Doing business is actually similar to fighting. It also requires the right time, place and people.
The wool business is very affected by the climate and environment. The best wool is mostly produced in the cold zone, with abundant water and grass, rich nutrition, long cold season, good varieties, scientific feeding, and proper collection. If these six steps are completed, it will The preliminary basic work for producing good wool has been completed.
Li Muye said eloquently: "The last three conditions are manually controllable, but the first three conditions can only depend on the weather. This is the right time and the right place, but even if the two are in place, the last one is still inseparable. People and people, if the political environment is unstable, no matter how good the natural environment is, it will be useless. In this way, even if we set our sights around the world, we can't find a few suitable places. The production capacity in high-altitude areas is limited. North America is out of reach, South America has higher operating costs, and the only suitable regions that fully meet the conditions are actually the Far East and Outer Mongolia."
"Why not Xinjiang or Inner Mongolia in China?" Shen Peijun wanted to test Li Muye.
"Policy factors, humanistic environment, and pressure from the natural environment." Li Muye returned without hesitation.
"Did you do some homework before we came here?" Shen Peijun asked.
Li Muye nodded calmly and said, "It is true that I have some understanding of Shen's enterprise."
"Just some understanding?" Shen Peijun was a little suspicious and glanced at his daughter beside him.
Shen Xinming immediately raised her hand and said: "The conscience of heaven and earth, I called Brother Li when I was in the car with you. He didn't even know you were coming before that."
Li Muye said with a smile: "I'll sharpen my skills before the battle, and add a little experience in international trade and judgment on the market."
Shen Peijun said sternly: "It also requires judgment on the region, humanities, history, consumer psychology, economic situation and many other aspects. This requires rich life experience and abundant brain wisdom."
Li Muye is so humble, no matter where he is. He added: "The main reason is that Shen is so famous. The marketing move of exchanging ten thousand gold for wool that you led last year is a classic. It has already made foreigners in the same industry look at Shen with admiration."
"But this is not enough." Shen Peijun said: "Australians are too greedy, and the lack of competition will only make them more and more unscrupulous."
Li Muye said: "So, my constructive suggestion is to develop high-breed pastures to the north."
"I also have this idea, but it's not easy said." Shen Peijun said.
Li Muye said: "It is indeed difficult to say it is difficult, but it is not impossible to say it is easy. There is no shortage of strong regional figures in any region. The key lies in whether we can find the right partner. As long as we can find the right person, there will be great success." Opportunity makes things happen.”
"You have done international trade there, so you should know the humanistic and social environment there very well, right?" Shen Peijun asked calmly.
Li Muye said bluntly: "I can't say that I know much about it, but there are indeed some stable channels that are not affected by changes in the local political environment."
There is no free lunch in this world. The more savvy and powerful businessmen understand this, the more they understand the value of rational utilization of talents and resources.
Shen Peijun glanced at his wife beside him.
Mao Xinping immediately looked at the time, and then said: "Looking at the conversation between you two, you have forgotten the important matter of eating. It's almost twelve o'clock in a flash. People are like iron rice and steel. The emperor is not short of hungry soldiers." , listen to Auntie, let’s find a place to have a casual meal, you must give Auntie this face no matter what.”
The place to eat was Yipinju, which is owned by a restaurant chain group from Nanyang. It is said to be authentic in everything from Sichuan, Shandong, Huaiyang and Guangdong.
The dishes were chosen by Mao Xinping. The main dish is Huaiyang cuisine, supplemented by Shandong cuisine.
Huaiyang cuisine uses exquisite ingredients, exquisite knife skills, complicated workmanship, and the price is not close to the people. In the past, it was often the main target of businessmen and literati.
Huaiyang cuisine flourished in the Ming and Qing Dynasties, and a considerable part of the Manchu and Han banquets were Huaiyang cuisine. It is greatly influenced by Anhui cuisine, because Huizhou merchants were very powerful at that time. At their peak, the assets of Huizhou merchants once accounted for more than half of the country's total assets.
