Chapter 256: Completion of the Dry Dock and Launch of the Plastic Bag
"It's not quite military training, but it's physical conditioning," Pao Yue-kong explained. "If someone wants to become a seafarer, it's not just about learning maritime knowledge. Physical strength is essential too. Later on, there will be swimming training, motion sickness training—only after passing these can they start learning how to actually become sailors."
"So they haven't officially enrolled yet?" Yang Wendong asked.
"No," Pao Yue-kong replied. "But these drills are manageable for any healthy person. It weeds out those who can't handle hardship. Better to eliminate them now than have them collapse later at sea—that would just waste everyone's time."
"You've really thought this through," Yang Wendong praised.
"Haha, you flatter me, Mr. Yang Wendong. Anyone with maritime experience would've thought the same," Pao Yue-kong chuckled. "But credit must go to your newspaper's promotion—thanks to that, we recruited this many students in such a short time. Congratulations to you too, your media business has made another big step. Owning a newspaper helps a lot of ventures."
"Thank you," Yang Wendong said with a modest smile.
Just then, a man in his fifties walked over and greeted them. "Mr. Pao Yue-kong, Mr. Yang Wendong."
"This is Dean Yin of the Maritime Academy," Pao Yue-kong introduced. "He used to be my most trusted ship captain. But due to health issues, he can no longer go out to sea, so I invited him to teach here."
"Pleasure to meet you, Dean Yin," Yang Wendong greeted politely.
"Mr. Yang Wendong, since this is your first visit, shall I show you around?" Dean Yin offered.
"Of course," Yang Wendong agreed readily.
Dean Yin led them on a tour through the academy. There were two academic buildings, a dormitory, a massive swimming pool, and a small library.
Dean Yin explained, "This is just for theoretical instruction. For practical training, the students will need to go on board real vessels. Many will eventually train at your shipyard and dry dock facilities."
"That's fine. Just coordinate with the teams over there," Yang Wendong nodded. "How long before the students graduate?"
"For general crew," Dean Yin replied, "they can begin on-board internships after two or three months of study. Maintenance technicians will need additional time at the shipyard before deployment.
As for higher-educated trainees being groomed as maritime officers, they'll need six months to a year."
"Not too long then," Yang Wendong said.
Pao Yue-kong smiled. "Two months may not sound like much, but they can learn quite a bit. Currently, most shipping companies just recruit healthy bodies and put them straight on board, teaching only the basics. Our program gives them a head start. Two months of structured education here is equivalent to two years of fumbling around on a ship."
"Right. Most old hands don't like mentoring newbies," Yang Wendong agreed.
In maritime professions, which paid well, workers often protected their own skillsets. The fear of 'training a replacement' was real. The fewer skilled workers, the more valuable each one was.
But that mindset didn't serve Hong Kong's shipping industry in the long run. Talent cultivation was essential—and only someone like Pao Yue-kong could see that far ahead.
Pao Yue-kong said, "Exactly. And Mr. Yang Wendong, with the many industries under your group, you should consider this problem too. Without talent, expansion becomes difficult."
"It's not easy," Yang Wendong admitted. "Shipping is still manageable. One can learn fast, and even if someone isn't great, they can still do basic work and earn a decent income.
But my businesses are mostly industrial. That's way more complex—too many disciplines involved. It's hard to teach systematically."
Pao Yue-kong nodded. "That's true. You'll have to rely on universities. But with your influence, you could push the government to invest more in education."
"I've thought about that," Yang Wendong said. "First step is to offer scholarships for underprivileged but academically strong students. They'll study, and upon graduation, join my company—just like how this maritime academy operates."
"That's a solid plan. Only drawback is the long time horizon," said Pao Yue-kong.
"I'm aware," Yang Wendong nodded. "But we also have quicker methods. Internally, we'll set up training courses for outstanding employees. Teach them professional skills and combine that with practical work—they'll be useful in no time."
Changxing Industrial had long since started teaching basic literacy to its earliest workers—early signs of a training program.
As the company grew, and with improved employee benefits, the quality of recruits improved significantly. Most could read and write, some even had decent academic backgrounds. The training division remained, focusing on deeper skill development.
From data analysis and equipment maintenance to quality control and even vehicle operation, all counted as valuable training.
This was standard for any large enterprise. Continuous internal training was vital to sustainable growth—it was a win-win for company and employee alike.
