Looking at the bright red liquid in the test tube, Zhang Qingcui looked fearful.
"Director Li, you just said that just a little bit of chili pepper essence can be worth two acres of chili peppers?"
It takes at least three months to plant peppers on two acres of land from sowing, germination, growth, and fruit bearing, and requires two people to take care of it.
A researcher, in the laboratory, mixed several compounds in a certain proportion, carried out chemical reactions, and then extracted them. It only took less than two hours to produce two acres of peppers.
Zhang Qingcui felt the power of technology personally for the first time.
Li Donglai nodded: "You can say so in terms of spiciness, but because it lacks the fragrance of the pepper itself, it also lacks the burnt aroma produced by frying the pepper with oil. Therefore, it can only be used in cheap catering."
Cheap catering... Buffett's eyes lit up: "Hey, we can sell this thing to Mexico, where everyone will like it."
Hearing this, Li Donglai couldn't help but click his lips twice.
Mexico is the origin of chili peppers, so this wave is a reverse export.
Li Donglai put the chili pepper water diluted a thousand times into his mouth, and wow, it was really spicy.
"Okay, now that we have successfully developed it, we have to quickly design the production process."
"The Mexican people are in urgent need of chili pepper essence, we must work harder!"
After encouraging the researchers, Li Donglai began to think about the next step.
Currently the laboratory already has two pieces of Hextech.
It can be expected that more will be researched in the future.
but.
It's just a research result, it's of no use.
These research results must be produced and transformed into real products, so that they can be shipped to the port city and sold to the world through companies in the port city.
The laboratory is fine for conducting research, but there is no way to carry out large-scale production activities.
This requires finding a specialized production factory.
In later generations, Li Donglai can hand over the production task to the foundry.
But.
In this era, all factories are state-owned. They are responsible for the production tasks of ministries and commissions and cannot help laboratories produce seasonings.
Of course, Li Donglai can also hand over the production tasks to the ministries and commissions, which will make unified arrangements and assign them to the following factories for production.
Just like that, the meaning of the establishment of Hex Technology is lost.
Hex Technology itself was established to raise research funds for the laboratory while promoting experimental results.
If the production tasks are handed over, what is the difference between Hex Technology and other domestic companies?
However, in this era, it is impossible to build a factory on your own.
Or should...
A bright light flashed in Li Donglai's mind.
Half an hour later, he appeared in Director Yang's office.
Looking at Director Yang who was busy pouring tea, he smiled and said: "Old Director, please stop being busy. I have finished my work and I have to go back to the laboratory and keep an eye on it."
"Hey, you kid, you don't come to my place easily, and you want to leave when you come. How can it be so cheap?"
Director Yang brought the West Lake Longjing tea set, took out a tea set from the cabinet, and placed it on the table.
It was a set of purple sand tea sets, and its vaguely old and simple atmosphere was enough to prove its extraordinary origin.
Director Yang first picked up the hot water bottle, filled it with water, washed the cup, and heated the cup... His attitude was solemn and his momentum was extraordinary.
The cold wind blew in from the window, blowing his gray hair, and his Chinese tunic suit grinned in the cold wind, giving him the air of an outsider.
Open an old newspaper, pick up a handful of tea leaves, and put them into the water.
The tender green branches stretched out in the hot water, and a wisp of white mist, mixed with the faint fragrance of tea, filled the house.
Just look at the light-flavored glutinous rice wine, boiling springs and tasting tea, tea pots with fragrant seal scripts and small curtains, pounding tea and deep pine trees in the courtyard...
Director Yang placed his hands on his legs, palms facing up, and his eyes were slightly closed.
Li Donglai was shocked by the atmosphere.
Is this the legendary ancient tea?
I don't know how long it took, but Director Yang opened his eyes, looking a little confused.
"I forgot what to do next..."
Li Donglai:......
Li Donglai picked up the enamel jar, Gudu took a big sip, and wiped the tea stains from the corner of his mouth: "Of course I drank it directly!"
"...That makes sense." Director Yang smiled awkwardly: "I accidentally got a set of tea sets and a set of tea recipes a while ago. I originally wanted to learn a few things and cultivate myself, but it seems that I still don't have the heart.
It’s clean.”
As he spoke, he picked up the enamel jar and took a sip from the cow.
"Tsk tsk, it's still so comfortable."
Li Donglai looked at him thoughtfully: "Director, you are only fifty years old this year. You are still young and strong. How can you imitate those old men?"
