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

After the prototype handover was settled, the atmosphere in the lab became much more relaxed; Wang Si and Lao Fan took a month's leave to go back to their hometowns; Zheng Weidong was still working on the chipset optimization and wasn't as busy as before.

Lin Ying sat at her workstation organizing the archives of the last batch of experimental data; Meng Changming walked over with an enamel mug and sat down in the empty chair next to her.

"Li Hua, the prototype has been handed over, and there are factory workers overseeing mass production. You're basically free now. I have a question for you."

"Please speak."

"What are your plans for the future? Will you continue down the path of scientific research?"

Lin Ying stopped what she was doing.

Meng Changming continued, "Now that you've graduated with your master's degree, you're still young. If you want to pursue a doctorate, I can recommend you. If you want to stay at the institute as a researcher, I'll reserve a position for you."

Lin Ying thought for a moment and said, "Professor, I haven't decided yet."

"It's normal not to have thought it through yet." Meng Changming put down his cup. "Let me give you a heads-up, there are now research institutions of our country in Shenzhen, specializing in communications; it's close to Hong Kong, and your family is there, so if you want to develop your career there in the future, that's a viable option."

Lin Ying nodded: "I understand. I'll tell you when I've thought it through."

Meng Changming didn't say anything more, stood up, patted her on the shoulder, and left.

A moment later, there was a knock on the office door; Li Xiao poked her head in: "Li Hua, the people from the administration office are here, they want you to sign something."

Lin Ying followed them out to a small conference room on the third floor; inside sat two people, a man and a woman, both of whom were administrative office staff she had seen before; several documents were laid out on the table.

"Comrade Li Hua, please sit down." The man's surname was Zhao. He said directly, "Today I mainly want to confirm two things with you: one is how the subsequent profit sharing will be handled, and the other is your temporary position at the new company."

Lin Ying sat down and glanced at the documents. "Brother Zhao, could I ask Professor Meng to come and listen in?"

Brother Zhao paused for a moment, then said, "Sure, no problem."

Lin Ying asked Li Xiao to call someone; ten minutes later, Meng Changming arrived, still wiping his mouth as he pushed the door open: "I just ate a peach shortbread, what's up?"

"Professor, they want to talk to me about profit sharing and contracts. Could you give me some advice?"

Without saying a word, Meng Changming sat down: "Okay, I'm listening."

Brother Zhao handed over the first document: "Let's talk about profit sharing first; according to the previously agreed plan, 20% of the net profit from mass-produced mobile phones will belong to you personally; this 20% is after tax, so you don't need to pay any additional taxes."

Lin Ying turned a page and looked at the specific terms.

"Dividends will be settled annually and deposited into your personal account." Brother Zhao pointed to a line in the document, "The profits from the first batch of 5,000 units are expected to be available before the end of the year, and then distributed according to the profits."

After reading this passage, Lin Ying turned to look at Meng Changming.

Meng Changming reached out and took the document, reading it from beginning to end. When he reached the last page, he went back to look at two details.

"The after-tax amount is clearly stated; the settlement cycle is also specified; is there a cap on dividends?"

Brother Zhao shook his head: "There's no cap; the more you earn, the more you get in dividends."

Meng Changming nodded and handed the document back to Lin Ying: "This part is fine."

Brother Zhao then brought up the second matter: "The other one is the arrangement for a temporary post; we suggest that you take on the position of technical manager at the production company in G province. You don't need to actually go to the office, but with this status, the subsequent dividends will go from the company account to your personal account, which is smoother in terms of process and makes sense from a tax perspective."

Lin Ying looked at Meng Changming.

"Is the title of 'Technical Manager' real or just a figurehead?" Meng Changming asked directly.

"It's all just for show," Brother Zhao said. "They don't participate in daily operations or management, and they don't take any responsibility. They're just there to make accounting easier."

"That's fine." Meng Changming looked at Lin Ying. "There's not much risk involved. It's just about finding a legal channel for your dividends."

Lin Ying went through the two documents again from beginning to end. The terms were clear and there were no ambiguities. Everything that should protect her was written down, and the responsibilities that she should not bear were also clearly defined.

"Okay." Lin Ying picked up the pen and signed her name on both contracts.

After signing the papers, Lin Ying and Meng Changming walked together toward the laboratory.

"Professor, thank you."

"Don't thank me, it's just a few sheets of paper." Meng Changming waved his hand. "In the future, if you're ever unsure about anything related to contracts or agreements, come to me. Although I work in electrochemistry, I've signed more documents at the institute over the years than I've conducted experiments."

Lin Ying chuckled, "Then you're incredibly versatile."

"It's not that I'm omnipotent, it's that I was forced into it."

--------

Three days later, Lin Ying completed the procedures for leaving the institute.

She didn't have much luggage, just the same suitcase she came in, plus some notes and books she had accumulated over the past year; Li Xiao drove her to the airport.

"Comrade Li Hua, please feel free to contact me if you need anything in the future."

"Just call me Lin Ying. Once I step out that door, I'm no longer Li Hua."

Li smiled and said, "Okay, Lin Ying, have a safe trip."

The plane landed in Hong Kong at 3 p.m.; Hong Kong in July was so hot that people were sweating. Lin Ying carried her suitcase out of the airport and took a deep breath of the humid air.

