Old Mrs. Song is reborn; get out of here, you scumbag husband and illegitimate child!

In the days that followed, Song Xianglan was constantly on the move.

The villagers signed the agreement more smoothly than she had expected.

Village Party Secretary Lao Liu and the brigade leader went door-to-door, and those who wanted to grow asparagus and mushrooms were asked to register at the brigade headquarters. Huang Ronghua's wife helped organize the list, checking the acreage and signatures/fingerprints for each household.

More than forty households reported cases in the first three days.

But not everyone buys into it.

Old Li, from the east end of the village, squatted on his doorstep, a pipe dangling from his mouth, and shouted at passersby from a distance:

"Why bother growing white asparagus? Our ancestors have been growing rice, corn, and sweet potatoes for generations. Why bother with all this fancy stuff? When we lose everything, who will cry then?"

There were several others with him.

"Rapeseed is reliable, and soybeans are dependable. In famine years, we people of Qingyang relied on sweet potatoes to feed our entire families."

"Giving away land to someone to mess around with just a couple of words from a professor from outside? Have you lost your mind?"

"What if we can't sell them? No matter how good the contract is, who will we complain to if Song Xianglan denies it later?"

"It's no use if there's no harvest in the fields. The money was spent in the end."

When these words reached Song Xianglan's ears, she didn't even lift an eyelid.

Those who are willing to work will sign an agreement; those who are unwilling will not be forced.

She's not in the charity business, so she doesn't need to ask anyone for favors.

The captain, however, was so anxious that he developed blisters around his mouth.

He came to Song Xianglan and asked if they should hold another mobilization meeting.

Song Xianglan waved her hand: "No need. You can't force things. Once the first batch of vegetables is grown and the money is in hand, they'll come on their own without you having to persuade them."

The captain thought about it and agreed that it made sense.

He cursed them, saying they were short-sighted and only knew how to bury themselves in farming all their lives.

The list of those who will sign the agreement has been finalized.

There was no money in the first year of growing asparagus, so the harvest could only be completed in the second year.

Only a few families, including Wang Zhihe, Huang Ronghua, Zhou Fang, Liu Yukun, Liu Chounü, Liu Dahua, Widow Wang, and Zhang Qin, grow asparagus.

Most other people chose shiitake mushrooms, oyster mushrooms, and nameko mushrooms, while a few bolder households chose morel mushrooms.

The situation in Tangjiazhuang was similar, except that only the Tang Zhong brothers and a few others chose to grow asparagus.

Others are either mushrooms (i.e., inactive) or taking a wait-and-see attitude.

Mushrooms are fast-acting and have low risk.

Mushrooms can be grown in the first year, and most people think it's safest to start by growing mushrooms.

The hilltops that Song Xianglan had contracted came in very handy at this time.

Chen Ke led Hong Tianmiao and Gao Shengde on a three-day field survey, and finally identified two broad-leaved forests, saying that the conditions for growing mushrooms under the forest were excellent.

The light, humidity, and temperature are all just right.

"This kind of woodland is practically a natural mushroom house."

Chen Ke squatted in the woods, grabbed a handful of humus and rubbed it in his hand. "All we need is a simple shade frame, and we can save more than half the cost."

The plan for planting under the trees was decided.

There's no need to elaborate on the eldest brother of the Song family in Songjiazhuang.

Song Xianglan made a phone call, and the next day, Song Laoda rode his bicycle to Xiaoquan Brigade.

After returning home, they pulled Song Lao Er and Song Lao San together and cleared out all their land to prepare for seedling cultivation.

Seven or eight other households from Songjiazhuang also signed up.

However, most people remain hesitant and take a wait-and-see approach.

The people of Songjiazhuang are just like those of Xiaoquan Brigade; they plant whatever their ancestors planted.

Rice, rapeseed, soybeans, peanuts, corn, and sweet potatoes are all thriving, with guaranteed harvests regardless of drought or flood.

What exactly is asparagus?

They've never even seen it before, who would dare gamble with their own land?

Mushrooms grow quickly, but it requires a significant investment of money.

