Reborn in America, I am a legendary short seller on Wall Street.

Chapter 132 Steamed Milk Tea (5K Long Chapter, Seeking Monthly Tickets)
Getting Chinese people to open bubble tea shops and then using the lower classes of other ethnic groups for distribution is the most effective retail business in the short term.

However, Larry made up the word "milk tea" on the spot because he didn't know how to say milk tea in English. But this word, which clearly conformed to Chinglish, made Huang Meitang understand Larry's meaning instantly.

Huang Meitang pondered for a moment, then asked cautiously, "The milk tea you're talking about, is it tea with milk added? Isn't that the kind of luxurious and expensive drink that only restaurants or upper-class white people can enjoy for afternoon tea?"

“It’s different!” Larry smiled and continued.
"Black tea with milk is a Western-style way of drinking tea. It's quite expensive, requiring high-quality tea that can be brewed, fresh milk, and elegant porcelain. The temperature also needs to be carefully controlled when adding the milk, otherwise the high temperature of the tea will ruin the rich aroma of the milk. Only in this way can gentlemen enjoy it..."

After saying this, Larry deliberately gave Huang Meitang some time to process and think before continuing.

"Milk tea is just a beverage, an instant drink that ordinary people can enjoy. This drink can also be made with glutinous rice balls or fruit chunks. When it's hot, you can add ice to make it a refreshing drink. When the weather is cold, like now, we can turn it into a hot drink to warm everyone up."

As Larry spoke, he observed Huang Meitang's reaction. Huang Meitang frowned and asked, "Is there really such a milk tea? I've never heard of it before."

Larry thought for a moment and said, "Have you heard of how Mongolians drink tea? They use milk to boil tea leaves instead of steeping them. This way, the milk tea retains both the rich aroma of milk and the fragrance of tea."

Huang Meitang still frowned. "I understand what you mean, but we Chinese don't have a way to buy enough fresh milk, and if the milk isn't used up on the same day, it will result in huge waste. This business is not easy!"

Larry's smile never faded, because after he came up with the idea of ​​milk tea, all sorts of previously unnoticed information instantly connected in his mind, making Larry feel even more that the idea of ​​milk tea was feasible, even in America in 1892.

“Use condensed milk! Do you know what that is?” Larry reminded Huang Meitang.

The latter thought for a moment, then his eyes suddenly lit up.

By this time, condensed milk had become a relatively common dairy product in Europe and America. Larry often saw these 5-pound cans of condensed milk produced by the Anglo-Swiss Condensed Milk Company in his Back Bay store.

When Larry first saw condensed milk, he was curious and asked about its origins.

Anglo-Swiss Condensed Milk Company was founded in Switzerland in 1866 by George Page.

This person really is named George Page; Larry confirmed it repeatedly the first time he heard it.

In 1882, the company established a condensed milk factory in New York City, USA, in partnership with an American named Charles. Unfortunately, George Page passed away that year, and Anglo-Swiss condensed milk's ambitious expansion plans were shelved.

At this moment, in the emerging dairy industry, Anglo-Swiss condensed milk is locked in fierce competition with Nestlé, so the price of condensed milk is not very expensive, with a 5-pound can costing only 95 cents.

Larry had worked at a bubble tea shop in his previous life and knew that bubble tea made with condensed milk was much better than bubble tea made with expensive fresh milk. This was because condensed milk has a sugar content of over 40%, which can provide both the sweetness and creamy aroma that bubble tea needs, and it can also simplify the process of making bubble tea.

“Condensed milk, yes. Then we also need tea leaves…” Huang Meitang added excitedly.

But Larry immediately interrupted him, correcting him seriously, "It's not tea leaves, it's broken tea, the cheapest kind of black tea dregs. It provides the aroma of tea and dissolves quickly."

Upon hearing this, Huang Meitang's face clearly showed a stunned silence. After a long while, he stared at Larry with an expression of surprise mixed with disbelief, and blurted out a sentence.

"My goodness! The cost of this milk tea will be as low as one-fifth or even one-tenth of that of regular black tea with milk."

