Chapter 399: Overseas Production Capacity Layout
"Plastic boxes?" Wei Zetao paused for a moment, then said, "They already exist—there are manufacturers in Hong Kong too. We could definitely make them, but we don't really have a unique advantage."
"I know plastic boxes exist," Yang Wendong replied with a smile. "But the ones available now are just imitations of regular wooden crates. Nothing special. What I want to make is something that has a sealable lid on top, wheels on the bottom—or at least optional wheels. Only a plastic box like that is truly user-friendly."
Ever since plastic was invented, people had been using it to replace materials like metal and wood. So it wasn't surprising that there were already early attempts at plastic crates. But wooden boxes relied on slow-growing raw material—trees. In an industrialized society, that kind of inefficiency was intolerable. So plastic boxes became more common, but due to the lack of design innovation and some functional shortcomings compared to wood, they didn't fully replace wooden alternatives.
Storage boxes, however, were different. They were designed to maximize the advantages of plastic, and their efficiency had been proven in Yang Wendong's previous life. The modern storage box had become a staple of urban living.
"Sealable lid and optional wheels?" Wei Zetao thought for a moment. "Wheels are easy to add. But if we do add them, it may reduce transport efficiency—empty boxes need to be stackable to make shipping cost-effective."
"That's exactly why I said wheels should be optional," Yang Wendong said with a smile. "Most people don't need them, but if we leave a slot where users can install wheels themselves, it gives them the choice. It doesn't raise our cost by much.
As for the sealable lid, it will require a rubber gasket embedded into the edges of the lid, perfectly aligned with the box, and then secured with side clips to snap it shut and create a tight seal."
Yang Wendong had used storage boxes back in his previous life, so he had a pretty clear idea of their basic structure. After upgrading his living situation, he no longer needed them, but their usefulness—especially in densely populated urban environments—was undeniable. Storage boxes were built for cities. They let people neatly pack away clothes, daily-use items, and other belongings with maximum efficiency in minimal space.
"Alright, the structure is feasible," Wei Zetao said. "Except for the side clips—that might need some design work. I'll have the R&D team look into it."
"Good. Once you get results, let me know." Yang Wendong smiled.
He had a general idea of what the clip mechanism should look like but didn't bother trying to explain it in detail. It wasn't necessary. What mattered was that it functioned correctly. As long as the team understood the requirements, they could figure it out.
"We'll get started right away," Wei Zetao promised. "I'll form a dedicated development team today."
Yang Wendong handed him a rough sketch. "Here's my basic drawing. Use it as a reference during the design phase."
Wei Zetao took the page and looked it over. "Mr. Yang, are you thinking of making the box out of transparent plastic?"
"Yes, ideally completely clear," Yang Wendong replied. "Is that difficult to do?"
"It's doable. Transparent plastics exist—but they're used less often and cost more," said Wei Zetao.
"That's fine. The transparency lets people immediately see what's inside the box without opening it. That's an advantage wood or opaque containers can't offer. Customers will be willing to pay for that. We're targeting urban consumers—they might live in smaller spaces, but they're not poor. They won't care about a small increase in cost."
Changxing Industrial's products had always been creative in nature. With patents in hand, they naturally had higher profit margins. This was their strength. On top of that, building a strong brand required premium positioning. Choosing better materials wasn't just acceptable—it was necessary.
"Then it's settled. I believe our team can solve the technical issues fairly quickly," Wei Zetao said confidently.
"Great. I'll wait for your good news," Yang Wendong said. Then he asked, "How are things going with Changxing Industrial lately? There's been a lot going on."
With the company's rapid expansion, Changxing Industrial had become Hong Kong's largest manufacturing enterprise. Its products were now sold globally, and as its influence grew, political and geopolitical factors also had to be considered. That meant investing in overseas factories—merging political positioning with economic viability.
One location was particularly promising—Singapore, which was on the verge of gaining independence. The country's population was predominantly Chinese, making it an ideal candidate for future expansion.
"Everything's going well in Taiwan," said Wei Zetao. "The factory construction is underway. Equipment orders have already been placed with Dongsheng. By the time the factory's done, the machines will be ready too.
We've also started hiring technicians, quality inspectors, and management personnel in Taiwan and sent them to Hong Kong for training. We'll send some of our team over to manage the plant and ensure smooth operations."
"Good. Taiwan shouldn't pose too many issues," Yang Wendong nodded. "How about the UK?"
Although the scale of investment in the UK was far smaller than in Taiwan, Yang Wendong was more concerned about it.
This particular investment was essentially a political exchange—he was helping the British government with its unemployment problem in exchange for future protection or favorable treatment. Since this was necessary, it meant the UK was a difficult investment environment to begin with. Still, he hoped the business would at least break even. Only then could the partnership be sustainable.
"I've negotiated with Sean several times," Wei Zetao said. "He's firm on the employment figure—800 jobs minimum. He won't budge."
