1994: Vegetable farmers strike back

Chapter 401 The Leader's Invitation
To secure 3000 million yuan in agricultural investment, various regions, from Conghua City to Zengcheng County, and later Panyu and Baiyun, have pulled out all the stops.

Provide policies, funds, infrastructure, and even leverage personal connections...

However, things became more interesting when Foshan intervened.

This is no longer something that can be resolved internally. If we compete for it and it gets snatched away by neighboring Foshan, then Huacheng will lose face.

Although Chen Jiazhi had no intention of going to Foshan or conducting any investigation there, the matter still attracted the attention of the Huacheng City government.

City leader Chen Guanye listened to his secretary talk about the relevant matters.

In addition to his position in the municipal party committee, Chen Guanye was also the head of the Huacheng City Vegetable Leading Group, and the goal he proposed was to build the first pollution-free vegetable city in the country.

"Reliable Fresh, Jiangxin Market in Panyu..."

Chen Guanye thought for a moment and then remembered, "I remember Jiangxin Vegetable Market was one of the first batch of pollution-free vegetable bases last year?"

Secretary Kang Ming said, "Yes, Jiangxin Vegetable Market has developed rapidly in the past year or so, employing nearly 500 workers. Last year, its annual output value was about 3000 million yuan, of which more than 800 million Hong Kong dollars were earned from exports. This year, the momentum has not slowed down. In addition to supplying Hong Kong, it has also successively developed customers in Southeast Asia, Japan and other places, and its export volume has reached the level of millions of US dollars."

In addition, Kaopu Fresh has launched a pre-prepared vegetable delivery service, which is also doing very well, with customers including restaurants and hotels in Guangzhou, Foshan, Shenzhen, Zhongshan, and other cities.

Chen Guanye was quite surprised, as developing pre-cleaned vegetables was a policy he spearheaded to ensure vegetable safety.

"Interesting. Let's make arrangements. I'm going to Jiangxin Market tomorrow to conduct research on Kaopu Fresh."

Although this company is neither a state-owned enterprise nor a collective enterprise, its development pace is quite consistent with his governing direction.

He's made quite a stir lately, which is enough to warrant his intervention.

...

When he received the notification, Chen Jiazhi was still discussing the site selection for the base with Huang Jianyuan and others.

"The mayor is going to visit the company and the market, and may discuss this investment."

Chen Jiazhi casually mentioned the news, saying that going to conduct research at this time was inevitably related to investment.

Huang Jianyuan analyzed, "We just received an invitation from Foshan and the city has already reacted. They are probably worried that we will go to Foshan. This is a good thing. The city should also provide corresponding funds and policies."

Chen Jiazhi smiled and said, "With the city's attention, the work ahead should be much easier."

This is exactly the result they wanted.

After recent investigations, the conditions offered by Conghua and Zengcheng are quite similar, and both places are showing sincerity.

The city leaders' research visit may just be the opportunity to make the final decision.

...

On a hazy, overcast morning in early May,
The environment around Jiangnan Market is not good; it's sticky, damp, and dusty. However, there's a small building surrounded by neat and clean surroundings, creating a bright and clear corner.

While Chen Guanye was still in the car, he saw the bright signboard of Kaopu Fresh.

Suddenly, he found the name quite interesting.

Although it sounds strange, upon closer inspection, promoting pre-cleaned vegetable delivery is also to ensure that people can eat vegetables with peace of mind, so the name "reliable" seems to be quite fitting.

After getting off the bus, someone introduced him to Chen Jiazhi, who was young and handsome, yet mature and steady.

"President Chen is indeed young and promising."

Chen Jiazhi extended his hand and said neither humbly nor arrogantly, "Leader Chen, you flatter me. I have only achieved some small successes thanks to the reforms."

Chen Guanye smiled and walked forward. "No need to be modest. Young people should be energetic. I heard that President Chen is planning to invest another 30 million yuan to build a vegetable base?"

Chen Jiazhi lagged behind, saying, "Yes, I've been investigating this matter in various places recently, and it's quite a dilemma for me."

The two entered the sorting workshop of Kaopu Fresh, where workers wearing clean uniforms, gloves and masks were busy at work.

Seeing that Chen Guanye did not discuss investment further, Chen Jiazhi focused on giving a presentation.

Chen Guanye also looked at it carefully and asked detailed questions.

After overseeing everything from production to processing and distribution, they drove together to Jiangxin Vegetable Market.

Compared to modern farmers' markets, Jiangxin Farmers' Market is still quite far behind, as its production process is not mechanized enough.

However, the level of dedication in management is a big plus.

When the group arrived, organic fertilizer was being applied on a large scale in the market.

Bags of decomposed black manure were piled up into small mountains. Workers drove tricycles, pulled carts, and used shovels to spread the organic fertilizer layer by layer in the vegetable garden.

Such a scene made Chen Guanye think it was a show, so Chen Jiazhi called over Yi Dinggan, the person in charge on site.

Yi Dinggan showed no nervousness in front of the mayor, and spoke in broken Mandarin:

“The vegetable market has been fertilizing for several days now, and the earliest batch of land has already been plowed.”

"We use less chemical fertilizer and more organic fertilizer, which is more conducive to the accumulation of flavor substances in vegetables and improves their quality and taste."

"There are many pests and diseases in summer. Applying organic fertilizer will make the vegetables stronger and reduce the use of pesticides."

"When a typhoon comes, the risk of damage to vegetables is high, but vegetable prices will also rise, which is also an opportunity to make money..."

After listening to Yi Dinggan's simple and unpretentious explanation, Chen Guanye nodded slightly.

I then watched it even more carefully.

