Chapter 27

Zhang Baosheng nodded and said that the most important thing about a plastic greenhouse is the plastic.

Tools are important, but materials are more important.

Zhang Baosheng tapped his pipe and said, "Tomorrow we'll go look for a suitable plot of land for the experimental field. Once we've chosen a spot and taken measurements, I'll talk to the buyer at the village supply and marketing cooperative and have him procure plastic sheeting for us. You two can focus on gathering the information."

Before Zhou Jiani could respond, one of the team leaders in the meeting spat and cursed, "That brat Lu Zhaoliang? We might as well go out and buy it ourselves instead of asking him."

The leader of Team Five said, "Yeah, he almost delayed our fertilizer purchase last time. I wanted to beat him up."

The captain of Team Three also said, "The educated youth asked him to deliver a message to the town, and he charged two cents for running errands. That guy is a jerk who needs to be punished. It's better for us to go ourselves than to ask him to do it."

Qiu Zeming suggested, "Captain, where is the nearest plastics factory? If it's convenient, we can go directly to the factory and ask."

"In Qiyang." Zhang Baosheng finally realized. Yes, Comrade Xiao Zhou was from Qiyang, and his family was there. He might be easier to strike up a conversation with than the purchasing agent. He simply said, "Then once we've settled the deal, you and Xiao Zhou should go to the provincial capital."

Zhou Jiani couldn't help but glance at Qiu Zeming. She was planning to come back tomorrow morning to meet the captain alone, hoping that he would agree to let her go back to the provincial capital. Unexpectedly, Comrade Qiu resolved the situation on the spot.

This deserves a meal.

Qiu Zeming happened to look over and said in a businesslike manner, "Comrade Xiao Zhou, if there are any teachers in the provincial capital who understand agriculture, you might want to contact them first and ask them to help you get some relevant information or find some channels. We can visit them directly when we get there."

Zhou Jiani nodded quickly and said seriously, "No problem. I'll go to the post office and call after I deliver the food tomorrow."

Qiu Zeming said, "I'll contact my friends in the capital tomorrow and ask them to help. Having more options is always a good idea."

Everyone had no objection to this arrangement and looked happy. Zhang Baosheng also laughed and couldn't help sighing that among so many educated youth who came, this was the first batch to do practical work.

And it sounds so reliable.

Zhou Jiani also said: "It would be great if we could find out where the greenhouse promotion team is now. We can write to them and ask for advice."

One of the team leaders couldn't help but laugh and said, "Let's just take half an acre of land. It's not a good idea to disturb others, right?"

Zhou Jiani laughed and said, "Uncle, you can't think like that. We have no skills and no experience. We have the courage to conduct experiments on our own with just a little information. We are responsible for our own profits and losses. Half an acre of land is not a small amount."

Zhang Baosheng said happily, "Comrade Xiao Zhou is right."

This is what educated youth are like. They sound big-picture when they speak.

After the meeting, the team leader stayed to draw lots to determine the quota for tomorrow, and Zhou Jiani and Qiu Zeming left.

Qiu Zeming, instructed by Zhang Baosheng, escorted Zhou Jiani to the door and asked, "Comrade Xiao Zhou, what time will you go to town to deliver the vegetables tomorrow?"

"Meet at the village entrance at 6:30!" Zhou Jiani said, "I'll treat you to breakfast tomorrow."

Qiu Zeming chuckled and said, "Why did Comrade Xiao Zhou invite me to breakfast?"

Zhou Jiani's mouth twisted slightly. She felt that this guy clearly knew why and seemed to be teasing her on purpose. She chuckled and said, "There's no need to worry about that. Can I just be happy?"

Turn around and go in.

Qiu Zeming looked at the closed door and said with a smile, "Okay!"

After a long silence, he turned around and walked away slowly.

Zhao Mei heard the noise in the shed and came out with an oil lamp: "Jiani is back!"

Zhou Jiani lowered her voice and asked, "Is Huihui asleep?"

Zhao Mei suppressed her laughter and said, "He's asleep."

The light was on in their room. Yu Wanxia opened the door a crack and called to her softly, "Jia Ni, come in quickly. There are mosquitoes."

"Close the door first, let me check the pickles."

