72 Tenants of Prosperity

In the 1970s Hong Kong, rapacious landlords threaten to evict 72 tenants from a crowded block. The tenants rally around the sworn brothers Ha Kung and Shek Kin, who organize a stand to defend their home. They mobilize neighbors to resist pressure, turning the crisis into a communal fight.

The resistance culminates in defeating the landlord and his landlady, who are ousted from the block. Pinky is rescued from a forced marriage, and the group asserts control over their community. Ha Kung's wife Siu Tao Hong and Jane stand with them, while the hard-edged landlady San Gu keeps order.

With their victory, the two brothers become sworn enemies. Their feud deepens into rival business ventures, from plastic flowers to stinky bean curd, changing how the block engages with commerce. The conflict strains friendships and casts a long shadow over the neighborhood.

The feud's success gives way to personal and family tensions as loyalties are tested. The rift between Ha and Shek permeates friendships, forcing neighbors to pick sides. The block's atmosphere grows tense, echoing the unresolved rivalry for years.

Forty years later, the story shifts to Sai Yeung Choi Street in Mongkok, where the Ha and Shek clans clash anew in the electronics and appliances trade. The market is cutthroat as shops vie for customers and prestige in a transformed neighborhood. The legacy of the old feud echoes in this modern competition.

Shops deploy bold promotional tactics to attract wary customers, including pseudo models and dramatic storefronts. The street becomes a stage for consumer spectacle as vendors try to outshine rivals. The relentless hustle captures the era's appetite for attention.

Promotions take quirky turns, including unusual foot-massage services and playful motifs like Lolita, adding color to the marketplace. Nancy Sit Ka-Yin's presence as a promotional figure heightens the carnival atmosphere. Customers are drawn into a lively, sometimes garish, street scene.

Rents surge, and landlords threaten triple rents and shuttered shops, pressuring tenants to compromise. Neighbors band together to weather the financial squeeze, reaffirming their stake in the street. The community's solidarity shines even as competition intensifies.

A wave of acid-attacks shocks the avenue, spreading fear throughout residents and shopkeepers alike. The threat becomes a catalyst that galvanizes the 72 tenants to unite in defense of their homes and livelihoods. In facing danger, solidarity takes center stage and common ground is found.

Even amid new rivalries, the old love triangle between Ha, Pinky, and Shek persists beneath the street's frenetic activity. Their tangled feelings complicate business rivalries and family dynamics, adding personal stakes to the conflict. The trio's history continues to influence present decisions.

A new generation begins to maneuver romantic entanglements within the Ha and Shek families. Ha Junior pursues Shek's daughter, while Ha's kung-fu-trained daughter becomes the object of pursuit for Shek's witty, ambitious son. The rivalries mirror the old feud, but are filtered through youth and changing social mores.

The story threads love, loyalty, and community, showing how a single street can outlast generations of conflict. Despite the quarrels, the neighborhood endures because residents stand together in crisis. The tale blends personal relationships with a shared commitment to home and neighbors.