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

The dinner on New Year's Eve was very lively, with everyone talking about the taste of the dishes and their hopes for the new year.

After the New Year, the family's focus shifted entirely to Lin Yue's wedding at the end of March; buying invitations, deciding on the menu, arranging accommodations for distant relatives... the whole family was busy running around.

By the time Lin Yue's wedding preparations were almost complete, it was already the end of February. Lin Lanying felt that since Lin Qian and Hu Min were dating with marriage in mind, the groom's parents should visit the bride's family.

On a weekend morning, Lin Lanying and He Dazhu carried two boxes of high-end gifts and a fruit basket, and followed Lin Qian to Hu Min's house.

Hu Min's family lives in an old tenement building in Yau Ma Tei; the corridor is very narrow, and the walls are covered with all kinds of drain covers and small GG stickers.

The door opened, and Hu Min's mother stood in the doorway, smiling warmly: "Please come in, in-laws. These stairs must be difficult to climb, right?"

Lin Lanying walked into the living room and looked around; the house was indeed very small, with a two-bedroom and one-living room layout. There was an old sofa and a folding dining table in the living room, and you had to walk sideways to get around.

The entire Hu family was present today; besides Mr. and Mrs. Hu, there was Hu Min's younger sister and two younger brothers. Hu Min introduced them one by one: "This is my younger sister, Hu Li, who works in sales; this is my older brother, Hu Tao, who drives a truck; this is my younger brother, Hu Zheng, who works as a real estate agent."

The three young people then called them uncle and aunt;

At the dinner table, everyone huddled together; Mother Hu kept putting food on He Dazhu and Lin Lanying's plates, muttering, "Qian is such a good boy, honest and a great lawyer. It's a blessing that our Minmin found him."

Hu Zheng chimed in from the side, "Yeah, Brother Qian must know a lot of big bosses since he's a lawyer. He can introduce me to any friends who want to buy or sell houses in the future."

Hu Tao also said, "Driving a truck is too hard for me. I wonder if Brother Qian could help me find some transportation jobs with big companies."

Lin Qian felt a little awkward and could only vaguely reply, "I'll keep an eye out if there's an opportunity."

Hearing these words, Lin Lanying put down her chopsticks: "Amin's mother, there's something we need to clarify first, to avoid any misunderstandings later."

The dinner table fell silent.

Lin Lanying looked at Hu's mother: "Although Aqian is a lawyer, this profession is based on seniority. He hasn't been working for many years since graduation, and he earns his money through hard work. He's not as prestigious as everyone thinks."

Mrs. Hu was taken aback, and the smile on her face faltered.

Lin Lanying continued to reveal: "Ah Qian doesn't have the ability to buy a house on his own right now. The house he's currently living in in Taikoo Shing was bought by Ah Ying; it's also in Ah Ying's name. Ah Qian only has the right to live in that house. As parents, we won't use our daughter's money to subsidize our son."

The Hu family members exchanged glances, and Hu's mother chuckled dryly, "Is that so? Even siblings are so clearly distinguished."

He Dazhu quickly smoothed things over: "Ah Ying has her difficulties. Her business is large, and the accounts must be clear. Ah Qian is a man with his own job and can support his own family."

The meal became less lively in the latter half; Hu Min kept her head down and didn't speak, and Lin Qian also felt uncomfortable.

Back at the Kadoorie Hill villa, Lin Lanying tossed her bag onto the entryway cabinet and called out to Lin Qian, who was about to go upstairs.

"Ah Qian, come here."

Lin Qian stopped in his tracks: "Mommy, you were perfectly fine when you went today, so why did you have to be so harsh during dinner?"

Lin Lanying pointed at him angrily: "Did I say something definitive? If I didn't make things clear, their family would think they'd found a gold mine! Tell me the truth, are you sure you want to marry Hu Min?"

Lin Qian was stumped by the question: "We've been talking for about six months, and I think it's going very well; Xiao Min has a gentle temperament and never argues with me."

"And now?"

Lin Qian did not answer immediately.

He Dazhu sat down beside him and sighed, "Ah Qian, you're a lawyer yourself, and you saw their family situation today. If you really marry her, it won't be as simple as just marrying one wife in the future."

Lin Lanying continued, "Hu Min doesn't seem like a bad person, and she's polite; but she has one younger sister and two younger brothers, and her parents don't have much savings. Do you think she'll completely neglect her family after she marries into the family?"

Lin Qian rubbed his temples: "I can accept helping out occasionally."

"What does 'occasionally' mean?" Lin Lanying asked. "Do you need help with your brother buying a house? Do you need help with your sister's wedding? Do you need help with your parents' illness? Do you need help with your brother's business losses? You always ask if they're family. You can refuse once, but what if you refuse ten times?"

Lin Qian remained silent.