Hearing this, Director Yang suddenly became energetic: "That's because, ever since Deputy Director Liu was arrested, I have felt endless energy. Speaking of which, I want to thank you even more. Don't worry,
From now on, I will be a shield in the steel rolling mill."
"How strong is this shield?"
"It depends on how tough the person using the shield is!"
Li Donglai took a deep look at Director Yang and said with a smile: "What a coincidence, I happen to need your help with something."
"I knew that you, the boy, would go to the Three Treasures Palace for nothing." Director Yang picked up the enamel jar and took a sip of tea. "If you have anything to do, just say it directly. There is no need to beat around the bush between us."
Li Donglai nodded knowingly: "I remember that there is a third-line factory below our steel rolling mill that specializes in the production of condiments."
The steel rolling mill is a large state-owned factory with more than 20,000 workers. Including the workers' families, the number is at least 50,000.
A factory with 50,000 people is comparable to a small town.
Therefore, various facilities are complete, such as kindergartens, primary schools, middle schools, hospitals, cinemas, etc. Not to mention, there are also many ancillary factories built outside the steel rolling mill.
The condiment factory is one of them.
In addition to handing over the seasonings produced to the ministries and commissions for unified dispatch, the remaining part is distributed to the workers as welfare.
In the early years, workers didn't need to buy seasonings.
However, in recent years, due to the scarcity of materials and lack of raw materials, the seasoning factory has been in a state of suspension.
During this era, factories stopped production and workers received their wages as usual.
If it's a formal factory, that's fine. Most of the workers' wages are handled by ministries and commissions.
But.
The seasoning factory is a third-tier factory.
To put it simply, it is a private factory of the steel rolling mill, and the workers' wages naturally have to be helped by the steel rolling mill.
There are more than 100 workers, even if they are paid according to the minimum wage, their monthly salary is more than 1,000 yuan.
Even if the steel rolling mill now has a poverty alleviation workshop as a cash cow, it is still a bit overwhelming.
Because of this matter, Director Yang had a lot of headaches.
Seeing Li Donglai mention the seasoning factory, Director Yang suddenly widened his eyes: "Did you develop something new again?"
Li Donglai said: "I did tinker with two things, but those things can only be sold abroad."
...sold abroad, Factory Director Yang thought of Hex Technology that was about to be established in the port city, and he understood something in his heart.
"What do you want the spice factory to produce?"
"Not only production, the seasoning factory must also belong to Hex Technology." Li Donglai explained his idea about the seasoning factory.
After listening to this, Director Yang frowned slightly: "Donglai, although the seasoning factory is not directly under the ministry, it is not owned by an individual. If it were to change hands like this, I'm afraid it would be inappropriate and other comrades would criticize it."
Li Donglai explained: "It was not transferred to a private person, but to Hex Technology. Hex Technology was established with the approval of the ministry."
When Hex Technology was mentioned, Director Yang's eyes lit up: "This is a good idea."
....
After the two agreed on the details, Director Yang held a factory committee meeting.
For the steel rolling mill, the seasoning plant is a burden. Now someone has finally taken over, and it is Hex Technology specially established by the ministry. The leaders of the plant raised their hands without any hesitation and expressed their approval.
After Secretary Zhang signed, Li Donglai purchased the seasoning factory for 5,000 yuan on behalf of Hex Technology.
...
In a large courtyard in the suburbs of Beijing.
Thirty-year-old Liu Dazhi slept until three o'clock in the morning before getting up.
Seeing that the sun was already shining on the head of the bed, I reluctantly climbed out of bed, grabbed a torn cotton-padded jacket with exposed cotton wool and put it on carelessly.
With my legs bare, I jumped out of bed and dug out a pair of old cotton trousers of an unclear color from a cardboard box. I sat on the bed and tried to put them on.
Just halfway through wearing them, Liu Dazhi tilted his head and hesitated when he saw a big hole in the crotch of his cotton pants.
In the end, perhaps because he felt that wearing cotton pants would make others see his underwear, he hesitated again, threw the cotton pants on the dusty ground, and came to the carton again.
After rummaging around, I finally found a complete pair of pants this time.
It's just that these pants are single pants, and they may feel cold when worn in this season.
Thinking that he had to go out today, Liu Dazhi did not hesitate anymore and put on his trousers. He picked up the hemp rope hanging on the wall and tied it to the waist of his trousers to use as a belt.
There were no socks, so Liu Dazhi put on a pair of cotton shoes with his bare feet. The bottoms of the cotton shoes were soaked with sweat, sticky and wet, which made him feel a little uncomfortable.
But I only had one pair of cotton boots at home, so I had to make do.
