Chapter 27: Spreading Wings for a Grand Future

On the day of the move, the Chen Kee Sweet Soup Shop on Guilin Street in Sham Shui Po was exceptionally lively.

Neighbors gathered at the shop entrance, watching Chen Guofu and Wang Qiaozhen beaming with joy as they directed employees to carefully move a few simple pieces of furniture and several heavy camphor wood chests.

"Uncle Chen, Auntie Chen, congratulations on your move!" Uncle Fu, puffing on his pipe, offered a smiling bow. "Golden Building Garden in Mong Kok—that's a prime location! Ah Wen has truly made something of himself!"

"Many thanks for your kind words, Uncle Fu!" Chen Guofu’s voice was resonant, his wrinkles smoothing out. "It’s all thanks to the neighborhood's support, and Ah Wen’s hard work!"

The surrounding neighbors, especially those uncles and aunts who had watched Chen Bingwen grow up, looked on with eyes full of envy and nostalgia.

"Tsk, tsk, spending 210,000 to buy a flat! Chen Kee has really made it big!"

"Ah Wen is only eighteen, and he can already afford a place in Mong Kok. Meanwhile, my useless boy at home is still hanging around with gangs..."

"Ah Wen opened a food factory and made a fortune at the Victoria Park Lunar New Year Fair. It’s like he turns stones into gold!"

"And that’s not all! Look at those mobile vending carts, the sweet soup shops, and the two big factories... This is no longer just a sweet soup shop; it’s clearly a major company!"

Chen Bingwen stood at the shop entrance, watching the undisguised joy on his parents' faces, mixed with a hint of reluctance to leave the old shop.

He walked over with a smile and comforted them: "Mom, Dad, we’re just moving there to live; it’s not like we aren't coming back. Why be so sentimental?"

The moving convoy departed Sham Shui Po under the envious gazes of the neighbors, heading toward Mong Kok.

When the vehicles parked steadily at the grand lobby entrance of Golden Building Garden, and a uniformed doorman respectfully pulled open the glass doors, Chen Guofu and Wang Qiaozhen felt as if they had stepped into another world.

The mirror-like marble floors, bright lights, and quiet elevators—everything appeared so orderly, exuding the essence of modern living.

Opening the security door to their new home, a bright and spacious space came into view. Although the furniture was simple, the windows were clean and the rooms were tidy. Sunlight spilled in through the newly installed beige curtains, warm and serene.

"Dad, Mom, this large master bedroom is for you," Chen Bingwen said, pushing open the door. "It has a bay window and gets great sunlight."

"This... this is too big, Ah Wen. You should take it; your father and I will just stay in the smaller one," Wang Qiaozhen said, waving her hands repeatedly.

"Mom, listen to me. You’ve worked hard your whole life; you deserve the best." Chen Bingwen insisted, pushing his parents' luggage into the master bedroom. He pointed to another room and said, "I’ll take this west-facing one. It’s quiet, and there’s another room we can use as a study."

When the Chen family moved, the siblings Gao Zhenhai and Gao Meiling also came to help with the unpacking.

Gao Meiling busied herself helping Wang Qiaozhen make the bed and hang clothes, her face full of envy and sincere blessings. "Auntie Chen, this place is beautiful! It’s a hundred times better than our public housing unit! Brother Wen is truly capable!" Her gaze toward Chen Bingwen’s back was filled with unmasked admiration.

The simple housewarming dinner was held in the new dining room.

Roasted meats and stir-fried dishes, packed from a tea restaurant downstairs, filled the newly purchased dining table. There were no outside guests, just the three members of the Chen family and the Gao siblings.

Although the meal was simple, it held extraordinary significance.

Chen Guofu made an exception and opened a bottle of white liquor, pouring small glasses for Chen Bingwen and Gao Zhenhai. He lifted his glass, his hand trembling slightly. Looking at the pristine new home and his steady, confident son, a thousand words caught in his throat. In the end, they transformed into a single sentence: "Ah Wen, you’re good! Your old man... is so happy!"

He tilted his head back and downed the fiery liquor in one gulp, a flush of excitement rising on his face.

Wang Qiaozhen’s eyes were also wet as she kept piling food into the bowls of her son and the Gao siblings. "Eat, eat more! We’ve moved to a new home; life will only get better from here!"

Gao Zhenhai was genuinely happy. "Uncle Chen, Auntie Chen, Brother Wen, congratulations on the move! This place is really grand!"

