Chapter 412

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Protagonist:

Chai Mi

Chai Mi spoke words of thanks with a smile.

The Technician also smiled: "Policy support! You're the only one in your village who contracted six greenhouses; this batch of good seedlings is reserved for you. But with this many, your three-wheeler definitely can't haul it all in one trip. How many trips will it take?"

"No problem, no problem! Can haul it!" Chai Mi hurriedly said.

The Technician called two helpers and began moving the emerald-green seedlings, each with roots wrapped in black plastic cups with holes, out one by one.

But there were too many seedlings; they couldn't be hauled all at once.

She stood by the vehicle pondering, and the first person she thought of was Liu Zhijing.

She rode the inverted donkey, returned to the village first, and went straight to the courtyard outside Liu Zhijing's house.

"Da Zhi! Da Zhi!" Chai Mi shouted at the door.

Liu Zhijing was squatting in the courtyard; hearing the voice, he ran out.

"The township gave away persimmon seedlings for free, approved thirty thousand plants! This truckload only holds less than one-fifth. The rest are still piled up at the township! You drive the tractor, and lend a hand — help me haul one trip."

"No problem! Wait, I'm going right now!"

The two were just about to leave when Chai Mi thought of another person.

After all, two people handling this much work would probably be slow too; better to call one more person.

"Da Zhi, you help me get these seedlings into the greenhouse first; I'll go call someone else!"

Chai Mi spoke and went home; Liu Zhijing went to the greenhouse to help unload the truck.

Chai Mi arrived home and went straight to the neighbor's house; Liu Chenglei had just finished breakfast, and hearing Chai Mi finish speaking, he agreed without a second word: "Deal! Chai Mi, my truck! Those seedlings can't afford any delay; delay two days and they'll all die on their own!"

He was also a straightforward person.

Arriving at the agricultural technology station, another round of busy work ensued.

The remaining seedlings were carefully divided and loaded onto the tractor, tied down securely.

The return trip was even slower.

They tossed about until the sun slanted west before finally getting all the seedlings safely transported into the greenhouse.

Looking at the emerald seedlings piled into a small hill, all three were scorching tired, but also beaming with joy.

Lao Liutou, hands behind his back, shuffling in broken cloth shoes, swayed over from his little brick house, poking his head in: "Ho! Look at this, a stretch of green, like we damn well walked into a vegetable cellar! Done?"

"Liu Yeye's here." Chai Mi greeted: "Not yet, just hauled them back and piled them here. You old man lend a hand? Help separate these seedlings box by box, don't stack them together, line them up neat against the wall root, don't pile too high and crush them."

"Still need you to tell me? Think my old eyes are dim? This bit of work counts for a fart!"

His movements weren't slow though; he picked up a box and walked inside.

Chai Mi also stood up, patted the dirt off her butt, and said to Liu Zhijing and Liu Chenglei: "Da Zhi, Second Brother, trouble you a bit more, let's get moving too. Finish moving early, finish early."

The three plus Lao Liutou, another round of busy work.

Chai Mi straightened her waist, hammered her lower back.

The temperature inside the greenhouse was obviously quite a bit higher than outside.

She turned her head, facing Lao Liutou who had just lit his dry tobacco, tone serious: "Liu Yeye, tonight we're counting on you. Must be extra careful. These seedlings just arrived, roots haven't stabilized yet, most afraid of freezing. Wind's strong at night, the plastic sheet must be sealed tight, straw curtain pressed down, absolutely must not lift a crack. If even one seedling freezes to death, I'll be heartbroken to death."

Lao Liutou took a drag, amidst the swirling smoke he rolled a white eye: "Chai Mi you damn well put your heart in your belly! With me Lao Liutou on night watch, forget wind, not even a rat could drill in! I'd freeze to death before these persimmon seedlings freeze!"

This remark made Liu Zhijing and Liu Chenglei burst into loud laughter.

