Chapter 30: Taking the Money to Hong Kong, the Show Begins

“What? They’ve all been taken in?”

Inside the shop, Zhang Tianfeng was still checking the accounts when Red Hair burst in with the good news, leaving him momentarily stunned.

He had thought that, at most, the report would prompt city officials to issue a warning to those shady employment agencies. He hadn’t expected such a swift and decisive crackdown.

“That’s right, boss! You’re incredible. Without even breaking a sweat, you spent just over a thousand yuan and took down the black market job agencies that have dominated Tangwan Town for years.”

“Look, the police station even gave me a Good Citizen award and a bonus for reporting the crime—six hundred yuan.”

“Take it home to your parents, and don’t worry about giving any more to me. Just use the rest to treat the brothers to something cold and some food.”

“Thank you, boss.” Pocketing the money, Red Hair asked, “Boss, what should we do next?”

“Count your boys, have each one fill out their information on this form, and give it to that young lady out there.” Zhang Tianfeng pointed to Qin Yuelan, who was busy outside.

The form was a simplified version of an employment application. It turned out that these petty troublemakers still had a chance at redemption; more importantly, it wouldn’t take much money to train them into loyal subordinates. Zhang Tianfeng planned to take them under his wing.

With the black job agencies in Tangwan Town toppled, the job placement market was wide open. It was the perfect time to launch a legitimate job agency and consolidate workplace resources.

Once he controlled the labor market, he would enjoy many invisible benefits. For instance, he could access all kinds of job postings for free and analyze current demands across factories. He could spot important talent ahead of the competition.

In these times, many who’d left the system to join the workforce were formidable individuals, some of whom had turned to wage work after failed ventures. Zhang Tianfeng wanted to get to know all of them; he couldn’t pass up any chance to let money make more money.

However, he couldn’t set up the job agency in his own name. The whole coastline was hungry for investment from Hong Kong and foreign capital—so he would head to Hong Kong City and assume a new identity.

With that in mind, Zhang Tianfeng stood up and called out, “Sister Lan, come in.”

Qin Yuelan dropped what she was doing and hurried in. “I need to make a trip to Hong Kong City. Until I’m back, you’ll manage the shop.”

“Boss, you used to say that going to Hong Kong City was a way to make real money. Is it finally time? Can you take me with you?”

“It’s not quite time yet. Things are moving a bit faster than planned, so I have to make some changes ahead of schedule. Don’t worry, I won’t let you miss any money-making opportunities.”

“That’s good enough for me. Go on, then. I promise I’ll keep the shop safe and won’t let anyone cause trouble.”

Red Hair chimed in, “Big Sis, those bad guys are behind bars now—no one will dare stir up trouble again.”

Qin Yuelan paused, then nodded. “That’s true. After crossing you, it’s only fair that they spend some time in jail.”

“What’s that supposed to mean? I’m a very gentle person, you know!” Zhang Tianfeng exclaimed theatrically. He hadn’t told Qin Yuelan a thing about his plans—how had she figured it all out?

“If I hadn’t worked with you for a few days, I might’ve believed you,” she retorted.

The memory of Niu Li’s incident was still fresh, and now with the fall of the black job agencies, Qin Yuelan felt she had seen right through Zhang Tianfeng. He might look harmless, but cross him and you were doomed—maybe you’d never even know what hit you.

“Believe what you want. Just keep an eye on the shop—I’m heading back.”

Before leaving, he exchanged a few words with Fourth Uncle. Once home, he spent an hour writing up the business plan for the vehicle advertising project and handed it to the drivers, instructing them to fax it to Qin Lin.

The response came two hours later. As he’d hoped, Zhang Tianfeng received the bank card password and took a private car to Hong Kong City.

In Xiyan City, at the Fuhe Grand Hotel, Qin Lin sat in the penthouse, smoking as he reviewed the fresh economic analysis for vehicle advertising. Li Chenggong studied the report beside him, nodding in admiration.

