Chapter 81: Who Wouldn’t Be Happy Making Money?

Chapter 81: Who Wouldn't Be Happy Making Money?

Ever since signing the betting agreement with He Wenzhi, she had been busy infiltrating Song Jinji's internal operations.

Thanks to Shen Qing's hundred-odd tons of rice, Song Jinji maintained its grip on the Hong Kong rice market. Thus, despite her husband and her husband's elder brother's attempts to oust He Wenzhi from the company, they were unable to do so.

For He Wenzhi's rice was the lifeline of Song Jinji; without her, they would have no other means to procure rice.

"On the New Beauty side, I've also secured a significant portion of the market," He Wenzhi said gleefully over the phone to Shen Qing. "In the New Beauty market, I've sent only my trusted people."

"Congratulations, Miss He, on fulfilling your aspirations," Shen Qing replied with a warm smile, genuinely happy for her.

At this rate of He Wenzhi's progress, the 5% stake she had offered would soon grow to 20%, all while generating profits.

Who wouldn't be thrilled making money?

Not only was Shen Qing delighted, but He Wenzhi was equally ecstatic. "Miss Shen, I've noticed that ever since I met you, only good things have been happening around me."

"The same can be said for me lately," Shen Qing responded, even more joyful than He Wenzhi.

After establishing the real estate company, although Shen Qing hadn't yet accumulated enough capital to participate in major ventures like land acquisition and property development in Hong Kong, her business in leasing pre-owned properties was thriving.

Shen Qing, with her knowledge of Hong Kong's future development, would seize opportunities to purchase well-located, affordable, or seemingly unprofitable old houses that might be subject to demolition in a decade or so. She utilized her company's network to do so.

Recently, Shen Qing had purchased two dilapidated properties in Tsim Sha Tsui. They were situated near a small fishing village and could be acquired at a bargain price of around fifty to sixty thousand dollars.

When Shen Qing made these purchases, some people couldn't understand the logic. These houses were in such poor condition that they were barely inhabitable, and it was unclear what she intended to do with them.

However, the houses themselves were not the focal point; it was the land beneath them that Shen Qing had her eyes on.

When Tsim Sha Tsui flourishes, the land here will be worth a fortune. Unfortunately, the plots of these two old houses are rather small, and they are quite distant from each other, unable to form a contiguous piece.

However, Shen Qing is confident that with her unwavering determination, like an ant nibbling away at an elephant, she can gradually buy and accumulate properties. Sooner or later, she will assemble a complete plot of land in Tsim Sha Tsui.

Of course, any personal home purchases would naturally have to go through the company's official account.

Despite having over a million dollars at her disposal, it would not suffice for establishing a company and purchasing homes. Hence, for properties in prime locations that could yield brokerage fees when resold, Shen Qing would still engage in transactions.

After all, the company needs to sustain itself, doesn't it?

Fortunately, with Uncle Chen's wonton stall providing a steady income, Shen Qing received around ten thousand dollars in dividends each month.

Coupled with the profits from her company, Shen Qing could afford to purchase an old house in Hong Kong every month. Unfortunately, suitable investment properties didn't come up every month.

Given her successful business and satisfying lifestyle, Shen Qing was in an excellent mood.

Upon hearing that good things were also happening in Shen Qing's life, He Wenzhi, who was initially happy herself, became even more delighted.

However, apart from calling Shen Qing to share her good news, she had another reason for getting in touch – she wanted Shen Qing to read her fortune again.

"What would you like me to divine?" Shen Qing asked. Lately, she had been teaching herself feng shui and could predict events outside of the plot.

Though her accuracy might not match that of her disciple Zhong Ziguang.

"Miss Shen, I'd like to ask you how long it will take for me to gain control over Song Jinciji," He Wenzhi requested.

Shen Qing's prediction about her needing rice last time had been eerily accurate.

Once someone experienced the success brought on by fortune-telling, they tended to rely on it for foreknowledge and to avoid potential harm.

Rumor had it that Gu Chengfu relied on Lin Liping's fortune-telling to gain advantages and avoid pitfalls in his business.

Fortune-telling was either a one-time deal or an endless pursuit.

Shen Qing couldn't help but laugh. She didn't need to divine this, as the original plot had already spelled it out: "Miss He, if you work a bit harder, you can obtain the operational rights of Song Jinji within half a year; if not, it'll take a year."

