Hong Kong Tycoon: Starting from Delivering Dongfeng Express

Chapter 46: Appearance (4K)

Bao'an, Jiuchang Street Vegetable Market.

The cement countertop was stained with blood. The boy threw the fish down and hit the fish's head hard with the back of the knife, causing the enamel scale on the countertop to jingle.

Then he expertly weighed the fish, cleaned it, and casually placed a scallion in the bag before handing it over: "Aunt Xiu, it's one dollar and sixty cents, and I'll give you one dollar and fifty cents."

After counting out the money, Aunt Xiu happily took the fish and said, "Aqiang, you're the most honest person in the market! Thank you!"

“You’re welcome to come often!”

The boy didn't stop smiling until Aunt Xiu walked away, and then he started to wash the countertop with water.

Although Gao Qiang is only 18, he has been selling fish since his parents died when he was 13. To support his younger siblings, he has taken on the heavy burden of selling fish. The burden on his shoulders makes him look older than he actually is, and his face bears a trace of ageing that shouldn't be seen at his age.

At the beginning, he relied on the care of the uncles and aunts in the factory. Gradually, he became more proficient. After a few years, his business stabilized and he finally got through the most difficult period.

Seeing a young man approaching with several large bags of vegetables and meat, Gao Qiang immediately smiled: "Brother Jianguo, you're here! What's the good day today?"

Wang Jianguo's face was beaming: "My brother is back from Hong Kong Island today! Give me the biggest one!"

"congratulations!"

Gao Qiang congratulated him, then picked out the biggest fish and started handling it skillfully.

Wang Jianguo sighed, "Jinghai is still the best. You can buy whatever you want. It's not like other places where you have to buy tickets."

In 1984, Jinghai was the first in the country to experiment with price reform, abolishing food stamps. The supply of goods like grain, meat, and cotton cloth became freely available, and prices were liberalized. While other regions still required food stamps to purchase food, Jinghai had already achieved free circulation.

"Brother Jianguo, if you like Jinghai, then stay!"

Gao Qiang had known Wang Jianguo for only a short time. In the past month, Wang Jianguo had come to buy vegetables every few days and they were just familiar faces. It was not until last week when Wang Jianguo defeated the knife-wielding gang that was rampant in the vegetable market and sent them to the police station that he became famous in the vegetable market.

"I can't stay here anymore. My brother wants to take me to Hong Kong Island this time!"

Gao Qiang paused and immediately exclaimed, "Oh my! That's great! Brother Jianguo, you're going to be rich in the future!"

Gao Qiang remembered that ten years ago, when his parents were still around, the factory was still cracking down on the relatives of those who had fled to Hong Kong. But times have changed. In Beijing and Haikou, if a family has even a connection to Hong Kong Island, they're truly envied. And if they can even go to Hong Kong Island, they're instantly considered superior!

After a moment, Gao Qiang packed up the fish and handed it to Wang Jianguo: "Brother Jianguo, this fish is for you. Congratulations on your reunion! I wish you will become a big boss in Hong Kong Island in the future!"

"Hey, Aqiang, what are you doing? I don't need your money!"

"Brother Jianguo, last week you sent the Cleaver Team to the police station. We in the entire market are grateful to you! Today is your big day, and I don't know if we'll ever see each other again. Consider this fish my token of my appreciation!"

As he said that, Gao Qiang hung the bag in Wang Jianguo's hand.

"A Qiang, okay, I'll take this fish! Thank you!" Wang Jianguo happily picked up the things and walked away.

Gao Qiang was staring at Wang Jianguo's back in a daze when someone suddenly tapped him.

"Aqiang, you're awesome! You've learned how to flatter people! And you even know how to give them fish!"

"Brother, I think he's still stupid, worse than a fish. He's about to flee to Hong Kong Island, what's the point of his flattery!"

Gao Qiang turned his head and saw two boys about fifteen or sixteen years old, Tang Long and Tang Hu from their factory.

Gao Qiang waved his hands unhappily: "Along, Ahu, I don't have time to mess with you."

Tang Long sneered, hugged his shoulders and said leisurely: "I have heard that Xiao San'er from the Cleaver Team has spread the word that he wants to chop this guy to death..."

Gao Qiang shook his head and packed his things. "Xiao San'er will be locked up for at least a month. By then, he'll have already fled to Hong Kong Island."

"Hey, you also know that they are going to Hong Kong Island. So, when Xiao San'er comes out and can't find him, who will you take out your anger on?"

Gao Qiang froze and looked up at Tang Long, who was staring at him with a half-smile.

Tang Hu added, "Xiao San'er is a lawless person. It wouldn't be surprising if someone gets killed!"

Gao Qiang's lips were dry, and then a smile appeared on his face again: "Along, Ahu, do you want to eat fish? Fresh ones, take your pick!"

