Courtyard House: Starting with a 28-inch motorcycle

"Sure, but if it sells out in the first month, I'm afraid we won't be able to keep up with the inventory. I'll have someone bring in a batch from nearby as an emergency measure."

"Okay. Once the distillery is built, I'll have to leave it to you for a while. I'll be focusing my energy on shipping afterwards."

"I understand, Dad."

He Yuzhu's heart stirred slightly as he recalled the few secrets Lou Xiao'e had mentioned in his previous life, but the time was not right, so he remained silent.

Not long after, the He family boxing gym quietly opened.

There were no lion dances, no flower baskets, not even firecrackers—it was incredibly low-key. The only commotion was a few days of newspaper ads: "He's Martial Arts School is enrolling students. Tuition is 30 yuan per month; exceptionally talented students will be admitted for free, plus a stipend."

Thirty yuan is not a small amount for an ordinary family, but the key point is the second half of the sentence—if you practice well, you not only won't be charged, but you can also get paid.

These days, Hong Kong gangsters are pragmatic; if you don't offer them benefits, who will risk their lives for you?

The boxing gym was not far from the traditional Chinese medicine shop, just a few minutes' walk away, so He Yuzhu could easily take care of things back and forth.

The past two days have been deserted; the huge venue was empty, with only him and four employees occasionally moving around. When the staff at the traditional Chinese medicine shop heard that their boss had started a boxing gym, they were all surprised: Why would he give up a stable job to teach people to fight?

However, the Chinese medicine shop's performance steadily increased—it was a huge success on the first day thanks to the support of customers, its turnover exceeded 10,000 on the second day, and reached 13,000 Hong Kong dollars on the third day.

Word of mouth spread like wildfire, and He Yuzhu knew in his heart that more than 80% of the wealthy people on Hong Kong Island would eventually become customers of the Chinese medicine shop.

One morning, He Yuzhu had just stepped into the boxing gym and hadn't even settled in when a gruff voice boomed in:

"Do they really teach boxing here?"

The receptionist immediately greeted him with a smile: "Teaching! It's thirty yuan a month, sir. Would you like to take a look at the place first?"

The man clutched the newspaper, looking suspicious, and asked, "Thirty yuan? That's too expensive! I saw in the newspaper that talented people can learn for free, is that true?"

"You'll have to ask our boss." The staff member pointed to a spot not far away. "Look, the person is right there."

As soon as he finished speaking, he brought the first guy who came to ask for boxing skills to He Yuzhu.

"Want to learn boxing?"

"Yes... but I don't have any money. Can I get my tuition waived?"

"Let's give it a try."

Before he could finish speaking, He Yuzhu raised his hand and slapped him hard on the back. The man's legs went weak, his knees almost hitting the ground, and he staggered a few steps before barely managing to stand.

This wasn't just an ordinary shove; the force penetrated deep into his muscles, instantly dissipating all his strength. But the guy recovered quickly, indicating he has a solid foundation—he's talented and capable of training. As for whether he can develop real skills in the future, that depends on his own willingness to put in the effort.

He Yuzhu nodded slightly: "Alright, train with me. What's your name? What have you done?"

"Just call me Li Zai... As for work, I haven't found anything yet." Li Zai scratched his head, his tone a little hesitant. Job postings were everywhere in Hong Kong, but he was too picky and hadn't applied.

"Then come promptly at 8:30 every morning."

He Yuzhu glanced at him, still weighing his options. These days, Hong Kong is teeming with thugs, and finding a few upright disciples is as difficult as climbing to heaven. But at least he's the first disciple he's ever had, and even though he didn't take any money, he never expected to get rich from the He Family Boxing Gym.

The shop is owned by the family, and the monthly expenses are just a few people's wages plus water and electricity, which is almost zero cost.

On the other hand, the business of the traditional Chinese medicine shop was booming.

Besides its resounding success, the medicinal wine has also become a hot topic in wealthy business circles—a cup a day can completely relieve fatigue, and its smooth and mellow taste is like drinking sugar water.

