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

The next morning, Lin Ying entered the gates of St. Paul's as usual, carrying her schoolbag.

When school let out in the afternoon, a line of white school buses had already been formed by the playground. Lin Ying had just fastened her schoolbag when Mr. Luo walked in through the front door of the classroom.

"Lin Ying".

"Lo Sir."

"Don't leave yet." Inspector Luo glanced at her schoolbag. "Come with me to the principal's office."

The noise of people packing their bags in the classroom immediately quieted down.

The boy in the front row, wearing round-framed glasses, poked his head out: "Officer Luo, did Lin Ying get another award? Or is it about the movie?"

Inspector Luo glanced at him: "You should copy today's Chinese homework first, then worry about whether others are making money or not."

Some students in the class snickered; Tang Shiya looked at Lin Ying with some concern: "Are you alright? You didn't break any rules."

"It should be fine." Lin Ying slung her backpack over her shoulder and followed Mr. Luo out of the classroom.

The corridors were crowded with students; St. Paul's School at dismissal time was no longer as quiet as it was during class. Younger students were running and chasing each other at the stairwell, only to be sternly stopped by their teachers; from the playground came the sound of school bus drivers calling roll over through a loudspeaker. Lin Ying followed behind Mr. Luo, passing through two connecting corridors until they reached the administration building.

The principal's office is at the far end of the second floor.

Inspector Luo reached out and knocked on the door.

Principal Liang's voice came from inside: "Come in."

Inspector Luo pushed open the door and entered: "Principal, Lin Ying is here."

Liang Zhaowen sat behind a solid wood desk; on the desk were several academic documents and a grade summary sheet clipped with a blue clip.

Upon seeing Lin Ying enter, Principal Liang gestured to the single chair in front of the table and said, "Sit down."

Lin Ying stopped, bowed politely, and greeted him: "Principal Liang."

Principal Liang nodded: "Sit down and speak."

Lin Ying put her schoolbag at her feet, sat down with her back straight, and Luo Sir pulled out another single chair next to her and sat down.

After looking at her for a while, Principal Liang said, "Lin Ying, do you know that I know the patriarch of the Lin family in the New Territories?"

Lin Ying sat up straighter: "Is the principal referring to Uncle Lin?"

"Yes. The reason you had the opportunity to take the transfer exam at St. Paul's during the summer was because your Uncle Lin personally came to ask for it. I gave him that favor, but getting in was your own ability."

Lin Ying nodded: "Thank you for giving me this opportunity, Principal."

Principal Liang picked up the blue report card from the table and turned to a page.

"I've reviewed everything: the entrance exam, every monthly test, the midterm exam... and the feedback from your teachers in class. Lin Ying, you're very steady, have a good memory, understand quickly, and most importantly, you know what you're doing."

Lin Ying didn't answer, but asked directly, "Did the principal call me today because Uncle Lin has something to tell me?"

Principal Liang then turned to Lin Ying: "Yes, your Uncle Lin called me personally a couple of days ago to inquire about your situation at school. He didn't go directly to your parents in Sai Wan because he said he needed to get your opinion on this matter first."

Lin Ying knew something was wrong: "What is it?"

Principal Liang pushed aside the blue folder and pulled a sheet of white paper from the drawer. "How much did you know about the education system here in Hong Kong?"

Lin Ying answered truthfully: "I only know that there are six years of primary school and then you go on to secondary school. I've heard classmates mention the placement system a couple of times during breaks, but I'm not clear on the specific rules."

"Then I'll explain it to you face to face today." Principal Liang unscrewed the black fountain pen in his hand and quickly wrote a few lines on the white paper.

[Sixth Grade of Primary School]

[Form 1 to Form 3] Junior Secondary Three Years

[Form 4 to Form 5] Two years of senior high school

[High School Entrance Examination]

[Form 6 to Form 7] Preparatory Course

【University】

After he finished writing, he pushed the paper in front of Lin Ying.

"It's 1981 now. In Hong Kong, the transition from primary to secondary school mainly depends on the allocation system, as well as your school's performance in the past few years, the school's background, and the resources your parents have. Generally, students finish Primary 6 and then compete to get into secondary school. The good government-run secondary schools and subsidized secondary schools have extremely high entry requirements and the competition is fierce."

