Tao Liangchen
Chapter 163 Everything's Hard at the Beginning
*Wait twenty more minutes before reading.*
*Wait twenty more minutes before reading.*
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He arrived at the door with a gift before the agreed-upon time.
The motorcycle was still at the shop, but the money had already been paid. When the time came, Yin Zhe could just go pick it up. Chen Linzhi had given the shop employees extra tips, instructing them to provide good service and not to refuse a refund if one was requested.
Yin Zhe's family now lived in Yau Tsim Mong, a few minutes away from Victoria Harbour.
The apartment building wasn't exactly new, but it wasn't old either, a building that was a little over a decade old, with a bustling downtown area right downstairs.
Hong Kong had been developing for so many years, with new and old buildings coexisting. Perhaps due to the lack of overall planning, developers had been allowed to build as they pleased. It was lively, but ultimately a bit chaotic, especially since Chen Linzhi was increasingly fond of peace and quiet. It was difficult for him to adapt to crowded places for a while.
Speaking of Yin Zhe, the previous meetings hadn't gone smoothly. They didn't have much in common, and the conversation always felt somewhat stilted. In the blink of an eye, several years had passed, and he was still working at the United Trading Company. Considering he had neither a degree nor resources, it was indeed difficult for him to venture out on his own.
Chen Linzhi wasn't married yet, but Yin Zhe was not only married, but had a child last year. Chen Linzhi didn't come over after receiving the good news at the time, but sent 50,000 Hong Kong dollars to Yin Zhe. This time, he picked out a longevity lock as a belated gift.
The scenery at the Peak was beautiful, but it lacked warmth.
When he arrived at Yin Zhe's house and saw his entire family, including his parents-in-law, cooking and chatting, he could tell that he was doing quite well now.
Chen Linzhi was pulled aside by his parents-in-law, who chatted with him about stocks and real estate. This made him feel like he was watching a Hong Kong drama. They were very familiar and enthusiastic.
Ordinary people only had access to so much information, so Chen Linzhi didn't mind giving them a few pointers. Anyway, he was quite familiar with several companies in Hong Kong and didn't have to worry about leading people into a trap. It was just a small favor.
His thoughts were more focused on the big fat kid who could already walk.
Since he didn't have any children himself, he always felt that these small creatures were quite wonderful. Rather than wanting a child of his own, he was mostly apprehensive and melancholic.
Chen Linzhi's life was quite carefree now. After having children, one had to worry about them not being good-looking, or being stupid or having a bad temper. If they were ordinary, it wouldn't matter, but if they were ungrateful or spendthrifts, it would be better not to have them at all, and save a little worry.
At home, the nanny and housekeepers basically didn't appear in front of Chen Linzhi, nor did they speak loudly. He couldn't hear any noise outside the window.
It was different now. The voices of everyone, including Yin Zhe, and the sounds of children crying and adults comforting them, were mixed together in a house of about 100 square meters. There was also a strange neighbor upstairs who kept jumping up and down.
While slightly annoyed, Chen Linzhi thought that if he hadn't had an accident and ended up where he was today, his daily life would probably be the same. He might even envy Hong Kong residents like Yin Zhe who owned a "thousand-foot mansion" and earned a high salary and benefits.
In this light, a life without human touch didn't seem so bad. At least Chen Linzhi preferred the present to the daily life that Yin Zhe had.
...
Fish maw stewed with chicken soup, steamed green crabs, and high-quality small beef showed that Yin Zhe's family had clearly put a lot of effort into preparing this meal.
After the meal, Chen Linzhi and Yin Zhe went to the balcony to smoke. Looking out from the fifteenth floor, they could see many low-rise old buildings. The streets were too narrow, and cars were stuck on the road. Several minutes passed and they still couldn't move, honking their horns as if that would clear the road.
After talking about some topics related to Hong Kong celebrities, Chen Linzhi suddenly said, "It's a bit noisy. It's too small for your family to live in. I'll advance some of your salary from the company to help you buy a bigger house. It has great potential for appreciation in the future, so it's hard to lose money."
"I haven't finished paying off the mortgage on this one. I can't afford a bigger house. I know you're doing well now, but I can't accept unearned benefits. You've already helped me a lot. I'm planning to buy a shop to rent out," Yin Zhe said with a smile.
House prices had risen, and in this era before online shopping, shop prices would likely rise as well. Chen Linzhi smiled, didn't interfere, and nodded, saying, "Alright, I'll go to the company tomorrow and see if I can find a suitable position for you and try to get you a promotion and raise. The Hong Kong branch may have some big moves recently, and I estimate that some positions will open up. This company will become more and more important in the future, and may even surpass my United Capital Group. If you study hard and work hard, you'll still have a bright future."
After hearing this, Yin Zhe asked curiously, "What kind of big moves? Is someone going to jump ship or get laid off?"
