hotmtlnovel Chapter 1462 Bruce Lee's movies were still too conservative.
Chapter 1462 Bruce Lee's movies were still too conservative.
Chapter 1462 Bruce Lee's movies were still too conservative.
For the next few months, Qin Hao and Zhao Yajing devoted almost all their energy to the Hong Kong market. Like two tireless engines, they shuttled between Hong Kong Island and Kowloon Peninsula, meticulously overseeing every step, from site selection and negotiation to decoration, training, opening, and operation. They would only spare a day or two each month to rush back to Guangzhou for month-end settlements and to replenish resources there.
This strategy of prioritizing Hong Kong over Guangzhou was, to some extent, also due to the underdeveloped business environment on the mainland in 1981. Although the spring breeze of reform and opening up had begun to blow, the melting of the ice required a process.
The barriers to private operation remained high, with the procurement and distribution of various materials strictly restricted by the planned economy and rationing system. Even if someone envied Burger King's booming business in Guangzhou and wanted to imitate it, the very challenge of securing a stable and sufficient supply of raw materials such as chicken, flour, cooking oil, and packaging paper was enough to keep most potential competitors out.
Those who truly have connections and the ability to procure scarce resources often have even higher aspirations. They are more inclined to use their power or connections to resell permits and quotas, or engage in trades that are more profitable and generate faster returns, such as in the trade of electrical appliances, clothing, and even production materials like steel and cement.
In their view, running a restaurant, even a successful fast-food chain, is hard work. Profits are stable but growth is limited, and one has to deal with tedious management and competition. It's far less easy and profitable than "selling permits" or "securing deals." Therefore, although Burger King stands out in Guangzhou, it hasn't encountered any strong direct imitators yet, and its market position is relatively stable.
Xie Zhiqiang, who stayed in Guangzhou, was living a rather comfortable life. His main job was to visit eight stores every day, collect the day's sales revenue, check the cash register records and material consumption slips, and then deposit the cash into a designated bank account.
At the end of the month, he would organize the accounts of the eight stores, make simple reports, and submit them to Qin Hao and Zhao Yajing when they returned for "audit." The specific operation and management of the stores were not under his jurisdiction; they were entirely left to the store managers, with him only occasionally helping to coordinate personnel allocation or emergency restocking between stores.
This job wasn't strenuous, yet it gave him some financial power, and he enjoyed the treatment of being "Boss Qin's confidant," being respectfully addressed as "Manager Xie" or "Brother Xie" by the employees of various stores. Xie Zhiqiang couldn't be more satisfied. This was far more interesting than drifting through life in a small street factory or wandering around the hutongs of Beijing.
At the end of the month, Qin Hao and Zhao Yajing flew back to Guangzhou from Hong Kong, exhausted from their journey. In the Burger King headquarters office, Xie Zhiqiang had already prepared the ledgers and bank deposit slips, waiting patiently.
Zhao Yajing held the ledger, carefully checking each item against the bank statements and purchase orders. Her abacus clicked rapidly, her eyes sharp, not missing a single possible discrepancy. Qin Hao sat beside her, flipping through Xie Zhiqiang's daily inspection notes and the brief reports from each store manager.
More than an hour later, Zhao Yajing put down the last page of the accounts, looked up, and nodded to Xie Zhiqiang with a satisfied expression: "Hmm, the accounts are clear, and the bank payments match. There haven't been any major problems in Guangzhou these past few months, and the stores have been operating smoothly. Okay, you're a good kid... you haven't had any crooked thoughts, you've been honest."
Upon hearing this, Xie Zhiqiang immediately straightened his back, a hint of resentment at being "looked down upon" showing on his face. He shouted, "Look at what you're saying! I, Xie Zhiqiang, am a respectable man. Although I may be a bit poor, I have my bottom line! Even if I, Xie Zhiqiang, am a worthless man, I would never do such things as petty theft or embezzlement!"
Seeing his excited expression, Qin Hao smiled and walked over, patted him on the shoulder, and comforted him, "Alright, Lao Xie, Ya Jing was just joking with you. Look how excited you are. We know what kind of person you are. You've worked hard these past few months. This whole thing in Guangzhou really can't function without you. With you overseeing things, we can operate with peace of mind in Hong Kong."
