1994: Vegetable farmers strike back

Chapter 169 Busyness and Harvest

As the sun set and the stars lit up, Chen Jiazhi finished watering the last vegetable patch.

The field of bok choy was just planted today.

The previous crop consisted of half fermented pig manure piles and half failed broccoli.

Once this plot of land is planted, it means there's no empty space left. Actually, there can be, though. This fifth batch of bok choy can be harvested today.

After harvesting tonight, apply herbicide tomorrow morning, then rotary till, prepare the land in the afternoon, and sow the seeds tomorrow night.

After planting for a while, Chen Jiazhi also noticed that the pests and diseases were not very resistant to pesticides.

Especially after using imported, expensive pesticides, they are almost always successful.

This is actually the same as in later generations, where there are also high-priced pesticides with good efficacy, but the market price cannot support their use.

But now it is possible.

However, it was too rushed, causing significant damage to the land and exhausting people.

Working in the high temperatures these past few days, all the vegetable workers seem to have shed a layer of skin.

Chen Jiazhi, after relaxing for a few days at the beginning of the month, also entered a high-intensity work environment.

That's how it is during the hot season; life comes very quickly.

In addition, he has been sowing at a high intensity these past few days. He started sowing Chinese cabbage on August 6th, sowing one seed a day for five consecutive days.

After harvesting a batch of vegetables, we immediately have to prepare the land, pull up the vegetable heads, use a mini-tiller to till the soil, and tidy up the seedbeds. We also have to let the vegetables dry for at least a day before sowing and watering.
The remaining seedlings also need to be watered twice a day, morning and evening, and covered with netting before 11 a.m. and uncovered before 3 p.m.

In summer, the seedlings grow quickly, so thinning is done batch after batch without stopping. Every day, the female workers run to thin the seedlings, and they even dare to talk back and curse in the face of Chen Jiazhi's tireless urging.

Topdressing and pesticide application also need to be done once a week, so when spread out, there's this work every day.

There's also the daily, unwavering harvesting of vegetables. The cowpeas are gradually entering their peak pod-setting period, yielding over 200 jin (100 kg) each day, along with 600-800 jin (300-400 catties) of carefully selected bok choy hearts.

There's always something to do all day long.

Chen Jiazhi was like a hunting dog, chasing after him every day.

Not only did he keep up, but he also personally participated in tasks such as tilling the soil, watering, spraying pesticides, sowing seeds, and harvesting vegetables; his figure could be seen everywhere.

We're so tired, everyone's exhausted.

Regardless of gender, at night, they are like deflated balloons, batteries drained of energy, with deep fatigue showing in their eyes and bodies.

My income is actually lower than before, fluctuating between 1300 and 1700 yuan per day.

The better the batch of vegetables, the more vegetables there are, the higher the income will be.

However, when working, you can't just look at the immediate income; you have to look at the future.

Chen Jiazhi dared not relax in the slightest.

Choy sum is different from kale and mustard greens; it has a very short growing season. The choy sum seeds sown these days can basically be harvested by the end of August or the beginning of September.

Moreover, Chinese kale and mustard greens can also be available at the same time.

This batch of Chinese kale is all from Group Ao Dehai, a total of 8 batches, sown every three days, starting on July 14th and the last batch on August 4th.

This batch of seeds are all medium-flowering Chinese kale, and the normal growing time from sowing to harvest is 60 days.

But it needs to be harvested a little earlier.

如果在8月25日开始采收芥兰，生长期43天，9月1日就是50天。

There is a lot of room for maneuver, and it is possible to catch the peak season for vegetable prices.

The same applies to mustard greens. There are a total of 5 batches of mustard greens. The sowing period starts on July 20th, and it is also appropriate to harvest them at the end of August.

The crop rotation arrangement is fine.

The only thing that cannot be done wrong is the management during the process.

The higher the temperature, the greater the risk.

Especially these past few days, the temperature may be approaching 40℃, which is unbearable for both people and vegetables, so we can't afford to make any mistakes.

Although Ao Dehai, Qi Yongfeng, and Ao Deliang have made significant progress, they lack experience in dealing with such weather conditions.

