Rebirth in Hong Kong: From Dessert Shop to Industrial Empire

Chapter 39 I stumble and fall, like the waves. (Please add to your favorites, vote for me, recommend this book, and keep reading!)
The plane landed smoothly at Kai Tak Airport.

Looking out the porthole at the familiar outline of Victoria Harbour and the Kowloon Peninsula, Chen Bingwen's nerves, which had been tense for a month, finally relaxed a little.

Fang Wenshan and Achang followed behind him carrying luggage, and the three of them quickly passed through the slightly noisy arrival hall.

As soon as they exited the gate, they saw Gao Zhenhai standing in the crowd, waving vigorously, his face beaming with barely suppressed excitement: "Brother Wen! Mr. Fang! Achang! Over here!"

"Ah Hai!" Chen Bingwen strode forward and patted him hard on the shoulder. "Have you been waiting long?"

"Not long, not long!" Gao Zhenhai quickly took the suitcase from Fang Wenshan. "The car is right outside. Shall we go straight back to the Kwun Tong factory?"

"Let's drop Mr. Fang off first, and then we'll go back to the factory." Chen Bingwen nodded, and the group headed towards the parking lot.

They got into the van that Gao Zhenhai had borrowed.

The car drove out of the airport and merged into the traffic.

"Brother Wen, is everything settled in Thailand?" Gao Zhenhai asked impatiently as he drove.

"The matter is basically settled." Chen Bingwen said succinctly, "Golden Elephant is ours now, the supply of raw materials is no longer a problem, Pangu Bank has become a shareholder, and we have also arranged for people to keep an eye on the subsequent management."

I'll go into details later. How's things at home these days?

Gao Zhenhai perked up and immediately began his report:
"Everything is going smoothly at the factory! Both the Cheung Sha Wan and Kwun Tong factories are operating at full capacity."

The quality control system you explained before you left was closely monitored by Qiang Ge and me, and there were no problems.

Coconut milk sago pudding and mango pomelo sago are selling like hotcakes! Long queues form every day at all five standard stores, especially at the Tsim Sha Tsui and Central stores, where you have to wait at least fifteen minutes during the lunch rush.

When it first came out, people thought it was too expensive, but now everyone's scrambling to buy it! It's just that," he paused, his voice lowering, "that the coconut milk is almost out of stock; it can only last another week at most."

Chen Bingwen nodded: "The first batch of 100 tons of coconut milk has been shipped and will arrive in Hong Kong Island tomorrow."

Upon hearing that the coconut milk would arrive soon, Gao Zhenhai exclaimed happily, "That's great! One hundred tons of coconut milk will no longer be subject to supply restrictions."

“Yes, there won’t be any more supply restrictions from now on.” Chen Bingwen nodded with a smile.

"Sheng Ge's Shunda Logistics has been operating much more smoothly lately. They've added two new used trucks, which has made delivery much more efficient."

Gao Zhenhai reported on each task to Chen Bingwen in a clear and organized manner, "By the way, Brother Wen, guess how much our total turnover was last month?"

"How much?" Chen Bingwen asked cooperatively.

"We've broken one million!" Gao Zhenhai excitedly announced. "Net profit is close to three hundred thousand!"

Fang Wenshan, sitting in the back seat, couldn't help but praise, "Amazing! Ah Hai, you're becoming more and more of a competent factory manager."

Gao Zhenhai scratched his head somewhat embarrassedly: "It's all thanks to Brother Wen's good planning, and everyone worked together."

"What about the R&D center?" Chen Bingwen was more concerned about that.

Gao Zhenhai's excited expression subsided somewhat: "Professor Zhou and his team worked day and night, and the laboratory lights were never turned off."

I'm starting to get the hang of flavor locking; I've used a combination of several natural stabilizers, and the results are pretty good.

But room temperature storage and preservation are the problems. I've tried many methods, but without adding any chemicals, it's still difficult to keep it for a long time.

The bottle's sealing has undergone several rounds of testing and is still being optimized.

