1994: Vegetable farmers strike back

Chapter 126 Both Markets
"I was almost home when it started raining again, and my clothes got completely soaked."

"It's alright, go take a shower and change your clothes. We've saved some food for you; we'll have pickled fish for lunch."

"I think I forgot to buy black carp~"

"I went to the village to buy it this morning."

"Is it delicious?"

"Mmm, it's delicious. Go wash up quickly, or you'll catch a cold."

"By the way, with such heavy rain last night, did the vegetable fields get flooded?"

"Ours didn't flood! Oh dear, you should go take a shower!"

Chen Jiazhi took the clothes from Li Xiu, picked up the bucket of hot water, and was about to take a bath when Li Mingkun and Guo Mancang, who had heard the noise, came out of the house.

"Jiazhi, how was the market this morning?"

Li Xiu glanced sideways and said with displeasure, "Let Jiazhi take a shower first, we'll talk later."

Chen Jiazhi gave the two a smug smile, but as he walked past them into the bathroom, a sudden inspiration struck him, and another idea came to him.

When something is on your mind, you take a quick shower. Chen Jiazhi came out in just three minutes. He was about to chat with Li Mingkun and the others when Li Xiu urged him to go eat.

A bowl of pickled fish with dried red chili peppers was left on the table for the two of them, which looked very appetizing.

He and Xue Jun ate inside, while Yi Dinggan and the other two waited outside on small stools, since the ground was wet.

After eating and drinking his fill, Yi Dinggan couldn't wait to ask more questions.

"Should we switch markets or stay?"

Chen Jiazhi lit a cigarette after the meal, took a puff, and then smiled and said, "It's quite a dilemma."

Yi Dinggan: "What's the fuss about? After all this time, you've been keeping us in suspense!"

Guo Mancang: "After selling vegetables this morning, the three of us went to check out stall number 56. It's located at the middle intersection, and it's spacious. Renting it for 180 yuan is definitely worth it!"

Li Mingkun said, "The market has been specially reserved for you."

Seeing that Chen Jiazhi was still undecided, Yi Dinggan felt a little jealous.

"Someone else specifically reserved this place for you. I said I wanted to rent it, but that guy surnamed Wang refused to rent it to me. He only wanted to rent it to you before the 8th!"

"What are you still hesitating about?"

The three of them were really puzzled. He had many old customers in the market, and it wasn't far away. The market management had been trying to win him over from the beginning, and they had even lowered the rent. Now they had specially reserved a mid-to-high-end stall for him.

Such a thing is hard to find even with a lantern!
While they were talking, Qi Yongfeng, Huang Juan, Li Xiu, Chen Jiafang and others also came to the eaves one after another.

Chen Jiazhi looked around and saw that it was basically just their small group of people, and Yi Dinggan and the other two were also thinking of him.

"I have an idea."

"Oh my, what's on your mind? You're driving me crazy!"

Chen Jiazhi smiled and said, "I plan to rent stall number 56. I'll rent it for six months or a year, and pay the rent in one lump sum. But I might only use it for two or three months. After that, I'll hand it over to you guys. What do you think?"

Upon hearing this, the group was somewhat confused and had a lot of questions to ask.

"You mean you're going to move out again in two or three months?"

"Does the market allow you to transfer your stall to us? Director Wang specially kept stall number 56 because of you."

"Can three people use the stall together?"

Chen Jiazhi raised his hand and said, "Don't rush, speak one by one. I will definitely change markets later. Since the stalls have been rented to me, I definitely have the right to let you use them. As for the three of you using them together, as long as you are willing, the market has no right to interfere."

The three looked at each other, still processing the information.

After a long pause, Yi Dinggan asked, "Jiazhi, why are you so determined to change markets?!"

"Yes."

"I feel like you've been taking too many risks lately. I'm not saying it's bad, it just feels a bit risky."

A group of people had this question.

"Let me tell you what I've seen, thought, and heard these past two days."

"Sure, let's broaden our horizons."

After pondering for a while, Chen Jiazhi began to recount what he had seen and heard during his market research over the past two days.

