Chapter 6: Flourishing Progress

“Ah Wen, how’s business?”

Chen Bingwen and his father had just returned to Chen’s Dessert Shop, anxiously worried about their Wang Qiaozhen, and couldn’t wait to ask.

Chen Bingwen smiled at his father, handing over the chance to boast to Chen Guofu.

Wang Qiaozhen’s eyes lit up as she looked at the father and son, their faces beaming with joy. “Sold… all sold?”

“More than sold!” Chen Guofu excitedly patted his waist pouch, pulling out money and waving it at Wang Qiaozhen. “Three hundred and fifty dollars! That’s easily three days’ worth of income for the shop!”

“Oh my goodness!” Wang Qiaozhen covered her mouth in astonishment, then her eyes welled up with tears. “This is wonderful… truly wonderful…”

With a revenue of three hundred and fifty dollars, after subtracting costs, they would at least earn two hundred dollars.

Compared to the daily turnover of just tens or a hundred dollars at Chen’s Dessert Shop, it was a world of difference.

Chen Bingwen saw the redness in his mother’s eyes and felt a pang of sadness.

For the past six months, Wang Qiaozhen had been working tirelessly from dawn till dusk running the shop, yet barely managed to make ends meet.

The worries and anxieties about the future caused by the poor business had finally found a turning point.

“Mom, this is just the beginning,” Chen Bingwen comforted softly, taking the cloth from her hand. “Tomorrow we’ll prepare four barrels of sweet soup, and make more salty dumplings.”

Wang Qiaozhen wiped her eyes and suddenly remembered something. “Right, you haven’t eaten yet. I’ll go heat up some food…”

“Mom, no rush,” Chen Bingwen stopped her and turned to Chen Guofu. “Dad, let’s go to the market now and buy more ingredients.”

Chen Guofu stood up energetically. “Let’s go! Buy more red beans and sesame seeds—we’ll work hard tomorrow!”

Because business had been poor before, they had only stocked enough ingredients for ten days.

Now that business was picking up, they needed to prepare more supplies.

Besides, Chen Bingwen planned to buy a handcart or tricycle to carry the insulated barrels.

Four thirty-liter insulated barrels, plus two boxes of salty dumplings, weighed nearly three hundred jin; the family’s bicycle was no longer sufficient.

…

Early the next morning, the lights at Chen’s Dessert Shop lit up early again.

With hope restored, Chen Guofu and Wang Qiaozhen enthusiastically prepared the sweet soups.

Chen Bingwen helped out, pleased to see his parents’ spirits lifted.

The amount of sweet soup to be made had doubled, requiring considerably more time.

…

At eleven in the morning, the father and son set off pushing a tricycle fully loaded with sweet soup.

Having gained experience from yesterday, they were better prepared today.

Chen Bingwen wrapped thick quilts around the barrels to keep the soup warm longer.

A bright sign hung on the tricycle, painted in red letters: “Chen’s Secret Recipe Sweet Soup.”

When they arrived at the Huafeng Garment Factory building and finished setting up, they saw the security guard they’d met yesterday approaching.

Chen Bingwen immediately took out a pack of Nanyang Red Double Happiness cigarettes from his pocket and greeted him with a beaming smile.

“Brother, what a coincidence to see you again,” Chen Bingwen said smoothly, handing over a cigarette. “Please take care of us today as well.”

The guard accepted the cigarette, a slight smile tugging at his lips. “Young man, you know how to get along with people. Business was good yesterday, right?”

“Thanks to you, it went pretty well,” Chen Bingwen replied, scooping a steaming bowl of red bean soup from the barrel. “Here’s our Chen’s Secret Recipe Orange Peel Red Bean Soup. Have a taste?”

The guard took the bowl, sipped, and his eyes lit up. “This flavor is really different—much better than the usual sweet soup shops.”

Seizing the opportunity, Chen Bingwen said, “It’s our family’s secret recipe, with special orange peel and dried longan. If you like it, I’ll save you a bowl every day.”

The guard nodded approvingly, glanced at Chen Guofu, then lowered his voice to Chen Bingwen. “You’re sharp, kid. How about this—I’ll save this spot for you every noon from now on. No one else can take it.”

“Thank you so much!” Chen Bingwen was elated. Having the security guard’s support at Huafeng Garment Factory meant they essentially secured a prime long-term vending spot.

Just then, the factory’s lunch bell rang, and workers flooded out like a tide.

Without Chen Bingwen even calling out, many saw the tricycle and the “Chen’s Secret Recipe Sweet Soup” sign, immediately turning toward them.

“Boss, do you still have that red bean soup from yesterday?”

“I want two bowls of sesame paste.”

“I’d like the red bean soup with salty dumplings combo, three orders please!”

…

In no time, a crowd of workers gathered around the tricycle eager to buy sweet soup.

Chen Bingwen and his father were busy—one taking money, the other ladling soup.

Chen Bingwen noticed that besides workers from the Huafeng Garment Factory building, workers from nearby industrial buildings also came over to buy.

“Dad, it seems our sweet soup’s reputation has spread to the neighboring buildings,” Chen Bingwen said as he efficiently collected the money.

Chen Guofu kept stirring with the wooden ladle, surprise on his face. “Really? That means…”

“That’s right, we’ve got a lot more potential customers now!” Chen Bingwen smiled.

A middle-aged man in blue workwear finished his soup and curiously asked, “Boss, where is your dessert shop located? When I have time, I want to bring my family over.”

“On Guilin Street in Sham Shui Po, at Chen’s Dessert Shop,” Chen Bingwen said, handing over a business card and smiling loudly. “You’re welcome to visit and try more varieties.”

The cards had been specially printed the afternoon before, clearly showing the shop’s address and business hours.

In less than half an hour, the four barrels of sweet soup were nearly emptied.

“Friends, sorry, today’s sweet soup is sold out,” Chen Bingwen announced, wiping sweat from his forehead.

The workers were disappointed but knowing the father and son would return tomorrow, they didn’t complain.

On the way back, Chen Guofu pushed the empty tricycle, both excited and worried.

“Ah Wen, at this rate, we’ll need at least six barrels a day to meet demand! More than that might be impossible to make.”

Chen Bingwen nodded and said, “Dad, I was just about to discuss this with you.

We have three options: first, maintain the status quo and supply in limited quantities; second, add more hands and equipment to increase production; as for the third…”

He paused, then continued, “Forget it, we don’t need the third option just yet. We’ll decide based on business after some time.”

In his plan, the third option was for expanding the dessert shop through branching out.

But since business was just starting, neither the funds nor the production scale could support rapid expansion.

Chen Bingwen calculated that they needed to stabilize sales for a while before considering the next steps.

Chen Guofu pushed the tricycle with a light step.

Hearing Chen Bingwen’s words, he didn’t hesitate to reply, “Ah Wen, you decide what to do. Dad’s got your back!”