Chen Bingwen nodded.

Bottled packaging is a strategic breakthrough point, and he was prepared for it. It has already happened much faster than expected.

"Let them continue their research and development efforts, and prioritize funding for them."

Professor Zhou mentioned before that we'll need to import a sterile filling line. Please follow up on that, and prepare a budget of 1.2 million yuan initially.

"One million two hundred thousand?" Gao Zhenhai gasped, but seeing Chen Bingwen's unwavering gaze, he immediately replied, "Understood! I'll contact the equipment supplier for a quote tomorrow!"

The car drove out of the airport and merged into the busy traffic on Nathan Road.

In Kowloon at the end of the 1970s, the streets were lined with low-rise arcade buildings interspersed with towering new buildings, and huge neon signs flashed the words "gold shop", "watch", and "restaurant", creating a vibrant yet slightly chaotic scene.

While waiting at a red light at an intersection, Chen Bingwen casually glanced at the scene on the street.

A huge movie poster on the roadside instantly caught his attention.

The poster design is eye-catching, with a rustic martial arts school as the background and Jackie Chan's signature exaggerated expression and movements in the center of the image, striking a dynamic snake-like pose.

The poster prominently displays the film's title, "Snake in the Eagle's Shadow," at the top, with a smaller line below reading "A film by Ng See-yuen."

"Huh?" Chen Bingwen exclaimed softly, pointing at the poster and asking Gao Zhenhai, "Ah Hai, when did this movie come out? It seems to be quite popular?"

Gao Zhenhai looked in the direction Chen Bingwen pointed and immediately perked up: "Oh! Snake in the Eagle's Shadow! It was just released at the end of last month and it's a huge hit! I took Amei to see it last week, and the theater was packed with people, there was constant laughter, and the fight scenes were great too!"
Jackie Chan has truly made a name for himself this time!
I heard the box office has already surpassed three million; everyone's talking about it on the streets, and it's in the newspapers every day.

Snake in the Eagle's Shadow
Wu Siyuan
Chen Bingwen clearly remembers that it was the huge success of "Snake in the Eagle's Shadow" that boosted producer Wu Siyuan's confidence, and then at the celebration banquet for "Snake in the Eagle's Shadow", the plan to film "Drunken Master" was finalized.

Thus came the classic film "Drunken Master," which truly cemented Jackie Chan's status as the king of kung fu comedy and ignited global box office success!
He had read about the filming process of "Drunken Master" in his previous life.

At the time, the budget was only 500,000, and the industry peers were not optimistic and investors were not interested.

The conditions were harsh, and the crew even had to be frugal with their boxed lunches.

Chen Bingwen's gaze lingered on the poster for a few seconds.

Jackie Chan's highly recognizable face and his signature humorous martial arts style.
A bold and cost-effective marketing plan instantly took shape in Chen Bingwen's mind.

In 1978, when television advertising was just emerging and product placement in movies was extremely primitive and even rare, it would have been remarkable if "Chen's Sweet Soup" had been successfully integrated into the film *Drunken Master*.
The resulting brand exposure and influence will be unparalleled by any traditional advertising!

Its value is a hundred times greater than placing front-page ads in the Oriental Daily or Sing Tao Daily for several months!
"Chen's Dessert" can capitalize on the global success of "Drunken Master" to launch a wave of brand marketing worldwide.

After dropping Fang Wenshan off at home, Gao Zhenhai turned his car around and headed straight for the Kwun Tong factory.

On the way, Chen Bingwen said to Gao Zhenhai, "Ahai, find a way to investigate as soon as possible whether Siyuan Film Company has already approved a movie called 'Drunken Fist'."

Notify me of any news.

Gao Zhenhai looked somewhat bewildered: "Drunken Fist?"

“Yes, investigate as soon as I said. This matter cannot be delayed.” Chen Bingwen said firmly.

The shooting cycle of Hong Kong films is extremely short, and apart from a few directors, most of them are quick shooters.

The entire filming process for "Drunken Master" took only twenty-seven days, a window of opportunity that was fleeting.

