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

As the saying goes, cigarettes build bridges and wine paves roads.

If you want someone to do you a favor, you always have to give them something in return.

Liang Ming pulled the mule cart and soon arrived at the supply and marketing cooperative in the county town.

Although the government allowed people to do business after the mid-80s, various grocery stores and department stores appeared as a result.

However, at that time, supply and marketing cooperatives were still the most popular shopping places for ordinary people.

At this moment, the area in front of the supply and marketing cooperative was already filled with Phoenix and Forever brand bicycles, as well as some mule carts and tricycles.

After Liang Ming entered the supply and marketing cooperative, he found the sales clerk and said, "Miss, give me a carton of Daqianmen cigarettes and two bottles of Niulanshan cigarettes. How much is that?"

"A carton of Daqianmen cigarettes costs 3.5 yuan and 10 cigarette coupons. Two bottles of Niulanshan cigarettes cost 5 yuan and two coupons for finished food products," the saleswoman said.

Upon hearing this, Liang Ming couldn't help but gasp in astonishment.

In this day and age, cigarettes and alcohol are truly luxuries; buying these two items would cost 8.5 yuan.

"Are you going to buy it or not? If not, let the person behind you buy it!" the saleswoman said impatiently when she saw that Liang Ming was not speaking.

"Buy it!" Liang Ming said hurriedly.

As they were talking, he handed over 8.5 yuan, along with the food coupons and cigarette coupons the female shopkeeper had asked for.

In those days, sales clerks in supply and marketing cooperatives had secure jobs and were considered superior by nature. They also treated customers very poorly.

Even after the country's reform and opening up, and the relaxation of restrictions on doing business, they still look down on people who do business outside.

In many supply and marketing cooperatives, there are still signs that read "Do not beat or scold customers".

After taking the money and ticket, the sales clerk turned around and took the Daqianmen cigarettes and Niulanshan liquor that Liang Ming had ordered from the shelf, handed them to him, and then arrogantly called out:

"Next person!"

"Wait a minute, I also want half a pound of malt extract and a pound of candy," Liang Ming said hurriedly.

Upon hearing this, the saleswoman rolled her eyes at Liang Ming and said irritably:

"Next time you buy something, just tell me everything at once."

"Malt extract, half a pound for 5 yuan, one pound of candy for 5 mao, totaling 5 yuan and 5 mao."

Hearing the saleswoman's words, Liang Ming did not refute them. After paying, he left with his bags and packages.

After leaving the supply and marketing cooperative, Liang Ming put his things on the mule cart and pulled it back to Liangjia Village.

After returning to the village, he first took the malt extract and candy back to the house, while he tucked the pack of Daqianmen cigarettes and two bottles of Niulanshan cigarettes inside his coat before heading out to the village committee.

After the 80s, with the return of educated youth to the cities, the structure of rural areas was also adjusted. The former production brigades were changed into village committees, and the rural communes were changed into townships.

Liang Ming is here today to see Liang Jianguo, the village chief of Liangjia Village.

After arriving at the Liangjia Village Committee, he went directly to the village chief's office.

At this moment, village chief Liang Jianguo was at his desk, looking at the planning report issued by higher authorities this year.

The Lunar New Year has passed, and the village's collective industries will soon be starting. As the village head, he will begin to guide the work.

"Village Chief..." Liang Ming knocked on the door and then called out respectfully.

Village chief Liang Jianguo looked up and, seeing that it was Liang Ming, smiled kindly and said, "Oh, it's Xiao Ming! Come in and sit down!"

As they were talking, Liang Jianguo put the documents away, took a thermos and an enamel mug, and went over to pour Liang Ming a glass of water.

"Thank you, Village Chief." Liang Ming sat down on the wooden sofa in the office and quickly took the enamel mug that the village chief handed him.

Upon hearing this, Liang Ming took a sip of water, quickly put down his enamel mug, and then took out a pack of Daqianmen cigarettes and two bottles of Niulanshan cigarettes from his coat and placed them on the coffee table.

Upon seeing this, Liang Jianguo also looked somewhat surprised.

This Daqianmen cigarette is no cheap stuff.

It's said that the province grows flowers, the city grows peonies, and the leaders usually visit the Qianmen (a famous traditional Chinese gate).

This pack of Daqianmen cigarettes costs 35 cents, and even ordinary low-level leaders wouldn't dare to smoke it.

Moreover, Liang Ming also bought two bottles of Niulanshan liquor, which is not cheap.

"Xiao Ming, you came to see the village chief today, is there something you need?"

Liang Jianguo asked the question directly.

"Village Chief, it's nothing. I just haven't visited you in a long time and wanted to come see you," Liang Ming said with a light laugh.

“Since that’s the case, and you’ve seen the person, take all these things back,” Liang Jianguo said.

After he finished speaking, he stared straight at Liang Ming.

Liang Ming gave an awkward smile and said, "Village Chief, I did come here today because I have something to ask of you."

Liang Jianguo's face revealed an "I knew it" expression: "Speak, what is it?"

"Village chief, I've recently started selling braised duck at a stall, and business is pretty good."

Liang Ming got straight to the point.

"I want to buy a large quantity of duck meat. You are knowledgeable and experienced. Do you know which village committee's collective industry can provide it?"

"You want to buy a lot of duck meat? The farmers' market can't meet your needs?" Village Chief Liang Jianguo asked in surprise.

In the mid-80s, the government liberalized the buying and selling of chickens and ducks, and many farmers would take them to farmers' markets to sell.

Logically speaking, how many ducks could Liang Ming consume every day if he were running a business all by himself?

“That’s not enough. I need at least 60 mature ducks every day now, and I might need more later,” Liang Ming said, shaking his head.

"So many?!" A look of surprise appeared on the face of village chief Liang Jianguo.

He thought for a moment, then said, "If you want so many ducks, either go to a meat processing plant or find a village committee that has a duck farming industry."

"Going to the meat processing plant requires a lot of meat coupons, which you probably can't get on your own. You'll have to go to other village committees."

“I remember that the village chief of Shitou Village Committee has been leading the villagers to raise ducks on a large scale these past two years. I’ll write you a letter of introduction; take it and talk to the village chief.”

Upon hearing this, Liang Ming smiled and said, "Village Chief, then I'll trouble you."

In the early 80s, letters of introduction were needed for doing business, traveling long distances, and many other things, just like travel permits in ancient times.

Without a letter of introduction, one would be considered a vagrant or blind person when traveling to other places, and wouldn't even be able to stay in a guesthouse.

By the mid-80s, the government had improved the household registration system and issued people with "ID cards" made of cardboard and stamped with a steel seal, which made it easier for people to travel and do business.

"Xiao Ming, it's getting late. Take the letter of introduction and come back as soon as possible."

After writing the letter of introduction, village chief Liang Jianguo handed it to Liang Ming and gave him instructions.

He treated every child in Liangjia Village as his own family.

"Understood, Village Chief." Liang Ming replied with a smile and prepared to leave the village committee office.

"Wait a minute." The village chief called out to Liang Ming and stuffed a pack of Daqianmen cigarettes from the coffee table into Liang Ming's hand.

“Village chief, what’s going on…” Liang Ming was taken aback.

"Silly child, when you go to another village to ask for help, how can you not give gifts!"

Liang Jianguo smiled kindly and said, "Village chief, one bottle of Niulanshan is enough. You can use the rest to get things done."

Hearing the village chief's words, Liang Ming felt a surge of emotion.

"Village chief, once I make money in the future, I will definitely lead the villagers to prosperity!"

“Okay, village chief, I believe you,” Liang Jianguo said with a smile.