Chapter 18: Model Sanitation Unit (Please Support with Bookmarks, Monthly Votes, Recommendation Votes, and Continued Reading)

February 3, 1978.
The twenty-sixth day of the twelfth lunar month.
The third day of the Victoria Park Lunar New Year Fair.

Early in the morning, Chen Bingwen arrived at Victoria Park just as he always did, bright and early. On the second day of the fair, although Zhang Shichang’s brother-in-law had attempted some trouble, thanks to timely intervention, the sales at the four cooked food stalls remained unaffected.

By the time they closed for the night, total sales had reached thirty-seven thousand five hundred dollars, exceeding the first day by over six thousand. With the New Year drawing near, the crowds were bound to grow larger each day. At this rate, the total sales over the entire fair would likely surpass three hundred thousand dollars.

No matter what, Chen Bingwen could not allow troublemakers like Zhang Shichang or “Toothless Ju” to disrupt his profitable venture.

At seven o’clock, as the gates of Victoria Park opened, the waiting crowd surged in, and the market officially opened for another day.

Following Chen Bingwen’s arrangements, Gao Zhenhai had assigned an employee at each stall specifically to maintain order. Chen himself patrolled between the four stalls accompanied by two sturdy workers.

Chen stationed himself at Stall Number One, directing operations. He greeted customers while keeping a close eye on his surroundings, ready to handle any emergencies.

By ten in the morning, long queues had formed in front of the stalls. Suddenly, Chen noticed a commotion at the edge of the crowd. His heart tightened as he moved to investigate.

Just then, Inspector Ma appeared, accompanied by several health department officials and followed by a few reporters carrying cameras.

“Boss Chen!” Inspector Ma called out warmly from a distance. “I’ve brought reporters to interview you!”

Chen’s eyes brightened, and he promptly stepped forward. “Inspector Ma, welcome, welcome!”

Inspector Ma smiled as he introduced the reporters. “This is a reporter from the Eastern Daily, this one from TVB, and that is from Sing Tao Daily... Our health department has decided to award Chen’s Sweet Soup Stall the Hygiene Model Unit plaque and we’re here to present it.”

Chen felt a surge of delight; this was a gift delivered just as he needed it most. He quickly tidied his collar and smiled modestly. “Inspector Ma, you flatter me. We’re only doing what’s right.”

Ma nodded and turned to the camera, explaining, “Chen’s Sweet Soup voluntarily applied for hygiene inspection and established a comprehensive quality control system...”

Though Chen and his stall became little more than a backdrop for Inspector Ma’s speech, Chen’s smile never wavered.

This was an official endorsement, a priceless opportunity.

The TVB camera swept across the spotless stall, showcasing the workers’ standardized procedures.

The Eastern Daily reporter asked, “Boss Chen, could you share your secrets for managing hygiene?”

Chen bowed slightly, wearing a humble yet confident smile. “Well, all our ingredients undergo strict selection, every step has a dedicated person in charge, and all workers are professionally trained.”

He spoke as he guided the reporters through the stall: immaculate workbenches, gleaming stainless steel containers, and swift but orderly staff wearing masks and caps.

The Sing Tao Daily reporter exclaimed in surprise, “Boss Chen, even a temporary stall like yours is so well managed—no wonder you received the Hygiene Model Unit title!”

...

“Brother Ju, Chen’s Sweet Soup stall is surrounded by TV and newspaper reporters. It’s probably not the right time to approach them now,” Ah Guang reported cautiously from a distance.

Toothless Ju narrowed his eyes, staring coldly at Chen’s stall swarmed by reporters. He snorted, “That kid sure knows how to find a protector.”

At that moment, Inspector Ma handed the gilded “Hygiene Model Unit” plaque to Chen Bingwen.

Flashes from cameras captured the moment.

Watching the scene at Chen’s stall, Toothless Ju’s expression darkened and shifted uneasily.

The Fortune Gate Tea Restaurant had always been one of the larger contributors to his protection fees, paying two thousand dollars every month.

Especially during the Victoria Park Lunar New Year Fair, he collected an additional two thousand.

This year, because of Chen’s Sweet Soup, Fortune Gate lost a cooked food stall at the fair, causing Ju to lose two thousand dollars out of thin air.

The more he thought about it, the angrier he grew, his swollen face twitching uncontrollably.

He suddenly hurled the cigarette butt to the ground and crushed it fiercely with his shoe. “Damn it! Even a sweet soup seller dares to run wild on my turf!”

Ah Guang shrank back and whispered a warning, “Brother Ju, the reporters are still here. Maybe we should wait for another day...”

“Another day?” Ju grabbed Ah Guang by the collar, his voice fierce. “Once the reporters leave, you and a few brothers pay a visit to Boss Chen. Let him know that doing business in Causeway Bay without paying tribute to the boss comes at a price!”

After the reporters finished their interviews, Chen Bingwen saw Inspector Ma and the media team off, then returned to his stall.

“Brother Wen, all the reporters were paid. Not a single one missed out,” Gao Zhenhai reported quietly, hurrying over.

Earlier, Chen had instructed Gao to discreetly give each reporter a two hundred dollar gratuity.

Now, print media and television were the primary channels through which the public received information, and these journalists, though unofficial, held significant influence.

If this were the age of social media, internet celebrities would be even more powerful than reporters.

“Brother Wen, I noticed a few men who seem like triad members watching us from afar,” Gao said.

“Where?”

Chen’s expression tightened sharply.

“Over there!” Gao pointed toward a distant spot.

Sure enough, near a flower stall, several men in floral shirts were watching them, including Ah Guang, who had tried to cause trouble the day before.

“Damn it, they really think they can bully me.”

Seeing this, a cold glint flashed through Chen’s eyes. He lowered his voice and said to Gao, “Ah Hai, have the men prepare their weapons. If anyone dares to cause trouble today, I want them beaten badly.

Five hundred dollars for each injured person, two hundred for each driven off. Medical expenses on me.”

Gao was taken aback for a moment, then nodded firmly. “Understood! I’ll make arrangements right away.”

He turned and hurried over to several burly men, whispering instructions.

Soon, a few workers quietly pulled out steel pipes and wooden clubs from the stall, hiding them beneath their aprons.

Chen shook his head. “No rush. Let them make the first move.

Remember, once it starts, hit hard, but don’t let anyone die.”

He narrowed his eyes, watching Ah Guang’s group stirring in the distance. “Just like when we fought at school, this battle must not be lost.”

Gao glared fiercely at Ah Guang’s group, eager. “Brother Wen, when did we ever lose a fight back then? Should we strike first?”

“Don’t be hasty. We don’t provoke trouble, but we don’t fear it either. We’ll wait for the right moment.”