Rebirth in Hong Kong: From Dessert Shop to Industrial Empire

Chapter 60 Mango Pomelo Dew (Seeking monthly votes and recommendations to continue reading!)

The following morning, Chen Bingwen received a call from Wu Siyuan from the hospital.

"Mr. Chen! Ah Long's surgery went very smoothly! Professor Huang, the chief surgeon, performed the procedure himself. The double eyelid on his right eye looks very natural, and his suturing technique is top-notch!"
He's awake now, the anesthesia has worn off and he's in a bit of pain, but he's in good spirits and even asked when he can go back to filming!

Chen Bingwen's slight anxiety completely subsided, and a smile appeared on his lips: "That's great! Mr. Wu, let Ah Long rest and recover. There's no rush for the acting; his physical recovery is the most important thing. Are your eyes... symmetrical now?"

“Symmetrical! Absolutely symmetrical!” Wu Siyuan’s voice was filled with surprise. “The double eyelid on my left eye, which was formed due to an injury, is actually more beautiful than the one on my right eye, which was surgically created.”

Professor Huang said that as the swelling subsides and the body recovers, the two sides will become closer and closer, and the overall effect is surprisingly good!

They look so much more energetic than before with their single eyelids! Their eyes are brighter and more expressive! This is truly a blessing in disguise!
"Mr. Chen, your idea is absolutely brilliant!"

"That's good." Chen Bingwen understood; the trajectory of history had coincided in a strange way.

"This is Ah Long's good fortune. Let him rest well."

After hanging up the phone, Chen Bingwen felt even more relieved.

The success of Cheng Long's double eyelid surgery not only resolved a potential crisis in his personal screen image, but also removed a major obstacle for "Drunken Master".

More importantly, Cheng Long's timely assistance to Chen Bingwen has great potential for future brand collaborations.

Wards at Hong Kong Sanatorium & Hospital.

The gauze on Cheng's head has been removed, leaving only a faint pink scar on his left eyebrow.

What's most striking is his eyes. His former single eyelids have disappeared, replaced by a pair of large, bright, and symmetrical double eyelids with clear contours and a piercing gaze.

"Boss Chen! Boss Wu!" Cheng Long jumped off the bed excitedly when he saw Chen Bingwen and Wu Siyuan come in. "Look! Isn't it much better?" He blinked hard.

"Great! Excellent!" Wu Siyuan examined it carefully, clapping his hands in praise. "Ah Long, this double eyelid surgery was totally worth it! Your eyes look different, so much more expressive! Professor Huang's skills are truly amazing!"

Chen Bingwen smiled and nodded, "You're much more energetic, Ah Long. This injury was worth it."

"It's all thanks to Mr. Chen's idea!" Cheng Long said gratefully. "The doctor said I can be discharged after two more days of observation. Mr. Wu, what about the film crew?"

"Don't worry! Your scenes have been adjusted. We'll film the dialogue scenes and light action scenes first, and the major action scenes will be filmed when you're fully recovered." Wu Siyuan patted him on the shoulder. "Getting well is the most important thing."

“Mr. Chen,” Cheng Long turned to Chen Bingwen, somewhat embarrassed, “I’ve been drinking the bottled sugar water you sent me every day during my hospital stay. It’s delicious and convenient.”

My stunt brothers came to visit me in the hospital, and they all said it was great! Much better than soda!

"I'm glad you like it." Chen Bingwen said with a smile. "When you return to the film crew, I'll have the factory send a few boxes over regularly to help everyone cool off in the summer."

"That's wonderful! Thank you so much, Mr. Chen!" Cheng Long was overjoyed.

After a few casual words, Chen Bingwen got down to business: "Ah Long, there's something I want to discuss with you."

After filming "Drunken Master" was completed, during post-production and promotion, we would like to ask you to be the spokesperson for Chen's Bottled Sweet Soup and shoot a series of commercials.

Regarding fees, they will be based on market rates.

“Spokesperson?” Cheng Long was taken aback, then looked at Wu Siyuan.

Wu Siyuan laughed and said, "This is a good thing, Ah Long! Chen Ji's products are good and have a great reputation. Having you as their spokesperson is beneficial to everyone!"

"What's there to consider? I've agreed on Ah Long's behalf!"

"Thank you, Mr. Wu! Thank you, Mr. Chen, for your trust!" Jackie Chan said, somewhat excitedly. "I will definitely do my best in filming!"

