Rebirth of the Hong Kong Millennium Conglomerate

The December wind, carrying the unique dampness of Hong Kong Island, swept across the surface of Victoria Harbour, spreading the festive atmosphere of the Lunar New Year to every street and alley of the city.

Zhang Zeyang straightened his clothes and turned to look at his younger sister Zhang Lingyun, who was skipping and jumping beside him. Her ponytail swayed with her steps, and she was holding a sugar painting she had just bought. Her eyebrows and eyes curved like a crescent moon in the sky above Hong Kong Island.

"Brother, look over there! Lots of people are writing Spring Festival couplets!" Zhang Lingyun's voice was clear and bright, like a shattered silver bell. She tiptoed and pointed to the old-established red paper shop at the street corner, pulling Zhang Zeyang's arm and squeezing inside.

Zhang Zeyang smiled helplessly, letting his sister pull him through the bustling crowd.

This is his first year in Hong Kong, and he has a rare opportunity to accompany Ling Yun on a stroll through the streets, where the festive atmosphere is growing stronger, and to experience the unique New Year ambiance of Hong Kong Island.

At the red paper shop at the street corner, several elderly gentlemen with white hair and beards were wielding their brushes and ink. The ink in the inkstones emitted a faint scent of pine smoke. Red paper was spread out on the table, and as the brush moved swiftly, the words "Happy Family" and "May All Your Wishes Come True" appeared on the paper.

Zhang Lingyun approached an elderly gentleman and watched him write the character "福" (fortune/blessing), her eyes filled with curiosity.

The old man looked up and saw her, then smiled and handed her the "福" (good fortune) character he had just written: "Little girl, wishing you a happy new year!"

"Thank you, Grandpa!" Zhang Lingyun took the "Fu" character carefully, then turned to Zhang Zeyang. "Brother, look how pretty this 'Fu' character is! Shall we put it on our door?"

"Okay." Zhang Zeyang nodded, his gaze sweeping over the dazzling array of New Year's goods stalls on the street.

The cured meat shop is filled with glistening sausages and cured pork, the seafood stall displays fresh lobsters and groupers, and the fruit stand is piled high with tangerines, their orange-yellow color bringing joy to the heart.

Street vendors shouted their wares at the top of their lungs, their Cantonese and English mingling together to create a lively symphony of everyday life.

Zhang Lingyun was like a happy little bird, running to the sugar painting stall to spin a sugar dragon one moment, and then sneaking into the flower shop to buy a bunch of silver willows the next. Her hands were getting fuller and fuller, and Zhang Zeyang's hands were gradually filled with bags of all sizes.

Looking at his sister's bright smile, a warm feeling welled up in his heart.

He brought Lingyun to Hong Kong so that his sister could live such a carefree life.

The two strolled slowly along Nathan Road, where festive red lanterns and New Year decorations were hung at the entrances of shopping malls along the way. Gold ingots, lucky cats, and red gift boxes printed with "Happy New Year" were displayed in the glass windows.

Pedestrians on the street hurried along, carrying heavy New Year's goods in their hands, their faces showing eagerness to return home and anticipation for the New Year.

Occasionally, a woman in a red cheongsam would brush past you, a velvet flower tucked behind her ear, adding a touch of brightness to the winter street.

"Brother, smell it, it smells so good!" Zhang Lingyun sniffed and pulled Zhang Zeyang toward a tea restaurant by the roadside.

The aroma of char siu bao and egg tarts wafted from the restaurant, and warm steam poured out from the open door, dispelling the chill.

The two found a seat by the window and ordered a basket of char siu buns, two servings of egg tarts, and a pot of hot Hong Kong-style milk tea.

Zhang Lingyun took a bite of the char siu bao, some sauce on her lips, and said indistinctly, "Brother, Chinese New Year is the happiest time of the year! I want it to be Chinese New Year every day!"

Zhang Zeyang gently ruffled her hair, his eyes filled with tenderness: "From now on, every day will be like New Year's Day for you!"

As darkness fell outside the window, the streetlights lit up one after another, and neon signs flashed with colorful lights, adorning the night scene of Hong Kong like a dream.

Fireworks burst from the direction of Victoria Harbour, and dazzling fireworks bloomed in the night sky, attracting passersby to stop and watch.

Zhang Lingyun leaned against the windowsill, watching intently, her face full of longing.

While Zhang Zeyang was enjoying the festive atmosphere of the Lunar New Year with Zhang Lingyun on the streets of Hong Kong, the headquarters of Qiangu Group was bustling with activity and celebration.

The finance department office was brightly lit, and a dozen employees sat in front of their computers, their fingers flying across the keyboards. The printer hummed, spitting out pay slips, neatly categorized and sorted.

