Courtyard House: Starting with a 28-inch motorcycle

He spoke calmly and confidently. This industry isn't about who gets in first, but about who has the goods. Even if the formula is right in front of you, without ginseng and cordyceps, what are you going to sell it with? Besides, these rare medicinal herbs rely entirely on connections and channels. Hong Kong Island is such a small place, how could it possibly produce them itself? They all have to be imported from elsewhere.

As dusk fell, Chen Yizhong had already prepared dinner, and the five of them, including his son, sat down around the table to eat.

The food was mediocre. Lou's father had become picky about food thanks to He Yuzhu's cooking, and he could tell the difference in quality with just one bite. But since they were currently living under someone else's roof, they couldn't very well ask the chef to come and show off his skills.

Before the meal, Lou's father had entrusted Chen Yizhong with two things: first, to obtain an identity certificate, and second, to introduce him to merchants who could buy gold and jewelry.

The amount of gold jewelry they brought was no small sum. In those days, very few jewelers could afford to buy HK$800,000 worth of paper gold in one go. Fortunately, gold was a hard currency, and by visiting several different stores, they could eventually convert it into cash.

Chen Yizhong's textile factory mainly exports to Southeast Asia. Although it is not as large as it was back in Beijing, its foundation remains. Lou's father subtly gleaned this information from the dinner table.

"Zhu Zi, you've worked hard. Get some rest. We'll need you tomorrow."

That night, Lou's father patted He Yuzhu on the shoulder. The two were settled in the Chen family's house. The next day, Chen Yizhong specially set aside a whole day to accompany them to handle the formalities and sell the gold.

Although Hong Kong Island has a strict identity system, it is not difficult for a prominent businessman like Chan Yee-chung to make a call or pull some strings.

The next morning, the three of them had breakfast and went out chatting and laughing. Chen Yizhong had his own car, which was just what they needed.

The first stop was the household registration office. A short while later, Chen Yizhong came out with two brand-new identity documents and handed them to Lou's father and He Yuzhu.

The car then traveled around, first visiting several powerful jewelers, and then taking Lou's father to scout out key locations on Hong Kong Island.

At that time, the trend of acquiring land for high-rise buildings had not yet taken hold on Hong Kong Island. The real way to make money was still through factories, exports, and trade.

Lou's father and He Yuzhu had long been aware of the situation; today they were simply going to the site to verify what they knew.

Chen Yizhong's assistance to the two men was, in essence, a bet on their future. Just from Lou's father's description of the blueprint for the traditional Chinese medicine shop, he was certain that this man would carve out a niche for himself in Hong Kong. If he succeeded in the future, he might very well turn around and help him.

Moreover, their friendship had been firmly established years ago. In chaotic times, having an extra reliable friend is like having an extra way out.

In the afternoon, I met with several jewelers and successfully sold the gold I had. Gold is undisputed, readily available hard currency; as soon as I put it out, someone would immediately take it.

There was some haggling over the price of the jewelry, but it was all eventually sold. He Yuzhu's personal collection was completely converted into cash.

This scene surprised Chen Yizhong slightly—he originally thought that most of the things belonged to Lou's father, but he did not expect that He Yuzhu himself also had a substantial fortune.

Once the transaction was completed, Chen Yizhong immediately took the two of them out for afternoon tea.

The aroma of tea wafted through the air. Lou's father picked up his cup and spoke calmly, "Zhu Zi, what are your thoughts on the next step?"

"Dad, let's locate the winery in Tsuen Wan; there's a lot of industrial land there. As for the Chinese medicine shop... Central, Wan Chai, and Tsim Sha Tsui are the three options, but I think Tsim Sha Tsui is the most suitable."

He Yuzhu pondered for a moment before answering. He had already memorized the information, but some things, he had to see for himself to be sure.

Many factories are clustered in Tsuen Wan, so it's only natural that a brewery would set up shop there.