According to "Yangzhou Painted Boat Records", there was an Huizhou merchant named Jiang Chun who was the richest man in the Qing Dynasty. One of the most famous things this rich man did was "heaping salt overnight to build a white pagoda." According to legend, Qianlong traveled to Yangzhou and saw that the scenery of Slender West Lake was quite similar to that of Beijing's Beihai. It was just a pity that there was no white pagoda. Jiang Chun understood the holy meaning very well and ordered people to use salt to build a tower in the shape of the White Pagoda in Beihai overnight. The next day, Emperor Qianlong was delighted when he saw the dragon's face on the tower. After Qianlong left, the real White Pagoda was built here.
Shen Peijun chose Huaiyang cuisine as the main dish, perhaps as a gesture of expressing business heirlooms.
And why choose a few Shandong dishes to accompany it
There used to be a saying that Sichuan cuisine was for common people, Huaiyang cuisine and Cantonese cuisine were for literati and businessmen, and Shandong cuisine was for officials.
Shandong cuisine is the most influential and longest-standing cuisine among the four major cuisines. The birthplace of Shandong cuisine gave birth to the Tao of Confucius and Mencius and the famous Confucian culture. Sima Qian once wrote in the Historical Records: "All the virtues in the world began with Yu and Shun."
The rise of Shandong cuisine was in the Qing Dynasty. In the past, many people from Shandong came to Beijing to serve as officials. Their families and cooks brought Shandong cuisine to the capital.
During the Republic of China, Shandong cuisine reached its peak. At that time, more than 70% of restaurants operated Shandong cuisine. In that era when the king's flag changed at the top of the city, officials were in the opposition today, and would be out of office tomorrow if they could not protect themselves. It could be said that there were so many people walking around. We often eat and go, so we are naturally particular about the location. Balou, Badachun and Badaju are all famous restaurants focusing on Shandong cuisine. As a result, a consensus was gradually formed that most people in official circles mainly treat Shandong cuisine.
Shen Peijun chose a few Shandong dishes to serve as a foil, just in line with Hu Xueyan's old order of business, wealth and power.
The Tao is the destiny of heaven. A businessman can be said to act on behalf of heaven if he is balanced. Virtue is man-made. An official's establishment of laws and virtues can be said to convince people with virtue.
This was the highest level of reception. He really regarded Li Muye as a business wizard worthy of friendship.
I remember when I was young and traveling with Li Qizhi, I heard him say that the trade of conmen was slightly inferior to that of bandits. If a robber does his job well, he can become an emperor; if a con man does his best, he can become a prince or general. His courage is not as good as that of a robber, but his strategy is slightly better. The highest state is to fish with a straight hook and those who are willing to take the bait.
At the banquet, Shen Peijun said nothing about business matters, while Mao Xinping took the lead and asked who else was in Li Muye's family. Li Muye said that only one sister is missing. Mao Xinping originally wanted to ask about Li Muye's parents, but got such an answer. The atmosphere was slightly awkward and she smiled.
At this time, Shen Xinming said: "Brother Li has studied Chinese food culture. Mom, haven't you been learning to please your husband's stomach recently?"
"Ah, Xiao Li, you have studied cooking." Mao Xinping changed the topic, and the atmosphere suddenly returned.
Li Muye smiled and said: "I don't dare to make big claims when it comes to business, but I still have some confidence when it comes to cooking."
"Have you studied our cuisine?" Shen Peijun suddenly asked calmly.
Li Muye immediately replied: "Now that I have come to Shanghai, how can I not get involved in famous Shanghai dishes?"
Shen Peijun said: "Although this local cuisine is not as diverse as the dishes from Sichuan, Lu, Huai and Guangdong, it is not bad at all in terms of exquisiteness and elegance. It can be said that it is as good as in the hall or in the kitchen. If you want to be enthusiastic, it has rich red sauce." , to be light, she has the bean soup with bad ingredients, which is generally characterized by its soft texture and easy digestion. If this person pays attention to health, it is good to eat more local dishes."