"Neither. Some of my new projects will likely be placed in Hong Kong and the adjacent Casino. We need to transfer people to form a new management team. You'll continue to be responsible for investments in the mainland, and there won't be much change. I also want to build a semiconductor research and development center, a low-threshold stock exchange similar to NASDAQ, and if necessary, we can also try an energy futures exchange. I heard that the British have been trying to cut flesh from Hong Kong in every possible way, taking away funds, technology, talent, and factories. When they leave, I'll just enter the market. These are all meaningful new businesses. I may even start one or two private universities, similar to Caltech and MIT."
Smoking a strange-tasting Montblanc cigarette, Chen Linzhi only inhaled but didn't let it reach his lungs. He quickly couldn't stand it and put out the cigarette in his hand.
He was planning to build a dam to block the external wolves while trying to help the mainland keep some good things, such as the rare earths that were being bought in large quantities at bargain prices, and the talents who were rushing abroad in a frenzy. The goal was set ten years from now, and it seemed nonsensical now.
It wasn't that he was biting the bullet and playing the good guy. Chen Linzhi admitted that he already had the ability to accomplish many things, and they were all in his interests. It was just that he was temporarily transferring industries that should have been placed in the United States, Japan, and Europe to Hong Kong and Casino, which were more closely connected to the international market. He could advance or retreat.
When he finished harvesting the dividends of this economic cycle, he could completely shift the focus of his assets to Asia. It was no mistake to say that he was betting on the country's fortune. The only things that the United States had that he valued were technology and finance, and the number of eggs in the basket would change.
Yin Zhe could only see the small plot of land in front of him, and didn't have access to Chen Linzhi's level, so he immediately breathed a sigh of relief and only replied, "That's good. Several of the company's senior executives take good care of me. I thought someone had a problem with their work. Your business is getting bigger and bigger, and you even want to invest in the stock exchange. Isn't that directly opposing the Hong Kong Stock Exchange?"
Chen Linzhi smiled and said, "So I should arrange for the exchange to be in Casino. The positioning is different. It's mainly responsible for attracting some small Asian technology companies to list with me, and it can also attract mainland companies to facilitate their financing. I'm trying to create a financial port..." He arrived at the door with a gift before the agreed-upon time.
The motorcycle was still at the shop, but the money had already been paid. When the time came, Yin Zhe could just go pick it up. Chen Linzhi had given the shop employees extra tips, instructing them to provide good service and not to refuse a refund if one was requested.
Yin Zhe's family now lived in Yau Tsim Mong, a few minutes away from Victoria Harbour.
The apartment building wasn't exactly new, but it wasn't old either, a building that was a little over a decade old, with a bustling downtown area right downstairs.
Hong Kong had been developing for so many years, with new and old buildings coexisting. Perhaps due to the lack of overall planning, developers had been allowed to build as they pleased. It was lively, but ultimately a bit chaotic, especially since Chen Linzhi was increasingly fond of peace and quiet. It was difficult for him to adapt to crowded places for a while.
Speaking of Yin Zhe, the previous meetings hadn't gone smoothly. They didn't have much in common, and the conversation always felt somewhat stilted. In the blink of an eye, several years had passed, and he was still working at the United Trading Company. Considering he had neither a degree nor resources, it was indeed difficult for him to venture out on his own.
Chen Linzhi wasn't married yet, but Yin Zhe was not only married, but had a child last year. Chen Linzhi didn't come over after receiving the good news at the time, but sent 50,000 Hong Kong dollars to Yin Zhe. This time, he picked out a longevity lock as a belated gift.
The scenery at the Peak was beautiful, but it lacked warmth.
When he arrived at Yin Zhe's house and saw his entire family, including his parents-in-law, cooking and chatting, he could tell that he was doing quite well now.
Chen Linzhi was pulled aside by his parents-in-law, who chatted with him about stocks and real estate. This made him feel like he was watching a Hong Kong drama. They were very familiar and enthusiastic.
Ordinary people only had access to so much information, so Chen Linzhi didn't mind giving them a few pointers. Anyway, he was quite familiar with several companies in Hong Kong and didn't have to worry about leading people into a trap. It was just a small favor.
His thoughts were more focused on the big fat kid who could already walk.
Since he didn't have any children himself, he always felt that these small creatures were quite wonderful. Rather than wanting a child of his own, he was mostly apprehensive and melancholic.
Chen Linzhi's life was quite carefree now. After having children, one had to worry about them not being good-looking, or being stupid or having a bad temper. If they were ordinary, it wouldn't matter, but if they were ungrateful or spendthrifts, it would be better not to have them at all, and save a little worry.
At home, the nanny and housekeepers basically didn't appear in front of Chen Linzhi, nor did they speak loudly. He couldn't hear any noise outside the window.
It was different now. The voices of everyone, including Yin Zhe, and the sounds of children crying and adults comforting them, were mixed together in a house of about 100 square meters. There was also a strange neighbor upstairs who kept jumping up and down.
While slightly annoyed, Chen Linzhi thought that if he hadn't had an accident and ended up where he was today, his daily life would probably be the same.
It was different now. The voices of everyone, including Yin Zhe, and the sounds of children crying and adults comforting them, were mixed together in a house of about 100 square meters. There was also a strange neighbor upstairs who kept jumping up and down.
While slightly annoyed, Chen Linzhi thought that if he hadn't had an accident and ended up where he was today...