Transmigrating into a Book in the 80s: After Giving Up, I Was Pampered by a Rough Man

A large crowd gathered at the entrance of the Hongqi Hotel.

The scene was even more lively than grabbing discounted meat during the Chinese New Year.

"How could it be gone? I rode my bike all the way from the south of the city just to try that amber egg!"

"I've been waiting in line for half an hour! Ma'am, are you reserving the food for people with connections?"

Several men in blue overalls were clinging to the door frame, their voices as loud as banging gongs.

The waiter, Xiao Li, was sweating profusely, holding a rag in his hand, and his voice was hoarse from shouting.

"Comrades! Stop pushing! There aren't any left!"

"We only had twenty servings of 'Amber Reflecting Gold Sand' available today, and they were all snapped up within ten minutes of opening!"

In the crowd, a middle-aged man wearing a Zhongshan suit with four pockets and two pens stuck in his jacket pocket squeezed forward with a dark face.

He tucked his briefcase under his arm and scolded him with a stern face.

"Young comrade, my surname is Wang from the Materials Bureau."

"Today we're hosting a delegation from out of town, so we absolutely have to serve these special dishes. Go tell the kitchen to try and get me two portions of them."

These words, spoken in an official tone, silenced the noisy crowd for a moment.

In the county town, the Bureau of Materials was a powerful unit, and ordinary people dared not offend it.

To everyone's surprise, Xiao Li didn't buy it at all. Instead, he straightened his back and spread his hands with a helpless expression.

"Section Chief Wang, not to mention you, even our restaurant manager wanted to keep a portion to take home for his mother to try, but Chef Liu chased him out with a cleaver."

"Chef Liu said that the ingredients for this dish are very precious, and there's only a limited supply each day, so everyone has to come early!"

Section Chief Wang's face darkened; he thought to himself, "Are you kidding me?"

However, he also knew that there was a shortage of raw materials, and it seemed impossible for him to eat this "Amber Golden Sand" today.

He wanted to get angry, but when he thought of Liu Yishou's fiery temper and his amazing skills, he had to swallow his anger.

These days, a skilled chef is more powerful than a bureau chief.

Standing on the periphery of the crowd, Lu Ting pushed his bicycle and stared at the crazy scene, completely frozen in place.

He instinctively shielded Jiang Mian beside him, fearing that the group of bloodthirsty people might hurt his wife.

"Mianmian...this...this is our family's duck egg?"

Lu Ting's Adam's apple bobbed in disbelief.

How could an ordinary duck egg, after being transformed and brought to the city, cause these cadres and workers who receive government-subsidized grain rations to fight tooth and nail for it?

Jiang Mian leaned on Lu Ting's arm, looking at the humiliated Section Chief Wang, a playful smile curling at the corner of her mouth.

"Things are valued because they are rare."

It's not that the runny yolk of the preserved egg is particularly delicious; it's just that people these days like to follow trends.

If everyone else has eaten preserved eggs but you haven't, then when a group of people get together to brag, you'll look out of the loop.

Leaving aside the 1980s, even in later generations, many things become popular for no apparent reason, and then a group of people inexplicably follow suit. If you don't understand this, you're considered outdated and out of touch with the times.

She reached out her finger and gently scratched Lu Ting's palm.

"Did you hear that? Our duck eggs are in high demand right now."

"Come on, I'll take you to get your face scanned."

Jiang Mian didn't try to squeeze through the main entrance, but instead pulled Lu Ting around to the alleyway on the side of the restaurant.

That's the dedicated passage for receiving supplies for the kitchen.

Just as I arrived at the door, a kitchen helper who was picking vegetables blocked my way.

"Hey, hey, what are you doing?"

"No unauthorized personnel allowed in the kitchen. If you want to eat, please queue at the front entrance!"

The laborer looked impatient, still clutching a handful of rotten vegetable leaves in his hand.

Lu Ting frowned slightly, and was about to speak when Jiang Mian stepped forward, smiling as she pointed at Lu Ting.

"Young comrade, please tell Chef Liu or Director Zhang that the Red Star Brigade has arrived with 'Golden Sands'."

"What gold and silver sand? Get out of here..."

The laborer was about to wave the man away when he suddenly stopped, his eyes widening like copper bells.

"What did you say? You're sending those preserved eggs?"

"Yes." Jiang Mian nodded.

The worker threw down the vegetable leaves in his hand and jumped up in a flash.

His attitude instantly did a 180-degree turn, and his face broke into a wide smile.

"Oh my goodness, the God of Wealth has arrived! Please, please come in!"

"Master Liu and Director Zhang have been talking about you all morning!"

As he spoke, he shouted at the top of his lungs, "Master, the egg deliveryman is here!"

