Reborn in 1981, the first to get rich start with dairy cows.

After lunch, Zhu, the commune's accountant, came over. He was going to take inventory of the dairy factory's fixed assets with others.

The factory is, after all, collectively owned, and everything inside belongs to the collective. Assets cannot be lost; this is a necessary procedure.

There are two old milk separators in the workshop, several large and small tin barrels in the warehouse, and two handcarts in the yard, one of which was recently brought over by Shen Dong and Yang Yujun, as well as large milk tanks.

Accountant Zhu and others recorded and tallied down all the other miscellaneous items on paper.

After recording the transaction, Accountant Zhu quickly calculated on her abacus: "Fixed assets plus factory buildings, the total comes to three thousand two hundred yuan. Director Shen, please check if there are any problems."

Shen Dong followed along, also having a price in mind, which was about 3200, and didn't express any objection.

"Alright, we'll come back and discuss it again after the contract expires. We'll be leaving now."

"Okay, goodbye."

After taking stock of the assets, Shen Dong finished his meal and then took Qiu Xiaoqin and two new employees to the kitchen of the cafeteria.

The two new employees were registered by Lao Huang before, because the factory wasn't hiring at the time, but many people wanted to join. Lao Huang registered their names and addresses, saying that he would call them when they were hired later.

So the two of them rushed over at noon. Shen Dong asked about the situation, and since there were no problems and they didn't need much, they made the decision right away, which made the two aunts very happy.

Because they had just finished eating, the kitchen hadn't been cleaned up yet, and Hu Aiping and Tao Guiping were still sweeping and mopping the floor.

"Factory manager, what's going on...?"

"Oh, I'll come over and use your pot to cook some milk skin."

Upon learning that Shen Dong needed to use the pot, Zhou Wuyang instructed Xiao Ma to quickly and thoroughly clean it.

Taking advantage of the break, Shen Dong and the three others sat down. The two aunts sat together, and Shen Dong sat next to Qiu Xiaoqin.

Just as Shen Dong was about to speak, he suddenly caught a faint fragrance. He instinctively said, "It smells so good! What's that?"

Qiu Xiaoqin didn't smell it and was wondering what it smelled like when she saw the teasing looks on the faces of the two women across from her.

She gave Shen Dong a reproachful look, then lowered her head, blushing.

Although he didn't have much experience in his previous life, he had at least lived through the era of the internet explosion and had been exposed to a lot of information, so he immediately understood.

He cleared his throat sheepishly, took out some paper, and tried to get everyone's attention.

"Milk skin is precious. In the past, it was only available in the county's grocery stores. Our supply and marketing cooperative only got to sell it because the county allocated a portion of it, so the price was relatively high. Similarly, this is a market gap. If we can capture it, the profits will be huge."

"The recipe you see has similar procedures, but the cost will be lower and the taste will be much better."

"We'll make it in a bit, and you can all try some."

"Alright, factory manager, don't worry. Auntie has been smart since she was a child. She can learn anything in no time. Leave it to Auntie." The one who spoke was named Mao Dongmei. She was from the Hongxing production team next door. She had a carefree personality and a deep, resonant voice like a rural woman.

"Okay, you two watch carefully later. If you don't understand anything in the future, just ask Qiu Xiaoqin. She knows everything."

(Qiu Xiaoqin: ???)

Shen Dong smiled and gave Qiu Xiaoqin a look, stopping her from asking any more questions.

After Xiao Ma hurriedly finished tidying up, Shen Dong instructed another aunt to start a fire.

"The heat for making milk skin should not be too high; it should be simmered slowly over a low flame. Once the oil comes out, skim off the surface layer by layer, let it cool, and then place it on a bamboo steamer to set its shape."

"Adding some white sugar and other ingredients in the middle will ensure a unique flavor."

Soon, Shen Dong was working on it, and while skimming off the oil, he let several people take turns trying it out. Before long, the 50 jin of milk that had been prepared in advance was boiled.

Carefully skim off the pale yellow milk skin and spread it on a clean bamboo sieve. Before long, a milk skin of even thickness and rich milk aroma is ready.

In later generations, milk skin has been prepared in many ways: it can be eaten directly, added to milk tea or yogurt, rolled up, or even used to make candied hawthorn skewers.

However, time is tight now, so Shen Dong only plans to sell the products in their original state and rely on their taste to make them popular.

Moreover, even the profit margin of unprocessed milk skin is higher than that of yogurt with the same cost, but the sales volume is not high because of the high price of milk skin.

"Factory manager, what should we do with the rest of the milk?" Tao Guiping looked at the milky white milk in the pot and couldn't help but swallow.

"Have you washed the soup bucket? Pour it in, so everyone can have more soup later. In the future, the leftovers before lunch will be used as a midday snack, and everyone can take it home in the afternoon."

"Okay! I'll get right on it."

This brings us to what milk skin actually is. It is actually a skin formed from the "oil" and essence of milk.

Typically, 10 jin (5 catties) of milk can yield 1 jin (0.5 catties) of milk skin, and the remaining 9 jin (4 catties) of milk is actually low-fat pure milk (a boon for fitness enthusiasts).

Shen Dong had already planned the remaining milk; it would be used as an employee benefit and supplementary meal for the time being, and would be used for other purposes later.

When the group carried the bucket to the workshop, the milk inside was still warm.

"This is leftover milk from making milk skin. The factory manager said it's for everyone's afternoon tea. I don't know what afternoon tea is, but everyone can drink it if they're thirsty."

Qiu Xiaoqin knew that as the leader of the third group, she needed to establish herself in all aspects, so she generously told everyone what she had done that day.

Then, the two aunts brought over the milk skin, and Qiu Xiaoqin took it and said, "The factory manager said that this is the first time we've made it. We're letting everyone try it. If you like it, please go home and spread the word. Tomorrow we'll officially start making it and we'll sell it at the supply and marketing cooperative."

As soon as he finished speaking, everyone rushed up to him.

Milk skin is quite precious, costing four and a half yuan per pound. We only buy a little bit during holidays and festivals. Now that we're sharing it with everyone, we naturally want to take some.

They didn't take it for themselves; they took it home to share with their families.

Anyone who tries to eat it in one bite will be scolded to death by their family if they find out.

One quick-witted person asked, "So, does that mean we'll get all the leftover milk from making milk skin?"

While helping everyone distribute the milk skin, Qiu Xiaoqin replied, "Yes, the factory manager said that everyone will drink the milk skin from the next few months; it will be useful later."

"Can we take some home for the children and elderly to drink?"

"Um..." Qiu Xiaoqin hesitated for a moment. She hadn't asked this question before, but knowing Shen Dong's usual style, she answered for him, "Sure!"

Everyone was immediately delighted and started planning to bring their large porcelain jars from home.

Qiu Xiaoqin found Li Hu and gave him the remaining milk skin, asking him to recommend it when he loaded the yogurt onto the truck that afternoon, to pave the way in advance.