Those Years When I Was Forced to Top the Forbes List

Chapter 13 is something I want to read, something I love to read, something I really enjoy (please follow on Tuesdays).
"Three guests?"

"Hmm, do you have any private rooms available?"

"Have!"

"Two cups of flower tea, one cup of aged yin tea."

"Playing mahjong?"

"Do not hit."

"Alright! The three of you, a private room without mahjong!"

The teahouse on the second floor, with its wooden beams, was greeted by a loud shout from the doorman, who led the three into the hall, where a relaxed atmosphere immediately enveloped them.

A small stage against the wall was illuminated by a spotlight, with a microphone and stools set up. Every day at a set time, someone would tell a few stories in "Chongqing dialect," which is essentially storytelling, mostly recounting tales of important figures from the past in the area.

There were about a dozen wooden tables, some gnawed by insects and rats, with four two-person benches on each side. Some of the tables were occupied by tourists from out of town wearing sunglasses, while others were locals wearing old man hats.

Yang Qingyue looked around, while Xin Mengzhen glanced left and right.

"Have you been to the teahouse before?"

As Chen Xuebing spoke, he looked around and felt a little nostalgic.

There were many teahouses in Chongqing back then, but fewer in later generations. Chengdu, on the other hand, still retains quite a few.

Chengdu and Chongqing specialties.

Yang Qingyue was also a little surprised: "Actually, I know a lot of teahouses, but my dad has never taken me here. I don't know what they look like inside. I thought they were very shabby."

Chen Xuebing smiled and said, "It's run-down, but it's clean and spacious. By the way, Yang Qingyue and Xin Mengzhen are from Guangzhou. How come you two know each other as soon as you transferred here? Are your parents colleagues?"

As they were talking, the three of them entered a small private room. Inside, there was a wooden square table, just like the one outside, except that there was a partition.

It was quite quiet, and once you sat down, there was a more conversational atmosphere than in a bubble tea bar.

"Yes, my colleague...she's my dad..."

As Yang Qingyue was speaking, Xin Mengzhen interrupted.

"He's a colleague. My dad was transferred here, and I came with him."

"Oh dear." Yang Qingyue waved her hand dismissively. "There's nothing wrong with saying this. Xin Mengzhen's dad is my dad's boss. The head office belongs to her grandfather. Her dad came to Chongqing to develop the market and is the general manager. My dad is her dad's deputy. Mengzhen, you don't need to worry about my feelings. I'm not ashamed. My dad is a high-level executive! He was among the second batch of college students after the resumption of the college entrance examination, a top student from Nankai University! I can't even get into Nankai University now. I'm proud of him!"

Xin Mengzhen then revealed a sweet smile and said, "How could I have been so considerate of your feelings? Uncle Yang is indeed very outstanding, and handsome too! And so tall!"

"Haha, my dad is 1.82 meters tall!"

"Oh..." Chen Xuebing finally understood the relationship between their families and smiled, "So, what industry do you work in? Would you mind telling me?"

Yang Qingyue remained silent this time and glanced at Xin Mengzhen.

Xin Mengzhen was more direct: "Electronic product OEM."

The tea arrived. After the tea and dishes were served, Chen Xuebing lifted the lid, blew on it, took a sip, and then said leisurely:

"Oh... what kind of manufacturing?"

"Laptops, e-readers...like the 'Good Memory Star' type."

"Oh, I see." Chen Xuebing nodded, then casually asked, "Don't you have your own brand?"

Perhaps it was because Chen Xuebing asked the question in such a relaxed tone that Yang Qingyue couldn't help but roll her eyes at him:
"It's really hard to build an electronics brand, you don't understand. Just the OEM manufacturing alone is difficult to meet the requirements! Every time there's a new product order, we have to adjust the production line and manufacturing process. Xin Mengzhen's grandfather is really amazing. He's made many kinds of electronic products, and many American brands have their company manufacture for them! Their family started earning foreign exchange a long time ago, and now they're even going to set up a factory in Hong Kong!"

Earning foreign exchange was a remarkable thing before China's accession to the WTO in 2001.

When this was mentioned, Yang Qingyue spoke with great pride, while Chen Xuebing remained calm.

After the 94 exchange rate reform and the elimination of the dual-track system, policies began to encourage enterprises to export freely and earn foreign exchange. Since joining the WTO in 01, China's position as the world's factory has become increasingly prominent. This is a job assigned to my country by the world order controlled by the United States.

Some OEM businesses are successful due to their strength, but more often it's because they bet on the right industry and benefited from the era's dividends.

Chen Xuebing's mind raced, but then something occurred to him, and he couldn't help but whisper a word of praise:
"No wonder you went to Hong Kong... Your grandfather dared to go ahead; he's a smart man."

"What did you say?" Xin Mengzhen felt somewhat abrupt.

In her mind, her grandfather was an incomparably great man, whose wisdom could not be summarized in just a few words. Chen Xuebing, a young man about her age, used an evaluative tone to say that her grandfather was smart. Although it was a compliment, it was indeed quite abrupt.

"I mean costs and interest rate spreads."