He meant it sincerely. Competition in Hong Kong was fierce and the situation complex, requiring him and Zhao Yajing to be fully committed. While Guangzhou was relatively stable, the cash flow and daily oversight of the eight stores still needed someone absolutely trustworthy. Xie Zhiqiang might have his flaws, but he was reliable in terms of loyalty and taking friends' requests seriously.
Xie Zhiqiang felt much better after Qin Hao said that, and muttered, "That's right, Lao Qin understands me best."
Qin Hao laughed and said, "To reward our hardworking Manager Xie, and to celebrate the smooth progress of our Hong Kong business... tonight, Boss Zhao is treating! Let's go to Guangzhou Restaurant and order a big meal to make her bleed a little! How about it?"
“Great! I agree!” Xie Zhiqiang immediately beamed and rubbed his hands together as he looked at Zhao Yajing.
Zhao Yajing glared at her and said with dissatisfaction, "Why should I treat? You're the big boss, you earn the most! You should be the one treating! Why am I always the one who gets ripped off?"
Qin Hao shrugged, giving him a "you decide" look: "Fine, fine, I'll treat. Look at how stingy you are. Lao Zhuan, let's go, tonight we're having a big feast, it's Qin's treat, order whatever you want!"
"That's more like it!" Zhao Yajing immediately went from angry to happy, took Qin Hao's arm, and said with a grin, "Who told you to be the big boss? It's only right that the capable should do more and the richer should treat!"
……
Compared to the "stability" in Guangzhou, the situation in Hong Kong is much more complex and intense.
On the one hand, as Burger King's business continued to boom and its reputation spread, the huge business opportunity attracted many astute followers. Some people saw the potential of the fast food model and Burger King's successful example, and began to try to imitate it.
Some directly copy Burger King's menu and decor, giving it a similar name, such as "Burger King," "Fried Chicken King," or "Delicious Burger." Others make slight modifications, incorporating local elements. Some bolder or more well-connected businesses simply open their stores directly opposite or next to Burger King, aiming for direct competition and to divert customers.
Suddenly, fast food restaurants specializing in hamburgers and fried chicken sprang up like mushrooms after rain on the streets of Hong Kong, and market competition intensified dramatically.
On the other hand, doing business in Hong Kong, a complex and diverse international city, requires cultivating relationships with both the legitimate and underworld figures. The legitimate relationships naturally refer to government regulatory departments, such as the Business Registration Office, the Department of Health, the Fire Services Department, and the Inland Revenue Department. Fortunately, thanks to years of crackdowns by the Independent Commission Against Corruption (ICAC), Hong Kong's civil service system is relatively clean, and blatant solicitation of bribes is relatively rare.
However, during holidays and festivals, it is still a necessary "unspoken rule" to send some not-too-expensive gifts or shopping cards, or to treat relevant department heads to a meal to maintain good relationships and communication channels. These expenses were recorded by Qin Hao and Zhao Yajing as "public relations maintenance fees".
The underworld, however, presents an even more troublesome problem. Hong Kong's gangs are deeply entrenched, and although they no longer openly operate as they did in the 1960s and 70s, they still wield considerable influence in certain industries and regions. The catering, entertainment, and transportation sectors are often their primary targets for infiltration and extortion of "protection money."
Less than a week after Burger King opened its third branch, trouble struck. A group of thugs, dressed in floral shirts and jeans, with brightly dyed hair and a sleazy look, strolled into the Kowloon Tong branch. The leader was a short, stocky man with a thick gold chain around his neck and a toothpick in his mouth.
"Boss, wishing you booming business on your grand opening!" The short, stocky man, speaking in Cantonese mixed with profanities, leaned saunter over the cashier, his gaze sweeping over the customers dining in the restaurant with a clear air of intimidation.
The store manager, a girl named Afang, was transferred from Guangzhou. Although she was a little nervous, she tried to remain calm and replied in broken Cantonese, "Thank you, everyone... what would you like to eat?"
