A century-old wealthy family that rose from Shanghai

Time flies, and the calendar quietly turned to 1967. The festive atmosphere of New Year's Day had not yet completely faded, and the conference room at the headquarters of Hong Kong Cheung Kong Industrial Group had already gathered the core strength of the entire group - not only were the group's senior executives present, but the heads of each subsidiary were also all there, each with a thick annual report spread out in front of them, and the air was filled with anticipation and caution for the new year.

At the beginning of the meeting, Chen Guangliang instructed the heads of each subsidiary to report in turn.

Lin Jianyun of Xinfeng Textile Group was the first to stand up, his voice steady and powerful: "By the end of 1966, Xinfeng Textile had nearly 10,000 employees worldwide, including over 6000 in Hong Kong and more than 3600 in overseas branches (mainly Nigeria and Singapore). Last year, our total revenue exceeded HK$400 million. In terms of geographical distribution, Hong Kong accounted for 75%, Africa (with Nigeria contributing over 90%) accounted for 20%, and Southeast Asia accounted for 5%. Our product structure has also been optimized, with apparel accounting for 55%, textile printing and dyeing for 32%, and our own brand 'Crocodile' accounting for 13%—the significant growth in apparel and brand businesses has increased the group's added value by nearly 18%. In particular, 'Crocodile' has opened 23 stores in overseas markets such as Taiwan, Singapore, Japan, and Kuala Lumpur. Overseas revenue is almost on par with that in Hong Kong, and the Japanese market is climbing at a monthly growth rate of 15%."

These figures elicited murmurs of admiration from the conference room.

As a cornerstone of the Yangtze River industry, Sun Fung Textile has maintained its dominant position in the industry for over three decades, starting in Shanghai in the 1930s. It is not only a founder of Hong Kong's textile industry—establishing factories in Hong Kong in the mid-1930s and supplying large quantities of military fabrics to the front lines during the War of Resistance against Japan; after the war, it took the lead in building a large-scale industrial park in Tsuen Wan, training tens of thousands of textile technicians for Hong Kong, and was hailed as the "Whampoa Military Academy of Hong Kong's textile industry".

Behind this achievement lies Chen Guangliang's long-term vision: from vigorously promoting technological iteration and introducing the most advanced spinning equipment from Europe, to actively exploring overseas markets, from markets in Indonesia and Pakistan to sales networks in Europe, America, and Africa, and even establishing garment processing plants in South Africa and Nigeria, every step has shown foresight far ahead of its time.

Following this, Sun Dehe of Rongchang Heavy Industry Group reported: "As of the end of last year, Rongchang Heavy Industry had more than 9500 employees, including 2300 in the smelting plant, 1200 in the machinery and equipment plant, and 6000 in the shipyard (mainly Rongchang Yachts). Annual revenue reached HK$6.5 million, with steel production reaching 25 tons. In addition to meeting internal group needs, 8 tons were sold externally, with customers covering Southeast Asia. Non-ferrous metal production, including aluminum alloys and copper, exceeded 3 tons. In the machinery and equipment sector, injection molding machines, punch presses, and motors held a significant share of the Hong Kong market. The most outstanding export was Rongchang Yachts, with 2600 vessels exported last year, covering the mid-to-high-end markets in Europe, America, and the Middle East, generating over HK$3 million in revenue, making it the leading yacht exporter in Hong Kong."

This achievement has quietly shattered the prejudice that "Hong Kong has no heavy industry." Many believe Hong Kong excels only in light industry, unaware that the development of heavy industry requires long-term technological accumulation and continuous investment. The decline of Hong Kong's industry in the past stemmed from the fact that most business owners were obsessed with short-term profits in real estate, abandoning the deep cultivation of real industries. However, Chen Guangliang has persisted in investing in Rongchang Heavy Industry for twenty years, from introducing German smelting technology to independently developing yacht designs, step by step transforming it into a benchmark for Hong Kong's heavy industry.

Subsequently, subsidiaries such as Huatai Plastics (Huatai Toys), Midea Electric Appliances, and Hehe Zipper reported their findings.

Huatai Toys exported 1200 million plastic toys to Europe and America last year. Midea Electric's transistor radios sold over 50 units. Hopewell Zippers holds a 60% market share in Hong Kong's garment accessories market and exports its products.