The three returned to Chai Mi's small courtyard; the main room already had a table set.

A large basin of glistening braised ribs with beans steamed, beside it sliced pig head meat, mixed cold dishes, and steaming hot large steamed buns.

Su Wan was still busy at the kitchen stove.

"Auntie, don't busy yourself, this is plenty solid!" Liu Zhijing hurriedly said.

"Right, Auntie, sit down quick and eat together." Liu Chenglei also urged.

Su Wan wiped her hands, smiled and sat: "Nothing fancy, you all exerted effort, eat more. Chai Mi, hurry and call your brothers to sit."

Several people sat around, poured some Sanbai (Scattered White Liquor) (Scattered White Liquor), chopsticks flew fast.

Liu Chenglei gnawed a rib, mumbling indistinctly: "Chai Mi, with these greenhouses set up, you'll have plenty of busy days ahead. Six greenhouses, just relying on your family's few people, can you manage?"

Chai Mi put down the wine pot, also picked up a piece of meat: "Exactly why I'm worried. Greenhouses built, seedlings planted, afterwards watering, suckering, fertilizing, disease prevention, a whole spread of matters. Especially this first year, need even more careful tending. My parents are old, light work is fine, but fine work they can't handle. Me and Qiu Shui can't keep up either."

She raised her wine cup, clinked with Liu Zhijing: "Da Zhi Ge, Second Brother, you two know lots of people, help me ask around, any reliable elder sisters or sisters-in-law? Nimble hands, know how to tend vegetables, especially understand a bit of tomatoes. Best if they can work long-term; wages negotiable, daily wage or monthly settlement both fine."

Liu Zhijing thought a moment, shook his head: "Our village has plenty who can farm, but specifically tend greenhouses, especially tomato fine work... can't think of anyone particularly suitable offhand. Every family has their own work too."

Liu Chenglei instead put down his chopsticks, eyes brightening: "Hey! You mention that, I thought of someone! My uncle's cousin's wife, Wang Guoyun! She lives right in the west side of the front Yingzi."

Chai Mi perked up: "Sister-in-law Wang Guoyun? How is she? Can she grow persimmons?"

"Can! Too can! Just her family burden is a bit heavy. Her man years ago did mountain blasting, smashed his waist bad, can't do heavy labor, plus a half-grown kid in school. Family relies on her alone running inside and out. That bit of field work, she contracts it all alone, still raises chickens and ducks, never idle. If she can have a steady livelihood, wages suitable, she'd definitely be willing!"

Chai Mi listened, mind pondering: nimble hands, knows vegetable gardening, especially tomatoes, family needs money... isn't this exactly the person she's looking for?

"Person reliable? Works solid?"

Liu Chenglei patted his chest: "Absolutely reliable! My uncle's cousin's wife, that person, honest and dutiful, works not a bit shady, solid for real! Just doesn't talk much, head down and works. Chai Mi you want to find someone, find her and you can't go wrong! How about... tomorrow I take you to meet her? It's close anyway."

"Deal!" Chai Mi decided on the spot, "Second Brother, then trouble you, tomorrow early morning, we'll go west side find Sister-in-law Wang Guoyun to talk! If it works out, must properly thank you!"

Liu Zhijing also chimed in from the side: "Sister-in-law Guoyun is indeed capable, a top hand at work. Chai Mi your eye, finding Chenglei was finding the right person!"

Liu Chenglei hehe laughed: "Thank what, glad to help. Come, Chai Mi, Da Zhi, down one! Wish your greenhouse persimmons red and prosperous, sell for a good price!"

"Borrow your auspicious words!"

The next day early morning, sky just barely bright.

Liu Chenglei jumped off his bicycle at the gate of Chai Mi's courtyard, and behind him followed a woman in her forties — precisely Liu Chenglei's uncle's wife, Wang Guoyun.

Hearing the noise, Chai Mi came out to greet them, still holding half a steamed bun in her hand.