Huang Meitang is also a very quick-witted person. After Larry reminded him, he had figured out the biggest advantage of making milk tea - this beverage can provide the most desired and luxurious tea beverage experience to white people on the East Coast of the United States at the lowest price.

Larry raised an eyebrow and said nothing more.

Huang Meitang lowered his head and thought for a moment, then his gaze towards Larry changed. He leaned closer and asked carefully,

“You came here not just to tell me this cheap beverage recipe, right? You must have your own reasons.”

Larry nodded. “Cooperation is definitely something that Chinese people face when running this kind of restaurant, but I can help you solve those problems.”

Huang Meitang nodded, stood up, and said in a low voice, "Please wait a moment. This is not something I can decide on my own. I need to ask the elders of Chinatown to discuss it with you."

Larry nodded, but his heart suddenly skipped a beat. The so-called elders must refer to the hall masters of the overseas Hongmen, right?

Most overseas Chinese live under the protection of the Hongmen, and overseas Hongmen are often named after their branches to avoid diplomatic pressure from the Qing government on the United States and other countries.

In North America, the largest branch of the Hongmen is Yonghua Hall.

Although the population of Chinatown in Boston is small, there are still temples with leaders in charge of handling all matters.

Larry guessed that the elder Huang Meitang wanted to invite must be someone with the status of a hall master or similar figure from the overseas Hongmen.

Before coming here, Larry had already thought that if he wanted to establish connections with the local Chinese community, he would inevitably have to deal with people from these gangs, which was unavoidable.

Doing business with gangs sounds kind of exciting. But Larry looked around at himself—whether it was Mr. K, Logan's father, or even Senator Kennedy, who among them didn't have connections to the mob?
Logan and Mr. Dunbar, who witnessed the whole thing, were completely bewildered. They had no idea what "milk tea" was, nor did they know why the Chinese man in front of them was being so serious.

Logan asked in a low voice, "Larry, is this bubble tea shop really going to work?"

Larry laughed and said, "Sure! Let's start with the easiest one, the bubble tea shop, and if it goes well, we can expand to other retail stores..."

"But why are you always focusing on the retail industry? That convenience store was a retail business, Larry. Shouldn't you be looking to make quick money in the stock market?" Logan asked, frowning.

Larry turned to look at him and explained solemnly, “The retail industry can help the underprivileged to the greatest extent possible, just like those disabled workers you want to help. They may never be able to swing a sledgehammer in a factory again, but they can earn some money to live on by staying in a small shop. It’s not about profit, it’s about uniting people’s hearts!”

Upon hearing this, Logan thought of the workers in the old South City he wanted to help and nodded vigorously.

Not only Logan, but Mr. Dunbar also gave Larry a deep look.

Not long after, Huang Meitang came out with someone, and he said something to the person behind him as they walked.

That person must be a local gang leader in Boston.

Because of the door frame blocking his view, Larry couldn't see the leader's face for the time being, but his thoughts drifted and he suddenly remembered the heroic figure of Chief Chen of the Red Flower Pavilion in the movie from his previous life.

But when the man appeared, Larry was greatly disappointed. He was a tall, thin, middle-aged Chinese man dressed very plainly, with an unremarkable appearance, but his eyes were very bright.

As they approached, Huang Meitang introduced Larry, saying, "This is our 'elder,' you can call him Ye."

The tall, thin Chinese man clasped his hands in a fist salute, nodded slightly to Larry, and silently sized him up.

Larry returned the smile.

Subsequently, Huang Meitang and Master Ye invited Larry and the other two to the inner courtyard for a discussion.

Larry followed the two into the inner courtyard, where a clean eight-immortal table stood under the eaves.

After the five people sat down, a Chinese servant served them tea. At this time, Huang Meitang, in front of Larry, told Master Ye again about Larry's plan to cooperate with the Chinese in making milk tea.

After listening, Master Ye stroked his beard, looked at Larry, and smiled. "Mr. Livingston, I understand your meaning. May I ask how you intend to cooperate?"

Larry secretly took a deep breath before speaking.

