Traveling back to 1966, starting by living in a cowshed.

Chapter 69 Charity Gala

Thanks to Lin Zhou's planning, the Yuen Long Industrial Park was established ahead of schedule. Standing in the park's office building, Lin Zhou gazed at the neatly arranged factory buildings. In the hardware workshop supplying air fryers, the roar of machinery emanated through the glass windows, carrying a steady yet vibrant rhythm. In the assembly workshop, a new batch of air fryers was being assembled systematically along the production line. The gleaming rotary switches reflected a soft, shimmering light in the morning glow. In a few days, they would be transported to department stores in Causeway Bay and Tsim Sha Tsui, or shipped to Europe to be delivered to the designated warehouses of Siemens, Philips, and Cyber.

"Lin Zhou, this is last month's production and sales report, plus additional orders from three OEM manufacturers." Su Wanqing walked into the office in high heels, her well-tailored light gray suit skirt making her look capable and efficient. As the home appliance factory expanded, her attire became more formal. She placed a stack of documents on the desk, her fingertips tracing the numbers on the report. "The monthly sales of air fryers locally have exceeded 30,000 units, and OEM orders from Europe have increased by 40% compared to last month. All three companies have reported that the product quality meets standards, especially the temperature control technology, which is even more stable than they expected."

Lin Zhou picked up the report and flipped through it, a smile playing on his lips. From initially leading the conversion of the radio factory's production line to now having all the workshops in the industrial park running smoothly, Su Wanqing's contribution was undeniable. This woman, who had once been the temporary boss of his family's radio factory, was not only proficient in accounting management but also demonstrated remarkable abilities in production scheduling and customer liaison, managing the Yuen Long industrial park with impeccable efficiency. "Wanqing, thank you for your hard work these past few days," Lin Zhou said sincerely, putting down the report. "Now that the production line is running smoothly and we've established trust with our customers, you can make all the decisions regarding subsequent production and sales independently. You don't need to report to me on everything. Also, please have those three companies keep an eye on our patent protection; if there's any infringement, deal with it promptly."

A hint of surprise flashed in Su Wanqing's eyes, which quickly turned into a calm smile. Then she said playfully, "I must thank you for your trust. I will certainly live up to your expectations." She knew that Lin Zhou's vision extended far beyond Hong Kong. Entrusting the industrial park to her was both an affirmation and a way to allow him to focus more on developing new ventures.

It was already afternoon when I returned home from the factory. As soon as I stepped into the living room, the phone rang urgently. It was Ms. Chen, the company secretary. "Mr. Lin, I received seven banquet invitations this morning. I've compiled them and would like to report the details to you." Ms. Chen's voice was clear and concise. "Three are industry networking dinners organized by local newspapers, namely *Sing Tao Daily*, *Ming Pao*, and *Oriental Daily News*, inviting people from the business and media sectors; two are private banquets hosted by wealthy individuals, namely dinners at the residences of real estate tycoon Mr. Li and shipping magnate Mr. Bao; and two are public charity dinners, one to raise funds for Tung Wah Group of Hospitals, and the other, held at the Peninsula Hotel, specifically to raise funds for disabled children and orphanages in Hong Kong, this Saturday evening at 7 pm."

Lin Zhou leaned back on the sofa, his fingertips lightly tapping the armrest. Newspaper industry dinners were nothing more than networking and company promotions, and while private banquets by the wealthy could expand his high-end circle, he had never liked overly utilitarian socializing. Charity dinners, however, piqued his interest. In his past life, countless Hong Kong movies and TV dramas featured the Peninsula Hotel's charity dinners as classic scenes—elegantly dressed guests, celebrities raising champagne glasses, fierce bidding at the auction, and the final proceeds going to charity. Now, living in this era, he could experience such a scene firsthand and do something practical for children in need—why not?

"Ms. Chen," Lin Zhou's voice came through the phone, "Reply to the other inviters. For the newspaper's dinner, just notify Li Wangcai or Chen Jingzhi to attend; whoever is available can go. For the others, tell them I have other plans for Saturday and apologize. As for the Peninsula Hotel's charity dinner, please confirm my attendance."

"Yes, Mr. Lin, I'll take care of it right away," Miss Chen replied respectfully.

After hanging up the phone, Lin Zhou got up and walked to the window, gazing at the sails dotting Victoria Harbour in the distance. In late 60s Hong Kong, the economy was booming, but the gap between rich and poor was widening. Ragged orphans could be seen everywhere, and disabled children lacked basic medical and educational resources. In his previous life, he was just an ordinary person, powerless to change much; now that he had the ability, he naturally wanted to do his part for the vulnerable groups of this era.

