The Birth of the Hong Kong Island Family.

Chapter 241 [The Life of Ordinary People]

Lin Zhichao came to the Yangtze River Industrial Park. Although the industry only ranks third among his core assets, Lin Zhichao still often participates in the work of the Yangtze River Industrial Group, formulating strategies, making suggestions, supervising production, and opening channels.

If it were any other entrepreneur in the world, it would be impossible for Lin Zhichao to be comprehensive and professional; this is due to Lin Zhichao's super-powerful brain and the memory of his previous life.

In fact, in Lin Zhichao's view, doing industry requires the most energy. Doing shipping and real estate, there are more or less "speculation".But to do industry, you need to be down-to-earth and carefully analyze the situation.

In the wig production workshop, Lin Zhichao praised the management: "Yangtze River Wig Factory performed well last year, and you will continue to work hard this year!"

In 1957, the Yangtze River Wig Factory’s profit was still stable at more than 500 million Hong Kong dollars, which made Lin Zhichao very happy; at the same time, he also rethought the prospect of wigs.

Chen Linyuan, Chen Xia and other management were immediately very useful and happy. To be praised by the boss was not only a sense of pride, but also related to the amount of year-end awards.

Chen Linyuan responded: "Although the wig competition in Hong Kong is fierce, we have always maintained our competitiveness by virtue of our large sales network and sophisticated technology. This is the key to our survival."

The huge sales network means that Changjiang Wig Factory can not only sell its own products to Europe and the United States, but also act as an agent for other people's products.

Excellent technology, some special wigs can cost thousands of yuan per wig, and the profit margin is explosive.

Lin Zhichao nodded. From the beginning, they have been the "boss" in the industry, so although there are many wig factories in Hong Kong, it is difficult to challenge the status of Changjiang Wig Factory.

"General Manager Chen, you often go abroad for inspections, tell me about the demand for wigs in Europe and the United States, is there any possibility of expanding?"

Lin Zhichao actually knew it in his heart, and he just tested Chen Linyuan on purpose.Lin Zhichao trains the general managers of these subsidiaries as "bosses". He travels overseas many times a year, and the company reimburses all expenses.

As for whether the general managers of these subsidiaries will resign and start a business, Lin Zhichao is not worried at all. He can just train another one after leaving the company. The real commander is Lin Zhichao.Of course, Chen Linyuan's salary is increasing every year. For example, last year it was close to [-], and this year it will exceed [-].

Chen Linyuan said: "The global demand for wigs has been growing steadily, which is due to the increasing popularity of European and American hippies. There is also a phenomenon that there are more and more markets for special wigs. These customers are all customized by a single customer. For bald wigs, the hair cover must be organically combined with the real hair at the edge, and the color should be the same to achieve the miraculous effect of being fake. In addition to local artists, bald people, and thinning hair, this kind of customers also come from overseas. people. The price can reach thousands, or even nearly ten thousand Hong Kong dollars.”

Lin Zhichao heard the words, combined with his own memory-the 60s was the era when hippies were really popular, and they gradually faded away in the late 60s.Just like 'fashion', once popularized, it can no longer be called 'fashion'.

As a result, the wig industry still has a golden period of nearly ten years.

"Well, I think there is still a golden period for wigs. It may be that the Beatles became popular in Europe and the United States in the 60s. In this way, you can sign long-term supply contracts with some high-quality OEM factories according to the situation to stabilize our supply chain. When the situation is not right in the future, we will sign back the one-month supply contract."

In this way, they have mastered the production channel without breaking a sweat.

"Ok"

Later, Lin Zhichao took care of Chen Xia and said, "Manager Chen, the Hong Kong people's business style is - don't let go of big money, don't lose small money. The single customer demand that General Manager Chen mentioned just now, you have to make the technical level the best factory in Hong Kong." One, only then can we do high-end customization.”

There are two reasons for Chen Xia's development from a female worker to today's production manager: first, the Yangtze River Industries Group is good at cultivating people, and also likes to cultivate potential management; second, although Chen Xia's education is close to the elementary school level, she The personality is neat, strong, and willing to study.

