Hong Kong Young Writers Anthologies Fiction 2020complete | Page 416

was around 250 billion RMB at the time. It sounded astronomical, like a million RMB and 10 million
RMB. I had no idea what it represented but I knew that it meant opportunities, even for a country
boy with no useful experience and limited education. My uncle helped me find a job in a real estate
development company as an assistant in a branch office. The job largely consisted of tea-pouring and
an assortment of administrative chores. Occasionally, I answered telephone calls when the receptionist
was not around. It did not pay much but I was grateful for the opportunity. In retrospect, it was the
most valuable learning experience of my entire life.
Every time I fetched a pot of tea or some snacks for my managers, I would hear their talking
on the phone with a client or discussing business with one another. Sometimes, I would politely ask
questions about what I had heard. Most of my colleagues were friendly and willing to teach me, so
eventually I learnt quite a lot about the industry. I learnt to assess costs against benefits and to align
interests for mutual gain. I started working my way upwards, moving from place to place for
additional exposure. Ten years down the line, I had gathered enough experience, network and capital
to start my own company. I named it after the village I came from. My family came to live with me.
Our dreams have come true.
There are moments when I wonder what would have happened instead if I never left the
village. I am grateful for what I have. At the same time, I want to give the same life-changing
opportunities to others the way my uncle once did for me. That is why, back in 2016, I was so
thrilled to hear about the establishment of the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macau Greater Bay Area. If
there is one thing I have learnt from all my years in business, it is that opportunities arise where there is
a readily available network. Half of the time I spend on running my business is used to expand and
maintain my network. Collaboration has become more important than ever in today’s world. Every
day, new business ideas emerge, waiting to be developed. Every day, people wait for that moment in
their lives when everything would be changed forever. I know that the synergy within the Greater
Bay Area will do just that, for millions more riding on the backs of oxen.