Back to 1980: Farming the Sea and Expanding the Island

For several days in a row, Lin Chuan was so busy that he forgot about his duties as a staff member and rushed to the island.

Now, the greenhouse on the one mu of land has been built in a decent manner, and two thatched huts have been erected next to the sweet water well for people to rest in.

After the greenhouse was built, everyone on the island dispersed, leaving only the Lin family to finish up the work.

"Xiao Chuan, our family's expenses have been a bit high these past few days. We've spent over five hundred yuan in total," Lin's mother said with a frown as she calculated the accounts.

Upon hearing this, Lin's father was startled, his eyes widening: "This wasn't a big project, how come it cost so much?"

"The structural components brought by Technician Li, the materials for the irrigation system, everyone's wages, and the food expenses for the past few days—all of these cost money."

"And that doesn't even include the cost of seeds and fertilizer." The more Lin's mother calculated, the more her brows furrowed.

"This greenhouse looks nice, but the investment is too high. It costs over three thousand yuan, which is equivalent to ten years of my wages."

Looking at the quietly standing No. 1 and No. 2 greenhouses, Lin's father couldn't help but sigh, his face showing some helplessness.

"Dad, Mother, these investments are necessary. Once the greenhouse is built, the investment will be less, and all that's left is to wait for the returns," Lin Chuan comforted him with a smile.

"We've invested everything we could. There's no point in saying more. Just manage it well, and we'll break even sooner or later," the old man chimed in, showing his open-mindedness.

Lin's father and mother nodded silently after hearing this.

Lin's mother didn't say anything more; she was just a little unaccustomed to spending so much money in just a few days for the first time.

The next step was to consider the planting process. Choosing the right variety proved to be a challenge for Mr. and Mrs. Lin.

They all had no experience in this area, so they looked to Lin Chuan, waiting for him to make a decision.

Lin Chuan visited the seed shop in the county town last time, but the seeds were not very satisfactory.

The day before yesterday, he specially asked Li Shen to take him to the greenhouse experimental base in Chongming for a learning trip.

I ordered seeds, and they should arrive today.

"Dad, Mom, I've arranged all the seeds. We have two greenhouses. Greenhouse number one can grow celery. I estimate the yield will be 1350-1600 jin."

Celery takes more than ninety days to grow in one crop, and now it's mid-November, so it can be available after the Spring Festival.

The price at state-run vegetable markets is now 20 cents to 24 cents, while the price at free markets is 30 cents to 40 cents.

"When we go public, we'll definitely sell out quickly, even if it's just six cents a pound," Lin Chuan said confidently.

Mr. Lin nodded and silently did some calculations: if celery is grown in greenhouse No. 1 at six cents a pound, and the total yield is 1450 pounds, then one greenhouse can produce... produce...

"Dad, Mom, I've done a compromise on the cost of the two sheds, and it should be around 870 yuan," Lin Chuan said, pouring himself a cup of tea.

Lin's father looked at Lin Chuan without saying a word, but silently took a puff of his cigarette.

"In greenhouse number two, we'll grow spinach and bok choy, rotating them between crops."

If you plant spinach now, you can harvest one crop in January and another in February. Then you can immediately plant daikon radish and harvest another crop in April.

Moreover, these two vegetables can help each other reduce pests and diseases, and after three harvests, you can earn a little over two thousand yuan.

By this time next year, we'll have recouped all our investment in the greenhouses, and even have a profit.

These are all experiences Lin Chuan gained from his journey to learn from others. While others were feeling their way across the river by touching the stones, Lin Chuan was feeling his way across the river by touching others.

After listening to Lin Chuan finish speaking, the family couldn't help but laugh.

At the same time, under the old locust tree at the entrance of Qingpingzhou Village.

Several villagers, having finished their early morning work, were sitting on stone benches, resting and chatting while smoking their pipes. Li Suanpan strolled over, carrying a teapot, and naturally joined the conversation.

"Have you heard?" he lowered his voice, as if sharing a secret, "The county is going to set up an observation point on Canhong Island."

"An observation point? What's it for?" someone asked curiously.

"They say they're doing research, studying things like planting on tidal flats."

"Oh! What's there to study?" one of them said dismissively.

Li Suanpan took a sip of tea. "You guys don't know, but the college students who came to our village last time do, right?"

"What's wrong?"

"I heard that he came to our island specifically to inspect a project from the province. If it's approved, the government will provide seeds, equipment, and subsidies."

"A subsidy? How much?" The group immediately became interested and asked.

Seeing this, Li Suanpan deliberately spoke slowly, "How many projects do you think there are in the province? There are so many that they'll scare you to death."

"If that's the case, then it's really incredible. That kid Lin Chuan is probably going to make a lot of money this time." The others were immediately filled with envy.

Li Suanpan deliberately sighed. "Alas! Who can argue with that! The Lin family gets all the good things."

I heard that the county originally chose our village's collective mudflats for the experiment, but somehow it became Canhong Island.

"We're not so lucky!" Li Suanpan said, shaking his head dramatically.

A middle-aged man frowned: "You can't say that, can you? Xiao Chuan made water on Canhong Island and invested his own money to build greenhouses, so choosing Canhong Island makes sense."

"That's true," Li Suanpan changed the subject, "but think about it, if the observation point were set up in our village, wouldn't the funds allocated by the province every year go to our village?"

"Those instruments, equipment, subsidies, and allowances, when they go to the collective, won't you also benefit from them and receive a provincial subsidy?"

His words made people's hearts itch with curiosity.

After a pause, Li Suanpan added, "I've heard that these research sites receive a considerable amount of subsidies every year."

"You might get several hundred dollars for it! And those equipment are worth a fortune."

There was a moment of silence under the tree.

In rural areas in 1980, a few hundred yuan was a sum that could make many people's hearts race.

"That can't be right..." someone hesitated. "Government projects must have rules."

"Rules are rigid, but people are flexible," Li Suanpan sighed. "I'm just worried about everyone."

We toil in the fields all year round, facing the loess soil and turning our backs to the sky, and how much money do we actually earn in work points?

Some people, with just a little thought, turn the country's resources into their own personal cash cows.

He spoke with such anguish, as if he were truly worried about the collective good.

"Li Suanpan!" a woman's voice shouted angrily. Aunt Liang walked over, carrying a vegetable basket, her face unfriendly.

She heard Li Suanpan mention Lin Chuan from afar, so she came over to listen and, sure enough, that guy was up to no good.

"What nonsense are you spouting? The choice of observation point is up to the leaders! Besides, Xiao Chuan has the ability to extract sweet water on a deserted island, that's a skill."

I think you're just jealous. You should go see Dr. Sun right away, instead of spouting these sarcastic remarks!

Li Suanpan's face stiffened, then he chuckled awkwardly, "Aunt Liang, what you're saying... I was just discussing collective interests."

"Collective interests?" Aunt Liang put her hands on her hips and pouted. "Last year, when the team distributed fertilizer, you secretly took ten extra kilograms. Was that collective interest?"

Two years ago, when the irrigation canal was being repaired, your family contributed the least amount of labor, but wasn't that also for the collective's benefit? Now that you see Xiao Chuan is capable, you're starting to bring up the collective? Pah!

She cursed mercilessly, and several villagers around her realized what was happening and joined in.

Feeling embarrassed, Li Suanpan picked up the teapot and left awkwardly.

But some words, like seeds, once sown, will quietly take root in the hearts of some people.