Chapter 397

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Protagonist:

Chai Mi

Hearing about earning money, Song Qiushui also became interested.

But she wasn't good at arithmetic and couldn't calculate the specifics, yet the three words "struck it rich" were branded into her mind, and her eyes brightened as rarely seen: "Chai Mi, this business can be done! Growing vegetables in winter, earning so much money, from now on we sisters will be the richest people in the village!"

Chai Mi didn't pick up Song Qiushui's thread, her brow slightly furrowed.

Earning money was certain to earn money, but the risk was probably there too.

Many things were such that the greater the risk, the more one earned.

Zhou Fang looked at her pondering expression, his eyes brightened, his body leaned forward, and he said lightly: "Chai Mi, do you know why our factory can now take foreign orders and turn over capital? Besides making things authentically, the key is that we've opened up the transportation line! We're tied tight with a big logistics company in the provincial capital; they have fixed big trucks every week delivering goods to big places like the capital and Jin Men! Mainly hauling our zisha flower pots and bottles and jars, but inside the truck compartment... there's always empty space!" He stopped, looking into Chai Mi's eyes: "Are you preparing to build vegetable greenhouses? If you can really grow fresh winter vegetables, for the sales side, I, Zhou Fang, will cover for you! I'll introduce you, directly take our factory's logistics route; at least once the vegetables are picked, they arrive at the field and are loaded onto the truck right away, and besides, our place is close to the capital, just two or three hours by car, no problem of vegetables freezing after arriving at the destination! Then we can directly deliver to big supermarkets or wholesale markets! Definitely a hundred times better than you selling retail locally! The price, guaranteed not to lose you money!"

"Into a supermarket?!!!" Song Qiushui shouted again: "Ay mom, whose supermarket sells vegetables? Vegetables are sold at the market, right? Chai Mi, going into that supermarket, then... then wouldn't it sell even more expensive?"

Chai Mi didn't answer.

But she knew that in her previous life, supermarkets sold everything. If it was vegetables, they were all good quality.

But the price was also the most expensive.

Compared to growing vegetables, sales were a big pit harder than climbing to heaven, and the result was unexpectedly filled in by Zhou Fang in a few words!

How to say.....

It was growing vegetables, not necessarily earning money, but reselling vegetables definitely earned money.

In this day and age, all the money was earned by middlemen.

She had experience from her previous life of crawling around in greenhouses; how to control temperature, how to adjust humidity, how to manage light, how to prevent insects... she knew all these tasks inside out.

What was lacking was the guts to start and the channel to turn vegetables into money!

"Temperature..." Chai Mi seemed to be talking to herself, and also seemed to be asking Zhou Fang, and even more like asking herself: "Our place in winter often drops to minus twenty or thirty degrees. Greenhouse insulation is the lifeline. Just a layer of plastic cloth definitely won't do; need two layers of film, with straw curtains or cotton quilts sandwiched in between for insulation. Also need to burn a stove... coal money is an expense, but compared to vegetable prices... Zhou Fang, you say the capital supermarkets... in winter they also buy fresh vegetables? Is the price really higher than the farmers' market?"

"Buy! Why not buy! Those big supermarkets in the capital, like 'Jing Ke Long', 'Wu Mei' and so on, in winter they all have special premium vegetable sections! Those vegetables are cleaned up, packaged brightly and shiny, looking high-class at a glance! Price higher than the farmers' market! I've walked around inside, it's so bright, completely different from our vegetable market! Cucumbers and tomatoes are still piled full and full, the numbers on the price tags, tsk tsk... much higher than what I saw at the farmers' market! What they want is stable quality and brand! If you can grow good vegetables, keep the appearance in check, make the packaging decent, and put our 'Ke County' label on..."

The more he said, the more excited he got: "I've thought of a name for you, just call it 'Something Something Jing Mei Number One Something'! Take the supermarket route, the profit margin is even bigger! Once the brand rings out, the road ahead gets wider!"

"Alright, then we'll grow vegetables too; if we can't sell them later, we'll sell them to you, and if you don't pay, I'll beat you up." Song Qiushui said.

"I've also heard that our village is promoting vegetable greenhouses... afterward I was thinking of building two greenhouses, but I've never sold vegetables or anything, and I don't know what the prices are, so I came to ask you." Chai Mi said.

"Haha, don't worry, if you really grow them, I guarantee I'll help you sell at a good price!" Zhou Fang patted his chest, eyes bright and shiny, "But Chai Mi, you have to count me in on this! I can't put in much effort, but sales, and the startup capital for building the sheds in the early stage, I can help out! We brothers have money!"

Although Chai Mi was a little happy inside, she still said calmly: "Alright, with your words, I'm more assured. This matter still depends on how the village policy is implemented, how much subsidy, whether loans are easy to get. Wait until I go back and think it through, ask the Xiangli Chief in detail; if we really start, your help will be indispensable."