Nine out of ten people who have tried it buy it again. Among the middle class, those earning three or four hundred Hong Kong dollars a month or more basically all carry a bottle home. As for the beeswax pills, their effects are miraculous; even heavy smokers praise them for their energizing and refreshing properties.

In just two months, the daily turnover of the Chinese medicine shop soared to HK$43,000, not including the income from rare medicinal materials that came and went, which were accounted for separately.

Relying solely on medicinal wine and beeswax pills, his monthly income has already exceeded one million. If rare medicinal herbs are included, his income is consistently around one and a half million.

Upon seeing this number, Lou's father and He Yuzhu exchanged a glance, both somewhat incredulous. Yet, upon closer examination, it made perfect sense: maxed-out medical skills plus a zero-cost supply of medicinal herbs—you couldn't find another company like this in the entire Hong Kong Island.

In 1957, only a handful of companies in Hong Kong earned millions a year; even the trading company controlled by John Bull couldn't guarantee that. Those who could earn more than five million a year were big shots who could shake the streets.

Tongyitang is already a top player in the Chinese medicine industry, but its working capital is only a few hundred thousand yuan.

The brewery was successfully established. He Yuzhu made several trips back and forth, personally taking charge as the factory director. However, he couldn't be there every day, so he simply hired an experienced brewer as the deputy director, while he focused on quality control.

As soon as the first batch of homemade liquor came out, the Chinese medicine shop immediately cut off its external procurement channels. Lou's father, with his keen sense of smell, took it to heart when He Yuzhu casually mentioned that "it can be used to make ginseng and fruit drinks."

After tasting the special edition—one cup and you're energized for most of the day—he immediately decided to buy the adjacent industrial land to build a beverage factory.

The regular version only requires reducing the proportion of ginseng juice; the taste remains the same, and the effect is still fantastic.

The He Family Martial Arts School was bustling with activity, with over thirty students crowding the courtyard. Six of them hadn't paid tuition, but they worked harder than anyone else. Why? Because they had personally witnessed He Yuzhu's terrifying power—a single palm strike that could decide the fate of an opponent.

In the past two months, it's not that no one has come to challenge us.

In chaotic times, martial arts schools on Hong Kong Island banded together and were xenophobic. If you didn't join them, you would be harassed every day, as annoying as flies buzzing around your head.

Challenging the establishment is the most common opening act. However, several groups of people came, and they were all knocked down by He Yuzhu with a single palm strike, lying on the ground for two hours without being able to get up.

No matter how ruthless a character is, they can't withstand a single slap from him. Even if the Hung Kuen School specially invited a giant who was 1.9 meters tall, with a face full of scars and a murderous aura, and ordinary people would go weak in the knees at the sight of him—he could still knock him down with a single slap and leave him unable to move.

After taking down four or five people in a row, He Yuzhu's name immediately made headlines, earning him the title of "Hong Kong Island's Number One Martial Arts Master," the pinnacle of real combat skills, unmatched by anyone.

Upon seeing the newspaper, he immediately contacted the Foreign Affairs Bureau and arranged for four bodyguards to protect Lou's father closely. As for himself? Threats? Even the military might not be able to suppress him; ordinary people were simply no match for him.

"Zhu Zi, the traditional Chinese medicine shop business is booming much better than I expected! I plan to mortgage the brewery and that undeveloped industrial land to the bank for three million, and with the income from the traditional Chinese medicine shop over the past two months, I'll buy a second-hand 10,000-ton ship!"

On the other end of the phone, Mr. Lou's voice trembled, unable to hide his excitement: "Hong Kong Island shipping is taking off now, we're already late to the game... we can't delay any longer."

He Yuzhu was taken aback: "Dad, will the bank really approve it? Is the brewery really worth that much?"

The ledgers of the traditional Chinese medicine shop cannot be touched—only income is recorded, not expenses. If it were to be used as collateral, the data would have to be cleaned up first.

