Chapter 00150: The One Who Forgets His Roots (Today is the Fourth Update)
# The One Who Forgets His Roots (Today is the Fourth Update)
Chapter 150
Novel: 1979 Golden Age
Chapter 150: The One Who Forgets His Roots (Today is the Fourth Update)
"..."
As soon as the question was raised, the people on the stage exchanged glances, unsure of how to respond.
The official accompanying staff, experienced in such situations, immediately picked up the microphone and smiled, "The prosperity of Hong Kong is evident to all. Its rapid development over the past two decades is inseparable from the hard work of its people. As the relationship between the two regions continues to strengthen, we hope to see more cooperation in trade and economy."
The reporter below was not satisfied and pressed further, "Then what do you think is the reason for Hong Kong's current state of prosperity?"
"As I just mentioned, it is inseparable from the hard work of the people of Hong Kong."
"Besides that?"
"Of course, there are also changes in the international environment and the opening up of trade. Hong Kong has its own industrial foundation, which has strengthened its export trade."
"Don't you think there are also institutional factors?"
The official frowned.
They often encountered such situations when traveling abroad, where reporters loved to ask political questions, such as about the system or the tide of history.
In such cases, they would usually respond with some standard, politically correct phrases or try to cut the conversation short.
However, they were not the hosts of this event and couldn't overstep their boundaries, so they subtly signaled to Fu Qi.
Fu Qi, also experienced, was about to speak when suddenly a voice chimed in, "Hong Kong is indeed very prosperous, and it has opened my eyes..."
Huh?
He turned his head and saw that Chen Qi had somehow picked up the microphone and was speaking unhurriedly, "After we checked into the hotel yesterday, I went out for a walk in the evening, wanting to grab a bite to eat. I randomly entered a small shop and saw that a bowl of noodles cost ten dollars. I was so shocked that I backed out. In the mainland, a bowl of plain noodles costs eight cents, and with some vegetables and meat, it's twenty cents. I really wanted to try that bowl of... oh, what was it called? Ah, yes, mixed noodles! But alas, my pockets were empty, and I couldn't afford it. I thought to myself, the material conditions in Hong Kong are indeed rich and varied, much better than ours."
How awkward!
The reporter took a second to process this.
Was this mainland guy being sarcastic? He immediately retorted, "The average monthly income of a Hong Kong family is already three thousand dollars. I heard you only make a few dozen dollars a month?"
"Yes, yes, our income is low, and we have many children. Some families rely solely on the father's income to support five people. It's really not easy. Fortunately, the cost of living is relatively cheap. A deep-fried dough stick costs four cents and weighs half a tael. A hen costs one dollar and thirty cents per catty, and a hairy crab costs seventy cents per catty. Medical care and education don't cost much either, but housing is a bit of a problem... Oh, right!"
Chen Qi leaned forward and asked the reporter below, "I heard that your housing prices are a thousand dollars per square foot (about 0.09 square meters). A 400-square-foot apartment would cost three hundred thousand dollars. Based on your income standard, let me calculate... wow, it would take you eight or nine years of not eating or drinking to buy an apartment! We're even worse off. Our living conditions are poor, with several people crammed into one room. But at least we don't have to buy it; the work unit assigns it to us, and we just pay a small rent. Like my parents' house, it's about two hundred square feet, and they pay two dollars and fifty cents a month. You don't look very old. When do you plan to buy a house?"
Pfft!
Everyone on the stage lowered their heads, covering their mouths, afraid they might burst out laughing.
Fu Qi, with no such reservations, laughed outright.
The reporter's face turned red and then white.
As the saying goes, the truth hurts the most! He indeed couldn't afford to buy a house.
Despite his seemingly glamorous job as a reporter, he had to pay exorbitant rent every month.
He had already forgotten that his initial question was about the system.
In such a setting, one doesn't necessarily have to answer questions.
It's better not to follow the other party's rhythm and just go straight for the kill.
Seeing this, other tabloid reporters felt that the mainland guy was too arrogant and immediately banded together in hostility.
A female reporter said, "The cost of living doesn't represent anything. It's a natural phenomenon when the economy reaches a certain level of prosperity. We also have a corresponding modern civilization and system."
