Rebirth in Hong Kong: From Dessert Shop to Industrial Empire

Chapter 99 The Most Popular Dessert Shop in Hong Kong (Seeking monthly votes and recommendations to continue reading)

Chen Bingwen's gaze swept over the neatly stacked PET preforms and aluminum caps in stock, and he nodded slightly.

Although these are not core assets, they can be used directly, which does save a lot of procurement time and costs.

Chen Bingwen looked at the somewhat empty but sturdy factory building and made some plans in his mind.

Acquiring the property rights to a factory building and two existing production lines in the core area of ​​this industrial zone for HK$120 million is a significant one-time expense, but in the long run, especially considering the future appreciation potential of industrial land on Hong Kong Island, this deal is definitely worthwhile.

“Boss Huang,” Chen Bingwen turned to Huang Sheng, who looked slightly nervous, and said in a calm tone, “I’ve inspected the factory. The equipment is well-maintained, and the factory structure is solid.”

These remaining stock items are just a bonus.

Huang Sheng nodded hurriedly, "Yes, yes, Mr. Chen, these are all good stuff. If it weren't for that, I wouldn't be in this situation."

Seeing that he was about to complain again, Chen Bingwen quickly raised his hand to stop him, "We accept the price of 120 million."

Huang Sheng was stunned for a moment, then his face lit up with unbelievable joy. He had thought there would be some haggling involved.

"Mr. Chen, are you... are you serious?"

"of course it's true."

Chen Bingwen nodded very affirmatively, "However, there are a few conditions. First, all equipment must be guaranteed to be in normal working order. We will conduct detailed tests before the handover. If any core components are damaged beyond repair, the payment will be deducted accordingly."

Second, the ownership of the factory buildings and land must be clear, without any mortgages or legal disputes, and the transfer procedures will be handled by our lawyers throughout the process.

Third, the faster the handover, the better. All procedures and preliminary equipment acceptance should be completed within one week. We will pay 80% of the payment then, with the remaining 20% ​​due after the equipment has been running stably for one week.

Hearing the clear and professional conditions, Huang Sheng knew that the other party was an expert and also saw Chen Bingwen's decisive and efficient work style.

After a moment's thought, he realized that 120 million was his target price. Although the other party had added an acceptance clause, it was reasonable and the payment method was straightforward.

"Alright! Mr. Chen is straightforward! I, Huang, am not one to beat around the bush either, so I'll do as you say!"

Huang Sheng nodded vigorously and extended his hand, "It's a pleasure to cooperate with you!"

"It's a pleasure to cooperate with you." Chen Bingwen shook hands with him, then turned to Ling Peiyi, Gao Zhenhai, and Zhong Qiang and gave them instructions.

"Director Ling, please immediately arrange for the finance department to follow up on the contract and payment process."

"Ahai, Qiang, you take the technical team and start working on the site tomorrow. Conduct comprehensive testing and debugging of both production lines to ensure seamless integration with our existing production system."

"Understood!" the three replied in unison.

On the same day, at the Kwai Chung Container Terminal on Hong Kong Island.

The massive cargo ship "Haifeng" sat quietly at its berth.

Dockworkers are busy hoisting a container bearing the "Chen Ji Foods" logo onto a ship.

Lin Wenxiong stood by the dock, looking at the bustling scene before him, his face filled with undisguised excitement.

Standing next to him was Zhang Zhiming, the sales manager of Chen Ji Foods responsible for the Singapore market.

"Manager Zhang, I've been eagerly anticipating this first batch of 50,000 bottles of 'Jinba'!" Lin Wenxiong rubbed his hands together. "I've heard about the amazing results of the bundled promotion in Hong Kong! The response has been fantastic!"
Wholesalers and retailers in Singapore are asking me when I can receive the goods.

Zhang Zhiming smiled and nodded: "Don't worry, Mr. Lin, Mr. Chen and Director Ling attach great importance to the Singapore market."

This batch of goods that just rolled off the production line will be prioritized for delivery to Singapore.

In addition to Jinba (a popular Chinese herbal tea brand), there are also 100,000 bottles of bottled sugar water to ensure uninterrupted supply.

"Good! Great!"

