1994: Vegetable farmers strike back

Chapter 192 Investment
This test is disgusting.

You were the one who begged me to solve the problem, and now you're causing this mess?
Or you could just say 100,000 instead of 300,000 from the start, and Chen Jiazhi wouldn't find a single fault in it, and the problem would be solved directly.

In his view, 100,000 yuan would be barely enough to revitalize the Jiangxin vegetable market.

It has to be done in one go; there's no room for adjustment.

But even if he could do it now, he wouldn't hold back his anger.

So what if they're shareholders? It's not like everyone's a boss!
Therefore, after learning the news from Xu Yao, Chen Jiazhi drove directly to Xu Wenxiang and vented his anger on her.

"Xu Wenxiang, don't forget, it was you who came to me time and time again before I resolved this issue. If you don't pay up, I'm not playing with you anymore. I'm going back to being my own boss!"

On the sofa, Xu Wenxiang rubbed her forehead and looked at the angry Chen Jiazhi with a smile.

"Finished?"

Chen Jiazhi also sat on the sofa, took a sip of tea, and crossed his legs. Judging from Xu Wenxiang's expression, he guessed that the money issue was likely to be resolved.

Xu Wenxiang said, "The money will definitely be enough. I personally advanced the 10 yuan first."

Chen Jiazhi was taken aback: "Are you that naive and simple-minded?"

Xu Wenxiang glared at her and said, "You're pressing for money, I can't just leave you waiting at the market."

Chen Jiazhi put down his crossed legs, took another sip of tea, and asked, "What about the other shareholders?"

"I'm still observing and have doubts about you."

Chen Jiazhi: "So you just take out your own money and make me do the work? Let them enjoy the fruits of victory for nothing?"

Xu Wenxiang smiled and said, "You're very confident. It seems that even if it's 10 yuan, you're not without a chance."

Her mood visibly improved.

Chen Jiazhi said, "This is not a matter of self-confidence or lack thereof, but rather that this matter must be resolved from the very beginning, otherwise it will only become more troublesome later on."

Having a forward-thinking perspective, Chen Jiazhi was indeed incredibly confident in his vegetable-growing endeavors.

On the way here, he had actually done the math: what could he do with 100,000 yuan?
If you only consider planting one crop of vegetables, it can actually last until the vegetables are ready for harvest.

Apply less fertilizer, use compound fertilizer as base fertilizer, and apply urea and compound fertilizer as top dressing. For the entire 600 mu, this would cost about 4.2 yuan. Another option is to use enough fertilizer, but not to plant all the land at once, which would cost about the same.

We also need to install watering equipment, because we might not be able to recruit enough vegetable workers, and too many inexperienced workers would actually reduce efficiency.

In addition, there may be drought relief needs, requiring at least 24 sets of water pumps and pipes, at 1500 yuan per set, which would amount to 4.5 yuan.

Adding in some miscellaneous expenses, 100,000 yuan is barely enough, and the vegetable worker's wages can be held back for half a month.

There were still about 40 days before the first paycheck was given to the vegetable workers.

time is tight.

Since it's already September, the growing season for Chinese cabbage has become longer. If you sow the 'Sijiu Xin' now, it will take about 25 to 30 days from sowing to harvest.

Yi Dinggan is currently leading his team to work hard on the first vegetable field. He estimates that one or two batches of seeds will be sown before the 15th of this month. If all goes well, the vegetables will be on the market around the 10th of next month. If the price is slightly better, the harvest of 30,000 to 40,000 catties of vegetables will be enough to pay wages.

If all else fails, the salary can be delayed for a few days or ten days.

The market is unlikely to be bad, so as long as we can produce vegetables, all problems will be solved.

The other shareholders neither contributed money nor effort, leaving Xu Wenxiang to contribute both money and effort alone, which is a foolish act.

Xu Wenxiang said, "I'm also urging the shareholders."

Chen Jiazhi chuckled and said, "Now that you've taken out 10 yuan, do you think you can still urge them? They can drag it out for more than half a month. You have to force them now!"

Xu Wenxiang: "The investment should be ready in about half a month. This money will be spent and will be just enough to cover the shortfall. If they don't pay in half a month, I will make up the remaining 200,000 yuan and take away their shares."

"Sister Xu, do you not trust me?" Chen Jiazhi looked at Xu Wenxiang as if she were a fool.

"Will the vegetable field be in the same condition as it is now in half a month?!"

If things don't improve, what was the point of all that effort you put into bringing me here? You should immediately and decisively dilute the shares of shareholders who aren't contributing, or even kick them out altogether!

Chen Jiazhi got so excited that he slammed his hand on the table.

Xu Wenxiang was also taken aback. Chen Jiazhi's confidence exceeded her expectations. The fact that the market could be seen to have improved in just half a month was within her expectations.

However, her intention was to use this to gain the trust of the other shareholders and thus invest, but Chen Jiazhi's intention was to use this opportunity to help her acquire more shares.

To put it bluntly, she trusts Chen Jiazhi, but she is unwilling to go all in and hesitates to put in 30 yuan by herself.

Chen Jiazhi noticed her hesitation, but he didn't back down and pressed her relentlessly.

"Three days. I'll wait three more days. If I don't see the remaining 200,000 after three days..."

Chen Jiazhi paused, then threatened, "I really will back out right now, and then this mess will be even worse, and your 100,000 yuan will basically be gone."

Xu Wenxiang felt trapped, unable to move forward or backward, and had been put on a pedestal.

Chen Jiazhi was unwilling to wait.

She only had three options: either take another 20 yuan herself, have the shareholder give her another 20 yuan within three days, or cut her losses immediately.
She was already prepared to spend another 20, but Chen Jiazhi's provocation made her make up her mind.