Gao Meiling nodded with a smile, "That’s right, it’s even prettier than the houses in the movies."

Chen Bingwen smiled and poured his father another glass of liquor, then lifted his own cup toward the Gao siblings. "Ah Hai, Ah Mei, thank you both for all your hard work lately."

Gao Zhenhai waved his hands in a hurry. "Brother Wen, what are you saying? You’re the one leading us to work and earn money, and the overtime pay is generous—we should be the ones thanking you!"

Beside him, Gao Meiling nodded vigorously, bowl in hand.

...

After dinner, the Gao siblings bid their farewells and left. Chen Guofu and Wang Qiaozhen, filled with excitement and a touch of exhaustion from the new environment, went to bed early.

Chen Bingwen stood alone on the spacious balcony of his new home, gazing at the distant neon lights, contemplating the future of Chen Kee Sweet Soup.

The 2.48 million Hong Kong dollars did not bring only sheer ecstasy; this wealth was a lever to pry open a larger map, not the end destination of indulgence.

Early the next morning, Chen Bingwen returned to the Kwun Tong food factory and immediately called Professor Zhou at the Hong Kong Polytechnic Institute.

"Professor Zhou, good morning. This is Chen Bingwen from Chen Kee Sweet Soup. We are ready for the bottled sweet soup project we discussed last time." Chen Bingwen went straight to the point, his tone enthusiastic.

"Mr. Chen, you are very efficient," Professor Zhou’s voice came through the receiver with a hint of appreciation. "The bottled sweet soup project is no small challenge, transitioning from the laboratory to the market. Flavor preservation, room-temperature shelf life, packaging material selection, large-scale production processes... every step is a hurdle. Especially maintaining the unique smooth texture and natural flavor of sweet soup at room temperature while preventing microbial growth—that is quite a challenge in current food technology. Are you sure you want to invest such massive resources?"

"Professor, I am sure," Chen Bingwen said firmly. Only by achieving bottling as soon as possible could they break through regional limitations. Furthermore, with his memories from a future era, he believed Professor Zhou’s research would not take long.

"Chen Kee cannot just be satisfied with street corners. Sweet soup is a daily staple for Hong Kong people, but its convenience and consumption scenarios need to be redefined. Bottling is the key step to breaking the ceiling of made-to-order sales. Flavor is the soul, and shelf life is the lifeline; this requires your professional team to overcome the difficulties."

Chen Bingwen paused and added, "Capital is not an issue; I have reserved a special R&D fund. The site is right next to the Kwun Tong factory. I have rented a new warehouse that can serve as an R&D center with minimal renovation. Please give me the equipment list as soon as possible, and I will arrange the procurement and installation. What we need is a dual guarantee of speed and quality."

"Good!" Professor Zhou was infected by his determination. "Since Mr. Chen has such boldness, our institute will certainly go all out. I will bring my team next week for a site visit to refine the technical route and experimental plans. The joint laboratory model is excellent; we can perform pilot tests while researching to accelerate the industrialization process."

Bottled sweet soup—this would be a brand-new battlefield, a milestone that would truly bring the "Chen Kee" brand into thousands of households, convenience stores, and supermarket shelves.

After hanging up, Chen Bingwen summoned Gao Zhenhai and Zhong Qiang.

"Ah Hai, sign a long-term lease for the vacant warehouse next to the Kwun Tong factory immediately. The area must be large enough to separate into a laboratory, a pilot workshop, and an office area. Start the renovation plan simultaneously; ventilation, water, electricity, and sewage must all be done to high standards, especially the cleanliness requirements, following food production standards. That place will be our Chen Kee R&D center from now on!"

"Understood, Brother Wen!" Gao Zhenhai felt invigorated, jotting notes rapidly in his notebook. "I’ll go talk to the landlord this afternoon."

"Brother Qiang," Chen Bingwen turned to Zhong Qiang, "once the R&D center starts, pick four of the most careful and eager-to-learn technicians to follow Professor Zhou’s team throughout the process! You must not only learn the technology but also the R&D workflow, experimental methods, and problem-solving approaches. In the future, our own R&D team will have to be cultivated by you!"

"Don't worry, Boss!" Zhong Qiang nodded firmly. "I will definitely select the most outstanding employees to participate."

After discussing work arrangements, Chen Bingwen continued, "Chen Kee’s operation is getting bigger and bigger; we can no longer rely on just a few of us tinkering around. I plan to establish a formal food company."