Lin Wenxiong watched as the container landed steadily on the ship, then turned to Zhang Zhiming to confirm again, "The ship is scheduled to arrive in Singapore in three days, right?"

"Yes, it's expected to arrive at Pasir Panjang Port in three days," Zhang Zhiming confirmed. "We've already entrusted the customs clearance procedures to an agent in Singapore. Mr. Lin, what about your side?"

"Don't worry! I've arranged everything: the docks, warehouses, and distribution channels!" Lin Wenxiong promised, patting his chest. "As soon as the goods arrive at the port, they'll be cleared through customs and put into storage immediately, then distributed to major supermarkets and convenience stores right away!"

The promotional posters and plans are ready; we're just waiting for the products to be available!

October 5, 1978, Friday, evening.

A huge hand-painted poster of "Drunken Master" hangs at the entrance of the Queen's Theatre on Hong Kong Island, with Jackie Chan's image in a drunken boxing pose on the poster attracting a lot of attention.

Staff used ropes to set off a small area for reporters and a few onlookers to stay.

Director Yuen Woo-ping and producer Ng See-yuen, along with lead actors Jackie Chan, Yuen Siu-tien, Hwang Jang-lee, Dean Shek, Yeung Pan-pan, and others, arrived at the theater entrance on time.

There were no glamorous gowns; the cast and crew were dressed casually, but their spirits were high.

They stood in front of the poster, smiling as they accepted the flashes of light.

Reporters from several newspapers, including Ta Kung Pao and Huaqiao Daily, took photos and asked questions loudly, mostly focusing on the film's style, Jackie Chan's performance, and box office expectations.

As the producer, Ng See-yuen naturally has the core answer to the question.

With a smile on his face, he remained as cautious and pragmatic as ever: "Drunken Master is a new attempt for us, combining kung fu and comedy."

Ah Long worked very hard, and Master Yuan's design was also very brilliant.

I hope the audience will like it.

As for box office success, of course I hope it's good, but the most important thing is that the movie makes everyone happy.

Deep down, he still regarded "Snake in the Eagle's Shadow" as an insurmountable peak, and his expectation for "Drunken Master" was always steady profit, rather than creating miracles.

Cheng Long stood to the side, looking both excited and somewhat nervous.

This is the first time he has truly taken the lead role in a work, and its success or failure hinges on this.

Despite his inner trepidation, he still managed a smile for the camera and answered questions with a strong voice: "I really enjoyed the action in this movie, and there were also many funny parts. I hope everyone will support it!"

After a simple ribbon-cutting ceremony, the cast and crew took a group photo before entering the theater to watch the premiere with the audience. The whole process was concise and pragmatic, completely different from the extravagant scenes Chen Bingwen had witnessed in his previous life, where stars gathered, flashbulbs filled the night sky, and it felt more like a grand fashion show than a movie premiere.

At that time, the length of the red carpet seemed to be inversely proportional to the quality of the film.

The jewelry worn by celebrities is far more valuable than the literary value of a script; every smile is meticulously calculated; and every interview statement is crafted by a public relations team.

The so-called premiere was a meticulously crafted performance tailored to generate buzz and media attention.

All of this is unlike any of the glamorous, attention-grabbing press releases that take longer than a movie to produce, unlike the dazzling displays of glamour on the red carpet.

There were no fans chanting meaningless "idol slogans" like a tidal wave, and no media outlets discussing at length whether a celebrity's dress was a current season haute couture or out-of-season ready-to-wear.

It was as if the costume was more noteworthy than the film's script and performances.

The simplicity before him made him feel that although the red carpet was short, it was at least laid out in front of the cinematic hall of fame, rather than becoming a mere arena for fame and fortune and a spectacle for internet traffic.

Chen Bingwen and Ling Peiyi discreetly went directly to a reserved seating area on the second floor.

They didn't bother the creative team, but waited for the movie to start just like ordinary viewers.

The lights dimmed, and the movie officially began.

The familiar opening theme music begins.

As the plot unfolded, bursts of laughter began to fill the theater.

Jackie Chan's portrayal of the mischievous and hilarious young Wong Fei-hung, and Yuen Siu-tien's portrayal of Beggar So, are both serious and witty, and their interactions are full of fun.