Li Muye nodded and said, "Mr. Shen is very knowledgeable and every word is on point. Even someone like me who claims to be a culinary expert is ashamed."
Mao Xinping smiled and said: "What Lao Shen said is a bit like the characteristics of our Shanghai girls." Suddenly asked: "Xiao Li, you came to Shanghai alone, right?"
Li Muye thought for a while and said, "Auntie, don't look at me as young. In fact, I had a failed marriage when I was in Russia. I just divorced a few months ago."
"Ah!" Mao Xin's face froze, and the disappointment in her eyes could not be concealed. Then she smiled awkwardly and said, "Auntie asked the wrong thing again."
Li Muye said: "It doesn't matter, life is diverse, and we always have to face various difficulties. It's not particularly difficult for me to accept."
Shen Peijun said: "It is inevitable for a great hero to have an unworthy wife and an unworthy son. Everyone longs for a marriage between Qin, Se and Ming, but not everyone can have it."
Li Muye said: "That's what Mr. Shen said."
"Let's not talk about this unpleasant thing." Shen Peijun changed the topic and asked: "What are Xiao Li's usual hobbies?"
"Apart from cooking and reading, I rarely do anything else." Li Muye said, "It's my first time here, and I haven't figured out the way around yet."
Shen Xinming didn't seem to be affected by the news of Li Muye's divorce, and she was even a little lucky. Perhaps when she thought about it, a man like Brother Li must have already been married, and divorce was not bad news that was difficult for her to accept.
The atmosphere at the dinner table was relatively relaxed, and she actively interjected: "Brother Li's skills are amazing. I heard from Xiaoqi that he has reached a professional level."
"Oh?" Shen Peijun's eyes lit up and he said, "It turns out that Xiao Li is a versatile person in both civil and military affairs."
Ever since Mao Xinping heard the word divorce, he seemed to have lost interest. Shen Peijun saw his wife's emotional change and suddenly said: "Old lady, didn't you make an appointment to play cards with someone? Go ahead, Xiao Li and I hit it off. We don't know how long this meal will last. Let Xinming stay and help us. Bucai pours wine, you go and do your business."
"You should also drink less." Mao Xinping warned. He stood up and bowed slightly to Li Muye as a courtesy. Li Muye stood up politely to see him off. When Mao Xinping walked to the door, he turned back, took a deep look at Li Muye, and sighed softly.
Shen Peijun greeted Li Muye back to the wine table and said with a smile: "That's what your aunt is like. When my daughter gets older, she sees an outstanding young man and wants to recruit her as a son-in-law for her retirement. It's completely because the lingering poison of feudal thinking has not been cleansed. My daughter, Shen Peijun, let alone being so well-behaved and outstanding, will she still worry about getting married even if she is not as good as she is?"
Li Muye said: "You are too modest. Little sister Xinming is good-looking, has a good temperament, and has a good upbringing. She will be liked by any man. Auntie only cares about her and gets confused."
Shen Peijun waved his hand and said, "Let's not talk about this anymore." He added, "We just talked about hobbies. I actually like sports too."
"What is Mr. Shen good at?" Li Muye complimented him out of politeness.
Shen Peijun said: "I like golf the most. If I don't play well, I can only hit monsters most of the time. I only hit an albatross on a long hole once."
Li Muye is no stranger to golf, a so-called gentleman's sport. Golf has a total of eighteen holes, with different lengths and different pars. The monster in Shen Peijun's mouth refers to the hole shot that is above par, while the albatross refers to the shot that is three under par on a long hole.
"It turns out that Mr. Shen likes golf." Li Muye smiled calmly and said: "I also played a lot when I was in Moscow, but my level was not high and I have never hit an albatross golf ball well. I must ask you for advice if I have the opportunity."
"Then it's settled!" Shen Peijun said immediately: "Someday, I will invite some famous maritime businessmen to discuss with your brother."
Shen Xinming was serving dishes to her father. When she heard the word brother, her hand suddenly stopped moving... (End of Chapter)