Soul Returns to Hong Kong: From Tailor Shop to Richest Woman

"Ah Ying, explain yourself more clearly. I understand the financial barrier; if you throw money at it, poor people can't afford it. But what about the technical barrier?"

"Hardware such as cameras, lighting, sound recording, post-production editing... these kinds of equipment." Lin Ying looked at him. "Second Uncle, many of your films now rely on people who are hardworking and directors and actors who can endure hardship; but Hong Kong has no shortage of people, and even less shortage of people who want to get rich, so this path will become more and more crowded."

Zhou Yawen nodded: "These days, people follow trends too quickly. If one plot point becomes popular, you can see ten variations within three days."

"So you need to get your equipment up to par first. The same story, filmed with bad equipment, is just a street video; filmed with good equipment, it can enter a much larger market."

Su Jun sighed from the side, "Sister Ying, you're talking about it like you're buying groceries. Good equipment must be expensive, right?"

Su Zhihao glared at him: "Nonsense, can cheap things be called a threshold?"

Su Cheng understood: "The most annoying thing on set right now is sound recording. If the outdoor scenes are noisy, the post-production team will be exhausted trying to fix it."

Zhou Yawen looked at Su Zhihao: "And editing, nowadays many editing studios have long queues and outdated equipment, so even slightly complex shots get stuck."

"I've thought about getting one before, but this thing is expensive; if no one knows how to use it, it's just for show," Su Zhihao sighed.

"So you should ask someone first," Lin Ying said. "Isn't Boss Peng always traveling around? He's in contact with a lot of publishers and has seen what kind of equipment those big companies use. Ask him where the standards are now."

"That's right! Old Peng always brags about how much he's seen of the world, and finally he can come in handy."

Lin Lanying, listening from the side, was puzzled: "Another investment? Does the money in your film industry grow legs? It disappears in the blink of an eye."

Su Zhihao laughed: "Sister-in-law, how can you bring money back if it doesn't run away?"

Lin Lanying rolled her eyes: "You can say that to fool others, but not me."

Lin Ying continued, "Don't buy too much at once. Choose the most urgent items to buy, such as sound recording, lighting, and editing. You can rent top-of-the-line cameras first, but it's best to have your own post-production equipment."

Zhou Yawen took notes: "In this way, small companies outside can copy the concept, but they can't copy the quality."

"Yes," Lin Ying said. "Audiences may not be able to pinpoint exactly what's better, but they can sense the difference; especially those who buy films overseas, they see it very clearly."

Su Zhihao became more and more excited as he listened: "Okay, I'll make an appointment with Boss Peng tomorrow. If that guy dares to play dumb with me, I'll make him watch three days of terrible movies in the editing room."

Zhou Yawen looked at Lin Ying: "You've only been back for a few days, and you've already given us a lot of trouble."

"There's money involved," Lin Ying replied quickly.

Su Zhihao chuckled: "I like that. Alright, we've been talking business so much I'm getting hungry. Ah Ying, come on, your second uncle will treat you to a nice meal at the restaurant downstairs."

Lin Ying immediately stood up: "Then let's go."

Seeing how quickly she moved, Lin Lanying couldn't help but laugh: "I didn't see you this enthusiastic when we were talking about millions earlier."

"Mommy, I ate mud in Cambridge for a month."

"Then we'll make it up tonight."

The restaurant downstairs is a place Su Zhihao frequents, and the private rooms have been reserved for him for a long time.

As soon as they sat down, Su Zhihao ordered: "Two roast geese, steamed fish, typhoon shelter crab, salt and pepper mantis shrimp, soy sauce chicken, and a slow-cooked soup. Ah Ying, what else do you want?"

Lin Ying looked at the menu and ordered, "Stir-fried beef noodles, shrimp dumplings, char siu buns, and custard buns."

The waiter stopped writing halfway through.

Su Jun was shocked: "Sister Ying, are you going to move the teahouse back to... back to Cambridge?"

Lin Ying remained expressionless: "If possible, I'm willing."

As the dishes were served one by one, Lin Ying ate with great concentration; she first drank the soup, then ate the roast goose, and then picked up a large mouthful of beef noodles, hot and fragrant with soy sauce, all just right.

Su Zhihao looked at her and said, "Eat slowly, no one's going to take it from you."

Lin Ying swallowed what was in her mouth: "Second Uncle, you don't understand."

"How come I don't understand?"

"You've never been dominated by undercooked potatoes."

Su Cheng laughed out loud: "That sounds terrible."