Xu Wenxiang and Chen Jiazhi discussed strategies and prepared to convene a shareholders' meeting.

Chen Jiazhi was also hatching his own scheme.

...

Two days later,
Chen Jiazhi rushed to Yunshan again. When he entered the conference room, he found that all seven shareholders of Jiangxin Vegetable Market were waiting for him.

Besides Xu Wenxiang, Huang Jianyuan, and Tang Xiao, there were three men and one woman he had never met.

Xu Wenxiang greeted him, "Sit down, Director Chen, we've been waiting for you."

Chen Jiazhi stood at the doorway and said directly, "It's just one thing, why do we need to sit down and talk? Can the money issue be resolved? If not, I'm leaving immediately!" Tang Xiao chuckled and said, "You're really arrogant. You really think you're something special, as if we're begging you."

Chen Jiazhi turned and left.

Xu Wenxiang quickly stood up and called out, "Wait, Director Chen."

Chen Jiazhi turned around and looked at her.

Xu Wenxiang nodded slightly and said, "Sit down and let's talk. I'll definitely give you an answer to the money issue today."

Chen Jiazhi glanced at the group of people in suits and ties, then casually found a seat and sat down. Even though he was wearing an ordinary white T-shirt, his aura was not diminished in the slightest.

Everyone stared at him, some with disdain, some with anger, and some with curiosity.
Xu Wenxiang coughed twice and said, "We all know the problem now. The vegetable market needs another investment of 30 yuan."

As the major shareholder, I have already provided 10 yuan in advance funding, but we still need 20 yuan.

The capital injection must be finalized today. Each shareholder should subscribe to their desired amount of 30, and the funds will be in their accounts tomorrow. Shareholders who do not subscribe will have their shares diluted according to the equity agreement.

Tang Xiao shouted, "Didn't we say we'd wait a bit longer? How can you just give us money like that? We need to prepare."

Xu Wenxiang sneered, "President Tang, you still need to prepare twenty or thirty thousand yuan? Are you getting more and more regressive as you get older?"

Tang Xiao: "Don't go too far, you're nothing but a whore!"

Xu Wenxiang gave him a cold look and then asked, "What do the other shareholders think?"

After a while,

Huang Jianyuan asked in Cantonese, "Mr. Xu, what are your plans if none of us intend to subscribe?"

Xu Wenxiang smiled faintly, "If none of you subscribe, I will cover the remaining 20 yuan myself. Also, if anyone wants to sell their shares, I can buy them. The overall valuation of the market is still 100 million yuan."

Tang Xiao immediately stepped forward: "I'll sell!"

Another shareholder asked, "Mr. Tang, didn't you say you'd take another look?"

Tang Xiao pointed at Chen Jiazhi: "I used to have some expectations for him, but what has he done these past few days? He planted five of his own people as soon as he came in, raised the wages of the vegetable workers yesterday, and dug ditches in the fields!"
Damn it, the rainy season is almost over, why are you digging ditches? Aren't the existing ditches in the fields enough for you?!
"Someone like him, thinking he can run a successful market is a pipe dream!"

He paused, then, fearing he might go too far and Xu Wenxiang might change her mind, he said, "Xu, sign the agreement right now, in front of me. I won't give you a chance to regret it!"

"Don't worry, I've wanted to get rid of you, you plague, for a long time." Xu Wenxiang waved her hand and had someone bring over the pre-prepared agreement. "What about the hotel shares? Should we sell them too?"

"What you think is quite beautiful."

Tang Xiao refused outright, as the hotel's operations were far better than those of the vegetable market.

Xu Wenxiang asked again, and then two more people chose to withdraw.

Soon, only Chen Jiazhi and the four shareholders remained in the meeting room.

Xu Wenxiang asked, "President Huang, President Lu, President Li, are you all planning to subscribe to the increased capital?"

Huang Jianyuan shrugged and smiled, "President Xu, with your confidence, there's no reason for me not to follow."

He turned his head and sized up Chen Jiazhi, his eyes scrutinizing him with a hint of admiration, before speaking in broken Mandarin:

"Director Chen is also very confident, and I hope your abilities live up to that confidence."

Chen Jiazhi leaned back slightly in his chair and smiled, "Actually, I can be even more confident."

"Oh?"

"If possible, I can also invest in and subscribe to shares in the market."

"Um?!"

These words surprised not only Huang Jianyuan and the other two, but also Xu Wenxiang.

The shareholder surnamed Li chuckled and said, "A few thousand yuan won't get you many shares."

"5." Chen Jiazhi held up one hand: "The most I can offer is 5."

The atmosphere was quiet for a moment.

In the end, Huang Jianyuan smiled and said, "Director Chen is indeed very confident. I personally agree to your subscription."

In the current situation, nothing inspires more confidence than the farm manager investing in the company.

The other two shareholders immediately echoed and agreed.

Suddenly, Xu Wenxiang was all alone, and Chen Jiazhi could almost see the question marks all over her face.

"I'm very confident in myself and want to sit down and place my bet. Sister Xu, you wouldn't disagree, would you?"

For a moment, Xu Wenxiang really wanted to refuse outright; this was the second time he had called her "Sister Xu."

But reason prevailed over impulse.

"of course can."

"But let's make this clear first, my salary and tiered profit-sharing agreement cannot be changed at all; it will remain the same."

Seeing his confidence, the atmosphere on set became much more relaxed.

Since its opening, Jiangxin Vegetable Market has been mired in losses for a long time, without seeing a single penny of profit. However, people are now having renewed expectations.

Chen Jiazhi was also very satisfied with the result.

These days, depositing money in the bank yields interest rates far lower than inflation, which is a huge loss. It's better to take it out and invest it first.

At the same time, the shareholders became more homogenous, and Chen Jiazhi also stepped into their circle with one foot in.

(End of this chapter)