Chapter 14 – The Chain That Wouldn't Break
Li Ming sat in his office, staring at the monthly report from his Italian restaurant chain.
The numbers were… irritatingly positive.
"I invested in cold storage and logistics to waste money, not to run the most efficient meat distribution network in the province!" he grumbled, thumping the desk.
The problem was, efficiency paid.
The refrigerated trucks he bought on a whim were so reliable that even rival restaurants began asking to rent them for deliveries.
The cold storage warehouse—originally built far larger than his own needs—was now at 80% capacity, half of it rented to "temporary clients" who paid him handsomely.
He'd even overheard one competitor telling another:
"Their logistics are better than the big brands from Shanghai."
That was supposed to be insult, not praise.
Trouble at the Supplier
Just when Li Ming thought things couldn't get more frustratingly successful, a call came in from his main pasta supplier.
"Boss Li, bad news… The government just issued a sudden inspection order. The factory's been shut down for two weeks minimum."
It turned out that the small-town pasta plant he sourced from had failed a random hygiene inspection. The owner, instead of fixing the issues, simply vanished—rumor had it he'd left for Shenzhen overnight.
Li Ming's managers panicked.
"How will we supply noodles for the chain? This could kill our operations!"
Li Ming's eyes lit up. Finally, a loss opportunity.
A New "Disaster" Plan
Instead of scrambling to find another supplier, Li Ming announced:
"We'll just make it ourselves. Build a noodle production line—big one. Hire the best technicians from Guangdong. Don't care about cost."
The managers hesitated.
"Boss, wouldn't it be cheaper to buy from existing factories?"
"Yes," Li Ming said with a wide grin, "that's why we're not doing that."
Within a month, an over-engineered, high-capacity pasta and dough plant was operational.
The original idea was to produce for his own restaurants and burn money with high overhead.
Except… the market had other plans.
The Unwanted Side Business
Local bakeries, dumpling shops, and small eateries were desperate for a steady supply after the shutdown of the old pasta plant. Li Ming's new facility became their salvation.
Soon, the production line was running near full capacity, with wholesale orders piling in.
A reporter even wrote a piece in the provincial newspaper:
"Entrepreneur Li Ming Saves Local Food Industry."
Li Ming nearly choked on his espresso reading that headline.
Expansion in the Province
Meanwhile, the Italian chain had grown to 18 locations.
He opened five more that quarter—three rented, two purchased outright. The purchased properties were "money pits" in his eyes, old buildings needing heavy renovations.
His accountant warned him:
"Boss Li, buying locations outright is capital intensive. It ties up money long-term."
Li Ming smiled. "Exactly."
What he didn't realize was that both properties sat in areas about to be redeveloped by the city, making them prime assets.
Foreshadowing the Burger Chain
As he toured one of his new restaurants, Li Ming noticed a giant American burger brand opening across the street.
The crowd was huge, the smell was intoxicating.
A terrible idea began forming in his head.
If they're going to flood the market, I'll open my own burger chain and crush myself with competition.
Little did he know, this was just the first domino in building a full fast-food empire—with its own supply chain that would make him untouchable.