In addition to talking to the workers at the various sections of the market, I also asked them some basic questions.

“I still feel unsatisfied!”

After talking with a worker from another province, Chen Guanye had many thoughts.

"Jiangxin Market is doing a great job. It is not only very successful in its business, but also takes on a lot of social responsibility."

"You flatter me, sir." Chen Jiazhi didn't dare to reply carelessly, after all, he was still thinking about installing micro-sprinkler irrigation facilities to save manpower.

Chen Guanye turned to the side, his eyes sharp, "You're too reserved, young comrade. We're from the same clan; we might have even been family five hundred years ago."

"I'll be frank with you. Mr. Chen wants to build a new vegetable base. No matter where in the city it is located, the city will provide strong support. You can also tell me what your needs are."

Chen Jiazhi smiled and said, "Thank you for your support, leader. We will determine the specific location as soon as possible."

Chen Guanye asked curiously, "Does Mr. Chen have a preferred location?"

Chen Jiazhi said, "Currently, I might prefer Conghua or Zengcheng."

Chen Guanye asked in surprise, "I heard that Panyu and Baiyun are also inviting you. Aren't the conditions they offered good enough?"

“Panyu and Baiyun offer better and more attractive conditions.”

Chen Jiazhi first affirmed the two places before expressing his own opinion.

"Firstly, we already have the Jiangxin Market in Panyu, so building another one would not make much sense. In fact, we would suffer losses when facing natural disasters."

"Secondly, Conghua and Zengcheng are located in mountainous areas, far from urban industries, which is more conducive to the production of high-quality vegetables, and this is more conducive to the development and expansion of the company's export business."

"I see." Chen Guanye nodded in agreement.

Chen Jiazhi thought he would offer some suggestions, but after exchanging only a few pleasantries, he hurriedly left amidst the crowd, having other research locations to explore.

For a moment, the market was filled with a busy scene, and Chen Jiazhi, Huang Jianyuan, Yi Dinggan and others stood by the roadside.

Yi Dinggan offered cigarettes to everyone and asked, "Is that all?"

Chen Jiazhi took the cigarette, lit it, and pondered, "Mayor Chen probably wants us to decide the location ourselves. As long as it's within the city, the city will provide support."

Conghua and Zengcheng are also relatively underdeveloped areas in the city, and the city is happy for us to invest there.

Huang Jianyuan then said, "President Chen, I think there's no need to rush into a decision. Let's wait a day or two and see."

Chen Jiazhi thought about it and agreed that they could wait.

"Mr. Huang, I plan to stay home for a day. If you're planning to go back, I'll arrange for someone to take you."

"I'm not going back," Huang Jianyuan said decisively. "I'll stay at the market all day too. Mr. Chen, Manager Yi, how about we grab a drink together tonight?"

Yi Dinggan was slightly taken aback. Apart from when he first arrived, when Huang Jianyuan had drunk with him in an attempt to win him over, this was the first time Huang Jianyuan had taken the initiative to invite him.

"Okay, Mr. Huang, I'll ask the cafeteria to add two more dishes."

Just then, Chen Jiazhi's cell phone, which he had on his person, started beeping.

"Hello, who is it?"

"Mr. Chen, this is Kang Ming. The boss has invited you to dinner tonight. Is that convenient for you?"

"convenient."

Chen Jiazhi's pupils dilated slightly. He silently memorized the address and then said to Yi Dinggan and Huang Jianyuan, "The leader invited me, so I have to go to the city immediately."

Huang Jianyuan was also surprised, but quickly realized the importance of the matter.

"Mr. Chen, I suspect the leadership has some ideas, but they just can't say them openly."

"Yes, I guessed so too." Chen Jiazhi asked, "Is President Huang coming into the city with us?"

Huang Jianyuan shook his head. "I won't go. I'll stay at the market and have a drink with Director Yi while I wait for your results."

"it is good."

Chen Jiazhi patted Yi Dinggan on the shoulder again, went home to say goodbye to Li Xiu and his parents, and then hurriedly went to the city again.

Chen Guanye is the highest-ranking person Chen Jiazhi can currently contact.

Chen Guanye was involved in the entire process of receiving the elderly man from the Southern Painting Circle a few years ago.

This made Chen Jiazhi a little nervous, and he kept thinking about what the leader would think the whole way.

The restaurant was located in an inconspicuous arcade building.

Chen Jiazhi saw his secretary Kang Ming at the door.

"Mr. Chen, the leader is inside. You can just go in."

"Okay, thank you, Secretary Kang."

Once inside the building, it's a completely different world, exquisitely decorated with potted plants like Podocarpus macrophyllus and Monstera deliciosa in various locations.

Chen Jiazhi knocked on the door and went inside. He saw that several people were already sitting at a round table.

Chen Guanye was at the top of the list.

As soon as Chen Jiazhi entered, Chen Guanye said, "Mr. Chen has arrived. Come, sit down. Let me introduce you all. This is Mr. Chen Jiazhi, who runs a vegetable company with business operations both domestically and internationally."

Chen Jiazhi felt a little embarrassed; this was giving him too much credit.

Then Chen Guanye introduced the other people at the table, all of whom were well-known figures in the business world.

Chen Jiazhi doesn't usually pay attention to this kind of information, but he recognized one or two people.

For example, next to Chen Guanye is Peng Linji, chairman of Xiangjiang Xinfu Group, a bigwig in the real estate industry with real estate businesses in mainland China, Taiwan, and Hong Kong.

After introducing everyone, Chen Jiazhi felt that, given his status, he was not qualified to sit at the table.

But they insisted on inviting him.

Unable to find a clue, he quietly listened in the corner and observed the situation.

(End of this chapter)