Gao Zhenhai and Zhong Qiang were both energized upon hearing this. Establishing a company! This meant they would be core members of a formal food enterprise.

"Brother Wen, establishing a company... how should we do it?" Gao Zhenhai asked, excited yet somewhat bewildered.

Chen Bingwen signaled for the two to sit at the conference table and explained patiently. This was the first time he had spoken to them about his near-term plans for Chen Kee.

"The first step is capital injection. We will evaluate and price all current operating assets—including the Cheung Sha Wan food factory, the Kwun Tong food factory, the thirty mobile food cart points in Kowloon, and the five 'Chen Kee Sweet Soup Station' standard stores in Mong Kok, Yau Ma Tei, Tsim Sha Tsui, Causeway Bay, and Central—as well as all trademarks and sweet soup recipes, and inject them into the newly established company."

Gao Zhenhai was confused. "Brother Wen, this... aren't the shops and factories already yours? Why buy your own things?"

Chen Bingwen explained patiently, "Ah Hai, this is called asset restructuring. By putting scattered eggs into a sturdy basket, the value of that basket (the company) increases. In the future, when we seek loans, partnerships, or even sell shares, others will look at how much this 'basket' is worth, not the individual eggs."

Gao Zhenhai caught on quickly. "Brother Wen, I understand! Just like the Victoria Park Lunar New Year Fair, bidding for four stalls as a package is more expensive than a single one! We are now packaging all our businesses into one big stall!"

"Exactly!" Chen Bingwen nodded approvingly. "I will find a professional accounting firm to complete the asset valuation report as soon as possible."

Zhong Qiang was concerned about the technology. "Boss, if the recipes belong to the company, what about confidentiality?"

"Good question, Brother Qiang." Chen Bingwen was prepared. "I will hold the key steps of the core recipes, licensing them to the company as 'trade secrets' for a nominal fee. At the same time, the company will sign strict confidentiality and non-compete agreements with you."

"As for Shunda Logistics," Chen Bingwen looked at Gao Zhenhai, "Brother Sheng is our strategic partner. They will maintain independent operations, but we will sign a long-term exclusive delivery agreement. Their stability and efficiency are important parts of our supply chain and a significant value-add for the company's valuation."

Chen Bingwen’s blueprint was clear and his ambitions were vast. Through asset injection and standardized operations, he aimed to upgrade a sweet soup shop into a food company with a complete industrial chain (production + distribution + sales), brand value, and stable cash flow. Its valuation would far exceed the simple sum of its parts.

Asset integration was the skeleton; improving profitability was the flesh and blood. Chen Bingwen knew that to boost the company’s valuation, profit margins and growth potential were just as critical as scale. Increasing the average transaction value and launching high-margin new products was a priority.

"Currently, our main products—red bean soup, sesame paste, salty dumplings, and sweet soup sets—have an average transaction value between 1.5 and 2 Hong Kong dollars, with a gross margin of about 60%."

Chen Bingwen analyzed this while coaching them. These concepts and ideas, if not absolutely ahead of the times, were certainly unique in Hong Kong during this era.

Chen Bingwen swept his gaze over the focused Gao Zhenhai and Zhong Qiang and continued: "This is very competitive in the factory districts, but in core business districts like Causeway Bay and Central, facing white-collar workers and tourists, the price ceiling is still very high."

He took out two carefully designed plans:

"First, upgrade the existing product line. Launch a 'refined series' at the standard stores, raising the price of a bowl of sweet soup to 2.5–3.5 dollars. Keep the classic versions at the factory district mobile points to meet the needs of the workers."

"Second, launch high-profit strategic new products! Coconut Sago and Yangzhi Ganlu (Mango Pomelo Sago)!"

Chen Bingwen’s eyes sparkled. "The target audience is students, young women, white-collar workers, and customers who pursue trendy flavors."

He explained in detail these two desserts, which originated from the future and would soon take Asia by storm.

Coconut Sago uses Thai coconut water and coconut milk, paired with chewy sago. It is refreshing, rich in coconut fragrance, and visually appealing, priced at 2.8 dollars.

Yangzhi Ganlu uses a base of sweet mango puree and coconut milk, adding sweet-and-sour pomelo pulp and cooked sago. It has a rich texture, distinct layers, and an attractive golden color, full of tropical flair. Although the cost of mango is slightly higher, the premium space is huge; it is priced at 3.5 dollars.

