Chapter 350: Taking It Down

"Boss, what's the flavor of the herbal tea today?"

In front of the busy snack stall, familiar customers shouted and asked.

"Cool Jasmine, your favorite."

"Bring a bowl!"

Asking like this and answering like this was a dialogue that only stalls that bought goods from Long Teng Tea Drinks would have. Because Long Teng Tea Drinks' herbal tea was divided into flavors, besides different tea flavors, there were also fruit flavors. The efficacy was not the same, and the flavors were varied, drinking often and drinking new, which was the key to Long Teng Tea Drinks suppressing other similar companies with century-old inheritance and occupying most of the market.

"Yesterday, Long Teng people sent us a batch of new products, saying it's called canned herbal tea, do you want to come and try one? Look, it's here, take a look." The stall boss pointed to a few cans of herbal tea piled together in colorful colors on the side.

The customer stepped forward and picked up a can of herbal tea to look at it. He saw a five-clawed golden dragon hidden in the mist, looming, circling the bottle body for a week. On one side of the dragon head, above was a red square the size of a seal, with the traditional black characters 'Long Teng' written in a dragon-flying-phoenix-dancing style, not following the rules, just right in the square, and the strokes of the characters slightly protruded from the boundary, looking full and round, not abrupt. Beside it, written on a jasmine flower, was 'Cool · Jasmine', also in a dragon-flying-phoenix-dancing style, but much larger than the two characters 'Long Teng'. On the lower half of the dragon body on the other side, were printed regular script characters, writing ingredients, place of origin, shelf life, efficacy, etc.

There was a pull ring on the top. With a little force, because it was full of herbal tea inside, although it couldn't be pressed, it could be sensed that the touch wasn't very hard, and it was still slightly concave inward. Overall, except for the golden dragon being a bit eye-catching, it was not bad. Most importantly, this customer was also seeing it for the first time, looking very novel.

Actually, this packaging was no problem for this era. Gold hadn't fallen to the point of being 'earthy', and here it was called novel and creative. Adding the pop-top can that appeared for the first time, it was real that it had attraction for people, not to mention impact.

After looking at several different flavors continuously, he picked up the 'Cool · Jasmine' and shook it at the boss: "Is this just pull the ring on the top and drink it? How much is a can?"

"Yes, very simple, pull and open. The price is two dimes a can, want one?"

"Two dimes? So expensive? A big bowl of freshly boiled is only one dime, this one looks like it doesn't have as much as a bowl, and it's two dimes?"

The boss explained patiently: "This is a new product, only supplied by Long Teng, exclusive business. Today all stalls in Hong Kong and Kowloon are selling it, using their words, it's a unified retail price, everywhere is two dimes. Look at that appearance, it's not cheap, the cost is very high. And, that can is aluminum, Long Teng people said, it can be sold to those who collect junk, one cent each, they still have to reuse it in the end. So expensive is a bit expensive, but really didn't earn much money."

"Then bring a can, try something fresh."

This kind of scene happened in places large and small in Hong Kong Island. People played with the pop-top can that could be held in one hand, tried to pull the pull ring with a 'sizzle' sound, tried to take a sip and taste it carefully, feeling the difference from the big pot of freshly boiled...

Wang Yan and Bai Yuechang were in the factory in the North District, watching the workers busy working, watching pieces of herbal tea packed into boxes after one process after another.

He didn't know what the situation was outside, and actually, there was no need to know. Because he sold one dime and six cents a can ex-factory, all the stalls large and small in Hong Kong and Kowloon had paid the money first, and the goods produced for a month were all sold to those stall owners. As for how the market feedback was, just look at the number of orders in the future.

Actually, this kind of canned herbal tea should have some market in Hong Kong, but it wasn't as big as imagined. After all, people had freshly boiled ones, cheap and large in quantity. Compared to it, canned herbal tea didn't have an advantage. It could only rely on ice, pretending to be pretentious, and new fashion to be loved by some white-collar workers and young people.

The bigger market was still in the surrounding Pan-Chinese cultural circle, some countries in Japan, Korea, and Southeast Asia. In fact, even if Hong Kong people drank his herbal tea, it wouldn't be much money. After all, the population was there, and the upper limit was there, so it was still the right path to open up external markets. However, those weren't urgent, after all, his production capacity was too poor, maybe Hong Kong and Kowloon couldn't even supply it.

Now the main thing was to manufacture production equipment. On one hand, it was to expand the production line, and on the other hand, it was also to sell at a high price. As for others purchasing production equipment and taking the lead in occupying the market, losing the first-mover advantage, then it could only be forgotten. After all, his stall was spread small and couldn't play. He couldn't not sell equipment, not authorize patents, offending many people, and this production equipment's technical difficulty wasn't very high, so he couldn't not earn money.