When Lin Ying arrived at the nineteenth floor of Taikoo City, she realized she didn't have her key and had to knock on the door.

"Who is it?" Lin Lanying's voice came from inside the house.

"Mommy, I'm home."

Lin Lanying paused for a second, then immediately opened the door: "Why didn't you call ahead! I could have come pick you up!"

"No need to pick me up, I can come back myself."

Lin Lanying looked her up and down: "You've lost weight! You've lost weight! Your face is so much thinner!"

"I haven't lost weight."

Go look at yourself in the mirror!

When He Dazhu returned from bringing in the laundry from the balcony, he saw his daughter standing in the living room and exclaimed in surprise, "My sister's back!"

"Old Dou".

"Are you hungry? Your mommy is cooking."

"Hungry."

Everyone was present for dinner; Lin Qian came home from get off work, and the family sat down at the table. Lin Lanying brought out the steamed fish, and He Dazhu poured beer.

"Come on, let's celebrate Ah Ying's graduation!" He Dazhu raised his glass.

Lin Ying then raised her hand and touched it: "Finally graduated."

Lin Lanying asked, "Did your thesis defense go well?"

"Successful, excellent results."

Lin Qian picked up a piece of fish and said, "Big sister, what have you been busy with in Beijing these past two years? Every time I call you, you say you're busy, and you won't tell me when I ask."

Lin Ying took a sip of soup: "Writing papers and doing experiments, that's all."

Not a single word of the confidentiality agreement can be leaked.

"So what are your plans next?" Lin Lanying asked.

"No rush." ​​Lin Ying put down her chopsticks. "I've really suffered a lot these past few years. Now that I've graduated and have some money in the US stock market, I want to take a break."

"Take a good rest!" He Dazhu agreed wholeheartedly. "You've never had a rest since you were a child."

"My current plans," Lin Ying said, counting on her fingers, "are: first, to get a driver's license; second, to buy a car; and Mom, could you also buy me two parking spaces in the neighborhood?"

Lin Lanying nodded: "I'll ask the property management about parking spaces; there should still be some available. What kind of car do you want to buy?"

"I haven't decided yet. I'll get my driver's license first."

Lin Qian chimed in from the side, "Big sister, if you buy a sports car, could I borrow it occasionally?"

"Get your driver's license first before we talk about borrowing the car."

"I have a driver's license! I just got it last month!"

Lin Ying glanced at him: "Okay, we'll talk about it later."

Halfway through the meal, Lin Ying put down her chopsticks and looked at Lin Qian.

"Ah Qian".

"Um?"

Are you currently interning at a law firm?

Lin Qian nodded: "Yes, He Li Law Firm, they've been operating for three months."

"I've graduated from university with a bachelor's degree."

"You've graduated, huh? From the Faculty of Law at HKU, you know that."

Lin Ying smiled at him: "Then do you still remember what I promised you back then?"

Lin Qian almost choked on the food in his mouth.

He Dazhu asked, puzzled, "What is it?"

Lin Qian swallowed the food in his mouth, looking extremely nervous: "Big sister, you mean...?"

"I told you I'd buy you a 1,000-square-foot luxury apartment if you got into university; these two apartments on the 19th floor are combined, almost 2,000 square feet. I'll transfer the ownership directly to you as a way of acknowledging all the effort I've put into you over the years."

Lin Qian was stunned: "The nineteenth floor? This one?"

"right."

Lin Lanying reached out and pinched Lin Ying's waist: "Why didn't you tell me beforehand? And what about you? Where do you live by yourself?"

"Ouch!" Lin Ying flinched. "Mommy, let me finish."

"you say."

"You and Lao Dou come with me," Lin Ying said, looking at her parents. "We're going to buy a villa."

"A villa?" He Dazhu felt like his brain couldn't keep up with his daughter's words.

"Yes, I'll go check out the hilltop or Repulse Bay area to see if there are any suitable options." Lin Ying had been wanting to buy a villa for a long time.

Lin Qian hadn't recovered from the shock of what had just happened, and now he was hit again: "Big sister, how much money do you actually have?"

Lin Ying didn't answer the question, but simply picked up a piece of fish and put it in her bowl: "Eat."

Lin Qian looked at the food in his bowl, then at his parents who were staring at each other; he still said, "Big sister, I can't accept this."

"It's too expensive," Lin Qian said. "I've just started my internship and I only make a few thousand yuan a month. You're giving me a 2,000-square-foot apartment? I can't afford it."

Lin Ying looked at him: "This is something I promised you."

"But......."

"Lin Qian," Lin Ying interrupted him, "When you were ten, you cried because you didn't have a place to live, and for the next ten years you never let up for a single day; you got into the University of Hong Kong, studied law, and are now an intern lawyer; I've seen all your hard work over these ten years."

Lin Qian lowered his head, not wanting his older sister to see his tears.

"Brother, you deserve it."

The dinner table remained quiet for a while.

Lin Lanying suddenly got up and went to the kitchen. When she came out, she was carrying a plate of cut fruit. She didn't say anything.

He Dazhu downed his beer in one gulp: "Alright, stop dawdling, let's eat!"

Lin Qian lowered his head, ate a couple of mouthfuls of rice, and said softly, "Thank you, Sister Xie."