Chen Xuebing smiled and placed Xin Mengzhen's teacup next to his own, then pointed to his own teacup and said:

“When it comes to exports, the mainland is indeed not as advantageous as Hong Kong. Export tariffs are high here, and import tariffs from the United States are also high. But there are also advantages, namely, lower labor costs.”

As she spoke, she pointed to Xin Mengzhen's teacup: "Hong Kong is an independent customs territory with duty-free imports and exports. The mainland's re-export tax rate is only about 5%, and the United States also grants it special import tariff treatment, with an average import tariff of less than 10%. Doing re-export trade through here is very cost-effective in terms of tax rates, which is a smart choice. However, if you set up a factory in Hong Kong, the labor costs are too high. Electronic product OEM is a labor-intensive industry, and saving only 5% in re-export tax may not even cover the difference in labor costs."

Yang Qingyue was a good student, and Xin Mengzhen was an even bigger academic star; they understood what he was saying.

"Are you saying that it's not worthwhile for Xin Mengzhen's grandfather to open a factory in Hong Kong?" Yang Qingyue asked.

"It's not worthwhile unless...there are other variables."

"What variable?" This time it was Xin Mengzhen who spoke, her eyes showing increasing interest.

"I've already mentioned it: interest rate differentials and exchange rates." Chen Xuebing had considered going abroad in his previous life, so he naturally knew about exchange rates.

"The RMB exchange rate is clearly appreciating, while Hong Kong's exchange rate is linked to the US dollar, and the 7.8 to 1 ratio is unlikely to change. If the RMB appreciates significantly, the relative cost of production and exports in mainland China will increase considerably. Currency appreciation is not good for exports, you've learned that, right?"

The two girls nodded slowly.

This was the first time Xin Mengzhen had heard someone analyze her grandfather's ideas, and her eyes lit up slightly: "According to you, how high would the exchange rate have to be to cover the cost difference?"

Chen Xuebing chuckled.

How high?

2004年，一美元能换8块2到8块3，2008年，只能换6块8了。

The selling price of the exported products remained unchanged, but the dollars earned and brought back to the country for production depreciated.

"I can't say how high, but the electronics manufacturing industry doesn't have high profits to begin with, and the net profit margin is probably only a few percent. But if you control the exchange rate well, the profit can double. I think your grandfather went to Hong Kong to gamble on this."

Xin Mengzhen suddenly realized.

Chen Xuebing wasn't finished speaking: "If we were even smarter, we could bring the high-level talents trained on the mainland with us, pay their salaries in Hong Kong dollars, and save on management costs."

Now, Yang Qingyue suddenly understood.

They were going to settle in Hong Kong, but they didn't really know why. Chen Xuebing had no connection with Hong Kong, but he explained it to them in just a few words.

The reaction was beyond Chen Xuebing's expectations.

Yang Qingyue slammed her hand on the table and lunged at Xin Mengzhen.

"Oh, Mengzhen, your company is just taking advantage of my dad! You evil capitalists! Ughhh~"

"I don't know... haha... don't poke me in the waist... Chen Xuebing! You're trying to sow discord!"

The two girls started arguing.

Chen Xuebing didn't stop him at all, nor did he say anything. He simply moved his stool back and watched with great interest.

Want to watch, love to watch, it's great. A beautiful women's fight scene, Xin Mengzhen's chest heaved, her aloof exterior completely crumbled, she smoothed the messy strands of hair on her forehead, but couldn't straighten them no matter what she did, her eyes were fixed on Chen Xuebing, after hesitating for a moment, she simply pulled off her hair tie.

Her hair was loose.

She shook her head slightly, raised her hand, slowly lifted her hair, and smoothed it with her hand.

According to incomplete statistics, girls often flip their hair in front of boys they like.

Some women feel that it can emit a fragrance, while others are satisfied with their ears and necks and deliberately lift them up to show men. Mature women exude allure through the gesture of tossing their hair, and the reasons are varied.

This is an unspoken instinct among girls.

In other words, most girls realize that "flipping their hair in front of boys" is a way of exuding charm.

Xin Mengzhen was somewhat embarrassed to do this in front of Chen Xuebing, but she had a reason to flirt, so she flirted with him with mixed feelings.

While flirting, she subconsciously glanced at Chen Xuebing.

Chen Xuebing was indeed staring at her, but his gaze was innocent, as if he were reading Gorky's poetry.

His heart was fluttering with excitement, but his face remained calm. He knew that the knowledge he had just shared would give him a touch of mystery and make the girl interested in him, but he wasn't sure how much that interest would be, so he deliberately restrained himself a little.

"Hey, stop fooling around, let's do the problems."

Mature older men's dating experience focuses on controlling the boundaries.

Xin Meng really wanted to curse.

What do you mean "stop making a scene"? You've already made a scene!

...

What are Chongqing's advantages?

Chen Xuebing looked at the question on the geography exam: Chongqing is a city that has developed based on industry and manufacturing. Please briefly describe the important advantages of Chongqing in developing industry.

“Abundant cheap labor,” Yang Qingyue replied casually. “2800 million people, labor-intensive.”

