Rebirth in Hong Kong: From Dessert Shop to Industrial Empire

Chapter 7 Breaking Through the Bottleneck (Please add to your favorites, vote with monthly tickets, and recommend this chapter)
Back at the dessert shop, Chen Bingwen and his father tallied up the day's earnings.

The four insulated buckets of syrup, along with two boxes of salted dumplings, sold for a total of nearly 800 yuan, netting a profit of over 400 yuan.

The amount made Chen Guofu's hands tremble slightly.

Chen Bingwen, however, remained calm. “Dad, right now we’re only supplying Huafeng Garment Factory. If we could cover all the dozens of industrial buildings in the Changsha Bay Industrial Zone, our income could increase several times over.”

Wang Qiaozhen came over with a cup of hot tea. Hearing Chen Bingwen's words, she said with some worry, "The three of us get up at four o'clock every day and can only make five or six buckets of sweet soup at most. Any more and we won't be able to handle it."

Since sweet soup is made by hand, every step is essential; otherwise, the taste will be off.

For example, red bean paste needs to be simmered for a full two hours to make it smooth, creamy, and sweet.

The family of three got up at four in the morning and worked until ten in the morning before they could barely make six buckets of sweet soup.

Therefore, production capacity has become a key bottleneck restricting development if the sales area is to be expanded.

"Mom, Dad and I have discussed it. We'll hire two helpers and buy some equipment, and our production capacity will increase immediately," Chen Bingwen explained, taking the tea from his mother.
Now, it takes our whole family six hours to prepare six buckets of sweet soup every day.

However, if we hire two helpers, add a mixer and two large pots, the output can be increased to twelve buckets, and the production time can be shortened to five hours.

"A helper?" Wang Qiaozhen looked at Chen Guofu and saw him nodding at her.

“Awen is right. If we hire two or three helpers and buy some equipment, we can break even in less than half a month, based on the current profit.”

Chen Guofu rubbed his hands together, explaining with some excitement, "Today, at least a hundred workers who wanted to buy sweet soup didn't get any. It's such a pity."

Upon hearing this, Wang Qiaozhen immediately felt like she was losing money and said, "I'll do as you say."

Increasing manpower and purchasing equipment may seem like a large investment, but it is not.

Based on the current wages in Sham Shui Po, two helpers would need a total of about HK$1,600 per month, and they would only be paid after working for a full month.

As for equipment, Chen Bingwen plans to check out Ya Liao Street next door, which is a street full of electronic products and second-hand appliances.

There are shops that specialize in selling second-hand kitchenware.

So, apart from the purchase of second-hand equipment which requires an immediate payment of around 1,000 yuan, all other expenses can be settled later, so the financial pressure is not significant.

After lunch, Chen Bingwen headed straight for Apliu Street.

The afternoon in Apliu Street is bustling with activity, with shops selling second-hand electrical appliances and electronic products crowding both sides of the narrow street.

At the end of the street, Chen Bingwen found a shop that specializes in selling second-hand kitchenware.

This Yongli Kitchenware store displays a wide variety of second-hand kitchen equipment.

Chen Bingwen examined the equipment with great interest, his gaze finally settling on a mixer that was about 80% new.

"Young man, this Siemens mixer was just replaced in the Peninsula Hotel kitchen last month. The motor is in excellent condition, with stable speed and low noise."

The shop owner, who was probably in his sixties with gray hair, saw that Chen Bingwen was interested in the blender and immediately stepped forward to introduce it to him.

Chen Bingwen carefully inspected the machine's casing and power cord, and then tested the speed adjustments at each level: "Sir, how long have you used this machine? Is it under warranty?"

"The machine has been used for less than three years. The Peninsula Hotel's equipment is much better maintained than that of a typical tea restaurant."

The old man patted his chest and assured me, "I'll give you a three-month warranty. Come find me anytime if there are any problems!"

Chen Bingwen nodded, then pointed to two 50-liter stainless steel pots in the corner: "How much are these two pots? If we buy them together, can you give me a package price?" The old man laughed heartily, knowing he had met a savvy buyer: "Young man, you know how to do business! How about this, the blender is six hundred, the two pots are eight hundred for you, a total of one thousand fourteen, and I'll throw in a spare blender and two pot lids, how about that?"

Chen Bingwen thought to himself that the price wasn't too high.

However, given the family's current situation, every penny saved counts, so he bargained, "Uncle, I work at Chen's Dessert Shop on Guilin Street next door. I'll definitely be a regular customer. How about 1200 in total?"

When Chen Bingwen said it was Chen's Sweet Soup Shop, the old man clearly knew where it was. "I know your shop. I've even had sweet soup there before."

Chen Bingwen smiled and nodded: "If you like it, sir, I'll give you a 10% discount next time you come for dessert."

"Alright! Just for your straightforwardness, twelve hundred it is!" The old man laughed heartily and readily made the decision.

After agreeing on a delivery time, Chen Bingwen glanced at his watch; it was only a little past two in the afternoon.

I've decided to visit the Labour Department in Sham Shui Po.

Upon arriving at the Labour Department, Chen Bingwen had just finished filling out the job application form when he heard a girl's voice calling out to him, "Brother Wen!"

Looking back, it turned out to be Gao Zhenhai's younger sister, Gao Meiling.

The little girl, wearing a plaid shirt and with her hair tied in a neat ponytail, was waving excitedly at him.

"Ah Mei? What are you doing here?" Chen Bingwen was somewhat surprised to see Gao Meiling at the Labour Department.

“I graduated from Form Three last year and haven’t been studying since,” Gao Meiling said to Chen Bingwen with a smile. “I helped my mother with handicrafts at home for a while, and recently I heard that a garment factory was hiring, so I came to take a look.”

Chen Bingwen knew his good friend's younger sister very well. Seventeen-year-old Gao Meiling was diligent and meticulous, a rare and helpful assistant.

He asked with a smile, "Amei, would you be interested in helping out at our dessert shop? The monthly salary is 800 yuan, and two meals are provided."

This treatment is considered quite good in Sham Shui Po.

Although a regular garment factory can pay 800 yuan a month, it doesn't include two meals a day, so a dessert shop is still more cost-effective.

Moreover, the working environment in garment factories is hot and stuffy, and workers often have to work overtime until very late.

Gao Meiling's eyes lit up, and she immediately nodded repeatedly: "Brother Wen, I'm willing. I often help my mother cook sweet soup at home, and I can make red bean paste and sesame paste."

"Okay, it's settled then. Report to the shop at six o'clock tomorrow morning. You'll have a three-day trial period. If there are no problems, you can start working officially."

"Thank you, Brother Wen!" Gao Meiling nodded happily. "I'll definitely do my best!"

After leaving the Labour Department, Chen Bingwen went to Aunt Zhang's house at the end of the street.

Aunt Zhang is a well-known expert in making pastries, but because of her age, she has been unable to find suitable work.

When considering who to help with the job, Chen Bingwen immediately thought of Aunt Zhang.

We asked her to come and make snacks and desserts like salted dumplings.

When Chen Bingwen told Aunt Zhang that Chen's shop was hiring someone to make snacks and pastries, she agreed without hesitation.

"Ah Wen, your aunt's pastry-making skills were honed in a teahouse, and she definitely won't disappoint you."

(End of this chapter)