The medicinal wine sold at the Chinese medicine shop relies heavily on a large quantity of baijiu (Chinese liquor), so He Yuzhu had secretly been studying brewing techniques before arriving. Currently stuck at level two, he plans to reach level five, at which point he'll be able to create a unique baijiu. Then, he can not only supply his own medicinal wine but also establish a well-known brand.

"It would be best if the martial arts school were located near Tsim Sha Tsui, so it could be close enough to take care of you, Dad. As for where we'd be staying..."

"Old Lou, why don't you just stay at my place? Don't be so formal with me!"

Chen Yizhong interrupted him, turning to look at He Yuzhu with a hint of curiosity in his eyes: "Nephew, are you really planning to open a martial arts school?"

"Yes, Hong Kong Island isn't a safe place. Opening a martial arts school and taking on a few apprentices can help keep things under control. But the martial arts school is just a side business. My main goal is to start with the food and beverage industry and then gradually expand into other areas."

He Yuzhu spoke calmly, but he had already made his plans. He had already spotted a piece of land while driving around today, and now he was just waiting to see if he could secure it tomorrow.

Lou's father also spoke up: "Yizhong, in the early stages of starting our business, my son and I have been staying here for a long time, which has definitely affected your life. Not to mention anything else, the noise from coming and going every morning and evening is quite loud, and we're worried about disturbing your rest... Sassoon Road is indeed a good location. Once we've established ourselves, I'll buy a house there too, and we can still be neighbors."

"Hey, Lao Lou, you've put it this way, how can I refuse?" Chen Yizhong waved his hand. "Alright, if you see a place you like, I'll arrange for your driver to take you around in the next couple of days."

The three of them had made up their minds, and after finishing their afternoon tea, they prepared to find a place to stay.

1957 was the year when Hong Kong Island's property market reached its peak, and the bubble was about to burst, with property prices about to plummet; but two or three years later, it would take off again with the influx of people - right now we are on the eve of a trough.

Lou's father and He Yuzhu arrived at just the right time, when the real estate market was sluggish and buyers were hesitant. Prices for both commercial and residential properties were suppressed, making it an opportune moment to buy at rock-bottom prices.

To facilitate the start of their business, Lou's father didn't even consider villas or luxury homes, but instead set his sights on a penthouse duplex in a bustling neighborhood. At four or five hundred square meters, it was enough for the two of them to live comfortably. More importantly, this apartment was being sold hastily by a property speculator at a discounted price, and the downstairs floor was also included – in case Lou Xiao'e and Lou Tanshi came to live there in the future, they could live separately.

Back then, property procedures weren't complicated. Viewing a property, making a payment, and transferring ownership were all done in one go, in less than two hours. When they left the Housing Department, the office hours hadn't ended yet.

Chen Yizhong suggested, "Old Lou, you can pack up and move out of your house tomorrow. Come stay at my place tonight, and we can chat a bit more."

"...Alright, then I'll trouble you, Yizhong."

After a slight hesitation, Lou's father nodded in agreement. In fact, the two of them could have stayed in a hotel, but they couldn't refuse Chen Yizhong's hospitality and didn't want to lose face.

They had over 1.2 million Hong Kong dollars in cash on them, not to mention the hundreds of thousands of ginseng roots hidden in He Yuzhu's upgrade acceleration space. Selling just a few hundred roots would net them a huge sum, so they had no worries about cash flow.

That evening, upon returning to the Chen family home, He Yuzhu, to express his gratitude, personally cooked a table of authentic Cantonese dishes.

Once the masterful culinary skills were unleashed, the entire room was filled with an irresistible aroma. With each bite, the fresh and savory flavors assaulted the senses, and the three members of the Chen family ate with gusto, their mouths agape, unable to contain their delight.

Halfway through the meal, Chen Yizhong's son, Chen Jiaran, suddenly blurted out, "Daddy, I want to eat this again! Let him come and be our chef..."

