Starting with vegetable greenhouses in 1988

Chapter 143 Becoming Bigger and Stronger
“They…” Wang Xiuying opened her mouth, but didn’t know what to say.

Those who work for Li Zhe now are all relatives and friends. If they rely on feelings to maintain the relationship, they might stay for a while longer. But if they do that, it's like blocking other people's path to wealth, and in the end, relatives might turn into enemies.

Wang Xiuying also realized the real problem, "Second brother, what are your plans for next year?"

Li Zhe has been thinking about this issue recently. "As I just said, the best way is to attract more people to grow vegetables in greenhouses, expand the scale, and let everyone see the long-term benefits. This way, people's hearts will not be scattered."

Old Li took a deep breath. "Second brother, how big of an expansion are you planning for next year, and how exactly are you going to expand?"

Instead of answering, Li Zhe asked, "Dad, how much salary will I pay you next year for you to stay instead of working independently?"

Old Li smacked his lips. "To be honest, if I don't make at least 20,000 to 30,000 yuan a year, I'd rather build my own greenhouse and work independently."

Wang Xiuying was speechless. She stared at him and said, "Look at you, so capable, 20,000 or 30,000 yuan? Are you even worth that much? With that money, you could hire so many workers. Why would we need you?" No matter how much the mother and son usually argued, she always sided with her second son.

Old Li argued, "I can build two greenhouses myself next year. I'll hire a few people to work with me. Each greenhouse can earn more than 10,000 yuan, which should be about right."

Li Zhe also asked with a smile, "Dad, if your annual salary and bonus are 30,000, that's more than 2,000 a month. What do you think I should do to earn such a high profit for you?"

Old Li didn't answer immediately. He thought about it carefully for a while, then suddenly looked up and said, "Technician, I can be a technician. Next year, there will be more vegetable greenhouses, and we'll definitely need to hire more workers. I can guide them in growing vegetables. Isn't the money they earn from growing vegetables in greenhouses also thanks to me?"

Li Zhe gave a thumbs up, "You're right. By May or June next year, your experience and abilities will be more than enough to take on the job of a greenhouse technician. You can guide several, or even a dozen, workers in growing vegetables in greenhouses, which will create greater profits."

Therefore, the only way to retain talent like you is to significantly expand our vegetable greenhouses. Only with a larger platform can we fully utilize everyone's strengths and allow each person to reap the rewards they deserve.

Old Li sighed, "Second brother, you need to find an opportunity to give everyone a heads-up, let them know your plan, and let them know that following you next year will be more promising. Otherwise, when spring comes and the weather warms up next year, some people might really be thinking about going it alone."

People are easily swayed by self-interest.

If Li Zhe can get a loan from the credit union to build a greenhouse, so can anyone else.

"I'll tell you when the time is right, like today, you two already know, right?" The weather is already frozen, the ground is too hard to dig, and no one will be leaving before the New Year.

Things are constantly evolving and changing. There are some issues he hasn't figured out yet, such as the technicians' wages, profit sharing, and specific division of labor, so he can't formally discuss them with everyone. However, he will occasionally reveal some of his thoughts through conversation and jokes...

……

Early in the morning.

After having breakfast, Lin Xiaohu strode towards the greenhouse in the north of the village. He would greet the villagers he occasionally encountered along the way with a smile.

Unlike when he first returned from the fan factory, he now works in a vegetable greenhouse, earning money and receiving holiday benefits. Few people in the village don't envy him.

He walked to the north end of the village and saw Zhou Qinghe and Ma Laixiao from afar. The two of them carried a basket out of greenhouse No. 2 and walked towards the newly expanded greenhouse.

Lin Xiaohu jogged over and said, "Qinghe, let me help you carry it."

Zhou Qinghe said dismissively, "No need, the basket isn't heavy, I can lift it."

"It's okay, I'll help you." Lin Xiaohu said eagerly.

Malay pouted, "Tiger, your wife is a little tired, can you help me carry it for a while?"

Lin Xiaohu "..."

I……

Malay Xiao glared at him, "What's wrong? You're not happy about it? You can help Qinghe carry it, but you can't help me carry it."

"Yes, of course we can." Lin Xiaohu took the other side of the basket and he and Zhou Qinghe each carried one side, thinking to themselves, "This is good too, it allows us to be closer to Qinghe."

Lin Xiaohu secretly observed Zhou Qinghe. Her delicate face wasn't exactly beautiful, but she was very approachable. He remembered that on his first day working there, he was surprised to learn that Zhou Qinghe was a student at an agricultural university. He thought she would be arrogant, but to his surprise, she not only didn't put on airs, but also greeted him very warmly.

Looking at the basket that was completely covered with a quilt, Lin Xiaohu couldn't help but ask, "Qinghe, what's in this basket?"