"It's not just tragic, it's utterly unreasonable." Lin Ying picked up another shrimp dumpling. "The people over there can build skyscrapers, calculate formulas, and make machines, so why can't they cook?"

Zhou Yawen laughed, amused by her: "This problem might be more difficult than math."

Lin Lanying felt extremely sorry for her and kept piling food onto her plate: "Eat more; before we go back, Mommy will give you some more sausage, dried scallops, and dried shrimp."

"I also want tea leaves," Lin Ying said. "The tea over there makes you question the meaning of life."

Su Zhihao waved his hand: "I'll have someone prepare a box for you."

"Can."

Lin Ying was completely satisfied with the meal. When she returned to Taikoo City, she was too lazy to even look at the account book. After taking a shower, she went straight to sleep.

The next morning, she went back to the New Territories with her grandparents.

The village was still bustling, and everyone who saw her would ask her about her life in Cambridge; some asked if she ate steak every day there, some asked if she wore a long robe to class, and some even asked if the foreign teachers would hit her.

Lin Yingtong replied: "The food is not good, I only wear the long robe occasionally, the teacher doesn't hit people, but he is very good at scolding people."

After hearing this, several villagers on the narrow path immediately lost interest in Cambridge.

--------

A month-long vacation isn't long, but it's not short either; yet Lin Ying felt like she had just adjusted to the time difference when the day to return to school arrived.

She had tea with her grandparents, helped Lin Qian and Lin Yue check their homework, and was then dragged by Lin Lanying to buy two new pairs of shoes.

By the time she realized what was happening, her suitcase was already placed at the door.

This time, Lin Lanying didn't cry. She just kept checking things: "Did you bring the phone book? Did you bring the lawyer's number? Did you memorize the professor's number? Did you keep the money separate?"

"I brought them all."

"What about food?"

"I brought it."

"Don't skimp on the food, Mommy will send more after you finish it."

Lin Ying nodded: "Okay."

He Dazhu stood to the side, holding back for a long time: "Sister, I'll say it again, if you feel something's not right, come back."

"I've got it."

At Kai Tak Airport, announcements urged people to hurry; Lin Ying pushed two suitcases inside, took a few steps, glanced back, and then turned to go through security.

When I landed at the airport again, the sky was overcast in a familiar way.

Lin Ying pushed her luggage out but didn't see Professor Smith and his wife. She already knew they would continue to play in Hong Kong for another half month. Mrs. Elaine had become obsessed with morning tea, while Professor Smith was obsessed with discussing with the dim sum chefs at the teahouse how to make Hong Kong snacks.

Matthew came to pick her up.

He stood at the arrival gate, his hair a little messy, and he looked noticeably thinner, holding a cup of coffee in his hand.

Lin Ying was somewhat surprised to see him: "Weren't you still in the lab?"

Matthew took the suitcase from her, his face etched with exhaustion: "I was woken up by my dad's harassing phone calls."

"Is the project finished?"

"After this phase ends and I'm completely drained, I need to rest for a month; if anyone asks me to look at the data again, I'll lock them in the instrument room."

Lin Ying looked at him carefully for a moment: "You really do look like you haven't slept for three days."

"Three days?" Matthew chuckled. "Lynn, you're too kind! In our last week, we're not counting the days anymore, we're counting the coffee cups."

Lin Ying pushed another suitcase out, saying, "Thank you for your hard work."

Matthew looked at the luggage behind her: "What did you bring? Why so much?"

"food."

"all?"

"almost."........

After getting in the car, Matthew started it: "How's school? Has anyone been giving you trouble?"

"No major troubles," Lin Ying said. "The minor troubles mainly involve the cafeteria and Lucas being pursued by men."

Matthew: "What?"

"My tutoring partner is from America and is good-looking. She received three love letters from boys in the first month of school."

Matthew laughed so hard his shoulders were shaking: "This is so Cambridge."

"Your traditions are quite rich here."

"Don't include me," Matthew said immediately. "I'm in the lab, surrounded by equipment and people who are going crazy."

Lin Ying thought for a moment: "That's not easy either."

The car drove back to Cambridge, where the streets were still damp and cold; the security guard downstairs at the apartment building recognized her and even helped her carry a box.

Matthew carried the luggage to the third floor. As soon as he entered, he saw Lin Ying open her suitcase, which was neatly filled with food.

Sausages, dried goods, tea, sauces, and a few packets of pastries.

Matthew's expression was complicated: "Lynn, are you sure you're not here to open a restaurant?"

Lin Ying put a packet of tea into the cabinet: "If the school cafeteria continues to perform consistently, I don't rule out this possibility."