Starting with vegetable greenhouses in 1988

Chapter 28 Different thoughts

Zhou Yufeng was stunned by the question and had a bad feeling, but she didn't hide anything. "The money Dad left behind after he passed away, plus what we earned ourselves, totals more than two thousand yuan. What do you want to do with it?"

"Did you know that the second son of Old Li from Group Four built a vegetable greenhouse in the north of the village?"

"I know, everyone in the village says he's lost his mind. He'd rather be working in a proper factory than work in the fields. They say building that greenhouse cost several thousand yuan, probably all of his parents' savings. Even the matchmakers in our village know about it, so who would dare to propose to him now?"

Zhu Yimin was stunned for a moment. "What kind of nonsense is this? The second son of the Li family has set up the greenhouse properly and is doing a legitimate business. It's not as bad as they say. In the future, stop meddling with those women. All they do is gossip and can't stand seeing others do well."

"Are you on fire today? I was talking about someone else, not you, and you're getting all worked up over it? Is it really necessary?"

The Zhu family was a lone household that fled famine. His father's generation had just settled in Daying Village. Zhu Yimin was small and thin and had a non-local accent, so he was inevitably bullied by his peers and was often gossiped about by the women in the village.

He was determined to make something of himself, to earn the respect of the villagers, and to surpass his peers who had bullied him.

His resolve grew stronger, "Wife, I also want to build a vegetable greenhouse."

"Are you crazy, or did a donkey kick your head?" Zhou Yufeng raised her voice.

"Why are you in such a hurry? I'm just discussing this with you. I just have this idea, I didn't say I had to plant it."

"Get rid of this idea as soon as possible! It's obviously a pit of fire, and you're still jumping in headfirst. Aren't you afraid people will laugh their teeth out?"

“What do they know? They’ve only ever grown a few vegetable plots; they’re just messing around. My family has been growing vegetables for three generations; I’m the real expert. I think this vegetable greenhouse has potential.” Zhu Yimin pulled out his trump card. “I’m your man. Do you believe them or me?”

Zhou Yufeng stared at her husband and said in a gentler tone, "Why would I believe them? I'm not relying on them for a living. If you really want to build a vegetable greenhouse, that's fine. If the second son of the Li family makes money, we can build one next year too."

Zhu Yimin knew his wife's idea was more appropriate, but the thought of the new-style vegetable greenhouse made his heart ache like a cat scratching at it...

"Eat first, the porridge is getting cold." Zhou Yufeng stuffed a steamed bun into her husband's hand and didn't mention the matter again.

……

After the cucumber seedlings were transplanted, they were in the recovery period. Broccoli and the second batch of cucumbers were also sown. There wasn't much work to do in the greenhouse, so Li Zhe had some free time.

Yesterday, Wang Xiuying also came to the field. Although her son said that living in the greenhouse was fine, she was still worried and wanted to come and see for herself. She even sewed a sunshade out of fertilizer bags.

Right now, Li Zhe was sitting under the sunshade, drinking tea from a large iron jar. The tea leaves were high-quality tea leaves brought by Zhao Tiezhu, who said they were a gift from an old customer who frequently used his horse-drawn carriage.

The tea has a light aroma, a strong flavor, and a slightly bitter taste; it's alright to drink.

A figure can be vaguely seen on the dirt road between the fields.

As the man approached, Li Zhe recognized him as Lin Xiaohu, the son of Zhang Yuzhen, the shop's agent.

These days I often see him wandering around the neighborhood. When the two of them make eye contact, they pretend nothing's wrong and stroll over.

Once or twice, he might just be passing by, but after it happened so many times, Li Zhe felt that this guy was watching him.

Li Zhe had assumed that he would simply 'pass by' as before.

Unexpectedly, the other person walked over, smiled, and handed Li Zhe a cigarette, "Brother Li, have a Guantang."

"I've quit." Li Zhe didn't take the cigarette, but asked instead, "Did you need something?"

"I saw you'd built a greenhouse, so I came over to take a look," Lin Xiaohu said, as he went inside. "Hey, it's really warm in here. Are you planning to grow vegetables?"

"cucumber."

"Brother Li, you must have invested a lot of money in this greenhouse, right?"

