Movie: Get Alpha Dog at the start

Chapter 1481 Let Hong Kong People Pay the Bill

"Yaping, you've been doing well lately. I'll take you to Causeway Bay later. I'll buy you whatever you want."

Seeing that the atmosphere inside the car was somewhat quiet, Zhao Yajing reached out and patted her younger brother's shoulder to comfort him.

Zhao Yaping simply gazed calmly at the scenery rushing past the car window. After a dozen seconds, he slowly turned his head to look at his sister: "Sister, I want to learn how to do business from you."

Zhao Yajing tightened her grip on the steering wheel and subconsciously looked at Qin Hao in the passenger seat.

She looked away and cautiously asked her younger brother, "Why did you suddenly have this idea?"

“I want to get rich.” Zhao Yaping said bluntly, his voice carrying a clarity he had never shown before: “I don’t want to be like Lao Lu and the others, working myself to the bone my whole lives, only to end up barely making ends meet. I want to be like you and my brother-in-law, making a lot of money, living in a big house, driving a nice car, and being respected wherever I go.”

These words were both honest and ambitious. Zhao Yajing was momentarily at a loss for words. She looked at Qin Hao again, her eyes pleading: Had she gone a bit too far? Had she provoked this kid too much?

Qin Hao opened his eyes, glanced at Zhao Yaping in the rearview mirror, and then slowly asked, "What kind of business do you want to do?"

His voice was calm, no emotion could be heard.

Zhao Yaping leaned forward, his hands gripping the back of the seat in front of him: "Brother-in-law, teach me, what kind of business can make me rich?"

“There are many kinds of businesses,” Qin Hao said as he drove, as if he were talking about something very ordinary: “Some people earn money through hard work that others are unwilling to do; some people earn money that others cannot earn; and some people earn money through smart money.”

Zhao Yaping frowned. He was hearing these two terms for the first time: "Brother-in-law, what is hard-earned money? What is money that others can't earn?"

Qin Hao began to explain, his tone like he was lecturing a primary school student: "Hard-earned money, like collecting recyclables, swill, and unclogging sewers. These jobs are filthy, and nobody wants to do them, but the profits are actually quite high. As long as you're willing to put in the effort and endure hardship, you can also become wealthy."

Zhao Yaping imagined himself wearing dirty clothes and collecting swill, shuddered, and shook his head vigorously.

"As for money that others can't earn," Qin Hao continued, "for example, if your family is in government positions, you have approvals, quotas, and resources. Even a little bit leaking through your fingers is enough for you to make a fortune..."

"What is smart money?" he pressed, his eyes gleaming.

Qin Hao said calmly, "Smart money, to put it bluntly, is money that you can think of but others can't. Or it's money that others have thought of but don't have the guts or the ability to do."

“For example, Burger King?” Zhao Yaping’s eyes lit up.

Qin Hao nodded slightly: "I guess so. But to be more precise, you need to have vision and business acumen far beyond that of ordinary people. You need to be able to see opportunities that others can't see and to predict trends that others can't predict. At the same time, you also need to have sufficient execution and resource integration capabilities—having ideas alone is useless; you have to be able to put them into practice."

These words made Zhao Yajing fall into deep thought. Outsiders often attribute Burger King's success to good luck—catching the wave of Hong Kong people's growing acceptance of fast food, the release of the film "Chicken and Duck Talk," and the exposure of hygiene problems in Hong Kong's tea restaurants. Few people know that behind it all was Qin Hao's precise orchestration: writing the script in advance, proactively promoting a transparent kitchen…

Each of these operations, taken individually, is quite brilliant. But Qin Hao strung them together to form a perfect business loop.

"Brother-in-law," Zhao Yaping asked impatiently, "how do we acquire these things? Vision, intuition, execution... can these be learned?"

"Yes," Qin Hao answered decisively. "The first step is that once you get to university, you'll have a broader perspective than the average person. At university, you can access the latest knowledge, meet people from different backgrounds, and cultivate the ability to think systematically. These are all fundamental."

He paused, glanced at Zhao Yaping in the rearview mirror, and said, "As for the second step, I'll tell you when you've completed the first step."

