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

For the past two weeks since returning to Hong Kong, Lin Ying has stayed at home and hasn't gone out much, mainly doing three things.

The first thing was to sort and pack up all the papers, books, and academic materials I brought back from Cambridge over the past three years.

The second thing is to confirm the itinerary before registering at Beijing University of Science and Technology at the end of August, buy the plane tickets, and make a packing list.

The third thing was to transfer 30 million US dollars from Claire's account in the United States.

The overseas call was made at 10 p.m.

After listening to Lin Ying announce the amount to be withdrawn over the phone, Claire sighed.

"Lynn, are you sure? Are you sure you want to transfer so much cash all at once?" Claire asked, puzzled. "The US market is still rising, especially the tech stocks you previously bet on; it's such a waste to suddenly withdraw 30 million."

"I'm sure."

"Then you have to tell me why you're in such a hurry? Are you going to buy an entire estate in Hong Kong?"

"Because if I don't take these spots now, they'll be gone if I wait any longer."

Claire said helplessly, "Every time you say something like that in this tone, I know you've seen something that others can't."

"Use the remaining money to continue investing in stocks as originally planned," Lin Ying instructed.

"I understand, but Lynn, the process of getting such a huge sum of money into the mainland is much more complicated than you think; foreign exchange controls, investment approvals, and account type definitions—any small detail could get you stuck."

"So I will go in batches."

Do you need me to provide you with detailed proof of the legal source of your funds?

"Prepare everything thoroughly, the more detailed the better; it must be spotless, leaving no room for ambiguity," Lin Ying instructed.

Claire: "After you returned home, you were preparing to do something very big."

Lin Ying closed the folder on the table: "It hasn't started yet."

Thirty million US dollars.

Lin Ying knew that she would be involved in building communication hardware, including base stations and terminal equipment, and that simply talking about cellular network theory wouldn't be enough.

Building a laboratory requires purchasing high-precision testing equipment, hiring talent requires paying high salaries, and even the trial-and-error losses on the production line require a lot of money.

There has never been a machine in this world that could run on dreams alone.

On the morning of the sixteenth day, the landline rang. Lin Lanying was doing laundry and didn't have time, so Lin Ying went over and answered the phone.

It was Peng Xuebin's voice on the other end of the phone: "Ah Ying, are you busy?"

"Not busy." Lin Ying was quite surprised; Boss Peng hadn't contacted her for a long time. "Uncle Peng, is there something you need?"

"There's a big banquet next Tuesday night at the Peninsula Hotel. The eldest and second eldest sons of the Su family will be there, and I'll be there too. It's mainly a gathering of several bosses from the film, real estate, and finance industries to discuss plans for the second half of the year."

Lin Ying listened without saying a word.

Seeing that she didn't respond, Peng Xuebin continued to persuade her, "I know you're focused on pursuing a technology career right now, but it's never a bad thing to get to know more people. These wealthy people in Hong Kong have capital, channels, and connections. When you go to the mainland to start a company and do business, you'll always need their help."

That makes sense. If we could go back two years, Lin Ying would most likely have agreed. But the situation is different now.

She had just returned from Cambridge, England, and turned down offers from overseas universities, instead being specially admitted to Beijing University of Science and Technology.

If at this time she still frequently and ostentatiously appears at banquets in Hong Kong's elite circles, clinking glasses with a bunch of real estate, foreign exchange, and film bosses, it would be a disaster.

That changes the nature of the matter.

Hong Kong is only a few years away from its return to China in 1997. The closer the time gets, the more complicated people's hearts become.

Some are rushing to sell their properties and cash out to run away, while others want to take advantage of the chaos to make a last-ditch effort through a shell company, and still others plan to bet on both sides and act as double agents...

Lin Ying isn't afraid to make money honestly, but she doesn't want to get involved in such things and be labeled and used as a target.

"Uncle Peng, I'm not going." Lin Ying refused directly.

"Not going? Didn't you used to love standing on the sidelines and watching people at these kinds of events?"

