Chapter 176: The Wedding
"A professional?" The first person Yang Wendong thought of was Bao Yugang.
But Bao was an entrepreneur himself—it was impossible to hire someone like him. So Yang said, "Start by gathering information on Hong Kong's shipping companies for me."
"Alright, I'll bring it to you tomorrow," Wei Zetao replied.
The next day, Wei arrived with a detailed report.
Yang read through it carefully. There were quite a few shipping companies operating in Hong Kong, including both British- and Chinese-funded firms.
Among the British companies, Wheelock, Jardine, and Swire were the largest.
Among the Chinese companies, Zhao Congyan and Tung Hao-yun had the biggest scale.
As for Bao Yugang's Universal Shipping, it was still in its infancy, with only seven ships.
"I've already contacted the headhunting agency," Wei added. "They're searching for suitable candidates."
"Good," Yang nodded, setting down the report. "Focus on recruiting from the Chinese shipping companies, especially experienced captains and senior officers."
In 1960, the British companies dominated shipping—Jardine Matheson in particular. But in just a few decades, the balance would reverse, and Chinese tycoons would surpass them.
Two of the world's top ten shipping magnates would come from Hong Kong.
That shift had a lot to do with the vision and ambition of people like Bao Yugang and Tung Hao-yun—but it also meant their subordinates must be very capable.
"Understood," Wei said. "Once we've hired a captain, they can take over the operational side of things."
"Alright, I'll leave it to you then."
"You won't be interviewing them yourself, Mr. Yang?"
"There's not much point. I don't know the first thing about shipping," Yang said with a smile. "You handle the initial interviews. If someone looks promising, I'll meet them to finalize."
In other industries like real estate, manufacturing, or future ventures like supermarkets and trading, Yang had some knowledge to draw from thanks to his past life.
But shipping? That was a complete blind spot. He was in the same position as Bao Yugang when he first switched to maritime business.
His only advantage was knowing the future—like the 1967 Middle East War, or the shipping crisis in the 1970s.
"I'm not exactly an expert either," Wei admitted with a laugh. "The headhunters suggested we focus on checking backgrounds. If their history is solid, we should be fine."
"Good enough." Yang nodded. "We're just getting started—one ship for now. It'll give us time to understand the industry.
When the suitcase sales pick up, we can expand. Having our own logistics for Europe, Japan, and the U.S. will make everything more efficient."
"Got it," Wei said. "We can even ship the rotating mops that way. Right now, they're too bulky and not worth exporting. We can sell them in Japan, but sending them to the West is unprofitable."
"Perfect." Yang continued, "For the next month, I'll be focusing on personal matters. The second Post-it factory is about to launch, and there's a lot happening. I'll be relying on you more."
"No problem. Let me congratulate you in advance on your wedding, Mr. Yang. May you be blessed with many children."
"Thanks," Yang smiled.
May 16th—Su Yiyi's 18th birthday—was also chosen as their wedding date.
A feng shui master had said it was an auspicious day, making it the perfect choice.
The wedding came quickly.
It was held at the Peninsula Hotel.
That day, many prominent figures from Hong Kong's business and political circles were in attendance.
Over the past year, as Changxing Industrial grew, Yang had naturally built connections across various industries.
And since his company didn't compete directly with anyone—and in fact, often created business opportunities—he had a great reputation.
Even the colonial government sent a representative. With Changxing's massive export volume, the government now saw Yang as someone worth courting.
Yang greeted everyone with polite courtesy. But there was one guest who was different.
"Ms. Elena, long time no see. You're still as youthful as ever," Yang greeted the British woman who had once helped him.
"Eric, congratulations on your marriage," Elena said with a warm smile.
"Thank you," Yang replied sincerely.
Elena continued, "I remember the first time I met you. I had a feeling you'd go far. But never in my wildest dreams did I imagine you'd achieve so much."
"I owe much of it to your help back then," Yang said seriously.
If not for Elena's support, his early days in business wouldn't have been nearly as smooth. Even if he had reached this level eventually, it would've taken years longer.
And in 1960s Hong Kong—during the economic boom—delays could mean missed opportunities forever.
Elena said, "No need to thank me. You've paid it back a hundredfold by hiring people from the squatter settlements. Thousands have escaped poverty because of you. That's all the thanks I need."
"Don't worry. That number will soon reach tens of thousands," Yang replied with a smile.
"I'm sure it will," Elena said warmly. "Anyway, I won't take up more of your time. Today's your big day."
"Of course." Yang personally escorted her to a prime seat at the front.
Guests who saw this were puzzled. Who was this woman? They speculated she must be a top government official.
After settling Elena, Yang returned to greet the other guests. Most conversations were short and polite, and people made their way inside after a quick exchange.
Not long after, Jin Yong arrived.
"Congratulations, Mr. Yang!" he said cheerfully. "I wrote you a little blessing—hope you'll accept it."
"A blessing?" Yang's eyes lit up. Now that was a meaningful gift.
At his level of wealth, most presents were just expensive trinkets. But a calligraphic piece from Jin Yong? It might not be priceless, but it certainly carried significance.
After all, this was a man destined to become the most famous Chinese author in the world.
Jin Yong unrolled an elegant scroll, revealing the words: "Wedded bliss for a hundred years. May your lineage flourish."
"Thank you." Yang smiled gratefully.
"You're welcome," Jin Yong said. After a brief chat, he too went inside.
The wedding was relatively low-key.
No media were invited, and Yang had deliberately excluded Hong Kong tycoons he had no real ties to.
Still, countless reporters had gotten wind of it—but they couldn't get through the doors.
The ceremony began.
It was a traditional Chinese wedding.
The proceedings were simple. Auntie Guo served as the representative for both families—a decision made by Yang himself. She alone had earned that seat of honor.
With the host guiding the process, the wedding proceeded smoothly.
Then came the customary toast circuit. Yang and Su Yiyi changed into new outfits and went table to table to greet their guests.
Of course, they drank tea, not alcohol. The job of drinking on behalf of the groom fell to Zhao Liming and Lin Haoyu.
The two had prepared in advance by downing a lot of milk before the banquet.
After a lively round of cheers and smiles, the wedding concluded without a hitch.
Yang and Su Yiyi were driven back to their new villa in Deep Water Bay. The air there was filled with warmth and joy.
The next day, Yang and Su Yiyi boarded a flight to Europe.
Their honeymoon would span seven countries over 22 days.
It was the first true vacation Yang had taken since starting his business—and a well-earned one at that.
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