My 1995 Small Farm.

Chapter 981 Rain of Words
"Things that are rare are valuable."

"Secondly, the quality speaks for itself."

Chen Ling pointed at the canned food: "If you randomly find ten or eight people who know how to eat to do a blind tasting, I dare say that ten out of ten will be able to taste the difference. This is not a psychological effect, but a real crushing difference in taste, aroma, and aftertaste."

"third."

Chen Ling paused for a moment, "Our target customers are not ordinary people. There are more and more wealthy people in the city now. What are they pursuing?"
It's about quality, it's about uniqueness, it's about being 'different'.

A can of apricots costing over twenty yuan might be expensive for an average family, but for some, it's just the price of a pack of cigarettes.

They're willing to pay for 'good taste'.

“I’ve seen too many examples like this on Hong Kong Island. The same tea, packaged differently and told a good story, can increase in price tenfold.”

Our canned apricots are of genuine quality; there's no need for fabricated stories, it's just solid performance.

Han Chuang rubbed his hands, clearly persuaded, but still had concerns: "That makes sense... but our county doesn't have that many rich people. If we set such a high price, who will buy it?"

"The county sells a portion, mainly for gifts and entertainment."

Chen Ling had already planned ahead: "The key markets are in the provincial capital and several major cities in the south."

Chuangzi, didn't you say last time that a wholesaler from the south had contacted the factory?
We can send them samples of this batch of premium canned goods first.

They know their stuff; they know good things will sell.

He thought for a moment and added, "In addition, the packaging can be upgraded. Individual cans can be packaged in a simple gift box, or two cans can be packaged in a box, or four cans can be packaged in a box, making them convenient for gifting."

A more elegant box design doesn't increase the cost by much, but it immediately elevates the perceived quality.

Han Chuang listened, his eyes growing brighter and brighter: "Lingzi, you're got the brains... you're really cut out for business! Okay, we'll do it your way! I'll go back and finalize the plan with the factory, but..."

He hesitated for a moment: "The quality of the ingredients for these premium canned goods must be guaranteed. What if the taste of the apricots from your orchard changes next year? Our business..."

"Don't worry about this."

Chen Ling said confidently, "I know my orchard well. The quality will only get better year by year, it won't get worse."

"Okay! I feel relieved to hear that!"

Han Chuang slapped his thigh: "I'll go back and prepare right away. Let's make 5,000 cans as the first batch to test the waters!"

Chen Ling laughed and said, "No rush, it's noon. Let's have lunch before we leave. We'll make a couple of dishes and have a couple of drinks."

"Okay, I was just worried you'd be too busy. I've been wanting to eat at your house and drink your wine for a while now," Han Chuang said with a grin.

"I especially miss that jar of 'Eight Treasures Wine' we had at your house last time. I've been craving it so much since I got back!"

Chen Ling laughed and scolded, "Look at you, so timid. That wine is medicinal wine, you can't drink too much of it. Let's drink something home-style today. I brewed persimmon wine last autumn, it's just right now."

The two chatted and laughed as they walked toward the farm.

Rui Rui and Xiao Ming, along with Liu Ni'er and her group of children, each held a small bowl filled with golden apricot flesh, and ate with beaming smiles.

Little Iron Egg wagged its tail and followed behind, watching longingly. Occasionally, a child would drop a small piece, and it would nimbly dart over and snatch it away, making the children laugh out loud.

When they returned to the farm, Wang Susu had already started making preparations.

The aroma of stir-frying wafted from the kitchen, and bowls and chopsticks were set out on the stone table under the grape trellis in the courtyard.

Gao Xiulan was playing with Kang Kang and Lele under the locust tree. The two little ones were chasing a butterfly, stumbling and falling. Heiwa and Xiaojin followed on either side, afraid that they would fall.

"Susu, prepare a couple more dishes, Chuangzi is here!" Chen Ling called out to the kitchen.

