The next day, when the morning light pierced the mist over Hong Kong Island.
The sharp cries of the newsboys have torn apart the tranquility of the city.
In front of the newsstand, guys at different stalls deftly stacked piles of newspapers that still smelled of ink.
Today is destined to be another day filled with literary smoke of war in Hong Kong.
"Extra number! Extra number!
The latest from Oriental and Sing Tao reveals the true face of the nouveau riche!
Newsboys waved Oriental Daily and Sing Tao Daily and shouted at the top of their lungs.
The major blockbuster that the editorial departments of these two newspapers worked on all night long was now displayed in the most conspicuous positions on major newsstands.
Peter Ho stood in front of the floor-to-ceiling window in the spacious office on the top floor of the Ho Building, the newly delivered Oriental Daily in his hand slightly warm.
His eyes swept across the photo of himself in a suit and tie, looking high-spirited, which was placed below the title, and then fell on the carefully arranged and contrasting tables and long articles on the page, and a cold smile appeared at the corner of his mouth.
The director lists of the seven companies owned by the Huo family and in which they have a stake are clearly listed, and each industry corresponds to real estate, shipping, and industrial foundations with real money.
His finger gently tapped the word "zero" that was deliberately bold and enlarged on the newspaper.
He was too lazy to read the lengthy explanatory text next to it. He had already instructed the core meaning: make a detailed comparison, use the most straightforward numbers and social identities, and completely strip off the disguise of the Japanese man Kobayashi Tenmo.
Every literate person in Hong Kong must clearly see who is the well-established and prosperous family, and who is just a rootless duckweed who tries to gain entry with a few coins and some crooked ideas.
The Sing Tao Daily's response was even more direct and pointed, with the headline "Celebrity Threshold, Is This Too Far to Cross?!" running across the front page.
The article begins with "What are Hong Kong celebrities?", citing the history of the rise and core asset areas of several well-established families, and then suddenly turns:
"On the other hand, a certain Japanese man, Kobayashi Tenno, has recently gained a lot of attention in Hong Kong, with his newspaper cartoons being the most popular. However, a thorough investigation of his business registrations reveals that, aside from a paper company and a weekly comics publisher, he owns no real estate, let alone a seat on the board of directors of a listed company!
There are serious doubts about the amount of assets.
How can such a person be compared with Mr. Fok Chun-ting, the young helmsman of the Fok family, and be listed among the celebrities?"
The perspectives of several newspapers are similar, like several invisible hands, plucking the same heartstrings at the same time: Kobayashi Tenbo?
It's just a flower stand.
Those who thought he was unrivaled and could compete with Ho Sin-ting yesterday were suddenly awakened when they saw the irrefutable evidence listed in black and white.
The tea restaurant was crowded with workers hurriedly eating breakfast.
On the greasy plastic table, several newly bought newspapers were passed around. "Damn! So that's what it is!"
A middle-aged man in overalls, his cheeks bulging from the pineapple buns he had just stuffed into his mouth, pointed at the newspaper and shouted incoherently, "I thought that Xiaolin Tianwang was pretty tough, but it turns out he's not even a hair on his face!
He's not even a director, it's hilarious to even mention it!"
He took a sip of the cheap silk stocking milk tea, his tone filled with the anger of being deceived and a hint of relief, "I should have thought of it earlier, what's the foundation of the Huo family?
What is his foundation?
How can shrimp be compared to whales?
Another younger guy at the same table was flipping through the pages of Sing Tao, his brow furrowed. "Tsk, such a big deal, with a new newspaper and a comic book weekly, I thought he was making some progress... Turns out he was just venting his anger.
Mr. Huo's list is as hard as a concrete wall, it's enough to crush someone to death."
The photo of Kobayashi Tenmo that he had seen in the inaugural issue of Asia Daily a few days ago flashed through his mind. That calm and confident look now seemed so empty and unreal.
The awe I felt when I talked about this person yesterday receded like a tide.
On the breakfast table in the quiet villa area of Mid-Levels, a copy of Oriental Daily was pushed in front of a wealthy businessman with white hair and beard.
The old man slowly put on his gold-rimmed glasses, his eyes lingered on the list of directors of Peter Ho for a moment, then glanced at the space next to it marked with Kobayashi Tenwang, and shook his head almost imperceptibly.
He put down the newspaper, picked up the exquisite bone china coffee cup, and whispered to the butler beside him, "Young people are formidable, but it is a big taboo to rush to the stage before your foundation is solid.
Xiaolin Tianwang, the dragon crossing the river, is too impatient. I know what he is thinking.
Targeting the Huo family to raise his own value and status!
The Huo family has deep roots, how can they be shaken by a small storm? And if the Huo family really starts to make a move, they can pin him to death on the beach of the Xiangjiang River with one hand..."
Although his words were plain, he had already secretly labeled Kobayashi Tenwang as "ignorant of the immensity of heaven and earth".
In a cramped attic on the edge of Kowloon Walled City, a young man who had happily discussed with his coworkers last night how good "Dragon Jump" was, was now silently staring at the glaring "zero" on the newspaper borrowed from his neighbor.
It turns out that Kobayashi Tenwang is not as rich and powerful as imagined.
He touched the few coins in his pocket that he had saved to buy the new issue of comics at the newsstand, and a faint sense of disappointment mixed with confusion after being persuaded by the authority of the newspaper surged into his heart.
It turns out that what the newspapers said was not entirely true?
All that big fanfare before was actually all... fake?
That kind of blind admiration instantly became a little less impressive.
Whether in the bustling streets or the dark rooms of the palaces, the effect of this overwhelming public opinion bombardment was immediate.
Kobayashi Tenwang, a name that was like a shining new star in the hearts of Hong Kong people a few days ago, has seen its height plummet rapidly in the minds of countless people.
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