"Done! Waiting for your word anytime!" Zhou Fang nodded cheerfully, stood up and walked to a locked cabinet nearby, took out a key and opened it, carefully lifting out two sets of zisha tea sets wrapped in soft cloth, plus several uniquely shaped zisha small cups. "Qiu Shui, take them! As agreed, one set for your father, one set you keep for yourself. This isn't cheap stuff, genuine good work and materials, outside at least several thousand per set, it's the factory's pressure-box bottom treasures, outsiders wanting to buy can't find them, just for our friendship!"

Song Qiushui was so happy she couldn't close her mouth, quickly took them, looking left and right like holding treasures: "Ay yai yai! Zhou Fang, you're generous! This teapot feels different just touching it! Thanks! Next time I'll treat you to dumplings wrapped by Chai Mi, guaranteed to fill you up!"

"I'll remember that!" Zhou Fang laughed, then said to Chai Mi, "If you lack manpower or have any difficulties, speak up; I'll definitely help with whatever I can."

"Thanks Zhou Fang, for now it's fine. We're going back first; there's a pile of things at home." Chai Mi thanked him, and left the Zisha Factory with Song Qiushui, who was hugging the tea sets and looking very pleased.

On the way back, Song Qiushui was still studying the tea sets: "Chai Mi, look at this pot, how round and smooth! This carved flower, tsk tsk... Zhou Fang, this kid, at critical moments is quite reliable! You say that greenhouse, can it really happen? Cucumbers at eight or nine yuan per catty, sounds like a dream."

Chai Mi smiled: "Thinking is one thing, doing is another. The hardest thing in this world is doing; nothing is simple. By then we might not encounter so many difficulties. Take it slow; don't tell anyone I want to build greenhouses; I'm just thinking about it; specifically how to do it, by then we'll see what policies the countryside has. If the policy is good, I'll build several more; if the policy is average, even if we want to do it, we can't do it well."

The two had just entered the courtyard gate when they saw Second Uncle Chai Youfu with his hands behind his back, pacing around the newly laid foundation. He wore a semi-worn blue terylene-cotton jacket, his face piled with smiles, but that smile looked forced no matter how you looked at it.

"Yo, Chai Mi is back!" Chai Youfu saw them and immediately changed into a more "enthusiastic" smile: "Aiya, this foundation is laid, really solid! All bricks to the top, impressive! Looks like Mi girl is really promising, this hand is not small!"

Chai Mi remained calm: "Second Uncle is here. Building a quiet place for Xiu'er to read, no choice, had to squeeze it out. You sit." She pointed to the wooden stool in the courtyard.

Su Wan heard the noise and poked her head out from the kitchen: "Her Second Uncle is here? Sit inside, it's cool outside."

"No sitting, no sitting, just looking." Chai Youfu waved his hand, but his eyes seemed stuck on the newly built brick foundation and the red bricks, sand, and stones piled up like a small mountain nearby: "Tsk tsk, these bricks, this sand... must cost quite a bit, right? Chai Mi, did you strike it rich? Building a house, and heard you're thinking of building greenhouses? Much better than Second Uncle! Second Uncle has a spendthrift wife, one investment and I almost lost my underwear, sigh!"

His words sounded like self-mockery, but that sour tone, even Song Qiushui could hear it.

Song Qiushui hugging the teapot, rolled her eyes: "Chai Old Second, you've got a case of envy sickness, right..."

Chai Mi pretended not to hear the hidden meaning, her tone flat: "Second Uncle is joking, what riches, I owe a pile of debts. Building a house is a necessity; the greenhouse hasn't even started, just asking around. If you have nothing else, we still need to tidy up; workers are coming to lay bricks tomorrow."

Chai Youfu hit a soft nail, the smile on his face a bit hard to maintain: "Alright alright, you're busy, you're busy! I was just passing by, looking, looking..." He glanced reluctantly at the foundation and piles of building materials again, then left with his hands behind his back, looking displeased.

"Tsk!" Song Qiushui made a face at his back: "A weasel paying New Year's greetings to a chicken, no good intentions! Who knows what he's muttering in his heart."

"Never mind what he mutters, we do our own thing." Chai Mi couldn't be bothered, told Song Qiushui to put the tea sets away, and then with Su Wan counted again the things needed for tomorrow's construction.

The next day, just as dawn broke, Zhu Shukun brought his "large force" over. Besides Master Wang, Master Li, and Little Zhang, five or six sturdy hired hands from the village were added.

The courtyard instantly became lively.

"Chai Mi, good morning! Today we mainly build walls! Try to get all four walls up in two days!" Zhu Shukun was spirited and commanded with ease, "Old Wang, Little Li, you two take two hands each responsible for the east and west gable walls, that's key, hang the lines straight for me! Little Zhang, take the remaining two hands and build the front and back walls with me! Old Zhao who mixes mortar, mix the mortar smooth for me, not too thin or it'll fall apart! Masons lay bricks, hands supply bricks and mortar, everyone be quick!"