"Shut up!"

Chen Yizhong's face darkened, and he immediately reprimanded the child. The child shrank back, his lips pursed, and tears almost welled up in his eyes.

"Hey, Yizhong, the child's just joking, don't take it seriously." Lou's father smiled and smoothed things over. "To be honest, Zhuzi's cooking skills are famous throughout Beijing. Even ministerial-level leaders have to wait in line for a table. I only get to eat here once a month because of my relationship with my father-in-law."

"This skill is truly remarkable; he would deserve to be called a God of Cookery even in Hong Kong!"

Chen Yizhong laughed and nodded in agreement, but a subtle sour feeling welled up inside him.

Old Lou had always been superior to him back in Beijing, and the only thing that allowed him to stand tall was having a son to back him up; while Lou's father only had a daughter.

But looking at him now, it's clear that Lou's father married a wealthy man through his daughter, a man who excels in every aspect. His culinary skills alone place him firmly among the top figures in Hong Kong's food scene. Chen Yizhong knows this perfectly well—to reach the pinnacle of any field, making money is just a matter of lifting a finger.

"Boss, I'm transferring this shop to you. I wish you great success and may you make a fortune!"

After the two street-front shops were sold, the original landlords smiled and congratulated them. Actually, they hadn't originally planned to sell either of the shops. In the current Hong Kong property market, everyone buys properties to collect rent and make easy money, but the current situation is a bit strange.

The first wave of housing construction is nearing its peak, leaving a plethora of vacant properties on the market with few buyers and even fewer renters. Unless the government immediately implements policies to support the market, housing prices will likely continue to plummet next year.

Mr. Lou smiled and returned the gift, saying, "Thank you for your generosity, boss. I wish you great success."

"Money? Make my ass off!" The former landlord waved his hand, looking miserable. "I've really messed up this time. I was completely fooled by those real estate developers' empty promises. I bought the shop three months ago, and I can't rent it out. It's just sitting there burning money."

Although the selling price was slightly higher than the purchase price, the profit was far below expectations. Furthermore, the two shops were enormous, totaling nearly 9,000 square feet, with a monthly rent exceeding HK$10,000. Who would be willing to pay that much? If they truly had that kind of financial strength, they might as well buy property directly; they could recoup their investment in two years.

Once the transfer of ownership was completed, Lou's father and He Yuzhu immediately found a renovation team and explained their renovation requirements in detail.

It was quite a coincidence that the two shops were right next to each other, so we decided to buy them both at the same time, which would save us a lot of trouble and worry.

"Dad, shouldn't we apply for factory land next?"

Lou's father nodded: "Yes, the sooner the better. Zhuzi, when the brewing business starts, we'll all be counting on you to take the lead."

Although he had never seen He Yuzhu brew wine himself, since this son-in-law dared to make such a promise, he must have real skills.

"I'll make a trip to Tsuen Wan in the next couple of days to see if there's any suitable industrial land. Zhu Zi, keep an eye on the renovations here. We'll discuss it further tonight if anything comes up."

He Yuzhu agreed: "No problem, Dad. By the way, I'll give you the rest of the money. If you can get a bigger piece of land, don't hesitate. Don't worry about the money for building the factory, I'll cover it."

Lou's father glanced at him and understood—this kid was probably going to try to pull some strings with someone in the Foreign Affairs Bureau. He didn't ask any more questions and just nodded.

Actually, Ho Yu-chu had other plans. He passed by "Tung Yik Tong" today and knew that it was a famous Chinese medicine shop on Hong Kong Island that specialized in high-end medicinal materials. He was planning to go and check it out.

Construction has begun on the traditional Chinese medicine shop and martial arts school, but it's just a small-scale renovation, not a major demolition or alteration, and it should be finished within a week. For the time being, he'll have to rely on the goods he stockpiled in the Life Acceleration Space to keep up until the winery is completed.