And to expand production, there was a key and fatal point, which was freshwater resources. To put it badly, the water that local Hong Kong people drank wasn't very sufficient. Now he was producing herbal tea on a large scale, and in the future, he would have beverages, beer, etc., and export them, how much would that be? The reservoirs in Hong Kong and Kowloon weren't enough. It wasn't that it wasn't enough for his production, it wasn't enough for ordinary citizens' daily water use, then that would be a sin.

The Hong Kong government wasn't a fool either, and they wouldn't allow that situation to happen. Water was necessary for life. If there was a mistake, it would be strange if there was no turmoil. Historically, in 1963, Hong Kong didn't rain for nine months, and the reservoirs were about to dry up. The situation at that time was very critical. It was still the mainland diverting water to rescue, making the Hong Kong people avoid falling into 'water wars' due to the urgent lack of freshwater.

And then it was logical to have the Dongjiang-Shenzhen Water Supply Project, solving the water use problems along the way and in Hong Kong. Of course, that wasn't free, it required the Hong Kong government to spend money to buy. Building pipelines and water conservancy projects cost a lot, so charging money was naturally normal, and it didn't involve any relationship between the mainland and Hong Kong civilians. After all, using tap water in the city also required paying taxes and fees, which was completely a cost problem.

He was industrial water use, and a large amount, involving two governments, not a small matter, a proper diplomatic event. So in order to solve the water use problem, he had already obtained contact with the Hong Kong government and the mainland, hoping to open up water trade.

This was necessary. In recent years, various industries in Hong Kong had developed, and the water use volume was stronger year by year. Now there was such a big water user as him, and the Hong Kong government had no reason to block it. The cooperation had been finalized, and it had nothing to do with him. Now it was negotiated by the Hong Kong government with the mainland for specific details, acting as a middleman to earn the price difference.

However, there were also benefits. The water use for civilians would also be much more convenient in the future. Of course, this was all a later story. The factories that had been built in the New Territories recently were also a reason... it was the credit of the Chinese chief inspectors.

Now the Chinese policemen felt very happy, really very happy. Their families didn't all have no work, but considering that the factories of the Chinese chief inspectors were all the highest standards in Hong Kong, so even those who had work resigned and ran to the factories of the Chinese chief inspectors to work.

After these two months, their lives had obviously improved. After all, they were the main force in the family before, basically relying on them to support. Now it was different, the salary of being a policeman wasn't much higher than the salary of working in a factory, and the living quality of the whole family had improved visibly.

Over these past two months, their lives had seen significant improvement. After all, they used to be the main breadwinners of their households, and everyone basically relied on them to survive. It was different now; the wages for being a police officer were not much higher than working in a factory, yet the quality of life for their families had visibly improved.

It was worth mentioning that with the help of Gao Pu's relationship, Wang Yan successfully infiltrated the police school, and the families of the Chinese policemen there were all working in his factory. Grasping the source of policemen, one step ahead.

Of course, the trainees of the police school couldn't all be assigned to his subordinates, and they would definitely be assigned to other chief inspectors. Any smart person knew not to choose so early, otherwise how to mix when they got to the place? But he could influence the assignment of some excellent newcomers to a certain extent, just like he was assigned to Chen Tong's subordinates at the beginning, which was still somewhat useful.

Now the families of Chinese policemen had basically all been divided up by Chinese chief inspectors, and each chief inspector had completely divided the camp. Whose person a policeman was, just look at where his family worked to know, and the existing pattern had been set. The next competition was to compete on who could last the longest while ensuring normal licking of foreigners.

Pretending to understand when not understanding was a commonality of people, especially a bunch of Chinese chief inspectors who held the power of life and death and were high above. It was impossible to endure not intervening in business operations. Not everyone knew how to do business. Perhaps now they could rely on connections, rely on the upward trend of Hong Kong's economy, and earn quite a lot by doing old traditional industries. But if the time was stretched, it didn't need to be too long, as long as it passed for two or three years, there would inevitably be chief inspectors who couldn't support it and went bankrupt, turning to other chief inspectors.

And it also involved the transfer of chief inspectors, so the competition for those policemen was also a key point. Not having it was fine, but having it and then not having it wouldn't do. Now Wang Yan had raised the status of Chinese policemen, whoever couldn't keep up would go down.

So in the mouths of all Chinese chief inspectors, there was never a lack of sincere greetings to him, and everyone tacitly suppressed and targeted him, offending the public anger. Understandable, after all, without him tossing like this, they wouldn't have to spend so much money to do business and open factories.

