Back to 2008: I Helped My Dad Become the Richest Man

The on-site audit for QS certification was passed without any major incidents.

Although the review team raised some minor issues that needed rectification, Luo Xiyuan considered them minor matters. As long as the main framework was sound, the rest was just patching things up.

According to the procedure, as long as they submit the rectification report within one month, and the review team approves it, the precious "Food Production License" can be officially issued.

This means that Roche's food factories will soon be able to legitimately and on a large scale produce and sell their own products.

This news filled the entire Luo family with joy.

Luo Xinde was overjoyed and drank a couple more glasses that night. He held Liu Ye and Sun Dahai's hands, repeatedly saying, "Brother, Master Sun, we owe you so much! Without you, our factory wouldn't have even been built, let alone passed the approval process!"

"Xinde, you're mistaken about that," Old Liu said slowly, taking a sip of tea. "The biggest contributor to the construction and approval of this factory isn't us old men, but your precious daughter."

Sun Dahai, standing to the side, nodded in deep agreement. He was now completely convinced of Luo Xiyuan's abilities. He felt that his skills, once handed over to this young girl, would not be wasted but would instead flourish.

With the food factory project settled, the Luo family's other key project—the organic fertilizer plant—has entered its final stages.

The construction of an organic fertilizer plant is relatively simpler.

It does not have high requirements for the cleanliness level of the factory; the key lies in the fermentation process and equipment.

Under the personal supervision of Mr. Liu, a "technology fanatic," the factory introduced two of the most advanced high-temperature aerobic fermentation production lines in China at the time.

Pig manure is transported directly from the pig farm to the fermentation tank through pipes. After a series of processes, including adding bacteria, heating, turning, and composting, it becomes odorless, harmless, and nutrient-rich high-quality organic fertilizer in seven days.

After being crushed, screened, granulated, dried, and packaged, organic fertilizer becomes bags of commercial organic fertilizer that can be sold directly.

"Dad, our fertilizer needs a catchy name too." That day, Luo Xiyuan looked at the piles of fertilizer in the warehouse, packed in ordinary white woven bags, and said to Luo Xinde.

"What should we name her?" Luo Xinde is now used to asking his daughter directly about everything related to "naming" and "branding".

"Let's call it 'Luo's Black Gold'," Luo Xiyuan said after thinking for a moment.

"Black Gold?" Luo Xinde clicked his tongue. "That name alone sounds valuable!"

"Yes, we want people to think that our fertilizer is as valuable as gold." Luo Xiyuan smiled. "The packaging can't be just ordinary woven bags either. I designed a new packaging bag using a moisture-proof laminated material, with our 'Luo's Black Gold' logo printed on it. We also want the fertilizer's nitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium content, organic matter content, and trace element information clearly printed on it. We want customers to know at a glance that this is a professional, technologically advanced product."

Soon, the first batch of beautifully packaged "Roche Black Gold" brand organic fertilizer officially rolled off the production line.

Now that we have the product, the next question is how to sell it.

"Xiyuan, how much should we sell this fertilizer? Should we open a specialty store like we sell pork?" Luo Xinde asked.

"Dad, that won't do." Luo Xiyuan shook her head. "Fertilizer is different from pork. Pork is a fast-moving consumer good; every household needs it. But fertilizer is a means of production; only farmers need it. Besides, they use a lot at a time, so opening a retail store wouldn't make much sense."

"Then...what should we do? Take it to the agricultural supply store in town and sell it?"

"That won't fetch a good price," Luo Xiyuan said. "Our target customers aren't small farmers who cultivate just a small plot of land. They're price-sensitive and unwilling to buy our high-quality organic fertilizer. Our target customers are large-scale, brand-conscious modern agricultural enterprises."

"Modern agricultural enterprises?" Luo Xinde heard another new term.

"Yes. They are those large-scale growers who have contracted hundreds or thousands of acres of land to grow greenhouse vegetables, organic orchards, and premium flowers," Luo Xiyuan explained. "The products they grow are sold to large supermarkets in the city, and some are even exported. They have very high quality requirements and desperately need our kind of organic fertilizer that can improve the soil and enhance the flavor of the fruit. Moreover, they have plenty of money."

"But...but are there such people in our county? I've never heard of them before." Luo Xinde was somewhat doubtful.

"It might not have existed before, but it does now." Luo Xiyuan's eyes shone with confidence.

She turned on her computer and pulled up a document she had prepared long ago.

"Dad, look. This is what I found on the county agricultural bureau's website. Since last year, in order to adjust the industrial structure, our county has vigorously introduced and supported a number of modern agricultural projects. For example, the 'Green Source' 10,000-mu vegetable base in the suburbs is invested by a Hong Kong boss, and their vegetables are specially supplied to Hong Kong and Shenzhen. Also, the 'Four Seasons Spring' ecological strawberry garden in Xishan Town, their strawberries can sell for more than 30 yuan per jin, all for picking and gift box sales. And the rose planting base on the north slope..."

Luo Xiyuan pointed to the computer screen and introduced each of the county's emerging agricultural projects to her father.

