Chapter 29: Foundation (Please Favorite, Vote Monthly, Recommend, and Keep Reading)

On the way back to the Kwun Tong factory, Chen Bingwen walked with a steady gait, his mind calculating the priorities for the work ahead.

Gao Zhenhai, by contrast, remained silent, his gaze occasionally drifting toward Chen Bingwen, who was only a few years his senior but already possessed the composure of a mountain.

Not long ago, when "Brother Wen" had calmly informed him that their seemingly risky venture into Wharf Holdings stock had yielded a net profit of over two million Hong Kong dollars, Gao felt as if his heart were about to leap out of his chest.

Over two million!

The figure roared in his mind like a thunderclap, leaving him dizzy and barely able to stand. He had witnessed firsthand how Brother Wen had orchestrated their strategy at the Victoria Park Lunar New Year Fair, raking in a massive profit of 260,000 in just seven days—a sum he had considered astronomical at the time. Yet, compared to the two million effortlessly reaped from the stock market, that was nothing more than a drop in the bucket. Brother Wen’s courage, vision, and timing had once again shattered his perception of what was possible.

"Brother Wen," Gao Zhenhai finally managed to speak, his voice tinged with an imperceptible dryness, though it was overwhelmed by a sense of awe at the sheer magnitude of the wealth. "260,000 for the Cheung Sha Wan location, 700,000 for the Kwun Tong factory and warehouse... 960,000 Hong Kong dollars spent just like that. This money..."

He paused, struggling to organize his thoughts. He knew the money was earned by Brother Wen’s own ingenuity, but the sheer size of the 960,000-dollar figure still made his heart tighten. "Isn't this spending... a bit too aggressive? Even though I know we made a fortune in stocks, this is, after all, real, hard-earned cash."

What he left unsaid was that if this money were in his hands, he wouldn't dare touch even a fraction of it.

Chen Bingwen did not stop walking, a faint but utterly certain smile playing on his lips. "Ah Hai, you can't just look at the surface flow of the accounts; you have to see the iceberg beneath the water. Buying a factory isn't consumption; it’s an investment and a strategic layout. This money hasn't been 'spent'—it has been transformed into something more valuable, firmly anchoring the foundation of Chen’s Food."

Chen Bingwen paused for a moment. "In the past... well, I’ve studied how major corporations operate. In the eyes of capital, the depth of an industrial firm’s foundation is measured by the fixed assets on its balance sheet, especially land and factory buildings. These aren't just cold bricks and mortar; they are levers that can move ten or a hundred times the resources!"

Chen Bingwen’s tone took on the definitive, analytical quality characteristic of an elite investment banker from his past life. "First, there is financing capability. Who are banks willing to lend to? They prioritize companies that have tangible land and factory buildings as collateral! This is what we call 'hard currency.' With these two plots of land and two factories, it’s like holding two golden tickets. In the future, whether we need to expand production, develop new products, or deal with emergencies, we will be able to secure credit lines and negotiate interest rates far superior to what we could get with just a pile of lease contracts and mobile food trucks. This is what it means to have 'fixed assets, fixed credit.'"

"Second, there is company valuation. This is what the accountant pointed out. Leased assets are merely usage rights on a balance sheet—they are fleeting. But owning a factory building represents substantial ownership—it is net asset value! When evaluating the company’s worth, this is a concrete plus. If we want to bring in new investors in the future or—thinking even further ahead—consider an IPO one day, this weight alone could multiply Chen’s valuation. Investors look for a solid foundation, not a castle in the air."

"Finally, it protects against risk and inflation. Land, especially valuable industrial land, will only become scarcer in Hong Kong. Holding it is, in itself, a way to preserve and increase value. 960,000 looks like a lot now, but in a few years, you might look back and see it as an incredibly shrewd bargain. Furthermore, with our own factory, we don't need to worry about landlords raising rent or reclaiming the property. Our production stability is in our own hands, and that is a peace of mind money cannot buy."

He looked at Gao Zhenhai’s widening eyes and concluded, "So, Ah Hai, in the long run, this is a win-win move! We aren't buying a burden; we are doing what is necessary for Chen’s to take flight. The money spent will be earned back a hundredfold through easier financing, brand premiums, and risk resilience!"

