Chapter 31 The Laziest Man in the Countryside (The End)
"Me! I mainly came up with this idea because I saw my dad was having a headache over the village."
Ji Huaizhi smiled sincerely, looking like an honest farmer: "We farmers rely on the weather, the land, and the harvest. If the harvest is bad that day, we farmers will go hungry, unlike the workers in the city who have stable incomes."
Director Xiao nodded, and then he continued:
“My dad walks along the field ridges every day to check on the crops. I thought that if the village could generate some other income, we farmers could finally catch our breath.”
"Don't you think so?"
Director Xiao nodded in agreement: "That's true, but your village grows crops, so there shouldn't be that much konjac, right?"
“Indeed.” Ji Huaizhi nodded: “But we rural people also rely on the mountains for our livelihood. When the konjac is gone, we can make divine tofu. The purchasing agent can come and buy it.”
Director Xiao: "You mean that ghost tofu?"
Ji Huaizhi nodded: "Yes, it's made from pigeon leaves, and we'll probably add other agricultural products later. We brought seventeen catties of konjac today, what do you think?"
Director Xiao looked at Ji Huaizhi: "Are you sure it's a collective?"
Actually, they do accept private orders, but from what he said, it meant the quantity was large, so Director Xiao needed to find out more.
"Of course, who would dare to run a private business these days?" Ji Huaizhi clapped his hands: "These konjac plants are all made by the villagers together, and the factory even belongs to the village."
"You're quite something, kid. Not only are you so filial, but you're also leading the village in the effort."
Ji Huaizhi chuckled: "There's no other way, nobody wants to go hungry."
"But I remember your village, Huoshaofangzi, had a pretty good harvest, didn't it?"
"The grain distributed after paying the public grain tax was barely enough to feed and clothe the people."
Ji Huaizhi's words made Director Xiao laugh awkwardly. Yes, even in the city, there are rations. Not to mention the countryside, I've heard from my relatives in the countryside that when there's no food, they have to go up the mountain to find food.
"Okay, you can do it without worry. From now on, we'll have our purchasing agents come to your village to make the purchases!"
"Leave everything you brought today. I'll have the sales clerk weigh it and calculate the bill for you in a bit."
Ji Huaizhi shook hands with the director: "Then thank you, Director Xiao. If our village makes anything else, I'll bring it to you to try first."
"How could I possibly accept that?" Director Xiao assumed he was just being polite.
"Of course, of course. Our village is planning to expand our sales volume. If anyone asks about konjac or similar products, please help us promote them."
Ji Huaizhi shook hands with Director Xiao again, and Director Xiao's smile, which had been polite, suddenly became much more genuine.
"Definitely, I would definitely recommend it if anyone asked."
After everyone left, Director Xiao raised an eyebrow as he looked at the large bottle of baijiu in his hand.
This kid isn't too dull.
The supply and marketing cooperative bought all 17 jin of konjac. When it was weighed, it was a little over 17 jin, and Ji Huaizhi readily rounded it down to the nearest whole number.
The price per pound is 12 cents. Ji Huaizhi guessed that they would sell it for 15 or 18 cents, the same price as tofu.
That's about right. After a busy day, the family earned two dollars and four cents.
He even lost a pack of Daqianmen cigarettes; what a loss.
"Brother, they took them all?" Boss Ji smiled broadly and patted Ji Huaizhi on the shoulder happily: "That's great, go back and tell them the good news."
"It's good news, but two dollars is a bit too little; we need to increase the quantity."
Ji Laoda pushed the cart: "Not bad, this is 60 yuan a month. Just think, that's several months' wages for a worker."
After settling the accounts, Boss Ji's face turned red with excitement.
That's 60 a month!
“Brother, I think we can go to other villages to collect konjac. If we’re going to do it, we should do a lot.”
Ji Huaizhi smiled with narrowed eyes, not wanting to dampen his spirits, "Of course, we can make divine tofu too, and we can't just rely on supply and marketing cooperatives."
"How many people would that take? The village still needs to farm." Old Ji clicked his tongue in amazement.
Ji Huaizhi: "I know, so we need to divide the work properly. I'll go back and discuss it with my dad. Only one person from each family in the village can contribute. If the quantity is really large, we'll have to clear land and use a special plot of land to grow konjac."
Boss Ji nodded: "Yes."
"And the firewood needed for all this can be delivered later, just like the work points for cutting pig feed."
Boss Ji nodded: "Yes, yes, yes."
“For things like making Shen Doufu, you have to go up the mountain to pick leaves. This is paid according to wages, and splitting the money will be a problem. After all, it’s a small workshop and we can’t hire that many people. So we can only provide jobs for them to pick leaves and buy the konjac from them.”
