One thing at a time, the priority now is the quality of the crayfish, and a plan has been made for the second uncle.
"From now on, crayfish will be divided into four grades. The first grade is over two liang. Those will not be sold to the public; we will use them ourselves. They will become very rare soon, so we must limit them."
"That makes sense," Liang Cheng nodded, understanding. "Crayfish over two liang are too rare; they must be several years old."
"The second grade is about one liang. These are of better quality and will be the main consumer group in the future. Those over two liang are rare finds, while those around one liang are the majority. They offer both prestige and substance."
"The third grade is about eight qian. The last one is about five qian. We suggest not offering the last grade for now."
"Because we have no enemies yet, our only opponent is ourselves. We need to set the industry standards for crayfish."
"Tian Xing, is this necessary?"
"Second Uncle, it is necessary. This world is too vast, and there are many things we cannot know. In faraway lands, they have crayfish festivals where people wear small caps and gather around long tables to savor delicious crayfish."
"There's such a thing? That's abroad; things are different here compared to abroad," Liang Cheng replied. He barely understood domestic affairs, let alone foreign ones.
"Second Uncle, my intention is not to say that the moon is rounder abroad than here. I mean that we can all reach the same destination by different paths. We can also host our own crayfish festival, thereby establishing our position in the crayfish industry. At that time, we will set the industry rules for crayfish."
Liang Cheng was also a discerning person. Hearing Zhang Tian Xing's words, he felt a bit dizzy.
"Good boy, it seems you have great ambitions. But all these ideas of yours sound beautiful, yet they won't work in reality."
Liang Cheng pointed out frankly, "Don't even mention the cost of hosting a crayfish festival. Do you have any idea how much money it would take? Selling our entire family wouldn't even cover a fraction of it."
"Moreover, if few people attend, it's better not to hold it at all. Let's talk about it when we have the strength."
Zhang Tian Xing could only sigh, "What I mean, Second Uncle, is that we don't have to host it. But we can operate according to certain standards now. These standards should become the criteria for the crayfish industry in this region."
"Why? This is a thankless task."
Zhang Tian Xing was aware of all this, but someone had to do it. If it were done too late, the hard-earned reputation of crayfish might be ruined.
"It's like this, Second Uncle. Think about it, why did I tell you not to buy crayfish with black bellies? Have you ever considered this?"
"I have. You said it would cause problems if eaten, right? I definitely won't do anything that causes problems. There are countless ways to make money, but I won't do anything that goes against my conscience. I am a person of principle."
Liang Cheng gave his second uncle a thumbs-up. "Good job. I like working with principled people. Above all, they are trustworthy."
"Second Uncle, do you know why the bellies of some crayfish turn black?"
"I don't know. Can't they just be scrubbed clean?"
"Second Uncle, you're dreaming. Crayfish with black bellies usually live in polluted water."
"Mm, you're right. Crayfish are quite resilient; they can survive even in sewage. That's why when you first asked me to buy crayfish, I was hesitant. Later, your cooking skills convinced me. Otherwise, I wouldn't be working for you."
"The main reason is pollution, which causes the belly to turn black. We cannot guarantee whether they are safe to eat or if they will cause problems. Therefore, for the sake of our brand, we do not accept crayfish with black bellies."
Hearing Zhang Tian Xing's explanation, Liang Cheng nodded in satisfaction.
"Good boy, educated people know a lot. I understand what to do now. I will follow your instructions. But will anyone still try to sell those crayfish with black bellies?"
"Second Uncle, don't overestimate human nature. In the face of profit, anything can happen."
The most obvious differences are price, and also, with a little effort, people can definitely catch crayfish in fields and ditches.
These wild crayfish are bound to be polluted. If we don't buy them, these people will find ways to dispose of them.
"Second Uncle, we absolutely must not buy crayfish with black bellies. Even if they give them to us for free, we don't want them. Remember this."
Zhang Tian Xing's decision made Liang Cheng very pleased. Having principles is a good thing. He was afraid his nephew would be solely focused on money, which wouldn't be good. Liang Cheng believed in being a good person first, then making money.
In fact, even if people don't eat them, they can be used as feed for ducks. As long as it doesn't result in a loss, it's a way to dispose of wild crayfish.
Liang Cheng felt a bit regretful. As far as he knew, seeing how popular his crayfish business was, many people had started eyeing wild crayfish.
As long as they catch them, they can sell them for money, mainly because this place is too poor.
There is no industry, no pillar industry, and it is not a tourist destination.
It can be said that everyone lives a hard life.
However, Zhang Tian Xing's promotion of crayfish has given the people here a glimmer of hope.
It only requires a little labor, and it's not illegal to earn some money. Only a fool wouldn't do it.
However, Liang Cheng's requirements are strict; he refuses to buy substandard crayfish, even at a low price. This has caused some trouble for people.
So, some people are taking advantage of the black-bellied crayfish. They want to sell them for whatever they can get, as they are not eating them themselves.
This is bound to happen sooner or later. Zhang Tian Xing cannot stop others from doing this, but he can distance himself from it first.
Only by stating his attitude in advance can he minimize the impact when things happen.
Zhang Tian Xing also hopes that the nationwide crayfish craze will arrive soon, so he can start making money sooner.
As of now, Zhang Tian Xing's earning speed has far surpassed that of his parents.
However, Zhang Tian Xing did not dare to show it to his parents for fear of hurting their feelings. The money his parents worked hard to earn in a year was less than what Zhang Tian Xing earned in a month.
But Zhang Tian Xing's parents also have a deeply ingrained notion: starting a business is a last resort.
If they had a choice, they would prefer to work in a factory or a government unit; having a stable job is like having a golden rice bowl.
Otherwise, working for a state-owned enterprise was considered very prestigious. Private enterprises and self-employment were only considered out of necessity.
Zhang Tian Xing already has an idea: he wants his parents to retire and join his second uncle Liang Cheng's crayfish business.
Not to mention anything else, becoming a millionaire would be incredibly easy.
Liang Cheng looked at Zhang Tian Xing with a gratified expression. The Zhang family had a promising son who had set the standards for crayfish with a single statement. If everything Zhang Tian Xing said turned out to be true, Liang Cheng could barely imagine it.
In the near future, Liang Cheng could already see that the crayfish industry would be stirred by Zhang Tian Xing's actions. Everything Zhang Tian Xing had said had made a profound impact on Liang Cheng.