After getting dressed, Liu Dazhi picked up the comb with broken teeth on the Eight Immortals table and combed his hair randomly a few times. When he saw that his hair was not covering his eyes, he lost interest in combing his hair.
Wandering out of the door, the sunlight outside was a bit dazzling. He squinted and walked to the pool in the courtyard, turned on the faucet, held the water in both hands, and washed his face with a huff.
"Isn't this ambition?"
Aunt Wang next door came to the sink with a basin to wash clothes. When she saw him, she smiled and said hello.
"I heard that the lumber factory in the west of the city is recruiting temporary workers. Why don't you go and give it a try?"
Liu Dazhi raised his sleeves and wiped his face carelessly: "What are you trying? If the factory knows that I am working as a temporary worker, they will definitely fire me. You may not know that the Yang factory in the steel rolling mill now
When we grow up and have monopoly power, we have long been displeased with freeloaders like us."
Aunt Wang put the water basin in front of the faucet, filled half of the basin with water, and started rubbing it without using any washing powder.
"Dazhi, don't blame aunt for talking too much. It's not an option if you continue like this."
"That seasoning factory has not been in operation for more than a year. You only get about ten yuan a month. How can you support your family with this little money?"
"Aunt, I know everything you said." Liu Dazhi took a handful of water, poured it into his mouth, and rinsed his mouth.
"Pooh."
After spitting out the water, he looked up at the sun. Seeing that it was still early, Liu Dazhi squatted beside him and chatted with Aunt Wang.
"Auntie, you also know my situation. My body is not as strong as those of them. I will definitely not be able to do heavy physical work."
"If you stay at the condiment factory, you can earn about ten yuan a month."
Aunt Wang raised her head and looked at Liu Dazhi: "The truth is this, it's just that the second girl is suffering. She works alone as a temporary worker in the vegetable market, leaving early and coming back late."
"I know too..." Bitterness appeared on Liu Dazhi's face. He lowered his head and stared at the toes protruding from his worn-out cotton shoes, his eyes wandering.
"Second girl, if you follow me, you will not enjoy a single day of happiness."
"My mother fell ill just after I got married. She took care of her for two years and sent my mother away. The condiment factory went bankrupt again."
Aunt Wang sighed, looked away, and continued to rub her clothes.
"Being able to think like this shows that you still have some conscience."
"Hey, aunt, what you said is that I was born and raised by my parents. How can I have no conscience? If I don't have a conscience, then I'm not a beast."
Liu Dazhi stood up slowly and smiled: "Auntie, you are busy, it will be noon soon, I have to deliver food to the second girl. As you know, the vegetable market does not care about food. If you waste time going back and forth, your wages will be deducted."
"go Go...."
After Liu Dazhi left, Aunt Wang raised her head and looked at Liu Dazhi's back, smiled bitterly and shook her head.
Every family has sutras that are difficult to recite.
Just like Liu Dazhi's family, he is a formal employee in a factory affiliated with the steel rolling mill, and his monthly salary is thirty yuan. His wife and daughter are from the countryside. They are hardworking and capable and should have lived a good life.
As it turned out, Liu Dazhi's mother fell ill that year, spent all her family's money, and borrowed a lot of debt.
Debt, as long as you work hard for a few years, you can always pay it off.
Who would have thought that the condiment factory went bankrupt?
Since there are no production tasks, workers like Liu Dazhi can only receive one-third of their monthly wages.
This is simply killing the Liu family.
Fortunately, the people who borrowed the money were all neighbors. They understood the situation of the Liu family and did not press too hard.
Liu Dazhi was a nice person. He took out five yuan from his ten yuan every month and used it specifically to pay off his debts.
The remaining five yuan is used to live on.
It is already very difficult to support two adults and four children with only five yuan.
Especially since the children are now in school, tuition fees, homework books, and pencils each semester are a huge expense.
Fortunately, Liu Dazhi's daughter-in-law, Er Yatou, is a rural girl with a lot of strength.
Taking into account his family's situation, the sub-district office introduced the second girl to work as a porter in the vegetable market, where she could earn fifteen yuan a month.
The days can barely be maintained.
It's just that...it's a bit hard for a girl to work as a porter with big men.
Aunt Wang has seen porters work. Vegetable baskets weighing more than one hundred kilograms have to be carried on their shoulders from the cart to the warehouse.
Most men can't stand it, let alone a woman.
Aunt Wang thought about this and finally shook her head helplessly.
What are you thinking about?
In recent years, life has been difficult for everyone.
