The birth of the Hong Kong Island family

"Brother, we are in trouble!" Chen Xianjin held a court summons and handed it to Chen Jun with an anxious expression on his face.

Chen Jun immediately became nervous. He picked up the summons and took a closer look. Sure enough, it was a crocodile shirt suing ‘Cardile Crocodile’ for infringement of the trademark name and crocodile graphics.

After a long time, Chen Jun calmed down and said: "There is nothing we can do, we can only respond to the lawsuit. Don't be nervous, even if you lose, it's okay to use Cartelo. Moreover, there is no crocodile sign, we just need to learn the crocodile shirt The essence of success is naturally success.”

Chen Jun admires Hong Kong's crocodile shirt business, so he has been checking out the shop. However, Cardile has just started anyway, so losing the lawsuit is no big deal.

Chen Xianjin complained: "Although this is the case, once the lawsuit is lost, it will also have an impact on the brand of Cartelo. This is really a steal, brother, let's do it separately! You go to your Hong Kong to build a clothing brand, and I will My Xingdao is a clothing brand, each doing its own thing and not interfering with each other."

Chen Jun looked at Chen Xianjin in surprise. Before the lawsuit was filed, the two brothers actually began to fight among themselves. But the younger brother has the right to say that, he has his own business in Hong Kong, and he is just eyeing the Cartelo clothing brand in his younger brother's hands.

"The lawsuit must be ended! Don't worry, I won't be greedy for your Cartelo, and I will create a new brand when the time comes."

Chen Xianjin said angrily: "Isn't this an extra trouble!"

Chen Jun wanted to get angry, but he held back his silence. When he was named "Crocodile", his younger brother also echoed loudly; and when he talked about how Hong Kong's Crocodile shirts are doing well, he was fascinated by it.

Now it's better, the failure is all my fault.

"It's too late to say that now. You agreed at the beginning! Moreover, now that Hong Kong and Sing Tao are developing on both sides, if we brothers don't unite and communicate with each other, we can't do what other people do. If you think it's okay without me, I As a big brother, I have nothing to say."

Chen Xianjin also calmed down when he heard it. After all, the eldest brother understood this better than himself, and quickly said: "Big brother, why are you so angry, brothers?"

When Chen Jun heard it, he almost didn't recite it. He was looking for trouble after cooperating for a long time!

He endured it, who could he call his biological brother?

When the lawsuit is over, he will return to Hong Kong to create his own clothing brand to avoid being angry with his brother.

At this time, Chen Jun also vowed to make the crocodile shirt look good and have another strong competitor.

The other side.

Lin Zhichao left Sing Tao contentedly. This time, besides inspecting his own property and getting acquainted with Lawyer Li, he also had another important task, which was to purchase land on Orchard Road.

He entrusted Lawyer Li as the land purchase lawyer to explain his thoughts on the commercial structure of Orchard Road, intending to gain an impression first.

In the mid-1950s, Lin Chi-chao planned to build department store buildings simultaneously on Paterson Street in Hong Kong and Orchard Road in Sing Tao. Of course, the department store had to go to Japan to find a partner, because he knew that Japanese products were very popular in the world in the 1960s, 1970s and 1980s, and department stores were invincible until they were finally defeated by supermarkets.

After the founding of Singapore, although there was a law that the government had the right to forcibly reclaim private land, the subsidy price was based on the market price before expropriation. But if the owner is a real estate developer, then he can rebuild according to the government's plan, and the government will not maliciously expropriate your land.

Therefore, Lin Zhichao was not worried at all about the commercial land in Xingdao being confiscated in the end.

Orchard Road is 2.8 kilometers long in total, and later there were more than 20 shopping malls here. Lin Zhichao's goal this time is about 200,000 square feet, which will be enough to build two large shopping malls (retail shopping, theaters, and office buildings) in the future. As for the land for the hotel, we will discuss it next year.

Tsuen Wan.

In the large conference room of Cheung Kong Industrial, more than 20 managements gathered together, including the managements of Changjiang Zipper, Changjiang Plastics, Changjiang Trading, Uniqlo, Changjiang Garment, and Changjiang Real Estate. Everyone basically knows each other.

After a while, everyone looked at the door of the conference room. It turned out that Lin Zhichao and Tang Caiyun walked in.

"Boss, Mrs. Lin"

Lin Zhichao nodded and sat in the prepared position with Tang Caiyun, with Tang Caiyun sitting next to him.

