My American magical life
Chapter 188 - 188 72 Balcony Night Talk Cheng Daqi Cornered_2

188: Chapter 72: Balcony Night Talk, Cheng Daqi Cornered_2 188: Chapter 72: Balcony Night Talk, Cheng Daqi Cornered_2 His own ultimate plan needed a stronger push, but Domo’s father couldn’t even win a City Councilor seat, clearly not up to the task.

He changed the subject and asked about something else.

“Let’s not talk about that now, tell me about your burger joint, how’s business been recently?”

At the time he went to eat at Domo’s burger food truck, he went with the idea of seeing whether there was anything worthwhile before making any plans—drawing a pie in the sky.

But he didn’t expect that Domo’s background was actually quite complicated.

“I still think that being in the catering business, or let’s say the fast-food business, is a dead end.

The giants have monopolized the supply chain and market, and any new brand that wants to rise must become a part of them.”

Domo had really done his research, he mentioned something that one can’t get around in the catering business, the supply chain.

The supply chain is a core part of a catering company’s competitiveness, including multiple stages such as purchasing and semi-finished product processing, among others.

It’s an important link in the catering industry chain, where from raw materials to the storefront, one has to deal with the supply chain.

When a catering brand has just one storefront, its supply chain issues can be resolved by the owner going to the market early each day, or by scheduling deliveries.

But to grow bigger and stronger, one must manage supply chain relations well.

In America, the major fast-food giants not only dominate the market but more importantly, they monopolize the fast-food supply chain market through their own establishment or alliances.

If you want to do fast food, and have any sizeable scale, you have no choice but to accept the equity investment demands of the old giants.

“Those giants have control of the upstream and downstream, and if you’re not one of their people, they’ll give you trouble in the supply chain.

The things you told me are very reasonable, staying small is pointless, and getting big means paying ‘protection fees’; either way, catering doesn’t seem like a good industry.”

Domo exhaled irritably and then shook his head in despair.

“How big do you want to get?

How big is big enough?”

Cheng Daqi felt that Domo was being overly anxious.

Doing business has never been simple, supply chain issues are troublesome, but within the rules of a free market, appropriate equity concessions are completely acceptable.

“At least open seven or eight stores in Saint Rodu,” Domo replied uncertainly.

“Have you never run a business on your own?

Doesn’t your father help you?”

Unsure of the strength behind Domo’s bold Republican Party older brother, Cheng Daqi probed.

“He’s in real estate, what help could he possibly offer me…

just money, I guess, but I can’t possibly run a losing business.”

The plump chef replied morosely, feeling that his father was completely useless.

“So, have you been losing a lot of money recently?”

Cheng Daqi identified the problem, it seemed that Domo was deep in losses, to the point of forgetting that it’s possible to make a profit in business.

“I haven’t earned a single Dollar, I now only prepare three servings of ingredients for each item every day, but compared to the cost of investment, the losses are still severe.”

Bringing up the subject made him gloomy, Domo really didn’t have confidence in himself—he had already changed the name of his burgers, but the business hadn’t shown much improvement.

Cheng Daqi didn’t say anything; he was no Aladdin’s lamp, and though he knew a lot about fast food, he had no significant stake in Domo’s business.

It would be rash to give advice if Domo made money in the future thanks to his suggestion, that would be fine.

But if Domo took his advice and lost even more, then they couldn’t be friends anymore.

“Take it slow, building a store requires gradually accumulating repeat customers, it will get better.” Cheng Daqi comforted him.

Domo’s thoughts were too out of touch; his worries about the supply chain and the giants’ domination were very remote concerns.

He only had a rundown food truck at the moment yet was overthinking too much, which was completely unnecessary.

In doing things, as long as the general direction is right, one should start and then solve problems as they arise.

Seeing difficulties and then giving up is the most cowardly and least profitable option.

“You mentioned before that differentiation could break the game; I should focus on differentiation first, then storytelling, but I have no ideas for differentiation.”

Scratching his head, Domo finally voiced the question that had been weighing on him for a long time.

He was willing to be a free barbecue chef tonight because he wanted to meet Cheng Daqi and ask for advice in person.

“Domo, as a friend, I can tell you some hard truths.

