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12-Year-Old Chinese Girl Buys Shop with Lai See Money, Hires Mother
A 12-year-old girl from Jiangxi, China, used her lai see money to buy a stationery shop and hired her mother for a monthly salary of 3,000 yuan (US$440) to run it.
Girl's Investment Decision
A 12-year-old girl named Li Yue from Jiangxi province in China demonstrated remarkable business acumen. She used her savings of over 44,000 yuan (US$6,400), received as lai see during the Spring Festival, to invest in a stationery shop. Li Yue believed that depositing the money in the bank would yield an interest rate too low to keep up with inflation.
Shop Acquisition and Mother's Employment
While on her way to the bank, Li Yue spotted a stationery shop and decided to invest her money in it. After acquiring the shop, she hired her own mother to run the store, paying her a salary of 3,000 yuan (US$440) per month. This unusual case highlights a young girl initiating a business and employing a family member.
*Source: SCMP (2026-03-17)*