"Second Brother, so early! This must be Sister-in-law Guoyun, right? Come in quick, sit a while, have some water!"

Wang Guoyun appeared somewhat restrained, waving her hand: "No, no, Younger Sister, don't trouble yourself. I heard Chenglei say your greenhouse urgently needs hands, and the seedlings are precious too — let's look at the work first."

"Sister-in-law is a straightforward person!" Chai Mi liked this decisive manner; she stuffed the steamed bun into her mouth in two or three bites, patted her hands: "Alright then, let's go check the greenhouse!"

Liu Chenglei also interjected: "Chai Mi, I've brought the person to you. There's still a bit of work in the fields, so I'll go busy myself first. You two chat."

"Okay, Second Brother, go get busy. Thanks!" Chai Mi agreed, leading Wang Guoyun toward the greenhouse.

Once inside the greenhouse, Wang Guoyun's earlier restraint fell away, her gaze settling on those seedlings.

Without waiting for Chai Mi to prompt her, she naturally squatted down, movements practiced as she picked up a seedling — first examining the nutrient soil ball at the roots, then carefully inspecting the leaf color and spread.

"This seedling's really not bad. The root ball's well-formed, white and clean, undamaged. The leaves are vigorous too, no disease spots." She raised her head, looking at Chai Mi: "Little Sister Chai Mi, when do you plan to transplant these seedlings?"

"Thinking the sooner the better — seedlings out of soil too long might hurt their vitality. Planning for the day after tomorrow, at the latest the day after that — they all have to be planted into the ground. Sister-in-law, you see our greenhouse — any special requirements for growing these persimmons?"

Wang Guoyun set down the seedling, stood up, surveyed the greenhouse space, then walked over to the stacked seedling piles and paced out the distance.

"There are definitely requirements. Your soil here has been leveled fairly well. Persimmons, this thing — you need plenty of base fertilizer. Only with sufficient base fertilizer early on will they have the strength to set fruit later, and the fruit will swell faster."

"As the technician said before, well-rotted farmyard manure and compound fertilizer were both mixed in, and it was deep-plowed once."

"That's good. When planting, the plant spacing must be grasped properly. I see your seedlings are indeterminate growth type, right? Can't be too dense. Too dense means poor ventilation and light, easy to get sick, and the fruit won't grow big. I estimate, given your greenhouse width, one furrow with two rows, plant spacing at least forty centimeters."

She paused, then continued: "The transplanting water must be watered thoroughly — this point is key. Just moved, the roots need to drink their fill to recover. After watering, wait until the ground surface dries a bit, then hurry to intertill and loosen the soil, conserve moisture and aerate. The first few days, don't let the greenhouse temperature get too high — over thirty degrees and you must ventilate, or the seedlings will wilt. During this hardening-off period, the biggest fear is sudden cold and heat, and also too much water rotting the roots."

She spoke unhurriedly, no grand theories — every sentence solid, practical field experience.

Chai Mi was very satisfied — this sister-in-law truly knew her trade! Not the type who only knows brute-force labor.

Chai Mi had already made up her mind, laughing as she patted Wang Guoyun's arm: "Sister-in-law, good! With you saying this, I've got a clear plan in my heart! This work needs someone who knows the trade like you!"

Wang Guoyun was praised into slight embarrassment: "Just some shallow work..."

"Sister-in-law, don't be modest. How about this? My six greenhouses have plenty of work — you alone definitely can't handle it all. You help me find four more reliable elder sisters or sisters-in-law, quick hands and feet, able to endure hardship, obedient. Wages — daily rate, fifteen yuan a day."

Hearing fifteen yuan, Wang Guoyun's eyes brightened — in the farming off-season, this was absolutely good pay. She was about to nod when Chai Mi continued: "Sister-in-law, you're different — you know technique, can manage. You get twenty a day. These five people, including the four recruited later, all fall under your arrangement and dispatch. Watering, pruning, top-dressing, watching temperature, preventing disease — these daily managements, you must put more thought into, lead them in doing it, guarantee the work's done beautifully. How about it?"