"Smart approach. No wonder Changxing Group grew so fast," Pao Yue-kong praised.
"Haha, I'm sure Mr. Pao Yue-kong's achievements won't be any less," Yang Wendong said, then asked, "Have you made a decision about our earlier investment discussion?"
Pao Yue-kong paused, then said, "Sorry, Mr. Yang Wendong. Global Shipping is preparing to accept an equity investment from HSBC, so I can't bring in additional shareholders now."
"That's actually good news," Yang Wendong said, not at all upset. "With HSBC's backing, Global Shipping is bound to grow rapidly."
Yang Wendong had hoped to invest in Global Shipping, but it wasn't a make-or-break deal like Walmart had been. If he could, great. If not, he could just continue building his own fleet.
In historical records, it was said that HSBC invested in Global Shipping, providing broad financing support. Coupled with Pao Yue-kong's dedication, he rose to become a world-renowned shipping magnate over the next decade.
Yang Wendong couldn't match that—banks could loan out massive sums of depositor money. He couldn't.
Pao Yue-kong smiled. "HSBC is bullish on the shipping market. And honestly, with your current scale, Mr. Yang Wendong, you might consider letting HSBC invest in your business too. That would solve your financing challenges."
Yang Wendong raised an eyebrow. "I'll think about it."
Just then, a phone call came in.
After picking it up and listening for a moment, Yang Wendong's expression changed slightly—then he smiled.
He put down the receiver and turned to Pao Yue-kong. "Mr. Pao Yue-kong, guess what?"
"What?"
"The plastic bag is done," Yang Wendong said with a grin.
"They got the materials?" Pao Yue-kong was surprised.
"Yes," Yang Wendong said. "Our team in Taiwan succeeded in mass-producing the new plastic blend. It's not perfect, but it works. The first test batch just came off the line."
"That's great news," Pao Yue-kong said, sincerely happy for him.
Plastic bags might not seem like much—but Yang Wendong saw the opportunity for mass-market adoption. If things went smoothly, it could bring in tremendous revenue and thousands of jobs.
From factories and packaging to distribution and retail, the ripple effect would be huge. And it wasn't just about Hong Kong. Southeast Asia, Taiwan, and Japan were all potential markets.
"Congratulations, Mr. Yang Wendong," Pao Yue-kong said again.
"Thank you," Yang Wendong said. "This year is off to a great start."
Two major pieces of good news—one from the shipping industry, the other from the plastics sector. And both were foundations for what would soon become industrial empires.
"That might not work out the same way," Yang Wendong said, shaking his head. "HSBC probably values you because of your long-term charter strategy and your personal capability. I'm in a different situation."
Though his scale was a bit larger, Yang Wendong's entire expansion was built on financial leverage. HSBC had agreed to lend to him largely because of the massive profits from Changxing Industrial. In HSBC's eyes, someone like him—growing so fast—was likely classified as a high-risk customer. Risk-averse banks weren't likely to invest directly.
Truthfully, if he didn't know about the upcoming Middle East crisis and the strong future of shipping over the next 20 years, he wouldn't be making such aggressive investments either.
"True," Pao Yue-kong agreed. He didn't press the issue. Every company had its own strategy, and he wasn't about to tell someone else how to run theirs. Then he said, "Maybe one day, if Global Shipping goes public in Hong Kong, I can offer you a chance to invest."
"Sure, that's no problem," Yang Wendong smiled. "Mr. Pao, even if I can't invest now, we can always find ways to cooperate in the future."
Competitors didn't have to be enemies. Even if one day Pao Yue-kong surpassed him in shipping, Yang Wendong wouldn't mind. In fact, he'd admire him.
He was involved in so many industries that treating every competitor as an enemy would be incredibly shortsighted. There was no point in creating friction for no reason. Competing with integrity—even losing with grace—was a form of maturity.
There were many tycoons in Hong Kong, but very few were known for their good character and long-lasting positive reputations. Pao Yue-kong was one of the exceptions.
Whether it was for genuine kindness or image-building didn't matter. As the saying went: "A gentleman is judged by his deeds, not his heart." Even if Yue Buqun had spent his entire life pretending to be a gentleman, he would still be called one.
Pao Yue-kong laughed. "Mr. Yang Wendong, you're refreshingly straightforward. There's a little restaurant nearby that's quite good—shall we grab lunch?"
"Sure." Yang Wendong didn't care about fancy places. He often enjoyed food from small local vendors.
