Starting with vegetable greenhouses in 1988

Chapter 40 Celebration
Daying Village, north of the village.

The northwest wind stung her face. Wang Xiuying stood at the edge of the field, staring longingly at the dirt road at the village entrance. "What time is it? Why haven't they come back yet?"

"Xiuying, stop wandering around. It's not like they're going back to the capital for the first time." Wang Rongsheng squatted by the wall, saying comforting words while his eyes were fixed on the distance.

Li Jiugang poured half a pot of water into the large iron pot, squatted down by the stove to start a fire, and called out, "Uncle, Aunt, I've started a fire here, come and warm yourself by the fire, don't get cold."

This wasn't Li Zhe's first trip to Beijing, but it was his first time selling cucumbers grown in greenhouses. The family had been busy for over two months, waiting for this day.

The cucumbers represent the hopes of the whole family. If they can fetch a good price, everyone will be happy; if they don't make any money, not only will they have to work hard for two months, but the Li family will also be burdened with a huge debt.

A dark dot could be faintly seen in the distance. Wang Xiuying stood on tiptoe, trying to see it more clearly. "It's a tractor."

Wang Rongsheng also stood up. His eyesight was a little poor, but he heard the sound of a tractor. "They're back."

The tractor approached from afar, its sound growing louder. Li Weidong, Wang Jianjun, and Li Zhiqiang, who were working in the greenhouse, also heard the noise, put down their work, and ran out of the greenhouse. "The second brother and the others are back."

The tractor slowly came to a stop by the roadside. Li Zhe threw off the quilt and jumped off the tractor. "Why are you all standing here? Aren't you cold?"

Wang Xiuying leaned over the tractor and peered into the trailer. "Second brother, all the vegetables are sold. How many cucumbers did you sell?"

Others couldn't help but gather around, their expectant expressions tinged with worry.

Li Zhe glanced around and, seeing no one else, said, "We sold a total of 508 yuan."

"What? Five hundred and eight!" Wang Xiuying's voice trembled slightly.

Wang Rongsheng's eyes widened. "What price are the cucumbers for?"

"Five yuan per jin (500g)."

"My goodness, how come there are so many!" Li Weidong knew that cucumbers were expensive in winter, but he didn't expect them to be this valuable.

The others also looked incredulous.

Li Zhiqiang muttered, "Good heavens! One pound of cucumber can buy two or three pounds of leeks. Have the people in the capital gone mad?"

"It's cold outside, let's go inside and chat," Old Li called out, holding a piece of mutton in his hand, and said with great enthusiasm, "Jiu Gang, stew the mutton, we'll have a few drinks tonight."

"Alright." Li Jiugang picked up the mutton and left happily, thinking about using it to make a pot of mutton soup, and then making some flatbread. Drinking mutton soup, eating flatbread, and having some wine would be wonderful.

Upon entering the greenhouse, Li Weidong carried a thermos and poured hot water for the three of them, saying, "Here, have some hot water to warm up."

Old Li took the jar with both hands, felt the temperature emanating from it, blew on the steam, and took a small sip.

"Woooo..."

Old Li heard a sobbing sound, turned around and saw his wife wiping away tears. "Why are you crying all of a sudden?"

"I didn't cry, I'm happy." Wang Xiuying wiped her eyes and counted on her fingers, "Sell 500 today, sell more tomorrow... and I'll pay off the credit union loan in a month. Finally, things are looking up..."

Li Zhe sighed softly. He could understand his mother's feelings. He had been appearing calm these past few days, but he was under a lot of pressure inside.

He was confident in growing vegetables in greenhouses, but it was only natural that he didn't succeed. Unexpected things always happen during the process, which is the norm in life. His family had limited resources and no room for trial and error.

Fortunately, the cucumbers started selling, and he was able to gradually recover his losses; money is what gives people confidence.

Li Zhe put down the jar, coughed lightly, and said, "You've all worked hard these past few days, helping me build the greenhouse. Now that the cucumbers are selling, it's time to raise your wages. From now on, you'll get five yuan a day as long as you come to work."