They are unwilling to invest more money than they would invest in rice or rapeseed.

Song Xianglan never encouraged anyone to make money.

Mid-November.

Song Xiangdong made a phone call.

The call was made to the factory office.

"Mom, there's something I need to tell you."

"speak."

"Haven't you been worried about the factory lacking a capable factory manager? I have someone in mind."

Do you know anyone there?

"His name is Zhao Guodong. He used to work at the Provincial Food Factory No. 2."

"The Provincial Food Factory No. 2? That's a big factory, why is he out here?"

Song Xiangdong's voice lowered on the other end of the phone:

"I was forced out for some reason. That factory was very seniority-based."

Zhao Guodong has a technical background and developed several best-selling product lines, but all the credit is given to others.

He was nominated for promotion three times, but each time his nomination was rejected.

The last time, he was even ousted from his position as deputy factory director and transferred to the logistics department, relegated to a menial post. In a fit of anger, he resigned.

Song Xianglan leaned back in her chair.

"How are your abilities?"

"Mom, let me tell you the truth. If this person were in the right position, he would be more than ten times better than those factory managers who got in through connections."

When he was at the provincial food factory No. 2, he single-handedly managed several production lines. He was the one who developed the recipe for the canned food that won the provincial award. But when it came time to give the award, his name wasn't even listed.

Song Xiangdong paused for a moment.

"But this guy is stubborn and doesn't know how to get along with people or flatter. That's why he can't get by in that kind of place. He's definitely a master at getting things done."

Song Xianglan remained silent for a few seconds.

"Where is he?"

"He lives in Xincheng; he's the older brother of my old comrade-in-arms. He came to Xincheng this time looking for work, and when I asked him, he said he was willing to go to Qingyang as well."

"Let him come to see me."

"Okay. I'll call him tomorrow."

After Song Xiangdong hung up the phone.

Song Xianglan sat in her office, lost in thought.

The factory is expanding its operations more and more.

She had to manage transportation, the factory, and keep an eye on Chen Ke's experimental fields all by herself.

The daily management of the food factory has already left her with no time to spare.

She needs someone capable of managing the factory independently.

three days later.

Zhao Guodong has arrived.

When Song Xianglan met people at the factory, her first impression was that they were people who got things done.

Zhao Guodong was in his early forties, of medium build, wearing work clothes and carrying an old leather bag. His hair was shaved short, his face had strong features, and his lips were tightly pursed.

He stood there without saying a word, but his eyes swept across the entire factory area.

"Director Zhao." Song Xianglan extended her hand.

Zhao Guodong was taken aback. "Boss Song, I'm not the factory manager anymore."

"When you get here, that's it."

Song Xianglan smiled and said, "Let's go in and take a look."

She led Zhao Guodong on a tour of the factory.

I visited the production workshop, raw material warehouse, finished product warehouse, and quality inspection room—I didn't miss a single one.

Zhao Guodong walked and observed along the way.

Occasionally, I would stop to touch the equipment and ask a few questions about its capacity and process parameters.

After completing a full circle.

The two returned to the office and sat down.

Song Xianglan poured him a cup of tea.

"What were your thoughts after watching it?"

Zhao Guodong held his teacup, thought for a moment, and then spoke: "The equipment is not bad, and the workers' operating procedures are acceptable. But there are three problems."

"explain."

"First, the production line layout is unreasonable. The raw materials have to take a long detour from the warehouse to the workshop, which wastes manpower due to the excessive transportation distance."

We can just change the raw material intake to the north side.

Second, the quality inspection process is too late. If inspection is only done after the finished product is completed, the scrap rate cannot be reduced.

An inspection should be conducted at the semi-finished product stage to nip problems in the bud. Third…”

Zhao Guodong looked up at Song Xianglan.

"Third, the product line is too limited. You are currently relying on a few products to compete in the market. This may be fine in the short term, but it is risky in the long term."

If market tastes change, or competitors enter the market, and you don't have a replacement product, you'll quickly be eliminated by the market.

After listening, Song Xianglan picked up her teacup and took a sip.

This guy is definitely skilled.

