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

"Brother, I set up my stall across the street from the steel factory. I shouldn't be blocking the workers from entering and leaving the factory gate, right?" Liang Ming asked, feigning ignorance.

"Is this what I meant?" Seeing the young man feigning ignorance, Liu Ming, the director of the canteen at the Third Steel Plant, said in a deep voice:

“With your stall here, all the factory workers are coming to buy your braised duck, and nobody’s eating the food in our factory canteen anymore. Do you know how much money this has cost our factory canteen for nothing?”

"Besides, I don't know where you got these ducks from. What if the workers get sick from eating them? Can you take responsibility?"

Hearing Liu Ming's words, Liang Ming was not annoyed, and said with a smile, "Brother, what you said is unreasonable."

"Now that the country has opened up the market for farmers, I am not wrong to set up a stall to sell braised duck and actively participate in the development of the individual economy."

"Moreover, my stall is across the street from the gate of the Third Steel Plant. This land does not belong to the steel plant. Setting up a stall here does not affect anyone."

"Furthermore, the duck meat I get is all from the duck farm under the name of the Shitou Village Committee. I have receipts, and it's all legitimate duck meat. How could it harm the workers' health?"

After hearing Liang Ming's reasoned and well-founded argument, Liu Ming was taken aback and began to think more highly of the young man.

But for the sake of his canteen's business, Liu Ming's face darkened, and he said, "Young man, no matter what you say, you have to move your stall today. Otherwise, for the health of the steelworkers, we'll have no choice but to help you move it!"

As soon as Liu Ming said this, the burly cafeteria workers behind him prepared to take action.

If it came to taking action, Liang Ming was naturally not afraid of these people, but he was a businessman, and businessmen value profit and believe in making money through harmony.

If you can negotiate, don't resort to violence.

"What's your name, brother?" Liang Ming took out a pack of cigarettes from his pocket, pulled out a few, and wanted to offer cigarettes to Liu Ming and the other cafeteria staff.

"Don't try that on me..." Liu Ming was about to wave away the cigarette Liang Ming offered.

Upon seeing that Liang Ming was offering him "Peony" brand cigarettes, he changed his mind and accepted the offer.

This Peony cigarette isn't cheap. Even though Liu Ming is the canteen manager of the steel factory, he's reluctant to smoke such good cigarettes.

The canteen staff's eyes lit up when they saw the Peony cigarettes. After Director Liu Ming took the cigarettes away, they eagerly took them and tucked them behind their ears.

Liang Ming then lit a peony cigarette for Liu Ming.

“My name is Liu Ming, and I’m the manager of the factory canteen. I’m not allowing you to set up a stall here for the sake of the workers’ health; I didn’t mean to target you…”

After taking a puff of his Peony cigarette, Liu Ming looked relaxed and his tone softened.

"Director Liu, your concerns are valid, but the quality of my braised duck is absolutely guaranteed, and the taste is excellent. If you don't believe me, try it."

Seeing that the other party's tone had softened, Liang Ming seized the opportunity, set up his stall, cut half a braised duck, wrapped it in oil paper, and served it to Liu Ming and the others.

Liu Ming originally intended to say he wouldn't eat anything from the stall, but when the braised duck was placed in front of him and he smelled its unique braising sauce, he inexplicably picked up half a braised duck leg and started gnawing on it.

When the other canteen staff saw that Liu Ming was eating braised duck, they didn't stand on ceremony and also picked up a few pieces of braised duck meat to eat.

The sight of this dish made the eyes of several cafeteria staff members widen in astonishment.

"This braised duck smells so good, and tastes great too."

"No wonder so many workers love to eat this piece. I ate one, and I wanted to eat another one."

Hearing the praise from several cafeteria staff, Liang Ming's lips curled up slightly.

Upon hearing the chefs at his own canteen praising the taste of the braised duck, Liu Ming coughed lightly.

The cafeteria staff immediately shut their mouths.

In fact, Liu Ming was also amazed by the taste of the braised duck, but for the sake of the factory canteen's business, he still decided to drive the other party away.

"Young man, your braised duck is indeed delicious. With this skill, you can make money anywhere. To be honest, this factory canteen is privately contracted by me. It's just starting out, and business is tough..."

Liu Ming adopted a very humble attitude, speaking in a tone of consultation with Liang Ming.

“Brother Liu Ming, you’ve already discussed this with me like this. If I continue to set up a stall here, I’d be ungrateful,” Liang Ming said.

"I can move this stall to another location, but I have a win-win suggestion. I wonder if you'd be interested in hearing about it?"

Hearing that Liang Ming was willing to move his stall, Liu Ming was overjoyed. Then, hearing that the other party had offered a win-win suggestion, he asked curiously:

"What advice?"

Liang Ming said with a smile, "Brother Liu Ming, I believe you've already heard about the appeal of my braised duck; the steelworkers love it."

"Do you think if your steel mill's canteen also sold this braised duck, wouldn't it attract all the factory workers to eat there?"

boom!

Upon hearing Liang Ming's words, Liu Ming's body trembled violently, as if struck by lightning.

Immediately, a surge of excitement welled up inside me.

Why didn't he think of that?

This braised duck is so delicious. If the factory canteen could also offer this dish, its revenue would definitely skyrocket.

Moreover, by cooperating with Liang Ming, he no longer needs to worry about Liang Ming setting up a stall at the door and stealing his workers.

It's simply killing two birds with one stone.

Seeing Liu Ming's expression, Liang Ming knew that the other party was interested.

From the moment Liu Ming forbade him from setting up a stall at the entrance of the steel factory, he came up with another way to make money.

Setting up a stall only allows you to make money from individual customers.

If you supply the steel mill's canteen, you're making money off the factory, and the volume is larger and more stable.

Immediately, Liang Ming struck while the iron was hot:

"Director Liu, my braised duck can only be sold by weight when I set up a stall, but it can be sold by weight in the canteen."

"One braised duck can be sold for six servings of braised duck rice. The profit from this is much higher than selling braised duck alone."

"I just set up a stall pulling a mule cart. It's inconvenient to transport so many boxed meals since I came from the countryside, otherwise..."

At this point, Liang Ming wisely shut his mouth, letting Liu Ming figure it out himself.

really.

After hearing Liang Ming's analysis, Liu Ming's eyes lit up immediately.

"What would be the wholesale price for your braised duck if you supplied it to our steel mill canteen?"

“I’ll sell it at my stall. If you don’t need a ticket, it’ll be 8 yuan per jin. Director Liu and I hit it off immediately, so let’s do this: I’ll supply it to the factory canteen and give you a discount of 5 yuan per jin!” Liang Ming said.

He bought the duck meat for 63 cents a pound. After deducting the cost of braising ingredients and other expenses, he supplied it to the steel mill canteen for 1.5 yuan a pound, and his profit still reached 100%.

"One yuan and fifty cents a pound?" Liu Ming hesitated for a moment upon hearing this, then immediately replied:

"Okay, that's the price. I'll take all the braised ducks you have on your stall!"

If we buy all the other party's braised ducks, his factory canteen can open for business today.