Starting with vegetable greenhouses in 1988

Chapter 134 Cooperation
Early the next morning.

Chen Shougeng walked out of greenhouse number three with panda eyes. He had barely slept all night. At first, he was not used to the new place, but later he simply stopped sleeping and recorded the temperature, humidity and ground temperature inside the greenhouse every hour.

According to the records, the temperature inside the greenhouse also drops at night as the weather gets colder, reaching its lowest point in the morning, which is now, at about 15 degrees Celsius, which is sufficient to maintain the normal growth of vegetables.

Having witnessed it firsthand, he is even more optimistic about the future of winter-warm vegetable greenhouses.

In the morning, accompanied by Li Zhe, he visited the greenhouse again. Unlike yesterday's cursory visit, he looked at it more carefully today, recording the temperature, humidity and light intensity at different times inside the greenhouse.

At the same time, he also offered some suggestions to Li Zhe: "Mr. Li, I noticed that the newly expanded greenhouses are not equipped with soil thermometers. I suggest that you equip each greenhouse with a standardized soil thermometer as soon as possible, and arrange for someone to record the data at different times in the morning, noon and evening. The accumulation of this basic data is very important for vegetable breeding and large-scale management."

"It was my oversight. I will have someone make a unified purchase later." During this period, Li Zhe spent most of his time in Beijing. Old Li and Zhu Yimin led people to transplant vegetable seedlings. Both of them were experienced farmers and mostly relied on their intuition.

“Mr. Li, I seriously considered the collaborative research and breeding plan yesterday and agree with your profit-sharing scheme. But there’s something I need to clarify: I also have teaching and research work at Beijing Agricultural University. I have fewer classes in the winter, so I can travel back and forth by truck, but I can’t stay here every day.”

I need a research team, mostly composed of my students, who will be involved in breeding and data collection. I can't have my students work for free; there will likely be some costs involved.

“Professor Chen, I understand your concerns. Whether it’s you or your students, I can provide them with food, lodging, and transportation. Once the breeding research becomes profitable, I will also give them additional bonuses and allocate a portion of the profits as funding for the team’s future research.”

Chen Shougeng was satisfied with Li Zhe's answer, and the two discussed some details before signing a cooperative breeding and research agreement. The agreement stipulated that Li Zhe would provide the site, materials, and funding to help Chen Shougeng build a research and development team; after the breeding and research were successful, the reputation rights would belong to Chen Shougeng's team, while the ownership and propagation rights of the seeds would belong to Li Zhe.

After signing the agreement, Li Zhe was not entirely satisfied. First, he felt that signing it in the company's name would be more formal. Second, he thought it would be best to have a professional lawyer help draft contracts in the future, as this would reduce potential problems.

We don't have the necessary conditions right now, so this is the best we can do for now. We can sign a supplementary contract later when conditions are better to ensure the rights and obligations of both parties.

As for setting up a company, Li Zhe did have this idea. The government had officially issued relevant legal documents, but in reality, the number of companies that could be established was limited; it wasn't something you could just do whenever you wanted. Simply put, you needed connections. Without connections, you could only wait until the policies became clearer and until many restrictions were lifted.

Even without establishing a company this year, Li Zhe can manage for now. But a company will definitely need to be established next year, otherwise many things will become difficult. The vegetable cooperative belongs to the village collective, not Li Zhe personally; sometimes this is acceptable, but sometimes it needs to be clearly distinguished.

The matter of setting up a company can't be delayed any longer. After all, this isn't something that can be done in a day or two; we need to prepare in advance.

After reaching an agreement with Chen Shougeng, Li Zhe called Lao Li over for some more instructions. After all, he couldn't stay in Daying Village forever, and there were some things he needed Lao Li's help with.

"Dad, while I'm away, I'll have to trouble you to take care of Professor Chen and his students. If Professor Chen needs your help with his breeding work, you must do your best to assist him. After all, those seeds will belong to us in the future, and they are related to the future yield of vegetables."

"Second brother, I know all that, you don't need to tell me. I can get along well with Qinghe, so I'm sure I can get along well with Teacher Chen and the others too." Old Li responded and then asked, "Which greenhouse are you planning to assign to Teacher Chen for the breeding experiments? Those new greenhouses have also been transplanted with vegetable seedlings, won't that cause some problems?"

Li Zhe said, "I discussed it with Professor Chen. Some vegetables have different growing environments, and some vegetables are prone to disease if planted together. Therefore, the breeding experiment will not be carried out in one greenhouse. I plan to take out part of the land in greenhouses 18, 19, and 20 for the breeding experiment."

Each experimental greenhouse has approximately 200 square meters of land, totaling 600 square meters, equivalent to the area of ​​one greenhouse. What do you think?

Old Li stroked his chin: "If the seeds aren't good, no matter how hard you try, you won't grow good vegetables. I agree with cooperative breeding, but our family's resources are limited, and I'm afraid we won't be able to properly entertain Teacher Chen and his students."

Li Zhe nodded: "I've also considered this. Next year, when we build another greenhouse, we can build a small house outside the greenhouse for people to live in."

In his past life, Li Zhe had built similar houses. The main reason the first batch of greenhouses wasn't built was due to cost considerations. Funds were insufficient at the time, so everything was kept simple. Next year, when funds are sufficient, houses can be built outside the greenhouses.

Of course, this doesn't mean that every greenhouse needs to have a building built; the decision will be made based on the actual situation.

Speaking of building a house, Li Zhe remembered something else: "Dad, I plan to build a new house next year. When you have time, go to the village committee to apply for a plot of land. Also, ask the Party Secretary if we can spend money to buy additional plots of land. I want to build a bigger house so that Professor Chen's team can have enough room when they come to our Daying Village. I'd like to start construction next spring and move in by summer."

