1994: Vegetable farmers strike back

Chapter 67: Meeting Hong Zhong Again
After the heavy rain, domestic agricultural input prices began to rise, and the increase gradually increased.

In 10 days, the wholesale price of fertilizer increased by two to three hundred yuan per ton.

There is no sign of stopping yet.

Retail prices are rising even faster.

This made Hong Zhong, who had filled his warehouse in advance, make a fortune.

At the same time, it also increased his favorability towards Chen Cainong. If Chen Cainong hadn't reminded him, he might not have stocked up in advance.

In addition, he has always been craving for Chen Cainong's vegetables, which he believes are a little better in appearance and taste than those grown outside.

It's just that I haven't seen him recently. This morning, I couldn't help it, so I came to his field to pick vegetables again. Not only was I stared at resentfully by the hostess for the whole morning, but when I came back, I was caught by Chen Jiazhi.

"Hiss~ Boss Hong, do you know how much a pound of choy sum costs now?"

Seeing Chen Cainong's gnashing teeth, Hong Zhong asked innocently, "How much?"

Chen Jiazhi: "Three yuan a pound! Just this bag you picked up is worth at least ten yuan!"

At this time, Li Xiu also came back and pointed at the dishes in Hong Zhong's hand to Chen Jiazhi.

Hong Zhong also noticed it, looked down at the dish in his hand, and was a little surprised. Damn, why is it so expensive!

"Then I'll pay for it."

“No need to pay.”

Chen Jiazhi changed his expression. "I do have a small favor I need you to help me with. I'm looking to buy a used motor tricycle. I've been to the market but haven't found anything suitable. You know a lot of farmers, so could you please ask if anyone has any for sale? It doesn't matter if it's a little old, as long as it's sturdy, durable, and can hold a lot of loads."

"It's a small matter. I just happened to know that someone wants to transfer the property recently. I'll ask for you later."

Hong Zhong readily agreed. This was a piece of cake for him. Then he asked, "Why did you buy a tricycle? Is there so much food?"

Chen Jiazhi laughed and said, "I've acquired some more land. Now it's 17 acres in total. It's no longer suitable to use a bicycle."

"Look, that piece of the best-growing cabbage is all mine."

Chen Jiazhi pointed to plot No. 6 in the distance. The shade net had just been opened for ventilation. Even from more than a hundred meters away, the thriving seedlings could still be clearly seen.

"That piece is yours too?!"

"Hmm!"

Hong Zhong was even more surprised. He had just passed by the vegetable field and was wondering whose cabbage hearts were so beautiful.

I didn’t expect it was from Chen Cainong.

Suddenly, the cabbage in my hand no longer smelled so fragrant. I should have pinched that piece of cabbage earlier. What a miscalculation.

Hong Zhong: "17 mu of land is not too small. We really need a tricycle."

My thoughts were drifting away. Not only had the price of vegetables in Huacheng skyrocketed recently, but the price of vegetables in Xiangjiang was even more exaggerated, several times higher than that in Huacheng.

"Yes, my batch of choy sum will be out soon. Please hurry up, Boss Hong. I wanted to come and take care of your business this afternoon."

"no problem."

Hong Zhong came back to his senses, his eyes fixed on the bag of seeds on the back seat of Chen Jiazhi's bicycle, and he narrowed his eyes.

"Did you buy kale seeds?"

Chen Jiazhi nodded.

Hong Zhong asked, "Why didn't you buy it from me? I also have kale seeds!"

"I bought Chinese kale from the provincial seed company, which is more reliable." Seeing Hong Zhong was a little anxious, Chen Jiazhi immediately said, "Don't worry."

"I also need broccoli and snow pea seeds, but Sakata and Syngenta seeds are not available and are expensive. Do you have any good ones that are cheap and easy to use?"

Hong Zhong calmed down again: "The seeds in Bantian are all exported to exchange for foreign exchange and earn export tax rebates. If you don't have export channels, you won't make much money by planting them.

