Rebirth in Hong Kong: From Dessert Shop to Industrial Empire

Chapter 67 My Cousin (Daily 10,000 words completed! Please vote with your monthly tickets and recommendations to continue reading!)

The completion of the first batch of orders in Singapore further demonstrates the superiority of the raw material contracting model.

The contracting center model not only withstood the test, but also unleashed vitality far exceeding expectations.

Mango processing is no longer a bottleneck; instead, it has become a booster for production capacity.

Incentivized by the principle of "more work, more pay," the female workers spontaneously optimized processes, forming an assembly line operation within their teams, resulting in steadily increasing efficiency.

Ah Zhen's team even set an amazing record of processing the equivalent of 3,000 bottles of syrup's worth of mango pulp in a single day, with an average daily income of over HK$60 per person, prompting other teams to follow suit.

Ling Peiyi oversaw the operation, quickly replicating the experience gained from the contracted center to processes such as grapefruit granulation and red bean sorting.

Throughout the entire upstream raw material processing stage, the output is stable at more than the daily production of 60,000 bottles of sugar water, and even slightly exceeds the required output.

"Brother Wen, the contracting center is operating smoothly and the raw material supply is sufficient."

The Sacmi production line is operating at full speed, with a stable daily output of around 61,000 bottles and a yield rate of 99.3%!

Holding the latest production report, Gao Zhenhai said with a smile, "The remaining 100,000 bottles for Singapore will be shipped in two batches. The first batch of 50,000 bottles will be loaded onto the ship the day after tomorrow!"

Chen Bingwen nodded and smiled with satisfaction: "Good. Ah Hai, thank you and the brothers for your hard work these past few days."

The ramp-up period for production capacity is basically over; the next phase is one of stabilization.

Quality control must never be relaxed, especially for goods shipped to Singapore, where absolute safety must be ensured.

Without disrupting production, everyone can take turns resting for a few days; everyone is exhausted lately!

Gao Zhenhai's smile widened, and he nodded vigorously: "Understood! Brother Wen! Brother Qiang is keeping a close eye on things, checking every batch of goods like they're being sieved, and the goods from Singapore have been given three extra layers of protection!"
The guys were really holding their breath, and now that production capacity is stable, it's time to take a breather.

I'll arrange for everyone to take turns resting and recuperating; we still have tough battles to fight later!

"In addition," Chen Bingwen pondered for a moment, "production capacity has stabilized, but cost pressures remain."

The price incentives offered by the contracting center have a significant effect, but they have also driven up upfront costs.

Director Ling is currently reviewing the overall cost structure and looking for areas for optimization.

You also need to cooperate and see if there are any areas on the production line where efficiency can be improved and costs reduced.

"Yes, Brother Wen!" Gao Zhenhai accepted the order and left.

The office fell silent for a moment.

Chen Bingwen rubbed his temples. After several days of high-intensity work, he had accumulated a lot of fatigue, both physically and mentally.

He walked to the window and looked at the orderly and busy scene in the factory area. The pride he felt from Singapore's success gradually subsided and was replaced by a more down-to-earth sense of satisfaction.

The foundation has finally been laid.

It's time to fulfill some of the promises we made earlier.

With that thought in mind, Chen Bingwen stepped out of the office.

A short while later, he found Ling Peiyi inspecting her work in the factory area.

"Director Ling!"

Chen Bingwen called Ling Peiyi aside and said, "Our production capacity is gradually stabilizing and is sufficient to meet Singapore's orders as well as our daily sales needs."

"Everyone has been working very hard, from dawn till dusk, for a while now. I plan to take advantage of this time to allow everyone to take turns resting for a few days, while ensuring normal production."

“Understood, Mr. Chen.” Ling Peiyi nodded in response, then added, “I will coordinate the shift arrangements with Director Gao to ensure that key personnel are on duty at each stage, so as not to affect production and quality control.”

"Yes, I trust you to handle things." Chen Bingwen nodded and said with a slight smile, "In addition, there are two other things to be settled."

He paused, then his tone became serious: "First, we must keep our promises. During the ramp-up of production capacity, everyone gave it their all, especially the women at the contracting center, whose efficiency far exceeded expectations."

I previously promised that for every 10% increase in production capacity, the bonus would increase by 10%.

Although a contracting center was later established, the bonuses from the previous period must be paid out in full!

Ling Peiyi strongly agreed with Chen Bingwen's approach, saying, "Mr. Chen is right."

This bonus is the most direct recognition of everyone's efforts and can greatly boost morale.