Afterwards, Lin Zhichao glanced around. The important management of each company were gathered together, and no one was absent. Including Bao Chunlai from Xingdao, they all rushed back to Hong Kong for the meeting.

"Okay, now that everyone is here, let's officially start the meeting."

"This time I gathered all the important management to formally establish a group company and restructure the Yangtze River Group's organizational structure."

"I'll tell you the general plan first, and then you can discuss it."

"First, I will establish a 'Changjiang Holding Group Company' and then control its two major groups - Yangtze River Industrial Group and Yangtze River Industrial Group."

"Secondly, there are three major subsidiaries of the Yangtze River Industrial Group - Yangtze Zipper, Yangtze Plastics, and Uniqlo; Yangtze Trading is still affiliated to Yangtze Zipper and a subsidiary company of the group; Crocodile Shirt is a brand of Uniqlo; Yangtze Clothing , becoming the production department of Uniqlo.”

"Finally, Cheung Kong Group will be a company specializing in real estate development in the future, and will be involved in the entire real estate industry such as real estate development, architectural design, building materials, infrastructure, etc.; Yangtze Real Estate, as its subsidiary, will be responsible for the group's commercial real estate projects in the future. , it is a real estate company that mainly collects rent.”

"Cheung Kong Industrial Group and Cheung Kong Industrial Group will operate independently in the future, which is irrelevant. The above holdings are just layers of skin."

While everyone was listening and recording, they were still shocked.

Generally speaking, no boss would be so confident in planning such a big game, but my own boss was very confident. The important thing is that everyone feels proud and confident in the boss and the group.

This is probably the leading effect!

Afterwards, Uniqlo's Zhao Mingyi asked: "The Yangtze River Garment Factory has been converted into the production department of Uniqlo. Will it accept external orders in the future?"

Lin Zhichao replied: "Only do the OEM of brand clothing, and do not accept other orders. Therefore, at present, we do not accept external orders. You need to continue to inherit quality and management to prepare for the future. With the development of the economy, clothing also To be fashionable, diversified and branded, we need to lay a solid production foundation."

Zhao Mingyi nodded and said, "Okay."

Next, everyone discussed and asked some questions, and the matter was roughly finalized, and formal procedures would need to be followed later.

Several executives like Yangtze Real Estate have no doubts because they know that the company will not enter real estate on a large scale in recent years. This is the boss's original words. Even several core management members were successively funded by Lin Zhichao to study abroad.

Lin Zhichao said: "Wang Liang temporarily serves as the deputy general manager of the Yangtze River Industry Group and the general manager of the Yangtze River Zipper. Bao Chunlai serves as the deputy general manager and takes charge of the actual work. Li Chengdong is the general manager of the Xingdao Yangtze River Zipper."

In terms of personnel, there are only slight changes, and we will slowly adjust and recruit later.

However, the organizational structure has begun to be adjusted, and it will be officially completed in a month or two at the latest, mainly involving legal issues.

Wang Liang immediately said: "Should we establish the management and office of Yangtze River Industrial Group?"

Lin Zhichao nodded and said: "Yes! The finance office, remuneration committee, and office departments all need people. Ms. Tang Caiyun will become the chairman of the group's remuneration committee. We will discuss it later. In short, the group is not a decoration and has great rights. The subsidiaries also have great independence, and we will slowly explore the management in between."

"OK."

Everyone understood that the boss planned to let his wife take part in politics, and she entrusted her with an important task from the beginning, that is, everyone's future salary would be determined by this committee.

Of course, they are not worried, because the boss is a "generous boss" who has always attached great importance to employee welfare, and he is recognized as a good boss.

After the meeting, Tang Caiyun said worriedly: "Brother Zhichao, I'm afraid it's not convenient for me to go to work?"

Lin Zhichao said with a smile: "Your job is managed and worked by the deputy manager. You are the boss just like me. You only need to understand the work of this department, and the deputy manager will report to you. So, there is no need to come to work here. , or if you think of it, you can come to the company to have a look. As for the future, you will also serve as the chairman of the remuneration committee of Cheung Kong Holdings Group, and it will be convenient to work in Central. "

Tang Caiyun nodded, she finally fully understood that Lin Zhichao just wanted her to get in touch with the company's affairs.

The next day.

Wang Liang and Bao Chunlai came to Lin Zhichao's office together to report on their work.

"Boss, it's time to order the machine. 25 automatic rice arranging machines are almost not enough." Wang Liang said.

Lin Zhichao nodded. He was also considering this issue. The global demand for zippers is growing rapidly, and Yangtze zippers are very popular in the market. After all, they are high quality and low price.

