1994: Vegetable farmers strike back

Chapter 366 Ready to go
It turns out they were close to success the year before last.

After listening to Chen Jiazhi's summary of the key points of broccoli cultivation techniques, Ao Dehai felt inexplicably more confident.

After learning the reason for the planting failure two years ago, I am no longer so afraid of the unknown.

Chen Jiazhi then broke down the remaining points and explained them to Ao Dehai in detail.

Besides covering the flower head with leaves when it changes color, it's also important to remove old, yellow, and side branches when the flower head is just forming before applying fertilizer. This reduces the waste of plant nutrients and allows the flower head to grow faster and larger.

This will improve the final pass rate.

The claim that only 20% of broccoli purchased domestically by Japanese companies meets the standards for origin is not an exaggeration, but rather a personal experience.

It wasn't until later, when Japanese companies added a channel model for developing production areas and provided more detailed technical guidance and seeds, that the pass rate increased dramatically.

However, the current low pass rate also means less competition, higher prices, and the advantage of launching the product earlier.

This gave Chen Jiazhi even higher expectations for this batch of broccoli.

After discussing broccoli cultivation, Chen Jiazhi inquired about other vegetables at the market and their sales.

Ao Dehai got up and poured him a glass of water. "To put it simply, we're growing a variety of things. We plan to try growing all the vegetables that are possible, but the market isn't stable enough yet."

Selling vegetables was Ao Dehai's weakness, not to mention that he also had to manage the base.

Who is in charge of selling vegetables?

“Qi Yongfeng, he has more experience,” Ao Dehai added. “The vegetable selling team has a total of 3 people.”

"Yongfeng's vegetable selling business is not bad."

Having been personally mentored by Chen Jiazhi and witnessed his shining moments, Qi Yongfeng has more market experience.

After a moment's hesitation, Chen Jiazhi said, "I'll stay here for a few days, go sell vegetables for two days, and then we'll have a meeting to discuss it further."

"it is good."

In late February, the daytime temperature in Shanghai was still quite comfortable. In the afternoon, Chen Jiazhi took Li Xiu and their son for several walks around the market.

But it got much colder in the early morning.

However, for vegetable vendors, these are all common occurrences.

The Shanghai base also bought a light truck, also a Yuejin brand, which is cheap, durable, and can carry a lot. This time, it was also loaded with vegetables.

Choy sum, Shanghai bok choy, spinach, broadleaf shepherd's purse, large-leaf garland chrysanthemum, cabbage...

There are so many different kinds; it feels like almost every type of vegetable that can be grown in winter is available.

Chen Jiazhi opened the car door and climbed into the driver's seat. "Yongfeng, with such a variety of vegetables, didn't you find it a headache when you were selling them?"

"It hurts, it hurts too much!"

Qi Yongfeng exaggeratedly expressed, "But since it was a decision we made together, we can only bear the hardships for now and deal with them slowly."

Chen Jiazhi quickly reached for a cigarette, saying, "Just for your awareness, I have to light your cigarette for you."

This atmosphere of overcoming difficulties together really touched him.

"Yongfeng, are you unhappy that you weren't promoted to site manager?"

Qi Yongfeng flicked his cigarette against the window, "If I say no, won't I seem hypocritical?"

"No." Chen Jiazhi smoked a cigarette, letting the cold wind blow on him. "It was indeed unfair to you."

Previously, Ao Dehai and Qi Yongfeng were at the same level, but now Ao Dehai has become Qi Yongfeng's direct superior.

If it were Chen Jiazhi in his place, he would also feel resentful.

Qi Yongfeng felt a slight pang in his heart, "Now I don't feel wronged anymore."

Upon arriving at the market and paying the entrance fee, Qi Yongfeng drove his car to a spacious open-air platform.

The platform has marked lines, and each parking space is a fixed stall.

There are also fixed stalls in the market, but there is no need to rent them now. The market has also posted a notice that Cao'an Market will undergo a major renovation this year.

