1994: Vegetable farmers strike back

Chapter 419 Progresses Rapidly

The vegetable seedling industry is huge, but Chen Jiazhi does not yet have the ability or energy to integrate it.

The current situation is quite suitable; it's good that each base is doing its own thing.

Not only has the Yuanmou seedling nursery achieved results, but the Lianzhou cooperative base has also achieved its experimental and demonstration objectives.

Zengcheng, Pengcun, and Fanrong are also self-sufficient, and with the increasing influence of their main business, seedlings also have potential for future growth.

Once this potential begins to materialize, Chen Jiazhi will have more funds and talent at his disposal, and it will not be too late to integrate it then.

After thinking it through, Chen Jiazhi made another note in his notebook, closed it, picked up a segment of pomelo to eat, and turned to look at the map behind him.

Having been away from home for so long, I can only learn about the operations in various places through verbal explanations, and my firsthand impressions of each base are still based on what I experienced two months ago.

This won't do. Although traveling back and forth is troublesome and tiring, we still need to move around.

Even if he only goes there briefly, just being there in person is better than operating remotely from the office.

After finishing his snack, Chen Jiazhi picked up the straw hat hanging on the wall and walked into the base.

Under the bright sunshine, farmers were busy working in the vegetable fields.

The ridges were trampled hard, and the weeds along the edges were cleared away; not a single wildflower could be seen.

Chen Jiazhi walked through the farmers' land and arrived at Heli Farm, where he saw a completely different scene.

Here you won't see many field ridges; every field is flat and wide, crisscrossed by ditches.

Machines are plowing the land deeply, and the plowed land is drying in the sun.
Farmers were using hoes to prepare the land, and then they spread layers of organic fertilizer on the prepared ridges.

Some have already sown seeds, and farmers have uncovered the shade nets to water the plants, where tiny new shoots have emerged from the turtle-back ridges.

Chen Jiazhi arrived at the seedling nursery in the corner. It was the hot and humid season when the seedlings were being raised, and the insect-proof netting had not yet been removed.

But tiny specks of green could be seen peeking through the fine holes.

Chen Jiafang walked over. She is now in charge of managing the seedling farm and is one of the core managers of Heli No. 1.

"Jiazhi, the weather is good, the late-maturing cabbage seedlings can be transplanted in a few more days."

"Second Sister," Chen Jiazhi greeted, then gently lifted the insect-proof netting slightly, revealing the tempting appearance of the late-ripening cabbage seedlings.

It's a pity Chen Jiazhi isn't an insect; otherwise, he would have had a feast once the annoying insect net was removed.

“We’ll have to wait a few more days, hmm, let’s see in ten days.” Chen Jiazhi pondered, “Zengcheng late-season cabbage can be transplanted when the seedlings are a bit bigger, and they should be planted a little more sparsely.”

Chen Jiazhi gestured with his hands, "The crown of Zengcheng late-season cabbage is larger and taller."

"got it."

Chen Jiafang added, "I heard from the locals that they only eat the tender stems of the late-season cabbage, and the leaves are used to feed the pigs."

Chen Jiazhi said, "That's how it is."

Chen Jiafang said, "Isn't this a bit like the cowpea we used to feed pigs back home?"

Chen Jiazhi nodded with a smile, "That description is not wrong. The tender tips of Swiss chard taste pretty good. They are good whether stir-fried or used in soup."

Chen Jiafang pouted and said, "When you were little, you always said that was pig feed and you looked down on it."

Chen Jiazhi smiled. Swiss chard is often used to feed pigs in rural Sichuan and is known as the "fighter jet" among pig feeds. It is widely cultivated.

But indeed, nobody uses it as a regular vegetable.

Chen Jiazhi thought for a moment and asked, "Second sister, have you heard any gossip?"

"That's a lot."

Heli Farm has recruited many local vegetable workers, and Chen Jiafang also leads a group of people to work every day.

Although there were occasional language barriers, through long-term contact, she learned what the local vegetable workers were talking about every day.

Growing vegetables is no problem, growing leafy greens is even more no problem, but what Heli Farm values ​​most is late-season cabbage, which locals commonly call tall-legged cabbage.

This vegetable is indeed delicious, especially the tender stems after a frost, which have a very sweet and crisp taste. The leaves are also edible, but most people are used to feeding them to livestock.

As for selling them, they are rarely seen in local markets, let alone sold to outsiders.

Nowadays, Heli Agriculture goes to great lengths to grow "tall cabbage," paying close attention to every step, from land acquisition and preparation to fertilization, seedling cultivation, and insect-proofing nets, investing considerable manpower and funds.

This is hard for locals to understand.

It's just an ordinary vegetable. You can plant it anywhere in front of or behind your house, and you'll have more than you can eat by the New Year. The excess will only be used to feed the livestock.

Therefore, Heli Agriculture's practice of planting tall cabbages on hundreds of acres of land has gradually become a subject of ridicule.

Listening to his second sister's description, Chen Jiazhi could understand her worries, which also meant that many people in the team had shown similar hesitation.

Before coming to Heli, my second sister was actually full of confidence.

But with more and more voices of doubt, most people will fall into self-doubt.

Just then, Guo Mancang, the manager of Heli No. 1 Farm, walked over here, and Chen Jiazhi talked to him about the matter.

Guo Mancang's expression changed slightly, and he said, "As long as the planting is proceeding according to plan, this is not a problem. The market's task is to provide vegetables that meet the requirements."

Regarding market sales, I trust the boss's judgment. Just like the chicken heart mustard in Pengcun, late-season mustard greens will also be successful.

Guo Mancang had also heard about the discussions surrounding Chi Caixin.

