Chapter 172: Purchasing a Mid-Levels Villa
Su Yiyi nodded and said, "Alright, I'll give it a try."
"Mhm." Yang Wendong added, "Actually, what matters most is establishing a sound system to manage the entire group company and all its subsidiaries.
Right now, we're just getting started. We don't have much experience in this area, and we won't see results immediately. But over time, through practice and iteration, we'll slowly refine the management structure."
Even if you copy the best systems from big corporations, it still takes years to master and adapt them to your own enterprise.
Su Yiyi nodded again. "So in the short term, it's still about making an example out of a few?"
"Exactly. Good use of that idiom," Yang said with a smile.
"I think I'm starting to understand." Su Yiyi nodded. "So, where will I be working? Here?"
"Yes. The anti-corruption department is part of HQ, so you'll be based here." Yang paused for a second and added, "But 'anti-corruption' doesn't sound very nice. Let's call it the Security and Oversight Department. You'll also be in charge of safety."
"Safety? As in factory safety?" Su Yiyi asked.
Yang nodded. "Exactly. In the future, whether it's the factories, the real estate company, or any other business, any issues related to employee safety, construction safety, or equipment safety will fall under HQ supervision.
For now, you don't have to worry about that. Changxing's factory already has internal safety teams, and many processes are outsourced. Just focus on building the core team first—so when we need them, they're ready."
Last year's business expansion had been rapid, and this year would only be faster. Preparation was everything.
"Got it." Su Yiyi nodded. Then she asked, "Dong-ge, aren't you worried about putting me in charge of something so important?"
Yang smiled. "What could go wrong? I'm just like you. Look at Haoyu—he's managing a small company now.
At first, he was all over the place and made plenty of mistakes, but now he's doing fine."
"But his company is small. It wouldn't impact your business even if something went wrong. Mine feels a lot more critical," Su Yiyi said.
"You're not wrong. It is more important—but there's no rush," Yang replied. "The tasks I've assigned you don't have tight deadlines. They're long-term matters.
As long as you don't take forever to make progress, it's fine. If things stall for too long, I'll step in."
"Alright then. I'll do my best," Su Yiyi said seriously.
Yang smiled. "You'll be great."
Then Su Yiyi mentioned, "Oh right, Haoyu's planning to buy a place on Hong Kong Island."
"Hong Kong Island? Why?" Yang asked, surprised.
Su Yiyi laughed. "He's dating a girl who lives on the Island, so he wants to move closer. He's even applying for a loan from Liu Chong Hing Bank."
Yang grinned. "The kid's got guts. Let him go ahead. I'll call the bank and ask them to give him a better interest rate.
But tell him to buy somewhere in or near Central—a better location."
"Alright, I'll pass that along," Su Yiyi said with a smile.
"Actually, it's funny you bring this up. I was going to tell you—I'm thinking of buying property on the Island too," Yang said suddenly.
"You? Can't you just buy whatever you want?" Su Yiyi looked puzzled.
Yang shook his head. "Not just any property—I'm planning to buy a Mid-Levels villa. It'll be our wedding home. We'll move in after we're married."
"A wedding home? But the house we have now is big enough," Su Yiyi said, clearly pleased but still trying to sound modest.
Yang shook his head again. "Size isn't the issue. One person only needs one room, after all. My concern is security.
This year, the company's grown a lot. If my identity gets exposed again, it won't be like last time."
When the public first found out he was the "Post-it King," they took note of his young age and rags-to-riches story. It made a splash, but not a scandal.
But now, with Changxing's soaring exports and the immense volume of domestic orders it was generating, everything was growing at an exponential rate.
Sooner or later, someone would notice. And this time, the story would carry far more weight.
Su Yiyi asked, "Isn't our current villa district safe enough?"
"No," Yang shook his head. "Too many outsiders around. It's nothing like a standalone Mid-Levels villa.
There, I can post guards and lock down every access point. That's impossible where we live now."
"You're right." Su Yiyi nodded. "Lately, even our neighbors have started visiting us a little too often. Some of them run factories too—I think they're trying to get close to you."
"Exactly." Yang said. "And Mid-Levels villas have their own kind of deterrence. That's where Hong Kong's most powerful live.
If anything happens there, it indirectly threatens everyone in that circle. No one with a brain would dare stir trouble in those areas."
For those without brains—well, that's what physical security was for.
Su Yiyi asked, "But I heard Mid-Levels villas are really hard to buy. Can we even get one?"
Yang laughed. "Actually, I sent word to a few agencies during the New Year holidays. Over the past two months, they've contacted several homeowners. Two seem open to selling.
I was planning to wait for a couple more to come up before viewing, but since we're already talking about it—and we have time—why don't we go check them out today?"
"Today? Really?" Su Yiyi asked, delighted.
