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

Lin Ying answered directly without any hesitation: "I most want to sign up for a computer literacy class. If I have the time, I would also like to sign up for math olympiad, plus dance and swimming lessons."

Inspector Luo was taken aback, clearly not expecting her to name four at once.

"Can you keep up with all those reports?"

"I can keep up," Lin Ying said confidently. "I can learn things from math olympiad and computer science. I used to have a weak constitution, so swimming can improve my lung capacity, and dance can improve my coordination, which is good for my health."

After listening, Inspector Luo nodded slowly, picked up a pen and wrote a few words on the edge of the registration form. Then he looked up and his tone became very serious.

"Your grades are very consistent and excellent. This morning, the math teachers specifically spoke with me. The school is giving you special treatment: the Olympiad math classes are completely free for you. They feel it would be a loss for the school not to include you in the Olympiad math class."

Lin Ying was slightly taken aback: "Thank you, teacher."

"Don't thank me yet." Inspector Luo pointed to the "Computer Literacy Class" section with his pen. "This class is different. There are only a handful of these minicomputers in all of Hong Kong. The equipment is extremely expensive, and the teacher is a professional hired from outside at a high salary. There are only ten places available for the entire fourth-year Computer Literacy Class."

Looking into Lin Ying's eyes, Mr. Luo stated a number: "If other ordinary students can get into the top ten and secure a spot, the fee for one class is sixty yuan, and they can attend about three classes a week. But this course has a ranking subsidy from the school board. Since you are first in the grade, you only need to pay one thousand yuan a year to cover all the classes. As for dance and swimming, they don't take up too many class hours, and the cost is not expensive, just over ten yuan per class."

Sixty yuan per lesson!

One thousand yuan a year!

I just paid 1,200 yuan for my school tuition, and with these miscellaneous fees, the total cost of primary school was about 2,500 yuan a year. This amount would have been an unaffordable sum for a lower-class family in Hong Kong in the 1980s.

Seeing her worry, Inspector Luo said gently, "I know this amount of money is not a small sum for an ordinary family. Take this form home and tell your parents the truth. Once you've confirmed it, give me the money and the form as soon as possible, and I will definitely reserve this spot for you."

"I understand, thank you, Officer Luo." Lin Ying took the registration form with both hands and put it into the innermost layer of her schoolbag.

It was evening, downstairs at Yu Fat Building in Sai Wan.

The tailor shop's roller shutter door was half-closed. Lin Lanying sat in front of an old sewing machine, the pedal under her feet making a "clattering" sound. Lin Qian was lying on the folding table next to her, biting a pencil stub as he wrote arithmetic problems.

"Mommy." Lin Ying walked into the shop carrying her schoolbag.

"School's over?" Lin Lanying's hands moved quickly as she sewed. "Pour yourself a glass of water. Your dad hasn't come back from Master Su's place in Yau Ma Tei yet."

Lin Ying put down her schoolbag, took out four test papers—Chinese and Math—and laid them flat on the folding table: "The monthly exam results are out. Out of 400, I got 398. I'm first in the grade, and the second place got 370."

With a "click," the sewing machine's axle stopped.

Lin Qian stared wide-eyed at the stack of test papers covered in red checkmarks on the table: "Three hundred and ninety-eight?! Sister, how did you get this score?!"

Lin Lanying walked quickly to the table. She stared at the bright red "100" and "98" on the test paper, and her eyes instantly turned red.

"Good...good!" Lin Lanying's hands trembled slightly. "I knew my daughter was no less than those rich young masters and ladies!"

Lin Ying unzipped her backpack and took out the registration form, laying it flat on the table.

"But Mommy, the school is opening extracurricular classes next week. Officer Luo called me to his office this afternoon..." Lin Ying explained the requirements for the extracurricular classes, the four subjects she wanted to take, the various fees, and the school's free math Olympiad program.

When the topic of computer costs came up, Lin Ying sighed, "Computer literacy classes are very expensive. Although the teacher said that because I was first in my class, the school would provide a subsidy, so I only need to pay 1,000 yuan a year, it's still a lot of money. If my family can't afford it, I'll have to cancel..."

"No need to return it!"

Without a second thought, Lin Lanying waved her hand, interrupting Lin Ying.

Although she was a tailor who ran a shop on the ground floor, she had seen many customers come and go over the years and heard a lot about the outside world.

Lin Lanying pointed her finger heavily at the registration form: "I've heard the guests mention the word 'computer.' Only big bosses working in high-end office buildings in Central can afford such foreign machines. They're the most precious and valuable things!"

She turned to Lin Qian beside her: "Ask your brother, their government-run primary school has broken fans, where have they ever seen a computer?"

Lin Qian immediately shook his head vigorously: "I've never even seen one! Our school only has one television!"

"St. Paul's has this resource; it's unique in all of Hong Kong!" Lin Lan's tone was extremely decisive. "Inspector Luo is right. Other students have to pay sixty dollars per class, but you only have to pay a thousand a year. This is a bargain you earned by getting first place through your own hard work! It would be foolish not to take advantage of it!"

Just then, footsteps sounded outside the door, and He Dazhu walked in carrying a tool bag.

"What's cheap? What rank did A-mei get?" He Da-zhu heard his wife's loud voice as soon as he entered the door.

"Old Dou! My sister got first place in the grade! 398 points!" Lin Qian shouted excitedly.

He Dazhu stood there stunned, then burst into laughter: "Good! I knew Ah Mei was sharp!"

Lin Lanying handed the registration form, which cost 1,000 yuan, to He Dazhu: "Take a look at this after you're done being happy; my sister wants to enroll in a computer class, which costs 1,000 yuan a year."

He Dazhu's laughter stopped abruptly when he heard the words "one thousand yuan";

"Report! You must report!" He Dazhu slammed his hand on the table. "Old Dou is now learning jade carving from Master Su. Although he's still an apprentice, Master Su says my hands are steady and I'll be able to take on small jobs soon! I'll scrape together the money for you, even if I have to stay up every night to carry heavy loads at the docks!"

Lin Lanying rolled her eyes at him: "Do you need to carry such heavy bags? The tailor shop is doing well lately, and I have cash on hand. I'll go to the bank to withdraw it first thing tomorrow morning."

Lin Lanying walked up to Lin Ying and said, "Little sister, your grandfather made a rule that all the family's money is earmarked for your education. As long as you apply what you want, the family will sell everything we own to help you, this golden phoenix, soar to new heights!"