Lin Ying looked down at the few lines of text on the paper.

Principal Liang continued, "With your current outstanding grades, St. Paul's will definitely guarantee you admission to a top-tier government-run secondary school. In fact, as long as you don't make any major mistakes in primary school, the school will strive to secure the best possible secondary school placement for you."

Inspector Luo tapped the armrest beside him: "With her scores, São Paulo is perfectly capable of giving her a recommendation letter."

Principal Liang nodded in agreement: "But the problem lies in what comes later."

Lin Ying looked up: "Behind?"

"In most secondary schools in Hong Kong, students complete their secondary education from Form 1 to Form 5 in the same school. Forms 1 to 3 are considered junior secondary school, while Forms 4 and 5 are for preparing for the Hong Kong Certificate of Education Examination (HKCEE). You can think of it this way: what truly determines whether you can go to university in the future is not your primary school grades, but your grades in the second half of secondary school."

Principal Liang lightly touched the words "Form 4 to Form 5" on the white paper with the nib of his pen.

"The subsequent two years of Form 4 and Form 5 are extremely crucial. The next two years, Form 6 and Form 7, are called pre-university courses, which are specifically for preparing students for university entrance exams."

Lin Ying understood: "So, the so-called high school here only lasts for two years?"

"That's one way to understand it," Principal Liang leaned back in his chair. "But the reality of the system is far more brutal than these few lines of text. Many children from ordinary families finish Form 5, get their CET results, and then go out to work. Getting into Form 6 or 7 is already crossing another threshold. Going on to university is for an absolute minority of elites."

Lin Ying didn't say anything.

In her mind, she quickly began to rearrange her life timeline.

She is nine years old and in fourth grade. Following the normal school progression in Hong Kong, it takes three years: Primary 4, Primary 5, and Primary 6; then she enters Secondary 1. Secondary 1 to Secondary 5 takes another five years. Then Secondary 6 and Secondary 7 take two years. Undergraduate studies take three to four years. And if she wants to climb any higher, a Master's or Doctoral degree is another story.

This road is too long and too slow!

If she followed the established path, leveraging her academic foundation from her previous life, it would be a perfectly safe way for her to climb the social ladder. But this is Hong Kong, where time is a significant financial cost. By the time she finally succeeds, she might be almost thirty years old.

Principal Liang seemed to see through her thoughts: "Lin Ying, the first question your Uncle Lin asked me on the phone was: If you follow the rules and continue your studies in the future, will Hong Kong's school system slow you down?"

Lin Ying looked at Principal Liang.

Principal Liang looked directly at her: "When I answered you on the phone, Uncle Lin, I said, 'Yes.'"

Inspector Luo picked up the conversation, knowing Lin Ying's learning ability very well: "Lin Ying, you've been learning too easily in fourth grade. It's not that your teachers aren't putting enough pressure on you, but rather that your cognitive level is indeed not on the same level as your peers."

Lin Ying understood the crux of the two teachers' words: "Does the principal mean I should skip a grade now?"

Principal Liang nodded: "In a private elementary school like St. Paul's, skipping grades within a phase can be manipulated. But it's not something you can do at will; the rule is a maximum of two skips, and each time it depends on the student's overall grades, teacher evaluations, parental opinions, and most importantly, the student's own mental adaptability. You've already skipped once before you enrolled."

Lin Ying immediately retorted, "It works in elementary school, so why not in middle school?"

"Government-run secondary schools will absolutely not allow you to skip grades," Principal Leung stated firmly. "Once you enter a good government-run secondary school, even if you are a genius, you will basically have to follow the unified system across Hong Kong. Secondary schools are not like primary schools where we can just close the door and say a word and move students around at will. Placement, student status, HKCEE eligibility, and the unified curriculum within the school—all of these have ironclad rules."

Inspector Luo looked at Lin Ying and said in a deep voice, "So, if you want to save a lot of time in your life, the opportunities are all in elementary school."

Principal Liang added, "To be precise, it's now."

Principal Liang opened another drawer and took out a prepared document.

"You're currently in the second semester of fourth grade; the school held a special meeting to assess your performance, and your four main subjects are already well above the highest fourth-grade level. The Olympiad group teacher says you won't fall behind in fifth-grade classes. Your English tutor also believes you can directly enter the fifth-grade reading level."