Oh, the current prices are good for making money, but opportunities are hard to come by."

Chen Jiazhi asked, "Just tell me if you can get it?"

Hong Zhong shook his head. "Sakata and Syngenta have very strict controls on their seeds, so I can't get them. But there are Formosa Nongyou seeds, and they're more than half the price." Chen Jiazhi said, "Nongyou is fine too. Do you have any Nongyou broccoli seeds suitable for summer planting?"

Hong Zhong: “…”

It was such a fucking request, Hong Zhong silently complained and said, "I'll try, but I can't guarantee it."

Chen Jiazhi: "Okay, okay, sorry for the trouble, Boss Hong, if you want to eat choy sum in the future, just come to my field and pick them."

Hongjoong: "I won't be polite with you."

Chen Jiazhi: "In addition, I am also planning to buy some fertilizers and pesticides, as well as seedling trays, and substrates such as peat and perlite needed for seedling cultivation. If they are suitable, I can also buy them from you."

Generally speaking, state-owned stores are more reliable.

But after working with Hong Zhong for a period of time, Chen Jiazhi also developed basic trust in him. He was affordable and had great abilities.

Chen Jiazhi still wants to maintain this relationship.

"Welcome. You asked me to stock up on fertilizer. I made a small profit. I'll give you a 10% discount later."

Hong Zhong smiled and said, "Besides, when your vegetable base grows bigger, maybe we will have the opportunity to cooperate."

Chen Jiazhi was surprised and asked, "Boss Hong is also in the vegetable business?"

"You'll know then."

Hong Zhong waved his hand without saying anything more: "Remember to come to the store this afternoon. I'll go see the tricycle when I get back."

Looking at Hong Zhong's back as he slowly walked away with the Chinese cabbage, Chen Jiazhi always felt that he had ulterior motives.

Mainly because he is so easy to talk to.

At this time, it was basically not easy for a private individual to run an agricultural supply store.

While the two were talking, Li Xiu was listening on the side, and only asked about the situation after Hong Zhong left.

Chen Jiazhi then told Li Xiu about what he had seen and heard along the way.

How much of a rip-off are those roadside tricycles? Why grow kale and broccoli? What's the difference between good and bad seeds?
Explain each one in detail.

Li Xiu has a low level of education and only has a superficial understanding of many things, but he is not stupid and has a good memory. As long as he is exposed to them more, he can learn these things.

After talking for a while, Chen Jiazhi took a hoe and prepared to dig the ground. Li Xiu also followed suit and took a small stool, intending to thin out the seedlings.

"Don't go. Stay home and rest for a while. It's almost time to cook."

"It's okay. There's plenty of work to do in the fields, and the sun isn't that hot yet."

Chen Jiazhi stood by the vegetable field with a stern face, looking at her. Li Xiu was wearing a straw hat, and her little face looked aggrieved under the hat.

But Chen Jiazhi did not compromise at all.

"If you continue like this, I won't let you cut the loofah and bitter melon in the afternoon. Seeing you enjoying cutting them every day, I want to try it too."

Li Xiu continued to look at him aggrievedly.

Chen Jiazhi couldn't stand this look: "Okay, okay, just for a while, we have to go back when the sun gets hot."

Li Xiu nodded like a chick pecking at rice, "You still have to cut the loofah and bitter melon for me this afternoon."

"Okay, okay, okay, it's up to you. You're the boss now."

Li Xiu took a small stool and happily followed him to the field.

Chen Jiazhi looked at the sun gradually climbing halfway up the mountain, then looked at Li Xiu sitting on a small stool with her head lowered, her two hands moving nimbly and quickly between the small vegetable seedlings. In an instant, the seedlings became evenly spaced.

Most vegetable farmers are not used to seedling with both hands at the same time.

Among those who can use both hands to increase speed, Chen Jiazhi has never seen anyone faster than her in his previous life.

Unfortunately, this is a skill that requires hard work.

(End of this chapter)