In this way, Chen Xia has not been left behind all these years!
"Boss, don't worry, we will definitely make wigs with the best quality and technology in the world, and we won't lose to the French." Chen Xia said unwillingly.

At this point, Chen Xia already has the shadow of a 'strong woman'.Since she joined the Yangtze River Wig Factory, her destiny has undergone tremendous changes. From a female worker with a salary of only a few tens of Hong Kong dollars, she has now become a middle class in Hong Kong with an annual salary of 3 to 4.

Later, Lin Zhichao spent a while visiting the production workshop and chatting with everyone.

He said that he has completely handed over the two industries of wigs and plastic flowers to the management of the group and branch companies; but in fact, Lin Zhichao's business style is very strict - don't let go of big money, don't lose small money.

What's more, nowadays, whether it's wigs or plastic flowers, they have all made heads, and the profits are very rich.

Take wigs as an example, assuming that a profit of 500 million Hong Kong dollars can be guaranteed every year for ten years, that is a full 5000 million Hong Kong dollars.

What kind of concept is this? With so much money, a company with zero real estate can buy the bottom in 1972 and go public in [-] in one fell swoop, becoming the scale of the "Five Tigers of Real Estate".

then.

Lin Zhichao came to Changjiang Plastic Factory.

Currently, the Changjiang Plastics Factory has more than 3000 workers, 500 more than Lin Zhichao expected. In Tao Derong's words, the number of workers must be expanded, otherwise too much profit will be lost.

At the same time, there are more than 20 satellite companies that manufacture "plastic flowers" for the Yangtze River Plastic Factory, and there are more than 1000 workers in total; there are also more than 200 family factories that make strings for the Yangtze River Plastic Factory. Home, about 500 people.

The scale of nearly 5000 people can be called an industrial miracle.

There are already about 3 plastic flower workers in Hong Kong, not including family workshops.

"Boss, in the past year or so, Zunino Altman (Qi Ai Company) has grown rapidly. It is said that there are 3000 workers, and it has taken away a lot of orders from us in the United States." Tao Derong reported a 'bad' news.

Lin Zhichao was a little surprised when he heard this.

Qi Ai Company was the largest plastic flower factory in Hong Kong in the previous life, and Li Jiacheng was only ranked second.

The boss of this company is a pair of Jewish brothers who came to Hong Kong to set up a factory at the end of 1954 after plastic flowers in Hong Kong became popular all over the world.The Jewish brothers are very smart, knowing that there will be no money to be made in opening factories in other places, so they came to Hong Kong immediately to open factories.With its strong capital and sales network in the United States, Qi Ai Company has grown rapidly.

The Jew is a formidable competitor!

In the previous life, the brothers also invested in a factory building in Kwun Tong, Hong Kong as their headquarters, but this building was later acquired by Li Jiacheng; because Qi Ai Company went bankrupt in 1967, and one of the Jewish brothers died early.

"What can you do?" Lin Zhichao asked.

Anyway, he had no choice. After all, Plastic Flower's main focus is "good quality and low price". The Yangtze River Plastic Factory employs so many workers, and its annual profit is only 2000 million Hong Kong dollars (1957).

Moreover, according to Lin Zhichao's estimation, the plastic flowers in this life will take a turn for the worse before 1967.It is expected that it will be very good if it can be popular until 1965.

Tao Derong said: "The reason why Qi Ai Company develops so fast is because they have so many sales outlets in the United States, and the United States accounts for 25% to 30% of the world's consumption power. But if there is a way, in addition to developing more styles, ensure For better quality, the only other option is to go to the US market to fight for an agent, fearing that the price will be lowered.”

Lin Zhichao immediately said: "The price can't be lowered! Plastic flowers can still be popular for more than five years, which is already a very good expectation. If the price is lowered in advance, no one will benefit."

Tao Derong nodded, and said: "Indeed! Plastic flowers bloomed all over the world almost overnight. The speed of this popularity surprised everyone. But this popularity often fades quickly."