Twenty a day! And managing people!

Wang Guoyun's heart stirred uncontrollably — this was far better than she had imagined.

Her husband's medical expenses, children's schooling — which didn't need money? If this work lasted long...

She hardly hesitated, nodding vigorously: "Good! Little Sister Chai Mi, rest assured! I can do this work, and I guarantee I'll lead everyone to do it well! You said find four people — I'll go search right now, and can bring them to you this afternoon!"

"Straightforward! Then it's settled! Sister-in-law, hurry and go — bring them all this afternoon, and we'll start work directly! Oh right, after you bring them, have them wait right by the greenhouse — I'll go to the township and invite the agricultural technology station's technician to come give us five a proper lecture on how to tend these persimmons from start to finish, especially the key points of transplanting and the hardening-off period. You all understand first, then work will go smoothly!"

"Fine! Then I'm off!"

Wang Guoyun left in a bustling hurry.

Chai Mi didn't idle either — headed straight for the township agricultural technology station.

Found the technician who distributed seedlings yesterday, explained the situation, stuffed him two packs of cigarettes — the technician was very straightforward, agreed to come lecture in the afternoon.

In the afternoon, the sun slanting westward a bit, when Chai Mi brought the technician back to the greenhouse, from far away she could see five women standing by the greenhouse.

Wang Guoyun at the front, behind her four women in their thirties and forties, wearing work clothes, faces carrying curiosity and anticipation, talking softly.

Seeing Chai Mi and the technician arrive, they all quieted down.

"Sister-in-law, got all the people?" Chai Mi jumped off the vehicle.

"Mm, this is Sister Zhang, Sister Li, Auntie Wang, and Zhao family's younger sister — all top hands at work in our village, and they've all grown vegetable gardens at home."

Chai Mi greeted those four elder sisters, then pointed at the technician: "This is the technician from the township agricultural technology station, specially invited to give us a class. Everyone listen well — this determines whether our greenhouse persimmons grow well, whether they sell for money!"

Then Chai Mi said with a smile: "Today's class isn't for free listening — it pays wages. You all must study hard."

Hearing they'd get wages without doing labor, everyone's attitude naturally improved, more willing to learn seriously.

The technician wasn't vague either — right by the greenhouse, found a clean spot, holding the few seedlings and pages of materials he brought, began lecturing. From tomato variety characteristics, greenhouse environment control (temperature, humidity, light), transplanting essentials (depth, row spacing, transplanting water), hardening-off period management (temperature, moisture, ventilation), to later pruning, trellising, water-fertilizer management, pest and disease identification and control (late blight, gray mold, aphids, etc.) — he lectured in an accessible way, occasionally picking up a seedling to demonstrate for everyone.

(This section is researched material.)

The five women circled around, listening extremely seriously.

Wang Guoyun especially focused, eyes unblinking, at key points even asking softly a few sentences.

The other four elder sisters, though not understanding as deeply as Wang Guoyun, also listened with continuous nods, discussing softly: "Oh, so pruning must be done while small!"

"Ventilation has this many requirements too..."

Chai Mi listened at the side, watching Wang Guoyun's focused questions and serious recording, feeling even more at ease in her heart.

This money was worth spending!

With this knowledgeable and responsible manager sister-in-law, paired with a few willing helpers, plus technician guidance — her six greenhouses' persimmons finally had hope!

The technician lectured for most of the afternoon before finishing.

Chai Mi saw off the technician, turned to the five still gathered together, waved a hand: "Everyone understood? Tomorrow early, we officially start work! First, get all these seedlings loaded into the ground! Sister-in-law Guoyun, specific arrangements — you decide! Ugly talk upfront: work must be done meticulously, done well — wages, I Chai Mi won't delay a single day! When persimmons turn red, sell for good price, then we'll reward according to merit!"

