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

“Xiaoming, you are thinking ahead. Your aunt is short-sighted.”

Liang Juan gave an embarrassed smile and said.

"Auntie, this is your first time doing business, so it's normal to not have much experience. You'll learn slowly."

Liang Ming comforted his aunt and said:

"These next few days, spend more time with Qin Fang and Li Cui and learn how to do business."

"I've already found a shop for your braised duck business, right next to the privately-owned vegetable market in the county town!"

"Once you're familiar with the process of selling braised duck, hang up the sign, and buy the kitchen equipment, you can open for business directly."

Upon hearing Liang Ming's words, Liang Juan's face showed a serious expression, and she nodded, saying:

"Xiaoming, I will study hard."

Liang Ming nodded and said nothing more.

After loading the braised duck onto the vehicle, Liang Ming drove away in his Shuangfeng brand tricycle.

He first delivered the braised duck to the canteen of the Third Steel Plant, and then went to Xiangmanlou Restaurant.

When Liang Ming arrived at Xiangmanlou Restaurant, it was already lunchtime.

"Brother Liang Ming, why are you so late today? The shop has been waiting for your mountain produce and river delicacies."

After seeing Liang Ming, Jiang Meizhuang asked softly.

"I was looking for a shop for my aunt this morning, which took up a bit of time. I also went to the cannery, so..."

Upon hearing this, Liang Ming smiled sheepishly.

"Alright, I know you're busy and have been running around so much. You must be tired. Come in and have some tea."

Jiang Meizhuang interrupted Liang Ming and said with concern.

As she spoke, she instructed the kitchen staff to unload the mountain produce, river delicacies, and braised duck from Liang Ming's car.

In the hotel office, Jiang Meizhuang brewed Liang Ming a cup of tea to quench his thirst.

"Sister Meizhuang, when I came in just now, I saw that the restaurant was full of people. The restaurant is doing very well now, isn't it?"

Liang Ming took a sip of tea and asked Jiang Meizhuang.

Jiang Meizhuang smiled slightly and said, "The three new dishes you came up with for Xiangmanlou Restaurant have all been well received by the diners who have tried them."

"Our Xiangmanlou Restaurant is packed every day now, and many diners can't find a seat."

"That's why I told you before that I wanted to open a branch.

Upon hearing Jiang Meizhuang's words, Liang Ming also inquired, "Sister Meizhuang, how are the preparations for opening a branch going?"

"You've finally asked this question, Liang Ming. You own 30% of the Xiangmanlou Restaurant, you can't just sit around doing nothing..."

Jiang Meizhuang rolled her eyes at Liang Ming and said irritably.

Liang Ming smiled sheepishly, realizing that he hadn't really been paying much attention to the Xiangmanlou Restaurant lately.

Despite rolling her eyes, Jiang Meizhuang still told the truth: "The location for the Xiangmanlou branch has been chosen and is currently under renovation!"

"It won't be long before it's ready for use."

"Liang Ming, one of the owners of Xiangmanlou Restaurant!"

"With the new store opening, you need to come up with ideas to boost the branch's revenue as well."

She knew that Liang Ming was a business-minded person who could often come up with good ideas.

This was also the reason why she was willing to give Liang Ming 30% of the shares of Xiangmanlou Restaurant.

"Sister Meizhuang, this is a small matter, it's easy to solve."

Upon hearing this, Liang Ming smiled confidently and said:

"This is a small matter? Brother Liang Ming, you'll get your tongue stuck if you talk big."

Jiang Meizhuang chuckled lightly.

“Sister Meizhuang, I’m just telling the truth. I have a hundred ways to increase the branch’s revenue.”

Liang Ming said with a confident expression:

"The taste of the food, the service, the marketing strategy... never mind, do you have paper and pen? I'll write it down and you'll know."

Seeing Liang Ming's confidence, Jiang Meizhuang immediately had someone bring her paper and pen.

Liang Ming picked up a pen and paper and began to write on his desk.

Before long, a branch store business plan was completed by Liang Ming.

"Sister Meizhuang, this is the business plan I wrote for the Xiangmanlou branch, which includes the recipes for two new dishes."

"And what about promotion and marketing suggestions for the branch stores? Take a look..."

After finishing writing, Liang Ming handed the paper to Jiang Meizhuang and said.

Jiang Meizhuang took the paper and looked at it closely.

Soon, her breathing became rapid.

"Crystal Scallop Chicken, Black Bean Duck..."

"Grand opening promotion: Buy 10 and get 3 off, buy 20 and get 7 off..."

"Vouchers..."

Jiang Meizhuang's crystal-clear red lips trembled slightly; she was completely stunned by the new recipe and marketing strategy.

Seeing Jiang Meizhuang's surprised expression, Liang Ming smiled and asked in return:

"Sister Meizhuang, is my business plan alright?"

"Yes, absolutely!" Jiang Meizhuang exclaimed excitedly.

"Brother Liang Ming, how did you come up with these two new dishes?"

"This cooking method looks delicious."

"And this discount scheme is really novel!"

"Just because of these discounts and offers, I'm a customer and I'd like to come and shop here."

Hearing Jiang Meizhuang's excited words, Liang Ming smiled.

The recipes for those two new dishes are readily available on the internet thirty years later.

But in this age of information isolation, any recipe for a trendy dish can become a signature dish for an ordinary small restaurant to attract customers.

And discount schemes that offer full reductions are still a very common marketing tactic in the catering industry thirty years later.

"Sister Meizhuang, as long as you are satisfied with my proposal, that's fine."

Liang Ming smiled and said:

“I was also worried that you would say I took the 30% stake in Xiangmanlou Restaurant for nothing.”

Hearing Liang Ming's slightly teasing words, Jiang Meizhuang rolled her eyes at him and laughed as she scolded him:

"Brother Liang Ming, I was just joking. You really hold a grudge."

The two exchanged a few words, and the atmosphere became very tense.

Just then, Jiang Meizhuang suddenly thought of something and asked Liang Ming:

"Brother Liang Ming, the cannery is producing thousands of cans of food every day now. I wonder if you've found its sales channels?"

"We can't sell that many canned goods by relying solely on merchants from the north."

Upon hearing this, Liang Ming understood what Jiang Meizhuang meant.

Although Zhao Pan, a merchant from the north, ordered a can of peaches from him to take back to the north.

But it would be at least half a month before Zhao Pan returned after selling all the canned peaches.

Liangji Canned Food Factory produces 3000 cans of food every day. If Zhao Pan were to handle it all by himself, he simply couldn't consume that many cans.

Over time, the canned goods produced by the cannery still end up piling up in the factory warehouse.

"Sister Meizhuang, I'm still looking for sales channels..." Liang Ming said with an awkward smile.

Seeing that Liang Ming hadn't found a sales channel yet, Jiang Meizhuang smiled, took out a letter of introduction from her bag, and handed it to him.

"Sister Meizhuang, this is..." Liang Ming took the business card and asked curiously.

"This is the sales channel I found for you. Find some time in the next few days to visit them, treat them to a meal, and that will be considered a done deal."

Jiang Meizhuang explained.

Upon hearing this, Liang Ming glanced down at the letter of introduction.

Upon seeing this, he was completely stunned.

The contents of the letter are not important; what matters is that the seal on it reads: Taoyuan County Supply and Marketing Cooperative!