Soul Returns to Hong Kong: From Tailor Shop to Richest Woman

Lin Ying was taken aback: "Simultaneous release?"

"Yes!" Boss Peng's tone was full of excitement. "The procedures on the mainland are more complicated than in Hong Kong. Copying, finalizing the subtitles, and getting approval from various departments all require going through layers of bureaucracy. I can't guarantee right now that we'll make it 100% in time for July, but this path has definitely been opened!"

Lin Ying breathed a long sigh of relief: "That's great."

Boss Peng laughed on the other end of the phone: "I knew you'd be happy to hear this news. Screenwriter Lin, I haven't forgotten what you said at the dinner table before. You wrote this play not just to make money off foreigners."

Lin Ying did not deny it: "Uncle Peng, it's very important that this film can be seen on the big screen in mainland China."

That was her hometown, the source from which she wrote the words "cultural export"; she didn't want the mainland to only have the censored version, she wanted the mainland's big screen to speak in unison with the world for the first time.

"I understand." Boss Peng said solemnly, "That's why I went there personally this time, and I also met with the acquaintances there in person. I didn't brag to them, I just told them the truth, our film has a clean core, the protagonist doesn't steal or rob, he saves people with the skills passed down from his ancestors."

Lin Ying immediately pressed, "Did they request any changes to the core plot?"

"There haven't been any major changes yet," Boss Peng said. "But we need to pay attention to the wording in the subtitles and make the translation more accurate. I've already had a simplified Chinese version made overnight, and I'll show it to you then."

"Okay." Lin Ying replied without hesitation, "I'll oversee the subtitles!"

Boss Peng laughed loudly: "Okay, I knew you'd have to oversee this part."

Lin Ying looked up and glanced at the calendar hanging on the wall.

"Uncle Peng, I finished my last exam on June 27th. After that, the school officially starts its summer break. If you need me to check the subtitles after that, or if the screenwriters in mainland China need to go over to explain the script's logic, I can free up my time."

Lin Lanying's face fell immediately upon hearing the word "past".

Before Lin Lanying could speak, Lin Ying added into the microphone, "On the condition that my parents come with me."

Lin Lanying finally breathed a sigh of relief.

Boss Peng laughed even louder: "Isn't Mrs. Lin standing right next to us?"

Lin Ying glanced at her mother: "Yes."

"Don't worry, Mrs. Lin!" Boss Peng immediately became serious and shouted into the microphone, "If you really want to go to the mainland, no matter where you go, I will definitely arrange a private car, a dedicated person, and the best accommodation. Little Lin is only eleven years old, how could I let her run around alone!"

Lin Lanying walked over and took the microphone from her daughter.

"Boss Peng, I'm not stopping Aying from working. But she has a big exam at the end of June, a once-in-a-lifetime exam for junior high school..."

"Mrs. Lin is absolutely right!" Boss Peng was very polite. "I will definitely not bother her with the script before the exam. We'll see what the arrangements are after June 27th."

Lin Lanying nodded in satisfaction: "That's good."

The phone was handed back to Lin Ying, who put it on speakerphone. Before hanging up, Boss Peng said, "There's one more thing. If things go smoothly in mainland China, we might hold a small-scale internal screening or premiere in early to mid-July. You should be prepared."

"Where should we book?" Lin Ying asked.

"It's not decided yet. It might be in Guangzhou, or it might go north. It depends on what the leaders decide."

When He Dazhu heard the word "Guangzhou" on the balcony, he stopped polishing the jade pendant in his hand.

Lin Ying turned her head and looked at her father.

Guangzhou.

The last time his family hurriedly left the scheming village, they first rushed back to Guangzhou to transfer to another bus. That trip home was incredibly painful.

But this time it's different.

This time, I'm not going back to that suffocating, dilapidated village house. I'm going back with a film that can shatter Western prejudices and show how an Eastern boy can solve problems without a magic wand, and I'll walk back with my head held high.

"I understand, Uncle Peng. I await your official confirmation."

"Okay, focus on your exam. After this exam, we'll really launch our big investment this summer!"

The phone hangs up.

Lin Qian was the first to blurt out, "Sister! Your movies can be seen in mainland China too? If they're released together, won't that attract ten times, or even a hundred times, more viewers than in Hong Kong?"

Lin Ying nodded: "If all goes well, then we will."

Lin Qian rubbed his hands excitedly: "My God! The whole world is watching, and the mainland is watching too! Sister, if I were you, I wouldn't even bother with my exam paper right now, I'd just go out and set off two strings of firecrackers!"

Lin Lanying raised her hand as if to hit him: "Of course there are more people from the mainland, but if you don't finish your word problems, I won't give you any food tonight! Sit back down!"

Lin Qian shrank back and sat down obediently, but he was still muttering to himself, "How can I calm down like this..."

He Dazhu put down the jade pendant in his hand and slowly walked over from the balcony.

"Sister," He Dazhu said, "if you really want to go to Guangzhou, Lao Dou will go with you."

Lin Ying joked, "Isn't Lao Dou afraid anymore?"

He Dazhu shook his head: "I'm afraid to go back to that village. I'm not afraid to do something worthwhile and support you, sister."

Lin Lanying replied, "Mommy will stay with you."

Lin Ying looked at her parents standing in front of her and slowly smiled.

"it is good."

In June in São Paulo, classrooms were piled high with endless mimeographed papers, while cicadas chirped incessantly outside the windows.

When Teacher Chen handed out the last round of mock exam papers, he paused for a moment next to Lin Ying's desk.

"Lin Ying".

"Teacher Chen."

"I know you have a lot going on outside," Teacher Chen said, looking at her. "Whether it's making movies or writing plays, that's your talent, no one can deny that. But until the exam bell rings on June 27th, you're just a sixth-grade student at St. Paul's. Do you understand what I mean?"

Lin Ying stood up and nodded seriously: "Understood, Teacher Chen."

Teacher Chen nodded in satisfaction: "After the exam, during your vacation, we can take care of your important business."

Lin Ying sat back down and opened the test paper on the desk; on the blackboard, four large characters just written in chalk were clearly visible: Carefully review the questions.

Outside the window, the sun over Hong Kong was dazzlingly bright.

She picked up her pen and wrote the first answer on the exam paper.

June 27th will arrive soon.

This summer, the film that was written in Hong Kong, filmed in the snowy fields of Scotland, and almost had a magic wand forcibly shoved into its hands before being snatched back, is not only going to the West, but also going back to the East with dignity.