Reborn in 1985: From Selling Braised Duck to Becoming the World's Richest Man

"Mr. Liang, may I ask what brings you here today?"

Qian Jian invited Liang Ming into the restaurant, found a table, ordered a few dishes, and had the staff bring out a few bottles of beer. Then, he and Liang Ming chatted while drinking.

"Director Qian, how's business at your restaurant lately?"

Liang Ming did not reveal the purpose of his trip, but asked casually.

"The business of state-run restaurants has always been just so-so, lukewarm at best."

Upon hearing this, Qian Jian chuckled awkwardly.

He paused for a moment, then said gratefully to Liang Ming, "It's all thanks to you, Boss Liang, for selling some wild vegetables to our restaurant!"

"Now, many customers come to our state-run restaurant specifically for these wild vegetables."

"Otherwise, business will be even worse."

These days, state-run restaurants are not as glamorous as they were a few years ago. More and more private restaurants are competing with them for business, and Qian Jian is also worried about the restaurant's business.

Hearing Qian Jian's words, Liang Ming smiled, not surprised by the outcome.

After all, the county-run restaurant had only bought his wild vegetables.

Although these wild vegetables are all-natural, they require special cooking methods to bring out their flavor.

The state-run restaurant didn't have a menu, so the wild vegetables they cooked were only so-so in taste.

After customers ate there a few times, the novelty wore off, and business naturally became lukewarm.

"Director Qian, would you like to know why our Xiangmanlou Restaurant is doing so well?"

Liang Ming asked in a seductive tone.

Upon hearing this, Qian Jian raised an eyebrow and asked curiously, "Boss Liang, could you share some of your experience?"

"Actually, it's simple. Many of the dishes at our Xiangmanlou Restaurant are specialty dishes, and the menus are different from others."

To get to the point, Liang Ming got straight to the point:

"Take wild vegetables for example. The way we at Xiangmanlou Restaurant prepare them is not the traditional blanched wild vegetables, but rather a cold salad with a secret sauce."

Qian Jian's eyes lit up when he heard Liang Ming's words.

He had also tried the wild vegetables at Xiangmanlou Restaurant, and the taste and texture were indeed better than those at their state-run restaurant.

Now that Liang Ming has personally admitted to using the secret seasoning, he is somewhat tempted.

"Boss Liang, could I take a look at your secret recipe for cold wild vegetable salad?"

Qian Jian, shameless as ever, grinned at Liang Ming.

After saying that, he quickly added, "Don't worry, it won't be a waste of time. I'm willing to pay a tuition fee."

"Director Qian, this isn't quite right."

Liang Ming looked troubled and said:

"This recipe for cold wild vegetable salad is the foundation of our Xiangmanlou Restaurant. Although you and I are friends, this matter..."

When Qian Jian saw that Liang Ming didn't immediately refuse, he knew that there was hope for the matter.

He quickly said, "Boss Liang, just tell me how you want me to see the menu."

"I will go through fire and water for anything I can do!"

"Director Qian, it's not as serious as you make it out to be."

Seeing that Qian Jian was so cooperative, Liang Ming chuckled.

"There are indeed two things."

“Mr. Liang, please speak.” Qian Jian said with a serious expression.

"I own several shops selling braised duck and need to buy a few refrigerators. The ones in department stores are too expensive. I wonder if you, Director Qian, have any sources of used refrigerators..."

Liang Ming looked at Qian Jian and asked.

Where can I find used refrigerators?

Upon hearing about Liang Ming's matter, Qian Jian's expression changed slightly, and he said:

"Buying a few refrigerators isn't difficult. Several other companies are just getting rid of their old freezers because they need to replace their old ones."

Liang Ming's eyes lit up, and he said, "Director Qian, could you help me contact them? I want to buy it."

"That's not difficult, but I need to tell you first!"

"The freezers in those other companies' units are old, but they've only been used for two or three years!"

"Even if it's secondhand, the price won't be much cheaper."

Qian Jian gave Liang Ming a heads-up beforehand, saying...

Every little bit saved counts!

