Rebirth in Hong Kong: From Dessert Shop to Industrial Empire

Chapter 4 Preliminary Test
The next morning, at just four o'clock, the lights at Chen's Dessert Shop came on.

The family of three began preparing the sweet soup to be delivered to the factory at noon.

Cooking red bean paste, making salted dumplings, and washing insulated containers and tableware.

While rinsing the red beans, Chen Bingwen said, "Dad, make a slight adjustment to the red bean paste recipe sent to the factory. Add 5% more sugar and a pinch of salt."

This not only provides a quick energy boost but also adds layers of flavor and a richer texture to the sweet soup.

Chen Guofu paused for a moment, opened his mouth as if to say something, but ultimately did not speak, and nodded in agreement.

Making sweet soup is like cooking; every step and every ingredient has specific requirements.

The family's recipe for red bean paste was passed down from Chen Bingwen's grandfather. Now that his son suddenly wants to change the recipe, Chen Guofu feels somewhat uneasy.

But when he thought about the shock Chen Bingwen had given him yesterday afternoon—his clear thinking and organized approach to things—Chen Guofu decided to let his son give it a try.

He silently walked to the stove and adjusted the amount of sugar and salt according to the proportions Chen Bingwen had given him.

Chen Bingwen noticed his hesitation and explained, "Dad, the workers in the factory work long hours every day, and the extra sugar can quickly replenish their energy."

Salt, being the king of all flavors, can enhance sweetness and add more layers of complexity to the taste of red bean paste.

As he spoke, he scooped up a spoonful of the seasoned red bean paste and handed it to Chen Guofu: "Dad, why don't you try it?"

Chen Guofu took the spoon, blew on it to cool it down, and carefully took a sip.

The smooth red bean paste melts on the tongue, first with a sweet taste, then with a subtle salty and savory flavor.

Chen Guofu's eyes widened suddenly.

After Chen Bingwen's subtle adjustments, the red bean paste tasted completely new.

"That's great!"

Chen Guofu couldn't help but sigh, his voice trembling slightly as he said, "This taste reminds me of the red bean soup that your grandfather and I used to make at Yangcheng Restaurant when I was a child."

Wang Qiaozhen, who had been watching the father and son closely, also picked up a spoon, scooped up a spoonful of red bean paste, and took a bite.

Wang Qiaozhen's eyes lit up immediately: "This tastes sweet but not cloying, with a perfect balance of saltiness and savory flavor, and the aroma of soybeans is even richer than before!"

She looked at Chen Bingwen with surprise, "Bingwen, how did you come up with this?"

How could Chen Bingwen possibly tell her that this was a conclusion repeatedly verified by business experts and gourmets of later generations?

He chuckled and said, "I once read a magazine that said that a sweet flavor with a hint of saltiness is what makes a dish truly delicious."

So, I thought I'd give it a try.

Although Chen Bingwen's words were not convincing, Chen's parents were completely won over by the improved red bean paste and did not bother to investigate further.

The improved red bean paste gave Mr. and Mrs. Chen even more confidence in selling sweet soup at the factory.

At 11 a.m., Chen Bingwen and his father secured two insulated buckets to the sides of the bicycle, filling them with slightly steaming red bean paste with tangerine peel and sesame paste.

In the bamboo basket on the bicycle rack, there was a whole box of fried salted dumplings, golden brown and crispy on the outside and tender on the inside.

"Dad, let's go!"

Chen Bingwen steadied the handlebars, called over Chen Guofu who was carrying tableware, and the father and son, one in front and one behind, pushed the simple "food cart" and set off for Changsha Bay Industrial Zone under the expectant gaze of Wang Qiaozhen.

Yesterday, Chen Bingwen toured almost all of the dozens of industrial buildings in the Changsha Bay Industrial Zone.

He had a general idea of ​​the main types of factories, working hours, and even the main entrances and exits for commuting to and from several large factories.

Today's destination is Huafeng Garment Factory, which occupies an entire industrial building.

Huafeng Garment Factory is located deep within the Cheung Sha Wan Industrial Zone.

Just after 11:30, Chen Bingwen and his father Chen Guofu arrived at the back street of Huafeng No. 1 Factory.

This is the entrance/exit on one side of the factory, connecting the workers' dormitory area and the factory canteen.

