Shen Dong nodded and said, "Cao Yu is currently discussing business with foreigners, so I haven't seen him. When he returns, have him come to Hong Kong Island. I want to meet this double-doctor in person."

Ahua said, "Okay."

Shen Dong said, "Tengfei Garment Company is also very good. It occupies more than half of the market share in the low-to-mid-end market and is expanding into fourth- and fifth-tier cities and vast rural areas. Some time ago, we acquired three major textile factories in Yandu and formed Tengfei Textile Factory. Now, under the leadership of Factory Director Chu Feng, this factory has started production and can fully meet the needs of Tengfei Garment Factory. I talked with Chen Yongren during my recent visit. He suggested making Tengfei's high-end clothing a separate brand, no longer mixing it with Tengfei's low-to-mid-end clothing, so as not to give people a low-end impression. Jimmy, you brought the garment company out of the company, what do you think?"

Jimmy said, “I strongly support it. Currently, the majority of people in the mainland who can afford to buy high-end clothing are in first-tier cities and more than a dozen second-tier cities. They like foreign brands, think they are particularly high-end, and feel prestigious when they talk about them. So, I think we can come up with a foreign name and build the brand.”

Shen Dong sighed and said, "Although I don't like this phenomenon, this is the prevailing trend, and there's nothing we can do about it. The road ahead for domestic products to truly flourish is long and arduous."

Jimmy said, "Mr. Shen, I think it's time to launch Tengfei's mid-range brand overseas."

Shen Dong smiled and said, "Great minds think alike. Mid-range brands have good quality and fair prices, and are fully capable of opening up overseas markets. They have more advantages than the fiercely competitive high-end brands and those low-end brands that foreigners look down on. Jimmy, follow up on this matter and get it done as soon as possible."

"OK."

Jimmy agreed and wrote the task down in his notebook.

Shen Dong said, "President Liang, please give everyone an update on the situation on your end."

Liang Xiaomeng said, "Okay. First, the first two phases of the Yantian Port project in Pengcheng have been completed. Thanks to President Shen's investment regardless of cost, Yantian Port's annual throughput has reached 52 million tons. Once the third phase is completed, the annual throughput is likely to exceed 100 million tons, making it the world's largest port. In addition to Yantian Port, we have also obtained the construction rights for Qingniao and Shencheng ports. Their..."

Ahua coughed and said, "Mr. Liang, excuse me for interrupting. Most of us are novices when it comes to port operations, so please focus on the profitability."

Jimmy said, "Indeed, I don't have a direct concept of throughput or anything like that."

Shen Dong laughed and scolded, "You guys are completely ignorant and incompetent. President Liang, there's no need to introduce them, just talk about the profits."

Liang Xiaomeng smiled and said, "Okay. Because Pengcheng is the bridge between the inland and the outside world, the turnover of maritime cargo is very frequent. In addition, there are no other ports competing with us. Therefore, after the first phase of the project was put into operation, the average monthly profit was about ten million US dollars. Three months ago, the second phase of the project was put into operation. So far, the average monthly profit is about twenty-four million US dollars. The third phase will be put into operation in six months, and the average monthly profit will exceed sixty million US dollars."

Upon hearing this number, the meeting room erupted in uproar.

"Holy crap."

"How is this possible?"

"Seven hundred million US dollars a year, that's just too frightening."

......

Shen Dong lightly tapped the table and said, "The total investment for the third phase of the Yantian Port project is approximately US$4.2 billion. At an interest rate of 5%, it will take me at least eight years to recoup my costs. Do you think it's very profitable?"

Upon hearing this, everyone immediately fell silent.

New Territories Warehouse CEO Zhang Hangdao said, "Yantian Port has just been built, so there is almost no need for much investment in its maintenance. But in a few years, this alone will cost a lot of money."

Liang Xiaomeng asked, "Mr. Zhang, what are the maintenance and upkeep costs for the port equipment at the New Territories warehouse?"

Zhang Hang said, "Around twenty-eight million US dollars."

Liang Xiaomeng nodded and said, "This is indeed a considerable burden. The most crucial point is that Li Ka-shing has already secured the construction contracts for other ports in Shenzhen. At that time, his ports will become competitors with us, and profits will decline. I estimate that it will take at least ten years to recoup the costs."

Jimmy said, "Mr. Shen, since the investment in port construction is large and the return on investment is slow, why do we still need to build it?"

Shen Dong said, “In short, stability. Business risks are everywhere, and it’s practically impossible to win every battle. Take Tengfei instant noodles and Tengfei clothing, for example. They do have a huge market share now, but with the entry of domestic and foreign clothing companies, can you guarantee that you can maintain this share in three years? Port operations are different. A coastal city only has two or three ports. Even if it takes ten or twenty years, it can still bring us stable profits.”

Jimmy said, "I understand. Mr. Shen, you are building the foundation of Tengfei Group. The deeper the foundation, the stronger Tengfei Group's ability to withstand future risks."

Shen Dong said, "That's right. Shanghai and Qingniao are both first-tier inland cities with well-developed maritime transport. The 100 billion yuan loan I received from the government is just enough to build the port there. Hehe, to put it bluntly, we are currently in the stage of raising hens. The more hens we raise, the more eggs they will lay in the future."

"Ha ha ha ha"

Everyone laughed.

Shen Dong said, "By the way, President Liang, there's something I need to discuss with you. During my trip to Yandu, I reached an investment agreement with the government to undertake the construction and operation of the expressway between Guangcheng and Pengcheng."

Liang Xiaomeng's eyes lit up, and he said, "President Shen, you've obtained the construction and operation rights."

Shen Dong hummed in agreement and said, "I plan to entrust this matter to you. Any questions?"

Liang Xiaomeng said, "No problem. Guangcheng and Pengcheng are both developing rapidly, with huge traffic flow. Based on the distance between them, this line will cost at least 8.5 billion yuan. However, once it is completed, I am confident that I can break even within five years."

Shen Dong said, "It seems you have high hopes for this project."

Liang Xiaomeng said, "That's right. This is definitely a money-printing machine project."

Shen Dong smiled and said, "Come to my office after the meeting, and we'll talk in detail."

Liang Xiaomeng nodded and said, "Yes."

Next, Tang Peijun, Liu Dong, Achan, Xiao Ma Ge, Wei Jixiang, and Zhang Hang each introduced the business under their jurisdiction.

Among them, Tang Peijun's real estate company is the most dazzling, with monthly rents on Hong Kong Island alone reaching an astonishing HK$2 billion.