Su Jianjun counted on his fingers.
"At the current market price, a pound of cucumbers can sell for 80 cents, which means a day's earnings..."
"Twelve thousand two hundred yuan."
Su Jianguo blurted it out, his brain racing.
"After deducting costs and labor, the net profit is approximately seven thousand."
Su Jianjun looked at his brother in surprise.
"Brother, you're really fast at mental arithmetic!"
Su Jianguo smiled, but his brows quickly furrowed again.
"But it'll probably be at least two more months before this batch of cucumbers hits the market, right?"
Su Jianjun nodded.
"It will take at least fifty days. The people at the agricultural research station said that the cucumbers will taste and have the best nutritional value when they are fully ripe."
The two walked out of the greenhouse, and Su Jianguo took a deep breath of fresh air and suddenly asked.
"How much money is left in the account?"
Su Jianjun's smile froze.
He rubbed his hands together and lowered his voice.
"Brother, I was just about to tell you this... we're almost out of money."
Su Jianguo's heart tightened.
How much is left?
"Less than 20,000."
Su Jianjun sighed.
"The main problems are high labor costs and transportation expenses."
Su Jianguo silently pushed his bicycle, gesturing for his younger brother to come along for a walk.
The two walked slowly along the path beside the reservoir.
"Tell me in detail what your current expenses are?"
Su Jianguo asked in a deep voice.
Su Jianjun listed them one by one, counting on his fingers.
"The seed money was paid on credit; the agricultural research station promised to settle the payment after the harvest. There are 108 workers, each earning four yuan a day, which adds up to more than 12,000 yuan a month. The three transport trucks cost 200 yuan a day for fuel and maintenance, and then there's the workers' food expenses—we have to steam 200 jin of steamed buns every day..."
Su Jianguo was calculating rapidly in his mind, his brows furrowing deeper and deeper.
"So, to sustain us until the harvest, we'll need at least another 60,000 yuan?"
Su Jianjun nodded heavily.
"This is still a very conservative estimate. It might not be enough in case of equipment repairs or other unforeseen circumstances."
The two walked to the reservoir dam, and Su Jianguo stopped and looked at the endless greenhouses in the distance.
"Brother, how about... we lay off some of the workers first?"
Su Jianjun tentatively suggested.
"Wait until the harvest to bring them back?"
Su Jianguo shook his head.
"No. These workers are all skilled laborers from nearby villages. It's easy to lay them off, but difficult to bring them back. Besides, this is a critical period; losing even one person could affect production."
He turned to face his younger brother, his eyes resolute.
"I'll figure out the money; you just focus on ensuring production goes smoothly. Remember, the workers' wages must not be delayed by a single penny, and the food allowance must not be lowered."
Su Jianjun hesitated, as if he wanted to say something but then stopped.
"But brother, 60,000 yuan is no small sum..."
Su Jianguo patted his younger brother on the shoulder.
"Don't worry, I have a way."
He glanced at his watch.
"I have to go back to Beijing. I'll come back tomorrow. Call me anytime if anything comes up."
Su Jianjun nodded and watched his brother ride away on his bicycle.
He knew how heavy the burden on his brother's shoulders was, but he also knew that his brother would never let anyone down.
On the way back, Su Jianguo's thoughts were in turmoil.
A shortfall of 60,000 yuan is no small amount.
My two stores, after a month of operation, probably don't even have 20,000 yuan in profit left.
Just as Su Jianguo was pushing his bicycle, preparing to leave Sujiatun.
He had just stepped onto the bicycle when he caught a glimpse of a familiar figure near the greenhouse not far away.
Su Mingqiang was bending down to tidy up his tools, preparing to finish work.
Su Mingqiang clearly saw his father as well, and his body stiffened noticeably.
He quickly lowered his head, pretending not to see, and quickened his pace, trying to leave via another path.
His back was hunched over, as if he wanted to shrink himself down to be even smaller.
"stop."
Su Jianguo's voice wasn't loud, but it was like an invisible rope that instantly stopped Su Mingqiang in his tracks.
He stood there, his shoulders trembling slightly, hesitant to turn around.
Su Jianguo propped up his bicycle and strode over.
"What, you're running away as soon as you see me?"
Su Jianguo stopped two steps away from Su Mingqiang and said in a cold voice.
Su Mingqiang then slowly turned around.
He was thinner than the last time I saw him, with sunken eyes, a face covered in dirt and grime, and his work clothes stained with sweat.
He lowered his head, his gaze darting away, and his lips trembled for a long time before he finally managed to squeeze out a sound.
"dad..."
The word "Dad" was uttered softly and tremblingly.
Su Jianguo looked his eldest son, who had once disappointed him greatly, up and down, his brows furrowing even more involuntarily.
He saw a fresh wound on Su Mingqiang's exposed wrist, as if it had been cut by some sharp weapon.
The silence between the two was like an invisible wall.
The distant sounds of workers chatting and laughing as they finished their work only amplified the tense atmosphere between the father and son.
Finally, Su Jianguo spoke first.
"How is the child?"
Upon hearing this, Su Mingqiang looked up sharply, a hint of surprise flashing in his eyes before his expression dimmed again.
He hadn't expected his father to ask that.
"It's...it's pretty good..."
When talking about his child, Su Mingqiang's voice clearly carried a hint of joy.
"She's quite chubby, and very well-behaved, but..."
His voice lowered again.
"The problem is that Jin Hua doesn't produce enough breast milk, and the baby often cries from hunger..."
As Su Mingqiang spoke, he secretly glanced at his father, then quickly lowered his head, like a child who had done something wrong.
Su Jianguo stared at his eldest son for a few seconds.
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