Finance Director Zhou Mingyuan held a report in his hand, a satisfied smile on his face.

"Everyone, let's give it our all and get all the salaries and benefits calculated today!" Zhou Mingyuan clapped his hands, his voice filled with excitement. "The chairman said that the group's performance this year is good, so all employees will receive an extra month's salary as a year-end bonus!"

"Wow!" A cheer erupted in the office, instantly energizing the previously tired employees.

"Great! Now we can properly prepare for the Lunar New Year!"

"The chairman is amazing! Working for Qian Gu Group gives me hope for the future!"

"I need to call my parents right away and tell them the good news!"

Zhou Mingyuan smiled and waved his hand, signaling everyone to be quiet: "Don't get too excited yet, everyone. Focus on doing your work well. Remember, every subsidiary of the Qian Gu Group, whether it's the headquarters, Qian Gu Daily, Qian Gu Bank, Qian Gu Securities, or Qian Gu Security, is included. Every employee is responsible!"

"Understood!" everyone responded in unison, and their hands moved even faster.

Qian Gu Group has always offered generous benefits; during holidays, rice, noodles, oil, and seafood gift boxes are indispensable.

Now, in addition to these regular benefits, the extra month's salary is undoubtedly a big surprise.

The news spread like wildfire, quickly reaching all of Qian Gu Group's subsidiaries.

In the editorial department of the Qian Gu Daily, the reporters had just finished a day of reporting and were preparing to pack up and leave when the editor-in-chief pushed open the door, his face beaming with undisguised joy: "I have great news for everyone! The group has decided to give all employees an extra month's salary!"

"Really?" A young reporter jumped up from his chair, his face full of disbelief.

"Of course it's true!" The editor-in-chief patted him on the shoulder. "The finance department is already processing it, and the money should arrive in the next couple of days!"

The editorial office erupted in cheers and high-fives. A veteran reporter exclaimed, "I've worked at this newspaper for over a decade, changing jobs several times, and I've never met such a generous boss!"

In the branch of Qian Gu Bank, the tellers were busy processing transactions for customers. Upon hearing the news, they all showed pleasant smiles.

Although the work is usually hard, this unexpected benefit made all the fatigue disappear.

One of the tellers smiled and said to her colleague, "Great! I can give my parents a big red envelope when I go home for Chinese New Year!"

On the training ground of Qian Gu Security, the team members had just finished a day of intense training, drenched in sweat. The captain, holding a megaphone, shouted, "Brothers! The company is giving everyone a perk! An extra month's salary this year!"

"Awooo!" The team members let out a deafening cheer, waving their fists excitedly.

Most of these team members are veterans who left their hometowns to work hard in Hong Kong. This extra salary is not only a material reward for them, but also a recognition of their work by the group.

In the trading hall of Qiangu Securities, analysts and traders were jubilant upon hearing the news.

In just two days, the news that Qian Gu Group was giving all its employees an extra month's salary spread throughout the business community of Hong Kong.

Visiting relatives and friends is an essential part of the Spring Festival. When the employees of Qiangu Group gather with their neighbors, relatives and friends, they can't hide their sense of superiority.

"Our group is doing well this year, and the chairman gave us an extra month's salary, plus a ton of New Year's gifts and benefits!" a reporter from Qian Gu Daily said proudly at a family gathering.

The relatives around them cast envious glances: "Qiangu Group is really good! The benefits are so generous. I wish I had applied for that job back then!"

"Absolutely! Working for a boss like that is a real blessing!"

A teller at Qiangu Bank couldn't help but boast to her neighbor, "This year for Chinese New Year, we not only received rice, oil, and seafood, but we also got an extra month's salary. Now we have no worries about our New Year's expenses!"

The neighbor, upon hearing this, exclaimed with envy, "Your bank is so generous! Unlike our company, which only gave out a box of apples for Chinese New Year—so stingy!"

Such scenes are playing out in every corner of Hong Kong. The employees of Qian Gu Group, thanks to this extra salary, stand tall in front of their relatives and friends, radiating a sense of superiority.

Behind this sense of superiority lies Zhang Zeyang's consideration and care for his employees, as well as the booming development momentum of Qiangu Group.

As night deepened, the fireworks over Victoria Harbour continued to illuminate half the sky with their dazzling light. Zhang Zeyang stood with Zhang Lingyun by the seaside railing, watching the distant fireworks and listening to the joyful laughter around them.

Zhang Lingyun turned to look at Zhang Zeyang and asked softly, "Brother, the fireworks are so beautiful!"

The fireworks in the night sky continued to bloom, illuminating Zhang Zeyang and Zhang Lingyun's faces, and also reflecting the vibrant city of Hong Kong.