Li Zhe countered, "You want to build one too?" "No, no, I don't have the ability." Lin Xiaohu hesitated for a moment, chatted for a few more minutes, then said goodbye and left.

Li Zhe stared at the other person's back, unable to figure out his purpose. He wondered to himself, "Could it be that he, like Zhu Yimin, also wants to grow vegetables in greenhouses?"

He then denied this speculation.

Vegetable greenhouses have low barriers to entry, but require a significant investment, and not everyone dares to grow them. Zhu Yimin is a vegetable farmer, and in his previous life, he was the first person in the village to grow vegetables in greenhouses, so he might have some ideas.

Lin Xiaohu has never even grown vegetables before, so how could he have the guts to invest thousands to build a greenhouse? What was his motivation?
Li Zhe shook his head, unable to figure it out, and too lazy to think about it anymore.

The fact that one or two households are following suit and planting in greenhouses has little impact on the vegetable market in Beijing, so he continues to follow his own plan.

He only cultivated one acre of vegetables in a greenhouse, earning at most tens of thousands of yuan. That's enough to improve his life, but far from sufficient to truly build a business. Only by accumulating enough capital this year can he achieve greater development next year and secure a place in the off-season vegetable market.

He plans to continue raising funds to expand the scale of the vegetable greenhouses.

Previously, Li Zhe had borrowed 6,000 yuan from the credit union, given his mother 50 yuan for household expenses, and spent a total of 4668 yuan on building the greenhouse. Li Zhe also needed to set aside 500 yuan to buy pesticides and fertilizers, leaving him with less than 800 yuan available.

Cucumbers won't be on the market until early November, at which point we can recoup our investment. But by then, it will be too late to start building greenhouses.

After November, rain and snow will increase in the north, and temperatures will drop sharply, making construction very difficult. Even regular construction teams will have to stop working.

Autumn in the north is extremely short, and it gets cold very quickly. Li Zhe needs to start construction on expanding his vegetable greenhouses as soon as possible, at least to build the foundation and walls. The subsequent construction can be delayed.

The most urgent task is to make money, and it would be best to turn all the family's acres of land into greenhouses.

Li Zhe had planned where the money would come from before: a second loan from the credit union.

At the time, he discussed this issue with Director Sun of the credit union. Director Sun's idea was that the first loan could be 6,000 yuan. After Li Zhe's greenhouse was built, he would bring the leaders of the credit union to inspect it. Once the greenhouse was built and it was confirmed to be there, an additional loan could be granted.

Li Zhe understood what Director Sun meant. After all, words are not enough. What if you say you want to build a greenhouse and then run away with the money?
Now that the greenhouse is built, Li Zhe wants to invite Director Sun to visit it and apply for an increased loan amount.

……

Consignment store.

When Zhang Yuzhen saw her son Lin Xiaohu come in, she asked, "You went to the north of the village again?"

Lin Xiaohu peered out from the door frame, saying, "I not only went there today, but I also went into the shed and talked to Li's second son."

Zhang Yuzhen lowered her voice, "How is it?"

“I’ve been watching him for a few days, and he’s been staying in the greenhouse the whole time, his mind is all on growing vegetables. I guess he really doesn’t want to work in the fan factory.”

Zhang Yuzhen was initially delighted, but then had some concerns. "Being a worker is so respectable, with regular hours and a monthly salary. Why wouldn't he want to go?"

"I don't understand it either, but I didn't dare to ask."

"What's there to be afraid of? We're not stealing or robbing."

"Mom, do you remember when we were little? You tore off a piece of green silk to make clothes for my sister, but she didn't like the color. You wanted to make clothes for me instead, but she regretted it as soon as she turned around and snatched the cloth back. I was so happy for nothing."

What if Li Zhe changes his mind and tries to take my spot at the fan factory?

“That’s right. It’s better to avoid trouble. Working in a factory is worse than toiling in the fields.” Zhang Yuzhen thought for a moment. “Today, Hei Jie, let’s take some money and some rice cakes to Kuai Zui’s house and finalize the matter of getting him into the factory.”

"Hmm." Lin Xiaohu rubbed his hands together with delight, as if he could see himself wearing work clothes and riding a Forever 28-inch bicycle around the factory area.

(End of this chapter)