Old Li thought for a moment and said, "Okay, I'll go ask Secretary Wang when I have time."

……

The Zhou family's residence in Chuanban Hutong, Beijing.

As noon approached, Lin Qiaomei glanced at Tan Jingya sitting in a chair and said, "You're really living it up now, aren't you? You're not going to cook for your mother-in-law anymore?"

Tan Jingya looked noticeably thinner than usual: "What's wrong? If you think I'm in your way, I'll leave." "No, no, we'll eat here for lunch, don't go anywhere." Lin Qiaomei's tone was concerned: "I'm just afraid you'll act impulsively and make a fuss, only to regret it later."

“There’s nothing to regret, it’s just like this. I’ve moved out of the north room and now live in the west wing. Nobody bothers anyone else.” Tan Jingya’s tone was a mix of melancholy and relief.

"The house was really sold?"

"sold."

Lin Qiaomei, sitting beside her, asked in a low voice, "Who did you sell it to? Why did you sell it so quickly?"

“It was sold to Mr. Li in front. The old lady was afraid that I would interfere, so she signed the contract with Mr. Li the next day. Now the mother and son are single-mindedly thinking about going abroad. They want to eat Western food. I’m already tired of the food I cook. Why should I go out of my way to curry favor?” Tan Jingya said in a flat tone.

Lin Qiaomei's mouth dropped open, speechless with astonishment. This little brother from the same village was truly unexpected! If she remembered correctly, he and her younger brother, Xiaohu, should be the same age; the difference was too great. She wondered how her brother was doing at the fan factory.
She was initially happy for her brother, but as the weather got colder, she became increasingly uneasy. How many people would buy an electric fan in winter?

She did want to go back to the village to take a look, and it would be convenient now that the Li family had their truck, but with all the things going on at the Zhou family's place, she really couldn't leave. Should she write a letter and ask Jianjun to take it back for her?

Tan Jingya stretched out her slender hand and waved it in front of Lin Qiaomei, "What are you thinking about? You're not saying anything."

Lin Qiaomei snapped out of her reverie and asked curiously, "Grandma Ji is selling the house to go abroad, so what about Ji Hongbin? Isn't he unable to leave the country?"

"It's because he can't go abroad normally that he has to sell the house to go abroad. My sister-in-law found him the connections, but I don't know the specifics. She won't tell me either." Tan Jingya said with a hint of sarcasm, "She's a dutiful son. Whatever the old lady says goes. I'm still an outsider."

"And what about you? Didn't Ji Hongbin say he'd take you abroad with him?"

“What good is what he says? If he could make the decision, he wouldn’t have sold the house—in the end, it’s the old lady who makes the decision. I don’t think she’ll take me abroad. In fact, even if she did, I still wouldn’t go.”

"Why? Everyone says life abroad is great, aren't you even a little tempted? Ji Hongbin has already gone abroad, what makes you think you're staying behind?" Lin Qiaomei asked, puzzled.

“Through this incident, I’ve finally seen clearly that this old lady never considered me one of her own. They didn’t take me seriously in China, and now that I’m abroad, I have a troublesome sister-in-law and a foreign son-in-law.” Tan Jingya sighed. “If I really go abroad with them, who knows how badly they’ll bully me? I’ve given up on them; I’ll have to rely on myself from now on.”

Lin Qiaomei also worried for her: "So what are your plans for the future?"

“I want to open a restaurant. I’ve had this idea for a long time, but Ji Hongbin disagrees. He thinks it’s a business of serving people, and it’s not honorable to talk about it.” Tan Jingya snorted. “Now he’s going abroad and doesn’t care about me anymore. I’m thinking of starting a restaurant so I’ll have someone to rely on in the future.”

“If you can really get it done, I’ll help you. I don’t want to work at this restaurant anymore either. It’s almost the end of the month, and we haven’t had many customers. I don’t even know if we’ll get paid next month.” As she said this, Lin Qiaomei’s expression turned worried again. “A lot of private restaurants have opened this year. They have better service and are cheaper than state-run restaurants. It’s not easy to run a restaurant now. You might even lose money. You have to be prepared for that.”

"I know." Tan Jingya thought for a moment, then changed the subject, "By the way, didn't you say you wanted to cooperate with Boss Li? He didn't cooperate with your restaurant?"

Lin Qiaomei revealed a bitter expression: "I talked to Boss Li, but he wasn't willing."

Tan Jingya pressed further, "Why aren't you happy? Do you think your offer is too low?"

“Price is one thing, but he demands cash on delivery. You know our restaurant's situation; cash on delivery is simply impossible. And he won't accept payment in lieu of a meal.” Lin Qiaomei frowned, seemingly thinking of something unpleasant.
"At first I didn't understand, but then I realized that Mr. Li's approach was right. With our restaurant like this, even if people came to eat, we might not be able to provide good service."

It's alright now. Although the deal didn't go through, at least we didn't offend anyone.

Tan Jingya rested her chin on her right hand: "So... Mr. Li's wasted vegetables still have no market?"

"Probably," Lin Qiaomei replied, as if she had guessed something. "You're not thinking of cooperating with Boss Li, are you? Do you think he'll agree?"

Tan Jingya said thoughtfully, "Who knows? Let's give it a try."

Even the most skilled cook cannot make a meal without ingredients. No matter how good a chef's skills are, without enough vegetables, many dishes cannot be made; and even if they are made, they will not taste right.

(End of this chapter)