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

Zhang Wen was stumped by Liang Ming's question and asked doubtfully, "Brother Liang Ming, besides selling ducks, how else can you make money raising ducks?"

Upon hearing this, a glint of light flashed deep in Liang Ming's eyes.

It seems the village committee of Stone Village hasn't realized where the truly valuable parts of this duck are.

In the 80s, duck feathers were very valuable. They could be used to make badminton shuttlecocks, down comforters, and down pillows, and many garment factories were willing to buy them.

This gave Liang Ming another opportunity and a way to make money!

"Brother Zhang Wen, how many duck feathers does your village throw away every day?" Thinking of this, Liang Ming looked at Zhang Wen and asked.

These duck feathers are trash to Stone Village, but to him they are gold!

"I haven't calculated it precisely, but it's at least 500 jin (250 catties)." Zhang Wen didn't know why Liang Ming asked this, but after thinking about it, he answered truthfully.

Upon hearing the number 500 jin (250 catties), Liang Ming's breathing became rapid.

His eyes shone as he looked at Zhang Wen, as if he had seen some treasure.

"Brother Zhang Wen, how about we discuss another business deal?" Liang Ming asked, suppressing his excitement.

"Brother Liang Ming, what kind of business do you want to discuss?"

Upon hearing Liang Ming's words, Zhang Wen asked curiously.

“Brother Zhang Wen, it’s such a waste to just throw away the duck feathers from all the ducks you raise in your village. How about this, you sell all these duck feathers to me,” Liang Ming said with a smile.

After getting to know him over the past few days, Zhang Wen realized that Liang Ming was the kind of person who wouldn't do anything without a profit. He asked suspiciously, "What do you need these duck feathers for?"

“Brother Zhang Wen, don’t worry about it. You won’t lose out. I’ll buy it from you for 1 cent per pound!” Liang Ming said.

"So many?" Zhang Wen's face showed a look of surprise upon hearing this.

These duck feathers were useless to the villagers of Stone Village anyway.

Liang Ming is now willing to buy 500 jin (250 catties) for 1 mao (0.1 yuan) each, which is 50 yuan. That's 1500 yuan a month.

This is also a source of income for the Shitou Village Committee.

“Okay, I’ll take care of the duck feathers, I’ll sell them all to you,” Zhang Wen immediately decided.

Immediately, Zhang Wen instructed the village committee cadres to contact the villagers and collect the duck feathers that had not yet been processed that day.

After weighing, there were a total of 200 jin of duck feathers.

Without further ado, Liang Ming immediately settled the payment of 20 yuan for the duck feathers.

“Brother Liang Ming, the villagers have already disposed of a lot of the duck feathers today, leaving only 200 jin. But I can guarantee that I can provide you with at least 500 jin tomorrow.”

After Zhang Wen put the money away, he said to Liang Ming.

"Brother Zhang Wen, it's settled then." Liang Ming loaded the 200-jin sack filled with duck feathers onto the mule cart and said goodbye to Zhang Wen.

When he returned to Liangjia Village, it was already evening, and Liang Min and his wife had already returned from work.

Mother Li Lan was cooking dinner in the kitchen, while Father Liang Min sat in the yard, smoking a pipe.

Seeing Liang Ming carrying several sacks back, Liang Min asked curiously, "Son, what's in these sacks you're carrying?"

“Dad, this is full of duck feathers,” Liang Ming explained with a smile. “I bought them from the Shitou Village Committee.”

"Why are you buying this thing?"

"Of course we'll take it to the city to sell."

Upon hearing this, Liang Min's face showed a look of surprise: "These duck feathers can be sold for money?"

Seemingly having anticipated his father's reaction, Liang Ming explained with a smile, "Father, don't underestimate these duck feathers. They're very valuable."

"These duck feathers can be used to make down jackets, down comforters, down pillows, and also to make badminton shuttlecocks and shuttlecocks. They are a resource that clothing factories and sporting goods factories want."

Hearing Liang Ming's explanation, Liang Min seemed to understand but not quite.

But what Liang Ming said was true.

In the early 80s, down jackets appeared on the domestic market as warm clothing. Due to their excellent warmth and lightness, they quickly replaced military overcoats and swept the clothing market in northern China.

As down jackets became a new favorite among people in northern China in the 80s, the price of duck feathers also rose accordingly.

Many garment factories are buying up large quantities of duck feathers to produce down jackets and seize a share of the clothing market.

In addition, some people have designed down comforters and down pillows, which are also selling very well.

Another factor that drove up the price of duck feathers was the popularity of badminton in China during the 80s.

In the early 1980s, Chinese athletes won four gold medals at the first World Games badminton competition held in North America.

Then, he won two more championship trophies in two international competitions.

Badminton became incredibly popular in China, and even gave rise to many legends.

For example, the "Three Musketeers of Badminton" and the "Four Heavenly Kings of Badminton".

As a result, sales of sports equipment such as badminton shuttlecocks and rackets have also skyrocketed.

At that time, countless sports equipment factories sprang up all over the country like mushrooms after rain, and they spared no expense in purchasing duck feathers, a material essential for the production of badminton shuttlecocks.

It can be said that badminton carried the memories of several generations in the 80s.

"I was in the kitchen just now, and I heard you guys talking about how hair can be sold for money?"

At this moment, Li Lan came out of the kitchen carrying a plate of stir-fried green peppers and pork, and asked with a smile.

Liang Ming quickly took the dishes from Li Lan and then briefly recounted his conversation with Liang Min.

Upon hearing this, Li Lan suddenly realized and exclaimed, "Oh, it's duck feathers!"

"You know what, I saw people walking around town collecting duck and goose feathers before!"

"It seems they have the same idea as Xiaoming, and they both plan to buy them and sell them for money."

"Someone is already going around the town collecting duck and goose feathers?" Liang Ming asked, a strange look on his face.

It seems that even in this era, there are still many insightful and capable people.

However, he now controls all the duck feathers in Stone Village, and the other party's scattered collection in the town won't amount to much.

Soon, Li Lan stir-fried a dish of scrambled eggs with tomatoes and a plate of chicken stew with mushrooms.

My younger sister, Liang Jing, also came home from school, having returned from the town's middle school.

The family sat down together and ate dinner.

After dinner, Liang Ming washed up and went back to his room to rest.

Silent all night.

The next morning, just as Liang Ming finished washing up, Jiwa, Gou Dan, and Ama knocked on the courtyard door.

"Brother Liangming, we brought the mountain produce we dug up yesterday," Chicken Boy said.

“And my river delicacies,” Ama added.

Upon hearing this, Liang Ming's eyes lit up.

To my surprise, the three kids delivered the mountain produce and river delicacies so quickly.

“You’ve come at just the right time; I have something to tell you.”