He's a map expert with an excellent sense of direction, all thanks to years of practicing cycling and driving.

In just two days, all the places he visited left an imprint on his mind.

Geographical location, market conditions, transaction volume, foot traffic, and urban planning and development...

I tried to explain each item in as much detail as possible.

The group of people listened with a vague understanding, as they had little concept of urban structure, especially the women, who were completely confused. However, they were able to remember a few terms.

"The area near Zengcuo Road is the core of Huacheng's vegetable trading, which brings together several large vegetable wholesale markets. If you go there this year, it will be easier to enter the market."

Meanwhile, the Dongxiang vegetable market will be acquiring land next year, and I will definitely continue to grow vegetables, so I will naturally need to rent land again, preferably near the Jiangnan market.

In addition, the market in Haizhu acted strangely yesterday, so I decided to overcome the difficulties and go directly to Jiangnan to rent a stall.

But Director Wang came again early this morning and offered even better terms; stall number 56 is indeed a good option.

This morning I went to the Jiangnan Market early to check it out. I saw the market's trading volume; basically, each stall was trading at least ten tons. The market must have some requirements regarding the volume, and my vegetable output might not be enough.
Therefore, both markets have their advantages and disadvantages.

I plan to use stall number 56 as a stepping stone, work there for another two months, acquire some more land, buy a van, and then head to Jiangnan.

Speak slowly, word by word.

The group of people were all dumbfounded.

Yi Dinggan, Li Mingkun, and Guo Mancang were also smoking, still processing this information.

No one expected that he had thought about so many things in the past two days, considered things so far ahead, and planned so meticulously.

To say he's fanciful and nonsensical?
However, the three of them felt that Chen Jiazhi was not bragging. Just by listening to his words and the way he used words and phrases, they could feel the difference in their abilities.

They only vaguely understood many things, so they didn't know how to start the conversation.

"How is it?" Chen Jiazhi threw the question back at him.

The three were still deep in thought, their brows furrowed.

Stall number 56 is undoubtedly a good spot, located in the middle of the market, but at the intersection of the passageway, a prime location that they definitely wouldn't have been able to secure.

But Director Wang stated directly that before the 8th, this stall would only be rented to Chen the vegetable farmer.
The three of them were definitely tempted, but they were also afraid they wouldn't be able to keep the relationship after three months. Chen Jiazhi looked at the three hesitant veterans, chuckled, and said, "Is there another option?"

"What plan?"

“I’ve taken over all three of your families, so I can use two stalls directly.”

Before Li Mingkun and Guo Mancang could react, Yi Dinggan spoke first: "You're dreaming! Fine, three months from now, stall number 56 will be given to us. If they don't want it, I'll take it on myself. I'll pay you the rent!"

After saying that, he stood up again, "What are you all doing gathered around like this? Aren't you going to take a nap?"

The crowd then slowly dispersed.

But the aftershocks are still lingering.

While Li Mingkun and Guo Mancang were sleeping, they kept thinking about that sentence.

"We've taken over all three of your families!"

Damn, Jiazhi isn't just eyeing Lao Yi, he's also eyeing them!

The corners of their mouths unconsciously turned up.

Actually, they are more used to working for others. They only came out to rent land to grow vegetables because the company gave up the Dongxiang vegetable market, leaving them with no other choice.

But we can't agree to that yet. Yi Dinggan is clamoring to take over several hundred acres, so they need at least a few dozen acres, or at the very least, ten acres.

On the other side, Yi Dinggan tossed and turned in bed, unable to fall asleep no matter what. Why would Jia Zhi want to recruit Lao Li and Lao Guo?
Was this Jiazhi's initial thought, or were his expectations too high?
While everyone else was preoccupied with their own thoughts, Chen Jiazhi felt relieved and slept soundly.

Li Xiu and Chen Jiaying, who had also returned to the house, stared blankly for a while at the two who had fallen asleep immediately.

...

"Chen Cai Nong~ Chen Cai Nong!"

A shout came from outside. Chen Jiazhi groggily opened his eyes, slipped on his slippers, and went to the door.