"Okay!" Wang Susu poked her head out and greeted Han Chuang with a smile, "Chuangzi, have a seat, it'll be ready soon!"

Han Chuang placed the canned food he had brought under the eaves and rubbed his hands together, saying, "Sister-in-law, don't bother, just eat something simple."

"No way, you've come all this way."

Wearing an apron, Wang Susu deftly flipped a spatula in her hand: "A-Ling, go to the cellar and get a jar of wine, and catch two crucian carp. We'll make a fish soup for lunch."

"Okay!" Chen Ling replied, leading Han Chuang towards the backyard.

“I used to do all the cooking, at least one meal a day, but your sister-in-law has recently gotten tired of taking care of the baby and really enjoys doing chores. Her cooking skills have improved a lot too. You can try it later.”

"That's great! Hehe, Lingzi, your life is really interesting."

Han Chuang chuckled.

The cellar was next to the woodshed. Lifting the wooden plank, a blast of cool air hit us.

Go down the wooden ladder, and you'll find dozens of ceramic jars neatly stacked inside. Each jar has a red paper sticker with the words "Persimmon Wine," "Hawthorn Wine," and "Mulberry Wine" written on it.

Chen Ling brought out a jar of persimmon wine, its surface covered with fine water droplets, clearly indicating that it had been aged very well.

"This cellar is even cooler than my main room," Han Chuang exclaimed in amazement.

"Just messing around for nothing," Chen Ling chuckled, and the two returned to the courtyard.

Two more lively crucian carp, each about the length of a palm, were scooped out of the farm's irrigation ditch, their scales shimmering silver in the light.

Wang Susu's dishes have been served one after another.

Stir-fried cured pork with garlic sprouts. The cured pork was homemade last winter, with alternating layers of fat and lean meat, and it was stir-fried until glossy.

This cucumber salad uses tender cucumbers, which are smashed and mixed with minced garlic, vinegar, and sesame oil for a refreshing and appetizing flavor.

Stir-fried eggs with chives; the eggs are from our own chickens, and they're a beautiful golden yellow.

There was also a bowl of freshly steamed white flour buns, so soft and fluffy they could bounce.

Chen Ling handed the fish to Wang Susu and then broke the mud seal on the wine jar himself.

A rich, fruity aroma wafted out, a unique fragrance that combined the mellowness of grain liquor with the sweetness of persimmon, making one's mouth water just by smelling it.

"Wow! This wine smells amazing!"

Han Chuang took a deep breath, his Adam's apple bobbing.

Chen Ling took two rough porcelain bowls and poured the amber-colored liquor into them. The liquor clung to the sides of the bowls, and the bubbles were delicate and long-lasting.

"Here, have a taste first." Chen Ling picked up the bowl.

Han Chuang didn't stand on ceremony. He picked up the bowl, took a sip, and his eyes immediately lit up: "Good wine! Sweet, not harsh on the throat, but with a strong aftertaste!"

The two clinked bowls together and each took a big gulp.

The liquor is smooth and mellow as it goes down, with a fruity aroma that fills the mouth. It is indeed much better than ordinary spirits.

At this moment, Wang Susu came over with a large bowl of milky white crucian carp soup: "The fish soup is here, be careful it's hot."

The soup bowl was placed down, steaming hot and fragrant.

The soup was milky white, with two whole crucian carp floating in it, along with a few pieces of tender tofu and slices of ginger, sprinkled with chopped green onions. It looked incredibly tempting.

Rui Rui and Xiao Ming had been circling around the table for a while, their eyes fixed on the dishes.

Gao Xiulan served them fish soup, blew on it to cool it down before handing it to them: "Drink slowly, be careful it's hot."

"Thank you, Grandma!" the two children said in unison, holding their bowls and sipping their drinks with satisfaction on their faces.

"Susu, sit down and eat too." Chen Ling poured half a bowl of wine for Wang Susu as well. "You've been busy all morning."