"Eat? We don't eat." The short, stocky man chuckled, rubbing two fingers together. "We're here to collect 'sanitation fees.' This street is under the jurisdiction of 'He Yixing.' If you're opening a shop, you have to follow the rules. Three thousand dollars a month, and we'll guarantee your safety and that no one will dare to cause trouble. Otherwise... hehe, your shop might not be able to operate peacefully."
Afang's face paled; she knew she'd run into protection money collectors. She glanced at the shop manager beside her, who was also pale and quietly shook his head at her, indicating that these people were not to be trifled with.
Afang remembered Qin Hao's instructions: in situations like this, stay calm, don't argue, and report immediately. She forced a smile: "This... we can't make that decision. We need to consult the boss. Please wait a moment..."
"Asking for instructions? Sure." The short, stocky man wasn't in a hurry. He pulled up a chair, sat down, and crossed his legs. "We'll wait here. But don't keep us waiting too long; brothers, time is precious."
Afang quickly ran to the back office and called Qin Hao. Qin Hao was checking on the renovation progress of the new store in Central at the time. After receiving the call, he hesitated for a moment and instructed, "Keep them calm. Don't let anything happen. I'll be there right away."
After hanging up the phone, Qin Hao's face was somewhat gloomy. He knew that doing business in Hong Kong would inevitably involve this kind of thing sooner or later, but he didn't expect it to happen so quickly. Adhering to the principle of "good relations bring wealth when you're new here," he decided to pay up first to avoid further trouble and see how things went.
After arriving, Qin Hao took three thousand Hong Kong dollars in cash from his spare cash, put it in an envelope, and took it out. The short, stocky man took the envelope, weighed it in his hand, smiled with satisfaction, and casually pulled out a crumpled receipt from his pocket, wrote the amount and date on it, and tossed it to Qin Hao.
"Be sensible! From now on, we'll come to collect at this time every month. Do your business properly, and no one will dare to mess with you!" The short, stocky man waved his hand and swaggered away with his henchmen.
Qin Hao knew that doing business in Hong Kong inevitably involved dealing with gangsters. Just like Chen Haonan said, even selling newspapers on the street required someone to protect you. Consider it a loss to avoid further trouble.
However, the matter did not end there. Just a week later, another group of thugs came to the same store. This time, it wasn't the same group as before, but a different group, dressed more flamboyantly and acting even more arrogantly. The leader was a tall, thin man with fierce eyes.
"Hey! Mainland kid! I heard your business is doing well!" The tall, thin man shouted in Mandarin, "From today onwards, this street is under the control of 'Tung Sing'! Those 'Wo Yee Hing' bastards have been driven away by us! From now on, your 'protection fees' will be paid to 'Tung Sing'! Ten thousand dollars a month! Not a penny less!"
Afang was both shocked and furious, trying to explain that she had already paid the "sanitation fee" to "He Yixing". The tall, thin man impatiently slammed his hand on the cash register, making the monitor shake: "I don't care who you paid! 'Dongxing' is in charge now! You can go and collect 'He Yixing's' debts from them yourselves! It has nothing to do with us! Today, either pay up, or... we'll help you 'renovate' your shop!"
Seeing that things were going badly, the customers in the restaurant got up and left. The staff also huddled to one side in fear.
Qin Hao received another call, and his face turned completely cold. He told Ah Fang to keep the other party calm and said he would bring the money over immediately. At the same time, he made inquiries through some channels and confirmed that the "Wo Yee Hing" and "Tung Sing" triads had indeed recently clashed over territory. "Tung Sing" had temporarily gained the upper hand and seized a lot of territory from "Wo Yee Hing," with Kowloon Tong being one of the areas being contested.
It seems that simply paying money won't solve the problem. Today we give it to "Dongxing," but tomorrow "Wo Yee Hing" might take it back, or a third or fourth gang might pop up. It's a bottomless pit.
Qin Hao's original plan was to spend some money to invite some senior and respected figures in the underworld to mediate and set a rule that each party would accept the money, and that things would not be changed back and forth. He asked someone to contact an old gentleman who was said to have some prestige among the "He" faction and offered him a considerable "tea money". The old gentleman agreed to come forward and "negotiate the terms".
