Starting with vegetable greenhouses in 1988

Chapter 141 Hello, 1989
evening.

Yangma Village, Ge Family.

Ma Zhaodi glanced at the clock on the wall; it was already past six. She muttered to herself, "It's so late, why isn't he here yet?"

Feeling uneasy, she put on her coat and went outside. It was already dark outside, which made her even more anxious. She opened the gate and peered into the distance, but still couldn't see her husband.

She and Ge Qingshan got married last autumn, and the couple moved out after the wedding. They have a very good relationship.

A gust of north wind blew in, and Ma Zhaodi shivered, shrinking her neck and stamping her feet, but she still refused to go back inside.

She stood on tiptoe and looked into the distance, and saw a bicycle heading towards home. She immediately breathed a sigh of relief—she was finally back.

She took a few steps forward to greet him and asked, "Qingshan, why are you back so late?"

"I got back relatively early. The shed was so lively today. If I wasn't worried about you, I would have stayed there overnight." Seeing his wife's cheeks red from the cold, Ge Qingshan felt a little sorry for her: "Wife, why are you standing here? It's so cold. Go back inside quickly."

The couple pushed their bike into the yard. After Ma Zhaodi closed the gate, she noticed the large and small bags on the back of her husband's bicycle and couldn't help but ask, "What are you carrying?"

“It’s all good stuff.” Ge Qingshan chuckled. “My second cousin is back today too, he brought half a truckload of stuff, he said it’s a New Year’s bonus for us.”

"What kind of New Year is this, giving out so many things!" In Ma Zhaodi's memory, only the Lunar New Year is considered New Year.

Ge Qingshan parked his bicycle and, while unloading the things, said, "There are four catties of beef, four catties of pork, a bag of rice, a bag of flour, a piece of pork fat, and two fish. This is enough for us to eat until the New Year."

"We can't possibly finish all this during the New Year," Ma Zhaodi smacked her lips. "Did everyone get some? Or were they only given to relatives?"

“Everyone who works long-term got some. Lin Xiaohu and the village militia who arrived later than us all got some. You didn’t see it, they were so happy.” Ge Qingshan carried the things into the house and instructed, “Wife, save me two catties of pork and a fish. I’ll take them to the greenhouse to eat later. We all eat together, and everyone brings things every now and then. I can’t just eat for free all the time.”

“Okay, you decide. Go wash up, I’ll take the food out of the pot.” Ma Zhaodi was a quick and efficient person, used to doing chores before she got married, and she prepared dinner in no time.

Ge Qingshan sat at the table, rolled up his sleeves, and said, "Wife, bring out the cheap liquor. Tomorrow is New Year's Day, let's have a drink today."

Ma Zhaodi didn't spoil the mood. She took out a bucket of loose liquor, poured him a cup, and poured herself a small half cup.

Ge Qingshan symbolically clinked glasses with his wife, then downed his drink in one gulp. The spicy liquor dispelled the chill of the journey, leaving him feeling refreshed.

Ge Qingshan ate a few bites of steamed buns made from two kinds of flour along with the vegetables. Once he had something in his stomach, he said, "Wife, you're alone at home too. Why don't you come with me to work in the greenhouse? It's warm in there. My aunt and cousin are there all day long, so you won't be lonely. It's lively and fun chatting and laughing."

Ma Zhaodi was somewhat tempted. Her cousin had taken care of her since childhood, but the two sisters had seen each other less often since her cousin married and moved to Daying Village. However, she hesitated, saying, "You and Dad both work there. Would it be inappropriate for me to go?"

Ge Qingshan chewed a few times and swallowed the steamed bun in his mouth: "Just watch, I reckon our dad won't be able to keep this up for much longer."

"Why? Why wouldn't he do it?" Ma Zhaodi asked in surprise. Where else could you find such a good job with wages, bonuses, and benefits? If it weren't for this family connection, how could her family have gotten this opportunity?
“My aunt went to your house a couple of days ago and found out that Mom is pregnant. She told my uncle, which made him furious. He grabbed a shovel and was about to hit Dad, but luckily my uncle stopped him.”

Ma Zhaodi's face turned grim. Her mother's pregnancy made her feel ashamed in front of her husband… The country had already implemented the one-child policy, and they already had three daughters, and now her mother was pregnant again. She dreaded what would happen if the village found out. Besides, her mother was already so old; what would they do if something happened to her…?

She changed the subject: "If my dad quits, will you still do it?"

"Of course I'll do it! Our family isn't related to your father. My second cousin is capable and generous. As long as he's willing to take me on, I'll definitely continue." Ge Qingshan sighed softly. As a son-in-law, he couldn't very well say anything to his father-in-law.

But there are some things he sees very clearly: even if his father-in-law doesn't go to work for the Li family, it's all for the sake of the fourth child in his mother-in-law's belly.

To put it bluntly, it's all about who gets the son. What good will this son-in-law get out of it?

"Let's eat first, we can talk about this later." Ma Zhaodi ended the topic, feeling inexplicably irritated.

……

1989 1 Month 1 Day.

Daying Village, Greenhouse No. 11.

After getting up, Zhao Tiezhu washed his face with the hot water left in the thermos last night, and he felt much more refreshed.

