Wah Man Han
Wah Man Hang is a leading character in the TVB 2007 series "Drive of Life". He is depicted in youth as a daring if not ruthless entrepreneur and in his prime and old age an ethical businessman and the strong-willed patriarch of his family.
Personality
In the series Man Hang as a youth is depicted as an adventurous person willing to take risks if he could potentially benefit from the undertaking. As he grew older he becomes stubborn and dictatorial, appointing people by favoritism and increasingly conservative.
Background
Man Hang was born in Mainland China; his father Wah Yuk Cheong ran a car engine factory before the war. With The New China was established under the Communist regime, the Wah family property was confiscated by the state, but Man Hang grew up in a relatively stable environment. In 1965, Cheong has passed away, while Man Hang graduated from university. Due to changes in the country, Man Hang wisheed to develop in Hong Kong. However, their mother has difficulties in movement. Man Hang and Man Hung decide to draw lots in deciding who get leave to go to Hong Kong, while the other one stay to take care of their mother.
At the same time, Wai Cheung Ping, who was studying in the same university, was involved in a love triangle with Man Hang and Man Hung. However, Man Hang rather chose career over love. After cheating in the lot drawing, Mang Hang and the youngest brother Man Shek left for Hong Kong. The two brothers crossed the sea, but midway there, they was in danger. Fortunately saved by fisherman's daughter Hui Zhan Yan. Afterward, Man Hang married Yan and has two children in succession: Wah Zhen Bong and Wah Qing Yu. After Man Hang left, the Cultural Revolution took place. Man Hung and others were forced to face a difficult time and lost contact with Man Hang. Man Hung started to resent Man Hang for cheating. In 1968, Ping dangerously travelled to Hong Kong to look for Man Hang, only to find Man Hang already married. Then, Ping marred an overseas Chinese man. Because of this, Man Hung hated Man Hang for disappointing Ping. Until the 80's, China adopted an open policy. Although Man Hang managed to find Man Hung, the two brothers remained on bad terms, from thereon did not have anything to do with each other.
Character Development
Man Hang and Man Shek started a new life in Hong Kong. Just as the economy progressed in 70's, Man Hang and fellow villager Ngai Lin Tai decided to invest in a small-scale business. Until Man Shek married tycoon Wong Cheng Kwok's daughter Wong Siu Fun, Man Hung received recognition by Kwok and his career achieved a bigger development. Man Hang developed Wong family's scarp iron industry into a steel and iron processing factory, with the business improving by day. Wong family and the two Wah brothers owned half of the company shares respectively.
In 1994, Man Hang is the chairperson of the steel processing factory. Man Hang's children; Pong and Yuk graduated and return to Hong Kong under his arrangement. Man Hang feels that there is no capable help in the company: only himself struggling alone to get things done. Pong seeks after a comfortable life, prefer playing and dislike work; Yuk is a girl, could hardly achieve great success; while Man Shek often flirts outside, having no interest in managing the company. Man Hang constantly strictly reprimands other people and this has caused a lot of friction.
When Cheng Kwok become seriously ill, Kwok passed his half shares to his son Wong Siu Leong and entrust Man Shek to assist Leong. Man Shek has always looked upon Kwok like his own father, therefore he agrees. However, Man Hang feels that Leong is incompetent; he will destroy Man Hang's lifetime effort. He coerced Man Shek to co-operate with him against Leong and took control of shareholder's right. Man Shek was thrown into a huge dilemma. After several clash, Man Hang uses Man Shek to turn his defeat into victory, kicking the Wong family out. Man Shek hated Man Hang for using him, making him betray his in-laws and breaking his promise to Kwok. Thereon, Man Hang fell out with Man Shek.
In 1997, the steel processing factory revenue has already deteriorated, bearing heavy debts. On the other hand, Pong's real estate business was doing well. After being persuaded by Pong and shareholders, Man Hang, whom originally placed importance in steel industry, was forced to agree and invested a large amount of fund into real estate. Who would expect that during 1997 economic crisis, Pong's investment faced a heavy lost, and in the end, also affected the steel processing factory. As a result, the company went bankrupted and closed down.
However, it turns out that Wah family still has a small truck manufacturing factory in Mainland. Man Hang's lifetime effort was destroyed by Pong, though he was anguished, he also wanted Pong to mature. Therefore, he allowed Pong to return to Mainland and manage the car factory while Man Hang stayed in Hong Kong, anticipating for a comeback. The era has changed after the father and son separated, Man Hang finds it difficult to re-establish his reputation. Afterward, Man Shek returns to Hong Kong from Canada and reconciles with Man Hang. At the same time, Man Hang also witness Pong working hard with Man Hung to fulfill their ancestor China Automobile Dream, reviving the business of car factory. He decided to invest into the factory and Man Hang and Man Hung's relationship gradually reconcile.
Unexpectedly, due to jealousy, Man Hang's wife Hui Zhan Yan unintentionally caused Man Hang and Man Hung's old flame; Wai Cheung Ping was thrown in jail, and suddenly died. Man Hang and Man Hung's relationship worsened and breaks off once again.
Ping's daughter Wing Sau Fung vowed to exact revenge for her mother, using her baby with Pong to extort a large amount of money from Man Hang. She also exposed the incident of Man Hang's one night stand with Ping. Man Hang feels ashamed toward Ping and did not blame Fung. However, the Wah family has once split up again.
After many efforts, Man Hang reunited his family again. He was moved by his ancestor's dream for China's own automobile, therefore he decided to help Man Hung and Bong realize this dream by establishing their own automobile factory and spare part factory. When he thought everything was going smoothly, Man Hang becomes paralyzed due to an accident. This is the heaviest blow in Man Hang's life. However, misfortune comes in double. Due to Piew's manipulation, the family split up again, causing the factory to face another crisis. Although Man Hang has once been depressed, he never abandons his promise. Through perseverance, he stands up once again, reuniting the whole family.
Bibliography
See also
The Drive of Life
Damian Lau