Zhou Qinghe replied, "It's a spawn; we're making mushroom substrate today."

"Qinghe, I've heard for a long time that you grew the mushrooms in the greenhouse. I thought it was really amazing. Now that I can finally see it, how about I help you out?" Lin Xiaohu volunteered.

Zhou Qinghe squinted at him, "What, you want to learn how to grow mushrooms too?" "Yes, yes." Lin Xiaohu nodded repeatedly.

Zhou Qinghe put on a serious expression, "Then you'll have to follow orders."

"Don't worry, I'll definitely follow orders." Lin Xiaohu smiled even more broadly.

The Malay boy behind him looked even more crooked with his mouth down.

After entering greenhouse number 15, Zhou Qinghe began directing everyone to prepare the mushroom sticks and disinfection tools. Li Zhiqiang was responsible for preparing the steamer and large iron pot, while Lin Xiaohu was responsible for mixing the ingredients and bagging them.

It was warm inside the greenhouse, and it was inconvenient to work while wearing a coat. Lin Xiaohu took off his coat and stole glances at Zhou Qinghe while working. This girl had a heroic air about her, and she was very decisive in directing people to work. She was also tall and educated. Her only flaw was that she didn't have a big chest.

I overheard a coworker at the factory say that eating pig's trotters can make you bigger...

Lin Xiaohu liked it more and more as he looked at it, thinking that if he could find a college student as a girlfriend, his family would be the best in the surrounding villages.

Li Zhe walked into greenhouse number 15 and saw Lin Xiaohu working while grinning to himself. He couldn't help but ask, "Xiaohu, what's making you so happy?"

"Ah..." Lin Xiaohu came back to his senses, scratched his head, "It's nothing."

The Malay chuckled, "That silly boy is just dreaming of getting married."

After greeting his sister-in-law, Li Zhe turned to Zhou Qinghe and said, "Qinghe, come out for a bit when you're done. I have something to tell you."

"Sister-in-law, keep an eye on things, I'll be back in a bit." Zhou Qinghe put on her coat, came out of the greenhouse, and asked, "Li Zhe, what's up?"

Li Zhe got straight to the point, "I just visited greenhouses 11, 12, and 13. The first batch of transplanted leafy vegetables are basically ripe and will be ready for market soon. The tomatoes in greenhouse 2 will also be ripe soon, and the cucumbers in greenhouse 3 will be ready soon too. This batch of vegetables will yield a considerable amount. Has Director Han replied yet?"

A few days ago, Zhou Qinghe suggested opening a vegetable store catering to foreigners at Chongwenmen Market and also mentioned it to her mother: "I haven't been back for the past two days, so I really don't know. Maybe I'll go back and ask after this batch of mushrooms is planted."

"That works too. You'd better call Director Han at the village committee first. If she's interested, ask her to finalize it as soon as possible. You know, our vegetables can't wait. Once we have a stable supply channel for these vegetables, even if Director Han agrees, we won't be able to produce them in a short time."

Zhou Qinghe nodded. "I understand. I'll call the Chongwenmen vegetable market after lunch."

"Okay, you go ahead and do your work. Come find me if you need anything." After saying that, Li Zhe continued to inspect the other newly built greenhouses.

……

eight pm.

Li Weidong's home.

Li Weidong was playing with Daya on the kang (a heated brick bed), saying, "My good daughter, let Daddy give you a kiss, mmm...you're such a sweet little thing!"

Daya was amused and giggled.

The curtain was lifted from the outside, and a young man from Malaysia brought in a basin of hot water and placed it under the kang (heated brick bed). "You've had a long day, soak your feet."

Li Weidong said naturally, "Wife, you soak first, I'll use your leftover water."

"Okay, I'll soak my feet too." The Malaysian girl took off her socks and put her feet into the basin. The hot water made her gasp. As she soaked, she seemed to remember something and started chuckling to herself.

"Honey, what's wrong?" Li Weidong asked curiously.

"I'm laughing at that silly boy Lin Xiaohu. He's like a toad trying to eat swan meat, actually wanting to date Qinghe."

Li Weidong was somewhat surprised. "Lin Xiaohu likes Qinghe. How did you know? He told me."

The Malaysian girl glared at her husband. "Are you stupid? Do you have to spell it out? You can tell from his eyes and tone of voice that this silly boy is interested in Qinghe. Doesn't he realize that a college student from Beijing like Qinghe would be interested in him?"

Li Weidong nodded, "That's true. Qinghe is kind to everyone and never puts on airs. Maybe Lin Xiaohu misunderstood her."

The young Malaysian boy suddenly asked, "What do you think our mother is thinking?"

Li Weidong was stunned when he heard this. "What does this have to do with my mother?"

(End of this chapter)