Chapter 31

Su Xinghui said to Lu Zheng: "Uncle Lu, this is Professor Rao Songnian, whom I invited from Jiangcheng Agricultural University, specifically to guide the specialty breeding technology here."

Lu Zheng began to chat with Rao Songnian. He only said that he worked for the Provincial Party Committee, and Rao Songnian didn't pay much attention to it. As a relatively pure scientific researcher, he was not very sensitive to officialdom.

Su Xinghui saw Zhang Cheng and the others and walked toward them. Zhang Cheng said: "You helped them build this breeding farm?"

Su Xinghui said: "You could say that. I came up with the idea, found the experts, and the sales merchants."

Xu Xiao said: "Not bad, how long have you been here, and you’ve already found two paths to wealth for these common people."

Su Xinghui smiled: "What can I do? The financial support from Zhang Cheng and the others for Menghuling is too small, so we have to find our own ways."

Zhang Cheng also laughed: "Alright, when I become the director of the Finance Bureau, I will definitely increase the support for Menghuling."

Su Xinghui said: "That will be a long time from now!"

The close friends joked for a while, and Xu Xiao said seriously: "Xinghui, if you need any support, like needing to borrow money, just tell me. My family’s construction company is doing pretty well now. Not to mention a lot, I can definitely come up with twenty or thirty thousand."

Xu Xiao’s father, Xu Haimin, was one of the first people in Shangjun County to engage in construction. Over the years, he had accumulated a certain amount of connections, experience, and technology. Now, not counting fixed assets, he had hundreds of thousands in cash assets, making him one of the first to get rich.

Su Xinghui knew that Xu Haimin was a man of principle who never cut corners on his projects and had a good reputation in Shangjun County. However, it was precisely because of this that his later development encountered a bottleneck. The projects he bid for were repeatedly snatched away by others, leading his Haimin Construction Company to never reach a very high level. In the era he was reborn into, it could only be considered a second-rate construction company in Shangjun County.

In this society, this phenomenon was still common. In fact, the development of Haimin Construction Company was already not as good as it had been in previous years. Su Xinghui was very moved that Xu Xiao could say such things to him.

Su Xinghui nodded: "Alright, I will tell you when I need it."

After seeing the construction site, Su Xinghui took Zhang Cheng and the others to the cowshed to see the wild boars, pheasants, and bamboo rats. Professor Rao also went over with Lu Zheng. In their conversation, Professor Rao discovered that Lu Zheng was a person with a lot of ideas, and the two chatted very congenially.

In the cowshed, the wild animals made Lu Zheng, Zhang Cheng, and the others exclaim in wonder. When had they ever had the chance to see these live wild animals? Especially the bamboo rats, whose peculiar appearance aroused their great interest.

Zhang Cheng asked: "This thing is called a bamboo rat? Can it be eaten?"

Su Xinghui nodded: "Of course it can be eaten. I ate it a few days ago, and the taste is quite good, with a faint fragrance of bamboo. But you won't be able to taste it today; these wild animals are all going to be bred in the farm."

Xu Xiao said: "This thing looks like a rat, how many people dare to eat it?"

Su Xinghui said: "Bamboo rats eat bamboo, they are different from rats, they are very clean. Especially those raised artificially, they are even cleaner. As long as you get used to eating it, you will definitely like it."

Professor Rao smiled: "This thing is very expensive in the south, costing dozens of yuan per jin. Its skin is also a top-grade material for manufacturing leather products. Although it doesn't look very good, it can be said that it is a treasure from head to toe. I think the main force for creating benefits for this breeding farm in the future will be these bamboo rats."

Professor Rao’s words made everyone look at the bamboo rats with new eyes, and for a while, they were all exclaiming in admiration.

After seeing these wild animals, everyone returned to the village committee. Song Qiao had basically negotiated the prices with the village cadres. The simple, small bamboo crafts were set at a purchase price of a few yuan each, the more complex ones were set at prices ranging from over ten to dozens of yuan each, and the most complex ones, such as bamboo-woven world-famous paintings, were set at prices ranging from hundreds to thousands of yuan each, with the price calculated based on the size.

Such prices made the village cadres beam with joy. It looked like this bamboo weaving factory had a bright future!

Lu Xiaoya and Xue Qin also became very familiar with Xia Zhu, which made Su Xinghui sigh again at the social ability of women.

With the main matters settled, everyone had a meal at the village committee at noon. With so many honored guests, the villagers brought out the best food and wine from their homes, setting a large table full of mountain delicacies and wild game, making everyone eat very happily.

Lu Xiaoya said to Su Xinghui: "Su Xinghui, no wonder you wanted to come here to work. The food here tastes so good, the air is good, and the water is sweet. It really is a place like a paradise!"

Su Xinghui thought to himself, it is a paradise, but it is just too poor. However, he certainly wouldn't say such a mood-spoiling thing. He smiled: "If you think it’s good here, come and play often in the future!"

Lu Xiaoya nodded: "I will definitely come often."

Xue Qin also said: "I will also come often!"

Xia Lan smiled: "We welcome you to come often!"

After lunch, Su Xinghui, Xia Zhu, and Xia Lan accompanied Song Qiao and Lu Xiaoya to the bamboo forest on the mountain to the south. The bamboo forest on this mountain was at least tens of thousands of acres. Such rich bamboo resources provided an endless supply of raw materials for the bamboo weaving factory.

After seeing the bamboo forest, Song Qiao prepared to return to Jiangcheng. Before leaving, she held Xia Zhu’s hand and said: "Xia Zhu, you must study hard. You will definitely be able to become a master of arts and crafts in the future. When the time comes, if you have original works, I will set a separate price for you!"

Xia Zhu was a bit excited. She already felt that the price Song Qiao set today was very high. If there was a separate price, how much money would that be? She wasn't greedy for money, but she really needed money now to change her fate.

Xia Zhu nodded heavily: "I know, Auntie Song, thank you for your encouragement!"

Song Qiao also shook hands with Xia Lan: "Xia Lan, then I will go back today. During this time, you should step up the preparation of goods. Next time I come, I will pick up the goods and sign the contract."

Xia Lan also nodded: "Alright, Manager Song, I will definitely step up the preparation of goods."

Subsequently, Lu Xiaoya also said goodbye to Xia Zhu. She looked deeply at Su Xinghui, smiled sweetly, and then got into the car.

Lu Zheng was the last to get into the car. Before getting in, he said to Su Xinghui: "Little Su, work hard!"

Su Xinghui nodded, and amidst the waving farewells of the crowd, the van drove away, leaving a trail of dust.

Song Qiao’s car took Chen Hongfu and the others back to the township government, and Su Xinghui took Xu Xiao’s car back. When they returned to the township government, it was already past four in the afternoon, and Zhang Cheng and the others planned to return to the county seat.

Before they left, Chen Hongfu stuffed their trunks with quite a few local specialties from the mountains, such as wood ear mushrooms, shiitake mushrooms, and even a few wild rabbits. Of course, he didn't mention the name of County Magistrate Zhang at all, acting as if he didn't know. He only said they were Su Xinghui’s classmates, and Xue Qin was the daughter of his old colleague, so it wasn't easy for them to come, and they should take some specialties back.

Zhang Cheng, Xue Qin, and the others expressed their gratitude to Chen Hongfu, and then they returned to the county seat.

Chen Hongfu said to Su Xinghui with a smile: "Little Su, you must maintain a good relationship with these classmates of yours in the future!"

Su Xinghui nodded: "Secretary Chen, I understand."