It sounded like a perfunctory remark, but Qin Hao spoke with seriousness.

Zhao Yaping pursed her lips, clearly somewhat skeptical: "But neither you nor my sister went to university. Didn't you two succeed?"

“We didn’t go to university,” Qin Hao said calmly. “But the team responsible for Burger King’s IPO was full of elites from top Hong Kong universities—accountants who graduated from the University of Hong Kong and the Chinese University of Hong Kong, lawyers who returned from the London School of Economics and Political Science, and investment banking elites who graduated from Ivy League universities in the United States. Many of the things they did, such as financial models, legal structures, and listing documents, would be completely incomprehensible to someone with only a junior high school education, even if they were presented to you.”

These words were blunt, even somewhat hurtful. Zhao Yaping's expression changed, his lips moved as if he wanted to refute, but he couldn't utter a word.

Before he could speak, Qin Hao said directly to Zhao Yajing, "Show him the financial report from last quarter. If he can understand it, let him join the company as my assistant, and I'll teach him personally."

Zhao Yajing paused for a moment, then nodded and took out a document from the briefcase under the passenger seat—it was the Burger King Group's financial statement for the last quarter, a thick stack of documents filled with English and numbers.

She handed it to her younger brother in the back seat: "Here, take a look."

Zhao Yaping took the paper and flipped through a few pages. The paper was covered with dense tables, terminology, and percentages: balance sheet, income statement, cash flow statement; revenue, gross profit, net profit, EBITDA; year-on-year, quarter-on-quarter, amortization, depreciation…

He was dizzy from looking at it. He recognized some of the words, but when they were put together, he had no idea what they meant. The numbers were even more like gibberish—millions, tens of millions, and the unit was Hong Kong dollars.

After watching for about three minutes, Zhao Yaping's forehead was covered in sweat. He secretly glanced at his sister and brother-in-law in the front row and found that they were both waiting for him.

"I..." He opened his mouth, then blushed, "I don't understand."

That's the truth. How could a high school student who hasn't even studied basic accounting possibly understand the financial statements of a listed company?
Qin Hao didn't laugh at him, but calmly said, "So, you have two choices now. First, go back and study hard, get into university, learn some real skills, and we'll teach you in the future. Second, join the company now, start as a junior clerk, like Lao Lu, earn 2,500 a month, and maybe become a store manager after a few years."

Zhao Yaping clenched the financial report in his hand, the paper crumpling under his grip.

“I…” He took a deep breath, his voice trembling slightly, “I will listen to you. I will take the college entrance exam.”

Zhao Yajing was overjoyed and almost lost her grip on the steering wheel. She had been worried that the month-long reform would have limited effect, and that her younger brother would revert to his old ways and continue being his "little tyrant of the alley" after returning to Beijing. Unexpectedly, Qin Hao's drastic measure had completely stunned her brother.

"Okay! Okay!" she said repeatedly, her eyes welling up with tears. "As long as you get into university, I'll buy you a car! You can have any car you want!"

Zhao Yaping pouted, revealing a rare stubbornness of youth: "I don't want you to buy it. I'll buy it myself after I graduate from university and earn money."

Those are some ambitious words. Zhao Yajing looked at him and suddenly realized that her younger brother had really grown up.

The atmosphere in the car relaxed a bit. Zhao Yajing began to plan: "Then you'll have to hurry up when you get back to Beijing. There's still more than a year until the college entrance exam, you need to catch up on the lessons you've missed. Or I can hire a tutor for you..."

She kept talking, and this time Zhao Yaping didn't find it annoying. He listened attentively and nodded from time to time.

Qin Hao watched this scene, a barely perceptible smile appearing on his lips.

He knew that Zhao Yaping, this crooked tree, was finally starting to grow on the right path.

……

Three days later, Zhao Yajing took her younger brother back to Beijing first—it was almost Chinese New Year, and she had to go back to be with her mother and also find a tutor for Zhao Yaping, otherwise, with his previous grades, he probably wouldn't even make it to the end of university.

Qin Hao stayed in Shenzhen. He needed to keep an eye on the progress of the "Jinxiu Garden" project before the Spring Festival, and also hold a meeting with the shareholders to discuss the second phase of the project.