This was an involution among Chinese chief inspectors provoked by Wang Yan...

Perhaps the most relaxed were Chen Tong and Lin Mingyuan, because they were on the same front as Wang Yan.

Of course, Wang Yan was disdainful of the behavior of those big and small chief inspectors following suit. Doing business, engaging in real industry, this bunch of people tied together weren't enough for him to fight with one hand. After all, they didn't have a long-term vision, and most of them were doing existing industries. He was opening up new industries, and it was clear who was strong and who was weak.

However, it could also be considered a good thing. After all, it provided jobs. Although it had nothing to do with the general public, the families of Chinese policemen weren't a small number. In order not to let him grow big, their salary and benefits were all on the same level as him, all the highest in Hong Kong. When those policemen's families received their salaries, they would inevitably consume, and this wave would pull the various indicators of Hong Kong to rise significantly.

And this was all the contribution of the Chinese chief inspectors' black money, and Wang Mou was once again meritorious...

He had no intention of worrying about what other Chinese chief inspectors did. If he had that time, it would be better to sleep. Although he made a big momentum, he hadn't started selling yet, just in the stage of hoarding goods.

And after he made the pop-top can, he specifically found the lawyer named Xu Hong who had registered the company for him before, and let him start registering patents globally.

The appearance of the pop-top can, the pull ring, materials, manufacturing equipment, and filling process, etc., were all exclusive patents. Without his authorization, one lawsuit would be one accurate, and anyone who wanted a face would come to find him. This was also a considerable income, and it was calculated in US dollars.

After a period of busyness and various preparations, on August 10th, Long Teng herbal tea appeared on herbal tea stalls large and small in Hong Kong and Kowloon, and officially started selling... ===== CHAPTER 351 =====

Bai Yuechang's daughterly, insincere protest: "Who would want to marry a stinking hooligan like you? Shameless."

Wang Yan shook his head and smiled, not continuing the flirtatious banter; there was no point in saying too much. After all, he spoke too many hooligan-like words, and while Bai Yuechang was secretly happy, she naturally couldn't admit it, so she habitually retorted.

"Time is about up. It will take a while to get from here to Kowloon, and it would be very improper to keep your old man waiting for me. Let's go." As he spoke, he put his arm around Miss Bai, turned to leave the factory, went outside to get in the car, and departed for Kowloon...

Bai Fanyu was a big-time operator in Kowloon Chengzhai, but when inviting Wang Yan to dinner, he didn't choose the Chengzhai itself, but rather a restaurant not far to the west of it. This was mainly because there wasn't much good food in the Chengzhai; that place was better for entertainment. Meeting his daughter's boyfriend for the first time, he couldn't exactly take him to an entertainment venue; that would be too improper.

There is no need to dwell on Bai Fanyu's appearance; he looked quite similar to that one in the "Lee Rock" film, just with slight differences—he was just a slightly chubby middle-aged man. Dressed in a silk Tang suit and wearing a pair of cloth shoes, he still looked quite spirited. However, Wang Mou, who was proficient in Traditional Chinese Medicine, observed his facial features and gave a diagnosis of kidney deficiency. Excluding the pleasure of relations between men and women, this old boy was likely still unwilling to give up and was making unremitting efforts to have a son to carry on the family line. As for his somewhat graying hair, it was probably due to the exhaustion of racking his brains over how to rake in more money.

"Hello, Uncle. I am Wang Yan." Wang Yan wore a cheerful smile as he met Bai Fanyu.

Bai Fanyu looked at Wang Yan and nodded repeatedly: "I know you. The famous 'Brother Yan,' indeed a hero among the youth."

"With you here, Uncle, I dare not accept the title of Brother Yan. Just call me A-Yan."

The current situation was somewhat different from two months ago. Back then, he had made a name for himself through his own martial prowess; now, he relied on the police officers whose direct relatives worked in his factory. Although he was still just a lowly plainclothes officer—and a plainclothes officer in Sha Tau Kok at that—when it came to influence, there was no doubt he was more powerful than many detectives.

"Oh my, you two have done enough. Hurry up and sit down to eat." Bai Yuechang hugged Wang Yan's arm: "Let me tell you, the tangerine peel duck soup here is delicious. You'll know in a moment."

"This silly girl, once she has a boyfriend, she ignores her old man." Watching his daughter acting all lovey-dovey in front of him, Bai Fanyu shook his head: "Alright, sit down. Since this is our first meeting today, we must eat and drink well."

"Yes, don't worry, Uncle. I will certainly keep you company well."

