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

In early May, Lin Ying drove Lin Lanying from Hong Kong and arrived at Gulin Village in Huangpu at around 3 p.m.

As they approached the village entrance, Lin Lanying looked at the low-rise factory buildings and paddy fields on both sides of the road and sighed, "Soon they will all be able to live in cement houses."

The parking lot was a temporary vacant lot marked out by the factory. The ground was not yet paved, and two trucks were parked in the corner.

Lin Ying walked ahead carrying her bag. Before she even entered the gate, she could hear the machines running inside. The production line was still running and showed no signs of stopping.

Factory Director Zhou came over from the office building to greet them: "Ms. Lin, you've arrived."

"How's the factory?" Lin Ying asked.

"Fortunately, the second batch of goods was just shipped last week. All three department stores in the provincial capital need to restock, which is half a month ahead of schedule."

Upon entering the office building, Director Zhou laid out the accounts and reports for the period of time on the table, two A4 sheets of paper with the numbers neatly arranged.

Lin Ying sat down, read it from beginning to end, and then flipped back to look at it again: "The return rate is 0.3%, what are the reasons for the returns?"

"The wheels are loose; it's a problem with the assembly process. I've already had them adjusted."

"it is good."

Lin Ying took two documents out of her briefcase and pushed them towards her: "I've assigned you two things here, do them together."

Factory Director Zhou took it and looked down at it.

"For trademark registration, NovaTots' Chinese name is 新星童玩 (Xinxing Tongwan). I've prepared all the necessary documents. Contact the local industrial and commercial bureau and have their legal department handle it for you. The export license requires going to the provincial capital. I know someone here; call this number, the person's surname is Wu, and say that Lin Ying introduced him. He will tell you the next steps."

Factory Director Zhou didn't ask any further questions and replied, "I'll take care of it this week."

Lin Ying stood up: "Let's go, let's go take a look at the workshop."

There were about forty workers on duty in the workshop, mainly working on the scooter production line. Lin Ying walked around it, squatted down to examine the details of the wheel and axle installation, stood up, picked up a finished product that had just come off the conveyor belt, and examined it. The color scheme was fine, and the edges and corners were well finished.

Lin Lanying followed behind, stopped next to a machine, and watched the worker feed the parts into the mold one by one, his hands moving very fast.

"How many can this machine produce in a day?" Lin Lanying asked the worker next to her.

The worker was a woman in her thirties with a heavy local accent: "This machine produces about eight hundred parts a day, but we have to wait for it to be matched with the lines over there. The finished product isn't ready until the very last step."

Lin Ying walked out of the workshop and asked Factory Manager Zhou, "When will the second production line be up and running?"

"The equipment has arrived, and we can start testing it next week."

"intensify."

Lin Zong hosted a dinner that evening, and Lin Ying took Lin Lanying over.

Many people gathered at the table, including Lin Zhiying and Lin Weiqiang, as well as several elders from the village.

Before the dishes were served, Lin Zong handed an envelope to Lin Ying: "Ying, we've settled this month's profit sharing."

Lin Ying didn't take it, but pushed the envelope back: "No rush, let's get the trademark and export matters sorted out first, and then the dividends can be paid quarterly."

Lin Zong poured himself a glass of wine and said nothing more.

Lin Weiqiang, sitting in the corner, noticed that Lin Ying hadn't taken the envelope. He nudged Lin Zhiying's arm and whispered, "Sister Ying, don't you want the money?"

Lin Zhiying glared at him: "Shut up and eat."

Lin Ying didn't look at them; she just lowered her head and drank her soup.

Halfway through the meal, Lin Zong asked, "Ah Ying, what's the approximate monthly production now?"

"This month we can produce nearly 4,000 scooters and 2,000 electric scooters. The Rubik's Cube and Rubik's Ruler will be in mass production in May, and the early education center will be in a month."

Lin Zong thought for a moment: "We need to restock in the provincial capital alone. When the orders from Europe arrive, will you have enough stock to ship them all?"

