Rebirth in Hong Kong: From Dessert Shop to Industrial Empire

Chapter 22 Making a Move at Wharf Holdings (Please add to your favorites, vote for monthly tickets, recommend this book, and keep reading)
Shunda Logistics' fleet was put into operation faster than expected.

Two second-hand Isuzu pickup trucks, equipped with insulation and shelves and painted in striking red with the "Shunda Logistics" logo, began shuttling between the Cheung Sha Wan Food Factory and various Chen Ji mobile sales points.

With trucks for delivery, the efficiency improvement is immediate.

Unified distribution not only saves manpower and time, but also has a much better heat preservation effect than before. The temperature of the sweet soup delivered to Yau Ma Tei or Kwun Tong is almost the same as when it left the factory.

In order to get firsthand information, Chen Bingwen personally inspected each mobile station.

On the back street of Huafeng Garment Factory, the familiar security captain took the cigarette offered by Chen Bingwen, carefully examined the new car, and exclaimed, "Awen, you've really upgraded from a slingshot to a cannon!"
This car looks reliable and clean!

Chen Bingwen smiled and handed over a bowl of his signature red bean soup, freshly served, steaming hot and fragrant with the aroma of beans and dried tangerine peel: "Brother, please try it. A batch of Xinhui dried tangerine peel just arrived today, making it even more flavorful."

He turned to the workers who had already lined up, his voice clear and sincere: "Fellow workers, Chen's is upgrading its equipment so that you can enjoy hot, authentic sweet soup sooner."

Same taste, same portion size, same price! Thank you for your continued support!

Friendly laughter and responses rang out from the workers in the group.

"Awen, you have good taste! The new car looks clean and hygienic, there's nothing wrong with it!"

"Hurry up, we're in a rush to get to work!"

"Red bean paste! Thank you for a bowl!"

"I want a sesame paste set meal!"

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At each mobile sales point, Chen Bingwen would personally sell sweet soup for a while. Apart from the Huafeng Garment Factory Building and Yongxing Electronics Factory locations, all the other mobile sales points were newly added.

Chen Bingwen focused his inspection on these newly added sales outlets.

At a hardware factory intersection in Shek Kip Mei, a brand-new, standardized Chen Kee food truck is already in place.

He noted that although this was a new sales point, the business was doing very well from the start, thanks to the unified and eye-catching image, the quality assurance brought by logistics, and the word-of-mouth spread from the previous Victoria Park Lunar New Year Fair.

Many workers had clearly come because of its reputation, and they praised the quality of the sweet soup.

"Wow! Chen's Dessert? The one from the Victoria Park Lunar New Year fair?" a young worker exclaimed excitedly. "I queued for ages at Victoria Park to get some! I didn't expect them to have opened here!"

As he spoke, he strode to the food cart. "A bowl of red bean soup! And two salted dumplings!"

"Okay! Coming right away!" The waiter moved quickly, lifted the lid of the thermos, skillfully filled a bowl with red bean paste, and then picked up two salted dumplings and placed them on the side of the plate.

"Hmm? It tastes even better than it did at Victoria Park? The red bean paste is smoother!" The young worker took a bite, his face beaming with surprise as he exhaled from the heat.

"That's right! Centralized production ensures more consistent quality!" the waiter replied proudly. "Chen's secret recipe, made with the finest ingredients!"

In less than ten minutes, a line of more than a dozen people had formed in front of the food truck.

"Before, if I wanted a bowl of sweet soup, I had to walk for twenty minutes! Now I can find it right outside my door, and it tastes so good!"

"Yes, a bowl of this in the morning is warming and filling, and it only costs a dollar or two, it's such a good deal!"

"The set meal is even better value! Red bean paste with salted dumplings is only 18 cents, enough to last until noon!"

"Look at this car, it's so clean and tidy, it gives me peace of mind!"

"Boss, your sweet soup truly lives up to its reputation!"

A middle-aged worker sipped his red bean soup and exclaimed in admiration.

"Will we be able to drink it every day from now on?" another young worker asked.

"Of course! This vending cart can now provide shelter from the wind and rain, and we sell here every day."

Chen Bingwen answered with a smile.

With the efficient operation of Gao Zhenhai and Shunda Logistics, the 20 industrial zones in Kowloon have been rapidly expanded.

The uniform and eye-catching red food carts, the cleanliness, and the stable supply of delicious desserts quickly established a good reputation among workers in various factory areas.

Every morning, Shunda Logistics' refrigerated trucks set off on time, delivering fresh sweet soup to various locations. Ah Sheng's "transformed" brothers are full of energy. The stable income and the sense of dignity of "doing legitimate business" make them more dedicated than ever before.

Inside the office of the Cheung Sha Wan Food Factory, several newspapers and a piece of white paper with Wharf Holdings' stock price written on it were spread out in front of Chen Bingwen.

With the HK$300,000 loan from Wing Lung Bank arriving in full, his account was overflowing with funds like never before. Yet, it was as if a wild dog was relentlessly chasing him, urging him to make his move as soon as possible.