Before he could finish speaking, a series of hurried footsteps sounded.

Liu Yishou rushed out in a flurry, a spatula still in his hand and his apron covered in oil splatters.

Zhang Wenyuan, who was following behind him, also looked anxious, and his glasses almost slipped off his head.

"Young men, you've finally arrived!"

Upon seeing Lu Ting, Liu Yishou was so affectionate that he almost wanted to give Lu Ting a bear hug.

"You guys have no idea, a fight is about to break out up ahead!"

"Those diners almost overturned our table while fighting over a plate of cold preserved eggs!"

"This isn't the place to talk. Come, let's go to my office first." Zhang Wenyuan adjusted his glasses, smiled, and welcomed the two into his office, pouring them two cups of hot tea.

"Comrade Lu Ting, Comrade Jiang Mian, we need to talk about the supply volume."

"The current quantity is far too small; it's simply not enough to meet demand!"

"How about we deliver once a day? As long as we can guarantee the quantity, the price is negotiable!"

The hundred or so coins I brought back yesterday are nowhere near enough. If we run out of stock, the restaurant's glass doors will be smashed.

Lu Ting didn't speak, but turned to look at Jiang Mian.

In front of outsiders, he habitually remained silent, leaving the spotlight to his wife.

Jiang Mian picked up her teacup, took a sip, and spoke slowly.

"Director Zhang, it's not that we don't want to deliver them, but making preserved eggs takes time."

"And as you can see, the roads in the village are in bad shape now. It's more than ten miles round trip, and all of that is manpower cost."

She paused, put down her teacup, and the crisp sound was particularly clear in the office.

"I could increase the delivery volume to daily, but I'd have to source duck eggs from other villages and hire people specifically for delivery, which would increase costs..."

"The price is negotiable!"

Zhang Wenyuan waved his hand generously, exclaiming with boundless generosity, "As long as the quality is guaranteed, I'll add five cents to each egg, and I'll give you thirty cents!"

Three cents!

Lu Ting's hand trembled suddenly, spilling a few drops of tea.

Duck eggs only cost a few cents each now, but this price has increased several times over!

The ducks at home lay over a hundred eggs every day.

If we only consider our own family's income, it's at least 40 yuan a day, which adds up to more than 1,000 yuan a month!

If I were to go to other villages to buy duck eggs to make preserved eggs, then...

hiss--!

This isn't selling eggs, it's practically printing money!

"Director Zhang is very helpful."

Jiang Mian smiled with satisfaction, showing no sign of being overwhelmed by the huge sum of money. Instead, she remained calm and composed, like a seasoned veteran in the business world.

"Since Director Zhang is so sincere, I won't be stingy either. I'll supply at least a hundred every day, and the quality will definitely be top-notch."

"Hahaha, great! That's wonderful!" Zhang Wenyuan rubbed his hands together excitedly.

Liu Yishou was in a great mood and quickly took over the conversation.

"Come on, it's past lunchtime, let's eat and chat!"

"Sister-in-law, today I absolutely have to let you try your brother Liu's signature dish!"

In the private room of the state-run restaurant, the braised pork was fatty but not greasy, the steamed fish was fresh and delicious, and there was also a plate of tempting preserved eggs.

After a few rounds of drinks, Zhang Wenyuan started talking more.

But as he was talking, he suddenly sighed, his face showing worry.

"Is something on Director Zhang's mind?" Jiang Mian asked perceptively.

"Ugh, don't even mention it." Zhang Wenyuan waved his hand, looking gloomy.

"It's all because of my cousin, who's a section chief at the textile factory!"

"Their factory recently messed around with production and produced a large batch of stretch knitted fabric in all sorts of gaudy colors."

"When we made thermal underwear, people complained that it wasn't close-fitting or warm enough. When we made it into an outer layer, it was too soft and shapeless."

"Now hundreds of bolts of fabric are piled up in the warehouse waiting to get moldy. The factory manager has said that if they aren't dealt with by the end of the year, all the factory workers' bonuses will be gone!"

Director Zhang poured himself a glass of wine and drank it all in one gulp.

"He's been so anxious these past few days that he's developed blisters on his lips. He's been begging and pleading everywhere, but who would want him? I'm getting really stressed out because of him."

Just then, the system's cold, mechanical voice rang in Jiang Mian's mind.

[Signs of a unique opportunity for our times have been detected!]

[Limited-time mission triggered: Lead the 1980s fashion revolution!]

[Mission Description: Being well-fed and clothed is basic, but eating well and dressing stylishly is the ultimate goal! Please acquire the surplus inventory of textile factories and transform it into the wildly popular "batwing shirt," thus completing your initial capital accumulation!]