The birth of the Hong Kong Island family

Lin Zhichao came to the HSBC Bank Building in Central and paused 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 13-story main body, the entire building is surrounded by auxiliary buildings. Compared with the surrounding three-story buildings, it is quite majestic and huge.

To the north of HSBC is the 'High Court', and although the complex is large, it is only three stories high with 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, after 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 didn't seem to shrink at all because he only had 1,000 yuan.

"Sir, do you need any help?" the Chinese employee came forward and said politely.

Lin Zhichao was not underestimated just because he was dressed plainly. Presumably HSBC was in urgent need of deposits to alleviate its post-war funding problems. Or perhaps, this is the traditional style of Hong Kong banks.

"I want to open an account and deposit 800 Hong Kong dollars!" Lin Zhichao said calmly.

He left 200 Hong Kong dollars to improve his life because he felt that he was still growing and needed to supplement some nutrition. After all, he might have to rely on his body for food in the future. With his monthly salary of 60 Hong Kong dollars, he can actually live well, but he needs to send some living expenses back to his mother and sister, so he can't be too selfish.

The expression on the face of the Chinese employee really changed. You must know that 800 Hong Kong dollars is a year's salary for 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, this way please!"

Soon, Lin Zhichao started 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 a lot of information was not needed. However, as far as Lin Zhichao knows, the Hong Kong government will control the entry of non-Hong Kong people into Hong Kong in 1949 and implement these two systems.

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 is undoubtedly leisurely and elegant.

There are many stone pavements on the streets in Central. There are many Chinese shops in the nearby area, including restaurants, tailor shops, photography shops, etc. Many pedestrians wear Tang suits, and there are rickshaws waiting for passengers beside the stone steps.

Vibrant, this is Lin Zhichao's inner thought. Although he was used to the prosperity of later generations, he did not comment on Hong Kong at that time as "countryside".

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, came from a poor family. In 1920, when he was only 12 years old, he entered the society and worked as a vegetable seller, making snowflakes, a newspaper printer, and a restaurant. Handyman, roasting 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 Yung shared a license to open a barbecue stall on Kwong Yuen West Street in Central, named "Yung Kee".

In 1942, Kam Sui-fai spent NT$4,000 of his savings to rent shop No. 32 on 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 known as "Roasted Goose Fai" in the streets.

At this time, 'Yong 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 affordable for ordinary people. The cheapest fried rice noodles cost 30 cents, and porridge costs 80 cents. 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 previous life - Guo Desheng, Li Zhaoji, Feng Jingxi, including the previous "Yongye Eight" - these three people also met under such circumstances.

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 porridge and fried rice noodles, and ordered half a roast goose to take away. Lin Zhichao spent a total of 6 Hong Kong dollars, which is equivalent to ten meals he can only eat for a month's 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, while eating, Lin Zhichao did not forget 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 pay attention to him. Lin Zhichao didn't care, he still had some shame.

In any case, through observation, he felt that if he came here every day to have a bowl of porridge or fried rice noodles at noon, and share a table, he would definitely gain some business and connections. Of course, the most important thing is that he needs to 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 diligent and 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 others, 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 hand 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 you would find a way to get rich so quickly." He was really happy for Lin Zhichao.

Chen Shufang said with some sourness: "Brother Gao Fu has been around for so many years, but he has never made such a fortune. Everyone says that brother Gao Fu is generous and helpful, but they 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 was just lucky. If you want your cousin to make this money, then let him quit his stable job in a trading bank!"

Chen Shufang raised her head and said quickly: "How can that be done! Another person is going to 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 to say, these women are like this.

"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, Wanchai, 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 Books and made 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.