"We're working on the advertising concept. The theme is 'After a hard day's work, grab a bottle of Chen Ji and instantly feel refreshed!' It fits your kung fu kid image," Chen Bingwen explained simply. "The actual filming will take place once you've recovered."

“No problem!” Cheng Long readily agreed.

Leaving the hospital, Wu Siyuan sighed to Chen Bingwen, "Mr. Chen, Ah Long has actually benefited from this misfortune; his image has improved significantly."

You found a spokesperson at just the right time.

“A win-win situation.” Chen Bingwen smiled. “Product placement in movies and endorsements work together to help brands and movies achieve mutual success.”

Chen Bingwen responded to Wu Siyuan with a smile, but his plans extended far beyond this immediate collaboration.

"The synergy between product placement and endorsement in movies allows brands and movies to complement each other, and the key lies in timing and constraints."

Back at the company, Chen Bingwen immediately found Ling Peiyi.

"Director Ling, draft an endorsement contract immediately in the name of Sugar Heart Capital and have it signed before Cheng Long is discharged from the hospital," Chen Bingwen said bluntly.

Ling Peiyi immediately understood: "I understand!"

"The guaranteed endorsement fee will be a multiple of his current film salary, but not excessively high."

Chen Bingwen tapped his fingers on the table, “The exclusive terms must be strict and cover all ready-to-eat beverage and dessert categories.”

The penalty for breach of contract should be set so high that it will deter him and other brands that might approach him in the future.

"Understood." Ling Peiyi nodded. "I'll bring my legal team with me when we sign the contract to minimize unnecessary disputes."

“Correct!” Chen Bingwen praised.

"We must produce a draft of the specific terms today so we can go through it together," Chen Bingwen said to Ling Peiyi, preparing to end the conversation.

Just then, there was a gentle knock on the office door. Gao Zhenhai poked his head in and said with a smile, "Brother Wen, Director Ling, there's a Mr. Lin from Singapore outside. He says he's from Nanhua Trading Company and wants to see you."

He said he was there to discuss business, specifically about our bottled sugar water.

“Singapore? Nan Hua Trading?” Chen Bingwen raised an eyebrow slightly. He vaguely remembered the name; it seemed to be a sizable food trading company in Singapore, but they had no prior dealings.

He looked at Ling Peiyi, who gently shook her head, indicating that she was unaware of the situation beforehand.

"Please invite him in." Since he was there to discuss business, Chen Bingwen decided to meet him first.

A moment later, a middle-aged man, around fifty years old, dressed in a well-tailored gray suit, with a refined and shrewd demeanor, walked in.

With a faint smile on his face, he extended his hand as soon as he entered the door: "Mr. Chen, I've heard so much about you!"
"Excuse me for bothering you, I am Lin Wenxiong from Nan Hua Trading in Singapore." "Mr. Lin, it's a pleasure to meet you. Please have a seat." Chen Bingwen rose to greet him, shook his hand, and gestured for him to sit down. "Mr. Lin, you've come from afar, what can I do for you?"

Lin Wenxiong sat down, his gaze sweeping across the office before finally settling on Chen Bingwen. He got straight to the point, his tone tinged with barely concealed excitement: "Mr. Chen, to be honest, I've come to Hong Kong Island this time to handle some company business."

Yesterday afternoon, I was running errands in Causeway Bay. The weather was unbearably hot and humid. I passed by your store and saw the sign, so I went in hoping to have a bowl of sweet soup to cool off.

The staff recommended your bottled mango pomelo sago, saying it would be convenient to take away.

I bought a bottle just to give it a try.

He paused, smacked his lips, as if still savoring the taste: "Iced mango pomelo sago, wow, the moment it enters your mouth!"

The icy coolness instantly dispelled the heat, and the taste was absolutely amazing!

I thought to myself, "Such a good thing, how come Singapore doesn't have it!"

As he spoke, Lin Wenxiong waved his hand with a slightly excited expression, "Mr. Chen, I have been operating a food trading business in Singapore for over twenty years and am very familiar with the market."

Singapore's weather is more humid and hot than Hong Kong Island's, and it has a large Chinese population with similar tastes.

People in our area, especially young people and white-collar workers, really love this refreshing drink with fruit pulp and a rich flavor.