She herself was aware of the first and second problems.

I've just been too busy to make changes.

The third question hit the nail on the head.

"Zhao Guodong, I'll offer you a monthly salary of 600. There will be a year-end bonus, and after three years you'll get 10% of the company's shares."

You'll be in charge of this factory for me, with full responsibility for production, technology, and quality. I'll manage personnel and finances for now, and hand them over to you once you've established yourself.

Zhao Guodong's teacup wobbled slightly.

He was only 140 centimeters tall when he was the deputy director of the No. 2 Provincial Food Factory.

Later, I went to a small factory in the neighborhood and it only cost ninety yuan.

"Boss Song, I have one condition."

"you say."

"I need absolute decision-making power in product development. I will determine the formula, process, and quality control standards. If anyone interferes, such as someone's cronies trying to dictate things, I will not tolerate it."

That was a blunt remark; any other boss would have frowned long ago.

Song Xianglan smiled.

"In my factory, there are no cronies. Whoever works gets paid, and whoever doesn't work gets fired. I hired you to do things, not to be mistreated. Go ahead and do your job, and I'll take responsibility if anything goes wrong."

Zhao Guodong's Adam's apple bobbed slightly.

He had been holding back his anger for over a decade at the provincial No. 2 Food Factory, and then for another six months at that small street factory where he earned ninety yuan a month.

No leader had ever said anything like that to him.

"Okay. I'll do it."

Zhao Guodong stayed that day.

Song Xianglan arranged a one-bedroom apartment for him in the dormitory building behind the factory area, with all the bedding, washbasins, and thermos flasks being brand new.

He also told him that his wife could come and he could arrange a job for her, and even the children could come with him.

She can arrange a house for him in the village.

Zhao Guodong said he would send his wife and children over after the New Year.

On his first day in office, Zhao Guodong called the workshop director over for a meeting.

At the meeting, he put forward rectification plans one by one. The workshop director was initially unconvinced, thinking that a newcomer from out of town had no right to point fingers.

Zhao Guodong didn't get angry. He simply led him to the workshop, pointed to a workstation, and said:

"Look at this operation. Each time a worker picks up a material, he has to bend over three times and stand up twice. In a shift, this alone wastes forty minutes of time."

Raising the worktable by ten centimeters and moving the material pick-up point to the right-hand side can add forty minutes of production time per shift. You can calculate how much that is per month.

The workshop foreman did the math.

His expression changed.

He brought people to make the changes that very afternoon.

Song Xianglan stood in front of the office window, looking down at the workshop.

This person was chosen correctly.

Time flies, and it's already December.

The asparagus seedlings and mushroom spawn in the seedling room are growing well.

Chen Ke comes every other week, while Hong Tianmiao and Gao Shengde take turns staying there, recording temperature, humidity and growth data every day.

The red envelopes that Song Xianglan gave to Chen Ke and the other two people got thicker and thicker each time.

Chen Ke declined twice, but then he gave up.

He had been poor for most of his life, and he was deeply grateful when someone took out real money to support his research.

He made quite a few achievements in the experimental fields of the Xiaoquan Brigade.

The pineapple seedlings have taken root, the tomatoes have grown to the size of a fist, and the green beans are densely covering the trellis.

The lettuce in the greenhouse ripens first.

The first batch of lettuce was harvested on the nineteenth day of the twelfth lunar month.

Song Xianglan squatted at the edge of the field early in the morning, watching the workers carry basket after basket out.

The tender green leaves are fresh and vibrant, and each plant grows evenly and neatly.

She broke off a leaf and ate it raw.

Crisp and juicy.

"This batch should yield over 3,000 jin," Hong Tianmiao said, flipping through his notebook. "The yield is 25 percent higher than expected."

Song Xianglan called Song Dong that same day.

"Song Dong, get me a refrigerated truck. The first batch of vegetables needs to be sent to Haishi."

Song Dong laughed on the other end of the phone.

"Third Aunt, I was just about to tell you about this. I've already spoken to the wholesale market in Haishi. The vegetables can be delivered directly there, and I'll arrange for someone to pick them up."