Starting with vegetable greenhouses in 1988

Chapter 247 Cooperation (Long Chapter)
The sun at eleven o'clock was already quite scorching, its warmth felt on my skin, and a gentle breeze carrying the scent of grass brushed against my face.

Old Li and his son Li Zhe left the construction site and walked back along the ridge of the field.

Old Li glanced back at the direction of the house site, smacked his lips, and said, "The foundation is solid, and there are enough bricks and tiles. We'll be able to move into the new house before summer."

Li Zhe grunted in agreement, but turned his feet toward the plot of land to the east. "Dad, let's go around and take a look at the little cucumber."

The pickled cucumber seedlings planted on the 24th of last month are now just over ten days old and are growing rapidly.

The cucumber seedlings are already 4 centimeters tall, with stems as thick as matchsticks, covered in fine white down. The cotyledons have pale yellow edges but remain upright and graceful.

The two true leaves spread out in a cross shape, one fully open like a heart, the other just beginning to unfold, the leaf flesh a tender yellow and translucent. The fibrous roots are wrapped around soil particles, quietly spreading in the soil, and the seedling sways gently in the wind.

"It looks pretty good." Li Zhe squatted down and gently touched the fuzz on the leaves with his fingers. Water droplets rolled down his fingertips and into the soil.

"Uncle Li, Brother Li, you've arrived." A dark figure emerged from the shack at the edge of the field; it was Wang Ermazi, who was in charge of this cucumber patch.

He was in his thirties, and the pockmarks on his face were particularly noticeable in the sunlight. His trouser legs were covered in mud. He was also holding a watering can in his hand, water dripping from the spout.

"Er Mazi, you've been working hard these past few days, haven't you?" Old Li asked with a smile.

Wang Ermazi put down the watering can, grinned, and said, "Of course, of course. Look at these little cucumbers, they change every day. The green beans on the west side have also sprouted evenly; I just weeded them yesterday."

He pointed westward as he spoke, where the green bean sprouts were about 5 centimeters tall, with stems covered in fine hairs, two upright leaflets, and newly sprouting leaves. Each plant was vigorous, exuding a spirit of upward growth.

Li Zhe nodded, about to speak, when he noticed Wang Ermazi fidgeting with the hem of his clothes, his eyes darting around, as if he had something to say. "What's wrong? Is something bothering you?"

Wang Ermazi blushed, a suspicious redness rising on his dark cheeks, and stammered, "Brother Li, I want to grow crops in greenhouses with you."

"Oh? You don't want to grow cucumbers outdoors anymore?" Li Zhe raised an eyebrow at him.

Old Li frowned. When he first hired Wang Ermazi, he could tell that the kid was interested in the greenhouse, but since they were all neighbors and he had already agreed to hire him, he couldn't just fire him.

"No, no!" Wang Ermazi waved his hands anxiously. "I'm willing to continue growing cucumbers, but... but when I have free time after finishing growing cucumbers, could I learn some greenhouse techniques? I don't want any wages, I'll help you for free!"

Li Zhe chuckled, took out a pack of Zhonghua cigarettes, flicked out two, and handed them over: "Judging from this, you want to learn how to build your own greenhouse after you've mastered it?"

Wang Ermazi's face flushed red to the roots of his neck, and he pulled his outstretched hand back.

He did have that thought, but he was still a little embarrassed to have it exposed. Old Li, who had been watching closely, patted him on the shoulder and said, "Er Mazi, if you have something to say, just say it. Don't hide it. My second son isn't a petty person."

Wang Ermazi gritted his teeth, as if he had made up his mind: "Yes, I want to build a greenhouse, but not now. I plan to build it in winter."

Li Zhe handed him a cigarette, lit one for himself, and amidst the swirling smoke, looked at the endless greenhouses in the distance and slowly asked, "Brother Wang, are there many people who think like you?"

"A lot! Of course there's a lot!" Wang Ermazi took a deep drag on his cigarette, not even noticing the ash falling onto his clothes. "You hired ten people to grow cucumbers outdoors this time, eight of whom came to learn greenhouse techniques. Who knew..."

He swallowed back halfway through his sentence, but the unspoken words were clear: Who knows what's so special about growing cucumbers outdoors every day?

Li Zhe smiled and exhaled a smoke ring: "Here's what you'll do. Tell those cucumber growers that anyone who wants to learn greenhouse techniques should come to greenhouse number three to find me this evening."

Wang Ermazi's eyes lit up, then he became nervous again: "Brother Li, what do you want us to do? You're not going to fire us, are you?"