In January, the weather in Shenzhen was slightly cool, but the construction site was bustling with activity. Qin Hao and several shareholders, wearing hard hats, walked through the community that was already taking shape.

“I’d seen the term ‘Shenzhen Speed’ in the newspapers before, and I thought it was just hype.” Shi Fangren walked beside Qin Hao, his voice full of emotion. “I never expected it to be true. When I came here last time, this place was just a bare barren area, and the foundation hadn’t even been laid yet. In just over a month, the entire construction site has been completely transformed.”

He was telling the truth. Shenzhen in 1985 truly created many miracles. The Guomao Building, with one floor every three days, was about to be topped out and become a landmark of Shenzhen. And at the "Jinxiu Garden" construction site, this speed was also vividly demonstrated—Qin Hao last came in early December, when only a few excavators were leveling the land. Now, eight buildings have risen from the ground, the community roads have begun to be paved, and green belts are also being planned.

Qin Hao nodded in deep agreement: "Shenzhen's development is no accident. In other cities, a project might require visiting dozens of departments, getting hundreds of stamps, and dragging on for a year or two. But in Shenzhen, the government has established a special coordination group for major projects, handling matters on a case-by-case basis. Many overseas Chinese only decided to invest in the mainland after witnessing the 'Shenzhen speed'."

That hits the nail on the head. In the early days of reform and opening up, many overseas Chinese businessmen were hesitant to invest in the mainland—fearing policy changes, complicated procedures, and low efficiency. But Shenzhen dispelled these concerns with its speed and efficiency.

"President Qin," a shareholder surnamed Chen approached, his eyes shining, "at this rate, can we start sales by the end of the year?"

This question echoed the sentiments of all the shareholders. Several people gathered around, their eyes filled with eager anticipation.

Qin Hao didn't answer directly, but looked at Yang Shumao who was standing next to him: "Da Mao, you tell us about the progress."

Yang Shumo adjusted his hard hat—he'd spent the last six months on the construction site, his skin tanned dark, and he looked much more capable. He took out a construction logbook, flipped through a few pages, and began to report methodically:

"According to the current construction progress, the eight residential buildings in the first phase of the project will be completed and ready for handover in October this year."

He paused, then pointed to the other side of the construction site: "However, the remaining commercial part—including street-front shops, community center, kindergarten, etc.—will take another three months, and it will probably not be completed until January next year."

"So that means the entire first phase of the project can be fully delivered as early as January next year?" another shareholder asked.

“That’s how it is in theory,” Yang Shumo nodded. “But it depends on the acceptance process. However, the acceptance process in Shenzhen is faster than in other inland cities, so there shouldn’t be any major problems.”

The shareholders exchanged glances, their faces beaming with joy. Although properties in Shenzhen weren't as valuable as those in Hong Kong, land prices, materials, and labor were significantly cheaper in Shenzhen. Ultimately, the profit margin wasn't much lower than in Hong Kong.

"President Qin," a shareholder said urgently, rubbing his hands, "After the first phase of the project is sold out, when do you plan to start construction on the remaining second phase?"

“Yes, yes,” another shareholder chimed in. “I’ve already prepared the funds for the second phase of the project, and I can transfer them to the company account anytime. Mr. Qin, you absolutely have to count me in!”

"Me too! President Qin, it was agreed that I have priority in purchasing the second phase!"

In an instant, Qin Hao was surrounded by five or six shareholders. Although everyone had signed a contract beforehand, clearly defining the investment ratios and rights for the first and second phases, with such a lucrative opportunity right in front of them, everyone was afraid that things might change if Qin Hao changed his mind and brought in other capital.

The business world is like a battlefield; opportunities are fleeting. These seasoned veterans who have navigated the treacherous waters of commerce understand this all too well.

Qin Hao was surrounded, but he remained calm. He raised his hand to signal everyone to be quiet, his voice steady and powerful:
"Everyone, don't worry. The second phase of the project will start no later than January next year. As long as you transfer the funds to the company account before the deadline stipulated in the contract, there will be absolutely no problem. I do business based on my reputation. Once I sign a contract, I will definitely fulfill it."