On Saturday evening, the setting sun bathed the Hong Kong sky in a warm golden glow. Lin Zhou changed into a dark, custom-tailored suit, paired with a white shirt and a black bow tie. The young man in the mirror was tall and straight, his brows displaying a maturity beyond his years. The bodyguard and driver assigned to him by Zhonghua Security had already parked a black luxury car at the entrance. The car body gleamed warmly in the afterglow. This was his recently purchased vehicle, a symbol of status and convenient for attending various formal occasions.

The car drove smoothly along Nathan Road, the neon lights along the way lighting up one after another, outlining the bustling skyline of Hong Kong at night, and the tea restaurants on the street were bustling with people. Lin Zhou looked at the street scene passing by outside the window, his heart filled with emotion. This was Hong Kong in the 60s, a place where chaos and prosperity intertwined, and opportunities and challenges coexisted.

Half an hour later, the car arrived at the Peninsula Hotel. This iconic building in Tsim Sha Tsui, originally built in 1928, has maintained its elegant and dignified style for over forty years. A red carpet was laid at the hotel entrance, and waiters in formal attire stood on both sides, politely guiding each guest. Various luxury cars were parked outside—Rolls-Royces, Bentleys, Mercedes-Benzes—all highlighting the distinguished status of the guests attending the banquet.

As soon as Lin Zhou stepped out of the car, a waiter approached him respectfully, greeting him and leading him into the hotel lobby. The lobby was brilliantly lit, crystal chandeliers reflecting dazzling light, and the marble floor gleamed like a mirror, mirroring the figures of the guests. A band in tuxedos played soothing jazz music in a corner, the melodious tunes flowing through the air. Guests gathered in small groups, raising champagne glasses and conversing quietly; the men were dressed in suits, and the women wore elegant evening gowns and dazzling jewelry, exuding grace and sophistication.

"Mr. Lin, it's a pleasure to meet you!" A familiar voice called out. Lin Zhou turned around and saw Mr. Huo walking towards him with a smile, accompanied by several business people. In recent years, Mr. Huo has risen to prominence in Hong Kong's business circles, not only involved in real estate but also in the shipping industry. He is an upright person and enthusiastic about public welfare. Lin Zhou had met him once before at several business events.

"Mr. Huo, hello." Lin Zhou quickly stepped forward to shake his hand, a polite smile on his face. "I didn't expect to meet you here."

As the two were talking, Lin Zhou's gaze inadvertently swept over a table not far away, and his heart suddenly skipped a beat. Sitting at that table was a middle-aged man in a dark gray suit, with neatly slicked-back hair; his face vaguely resembled something he remembered. Beside him sat a woman in a beige lace evening gown, adorned with a pearl necklace, exuding a gentle and refined air. Next to her sat a woman of about twenty-five or twenty-six, with shoulder-length short hair, wearing a white dress.

It's Lou Zhenhua's family!

Lin Zhou's thoughts instantly drifted back to a year ago. He had just transmigrated to this era, all alone and without any relatives or friends. He had stumbled upon the Lou Zhenhua family, who were fleeing, and they took him from the mainland to Hong Kong. Lou Zhenhua ran a business in Hong Kong and was quite wealthy. He had only agreed to help him because of Lou Zhenhua's father. Lin Zhou stayed with them for a whole week in Hong Kong. During that time, Lou Zhenhua helped him obtain a Hong Kong identity card, solving his immediate problem of finding a place to stay.

When Lin Zhou first arrived in Hong Kong, he was simply dressed and had nothing of value. Although Lou Zhenhua and his wife didn't say it explicitly, their words inevitably carried a hint of disdain. Tan Yali once privately told Lou Zhenhua, "This young man should become Xiao'e's live-in son-in-law; otherwise, he might not be able to establish himself in Hong Kong." Lin Zhou noticed this but didn't take it to heart, and he never blamed them. After all, in that era, it was natural for people to seek advantage and avoid harm, and Lou Zhenhua had ultimately helped him in the most crucial way; he always remembered this kindness.

"Mr. Lin, what's wrong?" Mr. Huo asked curiously, noticing his unusual expression.

"It's nothing," Lin Zhou said with a smile, "I saw an old friend." He gestured with his hand, "Mr. Huo, please excuse me, I'm going to say hello to my old friend."

Lin Zhou picked up a glass of champagne and walked towards Lou Zhenhua's table. As he got closer, Lou Zhenhua recognized him, a look of surprise on his face. He then stood up: "Lin...Lin Zhou?"

"Mr. Lou, it's been a long time." Lin Zhou smiled and extended his hand, his tone sincere. "I didn't expect to run into you here."