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

On July 7th, the entrance to St. Paul's Primary School in Sai Wan was crowded with parents and students.

Lin Lanying held an umbrella and carried a cloth bag in her hand, her eyes fixed on the school gate.

"Ah Ying, did you bring your water bottle?"

"I brought it."

"Where's your student ID?"

"My student ID and notification slip are in my backpack."

Seeing her calm demeanor, Lin Lanying became even more anxious: "Mommy knows you're composed, but today is the day the results are released. Only after we get the placement certificate can we truly relax."

Lin Ying smiled and said, "Mommy, I'm just here to get the results, not to retake the exam."

Lin Lanying was speechless after hearing her words: "Go ahead. Mommy will be waiting for you outside. We're not going anywhere."

Lin Ying entered the school gate with her schoolbag on her back.

The classroom of Class 1, Grade 6 was already more than half full.

When Teacher Chen walked in carrying a thick stack of documents, the classroom instantly fell silent.

She placed the file folder on the podium and glanced at the whole class first.

"Today we are distributing your Secondary 1 placement certificates, enrollment registration certificates, and your overall grades for this academic year."

Teacher Chen continued, "I'll say this one last time: after you get your placement certificate and registration certificate back, you must not lose them or damage them! You must register in person at the middle school you were assigned to between July 10th and 11th. You will be responsible for any consequences if you are late or forget to bring your documents. Now, those whose names are called, come up."

After she finished speaking, she began distributing the documents one by one according to the list.

One by one, the students went up. Some breathed a sigh of relief after receiving their certificates; some looked down at their certificates for a long time, their faces turning pale; and some clutched their report cards and couldn't help but cry quietly.

"Lin Ying".

Lin Ying stood up and walked onto the podium.

Teacher Chen handed her a separately bound document, "Lin Ying, your overall grades for this academic year are: Chinese A, English A, Mathematics A, General Knowledge A. Overall rating: A."

A murmur of gasps filled the classroom. Although everyone already knew that this fourth-grade girl was bright, they still found it unbelievable that she had achieved top marks in all four subjects of the entrance exam for junior high school.

Teacher Chen placed the placement certificate on top of the stack of documents: "Assigned to the middle school, Boya Academy."

Lin Ying accepted it with both hands: "Thank you, Teacher Chen."

Teacher Chen looked at her and said, "Boya Academy is not the end. You'll be younger than your classmates when you go to middle school. Don't think you can relax just because you did well in elementary school."

"I see."

"The new school will arrange subject tests on the 14th and 15th. After you get your certificate, you'll need to prepare well."

Lin Ying nodded: "Okay."

She returned to her seat with the documents, and several classmates gathered around to look: "Is it really the Liberal Arts College?"

"Lin Ying, this is your first choice, right?"

"You got top marks in all four subjects; you could get into any of the top-tier, century-old traditional schools. Why not go to one of the more famous ones?"

After putting the documents away, Lin Ying casually replied, "It's close to home."

A few classmates who had gathered around were taken aback: "Just because it's close to home?"

Lin Ying nodded earnestly: "Saving more than an hour to and from school every day adds up to a lot of time over a year. Time is more valuable than anything else."

For a moment, everyone was speechless. This is the difference between people. They pray to gods and Buddhas to get into a good school, while others get top grades just to avoid wasting time waiting for the bus.

After the results were announced, students left the classroom one after another, carrying various emotions.

Lin Ying didn't leave immediately. She sat in her seat and waited until most people had left before picking up her backpack, walking to the office door, and knocking.

"Come in."

Teacher Chen was organizing the remaining student files when she saw her walk in, somewhat surprised: "You got your certificates, why haven't you left yet?"

Lin Ying walked over and bowed: "Teacher Chen, I've come to thank you."

Teacher Chen paused for a moment. "What are you thanking me for?"

"Thank you for agreeing to let me skip a grade and for lending me my Form 1 textbooks. Thank you also for reminding me in class all year."

Ms. Chen chuckled at her words, opened the drawer on her right, took out a black fountain pen, and handed it to Lin Ying: "Here you go."

Lin Ying was taken aback: "Teacher Chen?"

"It's nothing expensive." Teacher Chen placed the pen in her hand. "If you love writing and can make a name for yourself, then write well. But when you go to middle school, don't just focus on movies or making money. If you want to stand tall, you can't stop reading."

Lin Ying gripped the pen tightly: "Teacher Chen, I've got it."

Teacher Chen waved her hand, reverting to her usual tone: "Alright, go back now, it's hot outside. Remember to register on the 10th, don't be late."

As Lin Ying walked out of the office and out of the school gate, Lin Lanying was still standing there, holding an umbrella and waiting. Upon seeing her daughter, she immediately rushed over: "How did it go? Is everything alright?"

Lin Ying handed over the placement certificate: "Boya Academy. All four subjects passed with top marks."

Lin Lanying took the paper. "Okay, okay." She carefully put the documents back into the file bag. "Mommy knew you could do it."

Lin Ying reminded her, "Don't break it, we need it for reporting on the 10th."

Lin Lanying quickly loosened her clenched fingers: "No, no. Come on, let's go home. Tonight, I'll have your dad buy two more roasted spring chickens to make you a delicious soup!"

On the morning of July 10th, the Lin family of three went to Boya College in the Eastern District of Hong Kong Island.

Before leaving, Lin Qian, carrying his schoolbag, tried to squeeze out, but Lin Lanying pressed him back behind the door: "What are you going to do with me? Watch your older sister register so you can brag to your classmates that you went to a prestigious university?"

Lin Qian struggled indignantly: "I just wanted to see what the girls' academy looked like inside!"

"What's a boy like you doing at a girls' school? Do you want me to put a skirt on you before I take you in?" Lin Lanying slapped his summer homework into his arms. "You're not allowed to go anywhere today. Stay in the room and do ten pages of math homework. I'll check it when I get back."

Lin Qian immediately wilted and obediently sat back down at the dining table with his homework in his arms.

Boya Academy is located in the Paotaishan area; because it was only built a few years ago, the whole school looks very new. The walls are light-colored, the corridors are spacious, the large floor-to-ceiling windows are clean, and there is a row of neat trees planted along the playground.

Compared to the old neighborhood near St. Paul's Primary School, this place is brighter and more orderly.

As soon as Lin Ying entered the school gate, she noticed that almost all of the teachers guiding the new students and their parents in line were female. They were dressed in appropriate professional attire and spoke crisply and clearly.

"All new student registrations will be conducted in the auditorium."

"Parents, please line up here."

"Students should first go and get the forms, and prepare and verify their placement certificates."

Lin Ying followed the line of new students forward. When they arrived at the auditorium, the female teacher in charge of registration noticed a glimmer of light in her eyes as she looked through Lin Ying's placement certificate and grade sheet.

"Lin Ying?"

"Yes, hello teacher."

"St. Paul's Primary School, all four subjects top-ranked." The female teacher's tone was very gentle. "Welcome to Boya College."

Another teacher who was flipping through documents nearby turned around and looked over: "You're the student who skipped a grade last year?"

Lin Ying nodded politely: "It's me."