If you started your business seeking people’s recognition, my differentiation strategy might not suit you because it may not be compatible with your dreams.

Even if you started your business to make money, my differentiation strategy isn’t right for you right now, because my price is very high.

I’ve already found investors in America and have started my second entrepreneurial venture; remember, I am a failed entrepreneur.

I’m certain that my approach could cause ripples in the catering industry, and if given the chance, I might go into it myself in the future.”

Cheng Daqi’s tone was very solemn, lacking his usual light-heartedness.

In his dealings with Temir, he had already suffered enough, mixing business with friendship turned sincerity into an elusive shade of gray.

This grayness left Cheng Daqi with a sense of powerlessness and guilt.

So, when Domo asked him for his specific thoughts, he laid it out plainly and clearly.

Either don’t listen and carry on as you are, fussing over the little things without changing your ideals for money,

or listen, and pay a hefty price.

When Cheng Daqi first talked to Domo about these things, he never imagined he would be able to establish a foothold in America so quickly.

Now, he no longer felt the urgency to make money from information arbitrage.

Domo was taken aback by Cheng Daqi’s words, the portly chef silent for a few seconds.

Just when Cheng Daqi thought his words might have been too ‘blunt’ and possibly hurtful, Domo finally responded.

“After hearing your words, I realized that in exploring the fast food industry’s growth and current state, focusing on how to expand my burger shop, I forgot my original purpose was to have more people recognize my cooking skills.

Chan, I need to give some serious thought to my next steps.

You really are a great friend.

Every time I talk to you, I feel like I gain something.”

Shaking his head with a smile, Cheng Daqi put his arm around Domo’s shoulder and said,

“I was worried my words had angered you.”

“No, Chan, you’re really, how should I say it, you’re sharp and insightful.

I learn a lot from listening to you.

I always feel like you’re smarter than many of the professionals I’ve met who earn a million dollars a year.”

Domo was not at all angry; he only felt that Cheng Daqi was insightful and wise.

Having such a friend to discuss entrepreneurial problems with was simply fantastic.

This was the result of Cheng Daqi’s change in communication strategy.

The confidence to change his communication strategy also came from having truly established himself in America.

Economically, he was about to receive financial support from two investors to the tune of a million Dollars.

In terms of social networks, he had connections with Saint Rodu’s local top-tier corrupt police, and had become friends with American heirs like Temir.

Facing Temir back then, he didn’t have the composure he had when dealing with Domo.

Towards the dark-haired wealthy woman, Cheng Daqi had the respect between friends but also had to use tactics to secure Temir’s support.

So when Temir accused him of treating sincerity as a tool, he was not wronged in the least.

“Let’s go over together.”

Now that he had squared things away with the chubby chef, the only thing left for Cheng Daqi to do tonight was to see if he could secure another investment from Gru.

One more deal is one more deal; there’s no such thing as too much money.

Of course, entrepreneurship is about spending investors’ money.

Spending your own money isn’t entrepreneurship, that’s gambling.

“Chan, your livestream audience is really fun.

They ask where Lisa has gone, as if I’m not as pretty as Lisa.

I pulled Lisa over and asked them who’s prettier between the two of us, then they wanted Zhao to come over too, to compare all three of us.”

At the dining table, Temir and Lisa sat together; they were now appearing on camera together.

Domo gave Cheng Daqi an envious look and shook his head,

No comparison.

There’s just no comparison.

“They just like watching beautiful women.”

Cheng Daqi chuckled and sat down beside Temir.

“So, who do you think is the prettiest of us three?”

The blonde threw out a difficult question.

She knew how to ask, pitching Cheng Daqi a question that left him speechless.

Cheng Daqi was dumbfounded.

How am I supposed to answer this question?

Whichever one I answer, I’ll offend the other two.

If I compliment all three, it looks like I’m a bootlicker.

Scanning the other people around the dining table, the guests were all looking forward to Cheng Daqi’s response.

Looking awkwardly towards Zhao Hongjin, Cheng Daqi hoped she would step in and save him.

However, Zhao too was looking at him with a beaming smile, seemingly unaware of Cheng’s plea for help.

This is tricky, Cheng Daqi felt cornered.