Tang Long and Tang Hu looked at each other and smiled triumphantly.

……

"Xiao Jiang, thank you for today. Come pick us up tomorrow morning."

"No, no, it's all as I should do. What arrangements does the boss have for tomorrow? I'll make some preparations first." Xu Jiang leaned forward.

"Tomorrow, we'll go inside the Great Wall and find a hotel. Then, take us around, especially around places with lots of factories."

Currently, the factories invested by Hong Kong businessmen in Jinghai are basically all located within the customs, so Ye Dongsheng needs to conduct a survey first to see the distribution of the factories before he can find a suitable place as a branch store.

"Jianguo, you've gained weight!"

He turned around and smiled at the two Wang brothers hugging each other. Wang Jianguo had been eating and drinking well for a month with the thousands of yuan in retirement pay he and his brother had given him. How could he not be fat?
After half an hour.

Ye Dongsheng chewed the crispy pork belly in his mouth. It was delicious, crispy on the outside and tender on the inside. It was so crunchy that he couldn't stop eating it!

Ye Dongsheng couldn't help but praise him: "Oh, Jianguo, your craftsmanship is getting better and better!"

Wang Jianjun, who is usually cold and indifferent, has a warm look on his face as he eats the food made by his younger brother.

"Brother Sheng, if you like it, I will make it for you every day!"

Ye Dongsheng smiled and said, "If your fighting skills were half as good as your cooking skills, your brother and I wouldn't have needed to save you on the battlefield!"

Wang Jianguo's skills were only average in the army, but he was quite talented in cooking. Even in the harsh conditions of the Vietnam War, he could roast snake meat with relish.

"Why hasn't Brother Fu come back? He always has the biggest appetite!" Wang Jianguo asked curiously.

"Your rich brother is staying in Hong Kong Island to help look after our house!"

The Dongfeng Express store in Hong Kong was still under renovation, and someone also had to stay behind to look after the Tongyitang. He couldn't let Tony, the black glove, be killed by other gangs so soon after he accepted him.

Thinking of this, Ye Dongsheng said, "Jianguo, I plan to keep you and your brother in Jinghai for the time being. This branch is just starting up, so we need someone I trust to help look after it and respond to any situation in a timely manner."

Dongfeng Express's two branches, one in Hong Kong Island and one in Jinghai, are crucial. Therefore, someone must be in charge at all times. Currently, Ye Dongsheng trusts Xiaofu and Wang Jianjun the most, so the three of them will take turns managing the company. Only after Dongfeng Express takes off and dominates the market will he be able to hand over the reins to his subordinates.

"Brother Sheng, I have no problem. I'll do as you say!"

……

The Zhuyuan Hotel, which opened in 1981, is the first Sino-foreign joint venture hotel in New China. Its Lingnan-style garden features not only exotic flowers and plants, but also clear springs, stone walls, and flowing water.

Wang Jianguo, who was visiting such a place for the first time, looked around like Granny Liu entering the Grand View Garden. When two graceful waitresses in slit cheongsams led everyone through the corridor, he couldn't take his eyes off them.

Ye Dongsheng smiled. All young men are like this. It will be much better after he has experienced women.

In the room, Ye Dongsheng spread out a map and spoke to the people around him:
"We've been exploring the area inside the border these past few days, and the main factory cluster is right here."

Several people looked at the words "Shekou Industrial Zone" on the map.

Shekou Industrial Zone is located in Nanshan District. It is an industrial park that is promoted by Beijing, Haikou and even the country. Nearly half of Beijing’s factories are built here, especially some large-scale investments and key projects, which are concentrated in Shekou.

"We must open a station in Shekou, with at least 10 couriers."

Ye Dongsheng then continued, “Other factories are scattered throughout the border, so I plan to open a store near the Luohu border crossing and staff it with 15-20 couriers.

The express deliveries that pass through customs are divided into two parts. The express deliveries from Nanshan District are delivered directly to the Shekou Industrial Zone station by a vehicle and then distributed by the Shekou station.

The rest is sorted at this store near the border, and then delivered by couriers to various factories in Luohu, Futian, and Yantian."

“That means we’re going to open two stores.

There are many factories in Shekou, so the delivery efficiency of couriers will be higher, and only 10 people are needed.

The Luohu store is responsible for express delivery in the three districts of Luohu, Futian, and Yantian. They are more dispersed, so they need more staff for delivery?

"Yes."

"Brother Sheng, do you have a store that you like?"

Ye Dongsheng nodded: "I have already been talking to the government officials in Shekou. They welcome me to open a company in the industrial zone. A storefront is not a problem.

Around Luohu Port, however, the stores are quite tight, so I have to ask each one to see if anyone is willing to sell their space.”

Luohu Port is currently China Unicom's channel connecting to the outside world. Anyone with a discerning eye knows that it contains huge business opportunities. Whether it is opening a hotel, restaurant or anything else, it is a sure way to make money, so the shops nearby are indeed in great demand.

