Chronicle of the 70s-Chapter 352 - 339: Plan—One Update

Li Xianglu returned and shared Chairman Xu’s ideas. In reality, implementing this matter would have been simple seven or eight years later, but now that production has just opened up and the countryside has just started to implement the responsibility system, the idea of lending to farmers for entrepreneurship was somewhat ahead of its time.

The old gentleman, however, was very interested, especially in the oil residue watermelon project. He had grown watermelons for several years, and although he didn’t find it difficult, the watermelons were mysterious in that all those he planted would sprout without fail and were large and sweet.

Initially, his granddaughter experimented with using pumpkin seedlings for grafting, which resulted in even larger watermelons, big like winter melons and each one full of water and sweet. So he thought the news his granddaughter brought back was worth pursuing.

It could improve the economy of the entire county surrounding the town.

Li Xianglu’s eyes also sparkled. If the plan was feasible, she and Chairman Xu could complete their current tasks, and if the economic index of the county where Qin Xi lived could be improved within three years, that would be a significant political achievement.

Qin Xi found it amusing and stood up to take out a stack of printed papers from her bag.

The old gentleman, wearing reading glasses, started reading and couldn’t help but slap his thigh and said, "So you’ve thought about this a long time ago, it’s so well-prepared."

Upon hearing this, Li Xianglu hastily took it over and realized that what she and Chairman Xu had discussed were just rough concepts, while Qin Xi had a detailed plan.

Qin Xi smiled and said, "This proposal was announced at the afternoon meeting. There was a strong reaction, many supported it, but even more opposed it."

Li Xianglu said anxiously, "The plan is good, if it gets corporate support, there would be no problems."

The old gentleman interjected, "Corporate support? What kind of corporation?"

Li Xianglu thought for a moment and gave an example, "Like a chili sauce factory, they need a large quantity of chilies, and to guarantee the quality and taste of each bottle of chili sauce, they need the same variety. Thus, they can provide seeds and sign contracts with farmers, buying per weight at harvest time with the price set in the contract, which allows the bank to collect its loan from the corporate payments to the farmers."

Seeing the old man’s eyes light up, Li Xianglu said proudly, gesturing a winner’s sign, "Grandpa, this is what you call a triple win: the corporation earns money, the farmers make money, and our bank also expands its operations."

The old man nodded and said, "Yes, it’s worth a try, chili sauce is a good project. I remember you loved making beef chili sauce with peanuts when you were in college, and Qin Zhen always took three or four jars to eat, and every time he said it wasn’t enough."

Li Xianglu chuckled, shaking her head. A grandfather is still a grandfather, endlessly praising his own granddaughter.

Seeing this, Qin Xi also laughed. Meanwhile, Leng Qing’s face changed expressions, and finally, she couldn’t help but ask, "Xiao Xiang, do you think I could start a chili sauce factory?"

Li Xianglu widened her eyes, and Qin Xi also turned towards her, as did the old man, and even Hu Zi raised his head.

Leng Qing thought her idea might have been too bold, and she was just about to speak sheepishly when Li Xianglu excitedly said, "Yes, Leng Qing, you were looking for a job, right? Why not start with a chili sauce factory? Not just chili sauce, you could try tomato sauce, peanuts, and yes, even five-spice peanuts could be packaged and sold."

Li Xianglu grew more excited as she spoke, while Qin Xi shook her head helplessly. Leng Qing was a bit stunned, "Package peanuts for sale? Would people buy them?"

Li Xianglu paused, unsure. Wouldn’t people buy them? In her past experience, garlic-flavored, five-spice, cream-flavored, all were wildly popular.

So, Li Xianglu shared her ideas, and Leng Qing was momentarily stunned by the realization that it was about processed sales, considering it quite feasible.

The next day, everyone went to work. Li Xianglu had her own office, and as she prepared tea, Chairman Xu entered with a cheerful expression, saying, "What a coincidence!"

Li Xianglu blinked in surprise, "What happened, Chairman Xu?"

Chairman Xu blinked and grinned, "That plan for rural development, my wife told me about it last night. I was initially surprised, but then I saw there’s a printed project proposal. Wow, it’s so well-prepared. If this plan really gets implemented, our bank can exceed its goals. Not only fulfill the goals, but also solve the collection in one go!" Excitedly rubbing his hands, Chairman Xu looked as if the plan had already been realized, and they had already completed their tasks.

Li Xianglu chuckled and shook her head, "Chairman Xu is really dedicated, treating the bank’s business as his own, unlike our generation, we still have to learn."

Upon hearing this, an embarrassed Chairman Xu smiled broadly, "Ah Xiao Li, you have quite the new vocabulary. Our generation has some rigid ideas. If we eat public meals, we must serve the public."

After chatting briefly, they began their new tasks.

With Hu Zi’s help, Leng Qing wrote a project proposal because she didn’t have enough money and needed a loan from the bank, a substantial sum, part of which would be a loan and another part treated as an investment from Li Xianglu and her group.

Leng Qing’s loan couldn’t be obtained locally; she had to go to the capital since she was a Hong Kong resident, and applying for a loan domestically involved many procedures.

Qin Xi’s proposal caused quite a stir in the county, even reaching the provincial level where someone accused Qin Xi of abuse of power and doing unrealistic things.

After receiving the complaints, the provincial government summoned Qin Xi for a meeting.

However, Qin Xi returned from the province with an official notice from the province, permitting a two-year trial of her reform plan in the county. If successful, other counties could be encouraged to emulate.

Suddenly, many leaders in the county who had opposed her fell silent. Their silence wasn’t a surrender but a discussion behind Qin Xi’s back about having a powerful support pushing the matter through.

Qin Xi, however, ignored them. She had climbed up step by step, believing that to be wealthy, roads must first be built, and applied for funds to start fixing the roads from several large villages to the county.

Of course, this money wasn’t enough, so she turned to Xu Wu, asking him to represent the enterprises in donating a few roads.

While the road construction was underway, Leng Qing returned to the capital to apply for her loan.

Leng Qing left in mid-July, and the two youngsters were looked after alternately by Hu Zi and the old man.

They hadn’t found a suitable housekeeper yet, and without knowing someone thoroughly, they dared not hire just anyone casually.