Starting with vegetable greenhouses in 1988

Chapter 273 Layout
Tan Jingya put down her pen and called out, "Come in."

The door was pushed open, and Zhang Hongqi poked his head in, his face showing some urgency: "Boss, Manager Tan, the air conditioner installer is here, the car is parked at the door."

Li Zhe and Tan Jingya exchanged a glance, both showing a hint of anticipation.

The weather is getting hotter and hotter, and it's even more stuffy when cooking in the restaurant. With the air conditioning installed, both customers and employees will feel much more comfortable.

The two quickly got up and went downstairs. As soon as they reached the lobby, they saw a blue truck with the words "Chunlan Air Conditioner" printed on it parked at the entrance. Several workers in blue uniforms were carrying heavy boxes inside. The boxes were wrapped in plastic film and had white product model numbers printed on them.

Li Zhe quickly went to greet them, saying, "Masters, you've worked hard. Please come in and have a seat. Have some tea and rest for a while."

She asked Han Chunyan, who was tidying up the table next to her, to make a few cups of hot tea.

Then, Li Zhe took out a pack of Zhonghua cigarettes from his pocket, opened the pack, took out a few cigarettes and handed them over, smiling as he asked the foreman, "Sir, what is your surname?"

The foreman took the cigarette, a smile appearing on his dark face, and said in a loud voice, "My name is Lin Qingguo. You must be the boss? Let's check the installation information first. If everything is in order, we can start work."

“Yes, my surname is Li.” Li Zhe nodded, led Lin Qingguo to the table next to him, and took out the receipt he had signed earlier: “Look, there is a high-powered floor-standing air conditioner installed in the lobby, and a wall-mounted one installed in each of the five private rooms upstairs. I’ll take you to see the locations.”

As he spoke, he led Lin Qingguo around the restaurant, pointing to a corner of the lobby near the window: "Put the cabinet here, it won't block the guests' way, and the breeze can reach the whole lobby."

The air conditioner in the upstairs private rooms should ideally not be facing directly at the guests…

Lin Qingguo listened and nodded, taking notes in a small notebook. At the end, he reported the amounts for installation, labor, and piping costs.

Upon hearing this, Li Zhe replied without hesitation, "Okay, we'll do it your way."

Lin Qingguo responded and immediately called on the other workers to start work.

The group worked quickly, some unpacking boxes, others getting tools, and the buzzing of the electric drill soon filled the restaurant.

The front-of-house staff, forgetting about tidying up, all gathered around to watch, their eyes filled with curiosity.

Zhang Hongqi stood at the front, his tall and thin body leaning forward, occasionally whispering a few words to Fang Xiaoli beside him; Fang Xiaoli couldn't help but stare at the tools in the masters' hands, her eyes full of curiosity.

Several chefs from the kitchen also took a break to take a look. The dining area and the kitchen are connected, and with the air conditioning installed, the kitchen can be kept cooler.

Not long after, the floor-standing air conditioner in the lobby was installed.

Lin Qingguo pressed the switch, and the outdoor unit of the air conditioner made a slight sound, followed by cool air coming out of the vent.

Han Chunyan was the first to lean in, feeling the cool breeze, and exclaimed in surprise, "There's a breeze! There really is a breeze!"

"It's so cool!" Fang Xiaoli also reached out to feel it, a smile spreading across her face, her voice full of excitement.

Zhang Hongqi couldn't help but exclaim, "So this is what air conditioning is! It's much cooler than a fan!" This was the first time he had ever used air conditioning in his life, and he felt that the heat had dissipated from his body.

The other waiters also gathered around, chatting amongst themselves, their faces full of joy.

Master Yan reached out and touched the air conditioner casing, smiling as he said, "That's great! Cooking in the summer will be much more comfortable now, instead of feeling like I'm in a steamer."

Master Han nodded, a rare look of relief appearing on his rough face.

Li Zhe also walked to the air conditioner, felt the cool breeze, and breathed a sigh of relief.

He thought he would order a few more units later to install in his courtyard house and his new house in the countryside, so that his family could also cool off.

By the time all the air conditioners were installed and tested, it was almost four o'clock.

Lin Qingguo packed up his tools, confirmed with Li Zhe that everything was alright, and prepared to leave.

Tan Jingya took out the money she had prepared beforehand from the cashier and paid the balance.

Li Zhe then escorted the drivers to the door, carrying a bag of apples in his hand: "Thank you for your hard work, drivers. Please take this fruit and eat it on your way."