Although Lin Zhichao didn't have a good way to deal with it, he was a leader. He said immediately, "As for the competition, let the senior management of the group and the senior management of the plastic factory sit down and talk about it later."

"Ok"

In the end, Tao Derong said hesitantly: "Boss, our labor wages are high. If this continues, there will be great competition and high costs in the later stage. I'm afraid it will be difficult to increase profits."

He knows that the boss treats the workers very well, but as a management, it is necessary to remind the boss.

Lin Zhichao said with a smile: "If there is no profit, close the factory as soon as possible. What else is there? I will consider increasing the wages of the workers. The plastic flower factory will close sooner or later. Do you think I am not prepared? Besides, this kind of product is no longer good, and we will develop new products." That's it, the growth of Changjiang Toy Factory is the best proof!"

Tao Derong admired the boss, but was also a little puzzled. He just wanted to treat the workers a little better, in his opinion.

"I understand!"

"Well, in short, your management will not lose their jobs. There are still many factories to be opened in the later stage, and you may be able to enter high-tech industries in the future."

Tao Derong immediately admired him. The boss is in control of everything and has plans for every industry.

After visiting the two factories, it was already evening, and Lin Zhichao was not going to work overtime, so he decided to go home.

Today's Changjiang Industrial Group has more than 10000 workers and has become a giant factory.

In Hong Kong, there are only 17 registered workers, and about 20 unregistered workers.

Such a large factory also takes energy to manage.

At seven o'clock in the evening, 'Zhou Daqi', a worker of Cheung Kong Plastic Factory, returned to his wooden house in Tsuen Wan.

"Head of the household, did you get a double payment today?" The wife asked happily while taking out the dinner.

Her husband, Zhou Daqi, is a plastic flower worker at the Yangtze River Plastic Factory. According to the practice of the Yangtze River Industry Group, workers who have worked for six months will be given "double pay" in the last month of each year.

Zhou Daqi took out two hundred-dollar bills and two ten-dollar bills, and placed them in front of his wife. He picked up the bowl and said inarticulately while cooking, "Save it!"

The wife said with a smile: "It's still saved, such a family needs to eat, how can there be money saved!"

Zhou Daqi said indifferently: "I said to save up and spend slowly, don't run out of food before the salary is paid."

There are four people in the family, and they have two children, one is 5 years old and the other is only 2 years old; because of this, his wife can't go to work and can only take care of the children at home, so he doesn't expect to save much a year.

The wife immediately said: "Don't worry, you can still save more than 100 yuan this time. It is also fortunate that you work in the Changjiang factory, otherwise the family will not be able to eat well. The third sister-in-law came again today and asked the Changjiang factory Recruit or not, the couple also want to jump ship to work in the Changjiang factory!"

Zhou Daqi immediately said: "There is such a good thing, I will definitely introduce you to it, and the child can be handled by my mother."

The wife nodded quickly and said, "That's true. I really want to go to your factory to make money! I get thirteen salaries a year, and a monthly salary of 80-100 Hong Kong dollars. How wonderful!"

Zhou Daqi said proudly: "It's more than just this benefit! Overtime is calculated at 1.5 times the hourly salary. There is rice oil supply during the Dragon Boat Festival, Mid-Autumn Festival, and spring of the year. You can also have one day off every month. You work normally for ten and a half hours every day. (half an hour of lunch included), free lunch is provided at noon, and there is no such good factory in Hong Kong with lanterns on.”

The monthly salary of 80~100 is at the level of top students in Hong Kong;
As for other benefits, more than 90% of the factories in Hong Kong do not have them, or they are not sincere.

For example, for the benefits of the three festivals of the Yangtze River Industry Group, a worker has 20 catties of rice and 2 catties of oil for each festival, which is enough for an adult's staple food for one month.

Moreover, Changjiang Industrial Group works a lot of overtime, and has a monthly overtime pay of 5 to 20 yuan.