After being reminded, Chen Xuebing stared at the exam paper for a long time and then gave a dry laugh.

The conclusion drawn from the data is simple, but he could name at least dozens of names from that sentence.

This is the bullet that hit the man right between the eyebrows.

The two girls looked up at him when they heard the laughter.

Yang Qingyue noticed Chen Xuebing's strange gaze, her expression suddenly froze, gradually turning aggrieved, and she pointed at herself, saying:
"Me too…"

Xin Mengzhen, a native of Guangdong, remained calm and promptly threw out a vengeful dagger: "Qingyue, you're not cheap labor, he is."

What does it mean to ridicule? It means that Chen Xuebing's smile was taken away and put on Yang Qingyue's face.

The surgeon who performed the face transplant was Xin Mengzhen.

"Thank you! I'm going to take the college entrance exam too!" Chen Xuebing glared at Xin Mengzhen.

Xin Mengzhen became increasingly direct with Chen Xuebing, even picking up a history test paper that Chen Xuebing had finished and placed on the table to look at.

I answered all the multiple-choice questions above, and selected a few essay questions, but I didn't answer many of them correctly.

This is clearly a paper with a score rate of no more than 40%.

Xin Mengzhen pursed her lips, trying not to laugh.

Which university would you like to apply to?

Chen Xuebing's face twitched.

Is this woman really that infuriating? Huh? This woman?

However, to be honest, he really didn't know where he was working towards. When it came to universities, Chen Xuebing could only name no more than 20, and apart from the industrial technology vocational college near his home, none of them were within his reach.

Even if he knew his college entrance exam score, he wouldn't know which schools he could apply to.

Fortunately, there was someone nearby who knew how to smooth things over. Yang Qingyue, also afraid of discouraging Chen Xuebing's enthusiasm for learning, changed the subject:
"By the way, Mengzhen, have you finished reading that 'Application Guide'? Have you decided which university to apply to?"

"I've seen it. Which one are you planning to apply for?"

"Me?" Yang Qingyue thought for a moment, "Shenzhen University, I guess..."

Xin Mengzhen laughed: "That's good, it'll make it easier for your parents to see you. But if you really move to Hong Kong after graduation, you'll definitely want to come back all the time."

Yang Qingyue's gaze couldn't help but fall on Chen Xuebing's face. Finding that he still had no expression, she pursed her lips, feeling somewhat disappointed.

No one can understand a girl's little thoughts.

She had a slight crush on Chen Xuebing.

Perhaps it was seeing Chen Xuebing sweating it out on the basketball court in my first year of high school, or his unruly profile with a mischievous grin, or his leadership, or his unique personality…

She didn't know when it happened, but the young girl's heart began to have a vague impression of the little expectation of love.

But as Xin Mengzhen said, even if it started, it was just a relationship that ended after graduation.

No one can imagine how convenient transportation will be in the future, or how easy it will be to cross the border. Right now, Hong Kong is an insurmountable barrier separating people.

She didn't want to mention moving to Hong Kong in front of Chen Xuebing, as the word "leave" was somewhat sentimental. However, when she brought it up repeatedly today, Chen Xuebing didn't seem to react at all, and her sadness turned into disappointment.

Chen Xuebing could not possibly empathize with him.

How far is Hong Kong?
In his past life, the woman he married would walk through the streets of Hong Kong twice a year, carrying large bags and small packages, as if she were coming home.

If he had the means, he would like to build bridges, roads, and houses for the people of America across the ocean, to show them the infrastructure capabilities of the Chinese people that Western media have repeatedly vilified. He would even build them a Los Angeles First People's Hospital, so that those online writers would no longer be embarrassed.

"You speak so eloquently, which university are you planning to apply to?" Chen Xuebing asked Xin Mengzhen with great interest.

"I'm not telling you." Xin Mengzhen rolled her eyes at Chen Xuebing.

Yang Qingyue said earnestly, "Mengzhen, your grades are good enough to get into Sun Yat-sen University. It's a good school, it's in Guangzhou, and it's close to your home."

"Living close to home is useless... My grandpa went to Shenzhen; the new factory there is very busy. He doesn't come back to Guangzhou. My parents are in Chongqing too, so there's no one there to go home to..."

Chen Xuebing smiled at Xin Mengzhen's words:

"Your grandpa went to Shenzhen to open an OEM factory? He can outmaneuver Huaqiang..."

A sudden inspiration struck, and the smile vanished abruptly.

The question that had been puzzling Chen Xuebing for a whole week finally had an answer.

Yup!

Wealth creation, the first pot of gold, counterfeit products—with so many key elements coming together, how come I never thought of that one thing?

If Shenzhen is the most suitable city for starting a business in China, then that place is the heart of Shenzhen.

This 900-meter-long street has produced dozens of billionaires, multi-millionaires, and millionaires—too many to count!

Huaqiangbei!
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(Happy Mid-Autumn Festival! Today is a holiday, so this is 4000 words. Starting tomorrow, it will be 5-6K words, two chapters or one long chapter. I promise to keep updating.)
(End of this chapter)