1994: Vegetable farmers strike back

Chapter 367 Kale Takes Flight
After the Spring Festival, Yi Dinggan noticed that the market had changed.

Increased shipments led to higher prices.

Especially Chinese kale.

At first, it was just that the stalls were ordering more, but later, Tongxingtai also asked to increase its supply. He knew then that Chen Jiazhi's prediction had come true again: the supply of kale in the market was decreasing.

So he took the opportunity to control the shipment volume.

Even though the Chinese kale seedlings cultivated from mid-January can be on the market soon, controlling the shipment at this time can drive up the price more quickly.

As he predicted, vegetable prices rose across the board.

Kale is the star of the show, poised for a meteoric rise, and the urging from stall owners and Tong Hsing Tai is becoming increasingly frequent.

Instead, he remained even more composed.

Not long after Tan Wangji left, Yi Dinggan's pager started beeping.

He took it out and saw, "I urgently need kale, please call back immediately."

The series of numbers indicated that Chen Zhengxu was calling him.

Yi Dinggan raised an eyebrow. "Aren't the goods already shipped out enough for delivery?"

In the blink of an eye, the pager beeped again, "The kale at the stall has been flown out, come check the goods, help, boss!"

This time it was sent by Li Cai.

Damn, why aren't they mentioning the price?
How do I know if it's a real takeoff or a fake takeoff?
Unable to contain his curiosity, Yi Dinggan returned to his office and called Chen Zhengxu back.

"President Xu, what happened? Didn't we send out the kale today? I'm not responsible if Li Cai intercepted it."

"No, we received the goods we sent this morning, but it's not enough. Several new customers have asked us for kale." Chen Zhengxu emphasized, "They are customers from Foshan, which is very important for us to expand our business in new cities."

That was indeed of great significance.

How much more do you need?

"400 pounds."

"Then I'll find a van to deliver it to you."

"No, Manager Yi!" Li Cai's voice rang out again from the side. "The stalls also urgently need kale. Can you find a bigger truck and send over a few thousand more kale to solve the immediate problem?"

“Once you start shipping in large quantities, do you think you can stop?” Yi Dinggan said, “The next batch of kale is still a long way from budding, and the temperature has just risen again, so the vegetables are growing fast. If you wait even one more day, the yield will be completely different.”

"The price of Chinese kale has already skyrocketed!"

How much will you sell it for?

"We can offer at least 2.2 yuan per jin today!" Li Cai exclaimed. "This is the highest price in the last six months. It's time to sell, Manager Yi!"

Yi Ding smacked his lips. If the Jiangnan market could offer this price, Tongxingtai would be even more different.

Are you worried that you won't be able to sell all 400 acres of kale in a short time?

"Aren't you afraid?" Li Cai pondered. "400 mu, the yield should be at least 500 tons. You said that the temperature is rising and the vegetables are growing fast. Aren't you worried about leaving them in the ground?"

"Feeling guilty?"

Yi Ding chuckled dryly, "Young man, be bolder. Learn from your brother-in-law. This is nothing yet!"
You also participated in the market research. What's the logic behind betting on kale? It's the off-season for kale planting!

In other words, very few farmers planted Chinese kale at the same time as us.

Even if the vegetables are growing fast now, how fast can newly sown seeds grow?
Moreover, we are a medium-thick kale, where can we find competitors in the market?
Listen to me, maintain strategic focus, wait a few more days, at least until the Lantern Festival.

If you really can't figure it out, go ask your brother-in-law and hear what he thinks. Hmm, he's even bolder than me; he might not even be willing to harvest and sell the glutinous rice balls for the Lantern Festival.

Li Cai then actually called Chen Jiazhi and received the answer, "It's still early, wait a bit longer."

He sighed slightly. Is this the mutual appreciation among gambling addicts?
Or is this how all vegetable farmers are?

He's lost it, he's lost it. He was wrong to try and cash out as soon as possible.

Li Cai arrived at the stall feeling dejected, just in time to run into a regular customer who was urging the salesman Ding Qiao to cut more kale every day.

He got angry and said, "What's the rush? If you can't find it, go look somewhere else. File number 63 will have to wait a few more days!"

"If there were other places, why would I be here urging you every day?"

Regular customers left without uttering a sound. Stall number 63 had a small amount of kale every day, but it was basically gone as soon as it reached the market.

Li Cai added, "Ding Qiao, if you encounter someone rushing to deliver goods again, just ignore them; it's a waste of time."

"Oh~"

He clearly remembered that not long ago, the stall owner was actively promoting that they had a large quantity of kale that would soon be available on the market.

Now things have changed drastically, and Britney Spears has become a snob?
Day after day, the market recovery accelerated, vegetable prices rose across the board, and the shortage of kale attracted the attention of all vegetable wholesalers.

But the more difficult it is, the harder it is to find the goods.

Because Chinese kale is a relatively niche specialty vegetable, both demand and supply are relatively fixed.

Large vegetable markets typically grow Chinese cabbage (Chinese choy sum) along with kale (Chinese kale).

However, as if possessed, the supply of kale at many stalls that had previously had a stable supply has rapidly declined, and there will be a shortage for some time.

The stall number 63, which had been making grand promises, suddenly became a hot commodity.

Everyone knows he has Chinese kale, and even more will be available soon, but he keeps people in suspense, three days after three days...
Prices have gone up and up again.

It has reached a point where it's painful for buyers.

