When he was forty years old, he started his business journey by founding a cottage industrial company. After countless days and nights of struggle and innovation, he finally achieved remarkable achievements in the tooth powder industry. However, behind his success is his neglect of his family, as well as the loneliness and pressure that his family endures as a result.
From the literary world to the business world: Chen Diexian's transformation road
In China in 1918, social unrest and economic pressures coexisted, and for literati such as Chen Diexian, the reality of life was far more complex than ideals. This year, he made a life-changing decision: he gave up his literary career, which he had worked on for many years, and threw himself into the rising tide of commerce. Although this decision is abrupt, it is also a response to the changing times.
Chan's chosen business path was not the usual one – he decided to open a cottage industry to focus on the production of tooth powder. At that time, tooth powder was a relatively new product in the market, involving daily health and personal hygiene, and the demand was gradually increasing. Chen's decision-making also reflects his keen insight into market demand and consideration for the future of his family.
His cottage industry was set up in the backyard of his family home, where a modest wooden building had been converted into a small factory. In the initial stage, Chen Diexian used his savings to buy the necessary machinery and raw materials. The factory's machines may seem a little out of harmony when they first arrive, but their launch heralds the beginning of a new venture.
Chen's wife and his two children are also involved in this new business venture. Although they knew little about business, the spirit of family cooperation got the small industrial community up and running quickly. Chan's wife is in charge of purchasing and financial management, while his son and daughter help with packaging and simple mechanical operations in addition to school.
The Power of Family: A Common Struggle
In Chen's cottage industry, there is often a busy and expectant atmosphere in the morning air. As the sky grew brighter, the lights of the workshop came on and the family members walked into the workshop one after another to start their day's work. Dressed in a clean white coat, Chen Diexian checked whether all kinds of machinery and equipment were operating normally to ensure that the production line could run smoothly.
At the center of the workshop is a grinding machine for grinding turtle shells, which was designed and improved by Chen Diexian herself. Turtle shells need to be ground into an extremely fine powder for better mixing with other ingredients. Chen often stands by the grinder, carefully monitoring the grinding process, occasionally adjusting the speed of the machine to ensure that the powder is as fine as expected.
Waste brine, on the other hand, undergoes a complex series of chemical reactions to extract usable components. This process takes place in a purpose-built reactor, and Chen takes great care in the maintenance of this equipment to ensure that every reaction runs smoothly. He often personally measured the proportion of chemical reagents, down to the nearest gram, to ensure the effectiveness of the reaction.
Chen Diexian's wife is mainly responsible for the procurement of raw materials and financial management. She checks the inventory every day to make sure all the raw materials needed are sufficient, while also managing the accounts and ensuring the financial health of the industrial community. She often negotiates with suppliers to purchase high-quality ingredients at the most reasonable prices.
Chen Xiaodie and Chen Xiaocui also have their own division of labor. Fluttershy oversees the operation of the production line, making sure that every worker is operating the machine correctly and working according to the established production process. He often walks back and forth on the production line, checks the quality of the products, and provides technical guidance.
Chen Xiaocui is more involved in the post-processing and marketing of products. She is responsible for designing the packaging of the products, and each tooth powder bottle is carefully packaged by her own hands to ensure that the appearance meets the market demand. In addition, she also regularly organizes product promotion activities to introduce the uniqueness of tooth powder through various channels to attract more consumers.
At an important product improvement meeting, Chen Diexian and her family discussed how to further improve the quality and market competitiveness of tooth powder. They decided to introduce new equipment to increase production efficiency, but also planned to expand the product line to add more flavors and functions of tooth powder to meet the needs of different consumers.
The Celebrity Effect: Chen Xiaocui's Marketing Strategy
In the early days of Chen's business, Chen's involvement brought significant positive effects to the family business. Her social activities and public presence provide an ideal platform for the promotion of tooth powder. Chen Xiaocui often attends various social gatherings and cultural events, she is not only a talented woman, but also a fashionable modern woman, who is very popular with people from all walks of life in the local community.
At every event, Chen Xiaocui always cleverly steers the conversation to her family's tooth powder products. For example, at a literary salon, when discussing health and personal care in everyday life, she introduced her tooth powder, emphasizing its natural ingredients and health benefits. She often carries a small packet of tooth powder samples for those who are interested to try them out. This direct experiential marketing deepens the customer's impression of the product and quickly spreads the reputation of tooth powder.
Chen Xiaocui also used her influence in the literary and artistic circles to write articles and poems to indirectly promote tooth powder. Her poems are often published in local newspapers and magazines to reach a wide readership, further expanding the audience base of tooth powder.