However, the result was disappointing. The old gentleman arranged to meet with the newly appointed leader of the "Tung Sing" gang in Kowloon Tong for tea, but the other party completely ignored him, adopting an extremely tough attitude, bluntly stating, "The old guys are outdated; now it's our young people's world," and saying things like, "Territory is won, not negotiated," which angered the old gentleman so much that he stormed off. The mediation failed.
It seems unrealistic to expect these profit-driven, fist-based thugs to follow the rules. Since soft tactics and mediation have failed, a direct confrontation is the only option. But Qin Hao knows he can't openly fight these local bullies. First, they outnumber him; second, a major escalation could damage his business and potentially land him in legal trouble.
He needs a more effective and direct form of deterrence.
A few days later, one evening, Qin Hao, alone and carrying an inconspicuous black briefcase, entered a rather secluded underground casino near Kowloon Walled City. The casino was smoky and bustling with all sorts of people. Qin Hao exchanged some chips and began to wander around several gambling tables.
He didn't rush to place a bet, but carefully observed the dealer's techniques, the gamblers' behavior, and the casino's operating model. Relying on some memories from his previous life and his extraordinary observation and calculation abilities, he quickly found several gambling tables with relatively obvious flaws.
Then he started betting. At first, he only won and lost small amounts, attracting little attention. But as time went on, he bet larger and larger amounts, and won more and more often. Like a sophisticated computer, he calmly calculated the probabilities, utilizing the dealer's subtle habitual movements and the patterns of card dealing, combined with some psychological tactics, to continuously accumulate chips.
The surrounding gamblers gradually noticed this ordinary-looking, calm young man who was on an incredibly winning streak. Amidst cheers of winning and curses of losing, Qin Hao's chips piled up into a small mountain. The casino's "supervisor" also noticed him, his eyes becoming wary.
When Qin Hao had accumulated over HK$500,000 in chips, winning almost all of the casino's cash that night, the casino's "Handsome Guy" finally couldn't sit still any longer. This was a man in his forties with a burly face and a menacing tattoo on his neck. Surrounded by several burly henchmen with fierce eyes, he walked up to Qin Hao's table.
"Friend, you're on a winning streak." The dashing guy stared at Qin Hao with a forced smile: "But here, it's all about luck and skill. Cheating... well, that'll get you chopped off."
The casino fell silent instantly, all eyes fixed on Qin Hao. The atmosphere suddenly became tense.
Qin Hao raised his head, looked calmly at Handsome Guy, and said in standard Mandarin, "I won money by my own skill, so how can you say I cheated? Your casino is open for business, are you only allowed to lose and not win?"
"Skills?" Handsome Bro sneered, his eyes turning fierce. "I think you're asking for death! Cheating on my turf, and you're still so arrogant? Hold him down! Search him! Chop off his hands!"
At Brother Xiaosai's command, dozens of thugs who had been surrounding Qin Hao immediately pulled out gleaming watermelon knives, water pipes, chains, and other weapons from their pockets and waists, and pounced on Qin Hao with ferocious expressions! The other gamblers in the casino screamed in fright and scattered, hiding in corners.
Qin Hao's eyes narrowed, and instead of retreating, he advanced! The instant the first thug's watermelon knife came down, he shifted to the side with incredible speed and angle, his right hand flashing out like lightning, precisely grabbing the thug's wrist. With a twist and pull, accompanied by a crisp "crack" and a scream, the watermelon knife had changed hands. Immediately afterwards, instead of slashing with the knife he had just seized, he used the back of the blade to slam it hard into the shoulder of another thug who rushed at him, knocking him to the ground.
His movements were dazzlingly fast, his footwork unpredictable and agile, allowing him to move freely through the narrow, crowded casino space. Every strike was concise and effective, either dislocating joints, striking vital points, or using an opponent's force against them. Seemingly dangerous, he always managed to dodge fatal blows at the last second, instead using his opponent's strength and weaknesses to bring them down.
The watermelon knife he seized was more like a stick or shield in his hands. He used it to block and strike, rarely using the blade to hurt people, but the force was enormous. Any gangsters he hit or swept would cry out in pain and fall to the ground, losing their fighting ability for a short time.
This isn't the flashy kung fu performance you see in movies; it's more like real combat techniques, combining wrestling grappling, Sanda power generation, and the ruthlessness of some kind of military fighting style—it's incredibly efficient.