They arrived at the small restaurant, ordered a few signature dishes, and began chatting over their meal.
"Mr. Yang Wendong, based on our prior agreement, the students from the maritime academy will be split evenly between our companies, correct?"
"Yes, is something wrong?" Yang Wendong asked.
Pao Yue-kong smiled. "No, no issues. I just thought maybe for this term or the next few, you could take more students. You just bought a large number of second-hand ships, right? You must be short-handed."
"Thanks! I won't say no to that," Yang Wendong replied cheerfully. It was a nice gesture, and he saw no reason to act humble.
Pao Yue-kong continued, "I'm planning to focus on buying new ships, so my timeline is a bit slower. Once I need more people in the future, I'll ask for a few more students."
"That's fine," Yang Wendong said with a smile. "Looks like with HSBC's investment, you can now really spread your wings."
"Exactly." Pao Yue-kong nodded. "But gains always come with losses. Any future investment will need HSBC's approval. For example, I had wanted to buy a 50,000-ton second-hand oil tanker, but Sanders strongly opposed it. He insisted I buy new."
"That's a good call. Oil tankers are risky. If you're going to buy one, make sure it's new. On that point, I agree with HSBC," Yang Wendong said.
He himself would eventually purchase oil tankers. They were the most profitable ships in the industry—but also the riskiest. A single spill could bankrupt a company, even with insurance.
Buying a new vessel was the safest approach. At least during the warranty period, the shipyard shared responsibility for any issues.
"Yeah," Pao Yue-kong nodded. "Maybe I was just being greedy. That second-hand tanker was going for a great price."
"No matter how cheap, it's not worth the risk for us," Yang Wendong smiled.
"You're right. At this stage, we've already achieved a lot. There's no need to take the kind of risks we took when starting out. The way we're growing, both of us will become Hong Kong's top Chinese business families," said Pao Yue-kong.
"Families?" Yang Wendong paused for a moment. He didn't say anything more, but he had his own thoughts.
Given Pao Yue-kong's intelligence, there was no way he hadn't thought about legacy planning. But since he hadn't mentioned it, Yang Wendong didn't pry.
After lunch, they walked over to the adjacent dry dock.
It was a hive of activity, filled with the hum of machinery and the shouting of foremen.
Pao Yue-kong asked, "Mr. Yang Wendong, this dry dock looks almost finished. When do you plan to start operations?"
"Probably by April," Yang Wendong replied. "My team's been working around the clock."
"Very fast progress," Pao Yue-kong nodded. Then, glancing at the flanking construction zones, he asked, "Looks like you're working on both sides too. Are you building two more dry docks?"
"Not right now," Yang Wendong laughed. "The biggest time sinks in dock construction are the foundation and land reclamation. So I'm laying the groundwork now. That way, when we build the next ones, it'll go much faster."
Pao Yue-kong laughed. "You really do have enormous confidence in the future of Hong Kong shipping."
"Of course. Otherwise, I wouldn't have invested in shipping at all," Yang Wendong replied. "Who knows—maybe I'll build a fourth or fifth one in the future."
He had originally bought enough coastal land for five dry docks. The government only sold that much, and the land had to be used for development. Even with connections, he couldn't just buy half of the Kwai Chung Bay.
But there were ways around it. Changxing Real Estate had quietly acquired older plots around Kwai Chung—land that could later be used for warehouses or even residential development.
"That would be amazing," Pao Yue-kong said. "Just don't forget to give me a discount."
"No problem. If you send your ships here, I'll give you the best rates," Yang Wendong said.
In the future, a shipping magnate with tens of millions of tons in capacity could generate incredible revenue just from maintenance.
But by that time, Pao Yue-kong would likely build his own dock. That was normal. If Yang Wendong were in his shoes, he'd do the same.
"Deal," Pao Yue-kong said with a smile.
After a bit more sightseeing, the two parted ways.
The next morning—
Yang Wendong arrived as usual at Changxing Tower.
He had barely sat down when Wei Zetao and Liu Huayu appeared at the door, with Wei Zetao holding a medium-sized box.
"Come in," Yang Wendong said, curious. "What brings you two together today?"
One oversaw the industrial division, the other the supermarket chain. They usually had little reason to coordinate directly.
Wei Zetao smiled and said, "Mr. Yang Wendong, we've got news. The team in Taiwan has successfully produced polyethylene film—and now we have our first batch of plastic bags."
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