Gao Zhenhai nodded as if he understood, yet the heavy shock in his heart remained. 960,000! The number sat like a boulder on his chest. He remembered a year ago, sweating in a hardware factory, working overtime just for an eight-hundred-dollar monthly salary. Back then, ten thousand dollars was an unreachable fortune. Now, Brother Wen had spent 960,000 on two factories without batting an eye. The chasm between the two realities felt like a dream.

Back at the Kwun Tong factory, it was lunchtime. The workshop was filled with a faint, sweet aroma and the lingering warmth of the machinery, while workers gathered in small groups to eat. Zhong Qiang was squatting beside a massive stainless-steel boiler, tightening a loose joint with a wrench.

"Brother Qiang!" Gao Zhenhai shouted, his voice cracking with excitement, drawing the attention of all the nearby workers.

Zhong Qiang looked up, and seeing Chen Bingwen and Gao Zhenhai, he hurriedly put down the wrench and stood up. "Boss, Ah Hai, you’re back? The accounting firm..."

"It’s done!" Gao Zhenhai strode over, his face flushed with excitement and the lingering impact of the news. He grabbed Zhong Qiang by the arm. "Brother Qiang! Brother Wen! Brother Wen bought the Cheung Sha Wan factory and our Kwun Tong factory, along with the warehouse at the R&D center next door! He bought them! It’s a purchase, not a lease!"

"Bought... he bought them?"

The wrench in Zhong Qiang’s hand clattered to the ground. He stood frozen, his eyes wide, his mouth slightly agape, as if he couldn't grasp the meaning of Gao’s words. As the factory’s technical backbone, he knew the value of these two properties better than anyone. He had been working at that preserved duck factory in Cheung Sha Wan just last year; those facilities had been wealth beyond his wildest dreams. And now, Chen Bingwen had bought both? How much money would that take? He couldn't imagine it.

"Yes! He bought them! 260,000 for Cheung Sha Wan, 700,000 for the factory and warehouse here in Kwun Tong! That’s 960,000 in total!" Gao Zhenhai shouted, as if only by yelling could he vent the torrential waves of emotion within him.

"960,000?" Zhong Qiang gasped, his legs feeling weak. He instinctively grabbed the hot wall of the boiler, pulling his hand back as it burned. 960,000? How big a pile of money would that be? He looked at Chen Bingwen, who stood behind Gao Zhenhai with a faint smile, and felt that his young boss’s silhouette in the workshop light seemed incredibly grand, almost surreal. It was beyond everything he had experienced in his life.

"My god! 960,000?!"
"Bought... the factory? The factory is now the boss’s own property?"
"700,000! Did I hear that right? That's... how much money is that?"
"Boss Wen is truly... truly..."

The surrounding workers had gathered around, and upon hearing the figure, the workshop erupted. Exclamations of shock, sharp intakes of breath, and murmurs of disbelief rose in waves. Most of them had worked in factories for years, accustomed to the routine of clocking in, receiving pay, and supporting families. Capital operations involving hundreds of thousands or millions were stories from another world. Now, the protagonist of that story was the young boss who worked alongside them every day, and he had just used a sum of money beyond their imagination to buy the very "nest" where they worked!

The impact was transformative. A tall, thin young worker, holding a half-eaten char siu bun, forgot to swallow and asked blankly, "Brother Hai... does that mean... we are now working for the boss... in the boss’s own factory?"

He asked with a sense of bewilderment, yet he voiced the most direct feeling everyone shared. It seemed like nothing had changed, yet everything was different. The change in status and the shift in belonging regarding their workplace left them dazed, yet mixed with an indescribable, prideful excitement. Although the boss was the same, previously, without owning the factory and land, the boss could have walked away at any time. Now that the land and buildings were Chen Bingwen’s assets, the workers subconsciously felt a sense of stability.

"That’s right!" Gao Zhenhai nodded firmly, looking around at the faces filled with shock and awe. The pride of working side-by-side with Brother Wen surged within him. "From now on, this Kwun Tong factory and the Cheung Sha Wan factory are the foundation of our own 'Chen’s'! This is an empire built by the boss with real, hard-earned money! We aren't working for someone else anymore; we are working for Chen’s, for our own banner!"

These words helped the workers snap out of their shock, and an unprecedented sense of belonging and security flooded their hearts. Their workplace now had a real owner, and this owner was so capable and bold!

