Andrew sat in a taxi, heading towards Taikoo Shing on the east side of Hong Kong Island.
His home was in the Taikoo Shing residential complex, and his mother, Li Yulin, had bought a 1,200-square-foot apartment and an 800-square-foot storefront there just when the Swire Group had started developing it; this was the main reason she had been able to raise her child so easily as a single woman for so many years.
Li Yulin ran a bakery in Taikoo Shing. Although the prices were relatively cheap, since she owned the storefront, she could still earn about 400,000 Hong Kong dollars a year. It could be said that this was more than enough for the living expenses and tuition for both Li Yulin and her son.
Regarding this mother he had yet to meet, Andrew could say he felt somewhat like a stranger; even his predecessor didn't know much about her. He only knew through memories from when he rummaged through things at home as a child that Li Yulin was a graduate of the University of Hong Kong's accounting department. However, ever since he could remember, he had never seen any other relatives besides his mother
When he was little, he had asked his mother about his father, but every time, the answer was that he had died at sea, and that the money used to buy the house and the shop was what his father's death had brought in. He was very young then and didn't think too much of it, but with his combined 50 years of life experience, he knew that even if a sailor encountered a shipwreck, the compensation would not be that high, especially in Hong Kong during this era.
Since his mother didn't want to talk about it, it seemed best not to ask in the future, lest it make things awkward for everyone. Since he was borrowing this body to come to this era, he had an obligation to help her fulfill the responsibilities a son should bear, to fulfill the filial piety a son should show, and to do everything a son could do for his mother.
After getting out of the taxi with his suitcase, it was already 5:20 PM, which was the busiest time for the shop. There were 7 staff members in the shop. Aside from his mother, who was in charge of the front desk cashier, the remaining 6 people included two couples who were middle-aged, in their 40s. They had been working in the shop since it opened 8 years ago, responsible for pastry production. The remaining two young girls were about 20 years old and were sales assistants responsible for guiding customers. He had not seen these two girls before. Furthermore, the shop had been renovated. Perhaps his mother had renovated it based on the photos he had sent from London, modeled after the foreign bakeries he had seen.
A bakery with floor-to-ceiling glass windows was still very rare in Hong Kong in this era. An open-style pastry workshop was even more unique in 1970s Hong Kong. Watching his mother busy at work,Andrew couldn't help but feel a pang of sympathy; she had aged a lot more compared to when he had just left two years ago.
When Andrew walked into the shop, Li Yulin saw her son and excitedly walked over. However, seeing the gauze wrapped around his head, she immediately asked with concern, "Andrew, what happened? Why are you injured? Is it serious?"
Andrew replied, "Mommy, it's nothing. I accidentally got hit by a suitcase on the plane. I've already been to the hospital to get it bandaged. I've also had a full check-up, and I just need to go back to the hospital in three days to change the dressing." Having lost his family, especially his mother, at a very young age in his previous life, he felt affection and care once again! This was a feeling he hadn't possessed for many years.
Li Yulin said, "That's good." After speaking, she turned to a young girl nearby and said, "Xiao Li, keep an eye on things. I'll take my son home first. He just got back from London, and I'll be back in a while."
"Okay, Boss Lady. So this is your son! He is such a handsome young man!" She said, smiling.
Andrew said, "Mommy, it's fine, I'm not tired. It just so happens that I haven't helped you work for a long time. I learned some skills in London. To help you understand the operations of a London bakery, I worked for two months during the holidays." After saying this, he put his suitcase behind the cash register. It was already very hot in Hong Kong this month, so he was wearing short sleeves. After washing his hands at the sink, he began his work.
To be honest, Andrew had been a very sensible child since he was young. This was probably because children from single-parent families tend to mature relatively early. Every time he came home from school or was on holiday, he would come to the shop to help. Therefore, he learned how to make pastries very early on. After putting on his white uniform, he went to the back kitchen, which occupied half of the shop's total area. After familiarly greeting the two couples, Old Zhang and Old Liu, and seeing that his mother had purchased all the new pastry-making machines he had provided, yet still sent him money on time every month, Andrew felt a bit sad, mixed with overwhelming emotion. This was his mother! She would rather scrimp and save and live a harder life herself just to give her son the best. He shook his head and began his work.
Meanwhile, inside a luxurious villa in the Mid-Levels villa complex of Hong Kong, a young man was reporting some matters to a middle-aged man. If Andrew saw them, he would definitely feel familiar. That's right; these two people were Cheung Yuk-leung and his Bodyguard, whom he had met on the plane and after getting off the plane.
The Bodyguard said, "Fourth Master, as you instructed, I accompanied him to the hospital. However, the people from Cathay Pacific paid for all medical expenses and compensated that kid with ten thousand pounds. After leaving the hospital, we went to Standard Chartered Bank and transferred 200,000 directly into his account. However, he refused the driver we arranged and took a taxi home himself. Should we continue to follow up?"
Cheung Yuk-leung replied, "Forget it. As long as this matter doesn't have a negative impact on Youran, that's fine. It seems he is a smart person for not wanting you to take him; he doesn't want to get involved with our Cheung family in this matter, which is also a form of self-protection! It seems he has self-awareness. Although he is a student at Oxford and MIT, Hong Kong really isn't lacking in such talent. Moreover, he studies engineering, which has nothing to do with our Cheung family's businesses."
The Bodyguard said, "Okay, I understand, Fourth Master. But if the Young Lady asks..."
Cheung Yuk-leung said, "It's fine, I will explain it to her." At this moment, Zhang Youran walked in, and the Bodyguard politely retreated.
Zhang Youran asked, "Dad, how is that Andrew? What did Ah Yuan say when he came back?"
Cheung Yuk-leung said, "Don't worry, my good daughter. He has already had a full check-up at the hospital, and it's just some minor superficial injuries. And I have also compensated him. He is a smart person and knows what to do! Besides, it was an accident on your part, and I won't let people think our Cheung family is bullying others with power. Alright, you just got back, so get some rest. We have to go visit Grandma and Grandpa tomorrow morning."
Bao Zixuan was kneading dough skillfully. Seeing this, Old Liu said, "Little Boss, your skills are getting better and better. If you weren't studying and worked in this trade instead, we would all be out of a job."
Old Liu was already 46 years old this year. The couple had been working in the shop all along, so they could be considered veterans of the shop. However, Andrew was wearing a work uniform, which had covered the wound on his head, so it didn't attract too much attention.
Seeing her son busy inside, Li Yulin smiled with gratification. The people buying things here were all acquaintances from the neighborhood, and everyone knew each other. Seeing the Boss Lady smiling all day, some old customers joked, "Boss Li, what happy occasion is there? Why are you in such a good mood today? Is someone pursuing you? Are you looking for a second spring?"
Li Yulin replied, "No way, my son is back from London." At this moment, someone nearby whispered, "Boss Li's son is very promising; he got into Oxford University." Everyone continued discussing it!
Then someone else started to say, "Does the Boss Lady's son have a girlfriend? My daughter is single! And she is very pretty!" At this moment, a very fat woman retorted, "Don't joke around. Your daughter weighs 160 jin; she's heavier than me! Don't scare the Boss Lady's son!" After she finished speaking, everyone laughed out loud.
It wasn't until after 8 PM that the shop wasn't so busy. So, Li Yulin called her son from the back kitchen, arranged some things, and left the shop, preparing to go home.