Lin Qingguo declined a couple of times, but finally accepted it, saying with a smile, "Mr. Li, you're too kind. Please contact us again if you need anything in the future." After saying that, the group got into the truck, and the truck started and drove away.

Watching the truck drive away, Li Zhe turned back to look at the restaurant. The air conditioner was still blowing gently, and some of the waiters were clearing tables, while others were talking quietly, all with smiles on their faces.

Tan Jingya walked over, holding the notebook she had been taking notes in. "I'll discuss the suggestion box with Manager Wang and the others as soon as possible."

Li Zhe nodded, looking at the air conditioner in the lobby and then at the busy employees, and felt more hopeful for the future development of Shuxiangju...

……

Around 1 p.m., the warehouse at Beijing Railway Station was still shrouded in the stuffy afternoon heat.

Suddenly, the iron gate of the west gate of the warehouse was pushed open with a "bang," and the engines of four Jiefang trucks approached from afar, their wheels rolling over the gravel ground and kicking up fine dust.

As soon as the car came to a stop, several employees wearing navy blue overalls and "Oriental Foreign Trade" badges on their chests surrounded it, holding paper and pens for recording and inspection tools.

Li Zhe got out of the passenger seat of the first truck. His trousers were a little dusty. He patted his trouser legs and glanced at the crowd. He immediately spotted Wu Shaohui standing in the middle.

Li Zhe greeted him with a smile, "Brother Wu, I'm sorry to have kept you waiting."

Wu Shaohui quickly came over, shook hands with Li Zhe, and said in a warm tone, "Brother, you've finally arrived. Come on, let's go to my office, sit down for a while, and have some tea."

Li Zhe waved his hand, glanced at the truck, and said with a serious tone, "Brother Wu, I won't trouble you today. I need to personally supervise and inspect this batch of goods to feel at ease."

"What? Is there anything different about this batch of canned goods?" Wu Shaohui raised an eyebrow, somewhat puzzled.

Previously, although Li Zhe was attentive when delivering goods, he had never insisted on personally overseeing the process like this.

Li Zhe smiled and explained, "Brother Wu, we just established a 'Good Taste' canned food company. We have our own rented factory and production line. This batch of pickled cucumbers is all produced in our own factory. It's our first time doing foreign trade, so I have to keep a close eye on it."

"Wow, that's impressive, bro!" Wu Shaohui's eyes lit up, and he gave Li Zhe a thumbs up. "It hasn't been long, and you've already started your own company and factory. That's amazing!"

Li Zhe smiled and took a bag from Jin Baiwan: "Brother Wu, this is our own pickled cucumber canned food. I brought you a few cans. Take them home and try them out. Also, please give us your feedback."

Wu Shaohui didn't refuse. He reached out and took the bag, weighed it in his hand, opened it and glanced inside. He saw that in addition to four glass jars with the words "Good Taste" printed on them, there were also two packs of Marlboro cigarettes. He smiled knowingly and said, "Okay, then I won't be polite."

Hey buddy, there's a bench under that poplar tree over there. Why don't you rest in the shade for a bit? I'll go get the canned food for the office.

After saying that, he picked up the bag and turned to walk towards the gray brick building next to the warehouse. He returned shortly afterward, still carrying the bag, and handed it back to Li Zhe: "Brother, a friend gave me two boxes of Longjing tea a few days ago. The taste is quite authentic. Take it back and try it."

Li Zhe didn't stand on ceremony and accepted it with a smile: "Then I thank Brother Wu."

As they were talking, a manager wearing a gray work uniform and reading glasses came over with an inspection slip and reported to Wu Shaohui: "Manager Wu, the quantity of this batch of pickled cucumber cans is correct. We sampled and inspected ten cans, and the sealing, taste, and shelf life all meet the standards. There are no quality problems."

Wu Shaohui nodded and waved to the porters beside him: "Okay, then unload the truck and put them all into the No. 3 factory building on the east side. Handle them gently and don't bump the cans."

Hearing that "there are no quality problems," Li Zhe finally felt relieved. Although his second uncle had been in charge of quality control throughout the production process, this was, after all, the first time his family's cannery had done an export order. It would be a lie to say that he wasn't worried.

Wu Shaohui noticed his relaxation and patted him on the shoulder: "Brother, don't worry, there's no problem with the quality of your canned goods."