"Yes," Yang Wendong nodded. "Let me make a quick call—the agent will take us there."
As a VIP client, one call from Yang was all it took for the agency to immediately dispatch someone. Soon, Yang's convoy was following behind their car en route to Deep Water Bay.
As they neared the area, Su Yiyi asked curiously, "Dong-ge, I heard that Mid-Levels villas are exclusively for the British?"
"That's only true for the Peak," Yang explained. "Ordinary Mid-Levels villas can be purchased by wealthy Chinese."
"Oh." Su Yiyi nodded in understanding.
Yang continued, "In fact, even the Peak villas aren't completely off-limits. If your social influence is strong enough, it's doable. Take Sir Robert Hotung, for example. In the 1930s, he bought land on Flagstaff Hill and built his own mansion there."
"Robert Hotung? Wasn't he the richest Chinese tycoon back then?" Su Yiyi asked.
"That's right," Yang replied. "He had enormous influence in his era, so even the British had to curry favor with him.
Today, the colonial grip over Hong Kong isn't as tight as it was back then. So things are more relaxed."
Su Yiyi laughed. "Then someday, will you move into a Peak villa too?"
"Of course." Yang smiled faintly. "Where you live isn't just about comfort—it's a symbol of status. Like owning a skyscraper in the heart of Central."
"You'll definitely make it," Su Yiyi said with a smile.
"We'll make it," Yang corrected with a grin.
"Mm," Su Yiyi replied, her eyes shining.
The convoy soon arrived at No. 86 Deep Water Bay.
Yang looked around and said, "Yiyi, look—there's proper security here. It's spacious too. That's the kind of environment that can protect our family.
Especially in the future, if we have kids—they'll be much more vulnerable targets."
"Mm," Su Yiyi nodded solemnly.
Their car was waved through the gate and drove into the compound.
The villa was built in a European architectural style. Judging by its size, it was at least three to four times larger than Yang's current home—probably close to 10,000 square feet.
The agent explained, "Mr. Yang, this villa was built in 1948. The owner is a British national who has been doing trade in Hong Kong for many years.
He's selling now because he's planning to raise funds to enter the shipping business."
"I see," Yang nodded. He wasn't looking for the absolute top-tier property, so after two months of waiting, it was natural that a suitable listing would surface.
The agent added, "Let me give you a tour."
"Sure," Yang said. He was eager to see it for himself.
At that moment, a British man walked over and said in English, "Mr. Yang, welcome. I hope today's visit is a pleasant one."
"Hello," Yang replied in English. Then he turned to the agent and asked, "Who is this?"
The agent quickly explained, "Mr. Yang, this is Mr. Brian, the villa's butler. He holds a certified British butler license and has over 30 years of professional experience managing estates."
"A butler?" Yang mused aloud. It did align with Western traditions. He then turned to Brian and asked, "Do you speak Mandarin or Cantonese?"
Brian hesitated, then replied in Cantonese, "I can speak Cantonese."
Yang gave a slight smile. "Then please guide us through."
"Certainly. This way, please," Brian said politely, gesturing ahead.
As they followed, Su Yiyi leaned close to Yang and whispered, "Dong-ge… if you buy this house, would that mean we'd have a British man working for us?"
"Why not?" Yang chuckled. "You think they're inherently superior or something?"
At the time, many Chinese still held the mindset that it was natural for Chinese people to serve the British—but the reverse was somehow absurd.
Even in the 1970s, when reporters interviewed Chinese tycoons who employed British managers, they would ask what it felt like to "manage foreigners." That alone spoke volumes about the era's social perception.
Su Yiyi thought for a moment. "It just feels a little weird."
"You'll get used to it," Yang said. "One day, Chinese people will stand shoulder to shoulder with them—or even rise above."
By the 1980s, that equality was largely achieved.
And that was largely thanks to the growing strength of the mainland.
No matter how capable an entrepreneur was, their ultimate ceiling depended on their nation and people.
Why did the U.S. have so many top global companies? That national backing accounted for at least half the reason.
Yang and Su Yiyi followed the agent and toured the villa. The estate included one main house and two annexes. The latter were designated for staff—maids, butlers, and bodyguards.
The main house had eight bedrooms, each with its own private bathroom, plus a gym, a study, two living rooms, and a sizable rooftop terrace filled with various flowerbeds.
The annexes were simpler but still better than most urban apartments. The property also featured 12 parking spaces and a swimming pool.
After the tour, Yang turned to Su Yiyi and asked quietly, "What do you think?"
"It's amazing… but there are so many rooms. How would we even use them all? Most of them would be empty," Su Yiyi replied.
Yang laughed. "That's normal with houses like this. It's like how most tycoons never finish spending all their money."
"Ohh," Su Yiyi nodded thoughtfully. That made sense.
Yang then turned to the agent and asked, "What's the asking price for this villa?"
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