How well did North Beggar Hung 7 Gung and Chow Bak Tung get along?

[Ken Cheng]

One of the more amusing minor subplots featured in LOCH '82 was that North Beggar Hung 7 Gung and Chow Bak Tung frequently got on each other's nerves. Both were fun-loving, easy-going older men with great martial arts skills, but they couldn't seem to stand each other. Watching them in the series was like watching GRUMPY OLD MEN.

Was that how their relationship was characterized in the novel as well? If so, what was the underlying cause of their difficulty in getting along? Was it because, on some levels, they were so similar to one another?

The funny thing is, when Hung 7 Gung first appeared, he was the one who had the reputation for being the "funny old man," but Chow Bak Tung quickly superseded him in that role. After Chow hit the scene, Hung 7 Gung became the straight man of the comedy team.

[jsamador]

In the novel Zhou BoTong had great respect for Hong QiGong. It's almost like his respect for Wang Chong Yang except that he and QiGong were friends rather than sworn brothers. The only time QiGong was ever irritated with ZBT was in the later part of LOCH when he uttered a joke that Ke Zhen'E thought was highly insulting.

[Extremer88]

The two are probably the most silliest-looking guys among the Greats in the novel, if you don't count QQR.

[Ken Cheng]

The two are probably the most silliest-looking guys among the Greats in the novel, if you don't count QQR.

In LOCH '82, the makeup department also (fortunately or unfortunately, depending on your point of view) made them look like twins.

[Extremer88]

In LOCH '82, the makeup department also (fortunately or unfortunately, depending on your point of view) made them look like twins.

LOL. Seriously, both HQG and ZBT doesn't really exude much "class" when we compared them to Greats like Huang Yaoshi and Yideng.

They kind of look rugged and untidy.

[Ken Cheng]

LOL. Seriously, both HQG and ZBT doesn't really exude much "class" when we compared them to Greats like Huang Yaoshi and Yideng.

They kind of look rugged and untidy.

That's part of what made them so endearing, however. Especially compared to the likes of East Heretic Wong Yerk See, Hung and Chow were so unpretentious and genuine.

[ChanceEncounter]

ZBT and H7G should go do standup together.

Move over Abbot and Costello.

[Ken Cheng]

ZBT and H7G should go do standup together.

Move over Abbot and Costello.

They *were* pretty funny as a duo in LOCH '82.