Chapter 9

No matter how reluctant Guan Zhilin was, she and Yin Jun still temporarily parted ways. It wasn't Yin Jun who left first; rather, it was her school that had already started, and she had to take the bus to school in the morning. By the time she returned home in the afternoon, Yin Jun would already be gone.

This made Guan Zhilin very low-spirited when she left home. She didn't even touch the spring rolls and pan-fried buns that Yin Jun had specially made for her on the table. Zhang Bingqian, who was sending her daughter to school, sighed with both regret and relief.

Fortunately, it was only for a month. If Yin Jun had stayed for a few more months, wouldn't her daughter have been completely entrapped, unable to extricate herself?

When the car drove away, Yin Jun had also prepared his luggage. Yin Jun's luggage was very simple. Apart from the 12 large notebooks filled with various memories and information, there were only two or three pieces of clothing given by Guan Shan, and the only memory from another world—a set of Nike sportswear—and the key to the rented house, which would never be useful.

Nike already had specialty stores in Hong Kong at this time, so this ordinary set of sportswear was not particularly eye-catching.

"Junzi, after you get your ID card, where do you plan to go?" Guan Shan, smoking a cigarette, pondered and said, "Why don't you stay at home for a few more days, go out to look for a job during the day, and come back at night? At least you'll have a place to stay. Once you find a job, you can move out. What do you think?"

"No need, Uncle Guan." Yin Jun shook his head, "I've read the newspapers and watched TV. Many places offer accommodation and meals with the job. I'll find a job first, and once I get used to it, I can change if necessary. I don't want to bother you."

"Hmm, that's fine too." Guan Shan, who believed that men must endure hardships to become successful, did not persuade further. He took out a stack of money from his bag, "Here, 2000 dollars. Take it for now, so you won't be in a bind!"

"Uncle Guan, how can I take this..." Yin Jun tried to refuse.

"Hey, just take it." Guan Shan laughed, "Although Uncle Guan isn't as good as he used to be, 2000 dollars isn't a big deal for me... If you remember the good things I've done for you, and help me when you become successful, then this money will be meaningful!"

Guan Shan was just talking casually. He thought that no matter how down and out he was, he was still a former international film emperor. How could he possibly do worse than Yin Jun?

He was just trying to get Yin Jun to accept the money.

Yin Jun, hearing this, didn't say much more. He took the money and said seriously, "Uncle Guan."

"Hmm?"

"Rest assured, you will definitely have boundless wealth in the future." Yin Jun said solemnly.

The Guan family of four: Guan Shihua, the young child, was not very familiar with Yin Jun, and Zhang Bingqian was also very cautious around him. However, Guan Shan and Guan Zhilin were genuinely good to Yin Jun.

Yin Jun was a person who remembered kindness. Although it was easy to remember grudges and hard to remember kindness, Yin Jun had full confidence in fulfilling his promise.

If 42 years of memories couldn't help him carve out a place in the world, he might as well run back to 2020 the next time he went for a run, rather than embarrass himself here.

Guan Shan, unaware of Yin Jun's background, laughed and patted his shoulder, "I'll go get the car. Wait here!"

...

With a large backpack on his back and an ID card in one hand, Yin Jun let his other hand drop as Guan Shan's car drove away.

Since they had agreed to pick up the ID card at a specific police station, Guan Shan helped him make an appointment at a nearby station—the Watalao Police Station. After picking up the ID card, Yin Jun decided to start his new life here.

Yin Jun's youthful face was clearly visible on the ID card, and the green stamp next to it was also clear. This indicated that he had lived in Hong Kong for less than seven years. After seven years, the stamp would turn black.

But no matter what, Yin Jun had become a true Hong Kong resident, no longer the Yin Jun from 2020.

Just yesterday, a movie called "Snake in the Eagle's Shadow" had finished its run. It had been in theaters for 15 days and grossed 2.7 million dollars, a very good performance and the highest-grossing movie of the year so far.

Many people began to pay attention to the new star launched by Siyuan Film Company—though he wasn't really new, as he had acted in over a dozen movies without ever becoming famous.

This young man with a strong, muscular build and a prominent nose was named Cheng Long.

Although this wasn't his first movie, it was his first step onto the stage of fame. He himself didn't know that this was just the beginning of his glorious film career.

From Cheng Long's later international fame, it was clear that the film industry was much broader than the television industry.

However, Yin Jun knew that the Hong Kong film industry was under the absolute duopoly of Shaw Brothers and Golden Harvest. To make significant progress in the film industry, another disruptor would need to emerge, which wouldn't happen for another two years.

For now, television was a more promising field.

Without much time for reflection, Yin Jun followed Watalao Road to a three-colored building not far away on Broadcast Road.