"Okay, let Bourne Machinery deliver another 20 sets of various automatic rice arranging machines in installments. This time, we will pay in installments of one year and deliver the machines in installments of one year."

There are different models and specifications of zipper machines. Bourne Machinery is now doing very well in the zipper machine business and has also developed a variety of zipper machines, which saves Yangtze Zipper a lot of trouble.

"OK"

The price of 20 zipper automatic rice arranging machines is between US$500,000 and US$600,000, which is about HK$2.8 million to HK$3.3 million. The Yangtze River Zipper can make a profit of 6 million Hong Kong dollars a year, so it is still possible to invest this money.

However, as machines are added now, the gross profit is also decreasing, so maybe 30 machines can only earn the profit of the previous 20 machines. The era of huge profits has ended with the birth of competitors; the good news is of course that market demand Increased.

Last year, Yangtze Zipper actually had 3 million Hong Kong dollars in cash, of which more than 500,000 in cash flow, Tang Zhongyuan owed 700,000 Hong Kong dollars, plus 1.8 million in raw materials purchased with its own funds. This year, I made 300,000 Hong Kong dollars in selling plastic pellets.

And every month this year, the monthly profit of zipper alone can reach nearly 500,000 Hong Kong dollars, and it is still growing steadily.

This is just like Yangtze Zipper can have more than 9 million Hong Kong dollars in funds this year, so even if it invests more than 4 million Hong Kong dollars in the zipper industry, there will still be 5 million Hong Kong dollars in funds for Lin Zhichao to invest in real estate.

The land on Orchard Road in Sing Tao only costs about 1.5 to 2 million Hong Kong dollars, so this year we can still buy 3 million Hong Kong land.

As for the profits of Changjiang Plastics Factory and Uniqlo, the combined annual profits are in the millions. In addition to their own development, they can also be handed over to the group.

"What do you think of YKK zipper, our biggest competitor?" Lin Zhichao asked a question.

Bao Chunlai thought about it at this time and said: "It is a very powerful competitor. Of course, they will not be able to take advantage in the short term. But if Japan can produce its own aluminum alloy, they can make up for the price advantage."

Wang Liang also said: "The most powerful industry is the Japanese industry. It took them about two years to improve the automatic zipper rice arranging machine from scratch. As for the zipper industry, there are still many technological products with different varieties, materials and specifications. There are many, so we have to continue to invest more and pay attention to research and development.”

Lin Zhichao nodded and said: "It's good that you can face the enemy squarely! However, although Japan is very industrialized, the zipper industry is not high-tech. In the future, we will produce non-metallic zippers, smelt aluminum alloys ourselves, and the machinery department will also grow. Anyway, every year I stick to investing half of my profits.”

The two of them immediately became more confident!

Lin Zhichao himself knew that Tadao Yoshida did not develop so quickly. After all, he had no funds, so how could he develop?

At this time, YKK zipper's share in Japan has not surpassed that of Yangtze Zipper, so why should it consider a one-stop industry?

YKK zipper.

"President Yoshida, according to the development progress of YKK zippers, it seems that our Hitachi Machinery can temporarily not arrange production of the subsequent machines." Matsushima said with some dissatisfaction.

I thought that by supporting YKK zippers, we could quickly occupy the Japanese zipper market and even become popular around the world. Unexpectedly, YKK zippers did not even achieve impressive results for more than half a year.

Tadao Yoshida felt helpless and frustrated at this time. The Yangtze River Zipper was too difficult to deal with.

"President Songdao, Yangtze Zipper exports zipper products to Japan at low prices, focusing on small and medium-sized customers. This is something I did not expect. But don't worry, the market for YKK zippers in Japan has greatly increased, and it will be just around the corner to regain the top spot in the Japanese market."

Matsushima said in a sarcastic tone: "That's not what you said before. What you said was to drive them out of the Japanese market."

Tadao Yoshida was immediately embarrassed and could only bite the bullet and said: "It is not impossible! At present, Yangtze Zipper has very good cost control, and they will use this to compete with us in the Japanese market. So, if we If you can smelt aluminum alloy by yourself and weave it yourself, your advantages will be greatly increased and there will be no disadvantages."

Songdao said: "That is really a distant thing. You should work hard to make money and pay for the machine!"

Tadao Yoshida was immediately speechless. Hitachi Machinery's debt for 20 automatic rice arranging machines and 8 automatic stamping machines was already as high as 450,000 US dollars. However, YKK zippers have not yet made half of their profits in more than half a year.

