodated at the first hotel in Shuangwang Town, which was invested and built by Bu Dafang.

Although the hotel's decor couldn't compare to high-end hotels in big cities, it was on par with ordinary county-level hotels. Moreover, the hotel, following the advice of Bu Dafang's uncle, paid great attention to cleanliness, ensuring that the rooms were spotless and inviting.

The crew members of "The Opium War" were quite satisfied with the hotel's environment.

With the arrival of the "The Opium War" crew, the news of the film's production spread like wildfire, quickly reaching every corner of Shuangwang Town and then spreading to other towns.

In just half a day, several towns centered around Shuangwang Town were buzzing with excitement.

"Seventh Aunt, I have some big news for you."

"What's the big news?"

"A director has come to Ye Deng Film City to shoot a movie!"

"Really? When did this happen?"

"Of course it's true. My fourth aunt just called and said the film crew has already arrived, and the filming will start tomorrow."

"Is there really a director shooting a movie here? I'll have to go to Ye Deng Film City tomorrow to see how they make movies."

"Seventh Aunt, let's go together tomorrow. I'm also curious about how they make movies."

On the 21st day of the first lunar month, it was a propitious day for weddings.

On this day, a wedding was being held at a hotel in Fuzhou, Fujian Province. It was a low-key event with a hidden grandeur.

It was considered low-key because only eight tables were set up, which, in an era of extravagant celebrations, was quite modest.

The hidden grandeur came from the fact that most of the guests were not ordinary people.

The bride and groom were none other than Wu Weiguo and Song Yu, two late bloomers, or as people would say in later times, "leftover men and leftover women."

From the time Deng Yunheng introduced them to each other until they walked down the aisle, it hadn't been very long.

This wasn't surprising, as both were already in their thirties. Their parents had been worried about their marriage prospects for years, and now that they had finally found suitable partners, there was no time to waste. Getting married and having children was the top priority.

Deng Yunheng and Song Yu were very good friends and alumni, and Deng Shirong and Song Yu's father were also close friends.

Naturally, Deng Shirong would attend the wedding since Song Yu was getting married.

In Bobai, weddings usually take place between 11 AM and 1 PM, while in Fuzhou, they typically occur between 6 PM and 8 PM.

By the time the wedding ended, it was already past 8 PM. As the bride's family, the Song family naturally didn't want to stay at the groom's house and instead checked into a hotel.

Deng Shirong didn't want to stay at his second son's place either, so he went to the hotel with the Song family.

The hotel was arranged by the Wu family. If the bride's family had to travel a long distance to attend the wedding and then pay for their own accommodation, it would be a sign of poor hospitality on the groom's side. The Wu family, being a well-respected family, would never make such a mistake.

At the hotel, it was still early, so Deng Shirong and Song Yu's father sat together, drinking tea and chatting.

Deng Shirong took a sip of tea and said, "Xiao Yu has finally found a good home, you can finally breathe a sigh of relief, Old Song."

Song Yu's father smiled with a rosy complexion and said, "Yes, I can finally breathe a sigh of relief. These past few years have been a source of great worry for both my wife and me. Thanks to your son Yunheng for matchmaking; otherwise, who knows when this girl would have gotten married."

Deng Shirong said, "Marrying into the Wu family means she won't have to worry about anything in the future. I think Xiao Yu's status will soon surpass yours."

"Excelling beyond the teacher is what every parent hopes to see."

At this, Song Yu's father couldn't help but smile contentedly, but then he sighed and said, "Unfortunately, among my three children, only Xiao Yu has made something of herself. The other two are not very capable. Unlike you, Uncle Jiu, whose children are all outstanding, it's truly enviable."

Deng Shirong modestly replied, "They're not that outstanding. My children are just average, not the best but not the worst either."

Song Yu's father took a sip of tea and said, "Uncle Jiu, you're too modest. If your children don't qualify as outstanding, then I don't think many people in this world deserve that title."

Deng Shirong smiled and changed the subject, "Old Song, you know about the Ye Deng Film City we're building. If you're willing to let Xiao Yu's brother and sister give up their government jobs to do business, there are many opportunities there. I can also take care of them."

Song Yu's father's heart stirred. His eldest son and youngest daughter were just ordinary civil servants, and it was thanks to his efforts that they had secured these positions. Given their backgrounds and abilities, they would likely never rise beyond the deputy section level, with only a slim chance of reaching the section level.

This was the main reason he often scolded them for being incompetent.