Wang Susu took off her apron and sat down, smiling, "I'll drink less; I still have to look after the kids this afternoon."

The four sat around a table with the children nearby. The grape trellis cast dappled sunlight, and a gentle breeze carried the fragrance of the fields.

This lunch was exceptionally satisfying.

Han Chuang drank two bowls of wine and then started talking: "Lingzi, to be honest, sometimes I lie in bed at night and think about it. These past few years have felt like a dream. Back when we were in school, who would have thought we'd be where we are today?"

He counted on his fingers: "You've made a name for yourself in the village, with farms, schools, and dikes. I run a cannery in town, and although I'm incredibly busy, life is truly promising."

Then think about the rest of our classmates; most of them are still struggling to make a living in the dirt.

Chen Ling poured him a drink: "It's all because we were born at a good time, and because we dared to take risks."

"Yeah, they dare to take risks!" Han Chuang slapped his thigh hard. "Just for that, let's go for another one!"

The two of them finished another bowl.

After a few rounds of drinks, Han Chuang's face flushed, and he became even more talkative: "Lingzi, do you really think our premium canned food can sell for more than twenty yuan a can? I'm still a little skeptical... How about we order ten yuan a can first and see?"

Chen Ling picked up a piece of cured meat and said slowly, "Chuangzi, do you remember those biscuits in tin boxes from the supply and marketing cooperative when we were kids?"

"I remember, it's the Peony brand. A box costs more than a dollar, and we only buy it during holidays."

"Yes, back then, who in an ordinary family would be willing to buy that on a daily basis? But did it sell in small quantities? Quite a few."

why?
Because some people need to give gifts, some need to entertain guests, and some just want to have a nice meal.

Chen Ling put down his chopsticks: "Times have changed. City people have money now. What they lack is not money, but 'good things'."

He pointed to the can of premium apricot preserves: "If you take our stuff to the provincial capital's department store and put it next to those imported canned goods, it won't be inferior at all."

It tastes even better.

Why can't it be sold at a higher price?

Han Chuang seemed to be deep in thought.

Chen Ling continued, "Besides, if we set the price higher, we'll have room for profit to do advertising and expand our channels. If we keep going down the old path of low profit and high volume, we'll always be operating on a small scale."

"That's the logic..."

Han Chuang scratched his head. "I'm just afraid of taking too big a step and tearing my balls."

These words amused Wang Cunye: "Chuangzi is still so straightforward."

Chen Ling laughed and said, "Don't worry, it's not a problem. Here's what we'll do: for the first batch of 5,000 cans, you can send samples to the provincial capital and the south at the price I told you. If they don't sell within a month, I'll make up the difference."

"That won't work!"

Han Chuang glared at him. "This business is between the two of us. How can I let you bear the risk alone? Fine, we'll do it your way! Damn it, I'm going all in. Even if this batch of goods is lost, I, Han Chuang, can afford it!"

"That's more like it." Chen Ling raised his bowl. "Come on, let's wish our canned goods sell like hotcakes!"

"A huge success!"

The bowls clinked together, splashing wine everywhere.

As they were drinking, footsteps came from outside the courtyard.

Wang Laishun arrived with two young men, carrying several carp strung on straw ropes, each weighing two or three pounds.

"Wealth!"

Wang Laishun walked in with a smile: "I went for a stroll by the reservoir at noon and caught a few fish. I'll add some dishes for you."

"Fifth Uncle, you've come at the perfect time! Sit down and have a couple of drinks!" Chen Ling stood up and offered him a seat.

Wang Laishun didn't stand on ceremony. He told the two young men to put the fish in the kitchen, and then pulled up a small stool and sat down.

Wang Susu added bowls and chopsticks, then went to the kitchen to clean the fish, preparing to make braised carp.

"Fifth Uncle, how's the wheat drying going in the village?" Chen Ling poured Wang Laishun a glass of wine.

"It's drying right now!"