"800?" Yang Wendong frowned. "The cost of those 800 employees is like hiring 5,000 people in Hong Kong. We've got to get that number down. We're already investing and boosting the local supply chain. If they insist on the headcount, I'll just move our plastic injection molding machines over too—to pad the numbers."
When investing overseas, it was always better to minimize direct employment. Too many employees could lead to trouble—unions, strikes, or worse.
If he could shift the employment to suppliers, that would be ideal. He'd get credit for job creation without having to manage them directly. Even in Hong Kong, Changxing Group would eventually move toward that model—reducing non-core staff while investing in promising suppliers and building alliances through equity stakes.
"Understood. I'll keep pressing Sean on that," Wei Zetao said. "Meanwhile, Lin Youtian has been traveling around the UK, scouting towns and cities for the best site. We're still evaluating."
"No rush," Yang Wendong said with a smile. "Let's get the Taiwan factory done first. The UK investment is primarily for political reasons—our production and sales won't be affected much.
Even if the spin mop does well in Europe, the profits won't be huge. As long as the factory can operate steadily, that's good enough."
In the long run, all of Changxing's major manufacturing bases would be in Asia—that was a certainty. If the mainland had already opened up, he wouldn't even bother with Britain.
In fact, if it were already the 1970s, he wouldn't go to the UK at all. The British Empire would be even more faded by then. When China's reforms began, everything would be easier. But for now, Western political connections still had some use.
"Taiwan's going well," Wei Zetao confirmed. "The local authorities are happy with the investment. All the paperwork is complete."
"Good," Yang Wendong said. "What about our plastic production base in Hong Kong?"
While not a massive investment, it was critically important. Most of their future products would be based on metal, paper, or plastic.
Metal was currently out of reach. Paper was already being produced in-house. That left plastic. The upcoming storage box product, in particular, would require even more plastic than suitcases.
Even though Formosa Plastics was his supplier, internal production would cut costs further and give him leverage over Wang Yongqing. If Wang became too successful, he might try to gain independence. That wasn't certain, but it was worth preparing for. Relying on one supplier for such a vital material wasn't wise.
"We've secured the land on Tsing Yi Island, and construction of the plant has begun," Wei Zetao reported. "The equipment is being built in Japan and should be delivered by July or August. By then, we can start small-scale production in Hong Kong."
"What about staffing?" Yang Wendong asked.
"We poached a few people from Formosa Plastics, though we didn't go too far since we have a good relationship. The rest we recruited from Southeast Asia—particularly the Philippines, where the U.S. and UK have established petrochemical industries. We found some experienced people there."
"Good. I'll wait to see the results," Yang Wendong said.
As CEO, he didn't need to micromanage everything. He asked questions, set the direction, and reviewed outcomes—unless it was a mega-investment.
April 12, an auspicious day for weddings.
At the Four Seasons Hotel Hong Kong, firecrackers exploded in celebration. Many of Changxing Group's top executives gathered to celebrate their boss's wedding.
External guests were few—mostly key partners, suppliers, and bankers.
A handful of journalists showed up, but the hotel had strict rules. No press were allowed inside, especially not for the private wedding of such a prominent businessman. In fact, no media were even invited.
"Damn, rich people really do live differently. Yang Wendong is barely in his twenties and already has three wives."
"Totally normal. In your twenties, you're still full of energy. If you wait till your forties, you probably won't have the drive anymore."
"I just mean, so many men can't get even one wife, and these rich guys get three. They really need to enforce monogamy."
"Oh, come on. You think monogamy would help you get married? If you're useless, you're still useless. Rich guys can still have women even without marrying them."
"Yeah, it all comes down to money."
Outside, the blocked-off journalists chatted casually among themselves. Since they couldn't get in, they might as well relax. To the hotel's credit, they provided water and snacks to the press waiting outside.
Inside the Four Seasons, Yang Wendong was greeting guests.
"Congratulations, Mr. Yang," said a middle-aged man, smiling.
"Thank you, Mr. Ho," Yang Wendong replied warmly.
The guest was Ho Sin Hang, head of Hang Seng Bank and widely regarded as the leading Chinese banker in Hong Kong. In recent years, Hang Seng had seized several market opportunities and grown into the top Chinese bank in terms of scale, reputation, and influence—far outpacing Liu Chong Hing Bank from earlier years.
Of course, this also set the stage for HSBC's future takeover of Hang Seng.
"I'll head in first," Ho Sin Hang said. "Do visit Hang Seng Bank sometime if you're free."
"Absolutely," Yang Wendong replied.
Soon, other major business figures arrived: Li Ka-shing, Lee Shau Kee, Lee Fook Shue, Cheng Yu-tung, and others. After congratulating the groom, they found their seats.
The wedding proceeded smoothly. As with previous ceremonies, the entire process was coordinated by a professional emcee.
Downstairs, professional camera crews recorded the event from multiple angles—capturing every beautiful moment, preserving it on film.
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