Lin Zhichao came to the HSBC Bank Building in Central and stopped outside. He likes to be a witness to history.
If he had a camera, he would definitely take some photos. As a descendant, he felt it was important to preserve memories.
HSBC covers a large area. In addition to the main body of the 13-story building, there are auxiliary buildings around it. Compared with the surrounding three-story buildings, it is quite grand and huge.
On the north side of HSBC is the 'High Court'. Although its complex is large, it is only three stories high and has a dome in the middle.
These buildings are all European-style buildings. After all, in Hong Kong now, the British are the boss, and the Chinese have not yet grown up.
In the 1970s, with the rise of the Chinese, the buildings in Xiangjiang were transformed into modern high-rises.
Stepping into the door of HSBC with peace of mind, Lin Zhichao did not appear to be daunted at all because he only had 1,000 yuan.
"Sir, do you need any help?" the Chinese employee came forward and said politely.
It’s not because Lin Zhichao was wearing ordinary clothes that he spied on him. It must be that HSBC was in urgent need of deposits to relieve its post-war funding problems. Or maybe this was the traditional style of Hong Kong banks.
"I want to open an account and deposit 800 Hong Kong dollars!" Lin Zhichao said calmly.
Leave 200 Hong Kong dollars to improve his life, because he feels that he is still growing and needs to supplement some nutrition. After all, he may have to rely on his body for food in the future. And with his monthly salary of 60 Hong Kong dollars, he can actually live well, but he needs to give
Mom, sister, please send back some living expenses. Don’t be too selfish.
The expression on the face of the Chinese employee really changed. You must know that 800 Hong Kong dollars is the annual salary of many people. This young man with an unattractive appearance can deposit so much at one time. He is obviously a person with real skills.
He didn't think he was a second-generation rich man, because Lin Zhichao was dressed very cheaply. He didn't think he was a second-generation rich man, either, because Lin Zhichao had a calm and decent temperament.
"Okay, please come this way!"
Soon, Lin Zhichao began to open a bank account. In this era, Hong Kong had not yet implemented the Population Registration Act and the Hong Kong Identity Card system, so it did not require a lot of information. However, as far as Lin Zhichao knew, the Hong Kong government would control illegal transactions in 1949.
When Hong Kong people come to Hong Kong, these two systems are implemented.
After walking out of the HSBC Building, Lin Zhichao had already put away his account opening book and felt much more at ease.
Although 800 Hong Kong dollars may not give him the confidence to start a business, it at least gives him the confidence to temporarily improve his life.
When he came to the streets of Central, Lin Zhichao was very interested. In the two months since he came to Hong Kong Island, he only thought about making a living and had no time to hang out. But now, not only has he made a huge profit of 1,000 Hong Kong dollars, but he has also found a way to make a fortune. He undoubtedly has leisure time.
Elegant.
There are many stone pavements on the streets in Central. There are many Chinese shops nearby, including restaurants, tailor shops, photography shops, etc. There are many pedestrians wearing Tang suits, and there are rickshaws waiting for passengers beside the stone steps.
Vibrant, this was Lin Zhichao's inner thought. Although he was accustomed to the prosperity of later generations, he did not evaluate Hong Kong as "countryside" at this time.
evening.
After shopping around for an afternoon, Lin Chi-chao came to Yung Kee Restaurant in Central. The founder of Yung Kee, Kam Sui-fai, grew up in poverty. In 1920, at the age of 12, he entered society and worked as a vegetable seller, snowflake maker, newspaper printer, and restaurant owner.
Handyman, barbecue apprentice. When he was an apprentice, he painstakingly studied barbecue marinades and created his own secret barbecue recipe. Seven years later, Kam Sui-fai and his friend Mak Yong shared a license to open a barbecue stall in Kwong Yuen West Street, Central.
It's called "Yong Ji".
In 1942, Kam Sui-fai spent NT$4,000 of his savings to rent a shop at No. 32 Wing Lok Street, and "Yung Kee Restaurant" officially opened. In 1945, after the liberation of Hong Kong, "Yung Kee" moved to Shiban Street again. At this time, Kam Sui-fai was already a street celebrity.
The "roast goose glow" that is heard in the street.
At this time, 'Yung Kee Restaurant' can only be regarded as a better restaurant. You can share tables here during the peak meal period, and diners are accustomed to it.
Of course, it is not something that ordinary people can afford. The cheapest portion of fried rice noodles costs 30 cents, and porridge costs 80 cents. And the average person can only afford to eat about 5 cents for lunch, which shows that Yung Kee Restaurant is not cheap.