He carried a basin of water and poured it outside the greenhouse to wash his face. Startled, Big Yellow, who was in its kennel, got up and stretched. All of Big Yellow's puppies had stayed behind; except for Jinzi, who had gone to Beijing, the rest were working in the fields watching over the greenhouses. Now that there were many new greenhouses, Zhao Tiezhu no longer went home. With no one else at home, he brought Big Yellow to the fields to eat and live in the greenhouses, which made it quite lively.

In previous years, Zhao Tiezhu hated holidays the most. At this time, he was always all alone, watching other people's families reunite, which made him feel very bad.

But this year is different.

Last night, Li Zhe said he wanted to celebrate the New Year. At first, Zhao Tiezhu didn't understand what he meant, but after Li Zhe explained it simply, he understood that it was like staying up all night during the Lunar New Year.

Last night, a group of people gathered in the greenhouse. Li Zhe moved two cases of Fenjiu liquor into the greenhouse. Besides the villagers who worked there, the village secretary and several militiamen who weren't on night duty also came. Everyone ate, drank, chatted, and laughed until 1 a.m. before dispersing.

Zhao Tiezhu returned to the greenhouse, still slightly drunk, and fell asleep immediately, sleeping soundly until now. In a nearby greenhouse, Li Zhiqiang also got up and greeted him, to which Zhao Tiezhu responded with a smile. Although the greenhouse conditions were less than ideal, it was much more lively than his own home.

Today is New Year's Day, but the work in the greenhouse can't stop. After finishing breakfast, Zhao Tiezhu and Li Zhiqiang set up trellises for the cucumber seedlings in the newly built greenhouse.

After lunch, following Li Zhe's instructions, we sprayed pesticides on the vegetables in greenhouses 16 and 17. We didn't have a break until after 3 p.m.

Not far away, Li Zhiqiang waved to him: "Zhuzi, Second Uncle is calling everyone over."

Zhao Tiezhu asked, "What does Brother Zhe want with us?"

Li Zhiqiang laughed and said, "Great news! Last month's salary is going to be paid!"

"Wow, they're already paying salaries on the 1st?"

"Isn't today the Gregorian New Year? My second uncle said he'd pay everyone's wages early so we could have some fun. He's been calculating wages in the greenhouse all morning, let's hurry over there, it'll be time to call everyone's names soon."

……

Inside greenhouse number 3.

Li Zhe sat at the table. Just like last time, he called in one person at a time to collect their salary and bonus.

The first person to come in to collect his salary was still Lao Li. He remained the team's number two core member, and when Li Zhe wasn't around, only he could keep things in order. Giving Lao Li his bonus was much more casual; it was still a case of Fenjiu liquor. He also promised Lao Li that if he worked hard, he would buy him a case of Moutai at the end of the year.

This thrilled Lao Li. Although Li Zhe had previously promised to buy him Moutai, he probably only meant buying him a bottle to taste. But now that Li Zhe had promised to buy him a whole case, how could Lao Li not try his best?
A few months ago, this was something he wouldn't have dared to dream of. Old Li felt full of energy.

Seeing his son wave him out, Old Li seemed to remember something, and his face turned somewhat grim: "Second son, your uncle didn't come today. Give me his wages and bonuses, and I'll send them to him later."

Actually, Li Zhe had noticed yesterday that his uncle wasn't there, and he was a little puzzled at the time. Later, he heard from his mother about his aunt's pregnancy, and then he suddenly remembered this matter.

Something like this happened in his past life, but Li Zhe was working at the factory tightening screws at the time and didn't know much about it. By the time he returned from the factory, Old Li had gotten into trouble again, and he had no time to concern himself with other people's business.

Even if he found out in this lifetime, as a junior, he still couldn't say much.

Everyone has a persistent side, and everyone has things they desire but cannot obtain.

After Lao Li left, the others came in one after another to collect their wages. The workers all received the same wage, 5 yuan a day, but bonuses varied depending on each person's contribution.

The highest bonuses this month went to Zhu Yimin and Zhou Qinghe. Zhu Yimin is a vegetable farmer with rich planting experience. When Li Zhe is not around, he is the main person in charge of taking care of the greenhouse vegetables. He is also responsible for the cultivation of a new batch of vegetable seedlings. With him around, Li Zhe can rest easy.

Zhou Qinghe was in charge of growing oyster mushrooms. Not only did she make money from the oyster mushrooms she grew, but she also selflessly taught everyone the oyster mushroom cultivation techniques. Li Zhe even felt embarrassed if he didn't receive enough.

After paying the workers' wages, there was still Liang Weiguo's paycheck. He was the driver, and his salary and bonuses were equally substantial. Moreover, he had served in the military and had practical experience, which could be invaluable in crucial moments; it was he who discovered that Xiao Bian and his companion were following them last time.

Finally, there was the militia's salary. The militia patrols were approved by the village, and they received a subsidy from the village. They also received an additional payment from Li Zhe. Li Zhe personally distributed the money to them, making sure they clearly understood who they were working for.

Li Zhe has now built more than a dozen greenhouses. With only his own family, it's a problem to keep watch at night. It's very important to maintain a good relationship with the militia.

But even the best relationships need shared interests to maintain them. Only when they share common interests and receive tangible benefits will they take protecting the greenhouses as their own responsibility.

(End of this chapter)