If they were to remain content with their current status, their entire lives would be predictable and uneventful. For most people, such a life might be acceptable, but for their family, it was far from ideal.

If they were willing to give up their government jobs and start a business, with Uncle Jiu's help, earning a million in assets would be quite simple.

Thinking about this, Song Yu's father said, "Thank you, Uncle Jiu. I'll talk to them. If they're willing to do business, I'll contact you to give them some guidance. If they prefer their current peaceful lives, I won't force them. As the saying goes, 'Children have their own destinies, and parents can only do so much.'"

"People have different aspirations. Some people can save for months or even longer just to go on a trip, while others think it's not worth it to save so much for a single trip."

"That's true. Everyone has their own way of living, and we parents shouldn't interfere too much."

Song Yu's father nodded and said, "My views are similar to yours, Uncle Jiu. This is why we never forced Xiao Yu to get married, even though she was already quite old. Forcing our children's marriages and careers isn't always a good thing."

"You're a good father, Old Song."

"In this aspect, I still have a lot to learn from you, Uncle Jiu."

At this, both men couldn't help but smile at each other.

...

By late March, the crew of "The Opium War" officially moved into the Ye Deng Film City. They were accommodated at the first hotel in Shuangwang Town, which was invested and built by Bu Dafang.

Although the hotel's decor couldn't compare to high-end hotels in big cities, it was on par with ordinary county-level hotels. Moreover, the hotel, following the advice of Bu Dafang's uncle, paid great attention to cleanliness, ensuring that the rooms were spotless and inviting.

The crew members of "The Opium War" were quite satisfied with the hotel's environment.

With the arrival of the "The Opium War" crew, the news of the film's production spread like wildfire, quickly reaching every corner of Shuangwang Town and then spreading to other towns.

In just half a day, several towns centered around Shuangwang Town were buzzing with excitement.

"Seventh Aunt, I have some big news for you."

"What's the big news?"

"A director has come to Ye Deng Film City to shoot a movie!"

"Really? When did this happen?"

"Of course it's true. My fourth aunt just called and said the film crew has already arrived, and the filming will start tomorrow."

"Is there really a director shooting a movie here? I'll have to go to Ye Deng Film City tomorrow to see how they make movies."

"Seventh Aunt, let's go together tomorrow. I'm also curious about how they make movies."

"Good, tomorrow after breakfast, we'll set off."

...

Shooting a movie was a truly magical thing for the rural people of Bobai. Therefore, after receiving the news of the crew's arrival, not only the people of Shuangwang Town planned to come and watch, but people from other towns also came over.

Thus, on the second day of the crew's arrival at Ye Deng Film City, nearly ten thousand people flooded into 'Guangzhou Street,' all curious to see the commotion.

In this era, famous market towns like Longtan and Shuhe would attract two to three thousand people on market days. Now, with a film crew shooting at Ye Deng Film City, the attraction was far greater than any ordinary market day.

Therefore, it was entirely normal for nearly ten thousand people to come and watch the commotion.

Director Xie was well accustomed to such large crowds. Having shot movies for decades, he was used to causing a stir among the local people whenever he shot on location.

After all, in this era, everyone loved watching movies, but only they, the professionals, knew how movies were made. Who wouldn’t be curious? Knowing a film crew was shooting, people with nothing to do would naturally come to see the commotion.

It was impossible to start shooting immediately upon arrival.

While the crew's other staff were busy, Director Xie stepped forward to address the curious onlookers, "Fellow villagers, my surname is Xie, and I am the director of 'The Opium War.' We will be staying here for a long time to shoot the movie. We will need some extras, so if anyone is interested, please sign up enthusiastically."

"What are extras?"

"I'm not sure, maybe characters named Longtou in the movie?"

"If you become an extra, can you be seen in the movie?"

"Probably, that’s what it means!"

"Damn, I can be in the movie, I want to sign up."

"..."

In fact, the rural people present only half-understood what extras were. After all, in this era, Stephen Chow's 'Comedy King' had not yet been released.

However, they understood the concept of actors. The idea that they could be seen in a movie as an extra was enough to excite them, and they all eagerly wanted to sign up.

Deng Shirong was also on the scene. He naturally knew what extras were. Once the film city was built with more attractions and attracted numerous film crews, the local villagers could come and run as extras in their spare time, providing a decent income.

For those who had graduated from film schools and dreamed of becoming big stars, running as extras was an extremely arduous task. But for the rural villagers who "faced the earth with their backs to the sky," could running as extras be as hard as farming?

