1994: Starting with unpaid leave

Dong Jianguo insists that the soul of braised eggs lies not in the eggs, but in the broth.

Braised eggs without broth are like dumplings without soup—they're missing their soul.

Therefore, in order to ensure the taste of the braised eggs, he required that a little bit of the braising liquid be retained in each sealed package during the packaging process.

Seeing that Director Wan was completely unprepared, Dong Jianguo carefully pushed the fruit plate in front of Director Wan, just in time to catch a few drops of amber-colored braising liquid dripping down the packaging.

"Wow, your braising sauce..."

Director Wan was about to say, "Why is there so much juice? Won't it be troublesome to eat?"

But before he could finish speaking, a strange fragrance seemed to have grown wings and wafted straight into his nostrils.

The flavor didn't have that pungent, cheap taste of seasoning.

On the contrary, it smells very rich, like a pot of soup that has been simmering for three days.

He couldn't help but bring the packaging bag closer to his nose and suck hard to remove any spilled braising liquid.

"Why does it smell so good?"

Director Wan is a gourmand.

When I was young, I worked on railway tracks and ate a lot of delicacies from all over the country.

His taste buds had long been dulled, and he usually ate just to fill his stomach.

But this taste was like a hook, precisely catching the craving in his throat.

To his surprise, the braising liquid not only contained the aromas of common spices like star anise, cinnamon, and bay leaves, but also a subtle yet incredibly enticing meaty fragrance. This meaty aroma wasn't the gamey smell of raw meat, but rather the rich and savory flavor of collagen dissolved in the broth after a long period of steaming.

This braised egg with meat gravy is made by Xiuyun.

To ensure the meat was flavorful, Xiuyun not only added seasonings to the braising liquid, but also bought several kilograms of pork skin and a bunch of old hen legs to steam together in the braising liquid.

The pork skin provides collagen, the chicken provides umami flavor, and with the addition of Dong Jianguo's special spice packet, it is simmered over low heat for four hours, and finally braised in a braising pot overnight.

However, all of this meat ended up being served on the table for several people.

There were some extras, but Xiuyun packed them all up and sent them to the couple's parents' house.

Dong Jianguo chuckled: "This is all thanks to my wife; she made all the sauce herself."

"Great skills, well, to be precise, it's not just about skill, it's also about using generous amounts of ingredients."

"That's right, small workshops have to use strong ingredients."

Dong Jianguo explained with a smile.

Director Wan nodded and said no more.

He put the braised egg directly into his mouth and bit off half of it in one go.

"Click."

A soft cracking sound—that was the sound of egg white being crushed by teeth.

Immediately afterwards, a rich, salty and savory flavor exploded in my mouth.

Director Wan's eyes widened suddenly.

The egg whites of this braised egg are bouncy and chewy, but not hard, and the flavor of the braising sauce has completely permeated them, with a perfect balance of saltiness.

The best part is the egg yolk, which is sandy and has a rich, oily aroma, yet it's not dry at all.

The subtle, savory flavor of the broth lingered on my tongue, refusing to dissipate.

"Great! What a delicious braised egg with meat gravy!" Director Wan couldn't help but exclaim, taking several bites and licking the gravy off his fingers.

Watching Director Wan eat with relish, Erzhuzi, who was standing to the side, wore a smug smile on his honest face, looking just like a child waiting for praise.

"Little Dong," Director Wan said, wiping his mouth after finishing his meal, his eyes filled with genuine appreciation, "it's a waste that your wife's cooking skills aren't used to running a restaurant. I've eaten at the old-established smoked and braised dishes in Harbin, but none of them taste as good as yours."

Dong Jianguo smiled and poured Director Wan a cup of hot tea: "I'm glad you like it, Director Wan. My wife always says that if the food isn't good, people will only buy it once and never again. We're just running a small business, and we're all about repeat customers."

"That makes sense." Director Wan nodded, leaning back on the sofa. "These braised eggs of yours must have a high cost, right?"

Dong Jianguo's heart skipped a beat; he knew his opportunity had arrived.

He said seriously, "Director Wan, you're an expert; you saw right through it. To enhance the meaty flavor, we added pork skin and chicken legs to the braising liquid, which does increase our costs compared to other places. But our philosophy is that if we're going to do it, we should do it the best. Even if it's a bit more expensive, we want people to feel they're getting their money's worth."

"At the very least, we can't tarnish the reputation of our Hecheng!"

"Great! Xiao Dong, you're a very insightful young man. As long as you stay on the right path, you're sure to succeed!"