“You’re growing cucumbers just fine, why would I fire you?” Li Zhe patted his arm. “Didn’t you want to learn the techniques? I’ll teach you.”

"Really?" Wang Ermazi couldn't believe his ears, and he even forgot to smoke the cigarette in his hand.

"of course."

"Alright!" Wang Ermazi cheered, pumping his fist. He turned and ran towards the cucumber patch, shouting, "I'm going to tell them right now!"

Watching his cheerful figure disappear into the distance, Old Li asked, "Second brother, do you really want to turn these ten cucumber growers into greenhouse farmers?"

“Yes,” Li Zhe stubbed out his cigarette, “Although these people are here to grow open-field vegetables, they are all villagers you recruited who you know well. It’s better than handing them over to outsiders. Didn’t you specifically choose hardworking and diligent people when you were selecting them?”

Old Li nodded: "That's right, I didn't take any of the sly or cheating ones."

“Dad, could you please inform the village militia that anyone willing to learn greenhouse techniques can come to greenhouse number three this evening?” Li Zhe added. “They’ve been helping look after the greenhouses for so long, they know each other well, and they’re reliable people.”

Although the militia members weren't core employees, they patrolled the area around the greenhouse every night to prevent fires and theft. Li Zhe gave them a monthly stipend, and they maintained a good relationship. Many of them had already subtly inquired about learning the techniques from him.

evening.

The setting sun gilded the edge of greenhouse number three, and more than thirty people crowded in the open space at the entrance of the greenhouse, chattering like they were at a market.

There were newly recruited vegetable farmers and militiamen in old military uniforms; they were all familiar faces, and they greeted each other warmly when they met. Looking at this lively scene, Li Zhe thought to himself that he should build a special house that could be used for both meals and meetings.

He cleared his throat and clapped his hands: "Everyone, quiet down."

The noise gradually subsided, and all eyes were on him. Li Zhe scanned the crowd and got straight to the point: "You all probably know why I invited you here. But I must remind you first that greenhouse farming requires a high investment and carries risks. Please think it through."

"I've made up my mind!" Zhao Bing, a militia member, rang out from the crowd. His voice was loud and clear. "Brother Li, we all want to grow crops in greenhouses with you!"

Everyone echoed their agreement, their eyes filled with eagerness.

Everyone can see the changes in Old Li's family over the past year: last year they were crammed into three dilapidated rooms, now they have more than twenty greenhouses stretching out in a row, trucks and tractors are busy every day, and a new villa is almost up. Who wouldn't be envious of such a life?
Li Zhe nodded and had someone bring over a blackboard and place it in the corner. The chalk scribbled across the blackboard.

"If you want to grow crops in a greenhouse, you first need to build one. I will give you the blueprints, so don't worry about that." He wrote the words "build greenhouse" on the blackboard, and then wrote "funds". "Building a greenhouse costs about five thousand yuan. With fertilizer, pesticides, labor costs, etc., it will cost about six thousand yuan."

This money needs to be raised first; I don't recommend starting construction without sufficient funds.

Wang Ermazi leaned forward and asked, "Brother Li, I heard you borrowed money from the credit union to build your greenhouse. Can we get a loan too?"

“The credit union’s policies change every year,” Li Zhe said frankly. “I was lucky last year, but it’s hard to say about this year’s policies. You’ll have to ask them yourselves.”

He then wrote "agricultural supplies" on the blackboard: "Greenhouse vegetables have high requirements for agricultural supplies. The greenhouse film must be light-transmitting, durable, and heat-insulating. If the heat insulation is not good in winter, the seedlings will either stop growing or freeze to death. High-quality fertilizers must also be used, and the amount used is more than for open-field vegetables, so they must be ordered in advance."

Zhao Bing scratched his head: "Where did you get your loan from?"

“Wan’an Town Rural Credit Cooperative,” Li Zhe replied.

"What about the greenhouse film? Where did you buy it? How much did it cost?" Wang Ermazi pressed.

"The transparent greenhouse film from Langfang City Plastics Factory costs four yuan per square meter." Li Zhe did not hide this fact.

Everyone asked questions at once, some asking where to buy cement pillars, others asking which brand of fertilizer to use. Li Zhe patiently answered them all, his chalk filling the blackboard with dense writing.

After everyone had asked their questions, Li Zhe wrote down the word "transportation": "We grow off-season vegetables that are harvested in winter. If they get bumped, damaged, or frozen during transport, they won't do. If it rains or snows and the roads are difficult to travel, the vegetables won't be able to get out and will become old and wilted, and they won't fetch a good price. This problem needs to be solved."

