The morning light is just breaking over Hong Kong Island, but the sea fog over Victoria Harbour has not yet dissipated.
The crisp shouts of the newsboys have penetrated the mist and echoed throughout the streets of Hong Kong Island.
"Breaking News! Breaking News! Miss Liu is unparalleled in talent and beauty, and Master Huo has publicly praised her!"
"Left-wing newspapers publish secret recipes, all kinds of novel and practical!"
In just one night, the public opinion field in Hong Kong seemed to be thrown into by two completely different stones, causing layers of ripples.
The eldest son of the Huo family is infatuated with a mainland girl, and the celebrity effect is swift and intense.
With the first rays of sunshine in the morning, several major newspapers including Sing Tao Daily, Overseas Chinese Daily and Industrial and Commercial Daily all used extremely gorgeous space and lavish words to describe the same woman - Liu Rumeng.
Moreover, with Master Jin Yong's previous work "There Is a Beauty in the North", the tabloids' praise of Liu Rumeng seems quite natural and not groundless.
The article cleverly uses the meaningful line "The cold plum blossoms stand in the snow" from Jin Yong's "There is a Beauty in the North" as an introduction, and describes in detail her brilliant and incomparable appearance.
The article "As if the magnolia is under the moon, the clear light shines on itself" also traces his family background in the mainland, implicitly pointing out his scholarly family and good education background.
Particular emphasis was placed on her language talent, her ability to switch between English and French fluently and skillfully, her responses appropriate, and her charming demeanor in conversation. She is truly a peerless beauty who possesses both classical beauty and modern style.
For a time, the three words "Liu Rumeng", accompanied by the invisible endorsement of Mr. Huo, quickly became the focus of gossip among the people in Hong Kong and Kowloon.
Her family background, appearance, and talent became the focus of people's discussions, and her popularity was almost comparable to that of current gossip stars.
The influence of the Huo family was fully demonstrated in this matter, as if there was an invisible hand pushing it.
Liu Rumeng was pushed to the center of public opinion, shaping the image of a "perfect" lady in the eyes of Mr. Huo.
However, in another public opinion battlefield - the newsstands in Shau Kei Wan, North Point and other places, the left-wing newspapers represented by Wen Wei Po and Ta Kung Pao, their layouts today present a unique simplicity and practicality.
They continue to follow up on recent key issues concerning social and people's livelihood.
But what is even more eye-catching is the new content section launched after adopting the suggestions conveyed by Lin Huowang through Liang Weilin.
A large space was allocated in the lower middle section of the newspaper to publish the "Citizens' Life Guide": a comparison of the daily prices of fish, meat, and vegetables in several markets in Kowloon and the New Territories, the latest requirements for enrollment in public schools in various districts of Hong Kong Island, and the latest changes in tram and Star Ferry schedules.
There is even a "Life Tips" column: how to remove stubborn stains from clothes, and simple tips for preventing mildew and dehumidification during the rainy season.
The most refreshing thing is that the "Home Kitchen" column takes up half the page, detailing the recipe for a Hong Kong home-cooked dish called "Steamed Taro with Spare Ribs in Black Bean Sauce," clearly outlining the ingredients and the proper heat. It even includes a note at the end:
"This method is slightly adjusted from the secret recipe of Chen Ji Lao Pu in Sheung Wan."
Such content is like a breath of fresh air with a touch of everyday life for Hong Kong residents who are used to newspapers filled with current affairs, social news and commercial advertisements.
The aunt who was buying groceries was holding a newspaper, carefully checking the price of fish, and thinking about what to buy today;
The father who was sending his child to school pointed at the school admission instructions and thought about preparing the materials;
The housewives in the kitchen were even more delighted as they carefully tore off the "Home Kitchen" page along the dotted line, folded it and put it away, muttering to themselves, "Oh, Chen Ji's old recipe is out! I'll try it tonight!"
"So this is how salted egg steamed meat patties are made to be smooth. No wonder my previous ones were never tender enough..."
This unprecedented practicality and service-oriented nature quickly made the image of left-wing newspapers become more familiar to the public.
The result is predictable.
The left-wing newspaper's sales figures for the day were reported back to the editorial office in the afternoon - a significant and encouraging jump compared to the day before.
Although it is still far from shaking the status of those entrenched newspaper giants, this growth momentum is clear and powerful, like a bucket of refreshing cool water poured down in the sweltering heat of summer.
At around 10 a.m., this polarized public opinion situation also triggered subtle reactions in the office building of Xinhua News Agency's Hong Kong branch.
In the corridor, when several colleagues from different departments met Guo Linxian, director of the Translation Office, they all smiled and expressed their congratulations warmly.
"Director Guo, congratulations!
Your daughter is truly talented and beautiful. I think she is the most popular candidate for this year's Miss Hong Kong pageant!"
"That's right, she's so beautiful, even Young Master Huo has such a favorable impression of her. She has a bright future!"
"Director Guo is so lucky! His daughter has caused such a sensation since arriving in Hong Kong. Her future is limitless."
Compliments came one after another, and the core of their praise was the name that suddenly became the focus of the whole of Hong Kong - her daughter Liu Rumeng.
Young Master Huo's passionate gesture of goodwill from a distance was like an invisible golden ring that suddenly blessed Liu Rumeng.
But it also subtly reflected on Guo Linxian, the mother, and invisibly elevated her interpersonal status in the internal system of Xinhua News Agency.
However, listening to these sincere and even envious congratulations, Guo Linxian barely maintained a decent smile on her face, but her heart felt like it was sinking into the cold sea, getting deeper and deeper, and colder and colder.
"Hot candidate", "Mr. Huo's favorite", "promising future"...
The more brilliant these words were, the more they sounded like sharp alarm bells in her ears!
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