In less than five minutes, a group of thugs lay groaning in pain in the center of the casino, watermelon knives and pipes scattered everywhere. The few still standing were terrified, their hands trembling as they gripped their weapons, too afraid to advance. The dashing guy stood there dumbfounded, staring at the scene before him as if he'd seen a ghost. He'd been in the underworld for decades, seen countless fights and killings, but for one person to take down more than thirty of his elite henchmen armed with weapons in just a few minutes… this was simply beyond his comprehension!
Qin Hao casually tossed the slightly deformed watermelon knife onto the ground with a clang. He dusted off non-existent dust from his hands and slowly walked towards the pale-faced, sweat-drenched, dashing-looking man.
Handsome Guy instinctively wanted to back away, but his legs felt weak. His two bodyguards (who looked more capable than ordinary gangsters) tried to step forward to stop him, but Qin Hao's cold gaze made them freeze in place, too afraid to move.
"This 100,000 is the capital I brought tonight, I'll take it." His voice wasn't loud, but it carried an undeniable penetrating power, clearly audible in the silent casino: "The remaining chips on the table are probably... around 500,000, right? Consider it my protection money, or... medical expenses for your men. How you decide how to divide it is up to you."
He leaned down slightly, staring into the terrified eyes of the handsome man, and said, word by word, "In short, from now on, I don't want to see you or any of your subordinates within a ten-meter radius of any Burger King store. Understand? I have a bad temper, and I especially dislike being repeatedly disturbed while doing business."
He paused, his tone growing colder: "You know, many of us 'big circle guys' from the mainland come from humble backgrounds and have nothing to lose. We're not afraid of hardship, nor are we afraid of... risking our lives. So, don't try to cross my bottom line. Otherwise, next time I come, I might not be so polite. Do you understand?"
The dashing guy was terrified by the coldness in his eyes and the terrifying force he had just displayed. He trembled like a leaf, large beads of sweat streaming down his face. His throat was dry, and he nodded repeatedly, managing to squeeze out a fawning, trembling voice: "O...OK! Brother! I understand! I completely understand! Actually...actually, it was all my bastards who acted on their own! I...I really like being friends with my compatriots from the mainland! It's a misunderstanding! It's all a misunderstanding! This will never happen again! I promise!"
Previously, he always thought that Bruce Lee's ability to fight several people at once in movies was an artistic exaggeration. No matter how good your kung fu is, you're still afraid of a kitchen knife. A novice can kill a master with a flurry of punches. If a dozen gangsters wielding watermelon knives swarm you, even a god couldn't stop you.
But what he saw with his own eyes today completely overturned his understanding. More than thirty elite soldiers armed with sharp weapons were beaten to a pulp by one person with bare hands, crying for their parents and having no chance to fight back!
Is this still a fucking human being?
Bruce Lee's movies were made too conservatively!
These "Big Circle Boys"... they're terrifying!
Watching Qin Hao calmly turn and leave the casino with the envelope containing HK$100,000, Brother Xiao's legs went weak, and he almost collapsed to the ground. Still shaken, he yelled at the henchmen who were still standing beside him, "What are you all standing there for? Quick...get the brothers to the hospital! And pass on my message! From now on, nobody is allowed to touch a Burger King! Avoid their signs! You hear me?! Anyone who dares to mess with that bastard again, I'll cripple them first!"
From then on, neither the "East Star" gang nor other gangs that heard about this incident dared to collect protection money from Burger King again. Even the petty thugs who used to dine and dash at restaurants and steal things avoided Burger King altogether.
For a time, Burger King stores became "no-go zones" in the eyes of the underworld, with surprisingly good security.
Zhao Yajing quickly noticed the change. She remembered that Qin Hao went out that night carrying HK$100,000, and then came back with it intact not long after. At first, she thought that the deal had not been done, that the other party was unwilling to accept the money, or that the terms had not been agreed upon.
But then she discovered that no more gangsters came to harass her, and even those annoying thugs disappeared. Curious, she asked Qin Hao how he had managed it.
Faced with Zhao Yajing's probing and curious gaze, Qin Hao simply smiled faintly and uttered two words: "Guess."