At one order, the masons, holding trowels, skillfully spread mortar, laid bricks, tapped them firm, and pointed joints.

"Crack! Crack! Crack!" The crisp sound of trowels striking bricks, the scraping of iron hoes shoveling sand and mortar, and the shouts of hands carrying bricks and mortar could be heard from far away.

The brick wall grew upward at a visible speed.

Master Wang and Master Li building the gable walls were especially steady, the plumb lines hung straight, every layer of bricks strictly staggered, brick joints horizontal and vertical; at a glance they were old hands.

Little Zhang, under Zhu Shukun's guidance, also did a passable job.

The hands shuttled back and forth, trip after trip carrying red bricks and mixed cement mortar.

Chai Mi and Su Wan weren't idle either. Su Wan was busy in the kitchen cooking a big pot meal for over a dozen people, while Chai Mi became the "Logistics Steward," keeping an eye on material consumption at all times, directing Chai Youqing and Song Qiushui to help pass tools and deliver water.

"Mortar! Over here the mortar isn't keeping up!" Master Li shouted.

"Coming coming!" Old Zhao who mixed mortar hurriedly shoveled a shovel of prepared mortar and sent it over.

"Bricks! Master Wang's side is out of bricks!"

"Hurry, carry two stacks of bricks over!"

"Keep your eyes open while working, don't bump into..."

This lively scene naturally drew the neighbors' gazes.

"This Chai Mi girl, she's truly capable!"

"Look at this speed, the wall's already this high in one day!"

"Full brick to the top, and even a ridge beam — Xiu'er this girl has blessings!"

However, behind the low earthen courtyard wall of Chai You De's house in the front courtyard, the atmosphere was completely different.

Chai You De and his wife Che Lianyun clung to the wall top, only two pairs of eyes showing, staring dead at the construction scene in Chai Mi's back courtyard.

"Pah! What's there to show off!" Che Lianyun spat, voice pressed low, full of jealousy: "It's just building a broken side room, look at her go! Hiring this many people, how much money does it cost? Wasteful!"

Chai You De's face was gloomy: "Hmph, definitely earned black-hearted money selling dumplings! Or else stepped in some dogshit luck. Look at those bricks, that sand, those purlins... equals our family's five main rooms! And still has the mind to scheme a greenhouse? I see she doesn't know the height of heaven and thickness of earth!"

"Exactly! Look at Chai La'er's face yesterday, tsk tsk, definitely angry enough to scorch." Che Lianyun chimed in, eyes rolling, revealing a vicious streak, "You useless waste, we just watch? Let her build it up so smoothly? Looking at it makes me angry!"

Chai You De froze: "Then what do I do? I can't beat her either."

Chai You De had been scared by Chai Mi's beating, not the slightest thought of harming Chai Mi.

"You fucking stupid cunt, you think you have to fight her? You won't sabotage her?"

The clamorous day finally ended.

The evening glow's afterglow plated the newly built brick wall with a layer of warm gold.

All four walls were already more than half up, tomorrow they can cap the top.

After that just wait for the subsequent ridge-raising, laying purlins, hammering the roof.

Workers dragged their exhausted bodies away, the courtyard regained a brief tranquility.

Chai Mi was tired enough to scorch, finally checked the courtyard once more, especially that pile of moisture-fearing cement, plastic cloth covered tight and tight, even used bricks to weigh down the corners, then went to sleep.

Su Wan was already asleep, Chai Youqing had also lain down early (although he didn't exert much strength, but he was also "tired").

Song Qiushui helped tidy the bowls and chopsticks and also returned home.

Deep night, people quiet, ten thousand sounds all silent. Only autumn insects chirping low in the corner.

A black shadow, silently, slipped into Chai Mi's door outside.

This person was precisely Chai You De!

In his hand he carried a broken old iron sheet water bucket, inside filled full of water.

He like a thief, hunching waist, tiptoeing, borrowing the moonlight, quickly slipped to the corner where cement was piled.

He vigilantly looked around, confirmed no one, then fiercely flipped open the plastic cloth covering the cement stack. Ten-odd bags of cement neatly stacked there. Chai You De's face revealed a thread of ferocious cold laugh, without hesitation raised the water bucket, then poured the water on!

One bucket not enough, he again quickly ran to the wall root, Che Lianyun again across the wall passed him a bucket.

Chai You De quickly lifted the second bucket of water, again poured on!

Water quickly soaked wet the cement bags, even could see water flowing down along the bags.

Done all this, Chai You De's heart pounded wildly, both fear, and more a twisted pleasure.

He flusteredly put the plastic cloth messily back, also couldn't be bothered to cover tight, carrying empty bucket, quickly climbed wall back to his own home.

"Hmph, let you show off! I see what you'll use to build wall tomorrow! Delay your schedule, lose you to death!"