Li Weidong exclaimed with delight, "Wow, five yuan a day is double what it used to be!"

Li Zhiqiang scratched his head. "Uncle, can I get five yuan too?" Li Zhe laughed. "Of course, you work fast and put in a lot of effort, so you'll get it if not someone else."

Li Zhiqiang grinned from ear to ear, "Then my wages will be comparable to those of city dwellers?"

Li Zhe continued to promise, "Not only will we get wages, but we'll also get bonuses and benefits at the end of the month. As long as we work hard, I guarantee we won't be treated any worse than the workers."

Seeing everyone immersed in their wonderful anticipation, Li Zhe instructed, "However, if anyone asks about the price of cucumbers, just say you don't know. This is our trade secret, so don't tell anyone easily."

“That makes sense.” Old Li also considered this point and added, “These days, many people get conjunctivitis. We should just live our own lives and not cause trouble.”

"Uncle, don't worry, we're very tight-lipped. Just like Zhezi said, this is a trade secret, how could we tell anyone?" Wang Jianjun chuckled, taking the thermos to add hot water to Old Li's pot. "Uncle, are you going to sell vegetables again tomorrow? I also want to go to the capital to see the world."

Old Li looked at Li Zhe beside him, who said, "We're not going to the capital tomorrow. The cucumber yield is not high in the early stages of ripening, so we'll pick them every other day for now. Once the yield increases during the peak fruiting period, we can pick them every day."

Li Weidong rubbed his hands together. "Second brother, what are we doing tomorrow?"

"Let's set up the frame for greenhouse number 3 first. Once we have enough money from selling vegetables to buy plastic sheeting, we'll seal it up," Li Zhe said to Old Li, who was standing nearby. He knew exactly what his cousin and older brother were thinking.
“Dad, you’re getting old, and it’s getting colder and colder. It’s too much of a hardship for you to come along and deliver vegetables. From now on, you can keep an eye on the family stall and let the younger generation deliver the vegetables.”

Li Weidong quickly replied, "Yes, Dad, you're always running around with us, and Mom is worried about you. It's only right that we young people suffer a little."

Old Li snorted, "Hmph, with your little tricks, you're still trying to act innocent in front of me; let me tell you this first, you guys can go to the capital if you want, but that's the capital city, it's different from our village. You can't do whatever you want there, you all have to listen to the second brother."

"Uncle, I've got it."

"Dad, don't worry, I promise I'll listen to the second son."

Li Zhiqiang also looked on expectantly, "I'll do whatever my second uncle says."

Li Zhe took a sip of hot water, put down the cup, and said, "Dad, hire two more capable workers tomorrow."

Old Li nodded. "I know what I'm doing."

Li Zhiqiang asked, "Uncle, how much are we paid for the people we hired? Is it also five yuan a day?"

Li Zhe shook his head, "No, they're different from you. It's still the same price."

"Hehe." Li Zhiqiang laughed, feeling warm inside and full of energy.

……

"The mutton soup is ready!"

Li Jiugang called out and carried a steaming hot iron pot into the shed. Wang Xiuying's golden pancakes were also ready, fragrant and crispy.

A group of people were eating mutton rolls wrapped in flatbread around a table.

Li Na took a bite; the flatbread was so crispy it crumbled, and the mutton was so juicy, her mouth was full of oil, it smelled so good. She couldn't even remember the last time she had mutton.

Li Na looked at Li Zhe beside her with admiration in her eyes. Ever since her second brother started growing greenhouse vegetables, the family's life has been getting better and better. She never dared to dream of such a life of eating meat rolls in pancakes before.

In her heart, her second brother was the most powerful person in the village.

Old Li took a sip of mutton soup, which chased away the chill of the day and warmed him up. He picked up his wine glass and said, "Come on, let's raise a glass. The greenhouse is built, and the cucumbers are selling well. Our future will be brighter and brighter."

"cheers!"

The Li family's greenhouse was filled with laughter and joy, the atmosphere even more festive and lively than during the Spring Festival.

(End of this chapter)