So it would take him more than a year to repay the money for the machine alone. Not to mention going to Kurobe to invest in large factories.

hateful!

As you can imagine, Hitachi Machinery decided not to produce machines for YKK zippers until the debt is repaid.

After Matsushima left, Tadao Yoshida sighed.

He is now severely hit by reality. Even when he was bombed back then, he was not as hit as he is now!

Although nothing was left after being bombed, he at least still had the confidence to make a comeback.

In the past few years, every time he wants to win, others are always one step ahead. This feeling is really bad.

He is really afraid that when YKK's one-stop industry develops, others will also be smelting and reducing costs.

By then, he still has no advantage at all.

Importantly, he understood that his opponent was an extremely smart and visionary entrepreneur.

Just opening a branch factory in Xingdao is enough to prove that Lin Zhichao, the boss of Yangtze Zipper, had already anticipated that Hong Kong might be subject to an import and export blockade by the United States.

He originally thought that Yangtze zippers would lose the U.S. market, but he did not expect that others would produce and ship from Xingdao.

"I can't be afraid of my opponent!"

"It doesn't matter. Since the price may not be affordable, I will insist on using quality and technology to win. One day, YKK zippers will surpass Yangtze Zippers."

Finally, Tadao Yoshida said to himself firmly.

"Father-in-law, sit down!" Lin Zhichao welcomed Tang Zhongyuan to the sofa and said with a smile.

He was very grateful to Tang Zhongyuan. After all, Tang Caiyun and Xu Caiying were raised by him. With this kindness, he would definitely support Tang Zhongyuan to become a rich man.

Of course, Tang Zhongyuan is also a member of a prominent family and has good abilities. Now his career has opened up. At least in the textile industry, he already has the potential of the four major families, and is even slightly ahead of others.

Tang Zhongyuan sipped tea and then said: "I want to build another factory, so I plan to let Changjiang Real Estate build it for me."

Lin Zhichao nodded and said, "No problem! But your development is fast enough. The factory area is even ahead of mine."

Tang Zhongyuan smiled and said: "The textile industry is a large user of land, and it is a low value-added industry. How can it be compared with your zipper factory. But now Oriental Textile's annual profit is estimated to be more than 1.5 million Hong Kong dollars. In this industry in Hong Kong, It is also at the forefront and development is going very smoothly.”

Lin Zhichao said in surprise: "So powerful?"

Tang Zhongyuan nodded, and then said: "The situation of the garment factory is very good, accounting for almost half of the profits. The main reason is that I listened to your suggestion and purchased a large number of advanced machines. Now other Hong Kong factories want to buy machines, but they have no channels. , On the contrary, Oriental garment factories are now in Southeast Asia and can compete with Japanese garment factories. What's more, we still have a big market in South Africa."

In the 1950s and 1960s, Japanese textiles were not something to be underestimated. They were so powerful that they were targeted by Europe and the United States.

Lin Zhichao said: "Indeed! In the past few years, if others can't buy machines, it's your turn to get rich. When the lockdown is lifted in a few years, you will distance yourself from everyone again."

Tang Zhongyuan replied: "That's right! I also plan to purchase some surrounding land this year to prepare for future emergencies."

Lin Zhichao immediately said: "Don't miss the opportunity if you have it! When the Peninsula War ends, our industry will explode. By then, whether it is the Asian market or the European and American markets, we will be competing for it."

Tang Zhongyuan asked curiously: "How many years do you think this will take?"

A few years of fighting will mean a few years of trade ban in Hong Kong, which will still have an impact on industry. In fact, even if there was no such war, Hong Kong would still follow the industrial path, because so much capital, technology, and equipment came from the Shanghai Stock Exchange, it was inevitable.

Lin Zhichao said: "Two or three years! We can only leave this kind of thing to fate!"

Tang Zhongyuan nodded, and then added: "I can pay back your money in the first half of this year."

"My father-in-law is out of town, so I just need to use the money. I'm not short of that!"

"Of course I have to pay it back if I have money! What's more, I can borrow money from the bank now. To be honest, Oriental Textile is now very strong."

Seeing this, Lin Zhichao stopped talking about this matter.

Tang Zhongyuan had an industrial chain of "textile dyeing", and throughout the 1950s and 1960s, investment was still required in this industry. Waiting until the sunset of this industry, it is not too late to attack everywhere.

After Tang Zhongyuan left, Lin Zhichao also began to think about expanding the factory.

It seems that he also planned to build a five-story factory and made preparations in advance.