According to compiled data, Cheung Kong Industrial Group's total revenue in 1966 was HK$16.8 billion, accounting for 10.3% of Hong Kong's total industrial output value for the year, and its profit exceeded HK$1.3 million.

Over the past two decades, Cheung Kong Industrial has consistently maintained a solid industrial foundation, keeping pace with Cheung Kong Holdings, which is primarily focused on real estate, and has become one of the true cornerstones of the Chan family's business empire.

To put it bluntly, the entity that has had the greatest influence on the Chan Kwong Leung family in Hong Kong is not the Global Group, not Cheung Kong Holdings, and not Ping An Group, but Cheung Kong Industries.

Scene Industry Group, which once employed as many as 40,000 to 50,000 people, solved the job problem for many families.

After all the reports were finished, Chen Guangliang slowly stood up and scanned the room: "Starting today, the group will initiate two core adjustments: First, eliminate sunset industries—the plastic flower and wig businesses will immediately cease independent production and switch to an agency model. The production lines will be sold, the factory buildings will be used by the group, and the recovered funds will be fully invested in the research and development of electronic appliances and machinery. Second, the salaries of all employees in the group will increase by 15%, with the monthly salary of grassroots workers no less than HK$180 and technical positions no less than HK$250. Management will receive additional bonuses based on performance."

The moment the words were spoken, the conference room fell silent, followed by hushed murmurs. One senior executive couldn't help but ask, "Mr. Chen, many small factories in Hong Kong still offer monthly wages between HK$30 and HK$100. Our 15% raise might cause industry turmoil. And with the unrest on the mainland still ongoing, is the Hong Kong government just going to let things develop unchecked?"

Chen Guangliang waved his hand, his tone firm: "The Hong Kong government's attitude is not important. What is important is the fundamental problem of Hong Kong's industry—the long-term reliance on cheap labor has accumulated deep-seated social resentment, and the turmoil in mainland China is merely the fuse. If Hong Kong's industry wants to go far, this growing pain must be experienced. Our proactive wage increase is not only to stabilize employee morale but also to set a benchmark for the industry—when companies make money, they should consider providing better benefits to their employees. Better employee benefits will also lead to better work quality for the company."

These words enlightened everyone, and they all nodded in agreement: "Yes, Mr. Chen!"

After the meeting, Chen Wenkai walked into the chairman's office and softly called out, "Dad."

Chen Guangliang gestured for him to sit down, his eyes filled with expectation and concern: "This year is destined to be a turbulent one, and the situation in Hong Kong is likely to be volatile. Now that you are the third-in-command at Cheung Kong Industries, your Uncle Guo and I are gradually stepping down to the second line, and the group's daily operations rely heavily on your leadership. You must be under a lot of pressure, right?"

At the age of 29, he was able to take charge of such a large industrial group, which is considered legendary in Hong Kong's business world.

However, Chen Wenkai did not show any weakness, responding with a smile: "The group currently has no debt, ample cash flow, stable growth in traditional industries, and impressive growth in emerging industries. Overall, our foundation is solid, so there's no pressure. However, in the long run, our research and development time in core technologies for electronics and electrical appliances, and precision manufacturing of machinery and equipment, is still relatively short, and we need to continue investing."

Chen Guangliang's eyes flashed with approval: "It's good that you have this clear-headedness. Go ahead and do it boldly. I have already approved a special fund of HK$2000 million for technology research and development, and we will cooperate with the University of Hong Kong and the Polytechnic to build laboratories. If you encounter any problems that you cannot solve, come to me anytime."

Chen Wenkai nodded in agreement.

He knew that although his father planned to go abroad to avoid trouble when the situation was tense, he had already paved the way for the second generation of the family. He not only strengthened the security of his four brothers, but also built a solid management structure within the group to ensure that the foundation of Chen's business remained as solid as Mount Tai in the face of turmoil.

The warmth of the Spring Festival has not yet faded, and the century-old manor on the outskirts of London is already bathed in the soft spring light.

This castle, spanning over 22 acres, boasts lawns manicured like velvet carpets, daffodils blooming with pale yellow petals among the flowers, and spires bathed in warm sunlight, gleaming with a gentle, golden sheen—this was Chen Guangliang and Audrey Hepburn's home in Europe, and also a paradise where their three children could grow freely.