A buzz of discussion immediately broke out in the crowd; the topic struck a chord with everyone. Everyone knew how difficult it was to transport vegetables to Beijing. Li Zhe's family had a Jiefang truck; how could they possibly have that capability?

A tall farmer stepped forward. His name was Sun Qiang. He had a slight limp because he had broken his leg as a child, but he was very energetic and had a loud voice: "Brother Li, didn't you also use a tractor to transport vegetables at first? Can we use tractors to transport vegetables to Beijing in the winter?" Li Zhe pondered for a moment and said, "Last year, because there was a vegetable shortage in Beijing, tractors could enter Beijing with the vegetables. It's hard to say what the policy will be this year. According to regulations, tractors are not allowed to enter Beijing."

Zhao Bing nodded in agreement: "That's right. Last time we drove our tractor to Beijing, we were stopped by the traffic police. They had to plead with us before they let us go. We were terrified."

The crowd murmured again, their faces showing concern. Li Zhe waited until everyone quieted down before continuing, "Finally, let's talk about the technical issues, which is what everyone is most concerned about."

He took out a notebook and opened it. "This contains the names and addresses of five or six hundred people. They all want to learn the technology, but I really don't have the energy to teach them all."

The crowd's expressions immediately changed. Yes, so many people want to learn, so why should we teach them?
Seeing everyone's expressions, Li Zhe changed the subject: "So I want to select a group of trustworthy villagers to cooperate with. I will teach them the techniques, help them buy agricultural supplies, and I will be responsible for purchasing the vegetables after they grow. I will also handle the transportation issues."

The crowd immediately erupted in excited chatter. Zhao Bing pushed his way to the front: "Brother Li, do I have to pay to learn the skill?"

"No money is required, but a vegetable planting and purchasing cooperation agreement must be signed," Li Zhe explained.

"The agreement will clearly state how the techniques will be taught and how the vegetables will be harvested. I will provide regular training and visit the fields to provide guidance, but everyone must plant according to the technical requirements, otherwise there will be problems with the vegetables and we won't be able to explain it. The varieties, quality, and prices to be purchased will all be clearly stated so that everyone is aware of what's going on."

Zhao Bing asked, "Brother Li, how many kilograms of cucumbers can one greenhouse produce?"

Li Zhe replied, "The yield of greenhouse vegetables is related to the weather, planting techniques, amount of fertilizer, and seed variety. It's hard to say exactly how much can be produced, but the yield of my cucumbers in the greenhouse is over 6,000 jin per mu."

Wang Ermazi's biggest concern was the price: "Brother Li, what price will you charge us for our vegetables?"

Li Zhe had already discussed this issue with Jin Baiwan: "Off-season vegetables will be available around November, and the price will vary depending on the variety; let's take cucumbers as an example, they are about three yuan per jin in November, and the price will be higher as the weather gets colder."

"Three yuan!" A gasp rippled through the crowd. Someone counted on their fingers: "If a greenhouse produces six or seven thousand jin, that's more than twenty thousand yuan!" That's a huge sum of money, and many people's eyes lit up.

Wang Ermazi pondered for a moment, "Brother Li, if you take our vegetables and haul them away, when will you pay us?"

Li Zhe thought for a moment: "The repayment period will not exceed half a month."

Sun Qiang limped forward a couple of steps, asking with some doubt, "Brother Li, I heard you're selling them for seven or eight yuan a pound in Beijing this year? Is that true?"

Before Li Zhe could speak, a chubby figure squeezed through the crowd—it was Jin Baiwan. He said, panting, "That's different! I'm a vegetable buyer, I know that seven or eight yuan is the price during the Chinese New Year, it's only expensive for those few days."

It's only November, so prices can't be high. Besides, there are transportation costs and spoilage; we can't expect vegetable vendors to starve, can we?

Everyone burst into laughter, and the atmosphere became lively again.

Jin Baiwan continued, "Last year, only Brother Li's family grew off-season vegetables, so the price was naturally high. This year, seeing that he made money, many people will definitely follow suit, and with more people growing them, the price will definitely drop."

A lean man squeezed out and said, "That can't be right. There are so many people in the capital. How can a few dozen households like us bring down the price of vegetables?" This was Qin Laoliu, an old vegetable farmer in the village. He had farmed all his life. His face was deeply lined with wrinkles, but he had a clever and shrewd look about him.

