Reborn in 1981, the first to get rich start with dairy cows.

Once the time was confirmed, Shen Dong immediately arranged for someone to buy train tickets.

Right now, only hard seats are available. Sleeper berths are too difficult to buy, and since the decision was made at the last minute, they are even less likely to be available.

Because I'll be away for many days this time, I need to make sure everything at home is settled.

Shen Min started school on the eleventh day of the first lunar month and has only attended classes for two days.

Shen Dong waited for a while at the entrance of the commune junior high school.

Tao Guiping set up a stall at the door selling melon seeds and hard candy, just like before. When she saw Shen Dong, she walked over.

"Factory manager, I've thought about the suggestion you made last time over the New Year, and I'm thinking of doing it!"

Before the New Year, Shen Dong had given her some advice, suggesting she use her imagination and go for an agency model. Not knowing what the young woman's final idea was, he asked, "So, how do you plan to do it?"

"I don't plan to make sunflower seeds, I only plan to make candy. I've observed that candy has a much larger market than sunflower seeds."

Shen Dong was immediately impressed; it was rare for someone to be able to look beyond what they were currently doing.

Seeing that Shen Dong did not respond, Tao Guiping continued, "I plan to sell directly at the local department store, and then gradually sell in the commune."

"Before the New Year, the factory manager said the factory needed to buy trucks, so I thought it would be better to go directly to the regional area. The prices in the county are lower, so the regional area is better."

As I was listening, I saw that school was over and the students were already leaving.

Shen Dong kept it brief: "If I hadn't come back by then, you could discuss borrowing the truck with Team Leader Hu. As for the products, don't decide now. Write down the prices of the best-selling items at the supply and marketing cooperatives and sales outlets, compare them when you get to the region, and then decide."

Tao Guiping nodded, and then saw Shen Min coming over.

"Factory manager, you're busy. I need to sell a little more."

Shen Dong then took Shen Min and left.

"Xiaomin, I'm leaving for Shanghai early the day after tomorrow. If you're scared at night, go sleep with Shen Hong or Second Sister."

Shen Min was feeling down.

Since Shen Fang passed away, the two of them have truly depended on each other for survival. Now that they will be separated for quite some time, she is finding it difficult to adjust.

She responded in a muffled voice.

Shen Dong could tell from her mood, but the trip was already planned and couldn't be changed, so he comforted her, "If you're really bored, you can go to the factory to visit your sister Xiaoqin."

Upon hearing Qiu Xiaoqin's name, Shen Min reacted, her voice unconsciously rising slightly.

"Brother, when are you coming back?"

"It's hard to say!" Shen Dong thought for a moment. The order fair was on February 15th, and it wasn't even the 10th yet. There were a few reasons why Shen Dong went early.

Besides the order fair, he also wanted to inquire about the bacterial strains. In addition, he wanted to gain a deeper understanding of the current dairy and beverage market in Shanghai, in order to explore the path for expanding into regional markets next year or the year after.

Therefore, it will take at least a week.

"Then... then don't forget to bring me a present when you come back."

"Absolutely! I can forget anything, but I can't forget to bring a gift for Xiaomin."

"Hehe!" Shen Min grabbed Shen Dong's clothes, leaned back laughing, patted Shen Dong's back, and said, "Giddy up! Why is this horse running so slowly? Hurry up, giddy up! Giddy up!"

After calming Shen Min down, Shen Dong immediately went to find Li Shangen.

"Grandpa, I'm going to Shanghai in a few days, and I'm afraid I'll be back late, so I'm letting you know in advance."

Li Shangen, who spends all day holed up in the greenhouse, treating the vegetables like treasures, didn't even look up before asking, "So, what's up?"

"Grow fruit!"

"Fruit?" Li Shangen was taken aback, then straightened up and asked, "How do you grow it?"

"I went to the county to learn about it. There's a new apple variety called Red Fuji, which came from Xiao Rizi. It's very good. I heard that it's already being planted in northern Shaanxi."

"I asked the technician, and they're promoting it now. The seeds are free, and there's even a specialist to guide you. I think it's a good idea."

"Red Fuji apples?" Li Shangen frowned, hesitatingly asking, "Can everyday snacks compare to ours?"

"Haha, Grandpa, let's look forward and not dwell on the past. This Fuji apple is really good. It has a high yield, can be stored, has a lot of sugar, and is highly nutritious."

As someone who's been through it all, Shen Dong knows that in the next ten or twenty years, Red Fuji apples will be incredibly popular all over the country.

Fruit tree planting has a cycle, requiring two to three years of initial cultivation. If the Hongqi Production Team can seize the market in advance, it can become a pillar industry in the future.

Hearing Shen Dong's praise, Li Shangen was also tempted. Thinking about what Shen Dong had done these past few days, he immediately stopped hesitating.

"Okay, I'll go ask about it tomorrow."

"Well, what I wanted to say is that besides Fuji apples, we can also grow grapes. We can just set up a trellis in the yard."

"Moreover, I'm proposing these not only to increase everyone's income, but also for my factory. We plan to produce various dairy products that combine fruit and milk in the future, so there will be a demand for fruit."

"Oh? Is that so? Tell me all about it. Was this one of the reasons you had us set up the collective factory before?"

"That's right. If everyone grows fruit, the dairy factory will collect it from each household, and everyone will be dissatisfied with the price, whether it's high or low. But with the collective factory, we can order fruit directly from the factory, with uniform prices and quality, which makes management much easier."

"Oh dear, we're really getting old. Our thinking can't keep up with you young people anymore."

Li Shangen sighed and then asked about his trip to Shanghai.

Since Li Hu would also be going, he asked Shen Dong to make sure they looked after each other.

He further instructed: "Don't panic in case of trouble. If you encounter any difficulties, send a telegram back."

After arranging everything in the team, Shen Dong called Hu Weidong and several team leaders over the next day after starting work.

"I'm going to Shanghai tomorrow to settle a few things."

"First, we need to recruit. Recruiting for Group 3 can begin now," Shen Dong said to Qiu Xiaoqin with a smile. "Your product line has expanded, so you're in a hurry to hire people. You can lower your requirements."

Qiu Xiaoqin was a little absent-minded and didn't react after Shen Dong finished speaking. It wasn't until Tang Yue nudged her arm that she came to her senses.

She gave Shen Dong a comforting look.

"Secondly, regarding management, Hu Weidong will be in charge of the factory while I'm away. Everyone should report to him if there are any issues. Tiger, you should make the arrangements for purchasing. If Little Monkey can't handle it alone, we'll find someone else to fill in."

"Okay."

"Qiu Xiaoqin, you stay here. Everyone else, the meeting is adjourned." After giving his instructions, Shen Dong announced the adjournment of the meeting.

As soon as Qiu Xiaoqin got up, she heard Shen Dong's arrangement and secretly glanced at the others. Seeing that they were all smiling and looking at each other, she felt a little embarrassed.

After everyone left, she gave Shen Dong a coquettish glare.

"Why did you leave me alone?"