Wang Laishun picked up his bowl and took a big gulp, then wiped his mouth: "The threshing grounds are all covered with wheat, and every household's yard is full of wheat. This rain came just in time; we managed to harvest the wheat, and the land was thoroughly irrigated. Now we're just hoping for sunny weather so the wheat can dry properly for a few days."

He paused, then lowered his voice: "But Fugui, I just went to the embankment and looked at the sky in the east. Something's not right. The clouds are very thick and dark. I reckon... it's going to rain."

Chen Ling's heart tightened: "Fifth Uncle noticed it too?"

"You've lived half your life, and you still can't understand these celestial phenomena?"

Wang Laishun's expression was grave. "This rain is probably going to be heavy, and it won't stop anytime soon. We need to prepare early."

Han Chuang interjected, "Fifth Uncle, you mean... continuous rain?"

"Eighty percent yes."

Wang Laishun nodded: "There have been continuous rainy days at this time of year in previous years, but never this early or this strange. This year's weather is really weird."

Chen Ling was silent for a moment, then put down his wine bowl: "Fifth Uncle, after we finish eating, let's go to the dam and take a look. Chuangzi, if you're free, come along and give us some ideas."

"Sure!" Han Chuang readily agreed. "I've made arrangements at my factory, so I don't have to go back today."

Just then, Wang Susu came out carrying a braised carp.

The fish was cooked whole, with a thick, dark red broth, sprinkled with chopped cilantro, and had an enticing aroma.

"Eat first. Even the most important things can wait until you've eaten." Wang Susu served everyone a bowl of rice.

The meal was eaten quickly, as everyone was preoccupied with the weather.

After the meal, Wang Susu and Gao Xiulan cleaned up the dishes, while Chen Ling led Han Chuang and Wang Laishun to the reservoir.

As soon as I stepped out of the courtyard, I saw many villagers already tidying up the wheat that was drying in the sun.

Some people piled the wheat back up and covered it with plastic sheeting, while others were busy moving it into the house.

"It hasn't even rained yet, why did you put it away?" Han Chuang asked, puzzled.

Chen Ling pointed to the eastern sky.

The sky, which had been gloomy just moments before, was now covered with low-hanging clouds, giving it an ominous leaden gray hue.

The distant mountains were shrouded in mist and could not be seen clearly.

The wind also changed direction, shifting from a southeasterly wind to a northeasterly wind, carrying a noticeable coolness and moisture.

"The world is about to change," Chen Ling said in a deep voice.

The three quickened their pace and arrived at the reservoir dam.

On the construction site, the workers stopped what they were doing, gathered in twos and threes, and talked about it while looking at the sky.

When Lao Niwai saw Chen Ling, he hurriedly came up to him: "Fugui, look at the sky! I've lived for over fifty years and I've never seen such strange clouds!"

Chen Ling stood on the top of the dam and looked into the distance.

On the eastern horizon, dark clouds, like splashes of ink, were spreading westward at a visible speed.

The clouds were so thick they seemed to press down on the mountaintop, with flashes of lightning visible in between, but the thunder was slow to arrive, and this silence only made people more uneasy.

The reservoir's surface had lost its usual emerald green color, turning into a deep, dark green with fine, dense ripples created by wind pressure.

In the distance, the Chinese sturgeon and finless porpoises had long since disappeared, presumably sensing the abnormal weather and hiding in deeper waters.

"Fifth Uncle, Uncle Niwai, we have to prepare for the worst."

Chen Ling thought of the great flood of 1998, and his heart sank: "Once this rain starts, it probably won't stop for a day or two. What is the water level in the reservoir now?"

Old Niwai replied, "It's more than half a meter higher than usual. It rained a few days ago, and the water level from upstream was quite high."

Chen Ling did some mental calculations.

The reservoir was designed to have a large capacity, but this year's heavy rainfall and thick silt at the bottom have reduced its actual water storage capacity.