Bai Fanyu laughed heartily as he sat down and took out a cigar to offer one to Wang Yan. Seeing him refuse, he took out a cigarette for himself, lit it, shook his head, and smiled: "A-Yan, to tell you the truth, when I first found out you and Yuechang were together, I was shocked."

"Excellent people attract each other. You know your own daughter, don't you? She had me so infatuated I couldn't sleep at night. Wasn't it because of my thick-skinned persistence that I finally got to meet you today, Uncle?"

"Don't flatter her too much. Just as you said, I know what my own daughter is like. That you two can get along is a relief to me; otherwise, I really would be worried she wouldn't be able to get married."

Bai Yuechang pouted unhappily: "Oh, Dad, is that any way to talk..."

"Alright, alright, it's my fault, I spoke wrongly." Bai Fanyu shook his head helplessly, then looked at Wang Yan: "But I have to say something to you too. If I hadn't invited you to dinner today, were you not planning on coming to see me?"

"How could that be, Uncle? You've wronged me there. It's just that I wasn't sure what your thoughts were, and you surely know what my situation has been lately. It's only recently that things have settled down. Even if you hadn't come to me, Uncle, I should have come to pay my respects to you."

"I know you've been busy, so I asked Yuechang about your recent situation before setting up this meeting today. Come to think of it, what you've done recently is truly impressive. You are the most powerful man in Hong Kong and Kowloon right now."

Overall, Bai Fanyu did not put on airs; this was purely for his daughter's happiness. Even if Wang Yan were just an ordinary person, knowing that things couldn't be changed, Bai Fanyu wouldn't have been too high-handed. After all, his daughter was going to be married off and would have to live in someone else's home. He only had this one daughter, whom he had cherished since she was small, and he just wanted her to be well.

After exchanging pleasantries for a while, the ordered dishes were served one after another, and the group began to eat and drink.

"Uncle, I toast you. Thank you for having such a wonderful daughter." Wang Yan drank a cup straight; it was white liquor.

"Good, straightforward." Bai Fanyu laughed: "I only have this one daughter. You must treat her well, or I won't spare you. Come, let's have a drink together."

"Don't worry, Uncle. If I treat her poorly, you can take a knife and hack me to pieces at any time." Looking at the somewhat shy Bai Yuechang, Wang Yan downed another cup of liquor with the laughing Bai Fanyu.

By saying this, Bai Fanyu was giving his approval. In fact, it was only natural; Wang Mou was currently the most prominent young man in the police force. Although his power was still a bit lacking, he was no longer someone who could be easily manipulated. Suppress him? They had already pushed him all the way to Sha Tau Kok; how else could they suppress him? In terms of status alone, there wasn't much difference. It was just that he was too young, which was a disadvantage and an obstacle to reaching the top.

Even though he was currently relegated to Sha Tau Kok, as long as he did business honestly and saved enough money, he could come back out. With such a figure, what reason did Bai Fanyu have not to acknowledge him? As for any other tests or the like, that would be somewhat insulting to Wang Yan.

Putting down his wine cup, Bai Fanyu puffed on his large cigar: "A-Yan, what are your plans for the future?"

"What plans could I have? Right now, I'm just holding down Sha Tau Kok, doing business honestly to make money, and waiting for a couple of years to pull some strings and get transferred out of Sha Tau Kok."

"My relationship with Ngan Tung is alright. Do you want me to help you mediate?"

Wang Yan shook his head and smiled: "Uncle, it's no longer a conflict between me and Ngan Tung; it's a conflict between me and all the Chinese detectives who want to advance further. Originally, everyone raked in their own money and plotted for their own positions. Although there were struggles, it was all harmonious. Now, because of my actions, they are forced to invest the money they worked so hard to rake in into factories to provide a large number of jobs for the direct relatives of police officers. Whoever doesn't do it falls behind. They were quite comfortable before, but now they are forced to lose money. Do you think they hate me?"

"Since you know that, how do you plan to break the deadlock?"

"Let nature take its course and watch the changes quietly. Uncle, I'm not bragging, but few of them have the talent for business. Sooner or later, they will be dragged down and naturally eliminated. I am still young, and even if I give them money, I can't reach a high position. I'm not in a hurry; I can afford to wait."

"Good, neither arrogant nor rash. To tell you the truth, A-Yan, I previously thought that with your personality, you would disregard everything to go to the end with Ngan Tung. Now that you think this way, I am relieved. If you have any trouble, just tell me. I, Bai Fanyu, may not have much else, but I do have some money and brothers."

Bai Yuechang took charge: "That's right, if you have any problems, just look for my dad. If he dares not to agree, hmph hmph..."