"Yes, yes, yes, otherwise the same few people will always be making money, and they'll be unhappy."
Ji Huaizhi nodded: "Anyway, it's about increasing income for the villagers. Let's take it slow. As long as there's a large demand from outside, there will be a shortage of people."
"Yeah, you're right."
Wang Xiuju was overjoyed when she took the two yuan and four cents home; she really knew how to do things.
They were all sold out.
This earns much more money than going to work.
"What's next? Do you want more?" Wang Xiuju asked.
Ji Huaizhi: "They said to sell it for one day first and see how the sales are, but we still have to keep going. We still have to make konjac. If there's not much konjac left, we'll make 'divine tofu'."
This time, Wang Xiuju didn't object: "Okay!"
Those twenty catties of konjac were from the villagers, and now that they've been sold, Ji Huaizhi gave them the money in front of everyone.
The twenty catties of konjac were given by two families, who said that if they sold them, they would be paid 25 cents per ten catties.
"Twenty catties of konjac were made into seventeen catties of konjac. The remaining one dollar and fifty-four cents was divided between my mother and the others, and we also used firewood from our own house."
“Now the village collects at least 50 catties of konjac every day. We get paid after it is sold. If you don’t have any, you can go to the mountains to find wild ones after work.”
Seeing the anxious expressions on the faces of some people who didn't have the right plants at home, Ji Huaizhi suggested that they could look for wild ones.
There are indeed wild ones in the forest, and Ji Huaizhi found their stems somewhat disgusting, resembling snakes.
"We'll also pay for the firewood used to make konjac, so that everyone can earn some extra money after work."
"If you know how to make 'divine tofu' and 'alkaline rice cakes,' go find my mom. We won't need that many people at first, but don't worry, all the work will be divided equally among everyone."
"Because we are only supplying the supply and marketing cooperatives for the time being, as the volume gradually increases, we will have more work."
Everyone applauded excitedly.
The fact that the village is now generating income proves that they have other sources of income.
It still has to be Ji Laoyao.
Being smart is a good thing.
After Ji Huaizhi explained things to them, Ji Hong also said a few words.
The main point is that generating income is a good thing, but the most important thing is still food. We want to make sure that this doesn't interfere with our food production.
Everyone said they absolutely wouldn't.
I already said the work would be divided equally, and they didn't complain.
(I'm leaving tomorrow, I'll finish the rest on the train tomorrow, I'm going to pack now.)
Ji Huaizhi left the rest to his father, who was a veteran village secretary and knew how to divide the work in a way that would satisfy the villagers.
His primary concern is still his own work.
Continue being Dr. Ji.
He would only take Ji Laoda to other canteens to find the person in charge when he had time. Ji Laoda felt proud watching his younger brother talk familiarly with strangers.
My younger brother follows in his father's footsteps when it comes to social obligations.
I can talk to these high-ranking leaders outside without even trembling.
"Brother, you're leaving already? Weren't you going to take these two buckets of konjac to the cement factory?" Boss Ji followed Ji Huaizhi.
“There’s only the cement plant left. You can negotiate it yourself. Just say the same thing I did today.” Ji Huaizhi put his arm around his older brother’s shoulder. “Don’t worry, it’s okay if you don’t get the deal.”
"How could nothing be wrong? If we talk to another place, our village can earn more money." Old Ji became unusually hesitant: "I'm a little afraid to talk to these city officials."
"Why wouldn't they dare? Aren't these city folks human beings?" Ji Huaizhi's voice was quite loud.
Ji Laoda looked around and said, "Keep your voice down, or the city folks will hear us and come after us."
Ji Huaizhi put the remaining pack of cigarettes in his pocket: "Go ahead, it's nothing serious. We're representing the village to negotiate cooperation with them, so just stand up straight!"
After saying that, he patted him on the shoulder and said, "Just remember one thing: don't let them bargain. We've already given them 12 cents a pound. No matter what they say, you can't lower the price for them, understand?"
Boss Ji nodded, indicating that he had remembered.
Seeing him turn around, she grabbed him: "What if they say they won't take it unless the price is lowered?"
“If they don’t want it, they don’t want it. They can supply the supply and marketing cooperatives. After all, they can handle it all; so many people are willing to buy it.” Ji Huaizhi explained to him in a roundabout way:
“Brother, let me tell you, if we lower the price for them, other places will find out that we offer the cement plant a lower price, and they will take the opportunity to negotiate, or they will think that we are not sincere.”
Ji nodded heavily: "I understand, you can go ahead and get busy."
Ji Huaizhi raised an eyebrow: "Then I'm leaving. Come find me at the hospital if you need anything."
"Sure! As the eldest brother, I'll definitely be able to do it."
After all, as the eldest brother, he can't always rely on his younger brother.