In the original plot, He Wenzhi took a year. Shen Qing said 'half a year with more effort' to motivate her while she was still enthusiastic.

Upon hearing Shen Qing's words, He Wenzhi felt as energized as if she had been injected with adrenaline. She was full of vigor.

Actually, since joining Song Jinji, He Wenzhi had been working tirelessly, earning her the nickname 'workaholic'.

But after listening to Shen Qing, she decided to live in the office from then on.

Though exhausting, the thought of acquiring the operational rights thrilled He Wenzhi. It could be summed up in one phrase: 'joy amidst fatigue'.

She could see her efforts bearing fruit and bringing hope and success. For He Wenzhi, professional success was the greatest source of mental strength, igniting a new lease on life. She was determined to strive for it.

"Miss He, your work at Song Jinji might involve schemes from your uncle's family. They might even use your loved ones and your husband against you."

Shen Qing flipped through the original novel's plot and said to He Wenzhi, "You may encounter betrayal from your loved ones and various setbacks, but don't lose heart or give up. Your destiny holds fame and wealth; success is inevitable for you."

He Wenzhi's career not only affected her but also Shen Qing, so Shen Qing sincerely wished that He Wenzhi could break free from the draining marital and familial relationships.

Hearing Shen Qing's words, He Wenzhi was taken aback, instinctively turning to look at her reflection in the glass.

Dressed in a crisp white suit, with her hair elegantly styled, she appeared as a strong and capable woman, a stark contrast to her previous trapped self at home.

Back then, under Song Guangfeng's economic sanctions, she had been merely maintaining an appearance of dignity, seemingly glamorous on the surface but devoid of vitality in her eyes.

Now, as He Wenzhi gazed at her reflection, she felt a surge of vitality within herself.

She smiled, "Thank you, Miss Shen."

Sometimes, she felt as if Shen Qing was her life mentor on this journey, even though Shen Qing was seven or eight years younger. Yet, He Wenzhi sensed a unique clarity and wisdom in Shen Qing that was uncommon in others.

This feeling was occasionally shared by Su Qilan, but strangely, Su Qilan's intelligence seemed fleeting. Most of the time, her cleverness appeared to be mere cunning.

For instance, just now, Su Qilan had called to congratulate He Wenzhi on solidifying her position at Song Jinji. In her words, there were hints of wanting to offer strategic advice. Some of it sounded reasonable, but in practice, it proved unworkable.

Su Qilan's intelligence is manifest, conveying the impression that she has insights into events but lacks specifics of how they unfold.

Unlike Shen Qing, whose discourse on any subject is articulate and strategic, giving the sense of being in control.

Even when Shen Qing is unaware of certain matters, she can swiftly and decisively respond to situations as they arise, making the most judicious plans.

The more He Wenzhi interacts with Shen Qing, the more admiration she feels for her.

In this world, there are those naturally endowed with brilliance, and in He Wenzhi's estimation, Shen Qing is one of those favored by fate.

The remuneration for Shen Qing's fortune-telling was delivered by He Wenzhi's secretary.

At that moment, Shen Yimin was sitting in the living room, sipping his medicine – injuries like his take a hundred days to heal. Although he had been discharged from the hospital, his broken leg was still encased in plaster, making movement difficult. Meanwhile, Shen Hainan was still hospitalized, battling a severe condition.

Upon seeing someone visit Shen Qing, particularly in an opulent Bentley with double eight license plates, Shen Yimin was curious about the purpose of their meeting.

Upon learning it was to deliver the fee for Shen Qing's services, the pain in his broken limb intensified, and his mind was flooded with images of Shen Hainan's car crashing into him.

He Wenzhi's tribute to Shen Qing was a substantial sum of 16,000 Hong Kong dollars, bundled thickly in an envelope, its weightiness in the hand a tangible source of joy.

Due to the company's busy schedule, He Wenzhi, the secretary, left after delivering the money.

As Shen Qing turned around with the thick envelope in hand, she found Shen Yimin staring intently at her.

"You're fortune-telling again?" Despite his leg pain that left him drenched in sweat, Shen Yimin was determined to address the matter of Shen Qing's fortune-telling. His eyes were fixed on her with unwavering focus.

"It's a straightforward issue," Shen Qing said casually. Then, she added, "Oh right, I haven't received payment for the fortune I told you."

Shen Yimin was taken aback.