Wang Guoyun nodded vigorously: "Rest assured, Little Sister Chai Mi!"

Watching Wang Guoyun already entering her role, arranging things in an orderly manner, those four women also chiming in agreement — the big stone hanging in Chai Mi's heart finally settled.

Hands secured, knowledgeable people secured — this first step of greenhouse persimmon planting has finally been taken solidly and steadily.

The next day.

Wang Guoyun led the four sisters busy in the greenhouse.

"Sister-in-law, this plant spacing looks fine — don't make it too dense." Chai Mi walked to Wang Guoyun's side, squatted down, fiddling with the seedlings as she spoke.

Wang Guoyun straightened her waist, wiped fine sweat from her temple: "Mm, Chai Mi, I'm watching — all according to what the technician said. Look at these soil balls — none scattered, roots are good."

"Seeing your enthusiasm, eight hours a day at most — don't rush too much. Greenhouse work is a long line, live frugally — don't exhaust everyone at once."

Wang Guoyun froze a moment: "Eight hours? Then... then stop at three or four in the afternoon? Can that work? The work isn't finished yet?"

She was a bit worried about progress — after all, the boss spends money hiring people and would hate not to get more work done.

Chai Mi waved her hand: "Listen to me. Whatever time you come in the morning, whatever time you leave in the afternoon, you arrange your own break in between. How to schedule shifts, Sister-in-law, you decide. If there's especially urgent work, like a sudden temperature drop requiring a rush to cover things, or when harvesting persimmons, if overtime is needed, overtime pay is calculated separately: three yuan per hour."

"Chai Mi, no need for that much, if we can add it we'll add it."

Chai Mi smiled: "Not much. What should be given must be given. You work well for me, take good care of the persimmons, that's better than anything. It's settled then, Sister-in-law, remember it."

Wang Guoyun felt warm in her heart, nodded vigorously: "Ai! Okay! Don't worry, guarantee we won't delay your work! Everyone hear that? Chai Mi set rules for us, just work eight hours well, overtime calculated separately!"

"Heard it! Chai Mi is fair!"

Several women chimed in one after another, the work in their hands became even more meticulous, and their faces showed smiles. This host family, efficient!

Chai Mi watched a while longer, seeing they indeed got the hang of it quickly and knew the ropes, she set her mind at ease.

"Sister-in-law, you all work, I'll go to the township to ask about the straw curtains." Chai Mi gave instructions, turned and left the greenhouse.

She mounted the inverted donkey and headed straight for the agricultural supply counter at the township supply and marketing cooperative.

She had heard before that the township, to promote greenhouses, had contacted a batch of straw curtains with a price subsidy.

Arriving at the place, Old Zhao at the counter recognized her.

"Yo, Chai Mi's here? For the straw curtains, right? Just right, new stock arrived, thick!"

Old Zhao led her to look; the warehouse was stacked with a large pile of straw curtains bundled with straw rope.

Chai Mi walked over, touched one, then pressed down hard, and her brows furrowed.

"This... is a bit thin, isn't it? When the northwest wind blows in winter, I'm afraid it won't hold up. Around here, minus twenty-something degrees is common in winter; relying on just this, the greenhouse temperature can't be maintained, the seedlings will freeze to death."

Old Zhao was a bit awkward: "This... the township purchased uniformly, this is the specification. It's cheap, with the subsidy, one piece is only eight yuan. Thicker ones exist too, but you'd have to go to the county or elsewhere to find them, and the price is much higher."

Chai Mi shook her head: "Cheap is cheap, but if it doesn't keep warm and the seedlings freeze, the loss is greater. Do you know where nearby sells thicker ones? The cotton quilt kind?"

"Cotton quilts? Haven't heard of anyone making those in our township. If you really want them, you'd probably have to ask around Shuiquan Township, they have a fairly large cotton quilt factory there, seems they also take on greenhouse quilt orders."

"Shuiquan Township..."

