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

After Lin Qian was dragged to the kitchen to work by He Dazhu, the study finally became quiet.

Lin Ying closed the door and sat back down at her desk; the document on the desk, titled "Nanwan New Area Industrial Land Investment Promotion Information," listed as 100 mu (approximately 6.7 hectares) for 3 million RMB.

The price was so cheap it was tempting. Lin Ying stared at the planning sketch for ten minutes, then thought about her own five-year plan, and the more she looked, the less she felt it was enough.

A television factory is not a toy factory.

A toy factory can start production with just a few injection molding machines and assembly lines; televisions are different, requiring production lines, warehouses, testing areas, R&D centers, dormitories, and canteens—each one takes up a lot of space.

Not to mention she might want to do something else in the future.

A hundred acres may seem like a lot, but in reality, it's just a matter of building a few buildings.

She picked up the phone and dialed Claire first; the phone rang for a while before being answered.

"Lynn, you'd better have something really important to say." Claire sounded frantic. "The market just opened here, and the screen is just filled with jumping money."

Lin Ying glanced at the clock: "What time is it where you are?"

"Don't worry about the time! Just know that I'm happily making money right now, and you've interrupted my happiness."

"Then I'll make you even happier."

Claire's expression immediately changed: "Speak."

"This month or in March, I need to withdraw twelve million US dollars from the account."

Sure enough, Claire immediately shouted, "How much?!"

"Twelve million US dollars."

"Lynn! Do you know how happy I am right now? Your account has reached 120 million! 120 million! And now you want me to withdraw 12 million?"

"It's just a partial withdrawal."

"You call this a part? Has your Chinese improved again? Are you starting to redefine 'a part' now?"

Lin Ying explained, "I want to set up a TV factory. In the early stages, I need to buy land, register a company, build factory buildings, and set up a research and development center... The money must be in place in advance."

Claire's tone on the other end of the phone was more normal: "A television factory?"

"right."

"Didn't you just finish playing with toys? Now you want to fix the TV? Lynn, do you have 48 hours in a day?"

"I hired a professional manager."

Claire laughed on the other end of the line: "Good, finally learned not to treat yourself like an ox. How much land are you planning to buy?"

"The original plan was to cultivate 100 acres."

"Too little."

"You think so too?"

"Of course it's not enough; if you really intend to do manufacturing, 100 acres isn't enough; you can buy land cheaply now, and the procedures are relatively easy. Once your factory is built and the surrounding area knows you're making money, the price of the land next door will skyrocket to an unbelievable level."

Lin Ying looked at the sketch: "I have the same concern."

"Listen to me, buy more at once; the land is there and won't disappear! If you need to expand later, add warehouses, or build new production lines, you won't be held back by anyone."

"How much do you suggest?"

"If you can buy two hundred acres, that's fine; if not, one hundred and fifty acres will do." After saying that, Claire added, "Congratulations, Lin Ying; I'll continue to be your middleman for television sets from now on."

"You haven't seen the product yet."

"I believe you," Claire said. "Besides, televisions sell much better than toys, provided you don't make them too ugly."

Lin Ying looked at the amount she had recorded: "When will the money be refunded?"

"We'll do it in two batches; six million will be refunded this month, and another six million in March; this way, the impact on our positions will be smaller."

"Can."

"But I'm reminding you, the market is still rising, and I'd be heartbroken to refund your money."

"When you're heartbroken, think about this: the television will make you even more money in the future."

Claire immediately replied, "Then I'm kind of looking forward to it."

After hanging up the phone, Lin Ying crossed out "one hundred mu" and wrote "starting from one hundred and fifty mu, with a maximum of two hundred mu".

She dialed Chen Guodong again; when he answered, it was a bit noisy on his end. "Ms. Lin?"

"Mr. Chen, is now a convenient time to talk?"

"convenient."

"Things on earth have changed."

Chen Guodong immediately perked up: "Please go ahead."

"I'd like to buy 150 mu (approximately 70 acres), preferably all contiguous. If conditions allow, I'd like to negotiate up to 200 mu (approximately 33 acres)."

"Two hundred acres?"

"right."

Chen Guodong still advised, "Ms. Lin, two hundred acres would put a lot more pressure on your finances, and the subsequent factory construction would also require a complete replanning."

"I'll take care of the money; you're in charge of finding suitable land. It has to be contiguous, with convenient transportation, and preferably close to main roads and ports."

"I understand; actually, the investment promotion office has another piece of land next to the one I looked at before, which together is about 180 acres; but I felt that the initial investment was too large, so I didn't continue the discussion."

Lin Ying immediately said, "Then let's talk."

"If we can also acquire the scattered corner plots next to it, it could be close to two hundred acres."

"Then let's aim for 200 acres."

This time, Chen Guodong didn't hesitate: "Okay, I'll go to the site again first thing tomorrow morning and talk to the investment promotion office about the whole package; the price definitely needs to be negotiated again, otherwise they will raise the price."

"Please state your intentions first, don't rush to give a statement. I will notify Attorney Shen and Accountant Wu and ask them to cooperate with you."

"Understood; Miss Lin, there's one more question."

"explain."

"For a project covering 200 acres, just acquiring the land isn't enough; the new district may require us to provide a more complete investment plan, such as the total investment amount, construction period, expected output value, and number of jobs."

"You should write about the first phase of the TV factory and the second phase of the home appliance industrial park; don't exaggerate the specific figures, just make sure they're realistic."

Chen Guodong smiled and said, "Ms. Lin, don't worry, I'm not the kind of person who just spouts off about annual production of 10 billion."

After hanging up the phone, Lin Ying wrote things down in her notebook: buying land was the first step, money was the second step, and people were the third step.

The biggest problem right now is technology.

She knows the future direction of the television industry, but when it comes to the specific production processes, picture tube supply, circuit board design, and signal reception standards of this era, she cannot conjure up a complete system out of thin air.

She knew very well that an outsider couldn't pretend to be an expert.

She pulled out her contacts and found a number she hadn't dialed in a long time: Li Xiao.

"Feed?"

"Brother Li, this is Lin Ying."

There was a pause on the other end of the line: "Oh, Comrade Lin Ying! What a rare guest! Aren't you enjoying a life of luxury in Hong Kong now? Why did you suddenly think of me?"

"I have something to ask you."

"I get scared whenever you ask for advice; last time you asked for advice, D6 was almost kept busy until he went bald."

"This time, we won't look for D6."

"Then who should we contact?"

Are there any research institutions in the Science and Technology Innovation City that specialize in television and home appliances, especially in signal transmission, display, and receiving circuits?

Li Xiao asked, puzzled, "Why are you asking this? Are you going to make television?"

"I have that plan."

"You really can't stay idle! There is, though. Our D3 group at the Beijing Science and Technology Center focuses on signal transmission and cable TV networks, which also overlaps with TV terminals; some of them are researching receiver modules and image processing."

"May I visit and learn more?"

Li Xiao thought for a moment and said, "With your identity... I'll apply for it for you first, and I'll tell you when it's approved."

Lin Ying: "Then could you please make an appointment for me, Brother Li?"