"Brother Wen, we've finalized the deal for the new factory in Kwun Tong. It's located in the industrial zone near the main road, and the area is three times larger than the one in Cheung Sha Wan. The rent is HK$28,000 per year, with a deposit of one month's rent paid in advance."

I've also prepared the equipment list, based on the configuration used in Cheung Sha Wan. Including transportation and installation, the budget is around 55,000 yuan.

Gao Zhenhai came in carrying a stack of documents, his face showing both excitement and caution as a new factory director.

“Okay.” Chen Bingwen nodded, his eyes still on the newspaper. “Ah Hai, you personally oversee the equipment procurement, quality is the top priority.”

Recruitment for the new factory is underway simultaneously. Compensation will be offered in the same manner as above, with experienced workers given priority. We aim to begin production within two weeks.

"Understood!" Gao Zhenhai replied, then hesitated, "Brother Wen, are we moving too fast?"
Twenty mobile distribution points, five standard stores, a new factory, and a logistics company. Money was flowing out like water.

He watched as the more than 180,000 dollars earned from Victoria Park was rapidly transformed into contracts, equipment, and advance payments.

Chen Bingwen looked up at Gao Zhenhai seriously: "Ah Hai, the market won't wait for us."

The popularity of Victoria Park is the biggest advantage. If we don't take advantage of this momentum now and start quickly, we might not be able to do the same thing again after the hype cools down, even if the cost is ten times higher.

Money is a tool; it only generates more money when it's used. Remember, efficiency is the lifeline.

As he spoke, he picked up a copy of the Oriental Daily News. "Later, you should contact the reporter who covered our story at the Victoria Park Lunar New Year Fair, offer him some benefits, and ask him to do a few more articles for us to keep Chan Kee Dessert popular."

Gao Zhenhai nodded immediately, "Okay! I'll take care of it right away!"

After finishing up the new factory affairs, Chen Bingwen dialed Zhou Mingzhe's number: "Manager Zhou, the planning budget for the new Kwun Tong factory will be delivered to your office first thing tomorrow morning."

Also, I'd like to ask you something. I'm planning to open a stock account to make some conservative investments and hedge against risks in my business. Do you have any securities brokers you know who you could recommend?

Zhou Mingzhe on the other end of the phone was somewhat surprised, but considering Chen Bingwen's business acumen and courage as demonstrated in the business plan, he felt it made perfect sense.

“Mr. Chen is truly farsighted. I’ll get you in touch with Manager Zhang at HSBC Securities. He’s experienced and reliable. I’ll have him contact you this afternoon.”

In the afternoon, Manager Zhang from HSBC Securities arrived as scheduled.

This was a middle-aged man, around forty years old, wearing a perfectly pressed gray suit and gold-rimmed glasses.

He wore a professional, warm smile, but his eyes revealed the shrewdness and prudence unique to the securities industry.

"Mr. Chen, I've long admired your name. I've seen your charisma as the King of Sweet Soup at Victoria Park's Lunar New Year Fair in the newspapers. Manager Zhou specifically instructed me that Mr. Chen is a discerning and capable young talent, and asked me to provide him with the best possible service."

Manager Zhang handed over the business card with both hands, his posture impeccable.

Chen Bingwen stood up to greet him, took the name tag, and shook hands with him, saying, "Manager Zhang, you're too kind. Please have a seat. Ah Hai, bring some tea."

After Gao Zhenhai poured the tea and left, only Chen Bingwen and Manager Zhang remained in the office.

Chen Bingwen got straight to the point: "Manager Zhang, time is precious, so I'll get straight to the point. The expansion cycle of real industries is long, and the risks are relatively concentrated."

I want to make some investments in securities, partly to hedge against risk, and partly to seize opportunities to make my funds work more efficiently.

Manager Zhang nodded slightly, indicating his understanding: "Mr. Chen has considered everything very thoroughly, including diversifying investments and making good use of financial instruments to hedge risks."

What are Mr. Chen's views on the market? Which sectors do you favor? What is your risk appetite?

Chen Bingwen did not answer directly, but looked directly into Manager Zhang's eyes and said seriously, "I am optimistic about shipping and real estate, especially companies with scarce land resources in the long term."

I'm still researching the specific targets. The main reason I invited Manager Zhang here today is to understand what leverage I can get at HSBC Securities given my current situation. I'm thinking of using three times leverage.

"Three times?" Manager Zhang's gaze sharpened slightly, and the professional smile on his face faded, replaced by a more serious expression.

"Mr. Chen, please forgive my bluntness. Leveraged trading is a double-edged sword; while it amplifies returns, it also amplifies risks many times over."

A leverage ratio of three times means that if the market experiences adverse fluctuations, your margin will be very vulnerable, and you may face forced liquidation and heavy losses if you are not careful.

Especially given the current global economic uncertainties, the risk is even higher. With your current asset situation, isn't this a bit too aggressive?

He paused, then emphasized, "This is no child's play. With a principal of 300,000 and leverage of three times, you will be managing nearly a million in funds."

Even the slightest market fluctuation can wipe out this small amount of capital in an instant.