Zhao Yajing tilted her head and thought for a long time: "It can't be... that they suddenly had a change of heart, or that they were arrested by the police, right?"
Qin Hao shrugged and asked seriously, "How can I possibly take down their entire gang all by myself?"
Zhao Yajing scratched her head, finding the idea even more absurd: "That's true... Even if you're as good at fighting as Sha Mao, or even better, you can't possibly take on dozens of gangsters with knives by yourself, can you? Wouldn't that make you Superman?"
“That’s settled then,” Qin Hao said smoothly. “Anyway, if similar things happen again in the future, just leave it to me. You can focus on managing the business.”
Although Zhao Yajing felt that Qin Hao's answer was a bit perfunctory, seeing that everything was indeed fine, she didn't pursue it further. She just reminded him with some concern, "Alright, just be careful. Try to be patient; harmony is the most important thing."
Qin Hao nodded and said casually, "Don't worry, I always persuade people with reason."
Looking at his calm face, Zhao Yajing felt that the phrase "persuading people with reason" sounded strange, but she couldn't quite put her finger on why.
……
Time flies, and June is already here. Early summer in Hong Kong is already quite humid and hot.
Burger King's expansion in Hong Kong has been nothing short of astonishing. From its initial cautious trial store to three, five, ten stores... thanks to its excellent reputation, precise positioning, fast service, and relatively affordable prices, coupled with Qin Hao's effective management and Zhao Yajing's strong execution, Burger King quickly gained a foothold among young people and office workers in Hong Kong. The number of branches grew like a snowball.
By mid-June, Burger King had expanded from its initial three locations in Hong Kong to eighteen! It now covers almost all major commercial areas, school zones, and areas near large housing estates on Hong Kong Island and Kowloon. Such a rate of expansion would be almost unimaginable in mainland China.
Putting aside everything else, just ensuring the massive supply of ingredients and consumables needed to maintain the stable operation of eighteen stores could cripple the supply chain. But in Hong Kong, this isn't the biggest problem. A mature business environment, advanced sea, land, and air logistics, and a relatively free market mean that as long as you have money, you can find reliable suppliers to ensure timely delivery of supplies.
Moreover, as the number of stores increased and the scale of procurement expanded, they gained greater bargaining power when negotiating with suppliers, and various costs were further reduced, resulting in economies of scale.
Of course, such rapid expansion also brought enormous financial pressure. More than 60% of the initial investment for these eighteen stores (rent, transfer fees, decoration, equipment, initial materials, etc.) came from bank loans.
Qin Hao and Zhao Yajing mortgaged their early profitable stores as high-quality assets, and successfully obtained loan support from multiple banks thanks to their strong sales data and stable cash flow. Therefore, on paper, although Burger King was thriving and making a fortune, after deducting high rents, labor costs, loan interest, and expansion investments, the actual net profit that went into Qin Hao and Zhao Yajing's pockets wasn't as impressive as one might imagine. They were more like using bank loans to rapidly expand their business, seize market share, and increase brand influence.
However, Burger King's extremely healthy cash flow and excellent repayment record made them highly sought after by banks, with many vying to provide them with larger loan amounts. The main constraint preventing them from expanding further wasn't funding, but rather—people.
Regular waiters, cashiers, and kitchen assistants are not difficult to recruit in Hong Kong. However, managers and other management personnel who meet Qin Hao's requirements are very difficult to train.
Such individuals need to possess certain management skills, a sense of responsibility, and adaptability, as well as be familiar with Burger King's standards and procedures and be able to work independently.
To this end, Qin Hao had to devote a lot of energy to organizing monthly centralized training for reserve cadres and outstanding employees of all stores. He personally taught the courses, providing systematic training in various aspects such as service concepts, product standards, cost control, personnel management, and crisis management, in order to discover and cultivate potential store manager candidates.
On this day, Shi Xiaona and Fu Heming came to support the newly opened eighteenth Burger King branch near the University of Hong Kong.
"Old Qin, you're really something!" Shi Xiaona looked at the brand-new, bright shop with a constant stream of customers. Her tone was no longer surprised at first, but rather filled with habit and admiration: "You really managed to open a Burger King right at our school gate! Now we can't help but eat there."
