Lin Chuxia watched Qin Liang standing atop the greenhouse, spreading a straw mat.
The vegetable greenhouse stood taller than a person, and with Qin Liang on top, Qian Chuncao below, their cooperation had become seamlessly tacit.
Each family in the village had built such greenhouses. Some families built one; some brothers shared one; Qin Liang’s family had two—one on their own land, and another on Qin Han’s land.
The very greenhouse mentioned before was situated on Qin Han’s land, managed with the help of Qin Liang, but it was dedicated to Technician He for scientific research experiments.
This was a voluntary act by Qin Liang.
As the saying goes, good deeds bring good rewards. While Qin Liang’s action seemed to sacrifice a greenhouse, the benefits were plentiful.
Not only could he learn planting knowledge directly from the technicians, but any issues with the greenhouse vegetables would be noticed immediately by the technicians for timely intervention.
These recent days Qin Han had been accompanying the researchers, while Mr. Qin oversaw the store.
By the time Lin Chuxia returned home, Mr. Qin had come back from the store as well.
Normally, He Shuji didn’t dine with the Qin Family. Today was an exception; Lin Chuxia was present, so he joined them for dinner.
The next day, Lin Chuxia overslept. When she woke up, everyone had already left the house, save for Mrs. Qin who was tidying up the yard and had left some food for her in the pot.
After eating, Lin Chuxia wanted to go to the fields. But before she could leave, the village chief came looking for her.
Seeing Lin Chuxia’s somber expression, “Lin, you’re finally back. If you didn’t return, I truly wouldn’t have been able to cope. The Agricultural Bureau called again yesterday, wanting to send three technicians over. I’m at a loss on how to accommodate them.”
Lin Chuxia first asked, “Uncle, you’ve interacted with Technician He these past days. What do you think of him?”
Qin Shusen spoke earnestly, “Look at the question you’re asking, Lin. Although I don’t understand the technicalities, Technician He is beyond reproach. He inspected our greenhouse construction even before settling in on his first day in the village. These past few days, he’s been monitoring the greenhouses more diligently than even our villagers.”
Lin Chuxia nodded, “Good, as long as Uncle approves of Technician He. When the Agricultural Bureau’s technicians arrive, we’ll treat them as we should, but remember, prioritize accordingly. Since the leaders from the bureau said they’re here to help, let them help. As for the technical aspects, we’ll follow Technician He’s lead.”
It’s not that they distrusted the Agricultural Bureau’s technicians, but credibility is essential in all matters.
The other details had already been discussed over the phone, so there was no need for Lin Chuxia to elaborate.
With his instruction clear, Qin Shusen prepared to make arrangements but then, as if struck by a thought, he took out a wad of money from his pocket.
“According to the village’s custom, when guests stay with villagers, the village provides compensation to the host family. Even though Technician He was invited by you, the village must take care of his boarding and lodging.”
It had been a long time since outsiders visited their village, the last time being when two educated youths were accommodated with a villager, who then received some extra public grains at the end of the year.
Now things were different. Qin Family Village had its own industry and income. Plus, with the technicians leading the village towards prosperity, the village chief had no intention of shortchanging them by dropping the ball halfway.
Additionally, the village chief wouldn’t miss the opportunity to get on the good side of the Qin Family.
Lin Chuxia of course understood the village chief’s underlying motives, and indeed, her mother-in-law had been working hard caring for the technicians every day.
“Alright, then I’ll accept it.”
Lin Chuxia also took out a wad of money from her pocket, exactly 200 yuan, and added it to the village chief’s money. She then called over Mrs. Qin.
In front of the village chief, the wad of money was handed over to Mrs. Qin.
“This is the subsidy for Technician He’s stay at our place.���
Upon seeing the money, Mrs. Qin nearly dropped it in shock.
“I’m just cooking meals; do I really need so much money?”
Lin Chuxia spoke nonchalantly, “Mom, just take it since the village chief is giving it to you. Our village has money now, and besides, Technician He is a high-level intellectual from the capital, and he’s going to stay with us for a long time, so consider it a salary from the village.”
Reading Lin Chuxia’s gesture, the village chief silently sighed, thinking it was too little, and went along with Lin Chuxia’s words, “Yes, second sister-in-law, I am at ease with Technician He living in your home. This money is from the village, just take it.”
Only then did Mrs. Qin accept the money with a smile, “I never thought I would see the day I’d receive a salary.”
Since the village chief came over, Lin Chuxia didn’t go back to the fields but accompanied the village chief to the county government compound.
The idea to bring in technical staff from the Agricultural Bureau was initiated by County Magistrate Bai.
Although Lin Chuxia did not take part in the Ancheng Food Factory issue, County Magistrate Bai still felt guilty towards Lin Chuxia.
Hearing that Qin Family Village was planning to set up vegetable greenhouses and that it was Lin Chuxia’s suggestion, County Magistrate Bai spoke to the Agricultural Bureau, insisting that they must send technicians to Qin Family Village to help set up the greenhouses.
However, he hadn’t expected that Lin Chuxia would directly invite technical staff from the Agricultural Research Institute.
Arriving at County Magistrate Bai’s office, he first inquired about the current construction status of the vegetable greenhouses in Qin Family Village, giving them full affirmation and encouragement for this initiative.
He then brought up the matter of the Agricultural Bureau’s technical staff.
“I’ve heard about Qin Family Village inviting technical staff from the Agricultural Research Institute, which is excellent news. I’ve already mentioned it to Director Liu of the Agricultural Bureau. This is a great learning opportunity for us. We must seize this chance to learn from the technicians of the Agricultural Research Institute. Rest assured, Mr. Qin and Lin, the Agricultural Bureau’s involvement is purely to learn. If we can be of help, that would be best; we definitely won’t drag down the construction of the vegetable greenhouses in Qin Family Village.”
County Magistrate Bai was the first to express this stance.
Lin Chuxia thought to herself that County Magistrate Bai was certainly a clever man, a slick operator.
Opportunities to learn from the technical staff of the Agricultural Research Institute were indeed rare, and with the involvement of the Agricultural Bureau, not only could they gain cutting-edge agricultural knowledge, but the achievement of the Qin Family Village vegetable greenhouses would also be a significant mark on their record.
However, she was also willing to deal with smart people.
Dealing with a leader who can see the overall situation could avoid a lot of unnecessary troubles.
County Magistrate Bai also made a direct call, informing Director Liu of the Agricultural Bureau, and that afternoon, the technical staff from the Agricultural Bureau arrived at Qin Family Village.
Perhaps because Technician He from the Agricultural Research Institute was young and they wanted to find common ground, the three technicians sent by the Agricultural Bureau also appeared to be under 30, with one of the female comrades looking particularly young.
The village chief received the three technicians.
All three of them seemed very excited, and after meeting Qin Shusen, they proposed to meet the technician from the Capital Agricultural Science and Technology Institute so they could start working as soon as possible.
The village chief knew that Technician He had been very busy during this time.
There were over a hundred vegetable greenhouses in the village, and Technician He was nearly holding meetings with villagers every day.
Even with the help of few able village cadres and villagers, managing so many vegetable greenhouses was no small feat.