1994: Vegetable farmers strike back

Chapter 203 Getting better
Beside the lush green vegetable field stood two men wearing straw hats and a woman holding an umbrella.

"The yield of Chinese cabbage is still stable at 1500 jin per mu."

Regarding the issue of production output, the two men believed it to some extent without Chen Jiazhi's explanation.

Huang Jianyuan looked around the vegetable field and laughed, "With this appearance, I would believe you even if you said the yield was 2000 jin per mu."

Chen Jiazhi shook his head: "2000 jin is impossible, the soil conditions are a bit poor."

The management of large vegetable markets and small farmers is completely different, making it difficult to achieve refined management.

Especially now that everything relies on manpower, 200 cooks participating in each process may produce 200 different results.

Moreover, this is a base supplying Hong Kong, so generally speaking, the requirements are even stricter, and a yield of 1000 catties per mu is the current norm.

Chen Jiazhi should be able to get Jiangxin vegetable market to a yield of over 1500 jin per mu.

The reasons are threefold: first, the layout of the vegetable fields; second, the use of plastic film mulching; and third, the group-based management of personnel... It is the result of combining multiple management methods.

In comparison, the Dongxiang vegetable market does a much better job.

If the yield of this batch of bok choy cannot reach more than 2000 jin per mu, then Ao Dehai's management is unqualified.

A weight of 2500 jin or more is considered excellent, and a weight of 2800 jin or more depends on luck.

Because the infrastructure is much better.

The soil still had the fertilizing power of fermented pig manure, so peanut bran was applied again.

The facilities are also more complete than those at Jiangxin Market, with small arched sheds, shade nets, insect nets, and plastic film.

It has a smaller area, is easier to manage, and has more skilled cooks.

After looking at the vegetable field, Chen Jiazhi took the two of them back to his simple office.

He turned on the fan and let the two of them sit down first. He then took two enamel mugs, washed them, and made two cups of tea before sitting down himself.

"Mr. Xu, Mr. Huang, please have some tea. The conditions are a bit basic, please don't mind."

"Haha, Mr. Xu, Director Chen is really putting us here!"

Xu Wenxiang took the enamel mug, took a sip, and smiled: "After the National Day holiday, I'll send Director Chen a coffee table set over."

Chen Jiazhi took a sip of tea and tentatively asked, "It seems the two bosses have reached an agreement on sales channels quite well."

"Ah~"

Huang Jianyuan suddenly sighed and said, "I feel a little ashamed. I have let Director Chen down."

Chen Jiazhi frowned, looking the two of them up and down.

Xu Wenxiang, wearing long trousers with her legs together, picked up an enamel mug from the table and pretended to drink tea.

"What's going on? Where are your distribution channels?"

Xu Wenxiang said, "We will definitely be able to sell them, but the price of the vegetables is not as expected. I asked several vendors, and their prices were all between 1.2 and 1.3 yuan per jin."

Huang Jianyuan: "In terms of yield, based on the current price, there is a gross income of more than 100 million yuan. After deducting various expenses, this batch of vegetables is still very profitable, since the cost is only 30 yuan at most."

Xu Wenxiang: "That's amazing."

Huang Jianyuan: "On the contrary, we failed to do our job properly and made too much boasting back then."

Xu Wenxiang: "Jiangxin Market should be back to normal now, thanks to you."

The two of them each spoke a sentence, giving Chen Jiazhi no chance to interrupt.

He could only wave his hand and say, "Alright, alright, the vegetables haven't been harvested yet. This is just preparation."

After the two calmed down, Chen Jiazhi said again, "There are still eight or nine days left, so there's no need to rush. The market situation may improve. I just wanted to give you some mental preparation, not to say that you have to sign the contract now."

Xu Wenxiang said, "Yes, it was right to do it so many days in advance, otherwise we would have been really scrambling at the last minute."

"There's something else I need to tell you."

Xu Wenxiang and Huang Jianyuan calmed themselves down, thinking he was about to make another request.

Chen Jiazhi smiled and said, "Once the Jiangxin vegetable market finishes its harvest, my own base will be almost done too. I might not be there sometimes, but I'll definitely make sure the work is arranged properly."

Xu Wenxiang was instantly jolted awake.

Depend on!
I almost forgot about that!

So that's what you were waiting for!

Suddenly it dawned on me: his elaborate arrangements were probably more about his own escape!
Huang Jianyuan vaguely remembered that Director Chen also had his own vegetable base, and he immediately realized what was happening and felt astonished.

After a pause of about 80 or 90 seconds, Xu Wenxiang finally spoke first: "Are your vegetables planted at the same time as those at Jiangxin Vegetable Market?"

"It's still one day too late. I need to plant my bok choy a day earlier."

"..."

So you're really optimistic about the market outlook?

Chen Jiazhi shrugged: "Of course, and I feel the market is on its way."

"why?"

Not only was Xu Wenxiang puzzled, but Huang Jianyuan was also confused. Chen Jiazhi took out a notebook from the table drawer, opened a page, turned it around, and faced the two of them.

"Today is the 23rd sunny day, and it's been scorching hot every day!"

"Many vegetable markets can't withstand the drought, which relies entirely on manual irrigation. In many areas where water sources are inconvenient, reduced yields are inevitable!"

"Does the Jiangxin vegetable market lack water? Not at all!"

"Is there a lack of irrigation facilities? No, there isn't!"

The two were suddenly startled, looking at his notebook filled with day after day's weather records.

Suddenly it started to make sense.
Then I couldn't contain my excitement. If the market turned around and vegetable prices rose, given the current area of ​​vegetables in the fields...
It's possible that over a million won't be enough!
Chen Jiazhi took another sip of tea. "So there's no need to rush now. You should pray that it doesn't rain!"