Shen Qing had already started calculating, "I've read your fortune twice. Currently, I charge sixteen thousand per reading. That means you owe me thirty-two thousand in total."

She usually charged 666 Hong Kong dollars for her services at the temple street stall. The reason for charging Shen Yimin twelve thousand was simply because she felt like it.

"Am I your father? You want me to pay you?" Shen Yimin asked loudly.

"Of course. Fortune-telling isn't free," Shen Qing replied. "Don't you think my predictions are accurate? If they are, and you don't pay, do you want the consequences to boomerang back onto you? Do you want to continue having bad luck?"

Shen Yimin was left speechless by her words.

Is Shen Qing's fortune-telling accurate? Shen Yimin would never dare to shake his head and deny it.

Because although her predictions for him had come true late, each time they did, it felt as if half his life was taken away.

"O-Okay... Fine..." Shen Yimin reluctantly agreed, "I'll give you 32,000." After saying that, he asked again, "Can you give me another reading then?"

"No," Shen Qing rejected without hesitation.

Before, she predicted her father's fate to set up her plans. But now... even if she knew his storyline, she wouldn't predict it for him, because he didn't deserve it.

"Just a moment..." Shen Qing suddenly spoke up. When Shen Yimin thought there might be a chance, she continued, "Didn't I also tell you about Shen Hainan giving away your company? That makes three readings in total. You still owe me 12,000, so it adds up to 48,000."

Shen Qing wouldn't let a single cent slip through her fingers.

Seeing Shen Qing calculate so precisely, Shen Yimin felt regretful. How could he have failed to grasp the opportunity with such an excellent daughter who could predict the future?

If back when Shen Qing had come to Hong Kong looking for him, he hadn't made excuses to pass her off to Yu Feifei but had taken care of her personally, loving her as he did Shen Hainan, would Shen Qing's attitude towards her biological father be different?

Due to Shen Qing's kindness towards those around her, Shen Yimin, as her biological father, was left out and undoubtedly felt regret and resentment.

But it was too late for regrets. There were the lives of Li Ruyu and the original host standing between them; Shen Qing would never have a favorable view of Shen Yimin.

After receiving the four thousand eight hundred yuan in remuneration from Shen Yimin, Shen Qing promptly donated it to the Mazu Temple on Temple Street.

People living along the coast venerated the sea goddess Mazu, believing she would protect anyone who prayed sincerely.

Shen Qing also sincerely prayed for Mazu's protection over Li Ruyu and her daughter, hoping they would have a happy family in their next life, free from suffering.

Despite never having met Li Ruyu, Shen Qing admired this woman, who had her own thoughts and acted decisively.

As Shen Qing knelt and bowed devoutly, a fragrant rose petal suddenly drifted from the vase of offerings onto her palm.

Seeing this, someone kneeling and praying beside her looked at Shen Qing with envy and said, "Mazu has bestowed a flower upon you."

The person explained that roses were also known as Mazu flowers, symbolizing continuous bloom and, by extension, safety throughout the seasons.

Receiving a flower from Mazu was a blessing in disguise.

Shen Qing felt delighted upon hearing this and expressed her gratitude to Mazu before cherishing the rose petals like a treasure as she left the temple.

Both the snack stall and Shen Qing's real estate company were located on Temple Street, just a ten-minute walk from Mazu Temple. Thus, Shen Qing decided to visit her company.

However, not far from the temple, someone recognized her: "Divine Oracle, you haven't set up your stall on Temple Street for a while. Have you not encountered any destined souls lately?"

The whole Temple Street was aware that Shen Qing only provided divinations for those with a fated connection. The person who asked looked expectantly at Shen Qing, hoping to know if he might be the destined one that day.

Taking a glance at the man, Shen Qing noticed his smiling face and bright eyes. She replied with a smile, "You seem to have some joyful news recently. Why would you need a fortune-telling?"

As the saying goes, when one is in high spirits due to good news, their eyes shine with an optimistic glow. This was also a method of observation in feng shui and physiognomy. Shen Qing was indeed correct; the man was about to get married and had hoped for Shen Qing's assistance in selecting an auspicious wedding date.

"There's no need for a calculation," Shen Qing said with a smile. "June 10th will do. Ten signifies perfection, making it an ideal day for weddings."

Considering their encounter outside Mazu Temple was a form of destiny, Shen Qing, blessed by Mazu, shared her good mood and picked an auspicious day for him.