Zhou Jiani used the oil lamp in Zhao Mei's hand to go to the kitchen to check on the two jars of vegetables pickled in the afternoon.

It cost a lot to pickle these two jars of pickled vegetables. I bought several bottles of soy sauce, fried the peppercorns and star anise, and poured them in after they cooled down.

In addition to dried chili peppers, she also asked Zhao Mei to help her go out and buy some fresh chili peppers, as well as a large amount of ginger and garlic, to pickle them together.

Zhou Jiani asked Zhao Mei to help her hold the lamp. She carefully opened the lid and turned it over with chopsticks, then closed the lid again and sealed the opening with water.

Zhao Mei felt distressed when she saw this.

Comrade Zhou's method of pickling cucumbers is much more labor-intensive than her method of pickling sour beans. Not only does it take time, it also requires a lot of materials.

I used several bottles of soy sauce, a bottle of vinegar, and a bottle of white wine, and even added some sugar.

It smelled delicious when she opened the lid just now, but she couldn't bear to let it marinate like this.

But in the end, no one said anything. Everyone has his or her own way of living.

The next morning I turned it over again and took a piece to taste. It was not fully marinated, but it had a crisp, sour and spicy taste and tasted very good.

It tastes better after being marinated.

Around six o'clock, there was a knock on the door. Zhou Jiani went out and saw it was Sheng Hongkai, the captain of Team 4. He smiled and said, "Good morning, Comrade Zhou."

She had agreed with the team leaders that they didn't need to make a trip when the results came out in the evening, they could just come and call her at six in the morning.

I went to harvest the vegetables, and when I arrived at the village entrance, I saw Qiu Zeming waiting there. He was also pushing a bicycle, which he borrowed from a fellow villager.

The two of them rode their bikes to a restaurant in town. After delivering the dishes and settling the bill, they decided to stay in the restaurant for dinner. Zhou Jiani paid for Qiu Zeming's breakfast.

Qiu Zeming was not polite to her this time.

After dinner, while strolling down the street waiting for the post office to open, Qiu Zeming asked, "Comrade Zhou, have you ever been to the capital?"

In my previous life, the village organized a group of senior citizens and we went to Beijing together.

Live twice, and only go there once.

Zhou Jiani was silent for a moment before she said, "I haven't been there!"

Qiu Zeming said softly, "I'll take you to the capital for a tour if I have the chance."

Zhou Jiani's scalp twitched suddenly, and she tried her best to suppress the surprise in her eyes. She looked over and saw Qiu Zeming said in a businesslike manner: "If you can really lead everyone to develop greenhouse technology, maybe there will be a chance to go on a business trip to the capital."

She breathed a sigh of relief, startling her, thinking it was what she thought.

But I still don't understand. Growing vegetables doesn't require a business trip to the capital.

Qiu Zeming's palms, gripping the handlebars, were covered in sweat, but he maintained a calm demeanor. "If we really reach a certain scale, we can apply for an exchange program. Isn't that what you said yesterday? As the capital, there should be more opportunities for such exchanges."

It turns out that such high hopes were placed on me.

Zhou Jiani's face twitched as she said, "Comrade Qiu, you're even more daring than me. I thought it was good enough that I could make a breakthrough in the province, but you've actually thought even further than me."

She just wanted to exchange her academic performance for a little freedom, so that she could travel around the city or province from time to time and earn some money, but she didn't think that far ahead.

After the post office opened, the two of them went to make a phone call.

It was Aunt Liu who answered the phone. When she heard it was her, she said enthusiastically, "It's Nini, Nini. Your mom was so happy when she got the call that day. She kept bragging to us, saying that she would stew pork ribs with dried cowpeas as soon as the package arrived. We were drooling just listening to her."

Zhou Jiani couldn't help laughing and said, "Aunt Liu, I understand. I'll bring you some back in a couple of days."

"Oh, Nini, that's great! Don't worry, I'll give you the tickets and the money. Aunt Liu won't let you suffer any loss... Eh? What did you say just now? Come back in a couple of days?"

Zhou Jiani smiled and said, "I'm most likely going on a business trip to the provincial capital. By the way, Aunt Liu, since you've mentioned this, there's no need to look for my mom. I think I can just ask you something."

"You said, don't be polite to Aunt Liu."

