1994: Starting with unpaid leave

After leaving the railway bureau, Dong Jianguo returned to the hotel and found Erzhuzi and Zhao Hongmei waiting for him. He briefly told them the latest news he had received.

He took out two exhibition badges and gave one to each of them:

"Don't worry about the samples. Director Zhang told me last time when we shipped the goods that we should send several boxes of samples. They are currently stored in the passenger transport section's warehouse. The railway bureau will help deliver them tomorrow."

"Director Zhang has already applied for the display space for us. We just need to hang up the banner we brought..."

The trade fairs in the 1990s were not like the ones Dong Jianguo later frequented in Shenzhen. They usually just involved displaying a few boxes of his own products, along with some opened sample packs.

However, blending into the crowd like this makes it impossible to see one's own unique characteristics.

Therefore, Tung Chee-kwok had his own ideas:

"Sister Hongmei, you and Erzhuzi need to go to the mall later and buy two larger rice cookers. Make sure they have a steaming function."

"Also, buy more fresh eggs, chicken feet, and seasonings for the braising sauce later... You remember all that, right?"

"I remember, I've memorized it all!"

Zhao Hongmei nodded confidently.

"Bro, what do you need all this for? You're not planning to make braised eggs and pickled chicken feet right here, are you?"

"Yes!" Dong Jianguo nodded.

"Our factory's main products are just two or three items, and they're all still in their packaging, so they lack a bit of the 'firework' feel."

"Customers and merchants come to trade fairs not just to see whose product packaging is pretty."

"Only by bringing out that down-to-earth, everyday charm can we truly capture people's attention!"

Dong Jianguo looked at the two of them and said earnestly:

"Since we're going to do it, we not only want to do it well, but we also want to create something unique!"

"Okay! We'll get on it right away!"

"Jianguo, don't worry, we'll definitely make it a success for you!"

……

The next morning, the three of them arrived at the Harbin Food Fair early.

The booth that Director Zhang reserved for Hezhiwei was quite good. It was located near the center of the exhibition hall, where the two main passageways that run through the hall eventually converge.

They have firmly grasped the transportation hub.

The surrounding booths were filled with either Coca-Cola or Master Kong instant noodles, all nationally renowned brands...

"Brother Jianguo, it seems Director Zhang has really given us a lot of face this time..."

"Okay, then do a good job and don't let their good intentions go to waste!"

All three were efficient workers, and with their combined efforts, they set up their booth in just over ten minutes.

The banner, unfurled, stands out even among several large billboards; it's a testament to the quality of Hezhiwei Food Factory, a product of Hecheng.

The samples delivered by the passenger transport section have also been arranged.

The snacks in several boxes were removed, and the remaining unopened food was neatly stacked behind the group.

Even the newly bought rice cooker is already being used to cook braising sauce...

Last night, Zhao Hongmei not only bought a braising pot, but also several stainless steel basins.

She labeled each pot with a handwritten label: raw material, semi-finished product, finished product.

Juanxiu's notes were written with meticulous care, each stroke revealing her earnestness.

As the first batch of braised eggs in meat broth was freshly cooked, people gradually began to enter the exhibition hall...

……

"Hey friend, how much is this?"

"Hey bro, Lao Sai, scan my business card, take a look..."

"What is this? How much money is this? Heavens..."

Merchants from all over the country strolled around the exhibition hall, occasionally picking up items that interested them and asking the booth owners all sorts of questions.

Everyone was speaking their own dialects, which gave Erzhuzi a headache.

"Brother Jianguo, why don't they speak Mandarin?"

"Didn't you say that either?!"

"You're kidding me, my Mandarin is perfect!"

Dong Jianguo listened to Erzhuzi's thick Northeastern accent and was speechless for a long time...

Unfortunately, the vast majority of Northeasterners in Heilongjiang Province believe they are speaking Mandarin...

"Your Mandarin is good, say a few words~"

Erzhuzi is no longer the same Erzhuzi he used to be. The time he spent selling eggs on the streets in the beginning has made him very successful.

He took a deep breath and began to shout:

"Hey, people from the south and the north, come and take a look! Crane Flavor Foods is offering free samples~ Whether you like it or not, it's free~"

His shouts were full of energy, attracting the attention of passing merchants.

Everyone loves free things; no one can escape that instinct.

Hearing that there were free samples, merchants who had been walking around the exhibition hall for a while stopped in front of the booth.

"Boss, have an egg to try!"

"Freshly braised, or sealed in packaging, which do you want, sis?!"

"Can't you just have one of each?!"

"Okay, my little sister's pretty, I'll do whatever you say!"

Erzhuzi's few words made the young girl beam with joy, which made Dong Jianguo frown.

With that kind of eloquence, surely he shouldn't have been seduced by Pan Yan and become a smooth talker?!

It seems love is a complicated thing; you could only say that one thing can subdue another...

"Wow, your braised eggs are really good... the vacuum-packed ones aren't much worse than freshly braised ones!"

"That's right, we use vacuum sealing technology. The bag only contains the eggs and a little bit of braising liquid; there's practically no air, so the preservation ability is super strong!"

Erzhuzi took the opportunity to talk about the advantages of his own products.

Upon hearing this, the customers surrounding the booth stepped forward and reached out to ask him for free samples.

"Hey, this flavor is amazing! Hey young man, how much is this? Do you do wholesale? Are there any discounts for buying in bulk?"

"That's the taste! I had it on the train to Harbin! It's so authentic!"

"Hey, these are Sichuan-Chongqing style chicken feet! How come you can make them too?!"

The Hezhiwei booth was bustling with activity, and more and more people gathered there.

The owners of the two stalls next to him looked depressed.

They are all big brands with well-established physical sales channels across the country, so participating in this kind of trade fair is not very meaningful.

The only reason I was able to come was to give Director Zhang face.

No one expected that after their visit, their own shop would be deserted, making them look like a foil to the neighboring Crane Flavor Food Factory.

For a moment, the faces of the two station managers turned as black as the braising liquid that Hongmei had prepared in the pot...

Erzhuzi couldn't handle so many problems on his own, so Dong Jianguo finally stepped forward:

"Please come one by one. Our factory's contact information is on the packaging of these eggs. Feel free to call us for inquiries!"

"Today's main purpose is to give everyone a taste test; I simply want to make friends with all of you business owners!"

"If any business owners are interested in becoming distributors or agents for our products, please feel free to exchange business cards with us!"

As soon as he finished speaking, a bunch of arms were raised in front of Dong Jianguo.

Arms vary in thickness and length, color and texture, some wear watches, some are bald, but they all share one thing in common when they are raised:

Each of them had a brightly colored business card in their hand...