"Boss Wen is sharp!"
"We must work even harder from now on!"
"960,000... I’ve never even seen 96,000..."
"We’ve hit the big time! Following Boss Wen, there’s a real future!"

The chatter gradually turned into excited discussion and praise. Zhong Qiang picked up his wrench and gripped it tightly. He looked at Chen Bingwen with complex emotions—the lingering aftershocks of the shock, awe of the immense wealth, but above all, the excitement of having found a solid pillar of support.

"Boss!" Zhong Qiang stepped forward, his voice hoarse with emotion but revealing an unprecedented resolve. "Don't you worry! Since the factory is ours, we will do the job even better! I won't let your hard work go to waste! I guarantee the equipment will be maintained perfectly! As for production, I, Zhong Qiang, will ensure the quality with these two hands!"

Behind him, a group of technical staff and workers also crowded around, their eyes burning with fervor, chiming in one after another:
"Right! Don't you worry, Boss!"
"We'll work hard! We can't embarrass Chen’s!"
"This factory is ours now! We have to put our hearts into it!"

Chen Bingwen’s gaze slowly swept across the faces flushed with excitement—the light in Gao Zhenhai’s eyes, the heavy promise in Zhong Qiang’s gaze, the shock and newfound drive on the faces of the workers... a sense of groundedness welled up within him. This was the charm of working in real industry!

He nodded slightly, the faint smile on his face deepening. His voice was not loud, yet it clearly rose above the noise, reaching everyone’s ears:

"The roots are planted, but for the Chen’s brand to stand firm and be known across Hong Kong, this piece of land alone is not enough."

He turned his gaze to Zhong Qiang. "Brother Qiang, equipment maintenance is important, but the most urgent thing is to get those two new products out for me!"

"Coconut Sago and Yangzhi Ganlu!" Chen Bingwen clearly articulated the two names, carrying an unquestionable weight. "These are the daggers that will pierce the ceiling and break into Causeway Bay and Central! The taste, the appearance, and the texture—none of them can be anything less than perfect!"

"Understood, Boss!" Zhong Qiang straightened his back, gripped his wrench, and a fighting spirit ignited in his eyes. "I’ve already tested the standardized production process! The ingredients are all ready. We’ll start the first batch this afternoon!"

As night fell, the Kwun Tong food factory was brightly lit. The workshop’s air, previously rich with the sweet scent of red bean paste and sesame soup, was now replaced by a fresher, richer sweetness, one even carrying a touch of tropical flair. The sweet, clear scent of coconut milk, the fragrant richness of mango puree, the subtle tartness of grapefruit bits, and the unique grain aroma of the crystal-clear sago—the scents intertwined and fused, distinct yet harmonious. Just the smell was enough to make one’s mouth water.

On the stainless-steel prep table, two series of new product prototypes were lined up.

On the left was the Coconut Sago: countless round, translucent sago pearls floated in delicate, white coconut milk. The consistency of the coconut milk was just right—neither bland nor overly sticky—topped with a few bright red goji berries, creating a fresh, enticing visual contrast.

On the right was the Yangzhi Ganlu: a base of golden mango puree, evenly distributed with sago and bright, distinct bits of pomelo pulp. The top was lightly drizzled with a swirl of snowy white coconut milk. The blend of gold, white, and red created a powerful visual impact, exuding an indescribable sense of luxury.

Gao Zhenhai, Zhong Qiang, and a few senior workers selected to participate in the trial huddled around the table, holding their breath, their eyes fixed on Chen Bingwen.

Chen Bingwen picked up a small white porcelain spoon and took a sip of the Coconut Sago. The cool coconut milk instantly coated his tongue; it was sweet, smooth, and possessed a natural coconut fragrance, entirely free from the cloying taste of artificial flavors. The sago pearls were cooked to perfection—bouncy and soft, bursting gently between the teeth to create a wonderful texture. A subtle, perfect sweetness spread through his mouth, and after swallowing, it left behind a refreshing, lingering hint of coconut.

"Good!" A flash of satisfaction crossed Chen Bingwen’s eyes. He put down the spoon and picked up another, reaching for the golden Yangzhi Ganlu.

