Rebirth in Hong Kong: From Dessert Shop to Industrial Empire

Chapter 6 Prosperity
"Ah Wen, how's business?"

As soon as Chen Bingwen and his father returned to Chen's Dessert Shop, Wang Qiaozhen, who had been worried about them, couldn't wait to ask.

Chen Bingwen smiled and looked at his father, giving Chen Guofu the chance to show off.

Seeing the joy on the father and son's faces, Wang Qiaozhen's eyes lit up: "Have you sold everything?"

"Not just sold out!" Chen Guofu excitedly patted his waist pouch, took out some money, and waved it at Wang Qiaozhen. "Three hundred and fifty yuan! That's enough for three days' income for the shop!"

"Oh my god!" Wang Qiaozhen exclaimed, covering her mouth, her eyes then reddening. "This is wonderful, this is truly wonderful!"

With an operating income of 350 yuan, after deducting costs, we can earn at least 200 yuan.

Compared to Chen's Dessert Shop's daily turnover of tens or hundreds of yuan, it's a world of difference.

Looking at his mother's reddened eyes, Chen Bingwen felt a pang of sadness in his heart.

For the past six months, Wang Qiaozhen has been working tirelessly from dawn till dusk to run the shop, but she can't even make ends meet.

The worries and anxieties about the future caused by the shop's poor business have finally turned around.

"Mom, this is just the beginning," Chen Bingwen comforted her softly, taking the rag from his mother's hand. "Tomorrow we'll prepare four buckets of sweet soup and make more salted dumplings."

Wang Qiaozhen wiped her eyes, then suddenly remembered something: "Oh right, you haven't eaten yet. I'll go heat up some food right now."

"Mom, no rush." ​​Chen Bingwen pulled his mother back and turned to Chen Guofu, saying, "Dad, let's go to the market now and buy some more materials."

Chen Guofu stood up energetically: "Let's go! Buy more red beans and sesame seeds, let's make a big splash tomorrow!"

Previously, business was slow, and the ingredients prepared were only enough for ten days.

Now that business is good, we naturally need to stock up on more ingredients and raw materials.

In addition, Chen Bingwen also needs to buy a handcart or tricycle to carry the insulated containers.

Four 30-liter insulated buckets, plus two boxes of saltwater dumplings, weighed nearly 300 pounds in total, and the family's bicycle was no longer sufficient.

The lights at Chen's Dessert Shop were on early the next morning.

With hope for the future, Chen Guofu and Wang Qiaozhen became more enthusiastic about making sweet soups.

Chen Bingwen assisted the two of them from the side, and seeing his parents' good spirits, he felt very happy.

The total amount of sugar water needed to be made has doubled, and the time required has also increased significantly.

It was still 11 a.m. when the father and son set off, pushing a tricycle loaded with sweet soup.

With yesterday's experience, they were much better prepared today.

Chen Bingwen specially wrapped the thermos with a thick cotton quilt to ensure that the sugar water could stay at the temperature for a longer time.

A conspicuous sign was also hanging on the tricycle, with the words "Chen's Secret Recipe Sweet Soup" written in red paint.

Upon arriving at the Huafeng Garment Factory building, the father and son had just finished their preparations when they saw the security guard who had visited the previous day walking towards them.

Chen Bingwen immediately pulled out a packet of Nanyang Red Double Happiness cigarettes from his pocket and greeted him with a beaming smile.

"Brother, what a coincidence that we've met again." Chen Bingwen skillfully handed over a cigarette. "I'll have to ask for your help today."

The security guard took the cigarette, a slight smile playing on his lips. "Young man, you know how to handle people. Business was good yesterday, wasn't it?"

"Thanks to you, things are alright." Chen Bingwen said as he ladled a bowl of steaming red bean paste from the thermos. "This is our Chen Family's secret recipe tangerine peel red bean paste, would you like to try it?"

The security guard took the bowl, took a bite, and his eyes lit up immediately: "This tastes really different, much more fragrant than the sweet soup from ordinary dessert shops."

Taking the opportunity, Chen Bingwen said, "This is our family's secret recipe, with the addition of special dried tangerine peel and dried longan. If you like it, I'll save you a bowl every day from now on."

The security guard nodded in satisfaction, glanced at Chen Guofu, and said to Chen Bingwen in a low voice, "You're quite shrewd, kid."

"Okay, I'll reserve this spot for you every noon from now on, so no one else can take it." "Thank you so much!" Chen Bingwen was overjoyed. With the security guards from Huafeng Garment Factory looking after him, it was like getting the long-term right to use the prime stall.

Just then, the lunch break bell rang in the factory area, and the workers poured out like a tide.

Even without Chen Bingwen's shouts, many people saw the tricycle parked on the side and the sign for "Chen's Secret Recipe Sweet Soup," and immediately turned around and walked over.

"Boss, do you still have yesterday's red bean paste?"

"I'd like two bowls of sesame paste."

"I want a red bean paste and salted dumpling set meal, give me three of them!"

"."

In no time, the tricycle was surrounded by workers buying sweet soup.

Chen Bingwen and his father were extremely busy, one collecting money and the other ladling out sugar water.

Chen Bingwen discovered that, in addition to the workers in the building where Huafeng Garment Factory was located, workers from several nearby industrial buildings also came to buy sweet soup.

"Dad, it seems our desserts have become famous in the building next door."

As Chen Bingwen deftly collected the money, he spoke to his father.

Chen Guofu's hand continued wielding the wooden spoon, but a look of surprise appeared on his face: "Really? Then wouldn't that mean..."

"That's right, we've gained quite a few more potential customers!"

Chen Bingwen replied with a smile.

After finishing his sweet soup, a middle-aged man in blue overalls came over curiously and asked, "Boss, where is your sweet soup shop located? I'd like to bring my family there for sweet soup sometime."

"Chen's Dessert Shop on Kwai Lin Street in Sham Shui Po."

Taking the opportunity, Chen Bingwen handed over a business card and replied loudly with a smile, "Welcome to the store to try more varieties."

He specially ordered the business card yesterday afternoon, and it clearly states the address and opening hours of Chen's Dessert Shop.

In less than half an hour, the four insulated buckets filled with sugar water were emptied.

"Dear workers, I'm really sorry, we've sold out of sweet soup for today."

Chen Bingwen wiped the sweat from his forehead and announced loudly.

Although the workers were disappointed, they knew the father and son would come back the next day, so they didn't say anything.

On the way back, Chen Guofu pushed the empty cart, saying with a mixture of excitement and worry, "Awen, at this rate, we'll probably need at least six buckets of syrup a day to make enough to sell! Any more and we won't be able to make any more."

Chen Bingwen nodded and said to Chen Guofu, "Dad, I was just about to discuss this with you."

We now have three options: First, maintain the status quo and limit supply; second, increase manpower and equipment to expand production; as for the third…

He paused for a moment, then said, "Never mind, we don't need the third one for now. We'll make a plan later based on the business situation."

In his plan, this third point was to prepare for the fission expansion of sugar water.

However, the business is just starting out, and neither the capital nor the production scale can meet the conditions for rapid expansion.

Chen Bingwen was thinking to himself that he would have to wait until their sales stabilized for a period of time before considering the next step of development.

Chen Guofu pushed his tricycle, walking briskly.

Hearing Chen Bingwen's words, he replied without hesitation, "Awen, you decide what to do, Dad will listen to you!"

(End of this chapter)