The acquaintance was deeply grateful to Shen Qing and, following the custom, gave her a Hong Kong dollar red packet of 666 as a token of appreciation. He wondered how ecstatic his girlfriend would be if she found out that the date of their wedding had been determined by the renowned fortune teller on Temple Street.

After bidding farewell to the fortunate friend, Shen Qing went to the real estate company.

The company was co-founded with Sister Jie, as Shen Qing knew she couldn't manage it alone. Sister Jie was not only her close friend but also someone who had shared life-and-death experiences with her.

When it came to choosing a business partner, Sister Jie, with her sense of loyalty, was naturally the first choice. After all, why wouldn't she bring along someone who had proven their loyalty instead of a stranger?

A company's partner should match its nature. In fact, before Sister Jie, Shen Qing had already found an even more capable partner. It was He Wenzhi, whom she had initially approached for a fortune reading on Temple Street, gradually drawn closer to, and eventually won over with her skill in divination.

He Wenzhi was an intelligent and ambitious woman with ample abilities, but she had her own ulterior motives, not quite as straightforward and loyal as Sister Jie.

Thus, Shen Qing's collaboration with He Wenzhi took the form of a wagering agreement, awaiting the moment when He Wenzhi secured control of Song Jinji.

Following the original storyline, once Song Jinji grew into a major player, starting from next year, Shen Qing, with her 20% share, could expect annual dividends of at least tens of millions.

In some respects, He Wenzhi could be considered an employee of Shen Qing's, effortlessly earning millions each year without her having to lift a finger. Why not?

The day-to-day operations of the construction company were usually handled by Sister Jie.

Sumita was also brought over by Shen Qing from the restaurant. With the company still small, the two of them, Sister Jie and Sumita, were more than enough to manage it all.

Seeing Shen Qing arrive, Sister Jie was particularly delighted to give her an update on recent work progress.

Hong Kong's economy was prosperous, and the real estate brokerage business was lucrative. Whether selling or renting properties, they would receive a commission of 3 to 5 percent per unit sold.

At present, the profits of the real estate company couldn't match those of the snack shop.

However, Shen Qing's goal in establishing the real estate company wasn't solely to make a fortune but to lay the groundwork for her future entry into Hong Kong's real estate market.

Shen Qing believed that when everything was in place, with just the right opportunity, she would seize the chance fate presented.

Both Sister Jie and Sumita were diligent in their work. After listening to their reports, Shen Qing asked about Sister Jie's progress in finding a construction team.

"We're still searching," Sister Jie replied. "I've been looking into various Hong Kong interior design and renovation companies lately, and I've noticed that the renovation market is quite promising."

Under Shen Qing's influence, Sister Jie had become more thoughtful in her actions: "I even went to inquire at construction sites. Many teams are made up of workers hired by the foremen from outside. If we want to find a team, we could directly recruit from the sites."

Seeing Sister Jie becoming more organized in her work, Shen Qing couldn't help but smile: "What about the designer? Do you have any ideas?"

Since they were in business together, it couldn't be all on Shen Qing to strategize and handle everything.

She still had to focus on her studies and didn't have much time. If she started grooming Sister Jie to take on more responsibilities now, it would make things easier for her when the business expanded.

"Scooping someone from another company or hiring recent graduates from university are both options," Sister Jie knew that Shen Qing was involving her in the business due to their close relationship.

However, she didn't want to take advantage without giving anything back, so she was eager to share the load with Shen Qing.

After some thought, Sister Jie added, "Students from the Hong Kong University School of Design are highly sought after. I've seen design competitions in the newspapers. If we could hire a competition winner, it would certainly boost our prestige."

"The design champion would likely choose a well-established firm, given our current company size," Shen Qing said, not out of self-deprecation, but because she was aware of her own capabilities. Besides, those who participated in design competitions were usually striving for success.

These design contests were often sponsored by renowned design schools or large companies, aiming to infuse fresh talent into their firms.

Winning such a competition would guarantee a spot in a major company. If Shen Qing were in their shoes, she would also opt for a more promising, larger company.

"We can give it a shot," Sister Jie couldn't help but suggest. "What if it works?"

"Alright, let's give it a try then." Shen Qing didn't dampen Sister Jie's enthusiasm; being proactive and ambitious in work was always a good thing.