"I was thinking that if I really had to go on a business trip to the provincial capital, I wouldn't want to return empty-handed. I'd like to bring back some vegetables grown by my fellow villagers. I can't take too much..."

As she spoke, she turned around and looked Qiu Zeming up and down, then said, "At most, I'll get about a hundred pounds, to at least help the fellow villagers generate some income. I'd like you to ask the factory cafeteria for help..."

Qiu Zeming raised his eyebrows and laughed angrily.

Zhou Jiani had already turned her head back. Aunt Liu's cheerful voice came from the other end of the line, saying, "Nini, what are you talking about? Why do we even need to go to the cafeteria for this little food? There's not enough to go around the dormitory area. Come to me when the time comes, and I'll order ten kilograms."

Zhou Jiani raised the corner of her mouth and said, "Okay, when I really go back, I'll call Aunt Liu in advance."

"It's no big deal." Aunt Liu said with a smile, "If you hang up, I'll help you call your mother."

"No need, Aunt Liu. During lunch, please tell my mom to go talk to my high school teacher, Mr. Meng. I want her to help me look up some information about greenhouse farming. I'll pay her a visit when I get back."

Aunt Liu quickly grabbed her notebook and pen and started writing, muttering as she wrote, "Nini, that's amazing! You're really helping the locals."

Zhou Jiani smiled modestly: "It's just a suggestion. Let's find some information first."

After hanging up the phone, Zhou Jiani heard Qiu Zeming's voice behind her, saying, "Comrade Zhou, I can lift 200 kilograms."

Zhou Jiani smiled and said, "Not only vegetables, we have to bring something else."

Qiu Zeming snorted unhappily and went to make a phone call.

At Qiyang Second Textile Factory, Liu Qin immediately started praising her after hanging up the phone, saying, "Oh, Huifang's daughter is incredible. She's been in the countryside for just a few days and is coming back on a business trip. She never comes empty-handed. She said she wants to bring some homegrown vegetables to sell to the locals. We should all buy some when the time comes."

"Buy it. It doesn't matter whose vegetables you buy. Jiani brought them all the way here. Just for her kindness, we have to support her."

Everyone responded in a flurry of chatter, and then grabbed Liu Qin to ask about the dried cowpeas. They had just heard Zhou Jiani say she wanted to bring dried cowpeas, and they all said, "Comrade Liu Qin, how many dried cowpeas can Jiani buy for you? Please share some with us when the time comes."

Liu Qin said in a taunting tone, "I don't know how much Nini can take. Don't make it too difficult for the child."

My colleagues laughed and scolded me: "We call this embarrassing the children, but you call this embarrassing for others..."

Liu Qin laughed and walked out of the office, going straight to the workshop to find Yu Huifang.

Except for those who attended the meeting, no one else knew that the village was going to grow greenhouses.

Zhang Baosheng was seen walking around the village again and again with his hands behind his back, occasionally calling one or two team leaders over to discuss something.

One team leader suggested directly marking out half an acre of farmland, but Zhang Baosheng disagreed with moving the farmland. He suggested reclaiming the land and quickly gathering people to open up the land and spread farmyard manure to cultivate it.

Most people also think that it is appropriate to reclaim wasteland and cultivate the land first. Even if it is not turned into a greenhouse in the end, it will not be wasted.

But the question of where to start was stuck.

We still hadn't booked a seat until Zhou Jiani and the others returned from town.

Zhang Baosheng came over first to inquire about their phone call. Finally, he nodded, his brow still furrowed over the question of location. He said, "It's okay if we can't decide on a location. Let's start by measuring it based on half an acre. Anyway, it's better to buy more rather than less. Then you can decide when to leave for the provincial capital."

Although you can buy it directly from the plastic factory, there is no guarantee that you will be able to buy it when you get there. It will probably take a few days.

"We're all feeling our way forward, and everyone's a little nervous, but don't panic," Zhou Jiani consoled with a smile. "Comrade Qiu and I have planned to leave in seven or eight days. It would be a waste of train tickets just to go to the provincial capital to buy plastic sheeting. During this time, we'll have the village artisans make some woven items, and we'll bring them along."

Zhang Baosheng's tightly furrowed brows suddenly relaxed, and he felt as if the shallow wrinkles between his eyebrows had been smoothed out.