Lin Lanying looked at him: "I'm not telling you to find someone really good. Our family used to be poor too, I have no right to look down on anyone. But Qian, you need to know your own limitations; you're not your sister, you don't have that much wealth."

Lin Qian listened to his mother's harsh words. He now lived in Taikoo Shing and was a lawyer, and his friends praised him. But if you really looked into it, his salary wasn't high enough to support a large family.

Lin Qian said in a low voice, "I can barely support my own family, let alone her parents and siblings. I definitely can't do it."

After listening, Lin Lanying's tone softened considerably: "That's why I asked you; if you think you're strong enough to support their family of six, then go ahead and get married; but if you're drained dry, don't expect your father and me to beg your sister for money to save you."

He Dazhu also said, "Hu Min is the eldest sister; she can't possibly neglect her family."

After saying that, Lin Lanying turned and went to the kitchen, leaving Lin Qian sitting alone in the living room in a daze.

He originally thought that marriage was a matter between two people, and that as long as Hu Min was gentle and considerate, and there was a hot meal waiting for him when he came home, that would be enough.

He had never considered the connection between his marriage and the livelihoods of the other five people; today, the attitude of Hu's parents and brothers, coupled with his mother's words...

Lin Qian's mind was in complete chaos, and he needed someone to sort things out, so he knocked on the door of Lin Ying's study.

"Enter."

Lin Qian pushed open the door and went in.

Lin Ying glanced at Lin Qian: "Why does your face look so pale? Did Mommy scold you?"

Lin Qian walked to the sofa in the study and sat down, letting out a heavy sigh: "Sister." He recounted his visit to the Hu family today, the Hu family's situation, and what Lin Lanying said after returning.

"Sis, do you think Mom is overreacting? Xiaomin has never asked me for money or mentioned any of these family demands when she's with me outside. Isn't it unfair for Mom to assume she's a bottomless pit?"

Lin Ying: "You think it's unfair?"

Lin Qian hesitated for a moment: "I just feel that it's not good to convict someone based on something that didn't happen."

Lin Ying: "Hu Min is a good person with a gentle temperament, and she has a heavy family burden behind her. These are two separate things and they are not contradictory. You should not confuse a person's character with the real responsibilities she has to bear."

Lin Qian looked at Lin Ying but didn't dare to reply.

Lin Ying continued, "Her family situation is obvious; she has a younger sister, two younger brothers, and her parents do not have formal jobs or sufficient financial security. As the eldest sister in the family, or rather, the most sensible daughter in the family, she cannot ignore the family's predicament."

"But I also told her that I'm just a salaried lawyer, and I can't provide a life of luxury."

"She's understanding towards you now because you're still dating, because you haven't really encountered any real problems yet," Lin Ying pointed out incisively. "But what if one day her brother needs money for a down payment on a house for his wedding, her sister needs a dowry for her wedding, or her parents are sick and hospitalized and need a large sum of money for medical expenses? If she asks you for money, will you give her any?"

Lin Qian was stunned.

"If you don't take it, you're heartless and cold-blooded, and your marriage will immediately fall apart; if you take it, how will you fill that 9,000 yuan salary? Your little family will be empty then. Can you accept this kind of long-term drain?"

Lin Qian didn't dare to follow Lin Ying's line of thought at all.

"Sister, you know me." Lin Qian's attitude was very firm. "If it's just during holidays or occasional small emergencies at home, that's fine! But it's definitely not a long-term solution! Xiaomin's salary isn't high either. If she has a child after getting married and doesn't work, I can't support my wife and child on my salary alone, plus her parents and younger brother."

"See, you've calculated it very clearly yourself." Lin Ying took a sip of water. "Have you discussed these things with Hu Min?"

"We haven't had any formal talks."

"Then let's talk about it first," Lin Ying said. "Don't guess here, and don't let your mother make decisions for you; if you want to get married, make sure to clarify the money and the boundaries."

Lin Qian frowned: "Isn't this a bit too realistic?"

Lin Ying looked at him and said, "Marriage is unrealistic; divorce is even more realistic."

Lin Qian was speechless.

"You're a lawyer, I don't need to teach you this. Pre-marital property, household expenses, support for both sets of parents, loans from your family, and accommodation for relatives—all of these need to be discussed; if you can reach an agreement, continue; if not, stop early."

Lin Qian said in a low voice, "I'm afraid she'll think I look down on her family."

Lin Ying: "Ah Qian, being poor isn't the problem; what's worrying is that a family treats their daughter like a long-term ATM, and then conveniently includes their son-in-law in the bill as well."

Do you think the Hu family is like that?

"I haven't seen it, so I won't draw any conclusions; judging from the population and income you mentioned, the risks are obvious; the key is whether Hu Min is willing to set boundaries."

Lin Qian sighed again. He was a lawyer who spent his days calculating the pros and cons for his clients, but when it came to his own situation, he was easily swayed by his emotions. Now that he laid out the realities, he realized that he really didn't have the ability to be a savior.