Chen Bingwen and Chen Guofu parked the bicycle steadily and quickly unloaded the insulated bucket and bamboo basket.

Chen Bingwen opened the notice board he had prepared in advance and hung it on his bicycle.

The notice board reads: Chen's Sweet Soup Special Offer.

Tangerine peel and red bean paste, 1 yuan;
Rich sesame paste, 1.5 yuan;
Saltwater coin 1 dollar;
Value Set Meal: Tangerine Peel Red Bean Soup + Salted Water Dumpling = 1.8 Million Dollars

(Limited quantity, first come first served)

Chen Bingwen quickly set out the thermos and tableware, then turned to his father and said, "Dad, when the workers come out, you'll be in charge of serving the sweet soup. I'll collect the money and greet the guests."

Chen Guofu nervously rubbed his hands together, his eyes darting back and forth to the tightly closed iron gate of the factory area: "Awen, will anyone really come to buy it?"

Before he could finish speaking, a piercing electric bell suddenly rang out in the factory area.

"Jingle Bell"

The lunch break bell rang.

Immediately afterwards, the tightly closed iron gate on the ground floor of Huafeng Garment Factory was pushed open with a "bang," and workers in overalls poured out like a tide.

Most of them looked tired and hurried toward the cafeteria.

Just then, Chen Bingwen took a deep breath and shouted, "Chen's Old Brand Sweet Soup! Free Special Offer! The first fifty servings of red bean soup are free!"

Chen Bingwen's clear voice instantly pierced through the noisy crowd, "Red bean paste with tangerine peel! Rich sesame paste! Served with freshly fried salted dumplings, a super value set meal for only 18 cents!"

As he spoke, he snapped open the lid of the thermos, and a rich, sweet aroma immediately wafted out on the wind.

The female workers at the front suddenly stopped, their noses twitching involuntarily.

"Wow! The aroma of this red bean paste!" A short-haired female worker's eyes lit up, and she rushed over in a few strides. "Boss, is it really free?"

Chen Bingwen smiled and stared at the short-haired female worker, saying, "Pretty lady, the first fifty are free, consider it making friends!"

The short-haired female worker felt a little embarrassed being stared at by a young, handsome man.

But the aroma of red bean paste was too tempting, and she blushed and said shyly, "Then give me a serving of red bean paste."

"No problem, beautiful lady!"

Chen Bingwen readily agreed and then handed a bowl of red bean paste that Chen Guofu had scooped out to the short-haired female worker.

The short-haired female worker took the bowl and carefully tasted a bite.

The smooth red bean paste melted on her tongue, the unique mellowness of dried tangerine peel blending perfectly with the sweet aroma of honey, making her eyes widen instantly: "Wow! This tastes amazing!"

She turned around excitedly and waved to her companion: "Ah Fang! Come quick! This red bean paste is so delicious! The first fifty servings are free!"

The words "free" were like a pebble thrown into calm water, immediately attracting the attention of many workers who were on their way to the canteen for lunch.

Whether the sweet soup tastes good or not is another matter, but the fact that it's free is enough to make the workers flock to it.

As soon as the short-haired female worker finished speaking, a long queue formed in front of her stall.

"I want a free one!"

"Give me a bowl too!"

"Don't crowd, don't crowd!"

Chen Bingwen shouted loudly to maintain order: "Everyone line up, one at a time!"

The first fifty servings are free, and subsequent meals cost 18 cents each!

His shout only made things worse, as the workers who had just come out of the building rushed over.

He turned to his father and winked, "Dad, open the sesame paste container too."

　Hong Kong's currency system is a three-tiered structure of "dollar", "cent", and "franc", corresponding to the "yuan", "jiao", and "fen" of the Renminbi, where 1 dollar = 10 cents = 100 fen.

　　The word "mosquito" is actually a colloquial Cantonese expression for "yuan". In Cantonese-speaking areas of Guangdong, people often call "yuan" "wen", which sounds similar to "mosquito", hence the colloquial term "mosquito". For example, in Hong Kong, "one mosquito" means one yuan, and "ten mosquitoes" means ten yuan.

　　"Hill" is a subsidiary unit of Hong Kong dollars, equivalent to "jiao" in Chinese yuan. 1 Hong Kong dollar equals 10 hay, and 1 hay equals 10 cents.

　　
　
(End of this chapter)