At 9 a.m., we arrived at Chen Huiting’s office. He was already deep in work, going through piles of documents and reports. The secretary handed him a glass of water as a short break before our interview. As we sat down, I noticed his teacup was stained with years of use. I couldn’t help but ask why he didn’t replace it. He smiled and said, “This teacup has been with me for thirty years. It’s seen me through many ups and downs. I can’t part with it.â€
Huilong Paint was born out of a deep sense of loyalty and brotherhood. In 1993, Chen Huiting’s brother, who worked in the same factory, was unfairly fired. Touched by his brother’s situation, Chen made a promise to him: “You have me.†With that, he gave up his position as deputy general manager of a state-owned enterprise and decided to start over with his brother, building their own business from scratch.
“I had to keep my promise,†he told us. “If I didn’t, I would feel guilty.†That commitment extended to his employees as well. In 2000, when Huilong Paint was at its peak, making money every day, Chen Huiting began planning another architectural paint company. A year later, he moved to Australia and also ran a wine business. But things didn’t go as planned — the multi-center became a non-center. By 2003, the company’s performance dropped sharply, and it faced a potential shutdown. Despite the losses, Chen used his own money to pay his employees on time, even giving them higher bonuses than any other year.
Over the past twenty years, Chen described Huilong’s journey as tough and full of challenges. But for him, the weight of keeping his promises brought a deep sense of fulfillment and happiness. When asked about his future, he said he plans to retire in ten years, but he doesn’t intend to pass the business to his children. “I want to give opportunities to those who are truly capable,†he added. His story is not just about success, but about integrity, loyalty, and the quiet strength of keeping one's word.
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