Besides, you can't put all your hopes on the workers in this kind of situation; if something goes wrong, you'll just have to accept your bad luck.

You have to keep an eye on it yourself at all times.

Topdressing needs reminders, pesticide application needs prompting, watering needs checking, and thinning also needs prompting.
We can't just urge them; we have to take the lead. As long as the vegetable workers are sincere about doing it, we won't let them go unattended.

It's just Boss Fei!
After Chen Jiazhi placed the water pipe, he felt sore all over, as if no part of his body belonged to him.

But you still have to give the workers who are harvesting vegetables a pep talk, or at least take a stroll around and show your presence.

In the vegetable field, figures could be seen moving about, one or two people occupying a plot of land, bending over to harvest vegetables.

very quiet.

There was almost no communication.

Only the movements of his hands were neither fast nor slow.

Upon seeing Chen Jiazhi arrive, he merely greeted him before burying himself in harvesting vegetables again.

They had just finished other work.

There wasn't even a basket of harvested vegetables yet. Chen Jiazhi estimated the condition of the field and gave Qi Yongfeng a number.

"Let's collect 20 packages of bok choy today."

"Okay, Brother Zhi, you should go back and rest for a while. You still have to sell vegetables this morning."

"Okay, the field is in your hands now."

"Hmm~"

After a brief exchange, Chen Jiazhi walked home step by step along the path beside the ditch under the cover of night.

The moon in the sky grew rounder and rounder. Looking around, Yi Dinggan and the other vegetable farmers had not yet gone home. The houses under the moonlight were lit up, and 'bang bang bang' sounds could be heard from time to time.

Upon arriving at the dam, they saw Yi Long wielding a mallet, smashing it again and again against the hard, icy blocks of ice.

Li Xiu, wearing gloves, put the crushed ice into a black bag.

A short while later, Zhang Weidong returned with two baskets of harvested bok choy and took away some ice packs.

Ice packs need to be placed in the middle of the cabbage heart. Since the storage and transportation time is not long, only one layer is used. A newspaper is also placed on top and bottom of the ice pack to prevent the cabbage from freezing.

The cost is not high; it might only cost a little over one yuan per basket.

Mainly trouble.

But you can't be afraid of the trouble when growing vegetables.

"Jiazhi, go take a shower and rest for a while. You can still sleep for more than an hour, which is better than not sleeping at all."

"Okay, be careful." "Mmm~"

"Xiaolong, watch your hand when you smash it, don't hurt yourself."

"Don't worry, I'm pretty good. I feel like I'm almost a superhero."

Yi Long was also covered in sweat; his arms must have been tired from swinging the hammer for so long, but he was quite excited.

Chiseling ice is so much fun!

Occasionally placing a couple of ice cubes on your body provides a refreshing coolness that's hard to find in the sweltering summer heat.

Chen Jiazhi was indeed tired. He grabbed his clothes and went to take a shower. Just as he was about to take a nap, Xiaodoudou woke up again. He had no choice but to push the cradle while closing his eyes for a short rest.

The sound of ice being chiseled outside made it hard to fall asleep, but it was good to relax for a while.

In my drowsy state, I vaguely heard shouts, and then I woke up with a start.

"Jiazhi, it's time."

"Hmm~"

Chen Jiazhi took a deep breath, then exhaled sharply, and got out of bed.

"I'm going to sell vegetables now, you should get some rest too~"

"I am fine."

"gone."

"Drive carefully."

Once outside, only Yi Long and a tricycle loaded with vegetables remained in the courtyard. Chen Jiazhi washed his face with cold water and then rallied his spirits to head to the market.

The air was less turbulent in the early morning, and the wind carried a slight chill.

But as soon as you stop, the heat rushes up, but it's still much easier than working in the fields.

When you reap the rewards, you should always be more energetic than when you give them.

As soon as the car stopped, Chen Jiazhi delivered about ten pieces of bok choy.

With the high temperatures these past two days, vegetable prices have actually rebounded, so Chen Jiazhi raised the price of bok choy to 55 yuan per piece.