"I don't think a place that only abolished the 'Great Qing Code' in the 1970s has modern civilization. You only banned polygamy nine years ago. You're a woman yourself, yet you don't empathize with the disadvantaged and instead take pride in it. I really don't understand what's going on in your head."
For a moment, it was a battle of wits against a group of scoundrels!
After a few exchanges, an older reporter stepped forward, looking quite experienced, and said calmly, "Mr. Chen, your eloquence is impressive, and I admire it. But no matter how eloquently you speak, you can't avoid the reality. Hong Kong's current state is the result of the hard work of its citizens, government support, and the opening up of international trade. Our economy is prosperous, society is progressing, and our system is advanced. These are objective facts."
"..."
Chen Qi paused for a few seconds and then spoke again, "I heard that Hong Kong is severely lacking in freshwater resources. In the 1960s, there was a century-long drought, and the British Hong Kong government restricted water supply to once every four days, for four hours each time. The entire population of 3.5 million people was in dire straits, fighting every day for water. It was your Chinese General Chamber of Commerce and the Hong Kong Federation of Trade Unions that jointly appealed to the mainland for help. Despite our own difficulties, we allocated 38 million to build the Dongjiang-Shenzhen Water Supply Project, bringing water from the Dongjiang River for you to drink. At that time, a workforce of ten thousand people was mobilized, carrying water on their shoulders, overcoming countless difficulties, and within a year, water was flowing..."
"That was something we paid for. We have to pay for the water!" the other party interjected.
"Oh? We couldn't even drink clean water ourselves, and we were also short of water, yet we ensured that you had a water supply. Why didn't you pay to buy water from Britain? Also, there's a place called Wenjindu in Shenzhen that specifically supplies fresh agricultural products to Hong Kong. Farmers push carts and carry baskets, delivering live chickens and ducks here for decades. Why don't you report on that? Including our conversation today, would you dare to publish it?"
Chen Qi leaned back and crossed his legs, "Reporter, I don't know you, but there's a Chinese saying: 'Pick up the bowl to eat, put down the bowl to curse the mother'... That's exactly what you are!"
Thump, thump, thump!
The reporter, scolded, took a few steps back, clutching his chest, his face turning red.
Perhaps he had some heart condition and was now so angry that he might have an attack.
He pointed at the stage, wanting to retort, but couldn't utter a word.
The others looked ashen-faced, utterly defeated.
Chen Qi's words were like daggers, piercing their hearts.
And as for today's conversation, would they dare to publish it? No, they wouldn't!
Just like the Dongjiang-Shenzhen Water Supply Project, 70-80% of Hong Kong's water supply depends on it.
But how many times has the media reported on it? First, the British Hong Kong government prohibited the promotion of such content.
Second, they felt that since they paid for it, the mainland should provide it.
"Crazy!"
Xiong Xinxin on the stage was trembling all over, uttering a curse in Guangxi dialect.
Ji Chunhua looked at Brother Qi with even more admiration.
Li Lianjie, Yu Hai, and others had mixed feelings.
They often performed abroad and were always cautious, feeling a sense of inferiority, afraid of leaving a bad impression on international friends.
So they were both shocked and strangely exhilarated by Chen Qi's outburst: It felt so damn good! Who's stupid enough not to see that the Hong Kong media was deliberately picking on mainlanders? They deserved to be scolded like this!
Gong Xue couldn't take her eyes off his profile, suddenly feeling proud.
This mischievous younger brother, usually so unserious, had a bold spirit within him.
Occasionally, it showed, and he seemed like a real man.
"Hahaha!"
Fu Qi almost clapped his hands.
There's a successor, there's a successor!
Xu Dunle also said, "This kid is not bad, no wonder you value him so much!"
But seeing the official staff's horrified expressions, they decided to focus on the event and stepped forward to mediate, "Friends from the press, do you have any more questions?"
"..."
Silent as a chicken.
No one dared to provoke or challenge anymore.
A few reporters, unable to bear such "humiliation," left directly, but most stayed.
After all, what's more important than news?
"Alright, let's move on to the next segment!"
"We have specially invited two masters from Hong Kong to exchange martial arts and spar. Please welcome Master Liao and Master Luo!"
(End of Chapter)