Returning wealthy individuals develop their hometowns and become rich in the 1980s

Chen Dong wasn't really familiar with the layout of Huadongsheng Supermarket. The group followed behind Lin Qingsheng, the head office manager, listening to his eloquent explanation of the placement of various goods and their approximate inventory, nodding occasionally.

"Our Huadong Sheng's best-selling products are mainly food and beverages. Other items, such as electrical appliances and mechanical parts, have seen a decline in sales this quarter due to their usage cycle," Lin Qingsheng said, adjusting his glasses and letting a customer pushing a cart pass by.

Chen Dong nodded. This was a normal drop in sales and nothing to worry about. "I'm planning to do a promotion on the dried fruit and other items shipped from China. Do you have any good suggestions?"

Without hesitation, Lin Qingsheng said, "Let's do bundled sales. We'll bundle some of our best-selling products with dried fruit and gradually promote them. Once the locals have accepted the taste of the dried fruit, we'll do a lot of advertising on TV, newspapers, and radio."

These are all fairly standard procedures. Chen Dong patted Lin Qingsheng's arm and said, "Then you should quickly compile a list of products that are suitable for bundling and offer appropriate price discounts. After the products are cleared through customs, you should conduct a tasting survey at the entrance of each store and give me feedback."

"OK!"

Listening to the conversation and looking at the supermarket's dazzling array of goods, Chen Zaixing suddenly had a bold idea. He leaned over to Chen Dong and asked, "Dongzi, do you think it would be worthwhile to copy your supermarket model to China?"

After listening, Chen Dong smiled and asked him, "Fifth Brother, do you know how many times the price will increase if you ship these goods in large quantities from America? The tariffs alone will make you stop in your tracks."

Chen Dong had considered transplanting his Huadongsheng Supermarket model from America to China, but at that time, domestic production in China was not yet widespread. If all products were imported from abroad, the prices would be unaffordable for ordinary Chinese people. Chen Dong was a businessman, and he would not do anything that could not be profitable.

Chen Zaixing felt his hopes dashed. He had thought that if Chen Dong's supermarket could be opened in China, it would make shopping much more convenient for Chinese people.

The truth is that China has not yet fully reformed. The rationing system alone has seriously affected the pace of economic development. Chen Zaixing did not have a long-term vision. He was just a farmer from Lianzhai Village who thought that if things were good abroad, maybe they could be replicated in China.

Seeing Chen Zaixing's disappointed expression, Chen Dong, not wanting to dampen his enthusiasm, still said, "However, Fifth Brother, your idea is still very good. Opening a supermarket in China is the right idea. Think about how you plan to source the goods, following this line of thought."

"The source of goods," Chen Zaixing pondered. As a farmer from Lianzhai Village, he had to know the source of goods as well.

Seeing his younger brother scratching his head, Chen Zaisheng laughed and said, "Fifth brother, I used to tell you to study more, but you said you wanted to herd cattle. Now you know the importance of studying!"

Chen Zaixing retorted indignantly, "Second Brother, what does this have to do with whether or not you study? It has absolutely nothing to do with it!"

"Still being stubborn? Let me ask you, have you ever read any of our domestic newspapers?"

Chen Zaixing shook his head. "I haven't read it. What does that have to do with a farmer like me?"

"Have you ever heard the saying, 'A wise man keeps his talents hidden until the right time to act'?"

"No!"

"illiteracy!"

Thankfully, it was his second brother, Chen Zaisheng, who said those words, otherwise Chen Zaixing would have been furious. "Then tell me, second brother, what's the use of hiding artifacts?"

"I'm asking you, if you want to replicate Dongzi's supermarket, can some of our domestic food factories provide you with supplies? Are you aware of the national policies?"

"have no idea!"

Chen Zaixing answered directly and confidently. Chen Zaisheng then asked, "Do you know how many food factories there are in our Tuocheng, no, in our Nanshan County, and what products they can provide you? You can find out all this from the newspapers, do you know?"

Chen Zaixing did not answer immediately this time, but frowned. If what his second brother said was true, then it would not be impossible for him to replicate Chen Dong's supermarket model in Tuocheng or Nanshan County.

"Second brother, tell me more details," Chen Zaixing hurriedly asked, pulling his second brother's hand and bringing him closer to Chen Dong.

"In our Tuocheng, just in Nanshan County alone, there are several grain and oil factories, flour factories, and biscuit factories. These factories usually produce according to plan, supplying supply and marketing cooperatives and department stores. Most of them have outdated equipment and produce only a single type of product."

"The reason for this is that we still need to buy things with coupons, so they don't have much incentive to change the status quo. If Dongzi's supermarket really opens there and a large number of orders come in, do you think they will upgrade their production capacity to cope with Dongzi's large orders?"

"Yes, definitely!"

Chen Zaixing rubbed his hands together, chuckling, and looked at Chen Dong, asking, "Dongzi, what do you think?"

"You'll have to go back to China and ask around at the various state-owned factories first. Only if they're willing to supply you can you make any plans. For now, let's get the factories we have up and running first, so we don't lose sight of the bigger picture."

Chen Dong knew Chen Zaixing's plans. He was also anxious because he saw his elder brother being promoted by Chen Dong and was about to rise to prominence. He wanted to make a name for himself as well.

Chen Dong thought Chen Zaixing's idea of ​​opening a supermarket was feasible. Once the source of goods was solved, everything else was relatively simple. In China, at the beginning of the reform and opening up, even a pig could take off!

There's absolutely no need to worry about customer base. In America, it's just like McDonald's or Starbucks in the low-end fast food industry. But in China, it transforms itself, relying on the name of a foreign brand, and becomes a brand name product, with long queues at the door.

This clearly shows how desperately the Chinese people needed products during the reform and opening up period. Smuggled television sets and other electronic products were sold for several thousand yuan, which severely impacted the various state-owned factories that were still operating under a planned production model at the time.

The wave of layoffs in China during the 1980s and 90s, coupled with the influx of foreign capital into the Chinese market to compete, knocked down these state-owned factories with low production capacity and outdated equipment in the torrent of history.

Many people look back and find that they have been laid off in middle age. Their original secure jobs are gone, their factories have been restructured, and there are still unemployed young people waiting to come in. The 1980s and 1990s in China were an opportunity, but also a time of suffering for many.

"It's just starting over!"

"It's just starting over! Show me what you can do from the beginning!"