Old Wu felt a pang of regret, but he still had to buy it. In the early hours of the morning, after he picked up the goods and paid, he asked, "Young man, how many more days, or three days, will it take to get the medium-thick kale you mentioned?"

This time, Li Cai didn't try to fob people off. "The goods will arrive tomorrow afternoon. Medium and large-sized kale, excellent quality, 90 yuan per piece, no bargaining."

Old Wu clicked his tongue in amazement. This man had caught him again at this price and market conditions. It was a pity he hadn't seen him in a long time. "Okay, I'll come pick up the goods tomorrow."

The same scene unfolded at stall number 63. Faced with the high price of kale, not only did no one back down, but more and more people made agreements to buy the goods.

...

Qu Jingtai hasn't been to Dongsheng Farm for a while.

After a six-month slump, the market finally rebounded, which made him pay more attention to the management of the farm.

That day, they took a boat to the farm.

"Ah Yong, the market hasn't been selling many vegetables lately, so we need to plant them quickly. Also, how big are the kale florets I asked you to plant? Can we harvest them now?"

Farm manager Li Jiyong looked embarrassed when asked by the boss, "How big can the kale planted just over ten days ago be?"

"Boss, the kale is too small to be harvested."

"It's okay if it's a little smaller. The price is good now, and we can still sell the kale seedlings."

Li Jiyong led Qu Jingtai to the kale field, and the two remained silent for a long time. These really were kale seedlings, not even as thick as a toothpick.

"It can only grow this big in about 10 days."

Qu Jingtai, who had experience growing vegetables, realized at this moment that he had panicked.

"Yes, let's apply more fertilizer. Kale is in high demand right now, and it's extremely hard to find anywhere. The price has skyrocketed."

Li Jiyong remained silent.

Is Chinese kale hard to find?

It seems like he sees them every day, but unfortunately they're not his own.

Seeing his self-reproachful look, Qu Jingtai said, "I didn't mean to blame you. The whole market is out of stock. It's not just your problem. A month or two ago, kale wasn't selling well. Who would have thought it would be so scarce now?"

Li Jiyong's lips moved slightly; it seemed someone had figured it out.

Au King-tai continued, "The wholesale price of Hong Kong kale has exceeded HK$5 per catty. Apart from the year before last, this is the highest price ever. It is estimated that it will continue to rise."

Please, boss, stop talking. I feel terrible. Li Jiyong was already sweating profusely.

"Ah Yong, what's wrong with you today? You're so quiet. I already told you it's not your fault."

"Yeah, boss, I'm fine." Li Jiyong secretly wiped away his sweat.

After walking for a while, Qu Jingtai remembered that he had a neighbor next door and asked, "How is the Jiangxin vegetable market next door doing lately?"
Didn't you say last year that they planted a lot of tomatoes, cucumbers, bitter melons and other random things?

"Aren't they idiots? They were growing leafy vegetables perfectly fine, then they went and started growing melons and fruits. They're probably having a tough time now, aren't they? Ah Yong, what's wrong with you? Why are you sweating so much?"

Li Jiyong chuckled awkwardly, "It might be a bit hot."

It was clearly very cool.

Qu Jingtai sensed that A Yong was acting strangely today, from the moment they met. He hadn't said anything, except mentioning Jie Lanqiao and that the neighbor was SM Entertainment.
Ok?
Qu Jingtai was suddenly startled, and his gaze drifted into the distance, his eyes already reaching the vegetable field next door.

The workers are bending over and picking vegetables.

The handmade vegetables he saw were either bok choy or kale, and the green with a hint of blue made his heart pound.

He glanced at Li Jiyong, then looked into the distance, then tilted his head again, incredulous, "That whole area is all kale?"

“Not only~” Li Jiyong’s voice was barely audible.

"No? Then tell me what it is!" Qu Jingtai's eyes widened. Did he think I was blind?!

Li Jiyong raised his voice, "It's kale, but not just that patch."

Qu Jingtai was dumbfounded.

Li Jiyong: "There are many more films."

"Are they all Chinese kale?"

"Ah."

Qu Jingtai wanted some peace and quiet.

Who did he just call an idiot?

It can't be the neighbor next door, anyway.

He glared at Li Jiyong with eyes wide with rage, "You're the fucking idiot! Everyone else planted so many kale, why didn't you plant any?! You can't even copy homework properly!"

Qu Jingtai was furious, aggrieved, upset, and envious. He stood there in a daze for a long, long time.

...

After many twists and turns, Chen Jiazhi returned to his beloved second hometown.

Good luck! Good news came as soon as I got back. I won another gamble with ease, and the Chinese kale really took off!
Unlike relying on memory in the past, this relies more on market sense and analysis, which is incredibly satisfying.

Walking through the vegetable field, every row and every piece of kale seemed like a stimulant, keeping Chen Jiazhi's mouth constantly smiling.

Yi Dinggan felt contempt for someone's behavior, saying, "You really know how to pick your time. You don't come back early or late, but as soon as you see there's money to be made, you rush back."

Chen Jiazhi grinned and said, "Isn't this just a coincidence?"

Basket after basket of vegetables are continuously harvested and stored. In addition to Chinese kale, there is also a stable output of Chinese cabbage hearts and mustard greens.

It's just that the kale is too dazzling.

What's dazzling isn't just the price, but also the excellent quality. The leaves are deep green like jade, thick and slightly wrinkled, and the stems are round and sturdy. Every detail exudes freshness and vitality.

Such a high-quality and reasonably priced crop is truly rare.

(End of this chapter)