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

Hearing the villagers' words, Liang Ming nodded.

"Liang Ming, are you still buying these mountain products today? If you are, let's go up the mountain and dig them up now."

At this point, a villager couldn't help but ask another question.

"I still need to deliver a batch of mountain products to the county before 6 p.m., but it's already past 3 p.m. now."

Upon hearing this, Liang Ming hesitated and said:

“If you go up the mountain now, you’ll only have two hours, and you won’t be able to dig up many mountain products.”

Upon hearing that Liang Ming was still collecting mountain produce today, the eyes of the 10 villagers lit up, and they quickly said, "Liang Ming, let's go up the mountain now and wait for us to come back."

After saying that, they hurriedly left the Liang family's courtyard.

As Liang Ming watched the departing figures of the 10 village representatives, he swallowed back the words that were on the tip of his tongue.

“Liang Ming, they’re not greedy, they’ve just been poor for too long and now that they finally have a chance to make money, they want to seize it.”

The village chief, Liang Jianguo, who was standing to the side, said to Liang Ming.

“Village chief, relying solely on my business of selling mountain products and river delicacies, there’s no way I can help everyone in the village become wealthy.”

Liang Ming nodded slightly, then said to Liang Jianguo.

Upon hearing this, Liang Jianguo gave a wry smile and said:

“I know, but although our Liangjia Village is nestled between mountains and the sea, we don’t have any established industries.”

The only cotton mill, if it weren't for you leading everyone in pressing cottonseed oil, would probably have gone bankrupt soon.

"Village chief, isn't there an orchard behind our village?"

"If these orchards are managed well and the fruit is transported out to sell, it should be profitable, right?" Liang Ming asked Liang Jianguo for the first time, voicing his doubts.

Even villages like Stone Village, which are surrounded by rocks and lack good geographical resources, know to adapt to local conditions and raise ducks.

The village committee of Liangjia Village should have realized that there are so many orchards in their village that could generate profits...

"Liang Ming, it's not that our village committee hasn't considered developing the village's orchards, but after careful consideration, we realized that developing them wouldn't only fail to generate profit, but would actually result in significant losses."

Liang Jianguo smiled wryly.

"Why is that?" Liang Ming asked, puzzled.

Liang Jianguo pointed to the dirt country road outside the courtyard and said with a wry smile:

"Because we can't get them out..."

It turns out that the village committee of Liangjia Village had considered developing the village's orchards more than once.

They had already thought about this even when Liangjia Village Committee was still a brigade.

But upon further consideration, it became clear that managing the orchard required money, and hiring villagers to pick the fruit during the harvest season also required money.

Even if the village committee organizes the event, these two fees can be reduced or waived.

Transporting fruit is another major expense.

In the mid-80s, most rural roads were just dirt roads, which became bumpy and difficult to travel on during the rainy season.

The main means of transportation now are either mule carts or tractors.

Unlike other agricultural products, this fruit doesn't take an hour or two to travel on this bumpy red mud road to reach the city; by then, at least three fruits will be bruised and rotten.

After deducting all the miscellaneous expenses, after a year of hard work, not only will you not make any money, but you will also lose a lot of money.

"So it was because of the road?" Liang Ming frowned after hearing the village chief's explanation.

He almost forgot about that.

The most popular slogan of that era was, "If you want to get rich, build roads first."

Only when roads are open can rural agricultural products be transported out and sold for money.

Otherwise, no matter how good the technology or how good the agricultural products are, if they can't be transported out, they will just rot in the fields.

"Liang Ming, it's already quite remarkable that you were able to think of transporting mountain products and river delicacies to the city to sell, and even find partners to cooperate with."

At this moment, Liang Jianguo also said to Liang Ming:

"No matter what, just do your best to help the villagers."

"Village chief, I'm so proud of you."

Hearing the village chief's words of gratitude, Liang Ming murmured softly:

"Perhaps I have a way to get the fruit out intact..."

"Liang Ming, what did you say?" Liang Jianguo asked in confusion, not having heard Liang Ming clearly.

"No, it's nothing," Liang Ming said, shaking his head.

He only has a preliminary idea in mind right now, and there's no way to put it into practice yet.

Until it can be implemented, it's best to keep it in mind and bring it up again when the opportunity arises.

Around 5 p.m., the 10 households returned one after another, each carrying a half-baked bamboo basket of mountain produce.

"Liang Ming, we've dug up so many mountain products. Do you think their quality meets your standards?"

"We're digging in a rush. If it doesn't meet the standards, you can pick it out and sell it for whatever amount you can."

The villagers talked all at once.

The Liang couple had already returned from work and heard that Liang Ming, with the help of the village chief, was preparing to lead 10 households to trade mountain products. They wholeheartedly supported him.

Liang Ming glanced at the mountain produce the villagers had dug up; it was all of good quality, and a smile appeared on his face.

It seems that although these villagers are eager to make money, they at least listened to him and strictly followed his standards when digging for mountain products.

"The quality is very good. I'll take all of these mountain products."

Liang Ming nodded and smiled.

Finally, he turned to Mr. and Mrs. Liang and said:

"Mom and Dad, please weigh this for me. I'm going inside to get the money."

Mr. and Mrs. Liang Min nodded in agreement and immediately began weighing the items for the villagers.

“Liang Mei’s family, you have 8 jin of wild vegetables, the price is 1.6 yuan.”

“Liang Kuan’s family, your wild mushrooms weigh 7 jin in total, 1.4 yuan.”

"Liang..."

After Liang Ming came out, Liang Min and his wife had weighed all the mountain products from the 10 households, and he settled the accounts with the villagers one by one.

The villagers were all excited when they received the money.

Don't underestimate this small amount of money; it can buy them a pound of pork belly, three pounds of rice, and several pounds of vegetables.

"It's getting late. Uncles and aunts who have received the money, those who need to buy groceries should go, and those who need to go home should go home."

Liang Ming said to everyone with a smile.

Upon hearing this, the villagers bowed deeply to Liang Ming in gratitude before leaving in an orderly fashion.

"Mom and Dad, please prepare some food for me. Director Wang is coming over for dinner later. I'll deliver the goods to the county town and then come back."

After the villagers left, Liang Ming loaded the mountain goods onto the diesel tricycle and said to his parents.

"Director Wang is coming? Then we need to prepare some good food. Let's slaughter a chicken and stir-fry some cured meat."

Upon hearing this, Mr. and Mrs. Liang Min said...

Liang Ming did not interfere with his parents' arrangements.

He drove his diesel tricycle out of Liangjia Village and soon arrived at Xiangmanlou Restaurant in the county town.

It just so happens that Jiang Meizhuang isn't in the shop.

However, the restaurant's deputy manager already recognized Liang Ming and knew that he was a shareholder and food supplier for their restaurant.

They immediately bought all of Liang Ming's mountain produce and river delicacies at the price agreed upon by Jiang Meizhuang.

After receiving payment, Liang Ming ordered another serving of boiled shrimp from Xiangmanlou Restaurant to take back and treat Wang Jiu.

Unexpectedly, as soon as he returned to the entrance of Liangjia Village, at the same spot where he had been robbed last time, Liang Ming was stopped again.

"Liang Ming, are you surprised to see me?"

A cold, sinister voice followed.