If Sister Jie could really find a champion, Shen Qing would have to give her two thumbs up.

Watching Sister Jie rush out energetically before she could leave, Shen Qing thought to herself that these were great days indeed. Everyone was filled with motivation, and everyone had a bright future ahead.

As she turned around, she saw Sumita scribbling in her notebook with her head lowered.

Since Sumita was writing in Thai, Shen Qing couldn't understand it, so she asked what Sumita was writing.

"I'm writing down the words you spoke to Sister Jie," Sumita replied in decent Chinese. "Ever since my father found out that I was brought here by Boss Shen to work at the decoration company, he's been urging me to learn from you. Whatever you say or think, I should take them as lessons for myself."

The old village chief was a smart man. After several encounters with Shen Qing regarding the rice trade, he realized that she was no ordinary person.

Now that Shen Qing was willing to entrust his daughter with important tasks, the old village chief's expectations for his daughter had shifted from finding a good husband in Hong Kong and obtaining a Hong Kong residency to working hard under Boss Shen in Hong Kong, striving to become a big boss one day.

Sumita spoke to Shen Qing openly about her father's expectations and advice, without any concealment.

Upon hearing this, Shen Qing laughed again. She wasn't afraid of ambition in her subordinates; she feared complacency. Ambition was necessary for progress.

After all, she needed to groom capable confidants and right-hand people, didn't she?

"If you aspire to be a big boss, then you need to learn cultural knowledge," Shen Qing continued. "You also have to learn to write in Chinese and English."

Even decades later, Hong Kong would remain a bilingual environment, with conversations mixing both languages.

When working in a new place, one must adapt to the local customs and culture. Otherwise, even basic communication would be an issue, let alone conducting business with others.

To earn money and succeed, one had to constantly learn and improve oneself. How could one achieve that by isolating oneself from the world?

Sumita took notes of Shen Qing's words in her small notebook, saying she would enroll in classes to learn Chinese and English after work.

"Your learning expenses will be covered by the company," Shen Qing offered, encouraged by Sumita's dedication to self-improvement.

In the end, the knowledge gained would serve Shen Qing's own interests.

It's only reasonable for a company to invest in its employees' further education.

"Thank you, Boss Shen," Sumita replied with a genuine smile. Her father was still unaware that Boss Shen was actually a man.

Given Shen Qing's disguise whenever she visited Thailand, Sumita had shown great discretion and refrained from revealing the truth about Boss Shen's gender to her father.

Boss Shen was so impressive that Sumita feared for her safety if the Thais were to discover her true identity. As such, Sumita wished to work for Boss Shen for a lifetime and would never want anything untoward to happen to her.

Just as Shen Qing was about to leave, Sumita rushed up to inquire, "Boss Shen, do you have any news on Brother Biao lately?"

After his late-night visit, Brother Biao had not appeared again.

Sumita was slightly worried about him and, seizing this opportunity to speak with Boss Shen, decided to ask about Brother Biao.

"Brother Biao is doing well," Shen Qing reassured with a smile. "He called me last night and said he might be back in about half a month."

Brother Biao had clarified the matters regarding the guns and pirates – they were the same group of pirates who had plundered rice in the Thai waters.

However, upon deeper investigation, it turned out to have no direct connection with Li DaFa; it was simply a case of smuggling.

Such matters were beyond Shen Qing's capabilities to manage. Now that the truth had been uncovered, Brother Biao should have returned by now.

But last night, Brother Biao delivered another piece of news to Shen Qing: the rice seized by the pirates on the high seas was being sold at low prices in the Southeast Asian market.

This aligned with the original storyline, showcasing Brother Biao's thoughtful nature as an excellent bodyguard. Knowing that Boss Shen was involved in the rice trade, he had reached out to local friends to inquire if they could purchase a batch of rice.

Since most of the substantial sum, in the hundreds of thousands, given to him by Boss Shen for operational expenses remained untouched, Brother Biao had no intention of keeping it to himself. He wanted to convert it all into profit for Boss Shen.

Shen Qing was genuinely delighted upon hearing this. She saw no reason not to buy rice at a discount, so she immediately expressed her intention not only to buy rice but also to purchase more. If there was a shortage of funds, she would figure out a way to send money to Brother Biao.

Unfortunately, it was 1970, and international wire transfers were not yet possible. Otherwise, Shen Qing could have wired the money to Brother Biao that very day...