Chapter 142: The Greenhouse Launch
The team leader completely changed his stance.
Right now, he’s as eager as a mad activist!
If it weren’t dark, he’d probably rush out and dig up two acres of land right now.
"Team Leader, let’s wait for the experts to start digging, but there’s something we really need your help with right now!"
"What is it?"
As soon as he heard they needed his help, the team leader was full of energy.
"Team Leader, you’re definitely good at farming, right?"
"Of course, I am!"
The team leader passionately talked about how many years he had farmed, how much the annual yield was, and how much grain he had delivered to the country.
First in the commune every year, and how perfectly he timed the harvest every year.
In short, when it comes to farming, he’s the best!
Jiang Cheng listened with great interest, chiming in at the best moments and interjecting at the most appropriate times.
Sister In Law Cheng watched Jiang Cheng with admiration.
This girl really knows her stuff.
How can she listen so intently to something most people would find boring?
Sister In Law Cheng saw her husband talking so animatedly that he seemed happier now than at New Year’s!
Director Lu looked on with admiration.
It has to be Jiang Cheng!
She genuinely makes people happy.
President Ma wasn’t a fool. Seeing Director Lu’s expression, he knew Jiang Cheng was a valuable asset.
And one that’s very much appreciated!
The team leader spoke for nearly twenty minutes, experiencing an unknown sense of satisfaction by the end of it.
"Team Leader, hearing you talk, I knew I found the right person."
"This task can only be entrusted to you. I wouldn’t feel safe with anyone else."
After Jiang Cheng’s words of praise, the team leader confidently asked, "What is it?"
"It’s about seeds."
"We need to trouble the team leader to help us collect all the cucumber seeds from the surrounding area, so we can grow the most suitable cucumbers."
"We can’t let those foreigners laugh at us!"
The mention of foreigners sparked the team leader’s patriotic fervor instantly.
"No, we can’t! I fought against the invaders back then; I’m not going to let these new foreigners win!"
With a look of admiration, Jiang Cheng stood up with the team leader, sharing the same enemy hatred.
The people around them: Should they also stand up and shout something?
They felt like they’d fall behind in awareness if they didn’t shout twice.
The team leader excitedly gobbled down a few bites of food and, stepping into his shoes, ran out, going from house to house for seeds.
No one could stop him!
Seeing this, Jiang Cheng gave Director Lu a look.
Director Lu nodded slightly.
They divided the tasks, with Jiang Cheng responsible for "persuasion," and he for funding.
Jiang Cheng immediately turned to Sister In Law Cheng.
"Sister In Law Cheng, when the agricultural experts arrive tomorrow, the food factory will bring a batch of ’caozi’ cakes."
"These cakes are a bit crumbly, but they’re definitely good stuff. Usually, workers take them home as a benefit, but we thought we shouldn’t take everyone’s seeds for nothing, so anyone with seeds could exchange them."
Caozi cakes?
These are good things!
She remembered her family still had some, they’d find them later, and she’d have to inform her own family.
"But we need good seeds; we won’t accept poor quality ones."
With an extra sentence from Jiang Cheng, Sister In Law Cheng quickly agreed.
After dinner, Jiang Cheng helped clean up the dishes.
That night, sleeping on the warm kang bed, Jiang Cheng quickly fell asleep.
Early the next morning, at four-thirty, Jiang Cheng realized she wasn’t early at all.
There were already sounds outside; they had already started working in the fields.
Jiang Cheng excused herself to take a stroll, and with the female supervisor, walked out of Sister In Law Cheng’s house to observe the village.
The female supervisor’s surname was Zhao; she was the quality control supervisor at the food factory.
Director Lu was worried about Jiang Cheng being the only woman, so he brought her along.
But along the way, Director Zhao formed a very good impression of Jiang Cheng.
"Jiang Cheng, what are we looking at?"
"Looking at their yards; whoever has well-grown vegetables surely has some skills at home."
After tiptoeing to look into a yard, Jiang Cheng continued, "Agricultural experts have knowledge, but we can’t overlook local strengths; sometimes lifelong farmers have more to say."
Director Zhao agreed completely after hearing this.
The two walked around the village, borrowed a few sweets, and, with the children’s help, identified three families.
Knowing the names, they returned together.
At ten in the morning, a truck drove into the village.
This time, the children were even more excited!
The agricultural experts had arrived, and so had the caozi cakes.
Soon, Sister In Law Cheng talked about exchanging seeds for caozi cakes, and the villagers were enthusiastic, hurrying home.
Sister In Law Cheng and Director Zhao were responsible for distributing the caozi cakes, while the agricultural experts checked the seeds.
Jiang Cheng found the team leader and named three families.
Under the team leader’s introduction, those in charge of planting from the three families followed the agricultural experts, Director Lu, and others to the chosen location.
The agricultural experts and their students began collecting soil, measuring humidity, taking records, and more.
They weren’t just there for cucumbers; they were also collecting data for greenhouse technology.
If successful, the next step would be summarizing into practical methods for large-scale planting.
Jiang Cheng and Director Lu stayed in the village for a few more days.
On the first day, the food factory collected straw curtains.
On the second day, the food factory collected stones and earth bricks.
On the third day, the food factory needed people to clear the land.
Every day, the food factory had work for them, either purchasing from villagers or exchanging goods.
On the tenth day, a large truck returned with plastic sheets.
Thanks to the power of numbers, the experimental field had been cleared.
The semicircular structures made of low stone walls and earth bricks, paired with bamboo arches, were finally covered with plastic sheets, and the first step of the greenhouse was officially completed.
There were three greenhouses like this, each with a different temperature and humidity, monitored and recorded by specialized personnel.
Many types of cucumber seeds were planted.
The remaining tasks no longer needed the involvement of Director Lu and Jiang Cheng.
However, the agricultural experts and their students all stayed behind.
On the day Jiang Cheng left, surprisingly, the team leader was the most reluctant to see her go.
"Jiang girl, come back if you have the time! I’ll keep a good watch on your greenhouse."
"We can’t let the foreigners look down on us!"
Jiang Cheng was visibly moved.
"Team Leader, with you around, I’m completely assured!"
In the end, the team leader handed Jiang Cheng a robe and a Flying Dragon, insisting she take it back to eat.
Jiang Cheng accepted, but before leaving, she left Sister In Law Cheng some meat tickets, fabric coupons, and industrial vouchers.
On their return, Jiang Cheng and her team took the truck.
At the same time, the Shen Family’s courtyard was particularly lively.
Principal Wang and Manager Guo had both come.
The two sat steadily at the Shen Family’s, with their packed lunch, waiting for Jiang Cheng.
While sitting, they were also contending with Shen Que.
Jiang Cheng and Shen Que usually met and ate together either at the factory or in the courtyard.
And so, Principal Wang and Manager Guo only found out today that Jiang Cheng and Shen Que were together.
Principal Wang felt deep regret: why hadn’t he kept an eye on Jiang Cheng? Don’t need to think, it must have been Jiang Cheng who made the first move.
Manager Guo: It has to be Jiang Cheng; she always makes a big move!
As long as he wasn’t facing Jiang Cheng, Shen Que was exceptionally sharp.
He got up to pour tea and said indifferently, "Both of you are hoping to take Jiang Cheng on a business trip?"
With that single sentence, Principal Wang and Manager Guo immediately shifted their focus, instantly looking at each other.