Dong Jianguo smiled and shook his head: "Director Wan, you're a wise man. In this life, the key is to rely on the help of benefactors. Otherwise, a small factory like Hezhiwei, even if we burn the braising pots until they're smoking, probably still won't get any orders..."

Sensing the hidden meaning in Dong Jianguo's words, Director Wan smiled and looked at the young man who had bought his house.

Dong Jianguo knew that if he didn't speak up now, he might not have another chance, so he decisively spoke up:

"Director Wan, besides repaying the money, I actually have another request to make to you this time in Harbin."

"You are a leader in the railway system, and you know our industry best."

Dong Jianguo leaned forward slightly and said sincerely, "I feel that our country's railway network will only become more and more developed in the future, and there will be more and more long-distance trains."

"Those people who travel by train for days on end, eating only the dry rations they bring or instant noodles, how can they stand it?"

"I was thinking, wouldn't it be great if we could sell our braised eggs on trains too..."

Director Wan did not answer immediately, but simply looked at him quietly, signaling him to continue.

Encouraged, Dong Jianguo quickened his pace:

"Think about it, there's not much space on a train, so we can't make and sell things on the spot. But our braised eggs are cooked, ready to eat straight from the bag, and easy to carry. Plus, our braising liquid is vacuum-packed, so it's hygienic and has a long shelf life. Most importantly, it's filling, has a meaty flavor, and is all protein, making it perfect as a snack with drinks on a train, or to supplement the nutrition of the elderly and children."

He became more and more excited as he spoke, as if he could already see the future: "Director Wan, if we can catch a ride on the railway, our braised eggs can be sold all over the country along the tracks! This isn't just a matter for our family; it also generates income for railway workers and provides convenience for passengers!"

"Most importantly, our hometown, Hecheng, as an agricultural city, can also have its own products travel all over the country along the railway. If these braised eggs really become popular, the name of Hecheng will become famous throughout the country through the mouths of people on the train!"

After speaking, Dong Jianguo stared nervously at Director Wan, his palms slightly sweaty.

He knew that this move would determine the future of the braised egg factory.

A silence fell over the living room.

Director Wan did not immediately express his opinion. Instead, he picked up his teacup, slowly blew on the tea leaves floating on the surface of the water, and took a sip.

He was weighing the pros and cons.

As a veteran railway worker, he was all too aware of the complexity of the railway's internal supply system.

The relationships among the various parties in the railway bureau's passenger transport section are complex and intertwined.

It is quite difficult to get a private company's product into the dining car or a trolley on a train for sale.

This involves not only quality inspection, pricing, and channel revenue sharing, but also countless eyes eyeing this lucrative opportunity.

One wrong move and your career is over.

Director Wan genuinely thought that braised egg was delicious.

As a leader who frequently attends business dinners, he knows all too well the weight of the word "taste".

The train food available on the market now consists of either dry, hard biscuits or cheap sausages. Instant noodles taste good, but they are ridiculously expensive, and one bowl isn't enough to fill you up, while two bowls are too much to finish.

In contrast, if Dong Jianguo could package his braised eggs and instant noodles together for sale, it would solve the problem of insufficient instant noodle portions.

Moreover, this kid is good at interpersonal relationships.

He knew that at this sensitive moment of "repaying the money," he should use "food" to break the ice and "products" to speak for themselves, rather than directly discussing business.

This level of emotional intelligence is far superior to that of those nouveau riche business owners who immediately offer red envelopes.

More importantly, Director Wan saw the drive in Dong Jianguo.

People who claim to be from the same hometown as him are mostly doing so to gain personal benefits.

But when Dong Jianguo talks about his hometown, Hecheng, his eyes truly light up.

What touched him was precisely this love for his hometown!

After a long while, Director Wan finally put down his teacup.

"Xiao Dong," he said, his voice steady, "your idea is quite bold."

Dong Jianguo's heart was in his throat.

"Selling goods on the railway isn't as simple as you think," Director Wan said slowly. "First of all, hygiene standards are a major hurdle. If something goes wrong with the goods sold on the train, it's a serious matter, potentially leading to deaths. Can your factory currently meet the hygiene standards?"

"Yes!" Dong Jianguo answered decisively, "Our factory has all the necessary permits and licenses. It has been inspected by health and food safety departments and is absolutely above national safety standards!"

Director Wan nodded, expressing satisfaction with Dong Jianguo's answer.

Then he raised a second question: "Second, the price. The prices of things on the train can't be too outrageous. You've added meat broth, which increases the cost. How do you set the price? If it's too high, no one will buy it; if it's too low, you won't make any money."

Dong Jianguo was prepared: "Director Wan, I've done the math. If we have a large volume, the costs can be spread out."