Qin Hao laughed and said, "Isn't this to make things easier for you future pillars of society? Studying is hard work, so you should eat something good to replenish your energy."
Fu Heming joked, "I've almost lost count of how many Burger King stores there are now. It feels like we see a new store opening every few days. Lao Qin, the speed at which you guys open stores is terrifying!"
Zhao Yajing happened to come out of the back office and heard Shi Xiaona's voice. She immediately seemed to activate some kind of "personal radar," and greeted her with a big smile, saying, "The eighteenth one! How's our efficiency? Not bad, right?"
Shi Xiaona nodded with a smile: "Not only is it possible, it's absolutely possible! I don't even dare to send flower baskets anymore, otherwise all my pocket money will go to the florist!"
Fu Heming covered his mouth and chuckled softly.
The four chatted for a while, and the atmosphere was harmonious. As they talked, Shi Xiaona suddenly became a little serious and said, "By the way, I'm planning to... go back to Beijing next month when summer vacation starts."
Upon hearing this, Zhao Yajing's eyes immediately lit up, a hint of schadenfreude and gossip in her expression. She preemptively asked Qin Hao, "Back to Beijing? Didn't your parents move to Hong Kong? Oh—I see!" She deliberately drew out her words, glancing at Qin Hao, "You're going back to see... Yang Shumao, right? What, missing him?"
Qin Hao's expression remained unchanged, but he knew very well that Shi Xiaona's return to Beijing was most likely about Yang Shumao's college entrance exam. Judging by the timeline, the 1981 college entrance exam was in July. Knowing Yang's parents' extremely pragmatic and stingy nature, they would never agree to Yang Shumao taking four years off from work to attend university.
Yang Shuma's secret studying probably won't be a secret for long. When Shi Xiaona returns, she'll likely face Yang Shuma's predicament, and the pressure of reality might even cause a rift in their relationship, or even... a complete break. After all, Shi Xiaona yearns for university and a wider world, while if Yang Shuma is firmly bound by his family, their future paths will be drastically different.
Sure enough, a hint of worry and complexity flashed across Shi Xiaona's face as she nodded: "Yes, I want to go back and see. Also... also to see how Damao's revision is going. The college entrance exam is coming soon."
Qin Hao said calmly, "I'm afraid we can't go back. Hong Kong is at a critical time right now, with new store openings, staff training, supply chain integration... a whole host of things to do, we really can't leave. Have a safe trip, and please give our regards to Damao when you get back."
Hearing Qin Hao's straightforward statement that he wasn't going back, Zhao Yajing was somewhat surprised. After Shi Xiaona and Fu Heming left because they had classes in the afternoon, she leaned closer to Qin Hao and asked in a teasing and probing tone, "Oh? Really not going back? This is a great opportunity to spend time alone with Shi Xiaona and cultivate your relationship! How many hours does it take to get from Hong Kong to Beijing? Are you just going to give it up like that?"
Qin Hao gave her a disapproving look and shook his head: "Zhao Yajing, do you know what your biggest problem is?"
"What?" Zhao Yajing was taken aback by his question.
"Your vision is too narrow. You're always focused on these petty things like love affairs and jealousy. Do you think I'm the kind of person who would neglect my responsibilities just to chase after women? Our foundation in Hong Kong isn't very solid yet, our competitors are eyeing us covetously, and our internal management is still being improved. This is precisely the time when we need to go all out. Women will only slow down my earning speed."
Zhao Yajing felt a little embarrassed by his words, but she still wouldn't back down. She pouted and muttered, "Looking at it from another angle... you're quite heartless too."
Qin Hao was taken aback by her logic, coughed twice, and retorted, "Then why do you keep clinging to me all day?"
Upon hearing this, Zhao Yajing was not angry at all. Instead, she raised an eyebrow, took half a step forward, looked up at Qin Hao with an astonishingly bright gaze, and spoke with an almost domineering frankness and persistence: "I'm sticking with you! I've also told you, Qin Hao, that you'll never get rid of me in this lifetime! Wherever you go, I'll follow! I'm sticking with you no matter what! What are you going to do about it?"