"You can't watch it now."

Peng Xuebin sensed a hidden meaning in her words: "Is it because you're going to study in mainland China?"

"Um."

"Afraid of gossip?"

"It's not just about gossiping; I have no reason to hand someone a knife."

Having lived in Hong Kong for so many years, Peng Xuebin had seen many such things, and after hearing it, he understood the meaning behind those words.

He laughed and scolded, "You really know how to kill a conversation!"

Lin Ying smiled and said, "I won't be attending the banquet at the Peninsula Hotel, but if Uncle Peng is free these days, I'd like to invite Uncle Su and my eldest uncle to have a private meal together. It'll be a small gathering, just for close friends and family."

"Do you have something to say to us?"

"have."

"Then let's set it for the night after tomorrow," Peng Xuebin decided. "I'll choose the place. It'll be that private restaurant I frequent in Wan Chai. We'll get the innermost private room, so there won't be any outsiders."

"it is good."

After hanging up the phone, Lin Lanying peeked out from the kitchen while wiping her hands: "Is it someone from the film industry calling again?"

"Uncle Peng has invited me to dinner."

------

Two days later, in the evening at a private restaurant in Wan Chai.

The private room was decorated very quietly; once the door was closed, the noise from the main hall was shut out.

Peng Xuebin arrived early and sat down to look at the menu. Su Zhihao sat next to him. Su Zhiming arrived with his wife Chen Meishan, and Zhou Yawen sat quietly to the side as well.

Lin Ying pushed the door open and came in. Su Zhihao said, "Oh, our Cambridge graduate has arrived."

Peng Xuebin chimed in, "Second Brother Su, we can't call Xiao Lin 'screenwriter' anymore. She's going to Beijing soon, so we have to call her 'graduate student Lin.'"

Su Zhihao quickly chimed in, "At this rate, will we have to call her Engineer Lin and Factory Director Lin from now on?"

Lin Ying pulled out a chair and sat down, casually placing her bag beside her. "Just call me A-Ying. If you call me so formally, I'm afraid you'll ask me for money later."

Su Zhihao was speechless: "You little rascal, after going abroad, your palate has become even more discerning than before."

Chen Meishan smiled and picked up the teapot, pouring hot tea into the cup in front of Lin Ying: "Ying looks a little thinner, but she seems to be in good spirits."

Zhou Yawen asked, "Has everything been settled regarding the schools in Beijing?"

"It's settled. I'll report for duty at the end of August."

"Are you really not planning to stay and develop your career in Hong Kong?" Su Zhiming asked directly.

"Not keeping them."

These words silenced the previously relaxed atmosphere in the private room.

Just then, the waiter pushed the door open and quickly brought out several cold dishes. Peng Xuebin waved for him to leave and got up to lock the door to the private room.

"Alright, the door's closed. Everyone here is family now." Peng Xuebin sat back down in his chair. "Ah Ying, you said you had something to say on the phone the other day. Go ahead and say it, everyone can listen."

Lin Ying didn't beat around the bush: "Everyone, if you have a lot of idle funds, try to invest them all in the mainland in the next few years."

Su Zhiming understood financial operations, so instead of refuting him, he asked, "Invest in what?"

"Invest in things you can hold long-term. Buy land to build factories or do logistics, or invest in food processing and light industrial home appliance manufacturing. If you only know about movies, you can also explore cinema chains and distribution channels... You can't just focus on Hong Kong anymore."

Peng Xuebin asked, "Ah Ying, to what extent do you think the mainland's economy will open up in the future?"

"It's much faster than you can imagine right now."

Su Zhihao leaned back in his chair and chuckled: "Ah Ying, a lot of people drinking coffee in Central say the same thing these days. The problem is, if the policy changes, that money invested will be locked up."

"That's why I emphasized earlier not to gamble on the short term. Use the money you can afford to lose and that you can keep at the bottom of your pocket to secure a position in the track for the next ten years."