As the car slowly pulled into the manor gate, Chen Guangliang gazed at the familiar scenery outside the window, a smile unconsciously curving his lips. The moment the door opened, a pink figure rushed towards him. Eight-year-old Chen Daiyi, dressed in a princess dress, wrapped her little arms tightly around his neck, her soft voice brimming with joy: "Daddy! You're finally here! I told Mommy I'd save you a strawberry cake, and I haven't let the kitchen touch it yet!"

Chen Guangliang smiled and picked up his daughter, gently stroking her nose: "So well-behaved? Looks like Daddy hasn't spoiled you for nothing."

Audrey Hepburn stood on the steps, her off-white wool dress adorned with delicate daisy embroidery, the matching belt at her waist accentuating her slender figure. She stepped forward and naturally took Chen Guangliang's arm, her eyes filled with tenderness: "You must be tired from your journey."

Ella, Chen Guangliang's mother-in-law, also came out from the living room to greet him. Her elegant silk dress accentuated her gentle temperament. She held Chen Guangliang's hand and smiled, saying, "Only when you arrive can the children finally relax."

Stepping into the castle hall, the crystal chandelier under the high dome reflects warm light, the charcoal fire in the fireplace crackles, and the classical oil paintings on the walls exude the warmth of time.

Twelve-year-old Chen Wenxi, unable to contain himself any longer, ran to Chen Guangliang with his 3x3 Rubik's Cube, his eyes sparkling: "Daddy, I've gotten faster lately! This time I'm sure I'll be better than last time!" Chen Guangliang sat down on the sofa and took the cube. With a few deft turns of his fingers, the once neatly arranged blocks were scrambled. He handed the cube back to his son: "Then Daddy wants to see how long it takes you to solve it. Let's begin!"

As soon as he finished speaking, Chen Wenxi's fingers flew like butterfly wings. The Rubik's Cube spun rapidly in his palm, making a soft "click" sound. The hall fell silent instantly—Ella nodded with a smile, Audrey Hepburn quietly took out a handkerchief to wipe her palms, and 15-year-old Chen Wen'ou stood to the side with his arms crossed, his eyes filled with anticipation.

"One second, two seconds, three seconds..." Chen Daiyi lay on Chen Guangliang's lap, counting softly. When she counted to "six," Chen Wenxi suddenly lifted the Rubik's Cube and shouted excitedly, "Done! Daddy, look, it didn't take more than eight seconds!"

Chen Guangliang took the Rubik's Cube and examined it carefully; the color blocks on each face fit together perfectly.

He couldn't help but laugh out loud, and patted his son's head: "Amazing! You're a second faster than last time. Even if you're not a professional athlete, you're still one of the best among your peers."

Chen Wenxi proudly raised his chin: "I've also studied a new formula. Next time, I'll try to finish within five seconds!"

“It’s good to be ambitious, but you can’t let it interfere with your studies.” Chen Guangliang changed the subject and suddenly had an idea. “By the way, since you like Rubik’s Cube so much, why don’t you try writing a book? Organize your techniques and formulas and teach everyone how to solve it quickly. You see, Rubik’s Cube was invented in Hong Kong, but not many people in Europe and America know about it. If you publish a book to promote it, maybe more people will like it.”

Chen Wenxi's eyes lit up instantly, and he clapped his hands: "That's right! How come I didn't think of that! I'll start organizing it during the holidays, and I'm sure I can write it all out clearly!"

"Focus on your studies first; we can talk about writing the book during the holidays," Chen Guangliang instructed. Watching his son excitedly run back to his room with his Rubik's Cube in his arms, he turned to Chen Wen'ou and softened his tone: "Wen'ou, are you getting used to high school life?"

Chen Wenou sat down on the sofa, his navy blue school uniform suit making him look tall and straight. He attended a top elite high school in London, where his classmates were all from wealthy and influential families, yet they were all incredibly competitive, engaging in academic competitions and sporting events in a manner akin to an "elite selection contest."

But Chen Wen'ou had already adapted. When talking about school, his eyes were full of confidence: "It's wonderful. The students are all excellent, and the teachers are professional. Our class won the debate competition last week."