"Oh, by the way, a batch of water pumps just arrived from the Soviet Union. I specially reserved a few for you; they're all secondhand. I had them inspected, and the parts are all in good condition. The price is also more than half the cost of new ones." Li Zhe's eyes lit up immediately. He was worried about the upcoming heavy rains in July, which would definitely flood the foundation of the greenhouse. Whether they were secondhand or not didn't matter, as long as they were usable: "Brother Wu, thank you so much!"

"No need to thank me, we're all friends." Wu Shaohui waved his hand with a smile. "Come on, I'll take you to see the factory. If you think it's okay, we'll get the paperwork done."

The two walked towards Factory Building No. 5 deep inside the warehouse, pushed open the heavy iron door, and inside were five black water pumps neatly stacked. Although the bodies of the machines had some scratches, they were wiped clean and there was not a trace of rust.

Wu Shaohui walked to a water pump, squatted down, lifted the machine cover, pointed to the parts inside and said, "Look, these core parts are all original. I had someone replace the gaskets and filters. It will work after adding diesel fuel."

I've also provided you with five extra sets of spare filters and sealing rings, so you won't have to make another trip if you need to replace them later.

Li Zhe leaned closer to take a closer look, and then tried turning the machine's handle. It felt smooth and didn't jam. He nodded in satisfaction: "Brother Wu, I'll take this water pump. The price will be as you said."

"By the way, could you get me some diesel fuel?"

“No problem.” Wu Shaohui readily agreed and immediately had someone bring the invoice, which he quickly filled in with the quantity and price. “The diesel is calculated at the wholesale price, so I’ll give you a discount. This is the total.”

Li Zhe glanced at the receipt; the price was indeed reasonable, so he paid on the spot.

The workers then carefully moved the five water pumps and several barrels of diesel fuel onto the military green truck and secured them in place.

After everything was packed up, Li Zhe climbed into the passenger seat of the truck, leaned out and waved to Wu Shaohui, who was standing on the ground: "Brother Wu, you're busy, I'm leaving now, let's get together again later."

"Alright, drive carefully!" Wu Shaohui waved and watched the truck slowly drive out of the warehouse gate...

……

North of Daying Village.

A large crowd still gathered around the Li family's greenhouse. Villagers from the village stood on the sidelines watching the spectacle, while people from other villages who had come to inquire about the technology circled around the greenhouse walls. Several growers who had signed contracts with Sijiqing Company were squatting on the ground, gesturing about the dimensions of the greenhouse construction, their faces filled with anticipation.

"Beep beep—" The horn of a military green truck came from the other end of the dirt road.

The villagers knew without even looking that it was the Li family's vegetable truck, and they all stepped aside to make way for it.

As soon as the car came to a stop, Li Zhe jumped out of the passenger seat and was about to walk towards the greenhouse when a voice called out to him.

"Li's second son, why didn't you bring your car back?"

The speaker was Zhou Laogen from the east end of the village. He was in his forties, balding on top of his head, with only a ring of dry, yellow hair around his neck. He was carrying a worn-out bamboo basket, and it looked like he had just finished weeding his vegetable garden.

No sooner had she finished speaking than Aunt Pang squeezed out of the crowd, clutching an unfinished shoe sole in her hand. Her voice was so loud it drowned out the surrounding chatter: "Zhou Laogen, why can't you keep your mouth shut? Li Zhe is a big boss now. Who are you to call him 'Li's second son'? What kind of car he drives is none of your business!"

Zhou Laogen stubbornly retorted, "I'm a distant relative of his maternal uncle's family. According to seniority, he should call me 'cousin uncle,' so what if I call him 'Li family's second son'? Are elders not allowed to speak?"

Li Zhe listened to the two bickering, just smiled, didn't respond, and glanced towards the greenhouse.

Two figures were standing on the rammed earth wall, bending over and rolling the straw curtain onto the bamboo pole with great speed.

Now that the weather is warmer, we don't need to cover the straw mats at night anymore. He had already arranged for the mats to be collected, but the person doing the job today looked unfamiliar.

He squinted for a moment before remembering that they were the Luzhou brothers—Guo Yonghong and Guo Yongfu—who had come to his house a few nights ago. Li Zhe wondered to himself: Why haven't these two left yet? And they're even helping with the chores?
Outside greenhouse number three, Old Li was leading people to stack bundles of straw mats by the roadside. When he saw his son return, he straightened up and wiped his sweat: "Second son, what did you buy again? Your brother is calling people to unload the truck?"

“The foreign trade company had cheap second-hand water pumps, so I bought five.” Li Zhe walked over and pointed to the truck bed. “There’s a lot of rain in the summer, so I’m keeping them on hand just in case.”