"Moreover, although this kind of braised egg with meat gravy is expensive, the braised pork skin and chicken legs can also be vacuum-packed and sold together, which allows us to recover part of the cost of the braised dishes."

"Furthermore, I'm willing to offer discounts! As long as we can get into the railway system, a lower profit margin in the early stages is fine. What I'm after is a strong brand and smooth sales channels! Even if the profits from the railway aren't high, as long as the brand is established, I won't be afraid of not getting profitable orders later!"

"Hmph, still quite lucid." Director Wan's lips curled up slightly.

"Third," Director Wan raised his third finger, his eyes sharpening, "the distribution channels. Even if your product is up to standard and the price is right, the sales rights on the trains are controlled by the passenger transport section. Why would they sell your eggs and not someone else's?"

This is the real core issue.

Dong Jianguo took a deep breath; he knew it was time to lay his cards on the table.

"Director Wan," he looked directly into Director Wan's eyes, "I, Dong Jianguo, am an honest man. I may not trust others, but I trust you. As long as you are willing to take the lead, I am willing to treat this as a business we can do together. You can invest in my factory. If that's inconvenient, you can use Sister Wang or someone you trust to invest. I'm willing to contribute 30%...40% of the shares."

Director Wan looked at Dong Jianguo with a complicated expression.

He saw the courage of a young man who was willing to risk everything for his dream, and he also saw the shrewd calculation of a businessman.

However, Director Wan was not averse to Dong Jianguo's almost blatant bribery.

This young man doesn't have much to offer; a 40% stake is all he can give.

He didn't agree immediately, but stood up, walked to the window, and looked at the starry night outside.

After a long while, he turned around, a mysterious smile on his face.

"Little Dong, you're even bolder than I was back then."

He walked back to the sofa, sat down, picked up the phone, and dialed a number.

"Old Zhang, are you asleep? This is Old Wan. Come to my office tomorrow morning... Yes, there's something I want to discuss with you. A friend of mine made some braised eggs, they were really good, and I'd like you to try them..."

After hanging up the phone, Director Wan looked at Dong Jianguo:

"Tomorrow morning at nine o'clock, I'll take you to meet someone. He's a leader in the railway bureau's passenger transport section, specifically in charge of train material procurement. Whether it works out or not depends on your luck."

Dong Jianguo was so excited he almost jumped off the sofa, repeatedly saying, "Thank you, Director Wan! Thank you, Director Wan!"

"Don't thank me yet." Director Wan waved his hand. "I can only help you with the introduction. Whether you can get past Old Zhang depends on how good your product is. Old Zhang is stubborn and values ​​rules and quality the most. If you try to fool him, forget about this deal, you can forget about ever entering the Harbin railway system again."

"Also, let's not talk about the shares anymore. I'm helping you not for the money, but because of your statement, 'Let the name of our Hecheng spread throughout the country through the mouths of people on the train!'"

"You're still young, don't always think about doing crooked things. As long as you stay true to yourself, you'll always meet someone willing to lend you a hand."

"But if you go astray at a young age and make bad friends, whether they get into trouble or you get into trouble later, it will all bring up the root of the problem!"

"Xiao Dong, do you understand what I mean?"

"I understand!" Dong Jianguo nodded emphatically. "Nietzsche said that when you gaze long enough into an abyss, the abyss also gazes into you."

"Thank you for the reminder, Director Wan. I'll go back and prepare the samples right away, and make sure to bring out the best quality goods!"

"Alright, go back and get ready!"

Director Wan waved his hand.

Dong Jianguo nodded, then said goodbye to Sister Wang, who was busy in the kitchen, before leading Erzhuzi away.

As soon as the two left, Director Wan sat back down on the sofa with a smile.

Looking down, I saw that Dong Jianguo had left the bag of braised eggs on the coffee table.

I just told him to take it back, but this kid still left the egg when I wasn't looking.

"Heh, this little rascal."

With a muttered sound, Director Wan tore open another bag of braised eggs and started eating.

I must say, the flavor is really addictive, it's chewy and soft, making it impossible to stop eating.

"Oh, still eating? Didn't we already eat?!" The wife came out of the kitchen and plopped down on the sofa.

"What were you two talking about just now? I've never seen you this happy since you were transferred to Harbin!"

Seeing her husband enjoying the food, she was drawn in by the aroma and couldn't resist snatching the half-eaten braised egg from his hand and stuffing it into her mouth.

The moment it entered my mouth, I was immediately awestruck.

Seeing his wife's startled reaction, Director Wan smiled:

"You wouldn't understand even if I told you, but our hometown has finally produced a capable person..."