If we wait until filming begins to discuss product placement, not only will costs skyrocket, but we may also miss crucial scene design moments.

"Understood! I'll take care of it right away!"

Seeing that Chen Bingwen was serious, Gao Zhenhai quickly and solemnly agreed.

The car drove into the Kwun Tong Food Factory.

After more than a month's absence, the factory area appears even busier and more organized.

It was during the afternoon break.

Upon seeing the familiar figure, the workers greeted him warmly: "Brother Wen, you're back!"

"boss!"

Chen Bingwen responded with a smile to each of them, and without stopping, headed straight for the research and development center.

Professor Zhou and his researchers had been working day and night, and now that he's back, the first thing I'll do is visit them to offer my congratulations. At this moment, Professor Zhou and his research team are arguing around an experimental device, the atmosphere somewhat tense.

"Professor Zhou," Chen Bingwen's voice broke the silence of the laboratory in a low tone, "thank you for your hard work."

Professor Zhou turned around abruptly, his eyes behind his glasses bloodshot. Seeing it was Chen Bingwen, he exclaimed happily, "Mr. Chen! You're back!"

He strode forward, his eyes bloodshot but gleaming with excitement, "You're back just in time!"

We've just made a breakthrough in stability!

"Oh?" Chen Bingwen's spirits lifted, and the fatigue from the journey vanished. "Tell me quickly!"

Professor Zhou led him to the experimental table and pointed to several rows of glass bottles with different labels: "Look at these, they are our latest batch of bottled coconut milk sago pudding samples."

After repeated adjustments to the stabilizer ratio and homogenization pressure parameters, and after two weeks of storage at room temperature, no obvious stratification or water separation occurred, and the flavor loss rate was controlled within 5%!

This is the best we can achieve right now!

Chen Bingwen picked up a bottle and examined it carefully against the light.

The liquid is uniform and clear, and the sago pearls are suspended stably.

He unscrewed the cap and carefully tasted it.

The first bite still has the familiar sweet coconut aroma, and the sago is chewy. Although it lacks a bit of the "wok hei" (wok aroma) compared to freshly made ones, the overall flavor is still quite excellent!

"Excellent! Very good!" Chen Bingwen exclaimed sincerely. "Thank you for your hard work, Professor Zhou! And everyone!" He looked around at each member in the laboratory whose eyes were bloodshot from working so hard. "This breakthrough is of great significance! We're one step closer to putting our bottled sugar water into production!"

"Mr. Chen, you flatter me," Professor Zhou waved his hand. "Stability is only the first step."

The real challenge lies in preventing corrosion during long-term storage at room temperature.

We have tested several natural solutions, but the results have not been ideal.

Achieving a safe shelf life of more than six months while preserving the natural flavor to the greatest extent remains a significant challenge.

“I understand.” Chen Bingwen nodded. “The direction is right, and the foundation has been laid solidly.”

The rest is the tough challenge, and I have faith in you.

Funds, equipment, manpower—whatever you need, just ask!
Project success, bonus doubled!

After saying that, he glanced at his watch. "Get ready, everyone. Tonight it's my treat to Yuanbao Restaurant. Let's reward everyone for their hard work these past few days!"

A cheer erupted in the laboratory.

The pressure of continuous high-intensity work dissipated instantly with the boss's approval upon his return and the promise of a sumptuous dinner.

That evening, the atmosphere in the private room of Yuanbao Restaurant was lively.

Chen Bingwen hosted a banquet for Professor Zhou's team, Zhong Qiang, Gao Zhenhai, and several core members.

Steamed grouper, crispy roast goose, stuffed crab claws with various fillings, and seasonal vegetables soaked in broth are all incredibly fragrant.

Chen Bingwen personally poured Professor Zhou a glass of whiskey: "Professor, this first glass is for you and your team! Without your professionalism and perseverance, bottling would be nothing but a castle in the air."

I, Chen Bingwen, will remember this kindness!

