1995: From a small restaurant to a culinary genius

Chapter 71 Searching for Selenium-Enriched Industrial Parks

Xu Liang stood in the orchard, his fingertips tracing the tender branches, his eyes gradually clearing.

This orchard, bathed in the spring sunshine of April, is no longer just an experiment in the eyes of the villagers.

Grandpa sat on the bluestone slab by the edge of the field, carrying the coarse cloth water jug ​​that Grandpa had handed him.

He watched as Xiong Zhan and several young men surrounded Xu Liang, a slight smile playing on his lips.

He spent his life rooted in the land, witnessing the villagers struggling to make ends meet with their meager fields, but he never imagined that he would live to see the younger generation daring to venture out and fight.

They never expected that their grandson would be able to see through the tricks of the trade and point the way for these young men.

"Mr. Xu, can your method for preserving flowers and fruit really prevent a single sapling from withering?"

Xiong Zhan gripped the simple scissors in his hand.

Several young men behind him crowded around, their eyes full of anticipation.

For more than two months, they worked from dawn to dusk to clear land and plant seedlings, developing blisters on their hands and breaking several layers of skin on the soles of their feet.

They hoped to earn a living from this orchard, but their biggest fear was working hard only to end up with nothing.

Xu Liang squatted down and picked up a fallen flower bud from the ground.

"It will definitely work. April is the critical period for flowering, so you need to control the watering these days. Don't water it thoroughly, just moisten the roots."

"In addition, you need to find some wood ash and sprinkle it around the roots, which can both prevent insects and replenish nutrients."

"As for subsequent pests and diseases, I'll give you a list later, just follow it."

He paused, then pointed to the saplings scattered throughout the orchard.

"Also, you need to thin the flowers in batches according to their height and density, leaving the strong flowers on each tree and removing all the weak ones."

"Don't feel bad about it. Saving energy now is so that the fruit can grow big and sweet later."

Upon hearing this, Xiong Zhan quickly pulled out a crumpled notebook from his pocket, scribbling notes on the paper while muttering to himself.

"Water control, wood ash, flower thinning... I've written it down, I've written it down!"

A young man in his early twenties next to me scratched his head and asked shyly.

"Boss Xu, what about sales? We heard from the supply and marketing cooperative in town that last year, half of the oranges grown in the neighboring village rotted, and in the end, only two baskets were sold."

This question struck a chord with everyone, and the once lively forest instantly fell silent as all eyes turned to Xu Liang.

In rural areas during the 1990s, finding a market was of paramount importance. Grain could be sold to supply and marketing cooperatives, which provided a safety net. However, fruit was extremely precious. If it rotted on the tree, it would just be a pile of mud, and no one would even want it in exchange for a steamed bun.

Xu Liang stood up, looked at the distant green mountains shrouded in mist, and his voice carried far on the spring breeze.

"You are now the first large-scale orchard in the entire township, with no competitors within a ten-mile radius. That is your greatest confidence. When the fruit ripens, I will buy a portion of it and send it to my restaurant to make candied fruit and fruit drinks. For the rest, I will help you contact the supply and marketing cooperative in the town and the grocery stores in the city."

He had already planned it out. His small restaurant was now doing stable business, consuming a lot of fresh and dried fruit every day. Moreover, as the restaurant's reputation grew, the demand for specialty ingredients would only increase.

The fruit from the orchard can fill the gap in his food supply chain, solving the villagers' sales problem and enriching the restaurant's menu. It's a win-win situation.

"Really?! You really want our fruit?"

Xiong Zhan suddenly stood up, his voice trembling with excitement. The young people around him instantly erupted in cheers, their faces filled with unbelievable joy.

"Of course it's true."

Xu Liang nodded with a smile.

"However, let's be clear from the start: the quality of the fruit has to be up to standard. I need fruit that is uniform in size and sweet enough."

"As long as you can guarantee the quality, we'll price it at market price, or even 20% higher, since we're the exclusive supplier."

"No problem! Absolutely no problem!"

Xiong Zhan patted his chest and assured them, "Although we've never grown fruit trees before, we're hardworking and will definitely take good care of the fruit!"

Grandpa felt a warm glow in his heart as he watched this scene unfold.

He knew that his grandson was helping the villagers and paving the way for his own future.

Xu Liang is no longer the naive young man who didn't even dare to bargain at the market when he first returned to the village. He has become a capable young boss with a broad vision and a strategic mind.

As the sun began to set, Xiong Zhan and the others insisted that the grandfather and grandson stay for dinner, but Xu Liang politely declined.