At a large public speaking conference, Chen Xiaocui was invited to talk about the role and challenges of modern women. In the Q&A session after the presentation, she cleverly introduced tooth powder into the conversation and talked about how to maintain oral health in the midst of a busy life. She explained in detail how to use the tooth powder and what it is used to, and this kind of friendly communication made the audience interested in the product.
In addition, Chen Xiaocui also organized several special product exhibitions. These presentations are usually held in the courtyard of her home, where important people and potential customers in the community are invited. At the exhibition, she personally demonstrated the effects of using tooth powder, shared her personal experience with the guests, and emphasized its improvement in oral hygiene. These hands-on demonstrations give customers more confidence in the product's effectiveness.
In terms of marketing strategy, Chen Xiaocui has also established partnerships with local pharmacies and daily necessities stores, so that tooth powder can be purchased at more points of sale. She personally visits these stores to discuss sales strategies with store owners and provides sales support such as product manuals and display stands. This kind of ground promotion activities has greatly enhanced the market coverage and sales volume of tooth powder.
Carrying the Last Wish: Chen Xiaodie's Responsibility and Persistence
After the death of her father, Chen Diexian, took on the management and development of the family business. He understands that the importance of a family business lies not only in its economic efficiency, but also in its contribution to society and the country. After inheriting her father's position, Chen Xiaodie quickly took steps to ensure that the company's operations were not affected, while at the same time managing to expand production and market influence.
In order to improve production efficiency, Chen Xiaodie introduced more advanced production equipment and optimized the work process. He hired a professional management team to help develop more effective production and sales strategies. These newly introduced measures not only improve the quality of tooth powder production, but also enhance the company's ability to adapt to market changes.
In terms of marketing, Chen Xiaodie continued her sister Chen Xiaocui's previously successful strategies, while also experimenting with new marketing methods, such as attending domestic and international trade fairs, and promoting products in newspapers and radio through advertising. These measures have effectively expanded the market coverage of tooth powder, so that the brand has gained greater popularity in the domestic and foreign markets.
Fluttershy also places great emphasis on product research and development, and he has set up an R&D department focused on improving existing products and developing new ones. Under his leadership, the family business introduced a variety of new flavors of tooth powder and began to develop other personal care products, such as toothbrushes and oral cleaners, to meet the growing demand in the market.
In addition to business activities, Chen Xiaodie also actively participates in social welfare undertakings, donating to schools and supporting local health projects, reflecting his persistence and promotion of the concept of "industry to save the country". He believes that the success of an enterprise is not only the accumulation of economic benefits, but also a contribution to social responsibility and national development.
In terms of family responsibilities, Chen Xiaodie teamed up with her sister Chen Xiaocui to fulfill the last wish of their father, Chen Diexian, to move their parents' graves to Taoyuanling, next to the beautiful West Lake in Hangzhou. This initiative is not only a final tribute to the parents, but also a symbol of the close bond between the family members and the respect for their ancestors.
Tragedy and Remembrance: Chen Xiaocui's Final Years
On a spring morning in 1959, Chen received a letter from Shanghai at her home in Taiwan. The letter was written by his sister Chen Xiaocui, and the handwriting in the letter seemed a little hurried. In the letter, Chen Xiaocui told her brother that the area where the family cemetery is located will be developed and renovated on a large scale, and that their family graves need to be relocated. In the letter, she described her efforts and difficulties in this matter, expressing her urgent hope that her brother would come back to help deal with the matter.
In the letter, Chen Xiaocui mentioned that although she had conducted several rounds of communication with the local government and relevant departments to try to find the best solution, the situation was still complicated due to various restrictions and difficulties. She urgently needed Chen's support and guidance to ensure that the relocation of the cemetery would go smoothly and in line with her family's expectations and traditions.
As Chen Xiaodie read the letter, she felt the urgency of the matter. He began contacting the airline and planned to return to Shanghai as soon as possible to deal with the matter. At the same time, he also discussed with his family and cronies to ensure that his affairs in Taiwan could be handed over in an orderly manner without affecting the normal operation of the family business.
Unfortunately, due to the political atmosphere and inconvenient transportation between the two sides of the strait at that time, Chen Xiaodie's return plan was repeatedly delayed. At this time, Chen Xiaocui was facing increasing pressure in Shanghai. Not only does she have to deal with the relocation of the family cemetery, but she also has to face various social pressures and disputes within the family. These problems intensified, eventually affecting her life and mental state.
After a few years, Chen Xiaocui's situation has not improved, but has become more and more difficult due to family entanglements and increasing pressure on her life. Under this pressure, she gradually felt powerless. In 1968, Chen Xiaocui made a tragic choice in despair and ended her life.
Wang Hui.Also on "Women's World"——Focusing on Chen Diexian and her family[J].Academic Exchange,2013(12):216-220