“Boss, we’ve really found a genius. With this kind of business mind, we could use reverse engineering to make a fortune in several industries. Paying a million for him was absolutely worth it.”

“Yes. Lao Li, make a copy right away, and get a specialist to analyze and reverse-engineer it. I want results in three days.”

“Don’t worry, boss. I’ll get it done.”

In this era, time was money—especially for those who already knew how to make it.

After Li Chenggong left, Qin Lin reread the vehicle advertising proposal several times until Gao Ran walked in. He stubbed out his cigarette and opened a window.

“Dad, it’s so hot in Xiyan. When are we going to Hong Kong City?”

“Girl, Hong Kong City is even hotter—you know that.”

Gao Ran grinned slyly. “Well, it’s your fault—now I can’t stop missing Zhang Tianfeng.”

“What do you mean, my fault?” Qin Lin was baffled; he’d been hoping his daughter wouldn’t get entangled with Zhang Tianfeng.

Gao Ran spoke boldly, “You told me what he did in Zhucheng, and I got really interested. Imagine—running a night market stall and still coming up with clever ways to drum up business, then getting targeted by those black job agencies. And he managed to wipe them out just by making a few harassing phone calls!”

“I feel like I’m missing out on so much fun. I can’t wait to join his gang... I mean, his team.”

She glanced back and saw her father’s resentful expression, then ran over, clinging to his arm and whining playfully. “Dad, you know I’m about to study economics, right?”

“What is economics? Making money! The greats always say that practical experience leads to true understanding. If I make some money and blend it with theory before school starts, I’ll be way ahead of my classmates—won’t I?”

Some people will make up any story to get what they want.

Qin Lin was one of those people—but he never imagined his daughter would follow suit, spinning tales just to get closer to Zhang Tianfeng.

Ouch, it hurt—a real heartache!

Forget it, better to guide her than to speak ill of that kid. Saying bad things might backfire now that his daughter was grown up.

“All right, we’ll go tomorrow. Happy?”

Qin Lin also wanted to meet Zhang Tianfeng in person. There were several aspects of the vehicle advertising business plan he couldn’t understand, and even Li Chenggong hadn’t figured them out.

He wanted to ask in person, and at the same time gauge Zhang Tianfeng’s true intentions and see if he intended to get involved himself.

By now, Qin Lin realized that everything Zhang Tianfeng did was about making money, or at least paving the way to make it.

...

At Xiyan’s bus station, Li Cheng, who had sold his deli shop, set out for the provincial capital with his wife and daughter.

If they returned to their village now, people would laugh at them for being shortsighted and missing a great opportunity.

Afraid his daughter might take it hard, Li Cheng decided to leave Xiyan for the provincial capital instead—after all, she’d be attending high school there soon, so they might as well settle in early.

He was confident that in a big city like that, he’d quickly become a ten-thousand-yuan household. In less than a year, he’d have the Zhang family under his heel!

...

Night fell. The car stopped at the mouth of a bustling street, where neon signs flashed in the night.

Hong Kong City—this was a place he’d never set foot in during his previous life, though he’d seen it many times in literature and film.

This time, Hong Kong City would be his springboard to wealth!

“Mr. Zhang, this is the hotel our boss arranged for you. If you’re not satisfied, we can change it.”

The driver pointed to the entrance of the “Regent Hotel.”

“This is perfect. We’ll stay here.” Halfway through the lobby, Zhang Tianfeng suddenly asked, “Do you have any local goods?”

“Uh... Mr. Zhang, I’m not sure what you mean.”

“Never mind, just a joke. Let’s head up.”

By the time he decided to come to Hong Kong City, Zhang Tianfeng already had two complete plans in mind.

He would establish two companies: one, an investment company registered in a tax haven, to invest in high-growth industries he didn’t want to manage directly; the other, a real business enterprise based in Hong Kong City. Upon returning, he’d invest in factories as a Hong Kong businessman, gaining countless advantages.