"It's definitely not enough, so we need to add more lines," Lin Ying continued. "We've already established a presence in three cities in China: the provincial capital, Shenzhen, and Guangzhou. The restocking cycle in these three cities is being compressed. Once the export channels open up, even a second line won't be enough."

Lin Zhiying remained silent.

Lin Zong: "So you mean...?"

Lin Ying thought for a moment and said, "Let's add two more lines. But these two lines will cost more than a million. We won't distribute the May dividends yet; let's put them into the mix."

Lin Zong looked at Lin Ying and nodded.

An older person nearby spoke up: "Ah Ying, if we don't share the profits, everyone will benefit..."

Before he could finish speaking, Lin Zong said, "I trust A-Ying's judgment."

The man picked up a piece of fish and said nothing more.

After the meal, Lin Ying asked Lin Weiqiang to accompany her for a tour of the factory.

The moon came out, the factory lights were on, and the few machines that hadn't stopped operating were still running.

Lin Weiqiang: "Sister Ying, you just said you'd add two more lines, which ones?"

"One scooter, one Rubik's Cube and Rubik's Ruler."

"Rubik's Cube and Rubik's Ruler? They're not even widely available in China yet, why add lines now?"

"I'll have someone go there to get samples and distribute them to European channels. I understand the market in Europe, so I'm confident."

Lin Weiqiang thought for a moment and said, "Sister Ying... are you that confident?"

"What's there to think about? Hurry up and contact the mold factory to increase the mold production capacity for Rubik's Cubes and Rubik's Rulers. Don't dawdle."

Lin Weiqiang responded, took out his notebook and wrote it down, then walked to the door.

He had been working in Shenzhen's wholesale markets for several years and had a good sense of what was valuable and what wasn't. He thought he could tell. But after working with Lin Ying for the past few months, he felt that his judgment wasn't up to par.

Lin Ying's calculations are different from others. While others calculate how much they can earn now, she calculates how much she can earn after three months when the channels are fully established, and how fast she can run before competitors enter the market.

She doesn't do business like she does business; she plays chess more like she plans every move in advance.

On the drive back, Lin Lanying leaned against the window, watching the streetlights recede one by one.

The road is not smooth, and it bumps occasionally.

After walking for a while, Lin Lanying spoke up: "Sister, aren't you afraid that those uncles and elders will have some reservations?"

"What kind of idea?"

"If they don't share the money, they'll try to get their share of the profits back. Some people might not say it to your face, but they'll keep it in mind."

Lin Ying changed the subject: "The young people in Mommy's family are now earning twice as much a month as they used to when they went out to work. If they have complaints, they can quit. With money, why worry about not being able to hire people?"

Lin Lanying thought for a moment, then remained silent.

"Besides, since Uncle Lin made the decision, they didn't dare to say anything more."

"Are you using Uncle Lin as a shield?"

"He's the clan chief. In this village, one word from him carries more weight than a hundred from me. If he approves of what I need to do, the others just need to follow suit."

Lin Lanying chuckled, "Your brain..."

Lin Ying didn't respond to that. The factory buildings on both sides of the road had been replaced by apartment buildings, and they had moved into the city.

Lin Lanying leaned back in her chair and suddenly said something unrelated: "That Lin Weiqiang, are you comfortable using him?"

"It's alright now, just too inexperienced." Lin Ying slowed down the car. There was an intersection ahead. "But inexperience can be improved with practice; it's greed that causes trouble."

"Is he greedy?"

Lin Ying said after crossing the intersection, "See? We'll find out eventually."

Lin Ying was preoccupied with one thing: the samples from Europe had almost arrived. Benjamin said that several buyers in Nuremberg had been looking for this type of goods, but Lucas hadn't replied yet.

She wasn't confident she could make money fast enough in the US market.

The toy chain channels in the United States are different from those in Europe. She had learned about the purchasing thresholds for Walmart and Toys "R" Us. To get in, you need to obtain brand certification and pass ASTM safety tests. The procedures are more complicated than in Europe.