1987 coincided with the 60th anniversary of the founding of the Republic.

On August 1st, as a gift film, the TV series "Wulongshan Bandit Suppression" was broadcast in prime time on the national television station in mainland China.

This TV series tells the story of our army wiping out the remaining bandits in western Hunan during a special period and restoring a peaceful world to the people.

But somewhat unexpectedly, after the TV series was broadcast, what was remembered by mainland audiences was not the positive hero who suppressed bandits, but Shen Junyi, who played the role of the bandit leader "Dragon Mountain Leopard".

In addition, there was an Anti-Japanese War movie "The Battle of Taierzhuang" released at the same time. Because it accurately and truthfully reflected the cruel history of the Anti-Japanese War, it awakened the common memory of Chinese descendants on both sides of the Taiwan Strait and the three places, and also received unprecedented attention.

When this movie premiered in Hong Kong, it attracted tens of thousands of people to watch it and grossed HK$1.7 million at the box office in four days.

Although this figure cannot be compared with a purely commercial film, as a mainstream film produced in the mainland, it is already a good box office work. At least it can earn back the shooting cost by relying on the box office in Hong Kong City.

In particular, this film has done a great job in promoting cross-strait communication.

At the same time, on August 3, at the invitation and arrangement of Ning Weimin, the 27-person crew of the 1987 version of "A Dream of Red Mansions", led by the group leaders Dai Linfeng and Ruan Ruolin, finally flew to Tokyo, Japan.

According to the plan, the crew of "Dream of Red Mansions" will carry out cultural exchange activities for about 12 days in Tokyo, Kyoto and Osaka from now on, as well as promotional activities related to the TV series.

The significance of this matter is equally important and cannot be underestimated.

(Seventeen members of the crew of "A Dream of Red Mansions" visited Hong Kong in May 1985)

You know, unlike three months ago when the crew of "A Dream of Red Mansions" visited Hong Kong at the invitation of ATV, this time the crew members actually went abroad.

And it was larger than when they went to Hong Kong City, with ten more members.

Prior to this, the only people sent abroad from the mainland for relevant cultural exchanges were workers in the film industry.

The creators of TV series like the crew of "Dream of Red Mansions" have never had such an opportunity to go abroad.

This is completely the first of its kind, and it undoubtedly means that the mainland TV drama industry has begun to gain a certain cultural influence overseas, which is enough to go down in history.

If we also take into account the considerable cultural gap between the two countries, "Dream of Red Mansions" was broadcast in the morning drama period of TBS TV station and still achieved an astonishing ratings of 18%.

Then we can regard their collective visit to Japan as a landmark event and a good start for mainland TV dramas to successfully establish themselves overseas.

Therefore, Ning Weimin attached great importance to this matter and made a great noise.

On the day of pick-up, not only did he and Matsumoto Keiko come to the airport in person, but two senior cadres from Kiri Film Factory, Director Akira Okamoto and Director Mitsuru Watanabe, also came with them.

In addition, even Shochiku Pictures and Taurus Palace, two cooperative units with whom they have a good relationship, also came to join in the fun and sent their own artists and representatives.

In terms of media, in addition to TBS TV station and "Mainichi Shimbun", which are both part of the Tokyo Broadcasting System, they are definitely must-sees.

Ning Weimin also took the initiative to invite the NHK TV station, which was relatively pro-China at this time, and another major newspaper affiliated with the Fuji group, Sanseibun Shimbun.

There are also two sports tabloids that were willing to refute Matsumoto Keiko's rumors.

Putting these media together, there were five or six newspaper reporters with cameras, two anchors, and two cameras waiting for interviews, which was not too shabby.

Ning Weimin even arranged for someone to send flowers to each crew member.

As well as Fog Production's own professional cameramen and directors, they will record all the activities of the "Dream of Red Mansions" crew during their visit to Japan, and will eventually edit it into a documentary.

So when the plane arrived, the passengers on board walked out of Japanese customs.

The crew of "Dream of Red Mansions" received a welcome far beyond their imagination and much warmer than when they visited Hong Kong.

A dedicated person gave each member of the delegation a bouquet of flowers with a cordial and enthusiastic attitude.

The reporters fired at the members of the delegation intensively with long guns and short cannons, and there was a wave of flashes.

In particular, Ouyang Fenqiang and Chen Xiaoxu were the focus of the most intensive "firepower".

To be honest, not only the crew members of "Dream of Red Mansions" did not expect that they would receive such a warm welcome, they were flattered by such a large-scale welcoming scene and couldn't help but get excited.

Even the passengers who were on the same plane with them were shocked by such a grand welcome ceremony and interview procession.

It was only at this time that many Japanese passengers on the same flight realized that these Chinese people had a great background. They turned out to be famous actors in China.

In this way, unknowingly, it caused a little sensation in the airport terminal.

But it must be said that although the welcome ceremony was not small, it was not as disorderly and chaotic as in the port city.

After all, all media today can be considered our own.

There are no paparazzi reporters who swarm the interviewees without quality, and no one will deliberately "lead" or "stumbling" the interviewees like the Hong Kong reporters.

Moreover, Ning Weimin also invited the crew to the lounge of the airport as soon as possible so that they could be interviewed here to avoid causing trouble to the airport.