Especially during the busy farming season, those who had experienced it knew what true hardship was.

Today, Director Xie only held a simple opening ceremony and arranged a scene for the actors to familiarize themselves with, before ending the day.

During the scene, Deng Shirong instructed everyone to watch from a distance, and no one was allowed to get close to Guangzhou Street.

Even from a distance, and despite not fully understanding what was happening, everyone felt very satisfied. After today, they could proudly tell others that they knew how movies were made.

...

"Come, forget right and wrong

Come, remember the past

There were always joys in the days we shared in adversity

We never believed in despair

We never felt hesitant..."

On this day, as Deng Shirong passed by Deng Changxing's house, he saw his son Deng Sifeng repeatedly pressing a lighter, humming the classic song "Friendship Days," with a very absorbed expression.

Seeing this, Deng Shirong knew that the "Young and Dangerous" series, which had a profound impact on teenagers, had arrived.

"The Young and Dangerous: In the Line of Duty," "The Young and Dangerous: The Return of the Dragon," and "The Young and Dangerous: A Hand That Shakes the Sky" were all released in 1996. At that time, many people from the 70s and 80s were in their rebellious youth, and after watching the "Young and Dangerous" series, their worldviews were greatly influenced.

In his previous life, among the thousands of clansmen of the Deng family in Naye, the one most influenced by the "Young and Dangerous" series was this 16-year-old Deng Sifeng.

If his life trajectory had not changed, he would have embarked on a path of armed robbery three years later.

Fortunately, he only participated in two armed robberies before accidentally leaving his ID card at the crime scene, leading the police to catch him. He then spent several years in prison, which gave him a chance to repent and start anew, preventing him from going further down the path of crime.

This young man was deeply influenced by the "Young and Dangerous" series. After being caught, he refused to betray his accomplices out of a sense of loyalty. When he was released from prison, his accomplices, also showing loyalty, gave him several hundred thousand yuan as compensation.

Unfortunately, he ultimately didn't go straight. After his release, he became addicted to gambling on the lottery, losing all the money his accomplices had given him and accumulating a large debt. By the time Deng Shirong was reborn, he hadn't amounted to anything and hadn't even managed to get married.

However, despite his lack of money, he had enjoyed a lot in terms of food, drink, and entertainment.

As someone who had dared to commit armed robbery, he was always given some respect wherever he went, so he never lacked for food or drink.

Here is the translated line with all Chinese characters translated into English:

But Deng Shirong was still cautious. In his previous life, he had seen many bizarre news stories, such as wealthy people with a special penchant for stealing, who, despite having no financial need, still engaged in theft for the thrill.

The depiction of the underworld in the "Young and Dangerous" series was exactly what a foolish young man like Deng Sifeng aspired to. If not stopped early, he might form a gang and live a life of violence and conflict.

Thinking of this, Deng Shirong decided to hold a clan meeting after the release of "The Young and Dangerous: A Hand That Shakes the Sky" to correct the worldviews of the clan's young people, ensuring they didn't stray due to a lack of guidance. It would be much harder to help them if they went too far.

Deng Sifeng, of course, had no idea that his actions were being closely watched by Uncle Jiu. He was imitating the cool moves of the gangsters in the movie, completely immersed in the underworld, fantasizing about commanding the same power and influence as the gangster bosses.

Across the country, there were countless teenagers like Deng Sifeng who were profoundly influenced by the "Young and Dangerous" series of films. The security situation was already concerning in this era, and the release of the "Young and Dangerous" series only made things worse.

These teenagers, whose worldviews were still forming, lost all interest in their studies after watching the films. All they wanted was to live like the gangsters in the movies—living a carefree life in the underworld, drinking, fighting, and chasing girls. The idea was thrilling to them.

As for the gruesome deaths of gang leaders and members, or the brutal nature of the underworld, these teenagers turned a blind eye to it.

...

Deng Yunfu and his four siblings returned to Taiwan and spent over a month finally settling all their business there. Deng Yunlian and her husband, as well as Deng Changshou and his wife, also resigned from their jobs and returned to Nayevillage with their children, bringing all their assets with them.

On the night they returned to Nayevillage, everyone gathered to chat. Deng Yunfu said to Uncle Man, "Uncle Man, I've sold all the properties this time and managed to raise 30 million RMB. What do you think is the best industry for me to enter?"

Deng Shirong had already planned out their careers and said, "Yunfu, Yunlu, Yunlian, Yunhua, Yunshou, I've thought of two paths for the five of you. You can decide which one to take."

