Chapter 917: That Woman Has a Bad Reputation!

In the main room, Jiang Xue saw Li Yi walk in with Li Gang, Liang Yukuai, and the others, and immediately poured them some water.

To avoid interrupting their conversation, she took the two little ones to the next room after pouring the water.

Once only Li Yi, Li Gang, and Liang Yukui remained in the room, Li Gang spoke up: “Brother Li Yi, I’ve received my transfer orders from the capital. Once I’ve handed over my duties, I’ll be heading to the capital to work with Old Wang!”

“Alright, keep in touch once you’re in the capital. Once I’m done with the village affairs, let’s get together for a proper gathering. I’ll also introduce you and Brother Wang to a few of my friends there!” Li Yi replied.

As he spoke, Li Yi was secretly amazed by just how much influence his father-in-law had.

He’d made the call yesterday morning, and the transfer order arrived that very afternoon—that kind of speed was truly unmatched.

After all, this was a transfer to Beijing—and specifically to the public security system. That wasn’t something just anyone could pull off.

“Alright, I’ll get in touch with you once Old Wang and I have settled in!” Li Gang said.

“Alright!”

Li Yi then turned his attention to Liang Yukuai and asked, “Brother Liang, you mentioned earlier that you had something to discuss with me. What exactly is it?”

Liang Yukuai sighed and said, “Our factory is facing an unprecedented crisis. Our leadership has been discussing it for months without coming up with a solution, so I’ve thickened my skin and come to ask for your advice, brother!”

“What kind of crisis is it that even stumped you, Brother Liang?” Li Yi asked curiously.

Liang Yukui replied immediately, “It’s like this: didn’t our county implement the household contract responsibility system this year? With the dissolution of the collective, the members have gone their separate ways.”

“Most of them have switched to growing grain crops, with only a few still growing sugar beets. This has directly led to a severe shortage of raw materials for our factory this year. We’re projecting that production will be less than a third of last year’s output—it’s driving me absolutely crazy!”

Li Yi thought for a moment and said, “It’s already this late in the year—it’s too late to do anything about it now. I think you should focus on next year!”

“Yeah, we know this year is a lost cause, but we need to come up with a plan for next year. Otherwise, if things stay this way, my days as factory director might be numbered!” Liang Yukui said with a hint of resignation.

Li Yi smiled and said, “Actually, it’s simple. It’s just a shortage of raw materials, isn’t it? Your sugar factory could go straight to the farmers and ask them to grow more sugar beets. That would solve the problem!”

“It’s not that simple. We’ve considered that approach, but the villagers won’t even listen to us!”

Liang Yukui continued, “Those cooperative members have been terrified of starvation for years. Now that they’ve finally gained autonomy, they’d rather plant grain in the riverbeds and drainage ditches than listen to us!”

Li Yi said calmly, “There’s only one reason the villagers won’t listen to you: you aren’t sincere enough!”

“Sincerity?”

“Right. What’s the current purchase price for sugar beets?”

“Thirty yuan per ton—that works out to one fen and five li per jin!”

“And what’s the yield per mu?”

“Over 3,000 jin—and on better land, it can reach 4,000 jin!”

“So, Brother Liang, do the math: is it more profitable for farmers to grow grain or sugar beets?” Li Yi asked again.

“If we calculate it in terms of monetary output, growing sugar beets is more profitable. At current grain purchase prices, an acre of land would bring in less than 30 yuan at most,” said Liang Yukuai.

“If growing sugar beets is more profitable, then why won’t the farmers listen to your instructions and grow them?”

Before Li Yuke could answer, Li Yi continued, “That’s because you’ve been all talk and no action. Go back now and get ready. After the autumn harvest, send people from village to village to have the farmers sign contracts for growing sugar beets!”

“As long as they’re willing to grow sugar beets for you, your sugar factory will purchase the beets from the farmers at the agreed-upon price after next year’s harvest. Just see if the farmers are willing to grow them!”

“Well… will a simple contract really be enough?”

“It will. If your sugar factory is willing to sign this contract, I can have the village dedicate half of its land to growing sugar beets!”