However, the sugar water available on the market is either traditionally packaged in bowls, which is inconvenient to carry;

It's either soft drinks or juices, with limited flavors. Ready-to-drink desserts like mango pomelo sago, which combine deliciousness, convenience, and a sophisticated feel, are completely unavailable!

He became more and more excited as he spoke: "When I got back to the hotel last night, the more I thought about it, the more I felt that this was a huge business opportunity!"

I found out your company's address early this morning and am taking the liberty of visiting you here.

Mr. Chen, on behalf of Nan Hua Trading, I am very sincere in wanting to secure the exclusive distribution rights for Chen Ji bottled sweet soup in Singapore, Malaysia, and Indonesia!
We have a well-established distribution network, including supermarkets, convenience stores, and upscale hotels!
"As long as the product is good, I'm confident it will be a huge success in Singapore and surrounding countries!"

Lin Wenxiong finished speaking in one breath, staring intently at Chen Bingwen, waiting for his response.

Chen Bingwen understood.

It turns out that Mr. Lin had tasted the product by chance and was impressed by its taste and convenience, and keenly sensed the gap in the Singapore market.

This confirms his previous assessment of the Southeast Asian market, which shows that the market potential for sweet soups is still enormous.

He smiled gently and said slowly, "Mr. Lin, you flatter me."

Thank you for your recognition of our products.

Chenji bottled sweet soup is indeed a new product we have recently launched, which focuses on convenience, ready-to-drink, and consistent quality.

Your insights into the Singapore market are also very accurate.

Then, he changed the subject, "However, exclusive agency rights are of great importance, involving brand image, market strategy and long-term cooperation."

We need to gain a deeper understanding and evaluation of Nanhua Trading's channel strength, marketing plans, and cooperation model between the two parties.

Mr. Lin has come from afar, why not first visit our factory and production line to see our production processes and quality control?
We could also discuss your specific thoughts in more detail.

Lin Wenxiong immediately nodded: "That's great! Boss Chen has made such thoughtful arrangements!"

I'd love to see your factory! A factory tour would be wonderful! We can discuss the details of our cooperation later!

Chen Bingwen gestured to Gao Zhenhai: "Ah Hai, take Boss Lin to visit the production line, focusing on the bottling process and quality control of the bottled sugar water."

"Director Ling, please accompany Mr. Lin for a preliminary discussion."

“Okay!” Gao Zhenhai and Ling Peiyi replied in unison.

Ling Peiyi stood up and gestured to Lin Wenxiong, "Mr. Lin, this way please. I'll take you to the workshop."

Lin Wenxiong stood up happily: "Thank you, Director Ling! Thank you, Factory Manager Gao!"

Watching Lin Wenxiong leave the office accompanied by Ling Peiyi and Gao Zhenhai, Chen Bingwen's lips curled into a meaningful smile.

Just as they were about to ask Jackie Chan to sign on as their spokesperson, a potential agent from Singapore proactively approached them.

This bottle of sugar water seemed to be able to stir up more trouble than he had anticipated.

The door to the Southeast Asian market is being quietly knocked on by this sweet taste.

He sat back in his office chair, his fingers tapping unconsciously on the desk as he quickly made up his mind.

Lin Wenxiong's sudden visit was both an opportunity and a test.

The potential of Singapore's dessert market is far greater than that of Hong Kong Island.

Unlike Hong Kong Island, dessert soup is almost a daily necessity in Singapore, Malaysia, and Indonesia.

It has long transcended the entertainment of the Chinese community and has become deeply integrated into the daily food patterns of multiculturalism.

It's not just Chinese people who have a bowl of this after meals, for afternoon tea, or as a late-night snack; Malays and Indians also consider it a great way to cool down and replenish energy.

Drinking sweet soup is not just an occasional treat, but a daily ritual that transcends ethnic groups and settings, holding a status almost on par with Hainanese chicken rice and bak kut teh.

This means a huge, stable, and high-frequency consumer market!

With such a huge market potential, the agency rights should not be given away lightly.

We must find out the details of Lin Wenxiong and Nanhua Trading.

Their channel penetration, financial strength, marketing capabilities, and understanding of the Chenji brand philosophy.

At the same time, Lin Wenxiong should be shown firsthand the strength and potential of Chen Ji, so that he understands that becoming an agent for Chen Ji Dessert is not a simple business transaction, but a strategic partnership to jointly explore a new market.

(End of this chapter)