Jin Baiwan snorted: "Who told you there were only a few dozen households? The news of Brother Li making money last year has already spread. This year, there must be many people who have followed his example and built greenhouses, growing far more vegetables than you think." Seeing that no one believed him, he said to Zhu Yimin, who was standing next to him: "Old Zhu, you tell me."

Zhu Yimin was short and thin, with a head that looked unusually large. He smiled and said, "My family has been growing vegetables for three generations. My dad built greenhouses for seedling cultivation back then, but they can't compare to Brother Li's semi-underground greenhouse."

His greenhouse has thick rammed earth walls, which insulates it much better. I tried to build one myself, but I applied too much fertilizer in the sealed environment... and got ammonia poisoning. That's why I came to learn from Brother Li.

Old Jin is right. There will definitely be more people planting off-season vegetables this year, so prices are bound to drop.

Seeing that everyone had listened enough, Li Zhe summarized, "That's the situation. Everyone go back and think it over. If you want to cooperate, come find me tomorrow. If you don't think it's suitable, that's okay too. Even if a deal falls through, we can still be on good terms."

After the meeting, the group walked back in twos and threes, still discussing animatedly along the way.

Wang Ermazi walked at the back, looking at the village lights gradually coming on in the distance, clenching his fists, having already made up his mind.

……

On a crisp April morning, just as dawn was breaking, a thin layer of frost still clung to the dirt roads of Daying Village.

With his documents tucked in his pocket, Sun Qiang limped out of the courtyard gate on his bicycle. A military green canvas bag was tied to the handlebars, bulging with his household registration booklet and certificates issued by the village.

Although he had difficulty walking, he was quite adept at riding a bicycle. The wheels crunched over the frost, making a clear "crunch crunch" sound that was particularly distinct on the quiet village road.

"The early bird catches the worm." Sun Qiang muttered his grandfather's old saying and stomped his feet a few times.

The cold wind whistled down his neck, making his nose turn red, and clear snot dripped down his lips. He wiped it with his sleeve and continued rushing forward.

The thirty-odd people who had a meeting in greenhouse number three last night must all be thinking about the loan, and he has to be the first to get it done.

When he arrived at the entrance of the Wan'an Town Credit Union, it was just dawn. The door of the brick and tile house was still locked. Sun Qiang leaned his bicycle against the wall and rubbed his frozen hands as he paced around the entrance.

He thought to himself: a greenhouse costs six thousand yuan. If he can't get a loan, he'll never be able to save that much money in his lifetime.

Just as I was pondering this, I heard the jingling of a bicycle bell in the distance. A young man wearing glasses rode over on his bicycle, with a military green satchel strapped to the back seat.

"What are you doing?" The young man stopped the car, adjusted his glasses, and sized up Sun Qiang.

"I'll take out a loan." Sun Qiang quickly stepped forward and sized up the other person. The young man was fair-skinned and looked like a student, but he spoke with a serious, businesslike air.

"Wait until I open the door." The young man took out his key, opened the iron gate of the credit union, and turned to Sun Qiang, saying, "Wait outside for a moment, I'll tidy up first."

As soon as Sun Qiang stood at the door, he saw a slightly worn Forever brand bicycle parked there. A middle-aged man in his forties got off, wearing a crisp Zhongshan suit and with his hair neatly combed.

"Good morning, Director!" The young man with glasses hurriedly went to greet him.

Director Sun nodded, his gaze falling on Sun Qiang: "Fellow villager, what's the matter?"

"I need a loan," Sun Qiang quickly said with a smile.

"Come in." Director Sun walked into the room first and said to the young man wearing glasses, "Xiao Zhang, this fellow villager needs a loan, can you help him with the application?"

"Fellow villager, come with me." The young man wearing glasses was loan officer Zhang Jinxue. He led Sun Qiang to the counter and asked, "Did you bring your identification?"

"I brought everything! I asked around before I came, so I know what to bring." Sun Qiang hurriedly untied his canvas bag and pulled out his household registration book and the certificate issued by the village committee.

Zhang Jinxue looked through the documents: "Fellow villager, what do you need the loan for? How much are you planning to borrow?"

Sun Qiang gestured and said expectantly, "I want to build a vegetable greenhouse, and I need to bring six thousand yuan."

Zhang Jinxue was taken aback for a moment, then looked up at him and asked, "You want to build a vegetable greenhouse? The kind where you grow cucumbers in winter?"

Sun Qiang said excitedly, "Yes, those semi-underground vegetable greenhouses are really profitable."

Zhang Jinxue pushed the paperwork back: "Fellow villager, we can't lend you money here. Why don't you try asking somewhere else?"

(End of this chapter)