Luo Xinde was dumbfounded. He never expected that so many "modern" agricultural practices he had never heard of had emerged on this land he knew so well.

"These people are our first batch of 'Luo's Black Gold' customers!" Luo Xiyuan said confidently. "They are the ones who truly know their stuff!"

"Then... how do we contact them?"

"I've compiled their contact information and addresses." Luo Xiyuan printed out a form and handed it to her father. "Dad, this matter still requires your personal attention."

"Me?" Luo Xinde was a little hesitant. "Me, a pig farmer, trying to do business with vegetable and flower growers... is that even possible?"

"Why not?" Luo Xiyuan encouraged him. "What is your status now? You're the chairman of Luo's Farm, a star entrepreneur in our county! Your personal visit to discuss cooperation is giving them face!"

"Besides, you don't need to say anything complicated," Luo Xiyuan advised him again. "Just bring our samples, and photos of our farm and food factory. Tell them that we raise 'organic pigs' using the best feed. Our pig manure is processed using state-of-the-art technology to make this 'black gold' organic fertilizer. Only vegetables grown with our fertilizer can be called truly 'organic vegetables'!"

"You can also invite them to visit our farm and factory. Let them see for themselves how our pigs are raised and how our fertilizer is produced. Once they come and see for themselves, they'll definitely believe in us!"

Under his daughter's "training" and encouragement, Luo Xinde once again gritted his teeth and embarked on the journey of becoming a "salesman".

He drove his blue pickup truck, which was loaded with dozens of beautifully packaged samples of "Luo's Black Gold" organic fertilizer. Following the list given by Luo Xiyuan, his first stop was the "Green Source" 10,000-mu vegetable base in the suburbs.

This vegetable base is even larger than Roche Farms. Rows of huge greenhouses, under the sunlight, look like a white ocean, stretching as far as the eye can see.

Luo Xinde parked his car at the entrance and explained his purpose to the security guard.

The security guard made a phone call, and a short while later, a young man wearing glasses and looking quite refined came out.

"Hello, you must be Mr. Luo from Luo's Farm? I'm the base manager here, my surname is Huang." Manager Huang politely extended his hand.

Luo Xinde quickly shook hands with him: "Manager Huang, hello, hello. I hope my visit is not intrusive and that I haven't disturbed you?"

"No, no. We've heard so much about Boss Luo!" Manager Huang said with a smile. "Everyone in the county knows you're a pig-raising expert, and a leading figure in wealth creation personally commended by the county head. Please come in!"

Luo Xinde hadn't expected his fame to have grown so much. He followed Manager Huang into the vegetable base.

Luo Xinde was stunned as soon as he entered the greenhouse.

Inside the greenhouse, rows of shelves were filled with all sorts of vegetables. Tomatoes, cucumbers, bok choy... they all looked incredibly fresh and lush. And, throughout the entire greenhouse, not a single worker could be seen. Only some pipes were automatically spraying water and fertilizing.

"Boss Luo, we use Israeli hydroponics and fertigation technology here," Manager Huang proudly introduced. "All the vegetables, from planting to harvesting, are computer-controlled."

Luo Xinde was completely confused. He felt like Grandma Liu visiting the Grand View Garden, where everything was new and exciting.

"Manager Huang, your vegetables are really well grown. So... what kind of fertilizer do you use?" Luo Xinde finally got to the point.

"We mainly use compound nutrient solution imported from the Netherlands," said Manager Huang. "However, in order to improve the soil and enhance the flavor, we also add some organic fertilizer to the substrate. But the quality of domestic organic fertilizers varies greatly, many of which are not fully decomposed and can easily burn seedlings. We have not yet found a suitable supplier."

"Manager Huang!" Luo Xinde saw his chance! He immediately unloaded a bag of "Luo's Black Gold" fertilizer from his car and placed it in front of Manager Huang. "Look at this fertilizer! It's made from the manure of our own organic pigs, fermented for forty-nine days... no, seven days at high temperatures! Absolutely fully decomposed, absolutely harmless! Smell it, there's no stench at all, it even has an earthy aroma!"

Manager Huang was amused by his simple yet slightly exaggerated sales pitch.

He squatted down, opened the packaging bag, grabbed a handful of black fertilizer granules, smelled them, and then rubbed them between his fingers.

"Hmm..." His expression turned serious. "It has a high organic matter content, the grains are uniform, and it's well-dried. It definitely looks like a good product."

"Manager Huang, just looking isn't enough! You have to try it!" Luo Xinde patted his chest and said, "Today, I'm sending you twenty bags for free! Just find a plot of land and use our fertilizer specifically, and compare it with your Dutch nutrient solution! See which one grows vegetables that taste better! If ours isn't good, I'll take it all back to you without hesitation! If ours is better, then... we can talk about cooperation!"

Luo Xinde's sales pitch, which combined betting with boasting, impressed Manager Huang.

"Great! Boss Luo, that's a good decision!" Manager Huang immediately approved. "Just because of your confidence, I'll give this fat a try!"