~
Huoshaofangzi Village's economy is getting better and better because of this konjac factory, and the working people have great potential.
While ensuring grain production, the factory always produces exactly the amount of food it says it will, and there has never been a delay in delivery.
The supply and marketing cooperative delivers supplies every day, while other factory canteens usually deliver supplies once or twice a week.
This way, the factory can guarantee a daily profit.
After six months of this work, the living conditions of every household in the village have improved considerably.
Everyone smiles when they get paid each month, and some generous people even go out and treat themselves to a meat feast.
When Ji Hong went to the city for meetings, he always went with his head held high and chest out, saying that he had been recognized as an advanced brigade in the city.
Let the surrounding villages and communes learn from Huoshaofangzi Village.
While ensuring the delivery of grain to the state, he also led the village out of poverty, which earned Ji Hong a great deal of praise. He was given towels and teacups as gifts.
It made him smile, even the wrinkles on his serious face.
He walked home with a brisk pace that day, and when others asked him about it, he excitedly said:
"People in the city say our village is united and friendly, advanced and loves talent. They say that people from a newspaper came to our village to inspect our food factory."
"Wow! Really? Does that mean our village is going to be in the newspaper?"
Ji Hong: "That's right, they also want to take photos, saying they want to put photos of the working people in our village in the newspaper."
"Really? That's great, it has to be our village."
"That's right! People in the city will know about our village now. From now on, whenever I go out, I'll wear a badge around my neck that says I'm from Huoshaofangzi Village. Wouldn't that be so prestigious?"
"You're making a fool of yourself! Hahahaha."
"How could it be considered making a fool of oneself?"
"Alright, alright." Ji Hong told them to calm down: "Besides the newspaper staff, there will also be leaders from the city. Everyone should be careful what they say and let them see the new look of us farmers."
"good!!!"
When the newspaper staff and leaders arrived, they found the villagers full of hope. They were planting rice seedlings in the paddy fields with bare legs, and others were busy working in the fields.
When they saw unfamiliar faces, everyone greeted the leader warmly.
The leader, dressed in a Zhongshan suit, lowered his hands from behind his back and waved to the villagers: "Hello, comrades."
"Comrades, you've worked hard. Your grain is excellent."
"It's not hard work! Life in our village is sweet, we won't go hungry even if we work."
"Yes, it's you leaders who have the hardest job."
The newspaper staff captured this harmonious scene and then went to visit the food factory, where the workers were mostly women and teenagers.
Each of them had a look of satisfaction on their face, and their words were full of gratitude to the village secretary's family.
Fortunately, there is this food factory.
It has increased the village's income, and life has improved significantly.
After returning to the city, the leaders immediately held a meeting to specifically commend Huoshaofangzi Village and even asked the village party secretary, Ji Hong, to give a speech and share his thoughts.
Ji Hong was completely confused. He wanted his son to go and tell them that it was all his son's idea, but Ji Huaizhi said he wouldn't go.
He couldn't bring himself to say those lofty words, afraid that he would offend his superiors if he opened his mouth.
So let him go out and broaden his horizons.
Upon hearing this, Ji Hong realized that it was indeed not feasible.
You still have to rely on yourself.
Young people are still too young.
When Huoshaofangzi Village became famous, people from other villages became envious, and some hooligans would even come to cause trouble at night.
After being captured by the Ji brothers, he was brutally beaten by the villagers and then handed over to the Red Guards. He was severely injured, if not killed.
Besides causing destruction, other villages also imitated them by opening small workshops. But unexpectedly, Huoshaofangzi Village started making jelly noodles, and their village made many different kinds.
The supply and marketing cooperative and those canteens only accepted goods from Huoshaofangzi Village, leaving them with nowhere to sell their own products.
The villagers could only share it among themselves.
Now, if anyone in the village has nothing to do, they'll go hang out at the food factory; it's the lifeblood of the village.
I heard that Ji Huaizhi has made another deal with someone to sell the rice tofu produced by the food factory. The demand is large, which will bring in another source of income.
When Li Zhenzhu was distributing her money at the end of the year, the villagers suggested that Ji Huaizhi receive an extra share.
After all, because of him, everyone received more than a hundred yuan per household at the end of the year.
Later, the saying "If you want to get rich, build roads first" spread, and Huoshaofangzi Village was the first village in the vicinity to build roads.
When Huang Jie brought Uncle Li's family to Huoshaofangzi Village, they were surprised to find that the village had changed so much in just a few years. They encountered villagers as they walked further in.
The other party initiated the conversation: "Are you looking for Huaizhi or someone else?"
"Find Ji Huaizhi and his wife!"
"The couple took their daughter to the back of the mountain!"
(over)
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