Seeing Chen Jiazhi's interest in the market renovation, Qi Yongfeng asked, "After the renovation is completed, do you want to rent a stall?"

Chen Jiazhi shook his head. "This place is in the city center, it has no future. If you want to rent, go to the suburban market."

Qi Yongfeng said, "There are two more wholesale markets to the west, one in Zhenru and the other in Jiangqiao."

Chen Jiazhi was surprised, "You know quite a lot."

Qi Yongfeng's lips curled up slightly. "Since you're in charge of marketing and sales, understanding these things is part of your job."

The other two salespeople had already opened the car door, but they hadn't gotten any business yet.

Chen Jiazhi leaned against the car and said, "We should pay more attention to the Jiangqiao market. Given the current market structure, Zhenru may eventually be merged into Jiangqiao."

Jiangqiao Market is located on Cao'an Road in Jiading District, and it is a different concept from Cao'an Market in the PT District.

Cao'an Market currently has the largest vegetable trading volume, but it is too close to the city center and will eventually decline.

After Jiangqiao absorbed Zhenru Market, it quickly became Shanghai's largest vegetable wholesale market.

Even now, it should not be underestimated; it has a large area, new buildings, and more convenient transportation.

Qi Yongfeng felt a chill run down his spine. He wasn't in Shanghai, yet he knew the market situation there inside and out.
Just then, a guest arrived.

How much are the vegetables?

"7 mao per jin"

"Can it be less?"

...

Chen Jiazhi paused for a moment, then went to the market to check the market conditions.

For three consecutive days, I went to the wholesale market in the early morning and visited farmers' markets, supermarkets and state-owned vegetable stores during the day.

He gradually gained a clearer understanding.

Unlike Guangzhou, state-owned wholesale companies at all levels in Shanghai control at least 60% to 70% of the city's vegetable supply.

He also estimated that there are still more than 300 state-owned vegetable stores operating in the city.

However, state-owned vegetable stores provide employment for a large number of people and also bear a heavy tax burden, such as value-added tax.

They have no price advantage compared to small vegetable vendors, and they can't stop losing customers.

Therefore, state-owned vegetable companies are transforming, vigorously developing distribution, and state-owned horticultural farms are directly supplying government agencies, schools, supermarkets, etc.

It remains a behemoth.

After much deliberation, Chen Jiazhi concluded that they still needed to diversify their business strategy.

That day, as soon as he arrived at the base, Li Xiu pulled him aside. "Huang Shan and Xiao Xia came to see me today. They said they want to go back to Guangzhou."

Chen Jiazhi raised an eyebrow. "What's wrong?"

Li Xiu said, "My income did not meet my expectations. For several months in a row, my income was much lower than it was in Guangzhou."

Huangshan and Xiaoxia were both from the same hometown brought by Ao Dehai, so their desire to leave was quite unexpected.

But this also highlights how valuable Qi Yongfeng is.

"What about the rest?"

Li Xiu pursed her lips and said, "Huang Juan may also have her own ideas, but she seems to disagree with Yongfeng and only chatted with me for a while."
Hu Chunmei was quite direct, saying that her income had decreased, but she was still actively trying to find solutions and offer suggestions, without mentioning that she wanted to return to Guangzhou.

Chen Jiazhi nodded slightly, but some people in the team lacked confidence.

Li Xiu asked, "Is there a way?"

Chen Jiazhi smiled and said, "Judging from the performance of this batch of broccoli, as long as we can make money, all problems are just paper tigers."

"How come you make it sound so easy?" Li Xiu laughed. "Jiazhi, you have a kind of magic about you. When you say that growing vegetables can make money, I can always easily believe you."

Chen Jiazhi joked, "So, I'll listen to Jiazhi?"

Li Xiu couldn't help but roll her eyes again, "You're getting a good deal and you're still acting innocent."

...

At the end of February, Chen Jiazhi organized a meeting for the managers of the vegetable market.

He didn't talk about planting; he went straight to positioning.