“My idea is to set up a company, ostensibly with me, a white person, holding the majority stake, but you can also have a stake. I will be responsible for the procurement and sales of raw materials, while you will be responsible for making milk tea in Chinatown. You Chinese people will actually be my employees, which will greatly reduce the resistance from the police department. Moreover, I will make strict regulations on the production process and hygiene standards, which must meet the requirements of the health department. Only in this way can we do this well.”

Elder Ye and Huang Meitang exchanged a glance before he continued, "Why did you decide to do business with us Chinese?"

Larry smiled slightly, pointed at Logan and said to Elder Ye, “It’s not just Chinese, but also Irish and Italians. Mr. Ye, I’ve always believed that people shouldn’t be divided by race and identity, but by class. Many Chinese, Italians and Irish people can only survive at the bottom of American society. You shouldn’t be wary of each other or hurt each other, but should unite as much as possible to truly form a force.”

Larry's words caused Elder Ye and Huang Meitang to exchange glances again, and even Logan and Dunbar, who were sitting to the side, focused their attention on Larry's face.

After a moment of silence, Elder Ye and Huang Meitang exchanged a few words in Cantonese. Then, Elder Ye nodded and said...

"The business you mentioned seems feasible... but how exactly should we proceed?"

Larry had just come up with the idea for the bubble tea shop. He dipped his finger in tea and drew a circle on the table, saying...

"I plan to set up a main production store in Chinatown, where you will be responsible for brewing the milk tea. The brewed milk tea will be poured into 20-liter tin-plated iron drums, and at the milk tea shops, it will be sold in steam-sterilized glass cups. The milk tea will be sold on the same day it is produced. At the retail stores, you can add any additional ingredients or items such as ice according to the customer's request."

"You'll be responsible for production here, but you also need to establish a flagship store with a front shop and back factory. I require that the milk tea production be transparent and open behind glass windows. This will not only reassure customers but also enhance the reputation of the Chinese community."

As he spoke, Larry explained the milk tea recipe, the production process, and the transportation process he could think of to Master Ye and Huang Meitang.

In short, Larry's principle is to be open and transparent. This is to ensure food safety to the greatest extent possible, and secondly, to refine and standardize the process, making the brand an instant success, which will facilitate expansion into major cities across the United States.

Logan listened for a while, then interjected, "But what about disinfection?"

Larry smiled and pointed to the wisps of steam rising from the laundromat's steam washing machine, saying, "High-temperature steam! Nowadays, Americans still prefer steam sterilization. We use steam sterilization on our containers to meet the requirements of health regulatory departments to the greatest extent possible. The name 'steamed milk tea' is meant to use this safe and hygienic image as a selling point, deeply imprinting it in customers' minds."

Logan nodded as if he understood, but Elder Ye and Huang Meitang truly understood, and their faces showed satisfaction.

Larry, seeing that everyone understood his intentions, smiled and said,
"This is just the beginning. We'll also be making Turkish kebabs later... No, we can't call it Turkish kebabs now. It should be called 'Pioneer Meat Tower' or 'Columbus Rotating Kebab.' We'll use beef from Chicago to make rotating kebabs, and marinate them with black pepper, apple cider vinegar, and maple syrup."

Then wrap these grilled meats in Boston rye bread or tortillas, and use tomato gravy instead of yogurt sauce... Hmm, I'll also make up a marketing story about how the pioneers accidentally discovered that this kind of grilling is more delicious and convenient..."

Everyone was already dizzy from Larry's various statements. What seemed perfectly normal to Larry was an information overload for those who had never encountered it before.

Larry glanced at everyone, pulled $500 from his pocket, shoved it at Huang Meitang, and solemnly said,
"This is the initial trial cost. Remember to follow my formula and my approach, and go through all the procedures in the most standard way. If the initial research meets our expectations, then we can truly begin to put these retail businesses into practice."

Huang Meitang stared wide-eyed at the $500 on the table. He quickly waved his hand and refused, saying, "No, no, sir, you don't need to take out so much money. This is almost our laundry's annual profit..."