I'll immediately instruct the finance department to calculate the exact amount and prepare the cash, which will be distributed first thing tomorrow morning! I'll ensure that every penny reaches everyone's hands.

"Good!" Chen Bingwen nodded in satisfaction. "Distribute it on the spot, settle in cash, so that everyone can see and touch it!"

Those with outstanding performance will receive an extra special bonus! We want everyone to know that at Chen's, hard work pays off, and the better you do, the more money you earn!

"Understood! I will arrange it." Ling Peiyi quickly wrote it down.

"The second thing," Chen Bingwen said seriously, his smile fading, "is that production capacity has been stabilized and the channels in Singapore have been initially established, but this is only the beginning."

We cannot be satisfied with the status quo.

Director Ling, I need you to use this time to lead the team, calm down, and carefully plan the next stage of Chenji Foods' development blueprint.

There are several main directions, including market depth, product portfolio, cost optimization and supply chain, and brand strategy.

These issues require your leadership to conduct in-depth research, analysis, and argumentation.

I hope to see a clear, actionable draft strategic plan for the next six months to a year by the end of the holiday.

Ling Peiyi nodded, "Don't worry, Mr. Chen! I will definitely come up with a detailed and feasible plan!"

"Good! I believe in your abilities." Chen Bingwen said with a smile, "Go ahead and settle the bonus matter first, so everyone can be happy."

As evening approached, Chen Bingwen had just finished processing a document when he heard his mother, Wang Qiaozhen, calling out to him from the office door. The call was familiar yet tinged with anxiety.

"Awen! Awen!"

He quickly got up to greet her and saw Wang Qiaozhen standing at the door, looking around with a heavy thermos in her arms.

"Mom, what brings you here?" Chen Bingwen quickly stepped forward and took the thermos.

"Why did I come?" Wang Qiaozhen glared at him reproachfully, then said with concern, "You think about it, how long has it been since you came home for dinner?"
He always says he's busy on the phone! But even if he's busy, he still needs to eat, right?
You're only eighteen! What if you ruin your health? You look even worse than when you last came back!

She kept talking and pulled Chen Bingwen back to the office: "Quick, drink this soup while it's hot!"

I simmered this nourishing soup all afternoon, adding Chinese yam, goji berries, and codonopsis root—it's perfect for replenishing energy and calming the mind!

As the thermos was opened, a rich and mellow aroma instantly filled the air. Chen Bingwen felt a warmth in his heart, and the fatigue of the past few days seemed to be largely dispelled by the fragrance.

He obediently sat down and picked up his spoon: "Thank you, Mom."

Things have been a bit hectic at the factory lately, with orders from Singapore coming in at a high pace. However, production capacity has stabilized now, and things should get better later.

"No matter how good it is, you still need to take care of your health!" Wang Qiaozhen sat down beside him and watched him drink the soup in big gulps before a smile appeared on her face. "Your dad was still talking about it today, saying that you haven't lived in the new house in Mong Kok for more than a few days. You sleep in the factory every day. How can that cot be as comfortable as the big bed at home?"

I'm definitely going home to sleep tonight!

"Okay, okay, I'll definitely go home tonight."

Chen Bingwen smiled and agreed.

With the pressure from orders in Singapore easing, he really wanted to go back and get some rest.

After finishing the soup, Chen Bingwen packed his things, said a few words to Zhong Qiang, and then accompanied his mother to take a car back to Mong Kok Golden Garden.

As soon as he arrived at his doorstep, Chen Bingwen noticed something was wrong.

The security door was ajar, and from inside came the slightly restrained voices of Chen Guofu, the father, and a strange man.

"Dad, I'm home." Chen Bingwen pushed open the door.

In the living room, Chen Guofu was sitting on the sofa with a man in his early thirties who was wearing a faded, patched old military uniform and had dark, rough skin.

The man sat stiffly, his hands awkwardly placed on his knees, and a hint of barely perceptible fear in his eyes.

Upon seeing Chen Bingwen enter, he hurriedly stood up, appearing somewhat flustered.

"Awen's back!" Chen Guofu quickly introduced, "This is your cousin Shuisheng from your maternal uncle's family. He just came from his hometown."

"Cousin Shuisheng?" Chen Bingwen was taken aback.

No wonder my mom was in such a hurry to pull me back; it turns out a relative had come to visit.

His mother, Wang Qiaozhen, came from a rural area in Shunde, Guangdong Province. He seemed to have met this cousin a few times when he was a child, but his memory of him was already vague.