"These two products have novel tastes, excellent presentation, and catchy names, making them easy to generate buzz and word-of-mouth. We will first test them at the five standard stores and the mobile points in Causeway Bay and Tsim Sha Tsui, marketing them as the 'first of their kind in Hong Kong' and a 'cool summer treat'."

Chen Bingwen was full of confidence in these two hit products. "They will become our sharp weapons to break into the mid-to-high-end market and enhance our brand image and average transaction value!"

There was one more thing Chen Bingwen didn't say: the high sales of these products would also inflate the valuation of Chen Kee Sweet Soup.

Gao Zhenhai was fired up. "Brother Wen, just hearing the name 'Yangzhi Ganlu' makes me want to drink it! I guarantee it will be a big seller!"

Zhong Qiang had a small concern: "Boss, the cost of mango is not low. Selling it so expensive, will people buy it?"

"Brother Qiang, don't worry," Chen Bingwen laughed. "The white-collar workers in Central and Causeway Bay office buildings spend over ten dollars on lunch. Spending three dollars and fifty cents for a bowl of innovative, top-tier sweet soup that is unique in Hong Kong, full of ingredients, and delicious is a small matter for them. We are earning money from people who pursue quality, novelty, and status. Besides, this Yangzhi Ganlu will be our flagship product, representing the highest standard of Chen Kee."

Chen Bingwen’s analysis and planning laid out like a clear blueprint before Gao Zhenhai and Zhong Qiang. Establishing a company, restructuring assets, launching new products, increasing transaction value... these terms were both fresh and powerful to them.

Gao Zhenhai finally fully understood the meaning of "packaging into a big stall." He realized that Brother Wen’s ambition went far beyond the few factories and shops in front of them.

"Brother Wen, I get it! It means gathering all the profitable businesses under one name and making that name more valuable!" Gao Zhenhai slapped his thigh, his eyes bright. "In the future, when others want to partner with us or lend us money, they will look at the capability of this 'big stall,' not how many bowls of sesame paste a single shop sells!"

"That’s exactly the logic." Chen Bingwen nodded, satisfied with Gao Zhenhai’s comprehension. "Brother Qiang, just keep the confidentiality of the recipes in mind. I will have a lawyer draft the documents. I will keep the core steps, and you will be responsible for breaking down and executing the production links to ensure safety."

Zhong Qiang let out a sigh of relief. "Boss, I understand. The recipe is our livelihood; it can't be handled carelessly." He didn't want to lose his job due to a leaked recipe, let alone get involved in a lawsuit.

"Good," Chen Bingwen stood up and walked to the map of Hong Kong hanging on the wall of the office, which marked the locations of existing factories, mobile points, and standard stores.

"The next step must be fast. Ah Hai, go negotiate the warehouse lease next to the Kwun Tong factory immediately. Professor Zhou’s R&D center must be established as soon as possible; we cannot delay the site and renovation even for a day."

"Received!" Gao Zhenhai stood up instantly. "I’ll go handle it right away!"

"Brother Qiang, new product R&D is the highlight. I have already written down the recipes for Coconut Sago and Yangzhi Ganlu. Take them back and rush the standardized production tests. The focus is on texture, balance of sweetness, and stability of material ratios—especially the ratio of mango to pomelo in the Yangzhi Ganlu and controlling the doneness of the sago. Within a week, I want to see samples that can be produced stably."

Zhong Qiang took the note Chen Bingwen handed over, which contained the core ingredients and rough steps for the two new products. "Don't worry, Boss, I will supervise it personally. Mango costs are high, so we must make it the best; we can't waste anything."

"Hmm." Chen Bingwen watched them. "I will have professionals handle the specific procedures for establishing the company. Your current task is to assist me in laying the foundation, getting the R&D center up and running, and ensuring the successful launch of the new products."

The two left on their orders, leaving Chen Bingwen alone in the office.

Establishing a company, bottling, launching new products... these three lines were like rapidly turning gears, interlocking and driving the machine that was "Chen Kee Sweet Soup" to roar forward. Every moment of delay could mean missing the wind set off by the tide of the era.

In the late 1970s and early 1980s, Hong Kong’s economy was taking off, and opportunities were everywhere, yet countless covetous eyes and competitors were watching. Speed was life, and Chen Bingwen could not afford a single second of delay.