He wanted to take advantage of his time in the village these few days to sort out the future plans for the orchard, and also wanted to spend a few more days with his grandfather.

The grandfather and grandson pushed their old-fashioned scooter along the dirt path they had come from, heading back into the village. The setting sun cast long shadows of the two men, and wildflowers still bloomed freely on the ridges of the fields.

Back at the old house in the village, Grandpa took out the corn liquor that had been stored for many years and slowly drank it with Xu Liang along with stir-fried cured pork with pickled vegetables.

After a few rounds of drinks, Grandpa put down his glass, looked at Xu Liang, and spoke with a tone full of admonition.

"Liangzi, you are now capable of enabling the villagers to live a good life, and your grandfather is happy for you. But remember, no matter how far you go, don't forget your roots, and don't forget the land that gave you birth and raised you."

Xu Liang held his wine glass, his eyes slightly burning.

In his second life, what he couldn't let go of most was the land that nurtured him, and his family.

In his previous life, he was mediocre and had a lot of talent but nowhere to use it, so he could only struggle at the bottom of society.

He has a second chance in this life, and he not only wants to live a wonderful life, but also to help those around him become better.

"Grandpa, I remember."

Xu Liang took a sip of wine; the spicy liquor slid down his throat, but warmed his heart.

"Once the orchard is full of fruit, I'll take you to stay in the city and let you try the signature dishes at my little restaurant."

Grandpa waved his hand and said with a smile.

"I'm an old man, and I'm more comfortable staying in the village."

"The high-rise buildings in the city are stuffy; it's not as comfortable as this field path. If you're busy, just go about your business and don't keep thinking about me."

For the next few days, Xu Liang practically spent all his time in the orchard.

He led Xiong Zhan and the others to thin flowers, fertilize, and build simple insect-proof sheds. He taught them how to identify pests and diseases, and developed detailed maintenance plans based on the different habits of the seedlings.

At the same time, he contacted the town's supply and marketing cooperative and reached an agreement on a long-term supply agreement.

Let them prepare recipes for making dried fruit and fruit drinks in the future.

The villagers' gazes toward Xu Liang changed from initial curiosity to admiration.

Some people used to think he was just a student who knew how to make money, but now they realize that he not only runs a small restaurant, but also understands agriculture and business, and is a truly capable person.

Those elders who were originally strongly opposed to planting fruit trees now often visit the orchard.

Looking at the thriving fruit seedlings, a smile of guilt mixed with relief appeared on his face.

Unfortunately, the three days passed in the blink of an eye.

Xu Liang knew it was time to return to the city.

His small restaurant still had a lot of things to do, and he always kept the rumored selenium-rich land in eastern Sichuan in his heart.

I heard it from an elderly person in the village a few days ago.

The soil in the Tongchuan area of ​​eastern Sichuan is rich in selenium, which makes the crops grown there not only taste good.

It is also good for your health, but the terrain there is complicated and transportation is inconvenient, so it has never been developed and utilized.

Xu Liang was the first to learn of this news.

As someone in the restaurant business, he naturally values ​​the quality of ingredients.

Selenium-rich ingredients are undoubtedly a great tool for enhancing the quality of a restaurant.

In his previous life, he only knew that selenium was a good thing, but he never learned about it in depth. Now that he has the opportunity in this life, he naturally wants to take a look.

On the morning of his departure, Xu Liang left some money for his grandfather, gave Xiong Zhan a bunch of instructions about the orchard, and then, carrying a simple bag, embarked on his journey back to the city.

Grandpa escorted Xu Liang all the way to the old banyan tree at the village entrance, until Xu Liang's figure disappeared at the end of the mountain road, before reluctantly turning back.

After a two-hour bus ride through the countryside, Xu Liang finally returned to town.

Instead of going straight back to the restaurant, he went to the post office first and dialed his home landline.

The call was to my good friend Mu Ping. He's been in the village these past few days, and I haven't been able to contact him. I don't know how things are going at the shop.

The phone rang several times before being answered, and Mu Ping's slightly hoarse voice came from the other end.

"Feed? Who?"

"Muping, it's me, Xu Liang."

Xu Liang said with a smile.

"Xu Liang? You finally called!"

Mu Ping's voice instantly became excited.

"Where have you been these past few days? I've been so busy I haven't had a moment to spare. Sorry."

"You came all the way to eastern Sichuan and didn't even look for me!"

"I didn't know where you were, did I?"

"There was something going on in the village, but I've taken care of it."