Liang Ming chuckled and said:

"Director Qian, we still have plenty of time. Why don't we get this settled as soon as possible?"

Qian Jian didn't expect Liang Ming to be in such a hurry, but he didn't refuse.

That noon, he took Liang Ming to visit his friends from those other work units.

Upon learning that Qian Jian had brought people to deal with their old freezers, the heads of these units readily sold them off.

There are four refrigerators in total: three Snowflake brand and one Rongsheng brand.

These four refrigerators would have cost around 1200 yuan each when brand new.

Now, Liang Ming has bought them all for 600 yuan each.

Unwittingly, Liang Ming saved 2400 yuan.

The money saved is enough for an ordinary person to work for seven or eight years without eating or drinking.

"Mr. Liang, I've taken care of the refrigerator purchase for you. As for the recipes..."

After finishing his business, Qian Jian looked at Liang Ming with hope and said...

"Director Qian, you've helped me a lot. I'm a grateful person. I can tell you the recipe for cold wild vegetable salad, but..."

Liang Ming paused for a moment after speaking.

Qian Jian was initially quite excited after hearing Liang Ming's earlier words.

But after hearing the words "only," he became nervous again.

"Just what?"

"However, I can't just show you this recipe for free, since I'm not the only owner of Xiangmanlou Restaurant."

Liang Ming said.

Upon hearing that it was only this one question, Qian Jian breathed a sigh of relief and said:

"Boss Liang, don't worry, I won't make things difficult for you."

"I'll pay 500 yuan for the recipe of this cold wild vegetable salad. Is that okay with you?"

"500 yuan tuition fee?" Liang Ming's eyes lit up when he heard this.

This price isn't low.

After all, the seasoning for cold wild vegetable salad is not complicated.

If you give the chefs in the kitchens of state-run restaurants some time, they can figure it out in less than two months.

"Alright, considering that you helped me buy the refrigerator, Director Qian, we'll go with this price."

Liang Ming immediately nodded in agreement.

Upon seeing Liang Ming agree, Qian Jian quickly brought over paper and pen.

Soon, Qian Jian received the recipe for cold wild vegetable salad. When he saw the proportions of the seasonings, a look of excitement appeared on his face.

"Sesame oil, pepper, vinegar, salt, garlic, light soy sauce..."

"So this is why Xiangmanlou Restaurant sells so many wild vegetables?"

"This cold dressing is truly extraordinary."

"With this cold wild vegetable salad, our state-run restaurant's business should be able to recover a bit."

By the end, Qian Jian's voice had become somewhat choked up.

Liang Ming, who was still counting money, was somewhat amused and exasperated by Qian Jian's exaggerated expression.

"Director Qian, how could I dare? I was just about to ask you if you would like the menu for our Xiangmanlou Restaurant's Boiling Shrimp?"

Upon hearing this, Qian Jian was taken aback and asked in surprise, "Boss Liang, are you planning to separate from Boss Jiang?"

"No, why do you ask that?" Liang Ming asked, looking bewildered.

"This Boiling Shrimp is the signature dish of your Xiangmanlou Restaurant. Many diners come to your restaurant specifically for this dish."

"The only reason you're willing to part with this Boiling Shrimp recipe is that you want to separate from Boss Jiang... I can't find any other explanation..."

Qian Jian said with a serious expression.

Hearing Qian Jian's words, Liang Ming was both amused and exasperated.

It seems that even if Qian Jian were to pay his tuition, he wouldn't believe he would be willing to sell the recipe for Boiling Shrimp.

If that's the case, then we can only link this dish to new business.

"Director Qian, you really can't hide anything from me."

Liang Ming coughed lightly and said:

"To be honest, the reason I'm willing to share this recipe for Boiling Shrimp is because I have a new wheat noodle recipe that I'd like to discuss with you."

"If you agree, I can let your state-run restaurant learn this Boiling Shrimp recipe for a low tuition fee of 500 yuan."

Upon hearing Liang Ming's words, Qian Jian's face showed an expression of "I knew it".

He knew that there was no such thing as a free lunch.