Making freeze-dried strawberries was a time-consuming task, and concocting strawberry jam was also laborious. It wasn’t until Friday, when Cheng Guodong came to pick up Little Taotie, that he finally got to taste a freeze-dried strawberry.
He had not believed at all that a homemade freeze-dried strawberry by an elderly person could taste better than those developed by highly paid, top-level pâtissiers. But the moment the strawberry jam burst in his mouth, he was convinced!
"Teacher, your freeze-dried strawberries are the most delicious I have ever tasted. Which of the two proposals I suggested would you choose?"
The elder glanced at him sideways, "Are you a factory owner?"
"Strictly speaking, I’m a farmer."
"A farmer?" The old man sized him up and down. The designer clothes and the watch worth millions were not something a simple farmer could afford.
"These past few years, I have primarily been growing fruits and developing new varieties, among which strawberries have been yielding exceptionally well. However, strawberries spoil easily, so I’ve ventured into online fresh strawberry ordering, but there are still many that rot in the fields. That’s why I thought of developing the freeze-dried strawberry project."
"You...seem to be doing quite the operation." The old man realized that he was looking at a farmer who also kept up with trends.
Once farmland was directly connected to the internet with online sales, many distributors could be bypassed. It was a win-win for both farmers and foodies. Foodies could purchase the freshest ingredients at the best prices, while farmers wouldn’t be exploited by layers of middlemen.
"Yes, without realizing it, it has become quite a large operation. With expansion comes more ideas. For this freeze-dried strawberry development, I hired many experts, but the end product was not even one-tenth as good as your freeze-dried strawberries."
"My method is not suitable for large-scale production. The key is in the cooking process of the jam, which is only appropriate for handmade production."
"I know that mass production will definitely not achieve this flavor, but as long as it’s tastier than what we currently produce, it’s already progress. It may not reach 100% of your handmade product, but surely 50% is achievable. It will undoubtedly be a hit on the market; please trust my judgment."
"I trust my own skills," the elder said with a hint of pride.
"Your craftsmanship is unrivaled; I’m still savoring the flavor," Cheng Guodong smiled. "Please consider the two proposals I’ve suggested. If you choose the first option, I can offer ten million to buy your recipe outright. If you go with the second option, I can give you a 30% cut of the net profits of the freeze-dried strawberries."
"Thirty percent?" The old man sat up straight.
Even the new products he developed for Michelin-starred restaurants earned him commissions, and 5% was already considered substantial.
"Yes, if you choose the second option, we can sign a contract immediately. The company has assessed the market for freeze-dried strawberries; our strawberry quality is excellent, we produce and market our own, which is different from other factories. Others might use very sour strawberries or the leftovers picked out by farmers for their freeze-dried strawberries. But we have a quality guarantee, ensuring no overly sour flavours. This would enable us to topple most enterprises in the current freeze-dried strawberry market and shoot directly to the top three in sales."
"You’re that confident?" The old man was somewhat tempted.
Cheng Guodong smiled confidently, "Even if the market isn’t initially receptive, I have channels to sell, and there will never be a situation where we can’t sell our product. We have projected that our annual sales volume could reach three hundred million in the first two years."
"Three hundred million!" The old man was incredulous.