Mr. Lou said in a deep voice, "It's not a big problem. Even if the assets are a bit lacking, the reputation of the Chinese medicine shop is strong enough, and the bank will have to give us face."

He Yuzhu didn't ask any further questions. He knew that there was another reason behind Lou's father's lavish spending: news had just arrived from the mainland that he needed Lou's help to purchase 8,000 tons of meat by the end of the year. Lou's father readily agreed.

In return, the mainland will provide the core components for two thousand semi-automatic washing machines by the end of the year. As long as Lou's father produces the outer drum himself, he can assemble two thousand complete machines and sell them to Japan, South Korea, Southeast Asia, and even enter the Western market.

As for Hong Kong Island itself? Basically, don't even consider it. Most people live in cramped, cramped apartments; where would they put a washing machine? Only the middle class and above have that kind of need.

This series of actions made Lou's father a household name in Hong Kong's elite circles. Besides his Chinese medicine shop being a money-printing machine, what was even more remarkable was his audacity and boldness—developing shipping, trade, and manufacturing simultaneously, steadily paving the way for his wealth.

No one knows how he negotiated it, but the result is clear: with just a brewery and a plot of land for an unfinished beverage factory, he managed to pry a three million loan from the Bank of East Asia. Coupled with the more than four million Hong Kong dollars he saved in three months at the Chinese medicine shop, he turned around and took over a 10,000-ton second-hand cargo ship from a German shipyard.

Although there are only three ships, the shipping capacity controlled by Lou's father has already firmly entered the top ten of Hong Kong Island's Chinese shipping industry.

The reputation of the Chinese medicine shop grew ever stronger. The pills became a "secret weapon" among wealthy businessmen, with many CEOs claiming that they felt "stronger" after taking them, and stocking up on one course of treatment after another. Even wealthy customers from Southeast Asia heard about it and sent people to Hong Kong specifically to purchase the goods, and some even wanted to become agents—all of whom were turned down by He Yuzhu.

Why share money with others when you can earn it yourself? Right now, even Hong Kong Island is experiencing a supply shortage, let alone other places? Let's focus on the present first.

After the cargo ship arrived at the port, Lou's father immediately prepared for its maiden voyage. But even with the ship in hand, no one trusted this newcomer. After a month of negotiations, not a single company was willing to entrust their cargo to him.

Mr. Lou decided not to wait any longer. Just then, the beverage factory was completed and put into production immediately.

He turned the boat around and headed straight for the mainland coast, where he hauled 5,000 tons of pineapples and mangoes and secretly transported them back to Hong Kong Island by waterway.

The Hong Kong government has always turned a blind eye to the smuggling of agricultural products, and besides, Mr. Lou had already made arrangements before setting off. When he encountered patrol boats along the way, he simply hoisted the flag and passed through without hindrance.

As soon as the fruit arrived at the port, it was immediately sent to the factory to be processed into fruit ginseng beverages. He directly handed this task over to He Yuzhu—he had overseen the factory's construction from start to finish in Chengdu and knew the ins and outs best. Lou's father, on the other hand, started a separate business, registering a company to focus on the marketing and promotion of the fruit ginseng beverages.

After taking over the beverage factory, He Yuzhu was extremely busy.

Fortunately, the traditional Chinese medicine shop weathered the initial chaos, and the staff and manager all got the hang of things. Business was booming, but he only needed to check the accounts and restock regularly. He would only personally handle rare medicinal herbs when important customers came to request them.

On the beverage factory side, he only takes care of the production side—making the fruit ginseng beverage and ensuring stable mass production.

The boxing gym also thrived. In just six months, the number of students exceeded two hundred, with one hundred and thirty paying students and the remaining eighty free spots, and its reputation spread far and wide.

Twelve of them, exceptionally talented and resolute, were taken in as disciples by He Yuzhu and became semi-official members of the He Family Martial Arts School. They could learn real kung fu and earn a salary at the same time, achieving the best of both worlds.