No one came to snatch the vegetables, but there was no worry about selling them. There weren't many to begin with—only 20 packs of bok choy. If we were lucky, a few regular customers would take more, and they'd be sold out in no time.

Cowpeas are also in high demand.

Overall, it is still a seller's market.

"Chen Cai Nong, three boxes of bok choy and 25 jin of cowpeas today." Curly arrived at the stall shortly after.

Chen Jiazhi said in surprise, "Wow, Curly Hair and Cabbage can each take three pieces. Business is doing quite well."

Mao Liangcai laughed and said, "I only earn a little money through hard work, how can I compare to you, Boss Chen!"

Chen Jiazhi: "Do you feel the hardship of being a vegetable farmer? How about I invite you to my vegetable field so you can experience the sun and 40°C heat these past few days?"

“Then forget it,” Curly said. “No one will dare say anything about you earning this money; they can tell just by looking at your skin color.”

"Total 210 yuan."

Curly-haired man counted the money, but his mouth didn't stop: "How long has it been since you've heard anyone call you handsome?"

"Xiaolong, take the vegetables to him and bring the baskets back. He had three baskets yesterday too."

Chen Jiazhi took the money and arranged for Yi Long to deliver the goods, ignoring Curly's problem.

When it comes to making money and looking good, you always have to give up one of them. And women who know how to appreciate will still like his type. It's not up to the man to decide.

Come to think of it, it's been a long time since anyone called him "handsome guy," and there haven't been any "pretty dishes" for him.

If the handsome guy wants to make a comeback with his delicious food, it may have to wait a while longer.

Waiting for customers is probably the most boring thing in the market, especially when the customer is used to finishing work quickly and leaving.

Chen Jiazhi leaned against the car, smoking to keep himself awake, and waited for seven or eight minutes before another customer came, took two dishes, and left 110 yuan.

There was a customer about every 10 minutes, and by 4 p.m., the whole truckload of vegetables was sold out again.

It's not slow.

But it's been a while for Chen Jiazhi.

The income is alright, just under 1500 yuan a day, which is a reward for another day of hard work.

Days passed one after another.
As the growing period of this batch of bok choy was extended, the yield also increased, with one more piece per day, and the income also increased for two days.

8月12日和13日早上，陈家志相继入账了1524和1584元。

But when the next batch of bok choy starts growing, the growing period will be a day or two longer, so the yield will be higher, and the income will start to fluctuate between 1600 and 1800 again.

Until August 17th, a new batch of bok choy will be harvested, and the yield may experience another sharp drop.

That morning, as dusk settled and the dew was still damp, Chen Jiazhi and Qi Yongfeng arrived at 2-2.
The bok choy in the vegetable field has thick, plump, and round roots; it looks like a good vegetable.

But damn it, it's sparse and patchy, with bald patches here and there, like a mangy dog.

Qi Yongfeng scratched his head sheepishly.

"Brother Zhi, my problem is that I tried to learn from you when sowing seeds, but I didn't do it well."

"Commendable courage," Chen Jiazhi said, neither pleased nor sad. "Don't try it next time."

"Will there be a next time?"

"One failure is all it takes, what's wrong, are you scared already?"

"no!"

"Let's go, let's briefly discuss it together."

The two arrived at the seed-keeping site of the Great Bone Green.

Ao Dehai and Ao Deliang are waiting here. The weather has been sunny recently, and the seeds of the large bone green plant have been harvested continuously.

Ao Dehai stood up and asked with a smile, "Mr. Chen, I heard you're going to pick up your car today, aren't you going to wait for the rain?"

"I can't wait any longer, I'm not waiting anymore."

Actually, it has been raining these past few days, with afternoon showers and evening showers, but it doesn't soak you through and doesn't affect your work.

After exchanging a few more words upon hearing that they were going to pick up the car, Chen Jiazhi finally started talking about his work for the day.

It's pesticide spraying and fertilizer application again.

The difference is that Chen Jiazhi provided an additional training: precise control of dosage and timing.

(End of this chapter)