“We need to sign a contract. This will be my first investment, and everything will be done in the most formal way,” Larry said seriously.
"You must understand, this is not just a business deal, but a chance for Chinatown and the Chinese community to turn their lives around. Remember, we must make money, and we must also build a good reputation. Gentlemen, you must seize this opportunity. Your future should not be confined to this Ping An Lane; you must become role models for American immigrants!"

Elder Ye and Huang Meitang exchanged another glance, their eyes filled with solemnity.

“I understand! Mr. Livingston, we will definitely do our best,” Huang Meitang said solemnly.

Larry nodded. "Later, I'll have someone try to produce a machine that grills meat vertically, and you'll be responsible for making ingredients that suit American tastes."
.
After the three left Chinatown, Logan tugged at Larry's sleeve and asked curiously,
"...Why involve Chinese people? You know that mainstream society is full of prejudice against them. If we don't hire them, we'll save ourselves a lot of trouble."

Larry turned to Logan and smiled, saying, "You don't understand, but Senator Kennedy will. I believe that when he returns, he will work with the Massachusetts Democrats to strongly support and promote this retail project. Logan, you've provided a truly excellent idea today. You'll be in charge of this project from now on!"

"Me?" Logan's eyes widened, still somewhat confused and incredulous.

However, Mr. Dunbar, who was standing next to him, nodded and interjected, "This is feasible, it's both prestigious and profitable, and it would be even better if veterans could be included!"

Larry raised an eyebrow and said to him, “Veterans can come and work on our convenience store project! That’s more respectable.”

As he spoke, he also gave a brief overview of the convenience store project he was currently building.

After listening and pondering for a long time, Dunbar nodded heavily to Larry again.

Larry was well aware that the current stereotypes about Chinese people in American society would inevitably create a lot of obstacles in his production and business operations.

But there's always a chance to change your perspective.

When Larry and Kennedy discussed this year's election, Larry shared a well-thought-out idea: the Democratic Party has been suppressed by the Republican Party since the American Civil War, mainly because they lack their own "political correctness" and "ironclad vote base" in the wealthiest and most developed parts of the northern United States.

The Republican Party's core voter base consists of capitalists, and a high tariff barrier can successfully win over most of the wealthy locals.

The reason why Democratic President Cleveland, who had been in office for only four years, was ousted by Republican President Benjamin Harrison was because Harrison had his own "political correctness" slogans and "ironclad vote base".

The phrase "High tariffs make America great" resonates strongly with ordinary Americans.

At this point, it is necessary to adopt the policies of the Democratic Party a century from now, which means using strategies such as "sympathizing with the disadvantaged," "petitioning for suffering and exploited workers," and "immigrants are also Americans" to make immigrants and workers supporters of the Democratic Party.

What was most important in 1892? The general election!
To oust Benjamin Harrison and bring in Democratic candidate Cleveland, the most important thing is public opinion!
When planning to take down the betting companies, Larry suggested that Kennedy use Carnegie's suppression of the steel mill strike to attack the Republican Party in the media.

But this is only the negative aspect. The Democratic Party must provide positive public opinion guidance, which means taking concrete actions to protect the rights of minorities and workers.

The bigger this issue gets this year, the better it is for the Democratic Party to win the election!

Larry also saw this opportunity and was determined to make this a top-notch business plan, from public opinion to operations.

In fact, Logan's idea perfectly aligns with the political correctness of "victim workers" plus "minority survival rights," making it the perfect project to gain both fame and fortune at this time!

Larry, in his earlier remarks, increasingly believes that the project Logan proposed today is perfectly suited to this year's political and economic climate. In an election year, leveraging partisan competition to expand one's influence allows for the maximum possible expansion with minimal cost and significant returns.

Building political correctness within the Democratic Party and consolidating its core support base are the most important political maneuvers for the opposition party in an election year.

Larry is confident he can convince the Democratic Party leaders that supporting his retail expansion project is a way to build their campaign leverage.

Next, the most important thing is public opinion, and Larry already pictured Mr. Winthrop's kind face in his mind.

(End of this chapter)