When Jackie Chan's character, Wong Fei-hung, after a humiliating first experience learning "Drunken Fist," escaped his master Beggar So's clutches with a bruised face and tattered clothes, and stumbled into a shop with a sign that read "Chen's Sweet Soup," the theater erupted in knowing laughter.

"Boss! Quick! Quick, give me a bowl of sweet soup to soothe my throat! My mouth is parched after the fight!" Cheng Long shouted, panting heavily and slamming his fist on the table, his face bearing an exaggerated expression of pain.

The camera gave a clear close-up of the "Chen's Dessert" signboard, followed by a scene of a waiter deftly serving a bowl of chilled mango pomelo sago.

Cheng Long took the bowl, tilted his head back, and gulped down several mouthfuls. His face instantly showed an extremely comfortable expression, as if all the fatigue and pain in his body had been dispelled by the bowl of sweet soup.

"Wow! That's great! Drinking a bowl of Chen's sweet soup after a fight is like being in heaven!" He wiped his mouth and exclaimed with lingering satisfaction.

The line and the scene feel as natural as life itself, yet they cleverly incorporate the brand.

The laughter in the theater grew louder, and many audience members whispered among themselves:

"Chen's Dessert? Is that the one in Sham Shui Po?"

"Absolutely! It's the most popular dessert shop in Hong Kong right now!"

"Drinking sugary water after a fight? Haha, that's such a natural advertisement!"

"."

In the climax of the final showdown, Wong Fei-hung faces a powerful final boss and brings the "drunken fist" style of "drunken form but not drunken mind" to its extreme.

The shaky, perilous evasive maneuvers concealed exquisite footwork and sharp counterattacks.

Jackie Chan showcased the elegance, cunning, and explosive power of Drunken Fist to the fullest. Coupled with meticulously designed sound effects and tight editing, the audience held their breath until Wong Fei-hung finally defeated his opponent with a bizarre "Drunken Eight Immortals" move, at which point the entire audience erupted in thunderous applause and cheers!
"fantastic!"

"Ah Long fought so coolly!"

"This drunken boxing is exhilarating!"

The film ends, and the lights come on.

The audience erupted in enthusiastic and sustained applause!

This applause was not just politeness, but a natural reaction from people who were genuinely moved by the film's entertainment value.

The audience members wore smiles of lingering enjoyment, discussing the exciting fights and hilarious moments.

"Hey, do you remember when Ah Long said he wanted to go to 'Chen's for a bowl of sweet soup to soothe his throat' after the fight? Haha, that's hilarious!"

"Yes, yes, and that signature shot too! Chen's Dessert looks really good!"

"You know what, I'm actually a bit thirsty after watching the action scene. How about we go to Chen's Restaurant and get some sweet soup?"

"."

Chen Bingwen and Ling Peiyi exchanged a smile as they listened to the surrounding chatter.

The film's critical acclaim and product placement far exceeded expectations.

At the simple tea party after the premiere, Wu Siyuan found Chen Bingwen.

"Mr. Chen, thank you for your support." Wu Siyuan raised his glass, his tone more confident than before. "The audience's reaction seems to be quite good."

"The movie is a great success, Mr. Wu," Chen Bingwen affirmed. "The combination of comedy and kung fu is just right, and Jackie Chan's performance will make him an instant star."

Thank you for your kind words!

"Come on, Mr. Chen, let me introduce you to some friends. They were just asking which boss had such a keen eye that invested in this film so early."

As he spoke, he warmly led Chen Bingwen and his companion toward a small lounge on the side.

Inside the lounge, Raymond Chow, chairman of the board of directors of Golden Harvest, and Robert Ho, general manager, were chatting with Yuen Woo-ping while holding wine glasses.

Upon seeing Wu Siyuan leading in a strange young man, the group cast curious glances their way.

“Mr. Zou, Mr. He, Director Yuan,” Wu Siyuan introduced with a smile, “This is Mr. Chen Bingwen of Chen Ji Foods, whom I mentioned before.”

Mr. Chen, this is Raymond Chow, Chairman of Golden Harvest; Mr. Leonard Ho, General Manager; and this is Director Yuen Woo-ping.

(End of this chapter)