"Oh, you silly girl, you haven't even married into his family yet, and you're already thinking about your man everywhere and threatening your old man? They say girls are outward-looking; tsk tsk, can't keep them, really can't keep them."

Looking at Miss Bai beside him who acted as if she hadn't heard a word, Wang Yan shook his head and smiled: "Don't worry, Uncle. If I have a need, I won't be polite. I toast you."

He had previously thought about having Bai Fanyu provide money to help him operate and walk Lee Rock's path again. But later, he thought about it and gave up; it was too unambitious and didn't fit his identity, which was why he had provided jobs for the direct relatives of the police. Come to think of it, it was just moving the set of methods he used when he was a hooligan and applying them to the Chinese police—it was absolutely a righteous and magnificent path.

After joking for a while and downing a few more cups of wine, Bai Fanyu looked at his precious daughter, who was picking food for Wang Yan, and pondered: "A-Yan, about you and Yuechang... what are your plans?"

Exchanging a look with Miss Bai, Wang Yan gently took her hand in his palm: "Uncle, you know I came from the mainland and my parents are long gone. So, regarding the matter between her and me, I may still need you to make the decisions, Uncle. I will listen entirely to your arrangements, alright?" As he spoke, he didn't forget to tease Miss Bai.

"Oh, why are you so annoying?" They were discussing the major matter of marriage. Although she had thought about it long ago, Wang Yan hadn't expressed his stance, so she wasn't sure. Now that he had brought it up directly, she felt a mix of happiness and shyness, and happily gave Wang Yan a slap.

Seeing the two of them flirting without restraint, although he still felt a bit uncomfortable, one had to let go when it was time to let go. Bai Fanyu laughed heartily with relief: "Alright, then I will make the decisions. Tomorrow I will go find a master to choose an auspicious and good day, set the banquet, and send out the invitations. You two just listen to my arrangements."

Wang Yan smiled and nodded, Miss Bai lowered her head to eat with a rosy glow on her face, and Bai Fanyu felt deeply comforted. Everyone was quite happy...

"Uncle Cui, is there any problem?"

Looking at his muddled, unsteady-on-his-feet father-in-law-to-be, Wang Yan asked the man supporting Bai Fanyu. He was the one accompanying them, a big guy named Cui Dongshan, who had followed Bai Fanyu for more than twenty years and was an absolute confidant who had watched Bai Yuechang grow up.

"It's fine. That over there is Kowloon Chengzhai, and our brothers are outside. Don't you worry." Cui Dongshan shook his head: "The car is parked outside. You and Yuechang go first."

"Alright, then we'll go." Wang Yan didn't stand on ceremony either. Supported by Bai Yuechang, he turned and left the restaurant, went out, and got into the car.

Bai Yuechang looked concernedly at Wang Yan, who was leaning his head back against the seat beside her: "You drank so much wine, are you alright?"

"Mm, it's alright. Aside from being a bit dizzy, there's no problem."

"Who doesn't get dizzy when they drink? Honestly. Where are you going?"

Wang Yan tilted his head to look at her: "Where do you think I'm going?"

Meeting his gaze, various images flashed through Miss Bai's mind. Her face turned red, and without a word, she gave Wang Mou a slap: "Oh, hooligan..."

Wang Yan laughed heartily and reached out to pull her into his arms: "Drive."

The driver was the one who often drove for Miss Bai. He was a sensible person, so he started the car and drove around, continuing to head west. Wang Yan's dilapidated wooden house was in the east, and Miss Bai's small western-style building was in the west.

He had met Bai Fanyu, the drinking had gone very well, he was very satisfied, and the marriage had been settled, waiting only for Bai Fanyu to handle the arrangements later. So, what other obstacles were there between them?

Every person is an independent individual, and no two are exactly alike. Women are no exception; they have different appearances, bodies, personalities, and various other traits. This is what is meant by "ten thousand kinds of charm"—literally, ten thousand kinds.

Although Wang Yan's lifespan was several times that of an ordinary person, his realization of these ten thousand kinds of worldly charm was still very shallow...

The young and beautiful Miss Bai was an extroverted, uninhibited woman. Although she occasionally had a side of a little woman and would feel embarrassed, she was more adaptable and braver.

Therefore, in a western-style building on Prince Edward Road in Kowloon, following a painful moan, after the young and beautiful girl became a young and beautiful woman, Miss Bai seemed to have changed from her previous shyness.

Wrapped in her beautiful skin was a passionate soul, and she did a great job of being consistent inside and out. Outwardly uninhibited, inwardly wild—so beautiful...