These words carried weight and conviction. The shareholders exchanged glances, secretly relieved.

"With President Qin's words, we can rest assured!"

"Yes, yes, we trust President Qin's character!"

The atmosphere eased again. The shareholders dispersed in twos and threes, wandering around the construction site, their eyes gleaming as they pointed and commented. In their eyes, this land was no longer just land, but a golden goose.

Shi Fangren, on the other hand, remained calm. Only after everyone else had walked away did he pat Qin Hao's arm and lower his voice:
"President Qin, this phase of the project is quite large. Add to that dozens of shops... selling so many properties in a short time won't be easy. Do you already have a plan?"

In 1985, the average annual income of urban residents in mainland China was only 700-800 yuan. Meanwhile, in Shenzhen, housing prices were over 1,000 yuan per square meter. High-end communities like "Jinxiu Garden," with their higher positioning, naturally commanded even higher prices.

Where can we find so many high-income people to buy these houses?

But Shi Fangren could tell from the process of Burger King's IPO that Qin Hao was not the kind of person who would just take things one step at a time. He planned every step and had a backup plan for every move.

Qin Hao glanced at Shi Fangren, smiled, and asked in return, "Uncle Shi, do you think Hong Kong people are interested in houses in Shenzhen?"

The question came as abruptly. Shi Fangren was taken aback, then his whole body trembled, and his eyes widened suddenly:

"You mean... encouraging Hong Kong people to buy property in Shenzhen?"

"Why not?" Qin Hao said calmly, "Uncle Shi might want to think about it. The average house price in Hong Kong has now risen to about HK$600 per square foot—and that's for ordinary residential properties. One square foot equals 0.093 square meters, which translates to more than HK$6000 per square meter."

He paused, letting the number process in Shi Fangren's mind, before continuing:
“In Hong Kong, a 40-square-meter apartment is considered a decent residence. Many families, with four or five members, are crammed into tiny 20-30 square meter spaces. But in Shenzhen, one square meter costs only 2,000 RMB – less than 700 HKD at the current exchange rate.”

"In other words," Qin Hao looked at Shi Fangren, "the money that buys a 40-square-meter cramped apartment in Hong Kong can buy a 120-square-meter house in Shenzhen, with a lot of money left over for renovations."

But just then, a voice broke in:
"President Qin, don't assume things."

It was Shi Xiaojun who spoke. He had walked over at some point and stood beside his father, a dismissive expression on his face.
“Hong Kong is Hong Kong, and Shenzhen is Shenzhen. Hong Kong people would rather have a family of five squeezed into a tiny apartment of less than 40 square meters than give a second glance to a house in Shenzhen.”

This time, Shi Fangren didn't scold his son. Because what Shi Xiaojun said reflected the true thoughts of most Hong Kong people. In 1985, Hong Kong films frequently featured plots of people being "taken to the mainland for target practice," and the media often portrayed the mainland as backward and closed off. Many Hong Kong people feared the mainland like a tiger; how could they possibly risk buying property there?
Qin Hao shook his head and said slowly, "If this were the first half of last year, it would have been very difficult to get Hong Kong people to buy houses in Shenzhen. But now, there will definitely be people willing to spend money."

"Oh?" Shi Fangren raised an eyebrow: "You mean..."

A thought flashed through his mind, but he wasn't sure for a moment.

Qin Hao looked at the buildings under construction in the distance and said slowly, "Before December last year, the Hong Kong property market was sluggish, and a large number of properties were not sought after. At that time, what kind of house couldn't Hong Kong people buy? There were many choices and the prices were low, so naturally they didn't look at Shenzhen."

"But what's the situation now?" He turned back, his gaze sweeping over Shi Fangren and his son: "After the signing of the Sino-British Joint Declaration, the real estate market rebounded sharply. In just two months, housing prices rose by 45%, and they are still rising. The most crucial thing is that there is a market but no price – everyone believes that housing prices will continue to rise, so they are hoarding properties and are reluctant to sell, so even if you have money, you can't buy a house."