Hong Zhong smiled when he saw him and said, "The rest of the insect netting has been delivered to you. Come and check it."

"I'm just waiting for it!"

Chen Jiazhi immediately perked up, took two steps forward, and examined the folded insect net. The mesh was fine and the touch was soft.

"The quality is definitely not a problem; this time it's a total of 1,000 square meters."

"I'll get you the money."

I haven't deposited the money from these sales yet, I'm just waiting for the insect netting, it's 10 yuan per square meter, so it's a total of 10,000 yuan. I gave an 800 yuan deposit last time, so I owe 9200 yuan.

Chen Jiazhi took out all the money and counted it. The amount was just about right, totaling 9565 yuan.

"Here you go, Mr. Hong, that's 9200 yuan in total. Please check it again."

"No need to order."

Hong Zhong took the money and then took out two hundred yuan and handed it to Chen Jiazhi.

"I'll charge you 9000. We originally agreed to give you two acres, but since you brought in an extra 66 square meters, I'll give you a 200 yuan discount."

"Hey, you even calculated the area down to the single digit."

"It's business."

Hong Zhong took the money back, got on his motorcycle, and then casually asked, "By the way, how's selling vegetables lately? Are they selling well?"

"good."

"That's good." After a pause, Hong Zhong added, "I'll be going now."

"Walk slowly."

Hong Zhong rode his motorcycle and disappeared on the gravel road. Chen Jiazhi frowned as he watched the splashes of mud.

Something seems off.

Hong Zhong came today, but it felt like he wasn't really there. Something was missing. What was it?

Standing under the eaves, Chen Jiazhi looked out over the vegetable fields. Most of the fields were exposed to the elements and looked extremely fragile after being washed by the torrential rain.

"Hong Zhong didn't pick any vegetables today."

"He didn't ask me how the vegetables in my field were doing; instead, he asked if the vegetables were selling well at the market."

Chen Jiazhi vaguely grasped something; some things couldn't be connected by association, but once he thought about them, they seemed to come together.

Hong Zhong, Hong Biao, Heiwa'er~
They should be together.

There is no evidence yet.

He doesn't need to look for evidence, or even investigate further. He can just pretend he doesn't know anything. Even if something happens later, he won't be held responsible, and if he is, he won't know anything about it.

On the contrary, they can raise the price again and again. If Heiwaer and Hongbiao are not on the same side, there is still stall number 56 to cover the losses.

If they were truly on the same wavelength, Heiwa would definitely agree to his price increase, and then he could gradually raise the price to a suitable level.
Chen Jiazhi felt more confident.

The market has stabilized, and short-term goals and plans have been established. Now, the focus is on maintaining stability and selling more vegetables to make money.

In other words, work honestly.

The sky remained overcast and dim after the rain, indicating that more rain was likely to follow.

Xue Jun was still asleep when Chen Jiazhi grabbed an umbrella and went out. He hadn't inspected the fields or assigned any work that morning, but Ao Dehai, Qi Yongfeng, and Ao Deliang had each made their own arrangements. It was alright.
The vegetables were significantly affected by the rain; they were wet and became very fragile even with shade netting.

No matter how good the technology and management are, we must respect the laws of nature.

Not to mention other people's food, it would rot in no time!
...

Hong Zhong returned to the agricultural supply store and parked a van under the banyan tree. He frowned and scolded the people inside.

"What were you thinking, parking your car here?"

Heiwa got out of the car: "I'll be leaving in a bit. Uncle Zhong, how's Chen the vegetable farmer doing? Is he out of business selling his vegetables?"

"You think beautiful!"

“That day I heard that someone was causing trouble at the market, and I thought that if he couldn’t stay there, we could buy more vegetables.”

"Stop dreaming! With such good vegetables, we don't need to worry about not selling them. Let's get going!"

"Good~"

The profit margin on vegetables is higher than expected. Just 300 jin of vegetables a day can bring them nearly 2,000 yuan in income, and now they can't wait to expand the scale.

(End of this chapter)