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

Jiang Meizhuang then looked at the wild bamboo shoots and wild vegetables in the other two bags, and they were all of very good quality.

"Brother Liang Ming, how do you plan to sell these wild mountain products?"

Jiang Meizhuang turned to look at Liang Ming and asked.

In the mid-80s, the individual economy was just beginning to develop, and many private restaurants and eateries were just emerging. The classification of ingredients purchased was not very detailed.

Wild mushrooms, wild wood ear fungus, etc., are all classified as wild fungi and are purchased at the same price.

“Sister Meizhuang, I don’t know the market price of these mountain products either. You set the price, I trust you,” Liang Ming said.

Hearing Liang Ming's words, Jiang Meizhuang's lips curled up: "Brother Liang Ming, since you trust me so much, I can't let you suffer a loss."

"These wild mushrooms, the market price for ordinary quality wild fungi is 6 to 8 cents per pound. Your wild mushrooms are of very good quality, I'll give you 9 cents per pound, is that okay?"

Upon hearing this, Liang Ming's face showed a look of surprise.

He didn't expect Jiang Meizhuang to ask for such a high price.

It costs 9 cents a pound, which is almost the same price as pork.

In his past life, Liang Ming only knew that these mountain products could be sold for money, but he never imagined they could be sold for such a high price!

"What? You're not satisfied with the price?" Seeing Liang Ming remain silent, Jiang Meizhuang assumed he was dissatisfied with the price. After a moment's hesitation, she said:

"Then I'll add another cent, making it one dollar per pound, and I'll buy all your mountain produce."

These wild mushrooms, wild vegetables, and wild bamboo shoots are rare finds in city restaurants.

All it takes is hanging a sign at the restaurant entrance saying that they have wild mountain ingredients, and countless wealthy gourmets will flock there.

“Okay, let’s go with the price of 1 yuan per jin,” Liang Ming said immediately.

This batch of wild mountain produce weighs 85 jin (42.5 catties), and at one yuan per jin, that's 85 yuan.

This is more than two months' income for an ordinary person.

Jiang Meizhuang glanced at the river delicacies in the bucket; they were all river shrimp and crabs that were hard to get in city restaurants.

“Brother Liang Ming, your river delicacies are very fresh, they’re still jumping around. I won’t beat around the bush with you. I’ll buy these river delicacies for 1.2 yuan per jin. What do you think?” Jiang Meizhuang said.

"No problem!" Liang nodded in agreement.

After weighing, this batch of river delicacies weighed 25.8 jin (approximately 17.9 catties), but Jiang Meizhuang charged them based on 26 jin (approximately 13 catties).

At 1.2 yuan per jin, that's 31.2 yuan.

"Brother Liang Ming, the total cost of the mountain produce and river seafood is 116.2 yuan. Can you calculate it and see if the number is correct?"

After having the chefs in the kitchen move the mountain produce and river seafood inside, Jiang Meizhuang took out the payment and handed it to Liang Ming, saying...

After Liang Ming took the money and counted it, he nodded and said, "Sister Meizhuang, the amount is correct. Here, I wish Xiangmanlou's business will multiply several times over today."

Hearing Liang Ming's auspicious words, Jiang Meizhuang smiled and said, "Brother Liang Ming, thank you for your kind words."

As they spoke, Jiang Meizhuang noticed a fragrant aroma emanating from the aluminum buckets on Liang Ming's mule cart and asked curiously:

"Brother Liang Ming, what's in that aluminum bucket? It smells so good!"

"These are braised ducks that I made with braising spices. Some of them are for sale at my stall, and I'm going to deliver the rest to the canteen of the Third Steel Plant in the county town later."

Liang Ming didn't hide anything and told them about his business of selling braised duck at a street stall and supplying braised duck to the steel mill's canteen.

Upon hearing this, Jiang Meizhuang immediately became interested in the braised duck: "Brother Liang Ming, can you sell me a braised duck so I can try it?"

"Sister Meizhuang, with our relationship, why would we need to sell anything? I'll treat you to something," Liang Ming said with a smile.

Although Jiang Meizhuang ran a private restaurant, her business became lukewarm after a few years because she always followed the menu of state-run restaurants.

But by running a private restaurant, she has built up a considerable network of connections.

By the late 80s, Jiang Meizhuang had built a food processing plant and, in just a few years, became a local food processing tycoon.

Making friends with Jiang Meizhuang and building a good relationship can't hurt.

"I can't accept this..." Jiang Meizhuang wanted to say a few more polite words.

"It's fate that we met, and we're all friends. It would be embarrassing for me to argue with you about such a small amount of money."

While chatting and laughing, Liang Ming quickly took out a braised duck, sliced ​​it, placed it on oil paper, and handed it over.

"Sister Meizhuang, please taste it."

Seeing Liang Ming's straightforwardness, Jiang Meizhuang stopped being coy and picked up a piece of braised duck to try.

Upon tasting it, Jiang Meizhuang's eyes immediately lit up.

"The taste of this braised duck is amazing. It's salty, fragrant, and tender, with a hint of Chinese medicinal herbs."

"I added some medicinal herbs to enhance the flavor, and it's also good for the health of the diners," Liang Ming explained.

"Brother Liang Ming, I didn't expect you to not only have a business mind, but also be such a good cook."

Jiang Meizhuang ate a few more pieces of braised duck, and couldn't stop eating them.

If this braised duck were sold at Xiangmanlou Restaurant, it would definitely become a signature dish and a hallmark of the restaurant.

Thinking of this, Jiang Meizhuang looked at Liang Ming with her beautiful eyes and tentatively asked:

"Brother Liang Ming, do you sell your recipe for braised duck?"

"You want to sell recipes for braised duck?" Liang Ming was taken aback when he heard this.

Unexpectedly, Jiang Meizhuang realized the value of the braised duck so quickly.

But Liang Ming has no intention of selling the recipe for braised duck, at least not in the early stages of his business.

After all, he still needs to make money from selling braised duck.

"Sister Meizhuang, I don't plan to sell the braising sauce recipe for this braised duck for the time being," Liang Ming said frankly.

Jiang Meizhuang seemed to have anticipated Liang Ming's response.

Many master chefs, in order to prevent others from learning their skills, will stipulate that no one is allowed to peek while they are cooking.

This braised duck is a business that could support several generations of people, so it's understandable that they don't easily sell the recipe.

"Brother Liang Ming, I was rude!" Jiang Meizhuang apologized to Liang Ming, then said:

"This braising sauce recipe can't be sold. And this braised duck, could you supply a batch to our Xiangmanlou Restaurant, just like you supply it to the steel mill canteen?"

"Of course, no problem!" Upon hearing that business was coming his way, Liang Ming asked without hesitation:

"Sister Meizhuang, how many braised ducks do you want?"

"How many braised ducks do you have here?" Jiang Meizhuang asked.

“Besides the 100 braised ducks supplied to the steel mill’s canteen, there are 100 more here. Each braised duck weighs 3 jin (1 catties), and I’m supplying them with 5 yuan per jin,” Liang Ming said.

Jiang Meizhuang thought for a moment and said, "Then give me 50 for now. If they sell well, I'll increase the quantity tomorrow."

Liang Ming nodded in agreement.

从香满楼饭店出来时，梁鸣手里握着卖山货河鲜的116块2毛钱，和卖50只卤鸭的225块钱，一共是341块钱2毛钱。

"Making 300 yuan a day doesn't seem like a difficult task..."

Liang Ming's lips curled up slightly as he murmured softly.