Chen Bingwen leaned forward slightly and said calmly, "Manager Zhang's reminder was very professional, and I am naturally aware of the risks."

However, I believe that risk and opportunity often go hand in hand. My approach is not one of blind risk-taking, but rather based on in-depth analysis of the target company and judgment of market trends.

"Do you know which company Mr. Chen is interested in?"

Wharf Holdings!

Before Manager Zhang could speak, Chen Bingwen continued, "I am optimistic about Wharf Holdings. This is not gambling, but based on an in-depth analysis of its core value, industry prospects, and potential market momentum."

Its value far exceeds what the current stock price reflects.

The global shipping downturn is temporary, but land in Tsim Sha Tsui and Causeway Bay is eternally scarce! For Hong Kong Island's economy to take off, the value of these locations will increase exponentially.

He paused, looking directly at Manager Zhang: "Leverage does amplify risk, but it also amplifies opportunity. I requested three times leverage because I have enough confidence in this judgment, and also because opportunities are fleeting."

I will strictly control the position size of this fund, set a stop-loss line, and have the cash flow from the real business as a backing.

I believe Manager Zhang understands this value-based investing approach.

A brief silence fell over the office.

Manager Zhang frowned slightly, pondering Chen Bingwen's words.

If Chen Bingwen hadn't used leverage to buy Wharf Holdings shares, he definitely wouldn't have said anything.

However, using leverage, especially triple leverage, requires not only very strict internal review but also a compelling reason to back it up.

However, Chen Bingwen's analysis of Wharf Holdings directly points to the value of its core assets, with clear logic and solid data, which does not seem like that of an impulsive speculator.

Finally, Manager Zhang raised his head and solemnly said, "Mr. Chen, I must admit that your analysis of Wharf Holdings is insightful and to the point."

Based on your professional analysis and risk control measures, as well as the support provided by your business, I agree to open a 3x leverage trading account for you.

The trading limit is based on your initial capital of 300,000, with a maximum of 900,000. However, please remember your stop-loss commitment; the market is ruthless.

"Thank you for your trust, Manager Zhang!"

Chen Bingwen's face lit up with joy as he gripped Manager Zhang's hand tightly.

With the funds secured and access granted, Chen Bingwen made no further hesitation.

They began building up their Wharf Holdings stock holdings in batches through direct telephone orders in an extremely dispersed and inconspicuous manner.

The price is controlled between HK$12.5 and HK$13.5.

Meanwhile, on the Kowloon Peninsula, Chan Kee Dessert is expanding at an unprecedented rate.

Five "Chan Kee Dessert Shops" in Mong Kok, Yau Ma Tei, Tsim Sha Tsui, Causeway Bay, and Central have completed their preliminary preparations and have lit up their signs almost simultaneously!
The storefront features a uniform red background with gold lettering, bright glass counters, staff wearing neat red aprons, and a variety of high-quality sweet soups and delicate pastries delivered uniformly from the Cheung Sha Wan Food Factory.

On the day of its opening, it sparked a long queue.

The reputation built up by the Victoria Park Lunar New Year Fair, the coverage by Oriental Daily News, the standardized image, and the convenient location have made "Chen's Dessert Shop" a must-visit place for many white-collar elites every day.

Gao Zhenhai travels between five stores every day to coordinate restocking, handle emergencies, and supervise service standards.

The childishness on his face has faded considerably, replaced by composure and competence.

"Brother Wen, the Causeway Bay store sold out three times this morning! The customer traffic in Mong Kok and Tsim Sha Tsui also exceeded expectations!"
The problem is that raw materials are being consumed too quickly; Zhong Qiang said the production lines at the Changsha Bay plant are almost running at full capacity.

"Understood." Chen Bingwen stood in a corner of the Central Store, observing the flow of customers with a calm expression.

When the daily sales figures of the five stores were tallied up, the numbers were impressive, with the average daily sales per store easily exceeding three thousand bowls, far exceeding expectations.

"Ah Hai, how's the equipment procurement progress? We need to speed things up for the new factory in Kwun Tong!"

"We've agreed on the used equipment, which saved us 5,000 yuan compared to our budget. It will be delivered and installed the day after tomorrow."

Zhong Qiang personally supervised the ten newly recruited workers in Cheung Sha Wan, and they will be dispatched to Kwun Tong in a batch after a week.

“Okay.” Chen Bingwen nodded. “Have Zhong Qiang compile the core formula and key process control points into a booklet. The new factory must strictly replicate the standards of Changsha Bay.”

After the Kwun Tong plant went into operation, the Cheung Sha Wan plant gradually shifted its production focus to supporting distribution points and stores in western Kowloon, while Kwun Tong covered eastern Kowloon and eastern Hong Kong Island.

Asheng also optimized the logistics and delivery routes to ensure timely delivery.

That afternoon, Chen Bingwen was discussing the first batch of production plans for the new factory with Zhong Qiang in the office of the Changsha Bay Food Factory when the phone rang urgently.

Manager Zhang from HSBC Securities called.

"Mr. Chen! Something's up!" Manager Zhang's voice on the phone carried an unusual seriousness.

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