Ye Dongsheng didn’t have any very good solution for this, so he could only take the simplest approach, which was to use money!
……

Slowly rolling down the car window, Ye Dongsheng looked at the row of shops in front of him. It was only about 800 meters away from Luohu. Even if he didn't have a car, he could still walk over by dragging a suitcase.

"Xiao Jiang, are you familiar with this piece?"

Xu Jiang chuckled, "Boss, I actually know that. There used to be a small village in this area called Chenjia Village. Later, the government expropriated the land and built some supporting facilities around the checkpoint, so the people in this village moved away.

But I heard that the ownership of some of the shops here has fallen into the hands of Chenjia Village."

"Chenjia Village?"

Ye Dongsheng only knew about Chenjiagou Village in Henan Province, which is known as the hometown of Tai Chi. Could it be that Chenjia Village in Jinghai also has something to do with Tai Chi?

Then he smiled and shook his head. He came here to discuss business, not to fight. It's impossible to discuss business and practice Tai Chi at the same time, right?

After getting off the car, Ye Dongsheng took a few people to Chenji Seafood. He had an appointment with the boss to talk there today.

As soon as I walked to the door, I saw a woman in her twenties coming out. She had big wavy hair, an oval face, a high nose bridge, slightly upturned eyes and slightly protruding cheekbones. Her brightness revealed a bit of sharpness and edge.

When the woman saw Ye Dongsheng and the others, she smiled and extended her hand: "Hello, Boss Ye, welcome! I'm Chen Ting, please come in!"

Haha, it turns out to be my sister-in-law when she was young!

Ye Dongsheng glanced at Xu Jiang and thought to himself, this is really interesting!
The seafood restaurant is decorated in a very ordinary way, with white walls and simple wooden tables, a bit like the food stalls of later times, but it does have private rooms.

After Ye Dongsheng entered the private room and sat down, he smiled and praised:

"Ms. Chen is young and promising. She has opened several stores at such a young age~"

"No, no, I don't have that ability. These stores are all owned by my godfather, and he was suddenly delayed by something. You may have to wait for a moment. I'm so sorry!" Chen Ting shook her head quickly, and her attitude towards the Hong Kong businessman was also very polite.

Ye Dongsheng thought that his sister-in-law was still very young at that time, so he directly told her the relationship between her and the boss. Then Ye Dongsheng knew who the boss was.

Sure enough, not a moment later, a small old man in his forties or fifties walked in, clenched his fists and said with a smile:

"I'm sorry! I'm sorry! Something happened at the video studio over there and it's been delayed. I've kept you guys waiting from afar! I'll punish myself with a drink!"

After saying that, he poured a glass of wine and drank it, then he held out his hand to Ye Dongsheng: "My humble name is Chen Tai! Please give me some respect and call me Uncle Tai."

Ye Dongsheng smiled and shook Chen Tai's hand: "Boss Chen has made Chenjia Village rich, and I, Ye, admire him!"

Chen Tai sat down and chuckled, "The country needs to develop, so of course we in Chenjia Village must cooperate! The country is now advocating for people to go into business. Although I'm old, I'm also actively responding to the country's call and contributing to the revitalization of the economy!"

Ye Dongsheng thought to himself, you old fox, are using Chenjia Village to boost your own economy!

However, he had seen this kind of thing before, where people took advantage of the collective interests to enrich themselves. These days, even the higher-ups couldn't handle similar things, so Ye Dongsheng certainly wouldn't bother worrying about it.

There was another round of compliments at the dinner table.

The meal has five flavors and the wine has three rounds.

Ye Dongsheng also brought up the business: "Boss Chen, I came to the mainland and also plan to make some investments. Your seafood restaurant and the one next door, name a price!"

Chen Tai sighed upon hearing this: "Boss Ye, this shop is really hard to sell. You know, I bring a lot of people to eat here. If I sell this shop, wouldn't that cut off their livelihood?"

Ye Dongsheng smiled and shook his head: "It's not hard to sell, but it's not impossible to sell."

Chen Tai sighed and groaned in a pretentious manner, then stretched out his hand and said:
"Well, now that the SAR is making every effort to attract Hong Kong businessmen to invest here, I can't dampen the investment enthusiasm of my fellow Hong Kong Islanders. How about this, 50!"

PS: I won’t mention who Gao Qiang, Tang Long, Tang Hu, Chen Ting, and Chen Tai are. Please refer to the author’s comments.

　I just received a notice that I can’t write for either of the two dramas, “Kuang Biu” or “In the Name of XX”. I have to change all the names of the characters, and cut all the subsequent plots that can be cut. It’s just normal commercial competition, which is really uncomfortable. So let it be. Alas.
　　
　
(End of this chapter)