newbobooks Chapter 107 Invitation to Invest in Mainland China
Chapter 107 Invitation to Invest in Mainland China
The night was as dark as ink. Lin Zhou was driven back to the villa by the driver, still carrying a faint smell of alcohol.
He loosened his tie, walked to the sofa, sat down, and casually picked up the photo album on the table and flipped through it.
Tucked inside the album are photos of her son, Lin Xiaofeng, when he was five years old. The chubby little guy is wearing a navy blue suit and is grinning, showing his two newly grown tiger teeth.
"You're back?" Su Wanqing walked over with a bowl of hangover soup and gently placed it on the coffee table in front of him. "It's freshly made, drink it while it's hot."
She wore an elegant cheongsam, her long, black hair loosely tied back, revealing her slender, fair neck. Over the years, time seemed to have been exceptionally kind to her; apart from a touch more gentle charm in her eyes, it had left few traces of time.
Lin Zhou took the soup bowl, took a sip, and the warm soup slid down his throat, instantly dispelling much of the effects of the alcohol. "Wanqing, you still love me the most." He put down the bowl, reached out and held her hand, feeling the familiar warmth on her fingertips.
Su Wanqing sat down next to him, her gaze falling on the photo album, a gentle smile curving her lips: "These are photos of Xiaofeng that I was looking at just now, I forgot to put them away. This child, he was still making a fuss about going to school this afternoon, no one is at home to play with him."
"This kid," Lin Zhou chuckled, his fingertips brushing over his son's smiling face in the photo, "is only five years old, and he's already thinking about going to school to play all the time. When he grows up, he'll probably be even crazier than me."
"Whatever you want." Su Wanqing leaned gently on his shoulder, her voice soft. "Haven't you been the same all these years? I never see you going to work properly at the company. If I hadn't been helping you every day, you probably would have ruined your company long ago."
Lin Zhou felt a warmth in his heart, turned his head, and placed a gentle kiss on her forehead: "That's because I know you'll be helping me take care of things."
Su Wanqing blushed slightly and gently pushed him: "How old are you? Still so improper."
The two smiled at each other, and the atmosphere in the living room was incredibly warm and cozy.
After a moment of silence, Su Wanqing suddenly seemed to remember something and asked, "Were those people who came to Zhonghua Group today here to discuss cooperation again?"
"Hmm." Lin Zhou nodded, tapping the coffee table lightly with his fingertips. "What else could it be? They've simply taken a liking to Zhonghua's earning power and want to invest in us to get a share of the profits."
"So you agreed?"
"No." Lin Zhou shook his head, a deep meaning flashing in his eyes. "Hong Kong is too small. The handheld game console market has almost reached its peak. It's difficult to go any further! Even if they invest, there's not much potential for development."
Su Wanqing was slightly taken aback, then looked up at him: "Do you have other plans in mind?"
She knew Lin Zhou too well. He was never one to be content with the status quo. From the first air fryer rolling off the production line in that small workshop to Zhonghua Group becoming one of the top companies in Hong Kong, his vision had never lingered on what was in front of him.
Lin Zhou didn't answer immediately. Instead, he got up and walked to the window, gazing at the dazzling night view outside. In the distance, brightly lit cruise ships slowly passed by on the sea. The distant lights, like stars scattered in the night, flickered on and off.
"Wanqing," he suddenly spoke, his voice low and firm, "it's already the 1980s."
Su Wanqing was taken aback for a moment, then realized what he meant. She walked to his side and followed his gaze to the north, where the inland areas were located.
"You mean... someone from the mainland has come looking for you?"
"Yes." Lin Zhou nodded, his eyes gleaming. "The policy has been released. Attracting investment and developing the economy. This is an opportunity, a tremendous opportunity."
Su Wanqing's heart skipped a beat.
Over the years, Lin Zhou would occasionally mention the mainland to her. He would talk about the land, the people, and the infinite possibilities it held. She knew he had been waiting, waiting for the right opportunity.