Chai Mi noted it down, thanked Old Zhao, rode the inverted donkey back, pondering. The straw curtains were hopeless; cotton quilts were expensive, but good insulation and durable.

Six greenhouses, not a small sum, had to calculate the accounts carefully.

Just as she rode to the village entrance, she happened to run into Liu Chenglei riding a bicycle from a fork in the road.

"Second Brother!" Chai Mi hurriedly called to stop him.

"Chai Mi? Back from the township? Asked about the straw curtains?" Liu Chenglei stopped.

"The township's straw curtains are like paper, useless. Old Zhao said Shuiquan Township has a cotton quilt factory that might make them. Do you know that place? Any acquaintances there?"

"Hey, what a coincidence! My second aunt's husband's maternal cousin works as a small team leader in that factory! Seems his surname is Wang. That factory is quite famous, specializes in all kinds of bedding, heard these past two years they also started making greenhouse insulation quilts. What? You want to get cotton quilts? That stuff is terribly expensive!"

"Expensive but have to do it. Straw curtains don't keep out the cold, if a batch of seedlings freezes, the loss is greater. Expensive is fine, they last several years. Second Brother, if you have connections that would be great! Can you help ask about the price?"

Liu Chenglei was quite enthusiastic: "Like this, you go there and find my second aunt's that cousin, mention me, he knows me, he'll give you a real price."

Chai Mi felt warmth in her heart: "Then thank you so much, Second Brother..."

"What politeness!" Liu Chenglei waved his hand: "Then I'll go first."

"Okay! Thanks for the trouble!" Chai Mi watched Liu Chenglei ride away, feeling more confident. She didn't go home directly.

Turned to Song Qiushui's house.

Song Qiushui was frowning and playing with a few puppies; seeing Chai Mi enter, she smiled: "Busy person, are the seedlings planted in the greenhouse?"

"Planting right now, Sister-in-law and them are doing well. Qiu Shui, come out with me."

"Where to?" Song Qiushui wiped her hands.

"Shuiquan Township, cotton quilt factory."

"Cotton quilt factory? You want to buy cotton quilts? For the greenhouse?" Song Qiushui reacted quickly.

"Mm, the township's straw curtains won't do, too thin. Second Brother said he knows someone at the cotton quilt factory. I thought, why don't the two of us go directly, see the goods, and feel out the bottom price." Chai Mi explained.

Song Qiushui readily agreed: "Okay!"

Then she shouted toward the inside of the house: "Mom, I'm going out for a bit."

Then she jumped onto Chai Mi's inverted donkey.

Chai Mi rode the inverted donkey toward the direction of Shuiquan Township.

The road was a bit bumpy, all small slopes, all kinds of hard walking.

Rode for nearly an hour, the two finally arrived at the Shuiquan Township factory; looking at the scale, not small, high walls, several rows of workshops inside.

The gatekeeper heard they came to look at greenhouse insulation quilts, and heard they were introduced by Liu Chenglei to find Team Leader Wang, attitude improved a lot, pointed the way: "Go to Workshop Three to find Team Leader Wang, Wang Dayong."

The two found Workshop Three; inside machine sounds rumbled. A man in blue work clothes, in his thirties, was directing workers moving things, looking quite capable.

"Excuse me, which one is Team Leader Wang?" Chai Mi raised her voice to ask.

The man turned his head: "I am Wang Dayong, who are you?"

"Hello Team Leader Wang, we were introduced by Liu Chenglei. We are neighbors. I'm Chai Mi, this is my friend Song Qiushui. We want to look at insulation cotton quilts for greenhouses."

"Mm! So you're from Chenglei's side!" Wang Dayong's face showed a smile, became more enthusiastic: "Come come come, look this way, just finished a batch off the production line."

The outer layer is nylon cloth, the other side is similar to fertilizer bag material, waterproof, middle has six or seven layers total, cotton, cloth scraps, edges quilted densely with sturdy nylon rope.