Chapter 26

At nine in the morning, Zhou Ming and Lin Muqing arrived at the Bank of China. Director Yang and several staff members of the Bank of China greeted them at the entrance. Seeing this, the other people who came to conduct business were all surprised and secretly speculated about the identities of this young couple.

"Isn't that Director Yang? Why is he greeting a young man at the entrance? What kind of background does that young man have? He looks quite ordinary!"

"What kind of eyesight do you have? Although the young man is dressed very simply, did you see the woman following him? Tsk tsk! That face and figure, she is the most charming woman I have ever seen. A man who can have such a woman follow him willingly can't be simple. I think that young man might be from a powerful family. If it were twenty years ago, he would definitely be one of those people who would be targeted."

"Really enviable! If only I could be as wealthy and powerful as that young man."

"Are you dreaming? For Director Yang to come out to greet someone, I think that young man must have at least several hundred thousand in assets. He might even be a prince from behind the red walls in Beijing. What do you have to compare with him?"

Hearing the whispers of the people around him, Zhou Ming shook his head in his heart. He knew very well that he wasn't truly wealthy yet. All his money was borrowed, and he would have to pay it back in the near future. Only after completing the business in Hong Kong would he have his first substantial sum of money that truly belonged to him.

Lin Muqing, on the other hand, found it secretly amusing. She wondered what these people would think if they knew that Zhou Ming was just the son of an ordinary worker and that his family's income a month and a half ago might not have been as high as theirs.

Zhou Ming and Lin Muqing entered the reception room of the Bank of China, where Sister Zheng served them tea, treating them like VIPs.

Director Yang walked in with the contract and sat opposite Zhou Ming, speaking respectfully. "Mr. Zhou, due to the large amount of foreign currency you are exchanging, according to the requirements of the Bank of China's leadership, we need to sign an exchange contract to ensure the smooth and orderly process. Of course, this contract is entirely in line with the verbal agreement we made previously. I have not added any additional clauses without your consent. Please review it, Mr. Zhou."

Zhou Ming took the contract and carefully read through it. The terms were indeed as they had agreed in the restaurant yesterday. He nodded at Director Yang.

"Since Mr. Zhou finds no issues, you can sign it. I have already communicated with the Agricultural Bank. As soon as you sign, I can immediately transfer the money from your Agricultural Bank account. Additionally, I have opened an account for you at the Hong Kong Fung Hui Bank in your name and will transfer the exchanged Hong Kong dollars directly into this account, as per your request," Director Yang explained.

Zhou Ming signed the contract and handed it to Director Yang, saying, "Thank you for your trouble, Director Yang."

"No trouble at all. I should thank you for supporting our bank's work," Director Yang replied.

Director Yang signed the contract and stamped it with the Bank of China's seal, then handed one copy back to Zhou Ming. After receiving his copy, Zhou Ming and Lin Muqing stood up and shook hands with Director Yang, signaling the completion of the transaction.

After signing the contract, Zhou Ming asked Director Yang, "Can I use your phone for a moment?"

Director Yang nodded and had a staff member bring a phone. Zhou Ming dialed a number, and the call was quickly answered. A clear female voice said, "Hello, this is the Nanjiang City Entry-Exit Administration."

Hearing this voice, Zhou Ming knew who it was. He smiled and said, "Ranran, it's me, Zhou Ming."

"Brother Ming, it's you!" Tang Ran said happily, but then she remembered she was at work and that it wasn't good to speak too loudly, especially for a call unrelated to work. So she lowered her voice, "Brother Ming, why are you calling me?"

Although Tang Ran had lowered her voice, Zhou Ming could still hear the joy in her tone. He said, "Of course, I was thinking of our lovely Ranran. Also, how are the passports and visas for me and Sister Muqing to Hong Kong coming along?"

"The procedures have been submitted, and they should be ready in a couple of days," Tang Ran replied.

Zhou Ming praised Tang Ran a few times and then hung up the phone.

Looking back at Lin Muqing, who had clearly heard the voice on the phone, she smiled and said, "Now everything is ready, we just need to wait for Ranran to bring the passports and visas."

Zhou Ming nodded in agreement.

Zhou Ming and Lin Muqing walked out of the Bank of China and took a taxi. Looking at the construction sites on both sides of the street, Zhou Ming sighed, "Nanjing is truly a leading city in our country's reform and opening up, like the pulse of this era, full of vitality."

Lin Muqing tilted her head and looked at Zhou Ming, "So you're saying you were born in the best era?"

Zhou Ming laughed, but Lin Muqing's next words made his heart skip a beat. She said, "But I feel like you're racing against time, as if you're chasing something."