However, given her mother's family background, it would probably be difficult for her to come to Hong Kong through legitimate channels in this day and age.

Sure enough, Wang Qiaozhen sighed, her eyes reddening slightly: "Alas, Shuisheng swam here."

"We drifted at sea for a day and a night, and almost..." She couldn't go on, so she went over and took Shuisheng's hand, "Child, you've suffered!"

Shui Sheng murmured a few times, his voice hoarse: "Uncle, Aunt, Cousin Awen, I... I had no other choice."

The family was so poor they couldn't even afford to eat. The commune's work points couldn't even buy a few pounds of grain. The children were crying from hunger. "I heard there's a way to make a living here."

Chen Bingwen instantly understood what "swimming over" meant in that era.

If ten people go into the water, it's considered lucky if three or four make it back to shore alive.

A complex mix of emotions welled up in Chen Bingwen's heart.

There is a sense of lament for the fate of individuals amidst the torrent of the times, and also a touch of admiration for this cousin who dared to risk his life despite never having met him.

"Cousin, sit down and talk."

Chen Bingwen stepped forward and put his arm around Shui Sheng's shoulder, "It's good that we're here. Settle down and relax."

"Thank you. Thank you, cousin!" Cousin Shuisheng's voice choked with emotion, and his eyes welled up with tears.

Wang Qiaozhen wiped her eyes and said, "I'll have Shuisheng take a hot shower and change into your dad's old clothes."

"Dinner will be ready soon, Awen, you must be hungry too?"

"Okay." Chen Bingwen nodded, watching his cousin Shuisheng's hunched back as he followed his mother toward the bathroom, his heart filled with mixed emotions.

The atmosphere at the dinner table was somewhat silent.

Cousin Shuisheng was clearly starving, but faced with a table full of delicious food—roast goose, poached chicken, and steamed fish—he only dared to shovel small bites of rice into his bowl, occasionally picking up a piece of green vegetable in front of him.

"Shuisheng, don't just eat rice, eat more meat!" Wang Qiaozhen said with heartache, placing a large, glistening piece of roast goose on his plate.

"Thank you, Auntie." Shui Sheng lowered his head and spoke softly. Looking at the roast goose in the bowl, which he only dared to dream of during the New Year, his throat bobbed and his eyes reddened.

Chen Guofu sighed and looked at Chen Bingwen: "Bingwen, look at Shuisheng's situation, could you find him a job at the factory? He's strong and honest."

Chen Bingwen put down his chopsticks and looked at his cousin Shuisheng's hands, which were covered in calluses and had large knuckles, clearly the marks left by years of hard work.

He pondered for a moment and asked, "Cousin, what do you mainly do back in our hometown?"

“I farmed, and I also worked at the commune’s brick kiln,” Shuisheng quickly replied.

"Okay." Chen Bingwen nodded. "How about this, cousin, you can help out at the factory's raw material warehouse for now, responsible for moving and organizing."

The work there is a bit tiring, but it includes room and board, and you get 1,000 yuan a month upfront. How about that? Once you're more familiar with the environment, we can see if there are any more suitable positions.

"One thousand yuan?"

Shui Sheng suddenly raised his head, his eyes wide open, and the chopsticks in his hand fell to the table with a "clatter".

One thousand yuan! He might not be able to save that much even after working himself to the bone at the commune's brick kiln for ten years!
The immense shock left him speechless for a moment; his lips trembled as he looked at Chen Bingwen, then at his aunt and uncle, his eyes instantly filling with tears.

"Great! Great! Thank you, cousin! Thank you, uncle and aunt!" Shui Sheng was so excited that he was incoherent and stood up to bow.

"Sit down quickly, we're family, no need for formalities," Chen Guofu hurriedly pulled him aside.

Seeing the light rekindled in her nephew's eyes, Wang Qiaozhen finally breathed a sigh of relief and said to Chen Bingwen with a smile, "That's good, Shuisheng has something to do, and I can rest assured."

Ah Wen, you have no idea how tough life is back in our hometown.

The wages you paid Shuisheng are something we wouldn't even dare to dream of back home.

How could I not know!
Chen Bingwen thought to himself silently.

Since the time travel, the sense of alienation I felt due to the differences in eras has faded considerably.

He understood that his appearance not only changed the fate of Chen's Sweet Soup, but also subtly influenced the trajectories of ordinary people around him.

　Thank you all for your support! Thank you for your donations, monthly tickets, and recommendation votes!
　　
　
(End of this chapter)