"The market will have a clearer positioning, focusing on standardized production of Chinese cabbage and kale, supplemented by high-end vegetables such as broccoli."

"Other dishes will be abandoned to reduce management difficulty."

"The bigger challenge lies in market cultivation. The acceptance of Chinese cabbage and kale in Shanghai is still relatively low, but the company can withstand losses and will pay attention to the potential of the export market..."

Chen Jiazhi looked around, scanned the few elderly people who were somewhat silent, and called out their names.

"Huangshan, what are your thoughts?"

Huang Shan sat by a tree, his gaze somewhat evasive. "I'll follow the boss's and the farm manager's arrangements."

This answer is barely acceptable.

Chen Jiazhi was also aware that after several months in Shanghai, the demand for his best-grown vegetables, bok choy and Chinese kale, was relatively low.

Planting other vegetables doesn't make money either; commissions and bonuses don't increase, which is a significant blow to those who came with great enthusiasm.

It's better to stay at Jiangxin Market.

New employees, on the other hand, don't feel this way.

I'm even wondering, if the market is doing well and wages are paid on time, what more could they want?
Chen Jiazhi clapped his hands.

"Everyone should know that the market has bred a large number of broccoli seedlings, which are planned to be planted on 200 mu (approximately 33 acres) of land, accounting for 40% of the market's area. They will be transplanted soon. This is very important, as it will affect the market's income for the first half of the year, and also your income."

"Many of you here have been following me for a year or two, so you should know that I haven't made any wrong judgments about the market in the past two years!"

"This plan to grow broccoli was made after careful analysis, and I am very confident!"

"Your task is simple: follow Director Ao's instructions and execute the technical requirements to the letter, especially these 200 mu of broccoli. If you grow them well, you'll get plenty of commission and bonuses!"

After he finished speaking, Hu Chunmei, Qi Yongfeng, Huang Juan, Zhao Yu and several others were the first to respond.

Starting from the Dongxiang vegetable market, the group witnessed Chen Jiazhi's keen sense of the market.

Now, after hearing this, their confidence soared, and the others became excited as well.

Chen Jiazhi then had Ao Dehai arrange for broccoli cultivation and explain the technical requirements...

The reason for emphasizing broccoli is simply because a big victory is needed to boost morale.

As long as you can make money, the team is easy to manage.

With an easy-to-manage and motivated team, we have more confidence and patience to cultivate and expand the market for Chinese cabbage and kale.

This eventually creates a virtuous cycle, and all problems are easily solved.

Soon, the Shanghai base began transplanting broccoli.

After watching the scene for a long time, Chen Jiazhi took his wife and children to the city for sightseeing.

...

Early morning at Tongxingtai Vegetable Market.

As more and more customers came to see the vegetables, Xia Youche also started selling vegetables by asking for prices.

After the Spring Festival, the market situation improved, and various vegetables were sold quickly.

"Boss, where's your kale?"

"sold."

"Damn it, couldn't you have made more to sell?"

"Wait a few more days, and the Chinese kale will be on the market soon. They are all medium-thick broccoli, top-quality goods."

Xia Youche quickly explained that he knew there would be plenty of kale at Jiangxin Market soon.

"What are you waiting for? If you have mustard greens, hurry up and harvest them to sell. Kale is in high demand right now."

For two or three days in a row, more and more people asked him for kale, urging him to harvest the vegetables.

Is this something I can just cut whenever I want?

Faced with all sorts of complaints, Xia Youche called Tan Wangji after selling the vegetables.

"Xiao Tan, three days after three days, when are you going to harvest more of your kale?"

"We'll have to wait three more days."

"..."

Tan Wangji hung up the phone and went to the market to find Yi Dinggan.

"Manager, Tongxingtai and the stall owners are going crazy with pressure, aren't you going to cut your losses yet?"

"No rush, just wait."

Yi Dinggan looked at the dense kale, then squatted down to examine the roots and stems, thinking that although they were thick, they didn't quite resemble chicken legs.

(End of this chapter)