Seeing Lin Muqing's puzzled expression, Zhou Ming couldn't help but marvel at women's intuition. Lin Muqing was right; he was indeed chasing time, trying to catch up to this financial feast.

Zhou Ming thought for a moment and said to Lin Muqing, "I am indeed in a hurry, afraid that time won't be enough."

Lin Muqing blinked, seemingly sensing that Zhou Ming was dodging her question, but she didn't say much more.

...

Two days passed quickly, and on the third morning, Zhou Ming and Lin Muqing finally received their passports and visas.

"Brother Ming, Sister Muqing, I'm sorry. The passports and visas should have been ready yesterday, but there was a temporary issue at the office, so they were delayed by a day," Tang Ran said apologetically.

"That's fine. It's already impressive to get the passports and visas in three days, especially since Hong Kong is considered overseas. I heard it usually takes at least a week to process them," Zhou Ming said.

"But I promised you they would be ready yesterday," Tang Ran said. "How about this: when you and Sister Muqing return from Hong Kong, I'll treat you to a Western meal."

Zhou Ming laughed, "Alright, but with your salary, you should save it for buying pretty clothes."

Tang Ran exclaimed, "Are my clothes ugly?"

As she checked her clothes, Lin Muqing rolled her eyes at Zhou Ming and comforted Tang Ran, "Not at all, don't listen to him. Your clothes are very pretty. If you want, I can bring you some clothes from Hong Kong."

Tang Ran nodded vigorously, "That would be great! Thank you, Sister Muqing. I'll tell you my size."

Tang Ran pulled Lin Muqing aside to discuss women's private matters. Zhou Ming, of course, didn't join in. He opened the visa that Tang Ran had helped him obtain through her connections. It was a business visa, valid for six months.

It seemed that although Tang Ran appeared a bit naive, she was very serious and responsible in her work. She was also smart enough to know that he wasn't going to Hong Kong for tourism, so she didn't get the simplest tourist visa but a more complex business visa. This would allow him to invest in Hong Kong, and the six-month validity gave him ample time to act.

...

Nanhu Port is the entry-exit port connecting Hong Kong and Nanjiang, and it is the largest land port in the country. In this era, most foreigners entering the mainland also enter through this port.

Tang Ran sent Zhou Ming and Lin Muqing to the entrance of Nanhu Port. Seeing the armed guards and the unfamiliar land on the other side, Tang Ran's nose tingled, and she started to cry, "Brother Ming, Sister Muqing, be careful over there! If anything goes wrong or if you encounter any problems, come back immediately. You don't need to apply for a visa again."

Lin Muqing quickly took out a tissue to wipe Tang Ran's tears, "Ranran, why are you crying? Sister Muqing and I are just going to Hong Kong, it's not far."

"But it's a foreign country, and there are scary triads over there," Tang Ran sobbed.

"Ranran, don't worry. With me here, no one can bully Sister Muqing!" Zhou Ming assured her.

Tang Ran nodded firmly. Then Zhou Ming and Lin Muqing passed through the border control at Nanhu Port and followed the signs to board the Hong Kong East Rail Line train.

Looking out the window at the receding Nanhu Port checkpoint, Zhou Ming sighed, "Finally, we're in Hong Kong."

Turning around, he saw Lin Muqing looking at him sideways. He was taken aback and asked, "Sister Muqing, what's wrong?"

Lin Muqing said, "You're so heartless. Ranran likes you so much, and she was so worried about you, crying when she saw you off. But you, all you can think about is making money."

Zhou Ming's heart skipped a beat. He thought, women and men really do focus on different things. He awkwardly said, "Sister Muqing, don't say that! Ranran is still young, and I think she was more worried about you. After all, you are so beautiful, and the danger level for you is much higher than for me, a lazy man!"

Lin Muqing smiled and asked, "Really?"

"Of course, Sister Muqing, you are the most beautiful woman I have ever seen!" Zhou Ming said with a vow-like tone.

Lin Muqing pouted, "Smooth talker, I think your little girlfriend in the future will definitely be more beautiful than me."

This made Zhou Ming feel a bit overwhelmed. In his previous life, he didn't have much experience with women and didn't understand what they were thinking, so he didn't know what to say.

Fortunately, Lin Muqing noticed Zhou Ming's embarrassment and didn't continue to press the issue. She said, "But I don't think I'm that dangerous. I might be very beautiful, but I'm also a person who brings bad luck. Anyone who has designs on me will not have a good end."

As she said this, Lin Muqing deliberately glanced at Zhou Ming, making him shudder. Was she warning him not to have any ideas about her?

Seeing Zhou Ming's awkward expression, Lin Muqing laughed happily.