“It’s good for you to grow up in this environment.” Chen Guangliang nodded approvingly, his tone becoming more serious. “I’ve come to talk to you today about your future direction. I hope you will study business in the future—not to tie you to the family business, but because I have many business ideas and need someone who understands the European and American markets to realize them.”

He picked up a can of Red Bull from the table and handed it to Chen Wen-ou: "Like this one, the energy drink we developed in Hong Kong sells very well in Southeast Asia, but it has almost no presence in Europe and America. European and American consumers have a natural barrier to Asian brands. Without someone familiar with the local market to promote it, it will always just be an 'Asian drink.' Besides Red Bull, I have many other ideas that are suitable for Europe and America, such as fast fashion brands targeting young people and online shopping platforms, but these all need someone to implement them and try them out."

Holding the can of Red Bull, Chen Wenou's eyes gradually hardened. Growing up listening to his father's business stories and watching him build an empire spanning shipping, industry, and real estate, he had long harbored a deep yearning for business: "Dad, I've always planned to study business. I'm the son of a business tycoon, and I want to be like you and build my own career."

"Good son!" Chen Guangliang patted his shoulder, his eyes full of satisfaction.

"Daddy! You haven't asked me yet!" Chen Daiyi pouted, tugging at Chen Guangliang's tie. "I want to have my own goals too!"

Chen Guangliang smiled and picked up his daughter, kissing her on the cheek. His tone was full of affection: "My Daiyi is still young, there's no need to rush to set goals. Whatever you want, Daddy will give you; whatever you want to do, Daddy will support you. Even if you just want to be a carefree little princess in the future, Daddy will make you happy for the rest of your life."

Chen Daiyi immediately hugged his neck and kissed his cheek: "I love Daddy the most!"

Audrey Hepburn stood to the side, watching her husband interact with the children, a gentle smile on her face.

As night deepened and the children fell asleep, Chen Guangliang and Audrey Hepburn went to the study.

Audrey changed into a gorgeous purple princess dress, the hem adorned with tiny rhinestones, and the pearl necklace around her neck, a birthday gift from Chen Guangliang last year, made her even more elegant. She poured Chen Guangliang a glass of whiskey.

Chen Guangliang took the wine glass, his gaze falling on the documents on the table: "Let's talk business first. Have the funds brought back from Monaco last year been invested?"

When they were forced to leave Monaco last year, they received compensation. Following Chen Guangliang's advice, Audrey invested most of her funds in the European stock market, buying shares in companies such as British BHP Billiton, Swiss Nestlé, and German Siemens. The remainder was used to acquire commercial real estate in London and Paris—Audrey's wealth has now reached $1.2-1.5 million.

“Everything is arranged.” Audrey sat down next to him, her tone relaxed. “The British securities market hasn’t made much money over the years, but it’s stable. Just like you said, value investing takes time and will eventually outperform bank interest rates.”

Chen Guangliang couldn't help but joke, "So you're saying I don't understand the British stock market?"

He was well aware that the British stock market was sluggish from 1962 to 1966, and the competitiveness of its manufacturing sector declined, far less impressive than the gains in the US stock market.

Audrey stood up, walked behind him, and gently massaged his shoulders, her tone coquettish: "I didn't say that. I don't care about money. As long as I can be with you and the children, I'll be happy even if we live in a small house."

Chen Guangliang took her hand and pulled her into his arms. Looking at the tenderness in her eyes, his heart was filled with warmth: "I know you don't care, but we still have Wen Ou, Wen Xi and Dai Yi. I want to give them the best life, and I want to give them a long-lasting career so that they don't have to rely on anyone in the future and can live with confidence."

“I understand your feelings.” Audrey leaned on his shoulder, her fingers gently tracing the lapel of his suit. “But don’t put too much pressure on yourself. The children are all excellent and will have their own lives. As for me, I will always be with you, in good times and bad.”

As their emotions reached their peak, Chen Guangliang gently lifted her chin and kissed her lips. The soft light from the crystal chandelier bathed them both, the fireplace crackled, and the air was filled with the aroma of whiskey and the sweetness of love.

After an unknown amount of time, the study was filled with the sounds of love! (End of Chapter)