So even though the reporters had a lot of questions and the interview lasted half an hour, both the media and the crew were very relaxed and happy, and the atmosphere was particularly harmonious and harmonious.

No one felt any discomfort or unhappiness, and both parties met in a very friendly manner when they parted ways.

It can be said that this welcome ceremony was quite successful.

Next, of course, Ning Weimin arranged for everyone to board the Yamato sightseeing tour bus and go to the hotel where the crew stayed.

The first thing that needs to be explained is that at this time, Ning Weimin was not short of money.

In addition to the fact that his businesses are making him money day after day and he has accumulated a lot of cash.

The key is that the 15 billion yen that Kenichi Sagawa transferred to him by selling the stocks, and the 30 billion yen that Sumitomo Bank loaned him again, have all been received by now.

Therefore, Ning Weimin now has as much as 500 million US dollars in wealth at his disposal, and he is fully prepared for the upcoming "Black Monday."

The only thing he regrets is that the current Japanese stock market has not introduced a short-selling mechanism, otherwise it would be a double blessing.

Secondly, Ning Weimin is also a person who has a strong sense of national origin and cares about friendship and friendship.

This time he invited the crew of "Dream of Red Mansions". Although there was no lack of philistine motives, he wanted to take advantage of the big IP of "Dream of Red Mansions" and use the cast and crew to make profits for his own industry and conduct commercial promotions.

But he is also willing to do his best to spread Chinese culture and promote cultural exchanges between the two countries.

He has always believed that in order for the Japanese to truly bow their heads and admit guilt for the crimes they have committed, and to treat the Chinese people as their grandsons, it is not enough to rely solely on the transcendence of force and technology.

That can only make them submissive, not convinced.

I want to truly convince the Japanese and admire and fear China from the bottom of my heart.

Then we must crush them all in terms of culture, entertainment, material enjoyment, and economy and trade, and tower over them.

Let them realize that Li Gui is Li Gui and Li Kui is Li Kui. They cannot afford to live without the big tree of China.

As a result, my will is depressed, I have to admire you, and I have to rely on you.

That is the correct way to completely eliminate their evil thoughts and achieve peace in Asia.

Needless to say, Ning Weimin certainly could not let the Japanese underestimate his fellow Chinese compatriots, and the dignity they deserve was indispensable.

For this reason, he was not stingy in his reception standards, just like he did when he received a delegation from investors of Tan Gong Restaurant.

Not only did he arrange the crew of "Dream of Red Mansions" at the Okura Hotel, which has a close relationship with the Republic.

He also spent money to buy 200 meal tickets for the revolving buffet restaurant on the top floor of the Okura Hotel and handed them to the group leader to facilitate the crew's meals in the past few days.

In other words, during the few days the crew stayed in Tokyo, even if there were no banquet arrangements, all twenty-seven members of the crew could dine at the restaurant at any time with their tickets for breakfast, lunch and dinner.

Not only that, Ning Weimin also gave each person an pocket money of 100,000 yen for daily expenses.

They also had some of the costumes provided by Yves Saint Laurent and Pierre Cardon for "Crazy Rich Asians" delivered to the hotel for everyone to choose from.

These two measures were a huge surprise and immediately won the hearts of the entire crew.

You know, although for these domestic actors at this time, whether they go to Hong Kong or go abroad, everyone has "costume management fees."

But it’s only about 500 RMB.

With the money in hand, the crew members could at most buy a suit in the "Red Capital" in China and have their hair done at the "Silian Barber Shop".

So the reality is that no matter how many people go abroad, these people who go abroad still have no money and can hardly buy or do anything.

The most you can do is wander around in the streets and satisfy your cravings through your eyes, ears and nose.

This was the case when the crew of "A Dream of Red Mansions" went to Hong Kong City in May this year.

Everyone went to the streets to see the bustling night view of the port city. Under the neon lights, they were reluctant to even buy a cup of "Yuanyang" and eat a "pineapple bun".

The tie used by Ouyang Fenqiang was even borrowed from "Li Wan"'s lover.

When the whole group completed their mission and left the port city, they didn't take anything they bought in the port city with them.

Everyone just did what they could and bought some sunglasses, lighters, scarves, socks and other small things.

This sense of loss due to lack of money can only be felt by mainland celebrities in the 1980s.

To be honest, even in this day and age, it is very difficult for mainland actors to go to a Hong Kong city, which is enough to make people around them envious.

But for the experience of going to Hong Kong to promote ATV, the crew members didn't feel that it was very interesting after they came back.

Not to mention how tired they were from the busy schedule, the key point was that they didn’t feel like they had learned anything or bought anything good.

It is also because of this that when we came to Japan this time, the whole group had no extravagant expectations of shopping or shopping.

Because everyone knows that things in Japan are more expensive than those in Hong Kong City. If you can’t afford them in Hong Kong City, let alone Japan.

Unexpectedly, Ning Weimin would be so generous.

Not only have we arranged such a luxurious and comfortable living environment for you, but we have also prepared two such gifts for you.

This is definitely a turn of events, a miracle that no one expected at all!

Wouldn’t everyone be cheering for joy?
To be continued...