The two remained silent.

Chen Jiazhi added, "I'll take your tacit approval as you agree to my plan to sell vegetables at the Dongxiang market."

"..."

Xu Wenxiang really wanted to sell your vegetables to Hong Kong as well, but she hesitated because of the current volume, and she didn't want Chen Jiazhi to be involved in too much sales.

"Director Chen, we also need you to keep an eye on Jiangxin Vegetable Market. Now, we shareholders are counting on you."

Chen Jiazhi nodded and smiled, "Besides me, the group of people I brought are also very reliable. They'll be here, so there won't be any problems."

"Hmm~"

After drinking hot tea and feeling excited, Xu Wenxiang and Huang Jianyuan were both sweating profusely. After confirming some sales details, they hurriedly said goodbye and went back to prepare.

This trip was worthwhile.

It feels like I've earned an extra million just by coming here.

Chen Jiazhi was also very happy, now he could skip work and slack off more openly.

If a farm manager doesn't skip work to slack off, then what kind of farm manager is he?
He decided to go back later that afternoon.

...

Soon, the National Day holiday was over.

"Dingling bell~"

Xu Wenxiang picked up the phone on the table. "Hello, this is Xu Wenxiang."

"Hello, Mr. Xu, I'm Xia Youche from Xiangjiang Tongxingtai Vegetable Market. Have you sold the bok choy you have?"

Tongxingtai Vegetable Market?
Did they come to us on their own initiative?
Xu Wenxiang suddenly had a premonition, but she knew she couldn't panic at times like this, so she calmed herself down.

"Not yet. My bok choy will take another three days to harvest, around October 6th."

How much will be available after it goes on the market?

"About 15 tons per day."

"Sure?"

"determine."

The phone hummed through the receiver, and the other end was silent for a moment, as if they were thinking.

Xu Wenxiang didn't urge her either.

After a while, Xia Youche said, "The base is in Panyu, right? Is it convenient for me to come and check the goods in the next couple of days?"

"Convenient," Xu Wenxiang said thoughtfully, "but other people will also come to see the goods."

"It doesn't affect it."

After hanging up the phone, Xu Wenxiang couldn't help but jump up and down on the spot, then pumped her fist, "Yay!"

Afterwards, I felt somewhat ashamed and went to look at the office door again.

Suddenly the phone rang again in the room. Xu Wenxiang thought it was another person coming to buy groceries, but it turned out to be Xu He.

"Sis, vegetable prices went up this morning, by a whopping 2 cents!"

"How much have you sold so far?"

"Choy sum is 1 yuan per jin, and bok choy is 8 yuan!"

"it is good!"

"Sis, is Chen the vegetable farmer going to make a fortune again?"

"Show some respect, call him Director Chen from now on!"

Xu He: "..."

Xu Wenxiang didn't care what he was thinking. In the cabinet in her office, there was a statue of Guan Gong. Xu Wenxiang went up and bowed, muttering: "I beg Guan Gong, please don't let it rain!"

...

10 month 4 day.

The vegetable farmers were wilted from the continuous sunny weather, looking just like dried mustard greens.

However, the vegetables in the field still maintained their upright posture thanks to the irrigation from the river.

Xia Youche was tall and thin, around forty or fifty years old, wearing a striped short-sleeved shirt tucked into his suit pants, looking quite old-fashioned.

After he entered the vegetable field, he looked around here and there, occasionally picking a couple of vegetables, and only stopped after a while.

"These bok choy are pretty good, Mr. Xu. How about you send me 15 tons of bok choy the day after tomorrow?"

Xu Wenxiang, standing beside her, smiled and said, "That depends on how much President Xia offers."

"1.7 yuan per jin (0.5 catties)"

"Low."

“That’s about enough, young man,” Xia Youche said. “I believe there’s no one who can offer a higher price than me.”

Xu Wenxiang gritted her teeth, wanting to persist a little longer, but she was afraid of scaring away the one who offered the highest price, so she turned her head to look at Chen Jiazhi, who was standing a little behind.

Chen Jiazhi nodded decisively, still speaking in sign language: "Big sister, what are you thinking? Hurry up and agree!"

Xu Wenxiang glared at him fiercely, then turned to Xie Youche and said, "Okay, President Xia, I hope we can cooperate happily!"

"Pleasant to work with."

Chen Jiazhi breathed a sigh of relief.

He was genuinely afraid that Xu Wenxiang would raise the price again.

The market is improving, but the vegetables can't wait. The weather is so nice now; if we wait even a day, the other vegetables will have already grown.

Moreover, after Tongxingtai shipped 15 tons the day after tomorrow, it's unclear when the next shipment will be!

Of course, we should sell if we can!

With the price confirmed, the subsequent coordination was Chen Jiazhi's responsibility.

He had lunch with Xu Wenxiang, Xia Youche, and others, and planned to take the opportunity to build up his network of contacts.

This was also the first time in his past and present lives that he had come into contact with merchants from Hong Kong's vegetable markets.

With the ability to ship 15 tons of goods at a time, Tongxingtai Vegetable Market must be quite a name in Hong Kong.

Chen Jiazhi was quite satisfied. After a month, another purpose of his visit to Jiangxin Market had finally made progress.

And they're starting to serve dishes soon; everything is moving in a positive direction.

However, since Jiangxin Market had already started selling vegetables, his Dongxiang Market would naturally be even faster.

Although it's a bit early, after a month away from the market, his stall number 56 is probably overgrown with weeds. It might take a few more days to fully recover, so it's better to be a little earlier.

However, as long as you have the spirit of an ox or horse, you'll be a force to be reckoned with wherever you go. What's so difficult about selling vegetables?

(End of this chapter)