The three-colored building was, of course, the headquarters of TVB in Hong Kong. Around it were the Hong Kong Radio, Commercial Radio, ATV, and TVB, forming a small hill known as "Five Peaks."

Yin Jun certainly wasn't going to rashly seek a job at one of the "Five Peaks."

What he needed to do first was find a real estate agency to help him settle down.

As for finding a job, Yin Jun wasn't in a hurry.

Not only did the 12,682.80 yuan given by Guan Zhilin last him over a year without needing to work, but even the 2000 yuan given by Guan Shan could last him three to five months if he saved carefully.

Yin Jun's memory consolidation was almost complete, but many scripts and ideas were still unfinished.

He planned to refine the scripts further. Even if he didn't work for a few months, it would be worth it.

After all, a good script's value far exceeded several months, even several years, of work.

Hong Kong had a relatively well-developed system for buying and renting houses.

Apart from commercial housing, the government also provided two types of housing: subsidized housing and public housing.

Commercial housing was freely bought and sold, no need to explain.

Subsidized housing was similar to the affordable housing in mainland China, sold to low-income groups at a price lower than the market rate.

Public housing was government-owned and rented to even lower-income groups at the lowest possible price.

Given Yin Jun's identity and current situation, he could apply for public housing, but the process was very complicated, and the waiting list was long. He would have to wait for several months or even a year or two. Moreover, the conditions in public housing were too poor for writing and storing his valuable notes.

Therefore, Yin Jun decided to look for a privately rented room.

In his previous life in Beijing, there were basements and houses divided into several rooms for rent, which were deep memories for the "Beijing drifters."

However, many people didn't know that Beijing had learned this from Hong Kong.

The famous Yuzhou Building in Hong Kong had many rooms divided into small units for short-term rental to tourists. Although Yuzhou Building hadn't been built yet, similar room rentals were still common.

Hong Kong's tourism industry wasn't yet developed, so house rentals were mainly for locals.

Many people, due to life and work, were willing to rent these small rooms, which were at least better than public housing.

Newspapers often featured advertisements from real estate agencies.

Yin Jun paid special attention to the area around Broadcast Road, where many second- and third-tier actors and extras rented houses. Across the street from the TVB headquarters on Broadcast Road was the famous Baptist University, which had many students renting nearby, making the housing market tight and prices higher.

After walking around the area and asking two agencies, he found that a 120 square foot single room could cost 300 dollars a month, equivalent to a third of someone's monthly salary, which was shockingly expensive.

Unconsciously, Yin Jun walked past Broadcast Road to the next street, Jincheng Road, where the other side was lined with hospitals, but the buildings on the Broadcast Road side were old, mostly ten to twenty-story buildings, at least twenty to thirty years old.

At the intersection, there was a real estate agency. With experience, Yin Jun stated his conditions as soon as he entered, to avoid their lengthy recommendations of houses he didn't want to rent.

"Single room, a suite is fine, with a bathroom, and the price should be under 300 dollars. If you have one, show me. If not, I'll leave."

The two agents were taken aback; they rarely saw someone ask about a house so straightforwardly.

After a moment, the older agent nodded, "There is such a room, about 150 square feet, with three rooms in the entire house. Two are already occupied, and there is a shared toilet and bathroom, as well as a kitchen. The rent is only 200 dollars!"

Yin Jun's eyes lit up, "Take me to see it!"

The agent immediately took out the key and led Yin Jun out, turning left and navigating the narrow streets to a narrow passage between two buildings. He opened the door to a house on the first floor of the building on the right.

This building had at least seven or eight units per floor, a typical old building.

Before entering, Yin Jun already smelled a strong aroma of spices.

Once inside, the smell became even stronger. The 180 square foot living room, narrow and near the corridor window, had two gas cylinders and a large stove. On the wall above the stove, there were various spices.

Looking at the open door, the two closed doors, and the small bathroom, Yin Jun asked, "Do the people living here like to cook a lot?"

"Ha ha, yes, cooking at home is great, saves money and is hygienic," the agent replied with a smile. "Come, let's see this room. It just became available this month, so you're lucky."

Yin Jun stepped forward and found the room quite spacious compared to the others he had seen.

There was a window with a wire mesh for ventilation, a table near the door, and a wooden platform bed. He just needed to buy a mat and bedding to move in.

For 200 dollars a month, this single room was definitely a great deal!

However, given the business acumen of Hong Kong people, could such a good deal really exist?

Yin Jun was deeply skeptical.

There must be something wrong with it.

For example, the strong smell of spices in the makeshift kitchen clearly wasn't for household use!

(Thank you to Rotsen, Lee00700, yhdxzx1, Yijia Ren, Mengxiang Wushuang, Nangong Yin, Liulang de Feng, Wuxing Que Tu, and Wanqian Fuyun for your recent support! Please continue to support and recommend!)

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