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

At six o'clock in the evening, Lin Ying finished tidying up the documents on her desk and was about to go downstairs when Liu Ya knocked on the door and came in.

"Boss, are you free tonight? A few of us would like to invite you to dinner."

Lin Ying looked at her: "Who?"

"Me, Liu Yang, Li Jia, Chen Jian, Sun Miaoshu," Liu Ya announced the names of the people.

Lin Ying knew that the men had ulterior motives: "You guys got together to invite me to dinner because you have something to say."

Liu Ya laughed: "A boss is a boss."

"Okay, you guys decide on the location."

The restaurant they chose was a Hunan cuisine restaurant one kilometer outside the factory area. The six of them sat in a private room. Before all the dishes were served, Liu Yang poured Lin Ying a glass of hot water: "Boss, we'll drink the wine ourselves. You can only drink water today."

Lin Ying took the cup: "Your information network is quite impressive."

Liu Yang chuckled: "Manager He told us last time that the boss can't drink alcohol, stay up late, or smell cooking fumes during this period."

Sun Miaoshu whispered from the side, "Manager He also made a list and posted it in the tea room of the R&D building. I see it every day when I pass by."

Lin Ying sighed, "Did she copy the entire pregnancy handbook into it?"

"Pretty much," Li Jia said with a smile.

Dishes were served one after another: stir-fried beef with yellow peppers, dry-pot cauliflower... and a steamed sea bass that was specially ordered for Lin Ying.

After they had almost finished eating, Liu Ya said to Lin Ying, "Boss, there's something we've discussed, and we'd like to make it clear to you in person today."

"explain."

"Someone is trying to poach us from outside."

Liu Yang: "Last week, someone contacted me, saying they were from Hongda, offering an annual salary of 200,000 yuan, a car and a house, and even a position as technical director."

Li Jia also said, "Some people on my side have inquired about me, saying that as long as I go there, my salary will triple; please, can they really afford to pay 600,000 a year? They really can't imagine the salary you, boss, offer, they think I only make 50,000 or 60,000 a year."

Liu Ya: "The person who approached me offered the highest price, saying that I would be in charge of the entire quality control system, with an annual salary plus bonuses of no less than 300,000 yuan."

Lin Ying looked at the five people on the table.

Liu Ya spoke first: "Boss, we're not telling you this today to negotiate terms, nor are we trying to pressure you with other people's prices."

"I know," Lin Ying said.

Liu Ya continued, "We look down on those small workshops; they're just trying to fool us with their boasts. We end up in a place where the boss doesn't even understand the technical aspects, and we have to explain to laymen every day why we have to do things this way or why we can't cut corners like that. Who would want to live like that?"

Li Jia also said, "They can't even recruit people properly. If they offer us such high salaries, how high would their TV production costs be? So this is just a joke."

After listening, Lin Ying said, "I believe you."

Liu Yang waited for what was to come: "That's it? Boss, aren't you even a little touched?"

Lin Ying looked at him: "You want me to cry?"

"No, no, it's just... you could at least say a few more words."

Lin Ying put down her cup: "Then let me say a few more words. Going forward, we're not just doing television."

Several people looked at Lin Ying expectantly.

Lin Ying didn't elaborate too much: "Television is the first step. Once the second-generation product is stable, there are other directions we'll work on. I can't go into too much detail right now, but if you follow me, you won't just stick to one product category."

Liu Yang couldn't keep it to himself: "Then I'm definitely not leaving. What if what I make in the future is even better than TV shows? If I run away now, I'll regret it forever."

Lin Ying chuckled: "You always talk like you're on a pedestal."

"I'm telling the truth!"

After the atmosphere relaxed, everyone continued eating; Liu Ya put a piece of sea bass on Lin Ying's plate: "Eat more, Manager He said steamed fish is good for pregnant women."

Lin Ying answered the call without saying anything.

Halfway through the meal, Liu Yang suddenly leaned over and asked, "Boss, the kid... is he Wen Gong's student?"

Liu Ya sighed, "Liu Yang, your mouth will get you into trouble sooner or later."

Lin Ying looked at him and said, "Yes."

Sun Miaoshu was always curious about Lin Ying's legendary boyfriend: "Who is Engineer Wen?"

Liu Yang said in a tone of someone who had been there: "Wen Xu, a genius engineer, the core technology of our large-screen TV project, good-looking, smart, and with a sharp tongue."

Sun Miaoshu: "...Your description is contradictory."

Liu Yang sighed, "Then I'll have to work even harder from now on. Engineer Wen is doing even better now, with more people under him. If he were to whisper in the boss's ear that Liu Yang isn't good enough and we need to replace him, I wouldn't even have a place to cry."

Lin Ying found it amusing: "Wen Xu doesn't handle personnel matters on my side."

Liu Yang patted his chest: "Then I'm relieved... No, even if he doesn't care, I still have to work hard. What if he comes to the factory to see his child and happens to check on my work as well?"

Liu Ya shoved a chili pepper into his bowl: "Can't you eat in peace?"

Liu Yang gasped for breath from the spiciness, but kept saying, "I'm just being prepared!"

Li Jia shook her head: "You're scaring yourself."

Lin Ying, holding her water glass, watched the group arguing, finding it quite amusing. The meal didn't last long, ending around eight o'clock. Outside the restaurant, Liu Ya walked beside her: "Boss, when are you going back to Hong Kong?"

"tomorrow."

"Go back and get some rest. We'll keep an eye on things at the factory." Liu Ya looked at her. "Just focus on your pregnancy and don't take on everything yourself."

Lin Ying nodded: "Don't worry."

------

The next morning, Lin Ying took a car across the Luohu Port and arrived back at her Kadoorie Villa at noon.

Hearing the door open, Lin Lanying came out of the kitchen: "You're back? Are you tired from the journey?"

"Not tired." Lin Ying changed into slippers and put her bag on the entryway cabinet.

"You haven't eaten yet, have you? I'll heat up some soup for you." Lin Lanying turned and went into the kitchen before she could answer.

Lin Ying sat down on the sofa and glanced at the calendar.

January 14th... Tang Shiya's wedding, January 18th, four days to go.

Lin Lanying brought out a bowl of chicken soup and placed it on the coffee table: "Drink the soup first, and I'll make you something else later."

Lin Ying picked up her bowl and took a sip: "Mommy, Su Cheng is getting married on the 18th, and I promised to sit with Tang Shiya."

Lin Lanying sat down beside her: "Tang Shiya's side? The female VIP?"

"Yeah, she doesn't have many friends, so she asked me to go and support her."

Lin Lanying thought for a moment and said, "That's fine. You and she are old classmates. But you should take care of yourself that day. There will be a lot of people at the wedding banquet, so don't stand for too long."

Lin Ying drank her soup: "I know."

"What are you going to wear?" Lin Lanying immediately got to the point. "The dress you wore to Su Zhe's wedding last time was a bit too tight at the waist. I'll alter it for you in the next few days, or make you a looser one."

"No need for anything too formal, just something simple and appropriate."

"I know what I'm doing." Lin Lanying stood up and walked upstairs. "I'll go upstairs and take your measurements. I'll go to the shop tomorrow and have them cut for you."

Lin Ying held the soup bowl, watching her mother's back as she went upstairs, and thought of what Tang Shiya had said that day: "I don't have many friends in Hong Kong, and even fewer people who can stand by my side."