Professor Zhou quickly raised his glass: "Mr. Chen, you flatter me."

We should thank you for providing such a great platform and resources, allowing us to focus on research and overcome difficult problems.

Applying scientific research to benefit the public—that's what we strive for!

The two drank it all in one gulp.

Chen Bingwen originally planned to have the restaurant owner serve some famous mainland liquors such as Moutai and Wuliangye.

Upon inquiry, it was discovered that not only these famous mainland liquors, but even ordinary baijiu (Chinese white liquor) is rarely offered in restaurants.

It turns out that at that time, only Chinese-funded institutions and Chaoshan merchants occasionally had stock of famous wines from the mainland.

You simply can't buy it at ordinary restaurants and eateries.

In addition, baijiu is quite strong and not something Hong Kong people are used to drinking, so their daily social interactions mainly consist of beer, local Hong Kong liquor, and imported spirits.

The real local wines of Hong Kong Island are actually small-scale breweries that produce wines like Rose Dew and Wujiapi.

This is why in Hong Kong movies and TV dramas, people usually drink beer or foreign liquor, and it's rare to see them drinking baijiu (Chinese white liquor).

During the meal, Chen Bingwen also briefly shared his experience of his trip to Thailand.

When they heard how he reversed the situation and acquired Jinxiang, gaining control of upstream raw materials, everyone was amazed and admired the boss's courage and skill.

"So, from now on, our coconut milk will not only have a sufficient supply and guaranteed quality, but also a cost advantage!" Gao Zhenhai excitedly slammed his fist on the table. "Brother Wen, now we really have nothing to fear!"

Chen Bingwen smiled and nodded: "The hidden dangers in the supply chain have been resolved."

But the market is constantly changing, and we cannot let our guard down.

Next, bottling is of paramount importance, and continued efforts must be made in promoting new products.

Fueled by alcohol, the group ate and drank until late at night before finally heading home satisfied.

The following morning, in the conference room of the Kwun Tong Food Factory.

The core management team of Chenji Foods gathered together.

Chen Bingwen sat in the main seat, with Gao Zhenhai, who was in charge of sales and served as the factory manager, on his left, and Zhong Qiang, who was in charge of production and technology, on his right.

Professor Zhou, as the head of research and development, and Asheng, as the head of an affiliated company, also attended the meeting as observers.

In terms of finances, Liang Qiming, a senior accountant from Dexin Accounting Firm, provided assistance.

In addition, quality control personnel and shift leaders from the Cheung Sha Wan and Kwun Tong plants also attended the meeting.

The atmosphere inside the meeting room was quite harmonious.

As everyone knows, the boss's return this time not only brought good news about resolving the raw material crisis, but may also provide a clear overview of the company's industrial situation.

"Good morning, everyone." Chen Bingwen got straight to the point, "First, let me report on the final results of our trip to Thailand."

He succinctly explained how he discovered opportunities amidst difficulties, acquired a 51.3% stake in Golden Elephant Food Industry Company, introduced Pangu Bank as a strategic shareholder, completely resolved the coconut milk supply chain crisis, and gained control of upstream resources.

The audience was deeply moved, especially when they heard that the stock price of Golden Elephant had steadily rebounded and that the investment by Pangu Bank provided a strong credit guarantee.

"Therefore," Chen Bingwen concluded, "the Golden Elephant crisis has been completely transformed into a strategic advantage for our company."

In the future, 70% of the high-quality coconut milk from the Rayong factory will be stably supplied to Chen Kee, ensuring controllable costs and guaranteed quality!

This is a solid foundation for our entry into the bottling market and further expansion!

　Dear readers, the initial plan is to release the book next Wednesday. I will try my best to save up some chapters in the next few days so that I can update more chapters after the release.

　　Although it was one chapter a day before, the word count was never less, as all of them were two-in-one chapters.

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　　Also: A huge thank you to Brother Tiger KK and Brother Kai_eB for their long-term support and donations! Thank you to the generous reader, Simple Reading, for your donation!

　　
　
(End of this chapter)