One day off per month is impossible in 90% of the factories in Hong Kong, because everyone has no holidays throughout the year; if there is something to do, they can ask for leave, but their wages will be deducted.

The workers of the Yangtze River Industry Group can use this day to deal with family affairs, or take their families to visit Hong Kong.

The wife said: "Well, Boss Lin is a good boss. By the way, husband, you have 20 Hong Kong dollars for overtime work this month. Why don't we spend 10 Hong Kong dollars to buy a chicken to eat, and the children will also make up for it!"

A catty of rice in Hong Kong is about 0.5 yuan (the price varies according to the grade), and a chicken costs 10 Hong Kong dollars.Hong Kong workers can only buy 10 chickens with a monthly salary, so it is very difficult to eat chicken.

After all, many factories still only have 50-80 Hong Kong dollars, no lunch (and no meal stickers), no overtime pay, [-] hours of salary per month, and even three meals are not enough to eat, so why eat chicken.

This is also - the Changjiang Plastic Factory has nearly 5000 workers and related workers, and its annual profit is only 2000 million Hong Kong dollars.If it is more harsh on the workers of the company, the profit can reach 2300 million in a year.

The labor cost of Changjiang Industry is 1.5 times that of other factories, and even more than twice that of some sweatshops.

It’s not that the factories in Hong Kong don’t make money, but that the bosses like to squeeze workers. In their view, there are a lot of cheap workers available—temporary workers from Tiu Keng Leng who escaped from the mainland; therefore, everyone can earn more Just earn more.

Of course, there are also some factories that have low profits because of their weak competitiveness. In addition, they can earn more by squeezing workers, so they only look for those cheap workers.

But Lin Zhichao couldn't do it. In his opinion, if a factory needs to squeeze workers' basic living expenses, it means that the added value of this industry is too low, and he should close it down.

As for his harvesting leeks in the stock market, he has no turmoil in his heart. He does not cut the leeks, but others do; moreover, these leeks are full of vitality, and they grow again after being cut.

What's important is that his method is not actively harvesting leeks, and he has not used indiscriminate methods.Compared with the harvesting methods of some groups in the stock market, I don't know how many times more benevolent.

Zhou Daqi drooled immediately, and said, "Okay, isn't it just a chicken, I can get enough overtime pay for a month."

Seeing this, the wife said, "Be virtuous! Just work hard and don't lose your job. There are still many people who can't get enough to eat. We can save two or three hundred a year at least."

Zhou Daqi said: "It's a pity that we didn't arrange to buy a building for nothing. Otherwise, we can afford the monthly rent of 13 yuan, and we can still live in a building!" After finishing speaking, he showed a yearning expression.

Yes, who in Hong Kong doesn't want to live in a high-rise building.

But there are still wooden houses in Hong Kong in the 80s. Of course, the later wooden houses are mainly lived by people from the mainland.

"Stop dreaming, wash up and go to sleep, please catch up with work tomorrow morning."

"Why is it a dream? I heard that the government has resettled tens of thousands of people. Sooner or later it will be our turn. By then, the children will be a little older, and you can go to work. Maybe we can save 10 yuan a year!"

"Really! I heard that there is a 'rooftop school' in Tuzhi Building, where children can study and adults can go to work."

"Yes, and there are neighbors in the Juzhi building, so it's no problem for the children to go home after school."

For a while, the couple fell into yearning for a better life.

They at least have hope, but many factory workers in Hong Kong have no hope at all, because their salary is only enough to survive starvation, and they work [-] to [-] hours a day, all year round.

Of course, that kind of factory usually hires underage workers, female workers, and workers who have just arrived in Hong Kong; as long as ordinary workers are not stupid and work for a period of time, they will choose to switch to a factory with better pay. There is still no problem with food and clothing, and they can Save a little money and don't spend it indiscriminately.

For example, a single worker of Cheung Kong, or a couple working in the factory, can save 500 Hong Kong dollars a year, and a couple can save more than 1000 Hong Kong dollars.

(End of this chapter)