Chapter 5: The Beginning

Chen Guofu hurriedly lifted the lid of the other insulated bucket, and a rich aroma of sesame instantly filled the air. The scents of red bean soup and sesame paste intertwined, making the waiting crowd even more restless.

A female worker with short hair stood to the side, enjoying her bowl with such zest that she looked like a walking advertisement. With every bite, she let out a satisfied sigh: "This red bean soup is absolutely divine! The hint of dried tangerine peel is just right—sweet but not cloying. It’s even better than what my mother makes!"

Her words instantly ignited the enthusiasm of the workers. The line grew longer, with many stretching their necks to look ahead, fearful of missing out on this rare treat.

"Is it really that good?" a middle-aged male worker asked, half-doubting.

"Why would I lie to you?" The short-haired worker scooped up a spoonful, savoring it blissfully.

"Only ten free samples left! First come, first served!" Chen Bingwen seized the moment and shouted, his clear voice echoing through the crowd.

As soon as he finished speaking, the line erupted in commotion. The workers scrambled to push forward, desperate to seize the final opportunity.

"I want one!"
"Save one for me!"
"Don't push, don't push!"

In the blink of an eye, the last ten free portions of red bean soup were snatched up. Those who had secured a free portion tasted it with expressions of pure happiness, while those who missed out looked on with disappointment.

"This red bean soup is the real deal. The flavor is great—truly worth it!"
"Drinking a bowl of this hot red bean soup makes the morning's exhaustion just melt away."

The workers who had grabbed the free soup couldn't stop singing its praises as they ate.

"Boss, the flavor of your red bean soup is truly excellent. I've had so many sweet soups, but this is the first time I've had one this good!" A seasoned food enthusiast among the workers gave a thumbs-up while eating. "The use of tangerine peel is sophisticated, the red beans are cooked to a dense, creamy texture, and the sweetness is just right, with a subtle, faint hint of savory saltiness."

"I’d think it was good too if I were getting it for free," a middle-aged worker nearby, who had missed out on the sample, remarked with a sour, sarcastic tone.

"Old Zhao, it’s only a dollar a bowl. Try it and see for yourself if it’s bad or not. Don't be such a penny-pincher!" the food enthusiast retorted bluntly, smacking his lips with exaggerated delight. This sparked laughter among the surrounding workers.

The worker named Old Zhao turned beet red. Stiffening his neck, he snapped, "I'll try it! Boss, give me a bowl of red bean soup!"

Chen Bingwen quickly and skillfully ladled out a bowl and handed it over. "Uncle Zhao, have a taste. If it’s not good, you don't have to pay."

Old Zhao took the bowl, took a cautious sip, and then his eyes widened. He took a few more large gulps. "Eh? This taste..." He looked up at Chen Bingwen in surprise, then turned to the food enthusiast. "It really is different!"

"How about that? I didn't lie to you, did I?" the enthusiast laughed triumphantly. "This red bean soup is truly unique, the flavor is authentic!"

Old Zhao scratched his head, feeling embarrassed. "It really is delicious... Boss, give me another bowl! I want to pack one up to take home for my wife to try!"

Hearing this, the surrounding workers immediately protested.

"Old Zhao, that’s not fair! You were making snide remarks just a moment ago, and now you want to take some home?" a young worker teased with a grin.

"Exactly," another female worker chimed in. "We’re all still waiting!"

Old Zhao turned bright red and retreated to the side, looking sheepish.

"Give me a bowl of sesame paste!"
"Two red bean soups!"
"Three combo sets!"

Chen Guofu was swamped, his wooden ladle moving so fast it seemed to spark. He served the soup with practiced efficiency, the wrinkles on his face smoothing out. The anxieties brought on by the poor business of the last six months vanished completely in that moment.

Just as the father and son were at their busiest, a sharp shout came from afar: "Who gave you permission to sell things here!"

The crowd fell silent, instinctively parting to clear a path. A man in a security uniform approached with a gloomy expression. Chen Guofu turned pale, holding his ladle and looking at Chen Bingwen, at a loss. After all, Chen Bingwen had told him yesterday that he had already cleared things with the factory.

Chen Bingwen remained calm. He said to his father, "It's fine, I'll handle it."

He walked over to meet the guard, pulling a pack of Nanyang Red Double Happiness cigarettes he had prepared beforehand from his pocket. "Big brother, you've been working hard. Have a cigarette."

Chen Bingwen handed over a cigarette with a beaming smile, while simultaneously slipping the unopened pack into the guard's hand, his movements smooth and discreet. In his view, local officials are no match for the men on the ground; the smaller the person in power, the more likely they are to wield that power to its absolute limit. Even if the guard's position was low, he held considerable authority at the factory gate.

A pack of Nanyang Red Double Happiness only cost three yuan, but it could trade for a day of peaceful business.

The guard paused, instinctively taking the cigarettes, his expression softening slightly. "What is this..."

"Big brother, we're from Chen's Sweet Soup Stall," Chen Bingwen said, lowering his voice. His tone was sincere, neither servile nor overbearing. "The workers have a hard day of labor, and they have to walk a long way just to get a bowl of soup. We brought it here specifically to make things convenient for everyone."

The guard squeezed the pack of cigarettes in his hand and glanced at the line of workers. His tone was noticeably less stern. "Well... you can't disrupt the order of the factory area."

Chen Bingwen smiled and quickly replied, "We won't. As soon as the factory bell rings for the shift, we'll leave."

The guard scanned the long line of workers and finally nodded. "Fine, but pay attention and don't block the road."

"Certainly, certainly!" Chen Bingwen agreed repeatedly.

Watching the guard walk away with his hands behind his back, Chen Guofu finally let out a sigh of relief. Chen Bingwen turned back to the stall and noticed the workers looking at him with newfound admiration.

"Boss, you're really something!" a young worker gave him a thumbs-up. "Even the head of factory security gives you face!"

Chen Bingwen waved his hand with a smile. "Everyone, let's continue! The soup is still hot!"

Chen Guofu wiped the sweat from his forehead and asked in a low voice, "Ah Wen, that pack of cigarettes..."

"Dad, if you don't risk the bait, you won't catch the fish," Chen Bingwen said, ladling out soup with agility. "A pack of cigarettes in exchange for a day of safe business is worth it."

A pack of Nanyang Red Double Happiness cost three Hong Kong dollars, but in this short time, the revenue had already exceeded two hundred dollars. No matter how you calculated it, it was a bargain.

Chen Bingwen kept working, his hands never stopping as he passed bowl after bowl of hot soup to the workers. Without the guard's interference, it wasn't long before two buckets of soup and a box of savory fried dumplings were sold out.

Chen Guofu looked at the empty insulated buckets and felt his bulging money pouch, a wide grin spreading across his face.

"Ah Wen, this... this business is just too good!"

"Dad, this is only the beginning."

Chen Bingwen wiped his sweat, his eyes sweeping over the crowd who still seemed to want more. "Tomorrow, we'll prepare more soup."

The two buckets they brought today, aside from the fifty free samples, had sold out completely. With the addition of the income from the fried dumplings, the revenue for the half-hour of operation reached 350 Hong Kong dollars. After deducting costs, the net profit was nearly two hundred dollars—equivalent to three days of income at the shop.

Moreover, today was primarily for testing the market, so they hadn't dared to bring too much. Now that they had confirmed the strong demand from the workers, they could go all out tomorrow.