Li Yi knew full well that sugar beets were not only the primary raw material for sugar production in the north but also a vital source of livestock feed. The sugar factory only purchased the root tubers—commonly known as “sugar beets.”

The green leaves on top, however, were discarded—and they made excellent feed for pigs, cattle, and sheep alike. So for Nianzi Mountain Village right now, growing sugar beets was definitely the best option.

“Really?”

“Of course it’s true!” Li Yi said firmly.

“Hahaha, all right, I’ll go back and discuss this with the other comrades at the factory!” Liang Yukui said with a smile.

“What’s there to discuss? Actually, this approach was implemented in Northeast China decades ago. Back then, to revitalize the sugar industry, they adopted a strategy of focusing on both technology and raw materials!”

Li Yi continued, “Regarding raw materials, they signed direct contracts with farmers on behalf of the sugar mills. The mills provided technical guidance and management, while implementing various support and incentive measures to boost farmers’ enthusiasm for growing sugar beets.”

“At the same time, they established field offices in sugar beet-growing regions to oversee planting areas, sowing, field management, as well as procurement, transportation, and storage, ensuring the smooth growth of the sugar beets. In just a few short years, they achieved remarkable results.”

“How come I never heard about this?” Liang Yukui asked in surprise.

“Because this model was abolished after the emergence of the large collectives. It’s only natural that you wouldn’t know about it after all these decades!” Li Yi replied.

“So that’s how it is. Then we’d better take a good look at this model!” Liang Yukui said.

“Yes, and now that we’re in the era of reform and opening up, you can take bolder steps. Show some initiative—don’t let yourselves be outdone even by a woman!” Li Yi said.

“A woman? Are you talking about Sister-in-law An Hong?” Liang Yukui asked.

“No!”

Hearing this, Li Gang and Liang Yukui both turned to look at Li Yi at the same time.

Li Yi immediately explained, “I’m talking about Director Qin from the Supply and Marketing Cooperative!”

Liang Yukui’s expression visibly froze for a moment, then he looked at Li Yi and said, “Who are you talking about?”

“Director Qin from the Supply and Marketing Cooperative—Qin Xiaorou. What’s the matter?” Li Yi asked.

“You… Brother Li Yi, how did you get involved with that woman? What’s the nature of your relationship with her…”

“A business partnership!”

Li Yi then went on to explain in detail their partnership in selling liangpi.

Hearing this, Liang Yukui immediately said, “Brother Li Yi, that woman doesn’t have the best reputation. You’d better be careful about partnering with her!”

Now it was Li Yi’s turn to be baffled. He looked at Liang Yukuai in confusion and asked, “Brother Liang, what’s wrong with Director Qin? Why are you saying that?”

Liang Yukui glanced at Li Gang, then said, “Gangzi, you probably know more about that woman than I do. Why don’t you tell Brother Li Yi about it?”

“Alright!”

Li Gang immediately explained, “That woman is a notorious ‘venomous widow’ in our county. Rumor has it her mother got pregnant out of wedlock, so she never knew who her father was and was raised entirely by her mother.”

“When she was 17, she married the mentally disabled son of the commune director. At her father-in-law’s arrangement, she got a job as the commune’s bookkeeper. Two years ago, her father-in-law, the commune director, retired. Less than six months later, her mentally disabled husband died under mysterious circumstances. Her in-laws accused her of killing her husband. Although the police investigation found no concrete evidence, people still call her the ‘venomous widow’ behind her back!”

“What’s even more shocking is that less than six months after her husband’s death, she hooked up with a city-level official. She was immediately transferred from the commune to the county, where she took on the role of section chief at the county supply and marketing cooperative. That’s when her reputation really hit rock bottom!”

After hearing Li Gang’s account, Li Yi’s mind was instantly swept by a storm of emotions. This woman’s story bore an uncanny resemblance to someone he knew from his past life.

With that thought, Li Yi looked at Li Gang and asked, “Is Director Qin’s hometown at Meirenpo, at the foot of Daqing Mountain? And does her in-law’s family bear the surname Fu?”

Li Gang asked in surprise, “How do you know that?”

Hearing this, Li Yi froze in place. It really was that woman—but shouldn’t her name be Qin Yanrou?