But the success of Pengcun's mustard greens gave him immense confidence, and he wanted to experience what Ao Deliang felt. Chen Jiazhi nodded and said, "That's right, the late-season mustard greens will succeed."

He was more confident than anyone else in promoting and selling late-season cabbage.

Chen Jiafang was also deeply inspired. As long as Jiazhi had confidence, the matter would most likely succeed. In the past two years, his vegetable growing skills had become incredibly strong.

Let them talk; she doesn't really understand anyway, and I'm too lazy to ask.

Chen Jiazhi then asked, "Where did our CEO Yi go?"

Chen Jiafang said, "I went to three events with Xue Jun today, and I probably won't be back until tonight."

The third farm is located in Zhengguo Town, which requires crossing a river and taking a detour. It is the furthest base, and it takes a whole day to see the entire 1,000-acre area.

With the help of the heavens, Heli Agriculture's three vegetable markets are also working hard, getting up early and working late every day, putting in extra hours.

The autumn heatwave is also quite intense, and everyone often feels sluggish and listless from the sun.

Chen Jiazhi and Yi Dinggan rarely go fishing anymore; the good weather is perfect for working and making progress.

All the hard work paid off.

By September 20th, all 3,000 mu of land had been plowed out and dried, and some of the early-sown cabbages had reached the size of thinning seedlings.

Just then, the heavens sent down a thorough rain, the market shut down, and Yi Dinggan took his fishing rod back into the water. He fished all day without a bite, so he went home.

Yi Dinggan held a fishing rod in his right hand and a fish basket in his left, saying, "This has nothing to do with fishing skills, it's just bad luck. I was busy recently and forgot to bait the area, and it even drizzled during the day..."

"In short, I didn't catch a single one."

Chen Jiazhi didn't come out to find Yi Dinggan until evening. It was already dark. Although the moon was very round tonight, the road was muddy after the rain, and even wearing rain boots, one had to be careful of slippery roads.

However, Yi Dinggan left home full of ambition in the morning but returned empty-handed in the evening. Even though the road was difficult, Chen Jiazhi joked about it all the way.

Upon returning home, the commotion alerted the family who were watching TV inside, and they all came out to the yard.

Yi Long asked, "Old man, you didn't come home for lunch today. Did you catch a lot of fish?"

Yi Dinggan remained silent, pretending not to hear, and continued tidying his fishing gear.

Chen Jiazhi showed the fish basket, "Stop asking, or your old man will go fishing all night."

"Didn't catch a single one!"

"I got so into fishing that I wasted my energy."

“Hey, old man, come and see how many fish Grandpa caught today, a whole basin full, and he even used the bamboo fishing rod you made.”

Yi Long actually brought out the fish to show it off, and jokingly remarked to his face that the poor student had too many stationery items.

Chen Jiazhi felt that only Yi Dinggan could take a joke and had a strong mental fortitude; otherwise, anyone else might have gotten angry.

Yi Dinggan looked up and said, "You guys don't know anything. I'm guarding a big fish, you know? Guarding a big fish requires patience."

After tidying up his fishing gear, Yi Dinggan started preparing bait for groundbaiting. Now that the base construction has come to a temporary end, there is still time to prepare groundbaiting.

Chen Jiazhi stood aside and watched, saying, "I'm going back to the city tomorrow, and I plan to visit all the bases."

Yi Dinggan didn't even look up this time. "You should have left long ago. Compared to me, others need your guidance more."

"You really are..." Chen Jiazhi changed the subject, "So, you think I'm the one who's bothering you by being lazy in the Air Force?"

Yi Dinggan stopped, his brows furrowed slightly. Just as Chen Jiazhi thought he was angry, he heard him ask, "Air Force?"

Chen Jiazhi laughed and said, "You came back empty-handed from fishing today, so you're basically throwing the boat, aren't you?"

"..." Yi Dinggan: "Wait a few days before you leave, I guarantee I'll catch a big fish."

"I can't wait, I'm leaving first thing tomorrow morning."

Yi Dinggan had the urge to go night fishing, but seeing Chen Jiazhi standing there, and knowing that Chen had been in the office all day, he knew that there was still something to tell him.

The next day, on the way back to Huacheng.

Chen Jiazhi held a newspaper in his hand, which mentioned the poverty alleviation work conference.

He suddenly remembered his last meeting with Chen Guanye, and that the 100 million yuan education donation had not yet been given out.

He had asked about it after the last banquet, but his secretary, Kang Ming, said it was still early.

After thinking it over, Chen Jiazhi called Kang Ming after arriving in Huacheng.

"Secretary Kang, I saw the news about the poverty alleviation work conference. Can the donation for education poverty alleviation in Baise be deposited into the account now?"

Kang Ming said, "We have to wait. Once the documents are issued, a special poverty alleviation education fund will be established, and the money will be deposited into this account."

"Oh, okay." Chen Jiazhi then asked, "Has the leader left yet? I've been in Zengcheng recently overseeing the base construction and just got back today. I brought you and the leader some local specialties, Secretary Kang. Is this convenient for you?"

"Mr. Chen, that won't be necessary."

"These are all local specialties from Zengcheng, nothing else," Chen Jiazhi explained. "Kaopu Fresh will also continue to sell these agricultural products to help farmers in mountainous areas increase their income."

Kang Ming paused slightly, then said, "President Chen, I appreciate your kind gesture, and I will pass it on to my superiors."

Chen Jiazhi smiled with satisfaction even though the gift hadn't been given out.

In fact, he didn't bring back any local specialties; he just wanted to convey that he had done something.

(End of this chapter)