A richer, more complex fragrance hit him. He took a spoonful; the thick, sweet mango puree occupied his taste buds first, its natural fruit flavor so rich it was hard to describe. Then came the bouncy texture of the sago, and immediately after, as he bit into the plump, vibrant pomelo pulp, a distinct, refreshing tartness and a faint, fruity bitterness burst forth!

This perfect touch of tartness and slight bitterness was not jarring at all; instead, it made the mango’s sweetness feel more three-dimensional and sophisticated, adding layers of complexity. The pomelo pulp brought a bursting, refreshing sensation. Finally, the drizzle of coconut milk on top provided a smooth texture and a warm, milky finish, perfectly rounding off all the flavors.

Intense, fresh, rich, crisp, and sweet—it all culminated in a long, satisfying aftertaste.

Chen Bingwen put down the spoon, a smile of genuine appreciation appearing on his face. "It’s done! This is the taste! This is the complexity!"

He looked at Zhong Qiang. "Brother Qiang, record the parameters! The sweetness, the ratio of mango to pomelo, the amount of coconut milk—not a single detail can change! This is the golden signature of Chen’s!"

Zhong Qiang rubbed his hands in excitement, nodding repeatedly. "Don't you worry, Boss! The parameters are locked in! This is the taste! This Yangzhi Ganlu... it’s absolutely incredible!"

However, when Chen Bingwen announced the pricing for the two new products, the workers, who had just been immersed in the deliciousness, felt as if a basin of cold water had been poured over them.

"Coconut Sago is priced at two dollars and eighty cents a bowl," Chen Bingwen said calmly. "Yangzhi Ganlu is three dollars and fifty cents."

"Hiss—"

A collective gasp echoed through the workshop.

"Three... three dollars and fifty?" The tall, thin young worker who had been holding the char siu bun widened his eyes, counting on his fingers. "My... my daily wage is only thirty-something dollars... one bowl of sweet soup for three dollars and fifty? That... that’s enough to buy a whole meal!"

"Yeah! Red bean soup is only one dollar a bowl, this... isn't this too expensive?" A middle-aged female worker next to him couldn't help but mutter, her face full of disbelief. "Who would be willing to pay that?"

"Brother Wen, this... isn't the price a bit too high?" Even Gao Zhenhai couldn't help but frown, his tone filled with worry. "Our old sesame soup set was only one dollar and eighty cents. This Yangzhi Ganlu is double that; I’m afraid the regular workers won't be willing to buy it."

Chen Bingwen looked around at the faces filled with confusion and doubt, yet the corner of his mouth curved into a confident smile. He picked up the cup of golden Yangzhi Ganlu and tilted it against the light; the water droplets condensed on the cup’s surface reflected a brilliant sheen.

"Expensive?" he asked rhetorically. "Think about it: how much does a white-collar worker in those office buildings in Causeway Bay or Central pay for a lunch of char siu rice and milk tea? Twelve or thirteen dollars is the norm! For them, spending three dollars and fifty cents to enjoy a premium dessert—the only one of its kind in all of Hong Kong, with such rich flavor, stunning presentation, and made with fresh mango, pomelo, and coconut milk—is it expensive, or is it worth every penny?"

He set the cup down, his voice low but resounding like a bell. "Our Coconut Sago and Yangzhi Ganlu were never meant for the workers queuing up for red bean soup sets at the factory gate! Their target is those who pursue quality, freshness, face, and are willing to pay for a better experience! They are for the white-collar workers who don't blink at spending a dozen dollars on lunch! They are for the ladies who want to rest their feet while shopping and enjoy an exquisite dessert! They are for the young people who chase after the latest trends!"

"In the factory district, we rely on large quantities, good prices, convenience, and solid, classic flavors to hold our ground. But in places like Causeway Bay, Tsim Sha Tsui, and Central, where every inch of land is worth gold, the money we need to earn is the premium! That is the reason why 'expensive' is justified!"

He swept his gaze across Gao Zhenhai and Zhong Qiang. "Remember, pricing is not something you decide on a whim. Pricing is strategy! It is positioning! Selling Yangzhi Ganlu for three dollars and fifty cents is meant to tell everyone that Chen’s can not only make affordable sweet soup for the neighborhood but can also create a signature product that stands at the very pinnacle of Hong Kong’s dessert scene!"