"But," Su Wanqing frowned slightly, a hint of worry in her voice, "the conditions on the mainland are not as good as in Hong Kong. The infrastructure there is poor, and the technology is outdated. If we really go there, will we...?"
She didn't finish her sentence, but Lin Zhou understood the concerns in her words.
Any Hong Kong businessman would likely share this concern. After all, the Chung Wah Group is already deeply entrenched in Hong Kong. Factories, equipment, and connections—everything is already in place. Venturing into the mainland without proper preparation would be tantamount to starting from scratch.
"There are definitely risks, but not many." Lin Zhou turned around, looked at her worried face, and gently smoothed the wrinkles between her brows. "However, risks and opportunities always coexist."
Just think about it, how big is the mainland? How many people are there? It's a market bigger than we can imagine.
He paused, then continued, "Moreover, the labor costs there are much lower than in Hong Kong. Land resources are also abundant."
If we could set up factories in mainland China to produce our tape recorders, cartridge game consoles, and handheld game consoles, the cost could be reduced significantly.
More importantly, I want to conduct technological research and development there; this isn't suitable, since this isn't really our own territory.
Su Wanqing listened quietly without saying a word.
She knew Lin Zhou was telling the truth. Labor costs in Hong Kong were rising, and factory expansion had reached a bottleneck. Continuing to stay here would inevitably lead to stagnation.
"What about Xiaofeng?" she suddenly asked. "If you really decide to go to the mainland, what will happen to Xiaofeng? He's still so young; he can't possibly travel back and forth with us, can he?"
When his son was mentioned, Lin Zhou's eyes softened considerably. He reached out and pulled Su Wanqing into his arms, resting his chin on the top of her head, and said gently, "Don't worry about Xiaofeng."
Our home in Hong Kong is still there, and so is the school. We can send a team there first to inspect the site, select a location, and build the factory. Once everything is settled, we'll bring you over.
He paused, then added, "Furthermore, I want Xiaofeng to learn more about the mainland. He's Chinese, his roots are there. He can't stay in Hong Kong his whole life without even knowing what his homeland is like."
Su Wanqing leaned against him, listening to his steady and strong heartbeat, and her worries gradually dissipated.
She knew that Lin Zhou was not an impulsive person. If he dared to bring up this idea, he must have already made thorough preparations.
"I believe you." She looked up into his eyes and said, word by word, "Whatever decision you make, I will support you."
Lin Zhou's heart was instantly filled with warmth.
He lowered his head and kissed her lips. This kiss was devoid of any lust, filled only with gratitude and love.
For a long time, the lips are divided.
Their foreheads touched, their breaths mingling.
"Oh, right," Su Wanqing suddenly remembered something and said with a smile, "Yesterday Xiaofeng asked me when his dad could take him to the mainland to see the Great Wall. He said that his teacher said in class that the Great Wall is the longest wall in the world, like a giant dragon."
"That kid." Lin Zhou chuckled, his eyes full of doting affection. "Next year, after we've basically set up our factory in the mainland, I'll take him to climb the Great Wall. Not only the Great Wall, but also the Forbidden City and the Terracotta Army. Let him see the magnificent landscape of our motherland."
"Okay." Su Wanqing nodded with a smile, her eyes and brows full of joy.
The neon lights outside the window were still flashing, and the sea breeze, carrying a faint salty smell, blew in through the open window.
The lights in the living room were warm and bright.
Hong Kong is a wonderful place. Zhonghua Group has taken root here, flourishing and enjoying great success.
But Lin Zhou knew in his heart that the Hong Kong market was ultimately limited. The manufacturing industry had reached its ceiling. Moreover, with the development of Hong Kong's economy, workers' wages were rising, and production costs were also increasing.
There lies a vast land, with over a billion hardworking people, and a giant awakening.
As the 1980s began, China's policies to attract foreign investment were quietly being rolled out, and the spring breeze of reform and opening up was sweeping across the land.
Lin Zhou had waited for so many years, and finally this spring breeze had arrived.