Shi Xiaona had remained silent until she heard this, then nodded unconsciously. She had been reading a lot of financial reports recently, and it was indeed true—the Hong Kong property market was insanely crazy. A property would be listed in the morning, and by the afternoon, more than a dozen groups of people would come to see it, with bidding wars and price increases being commonplace.

Qin Hao continued, "A large amount of hot money is flooding into the market, but it can't be released. Bank interest rates are low, the stock market is volatile, and it's impossible to buy a house. This money is depreciating every day. Uncle Shi, do you think the owners of this money are willing to watch their wealth shrink?"

Shi Fangren fell into deep thought. He certainly understood this principle—capital is profit-driven, but also anxious. Once a consensus is formed that "holding cash equals a loss," capital will frantically seek out outlets.

“But that doesn’t mean Shenzhen is the only option,” Shi Fangren said. “There are also Malaysia, Singapore, Thailand, and even Europe and America. These places have stable political situations, sound legal systems, and are very welcoming to Hong Kong capital.”

“You’re right.” Qin Hao nodded. “These places are all options. But they have one thing in common—they’re all overseas.”

He emphasized the word "overseas".

“And Shenzhen is in China.” Qin Hao looked at Shi Fangren with deep eyes: “Uncle Shi, don’t forget how many people in Hong Kong came from the mainland? In 1949, the 1960s, the 1970s… how many families had a mainland background during the waves of immigration? These people, or their parents and grandparents, still have their roots in the mainland.”

"Returning to one's roots is a sentiment deeply buried in the hearts of every Chinese person." Qin Hao's voice was not loud, but every word struck Shi Fangren's heart.

He paused, then added, "Moreover, we're not just selling houses, but also a 'safety net.' For many Hong Kong people, buying a house in Shenzhen is equivalent to having a foothold on the mainland. No matter what happens in the future, they have a backup plan. This sense of security is something that Malaysia and Singapore cannot provide."

After he finished speaking, the room fell silent.

Shi Fangren opened his mouth, but couldn't utter a single word. He stared at Qin Hao, a chilling thought flashing through his mind—

This young man's grasp of timing, insight into human nature, and prediction of trends are frighteningly accurate. Every step he takes is in sync with the pulse of the times, and every decision he makes seems to be based on a pre-written script.

"Could it be..." Shi Fangren thought to himself, "that he can predict the future?"

The idea was both absurd and incredibly convincing. From Burger King's IPO to bottom-fishing in the real estate market, and now to the positioning of Shenzhen's property market... every move Qin Hao made seemed to be based on knowing what the future would bring.

Standing beside her father, Shi Xiaona looked at Qin Hao with eyes full of admiration. Before, when she was in university, her understanding of Qin Hao's business acumen was superficial—she thought he was smart and decisive. It wasn't until after graduation, when she actually participated in company affairs, that she gradually understood the intricacies and profound implications behind those operations.

Shi Xiaojun was sweating profusely at that moment.

He had initially thought Qin Hao was just a lucky nouveau riche, or at most a businessman with a bit of cleverness. But now he understood—this man was a true strategist. He wasn't looking at the gains or losses of a single city or battle, but at the overall trajectory of the war.

If such a person were to truly become one's opponent...

Shi Xiaojun couldn't bear to imagine what would happen next.

On February 15, 1985, construction at the "Jinxiu Garden" site finally came to a halt, and Qin Hao and Yang Shumo began packing their bags to return to Beijing.

"By the way, Damao, this is your year-end bonus. Hide it carefully this time, don't let it get stolen again."

Looking at the thick stack of hundred-yuan bills in front of him, Yang Shumo was both surprised and a little embarrassed: "This...isn't that too much?"

Qin Hao laughed and scolded, "Don't give me that. You deserve this 50,000. This year, Ya Jing and I have focused our main efforts on Hong Kong. You've been running back and forth between Shenzhen and Hong Kong. You've worked hard all year, so take it."

"Hehe, then I won't be polite!" Yang Shumo chuckled, scratching his head sheepishly.

"Why are you being so polite with me? Don't be so pretentious!"

Yang Shumo gave Qin Hao a bear hug, and then ran out in a flash.

"No, where are you going?"

"Go deposit it in the bank, otherwise my parents will definitely search it."