It's just that they have money.

"What's wrong?"

Huang Ziang sighed, took out a crumpled pack of cigarettes from the table, lit one, and took a deep drag.

Let me explain in detail.

He pointed to the greenhouses outside the window: "I contracted all of these. They grow blueberries, which ripen from May to July, just in time to fill the market gap. Last year the market was alright, and I barely broke even. This year it's not so good. Labor costs, fertilizer costs, and pesticide costs have all gone up, but the price of the fruit hasn't gone up; in fact, it's fallen a bit."

"How do you distribute your products?"

"Wholesale." Huang Ziang flicked his cigarette ash. "Wholesalers drive down prices drastically. They make far more money than I do by reselling the produce I painstakingly grow."

Fang Chen frowned: "Didn't you consider selling it directly yourself?"

"I've thought about it, but I don't have the channels," Huang Zi'ang said with a wry smile. "I've also tried selling it on WeChat Moments, but I'm lucky if I can sell a few dozen kilograms a day. That's not even enough to cover packaging and shipping costs."

"What about e-commerce platforms?"

"I tried, but the competition was too fierce."

Huang Ziang stubbed out his cigarette and leaned back on his cot. "Those big merchants have supply chain advantages, I can't compete with them at all. Besides, the platform's commission is high, so it's better to sell to wholesalers."

Fang Chen remained silent for a while.

He looked at the neat rows of greenhouses outside the window, then at Huang Zi'ang's muddy rubber boots and sun-darkened face, and suddenly felt a pang of unease.

Huang Ziang had better grades since childhood and was admitted to the National Agricultural University through the college entrance examination, making him a proper academic student.

The year he graduated, several large companies offered him jobs with good benefits, but he rejected them all, determined to return and become a new farmer.

When Fang Chen asked him why, he said something that Fang Chen still remembers to this day.

"The city doesn't need another white-collar worker like me, but the countryside needs someone with technical skills like me."

But the reality is that technology and passion alone are not enough.

You also need capital, distribution channels, a brand, and a market.

Huang Zi'ang had none of these.

After several years, I've been met with setbacks.

"What's your biggest problem right now?" Fang Chen asked.

Huang Zi'ang thought for a moment and said, "Sales channels. My fruit is of good quality, even better than most on the market, but nobody knows that. Wholesalers only look at the price, not the quality. If I want to survive, I must have my own sales channels."

"How much money do you need?"

Huang Zi'ang paused for a moment, then laughed: "Why are you asking this?"

Fang Chen smiled and said, "I want to help you."

Huang Zi'ang's smile froze.

He looked at Fang Chen with a complex emotion in his eyes, as if trying to determine whether he was joking.

"Are you serious?"

"Seriously." Fang Chen nodded.

"You have money?"

"have."

"How many?"

"There's enough for you."

Huang Zi'ang remained silent for a long time.

He lit another cigarette and slowly smoked it, his eyes fixed on the greenhouse outside the window.

His expression was obscured by the swirling smoke.

After a long silence, he finally spoke, his voice a little hoarse, "I don't want to take advantage of you."

"I didn't let you take advantage of me."

"So how do you want to help me?"

Fang Chen leaned back in his chair, thought for a moment, and said, "How about I lend you some money directly? You can use it to open up sales channels, build a brand, design packaging, and start an e-commerce business. You can pay me back when you have the money; there's no rush."

"or?"

"Or I'll provide the capital, and you provide the technology and personnel; we'll work together. You take the majority, and I'll take the minority. I won't interfere with your operations; I'll just provide the capital."

Huang Zi'ang fell silent again.

He finished one cigarette and lit another.

"Let's go together," Huang Zi'ang said, looking at him seriously. "The hardest debts to repay are those of others. Partnerships are different; they're mutually beneficial."

"Okay, it's settled then." Fang Chen extended his hand.

Huang Zi'ang grasped his hand and shook it vigorously.

The two talked for more than an hour in the prefab house and roughly set out the framework for cooperation.

Fang Chen contributed three million, taking a 30% stake. Huang Zi'ang contributed technology, existing greenhouses, and land, taking a 70% stake.

Huang Zi'ang was in charge of all the company's operations, and Fang Chen did not interfere.

The only condition is that Fang Chen's shares cannot be diluted unless he agrees.

"Is three million enough?" Fang Chen asked.

"That's enough. I don't need too much money in the early stages. The main things are to establish sales channels, do brand packaging, and build online channels. I already have mature greenhouse and planting technology, so I don't need to invest a lot of money anymore."

"Let's leave it at that for now. If it's not enough, just let me know and I'll add more."

Huang Zi'ang looked at him and suddenly smiled.

"Fang Chen, how much money do you actually have right now?"

Fang Chen laughed too: "Anyway, I don't need your money."

He didn't elaborate, and Huang Zi'ang didn't ask any further questions.

The two stepped out of the prefab house, the sunlight blinding them.

Fang Chen stood beside the greenhouse and suddenly felt a pang of emotion.

A few months ago, he was a low-level office worker who worked from 8 to 6, commuting by subway every day and worrying about the future.

Now, he can easily invest three million without batting an eye.

"By the way, when the fruit comes into season, please save ten boxes for me to give away."

"OK."

Fang Chen patted him on the shoulder: "I'm leaving. Call me if you need anything."

"Wait," Huang Zi'ang stood up, looked at him, "Fang Chen, thank you."

Fang Chen waved his hand without turning around.

He opened the car door, got into the driver's seat, and started the engine.

The car slowly drove away from the greenhouse, and in the rearview mirror, Huang Ziang was still standing in the same spot.

The straw hat covered most of his face, but Fang Chen knew he was smiling.

The investment of three million in Huang Zi'ang was not a spur-of-the-moment decision.

He had given it a lot of thought.

First of all, Huang Zi'ang is a reliable person.

He has formal training, excellent skills, and is the kind of person who will stick to a path once he sets his mind on it.

These people don't lack execution ability; what they lack are resources and funds.

Fang Chen is just the right person to fill this gap.

Secondly, although agriculture is a slow business, once it is successful, it provides a long-term and stable cash flow.

Fang Chen doesn't lack quick money; the system provides him with a sum every now and then. What he needs are projects that can generate more money and have sustainability.

He doesn't mind spending the money the system gives him, but he can't spend it recklessly either.

Investing in Huang Zi'ang was his first serious step.

As Fang Chen was thinking, his phone vibrated.

Zhang Zhenghao sent me a voice message. I opened it and heard him cursing: "Damn it, your medical report is out! Dr. Yin said my liver function indicators are more than twice the normal value! Did you do this on purpose? Buying me such an expensive medical package, I'm so anxious now that they found something wrong!"

Fang Chen couldn't help but laugh after hearing this, and pressed the voice button to say, "It's good that you found out. Early detection and early treatment are key. See if Dr. Yin prescribed any medication for you. If he did, take it on time and don't drink alcohol."

"I didn't drink that much to begin with!" Zhang Zhenghao's voice rose even louder. "No way, you have to treat me to dinner to compensate me for my emotional distress!"

"Okay, okay, I'll treat you to something nice when I get back to Jiangcheng."

"Okay."

"But I was saying, when I went to pick up the report, I saw a few foreigners at the medical examination center. Seriously, shouldn't we consider that idea I mentioned last time?"

"Actually, we've already started researching it."

"If you ever get rich, take me with you."

"Okay."