Hearing this, the five siblings all perked up.

Deng Yunfu quickly asked, "Uncle Man, what are the two paths?"

Deng Shize and his wife also looked over.

Deng Shirong raised a finger and said, "The first path is to open an internet cafe!"

"An internet cafe?"

The five siblings looked at each other in confusion.

Deng Yunlu couldn't help but ask, "Uncle Man, what is an internet cafe?"

Deng Shirong explained, "An internet cafe is a business that provides internet access to the public through computers and other devices. If you've been paying attention, there should already be internet cafes in Taiwan!"

Deng Yunfu shook his head. "I haven't noticed that. Have any of you seen internet cafes in Taiwan?"

The others also shook their heads, indicating they hadn't noticed such places.

Deng Shirong thought it wasn't unusual. The world's first internet cafe was born on September 1, 1994, and it was only April 1996. The time span was just over a year and a half. Although Taiwan was a developed region and well-connected to the world, it was still too short a time for internet cafes to become widespread.

Therefore, it was normal for his nephews and nieces not to know about internet cafes.

Deng Shirong said, "Anyway, I'm very optimistic about the development of internet cafes. I believe it will become popular across the mainland in just a few years. It's a massive market. Even if all of you and your cousins enter this industry, you would still be just a drop in the ocean.

There isn't a single internet cafe on the mainland yet. Entering this industry now, you'll be the first to try it out, and you'll definitely make a lot of money."

The five siblings all felt excited. They didn't know much about internet cafes, but since Uncle Man said they could make a lot of money, they trusted his judgment.

Deng Yunlian, after her initial excitement, said somewhat awkwardly, "Uncle Man, you mentioned that an internet cafe provides internet access through computers. But computers are very expensive. To invest in an internet cafe, it would require a lot of capital, right?"

"Internet cafes can be of different sizes. A small internet cafe can be called a computer room and only needs a few computers. However, since I'm suggesting you open an internet cafe, it should be a larger one with at least dozens or even a hundred computers. The investment for a single internet cafe would definitely be over a million RMB."

Then, Deng Shirong changed the tone and smiled, "But you don't need to worry about the initial capital. I can lend you the money. When your internet cafes start making a profit, you can use the profits to open a second, third, ... even a tenth internet cafe. Gradually expanding, you'll naturally make more and more money."

Deng Yunlian and her husband, as well as Deng Yunshou and his wife, felt reassured. They were previously ordinary public servants and teachers in Taiwan with modest incomes. After covering their family expenses, they had very little left to invest.

However, with Uncle Man willing to lend them the initial capital, they didn't have to worry about the money.

Deng Yunhua asked, "Uncle Man, besides opening an internet cafe, what is the second path?"

Deng Shirong raised a second finger and said, "The second path is to operate a fast-food chain like KFC or McDonald's."

Deng Yunfu and his siblings were familiar with KFC and McDonald's, the fast-food giants. Compared to the completely unfamiliar internet cafes, they were more familiar with these fast-food chains.

Especially Deng Yunfu, who had previously run a food company in Taiwan and had experience in the food industry, showed a clear interest in operating a fast-food chain. He eagerly asked, "Uncle Man, do you mean we should imitate KFC and McDonald's?"

Deng Shirong nodded. "Exactly. Since KFC and McDonald's entered the mainland, they have been very popular. Many Chinese people consider dining at KFC or McDonald's a fashion statement, making these fast-food chains thrive in China.

If you're interested in this industry, you can directly imitate the products of KFC and McDonald's and lower the prices.

When the taste difference is not significant, no one can resist the temptation of lower prices. If you sell at half the price of KFC and McDonald's and adopt a strategy of thin margins but high volume, this business will definitely flourish."

"Sell at half the price of KFC and McDonald's?"

Deng Yunfu's eyes widened, and he blurted out, "Uncle Man, if we sell at such low prices, can we still make a profit?"

Thinking of Wallace from his previous life, Deng Shirong smiled. "Of course, there are many ways to reduce costs. If you're interested, I can explain them to you in detail."

Deng Yunfu nodded vigorously. "Uncle Man, I'm very interested in this industry."

The other siblings also looked at Uncle Man. They didn't have a clear preference like their older brother and decided to listen more and weigh their options to see which path was better—opening internet cafes or operating a fast-food chain.

...

PS: Thank you to all my relatives for the support and votes. I appreciate it!

(End of Chapter)

Chapter end