But such restaurants or teahouses will be where wealthy Chinese businessmen and celebrities gather in the next few years. These people gather to talk about the situation in the mainland and discuss business cooperation and trends in Hong Kong.
Anyone you know or don't know can sit together and make friends. The famous "Sun Hung Kai Trio" in the past life - Guo Desheng, Li Siuji, Feng Jingxi, including the previous "Yongye Eight" - also have these three people.
, it was under such circumstances that we met.
Therefore, Lin Zhichao has planned to spend one meal every day in this kind of place and look for opportunities in such restaurants. Although the price is as high as 3 to 8 cents, it is not unacceptable.
Today he ordered a portion of porridge and fried rice noodles, and also ordered half a roast goose to be packed. Lin Zhichao spent a full 6 Hong Kong dollars, which is equivalent to ten meals of this kind that he can only eat in a month of work.
Of course, the roast goose was packed back to be eaten with the landlord’s family, after all, thanks to others taking it in.
"Sir, what's your surname?"
"Sir, what's your business?"
"I'm a broker. If you have anything to buy or sell, I can help you!"
In this way, Lin Zhichao took advantage of the meal to promote himself to the two people sharing the table.
Unfortunately, he didn't gain much this time, and others didn't even want to talk to him. Lin Zhichao didn't care, he still had some shame.
In any case, through observation, he felt that he would be able to gain some business and connections by sharing tables every day for a bowl of porridge or fried rice noodles at noon. Of course, the most important thing is that he should train himself and lay the foundation for starting a business in the future.
.
"Why do you still buy such expensive things?" Li Gaofu blamed Lin Zhichao for not knowing how to be thrifty.
In this era, every family at their level is very frugal, especially people from Guangdong Province, who believe that 'small wealth depends on diligence and thrift, and big wealth depends on heaven'.
Lin Zhichao knew that Li Gaofu was doing it for his own good, so he smiled and pushed the roast goose in front of Chen Shufang and Li Qianqian, and said: "I sold a building for someone, so I got a commission of 1,000 yuan."
When it's time to show off your abilities, you have to show them generously. Even with a mere 1,000 yuan, you don't need to hide your head and show your tail.
"What?"
Li Gaofu and his wife looked at Lin Zhichao in disbelief.
"Aren't you selling books, newspapers and magazines? How can you still sell properties?" At this time, Chen Shufang felt that the roast goose in her hands was no longer fragrant, and she was more concerned about this issue.
Lin Zhichao explained the ins and outs of this business. He needed to show some of his skills so that when he opened a factory in the future, his family and friends would not look out of place.
After listening to Lin Zhichao's story, Li Gaofu clapped his hands and applauded: "Good boy, I knew you would become rich soon, but I didn't expect to find a way to get rich so quickly." He was really happy for Lin Zhichao.
Chen Shufang said with some sourness: "You, Brother Gao Fu, have been around for so many years, but you have never made such a fortune. Everyone says that you, Brother Gao Fu, are generous and helpful, but you don't know how to use it to make money."
Li Gaofu's face darkened, and Chen Shufang suddenly felt guilty and buried her head in eating the roast goose.
Lin Zhichao said with a smile: "What my cousin said doesn't make sense. I'm just lucky. If you want your cousin to make this money, just ask him to quit his stable job in a trading bank!"
Chen Shufang raised her head and said quickly: "How can that be done? Another person will be added soon, and the whole family is counting on that salary!"
Li Gaofu and Lin Zhichao looked at each other and then laughed, as if they were saying that this is what these women are like.
"60 boxes of milk powder, 12 cans per box, 20 yuan per can"
"400 barrels of mineral oil, 140 yuan per barrel"
"A second-hand Ford car, 8,000 yuan"
"Lockhart Road, Wan Chai, three bedrooms, NT$20,000"
In the days that followed, Lin Zhichao shuttled between restaurants and teahouses, doing various intermediary businesses;
Not only did I make a lot of money, I also made a lot of friends and became famous in the social circle.
Of course, he did not give up his job at Xinxing Newsstand, making full use of his lunch time and his usual newspaper delivery time;
Including when selling newspapers, he was blatantly doing intermediary work.
Jin Bingwen, the owner of Xinxing Books and Newsstand, had no direct interference in this matter. After all, Lin Zhichao did not affect his work;
Of course, he could also see that Lin Zhichao was expected to stay soon.