"Why didn't you say so earlier?" Old Li frowned. "Our village committee has a manual water pump that can be used."

“Dad, the foundation for our greenhouse is a meter deep. If it rains heavily, that small pump won’t be able to pump it all out in a day. These five pumps are powerful enough to be of good use in a pinch,” Li Zhe explained.

“Hey, you’re right.” Old Li thought about it and agreed with his son – it wasn’t that he didn’t understand, it’s just that he’d been spending a lot of money lately and was a little reluctant to spend it.

Li Zhe changed the subject, pointing to the two people on the rammed earth wall: "Dad, I just saw those two Guo brothers working. Why haven't they left yet?"

"You mean those two men from Luzhou?" Old Li sighed.

“That morning you left, the two of them came to our door with gifts, saying they wanted to learn the techniques of overwintering greenhouses from us. I told them I couldn’t make the decision and that I had to wait for you to come back, but they just put down their things and left, and I couldn’t stop them.”

He paused, then continued, "They came again the next day. Seeing you weren't there, they offered to help with the work. I tried to dissuade them several times, but it was no use. Second brother, what do you think? What are you going to do?"

"Do you think they genuinely want to learn the skills, or do they have other motives?" Li Zhe countered.

"They don't seem fake." Old Li recalled, "After observing them for the past two days, the two of them are genuine farmers. They are hardworking and know a lot about growing vegetables. They don't seem like they're just here to coast along."

Li Zhe thought for a moment and replied, "If they are sincere in their learning, then let them stay for now. Later, we'll have them receive training along with the other farmers."

Old Li was puzzled, his brows furrowing even more: "You teach our local farmers so you can harvest their vegetables. But these two are from Luzhou. If they learn it, they'll go back to Luzhou and grow vegetables in greenhouses. What benefit will that bring us?"

Li Zhe didn't answer directly, but he had a plan in mind—last year he considered Luzhou a potential competitor, fearing that Jizhou's greenhouses wouldn't be able to reach a certain scale and he wouldn't be able to compete with them.

But things are different now. Under his leadership, the greenhouse industry in Jizhou is booming. At this rate, it may not be any worse than Luzhou in the future.

Moreover, he is now not only a grower but also a buyer, and he values ​​distribution channels even more.

If he can cooperate with farmers in Jizhou, why can't he cooperate with farmers in Luzhou?

There are no permanent enemies, only permanent interests.

If Guo Yonghong and his brother could return, they would have access to his connections in Luzhou. Through the Guo brothers, he could extend the influence of Sijiqing Company to Luzhou, and even contribute to the development of vegetable greenhouses in Shouguang. This would also benefit his future cooperation with growers in Shouguang.

With this in mind, he gradually made up his mind.

Just then, Guo Yonghong and his brother, who were on the rammed earth wall, also saw Li Zhe. They quickly climbed down from the wall and ran over to him.

With a simple, honest smile on his dark face, Guo Yonghong ran up to Li Zhe, wiped his hands on his work pants, and then stretched them out: "Boss Li, we've been waiting for you to come back!"

Li Zhe reached out and shook hands with him, only to find the other's palm rough and uncomfortable, clearly indicating that he had been doing farm work for many years. "I'm sorry, the business in the capital can't be left unattended. I've kept you both waiting."

"It's alright, it's alright!" Guo Yonghong quickly waved his hand, his tone sincere. "As long as we can learn the techniques for growing crops in greenhouses, we're willing to wait as long as it takes." Guo Yongfu, standing next to him, also nodded vigorously.

Looking at the two of them, Li Zhe understood the situation: "I can feel your sincerity, but there are other shareholders in the company, and I can't make the decision on my own. Here's what we'll do: come back tomorrow, and after I discuss it with the management, I'll give you a definite answer, whether it works out or not."

Upon hearing this, the eyes of Guo Yonghong and his brother lit up immediately, and they couldn't hide their joy.

Guo Yonghong's voice trembled with excitement: "Really? Thank you so much, Mr. Li! We'll come first thing tomorrow morning, we won't delay your business!"

Guo Yongfu quickly followed suit and thanked him, a rare smile appearing on his dark face. He clenched his hands at his sides, clearly showing his genuine happiness.

The two brothers chatted with Li Zhe for a couple more minutes, when they saw a tractor come to a stop by the roadside.

Old Li called for help to load the straw mats onto the truck. Without a word, and without caring about the dirt, the two brothers carried bundles of straw mats and loaded them onto the tractor…

(End of this chapter)