To convince his second uncle, Zhang Tianxing requested a batch of crayfish from his father’s unit.
"Second Uncle, how about this, you come with me, and we'll deliver some goods," Zhang Tianxing suggested.
After some thought, Zhang Tianxing decided to set aside two hundred jin for the evening’s crayfish, then went directly with Liang Cheng to deliver the crayfish to the unit.
Upon arriving at their destination, Liang Cheng was astonished. He had initially thought his nephew was just dabbling, never expecting him to start delivering to a unit so soon. However, anyone could see that delivering goods to a unit was easy, but getting paid was difficult. Yet, this experience further broadened Liang Cheng’s perspective.
"This is three hundred jin of crayfish, right? Just go straight to the finance department for payment. It's eight mao per jin, and the finance person is right there," the stout, big-eared chef said.
Zhang Tianxing hadn't expected such a smooth transaction. He assumed Gao Tianming's father had made arrangements, though he didn't know which one was Gao Tianming's father. He decided to take the money and leave, promising to thank Gao Tianming properly later and that he would nurture Gao Tianming well.
Liang Cheng looked on in disbelief. When had getting paid by a unit become so easy, with immediate settlement? He had never encountered anything like it before.
Zhang Tianxing then proposed again that his second uncle be responsible for purchasing crayfish in Yan Village Township.
Liang Cheng pondered, "Xiao Xing, I can help you with the purchasing, but you know the situation at my place. I have no money at home, and I can't exert much strength. I can only help with the accounting or something. Maybe we should just drop this."
Seeing his second uncle waver, Zhang Tianxing couldn't let that happen. "Besides, you caught five hundred jin of crayfish in the fields yesterday. Now you're saying you can't exert yourself? You're my own second uncle, you can't back out! My money-making plan hasn't even started yet."
"Second Uncle, where are you getting that idea? I'll cover the cost of purchasing. I'll give you some upfront. If the money runs out, you stop buying. I'll bring you more money later. If you don't help, I'll go and complain," Zhang Tianxing declared.
Liang Cheng spoke with earnestness, "Crayfish are delicious, yes. Why didn't I discover this cooking method before? In the past, it was too fishy, or not cleaned properly, and eating it would cause stomach problems. Plus, crayfish had no reputation. Xiao Xing, we are small business owners; we need to think long-term and be resilient to risks."
Hearing his second uncle’s words, Zhang Tianxing smiled. The crayfish industry in his previous life had developed to an unimaginable extent. His second uncle's words indicated he was already tempted. This proved it was a viable path. From now on, he would be the one to let the world rediscover crayfish. The crayfish storm of this generation would begin with him.
With his second uncle secured and a stable supply of crayfish, he could confidently venture forward. He knew that having inventory provided peace of mind. The immediate priority was to build the reputation of crayfish and let more people know about them. Besides, last night was about losing money to gain recognition; he hadn't earned much from the crayfish itself.
However, even so, the profit margin in the catering industry astonished Zhang Tianxing. He was truly shocked by the immense profitability he hadn't realized before. He had been too naive. But he couldn't just focus on the rewards; as the saying goes, you can't just see the thief eating meat without seeing the thief getting beaten. Risk and reward are always proportional in any business, and risks can arise unexpectedly.
For instance, just the barbecue alone had exhausted Zhang Tianxing. Roasting so many skewers in one night, and ensuring the heat was just right, was a challenge. Fortunately, he had a strong physique from his previous life; otherwise, he would have burned them all.
Gao Tianming, full of envy, had offered to try his hand at grilling. Zhang Tianxing decided to see Gao Tianming's skills. To his surprise, Gao Tianming managed to burn the entire batch. Zhang Tianxing had no choice but to step in and teach Gao Tianming hands-on how to grill.
Even simple barbecue held a wealth of knowledge. Knowing how to do it was one thing; executing it perfectly was another. In essence, it was easy to say, difficult to do.
During the day, Zhang Tianxing lay on his bed, contemplating the barbecue dishes of his past life, wondering whether to include options like vegetables and tofu. After considering his manpower, he decided against it for now, opting to simply include leeks and chili peppers, holding off on other items.
Zhang Tianxing had already resolved not to work until two in the morning every day, as that would leave him no time for his own affairs during the day. He had other plans beyond just the barbecue stall; a mere barbecue shop was not something that would hold him back.
Li Fang's mood was noticeably more cheerful today. With her tuition fee settled, she could continue her studies. She loved learning and was too young to get married so soon. She wanted to change her life, to avoid an early marriage and the life of a devoted wife and mother. If she couldn't get into university, then she might have no choice but to compromise with life. However, if she got into university and failed to succeed because of her own shortcomings, she would surely regret not having worked harder.
She hadn't realized it at school, but these past couple of days had made a significant impact on Li Fang. She had never imagined Zhang Tianxing would have such determination, that the group of them could actually set up a barbecue stall. This was beyond anything she had ever envisioned. She had been worried about her tuition fees, and unexpectedly, a casual decision made by her and Wen Qing had effortlessly solved her problem. It was still a bit early to celebrate, as it was only the first day, but everyone was full of confidence, especially given Zhang Tianxing's performance.
...
During the day, Zhang Tianxing visited several renowned restaurants in the county, bringing his crayfish, hoping to find buyers. "Is your boss in? I have fresh crayfish here. Are you interested in purchasing? Take a look at the size."
Zhang Tianxing arrived at the most famous restaurant in the county, Hao Zai Lai, where one typically had to queue for a meal. The business was so good. Mr. Yang, the owner of Hao Zai Lai, looked at the crayfish and shook his head at Zhang Tianxing, "Our restaurant doesn't sell crayfish."
Hearing this, Zhang Tianxing smiled. "How about this, boss? I'll show you my skills here. Try it and see what you think of these crayfish?"
Mr. Yang chuckled, "Alright, let's see."
"Boss, don't agree to this kid. I think he's not putting enough oil in his cooking at home and has come to our restaurant to cook his own food," one of the staff members commented.
"I think he's got a point. Who eats crayfish? They're small, fishy, and aren't they supposed to be poisonous?" another chimed in.
"They're everywhere in the village, and no one in the village eats them."
"I tried cooking it once; it was awful."
Everyone burst into laughter. Mr. Yang gestured sympathetically to Zhang Tianxing. "Little brother, my staff all say that. What do you say?"
Zhang Tianxing smiled faintly. "How about this: if it's delicious, you order crayfish from me, and I'll give you the recipe. If it's not delicious, I'll pay for whatever ingredients you use. I won't let you suffer any losses."
Upon hearing Zhang Tianxing's words, Mr. Yang said, "Little brother, that’s the spirit. In business, integrity is key; that's how we build long-term relationships. You're a good one; I have high hopes for you!"