The villagers held their breath, watching the "monster" gradually take shape.
"Doesn't it look like a big coffin?"
Someone muttered something under their breath, which elicited a suppressed laugh.
Su Jianguo didn't care at all, focusing on checking every detail of the fit.
When the last piece of plastic sheeting was secured, he breathed a sigh of relief and turned to face the entire village:
"Fellow villagers! The first vegetable greenhouse in Sujiatun is officially completed today!"
Applause rang out sparsely, but there were more skeptical glances.
The old Party Secretary stepped forward and patted Su Jianguo on the shoulder.
"Jianguo, I admire your courage. But let me make this clear first, what if we lose money..."
"Old Party Secretary."
Su Jianguo interrupted him, his voice firm.
"Three months from now, I'll invite you to pick the first cucumber!"
"good!"
The old Party Secretary immediately burst into laughter.
"Uncle will bring his own wine then!"
The greenhouse is now complete; the next step is the most crucial one.
The vegetable seedlings that have already grown are transferred to the greenhouse.
Inside the seedling shed.
Su Jianguo squatted in front of a row of lush green seedlings, his fingers gently stroking a tender leaf.
"Brother Jianguo, everything is ready!"
Zhang Dazhu's voice came from outside the shed, filled with undisguised excitement.
Su Jianguo stood up and patted the dirt off his hands.
As he stepped out of the seedling shed, he saw more than twenty villagers gathered outside, each holding a small shovel or bamboo basket, their faces filled with anticipation and curiosity.
"Fellow villagers."
Su Jianguo cleared his throat.
"Today we're moving these precious seedlings to their new home!"
He led everyone into the seedling shed and pointed to the neatly arranged seedbeds.
"Transplant cucumber seedlings to greenhouses number one and two, tomatoes to greenhouse number three, and plant some leafy vegetables in greenhouse number four."
Old Wang squatted down and carefully tended to a cucumber seedling.
"This seedling is growing really strong! Its leaves are so glossy."
"That's because the nutrient soil you prepared, Uncle Wang, is excellent."
Su Jianguo smiled and handed him a bamboo basket.
"Come on, let's dig gently, so as not to damage the roots."
The villagers worked in pairs and began carefully digging up the seedlings.
Su Jianguo moved among them, stopping from time to time to give instructions.
"Yes, just like that, dig it up, roots and all... Don't pinch the stem, support the clump of soil..."
The seedling shed gradually became lively, but everyone held their breath and moved as gently as if they were handling each seedling.
Zhang Dazhu's son, Zhang Xiaohu, dug up a particularly robust cucumber seedling and excitedly held it up.
"Dad! Look at this!"
"Be gentle!"
Zhang Dazhu quickly took it and carefully placed it into the bamboo basket.
"This is a gold nugget! If you damage it, you couldn't afford to pay for it even if you sold yourself!"
Su Jianguo burst into laughter upon hearing this.
"Not quite as precious, but close enough. This one seedling will produce a dozen or so cucumbers in the future!"
At noon, the first batch of seedlings had been safely transferred into the greenhouse.
Su Jianguo stood at the entrance of shed number one, wiping away sweat.
"Everyone, take a break and have some water. We'll start planting this afternoon."
The villagers sat in twos and threes on the ridges of the fields, taking out the dry food and water bottles they had brought with them.
Su Jianguo took out several packs of Daqianmen cigarettes from his bag and distributed them to the men.
"Building a nation."
Old Zhao was smoking a cigarette, squinting at the greenhouse.
"Will this seedling really survive if we plant it?"
"Don't worry, Uncle Zhao."
Su Jianguo pointed to the greenhouse.
"Feel this soil; it's been baking in the sun all day, it's warm! At least five degrees warmer than outside."
The planting work in the afternoon was even more meticulous.
Su Jianguo used a wooden stick to draw neat furrows in the greenhouse and personally demonstrated how to plant the seedlings.
"Planting the plants 30 centimeters apart is not good for ventilation... After planting, gently press the soil down, being careful not to damage the roots... Water immediately to help them settle..."
Wu Ermaitai squatted down beside him, staring intently at Su Jianguo's every move, nodding occasionally.
He wore the new sunglasses that Su Jianguo had given him today, and refused to take them off even inside the shed.
"Second Brother."
Su Jianguo patted him on the shoulder.
"Did you see that clearly? You try it."
Wu Ermai nervously rubbed his hands together and took a tomato seedling.
He imitated Su Jianguo, first digging a small hole in the soil, then gently placing the seedling in, filling the hole with soil as gently as if burying some treasure.
"Well done!"
Su Jianguo gave a thumbs up.
"Let's do it!"
Inside the four greenhouses, the villagers were working enthusiastically.
As the sun began to set, the last seedling found a new home.
Standing in the center of the greenhouse, Su Jianguo looked around at the rows of neat seedlings and felt a sense of accomplishment.
"Fellow villagers, thank you for your hard work!"
He said loudly.
"From now on, water it twice a day, morning and evening, being careful to control the amount of water..."
That evening, Su Jianguo carefully recorded the day's transplanting process in a small hut next to the greenhouse.
Wu Ermai brought over a bowl of steaming hot noodles with a poached egg on top.
"Brother Jianguo, let's eat."
He carefully placed the bowl on the table.
"Thanks, Second Brother."
Su Jianguo put down his pen and rubbed his sore eyes.
"Come, sit down too. Let me tell you how to take care of these treasures."
For the next two days, Su Jianguo stayed in the greenhouse almost every step of the way.
He taught Wu Ermaitai how to use a thermometer to measure soil temperature and how to adjust the covering time of the straw mat according to the weather.
"Remember, on sunny days, you should lift the straw curtain to let in the sunlight, but at night you must cover it tightly."
Su Jianguo repeatedly emphasized this.
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