Xu Liang reassured him.

"How's the situation now?"

"Everything is fine!"

Mu Ping quickly replied.

"What about the selenium-rich industrial park?"

"Come quickly!"

At this moment, Xu Liang thought that if he could get a supply of selenium-rich ingredients, the restaurant's level would definitely be raised to a higher level!

Yes, so Xu Liang has to go and see for himself.

After hanging up the phone, Xu Liang's plan became clearer.

What he needs to do now is to find that selenium-rich industrial park as soon as possible and secure the supply rights for high-quality ingredients.

Several motorcycles were parked in front of the post office; they were all used by drivers who ran short-distance taxi services.

Xu Liang stepped forward and asked one of the men wearing a blue jacket.

"Driver, how do I get to the selenium-rich industrial park in Tongchuan, eastern Sichuan? How long will it take?"

The driver looked Xu Liang up and down, noticing that he was carrying a bag and wearing a simple shirt and trousers, clearly indicating that he was on business, and then said warmly.

"Young man, if you want to get to Tongchuan, you have to take the winding mountain road. It's not a short distance. If you leave now and the road goes smoothly, it should take about half an hour."

"However, there's road construction going on in the mountains recently, so it might be a bit roundabout. If you're not in a hurry, I'll drive slowly. If you are in a hurry, I can drive faster, but it will be a bit bumpy."

"I'm in a hurry, please drive faster, driver," Xu Liang said.

"How much?"

The driver said, "I'll give you a discount based on the distance, ten yuan."

"Okay, get in the car."

Xu Liang nodded, put his luggage on the back of the motorcycle, and sat down while holding onto the handlebars.

The mechanic twisted the throttle, and the motorcycle made a "putt-putt" sound.

We slowly drove out of the city and merged into the winding mountain roads of eastern Sichuan.

The road winds and twists, with steep cliffs on one side and a bottomless canyon on the other.

The road surface was paved with gravel, full of potholes, and the motorcycle bounced constantly as it drove on it.

Xu Liang gripped the car seat tightly, his gaze fixed on the scenery outside the window.

The road is lined with lush forests, and the spring sunshine in April has turned the mountains and forests green. Occasionally, you can see a few farmhouses built against the mountainside.

The road is so treacherous that it inspires awe, which explains why the selenium-rich resources here have remained undeveloped.

The driver was very skilled; despite the poor road conditions, the car never slowed down.

As Xu Liang looked at the scenery rushing past the window, he recalled how he had buried himself in his studies at school in his previous life, and how he had struggled to make a living after graduation. He had never thought of returning to his hometown, let alone paid attention to the potential of this land.

Now reborn, he not only wants to change his own destiny, but also to discover the value of his hometown.

After about three hours of riding, the mountain road ahead suddenly narrowed and became covered with gravel and dirt, clearly indicating that the road had just been repaired.

The driver slowed down, muttering to himself.

"Oh no, the road ahead is under construction. We have to take a detour via a side road, which is even bumpier and easier to get lost on."

Xu Liang looked at the road ahead, which was blocked by gravel, and felt a little anxious.

He glanced at the sky; the sun was already setting, and it would be dark soon. If he took a detour and wasted time, he might not be able to reach Tongchuan tonight.

"Master, is there a shorter route?"

Xu Liang asked.

The master frowned, thought for a moment, and then said.

"Yes, there is, but it's a mountain road that takes about half an hour. However, the motorcycle probably can't climb up it, so someone needs to get off. The road is difficult to travel."

"Why don't you walk a bit, and I'll go ahead first? Then when you get back, I'll give you a ride, and I'll give you a discount of one dollar."

"Okay, then I'll take one of those routes."

Xu Liang said without hesitation.

The path was narrow and steep, covered with gravel and moss, and one could easily slip and fall if not careful.

Xu Liang carefully descended the tree, holding onto the tree trunk beside him. The wind howled in his ears, and birds sang in the forest. Under his feet were soft soil and fallen leaves.

It took about twenty minutes to walk.

Xu Liang finally reached the foot of the mountain.

After getting on the driver's motorcycle and riding for more than an hour, the view ahead suddenly opened up.

In the distant valley, a sprawling industrial park comes into view, with rows of white factory buildings scattered about.

The surrounding land was divided into neat rows of ridges, planted with various crops, which shimmered with a golden glow under the setting sun.

"Young man, look, that's the selenium-rich industrial park!"

The driver pointed ahead and said excitedly.

Xu Liang suddenly raised his head, a glint of light flashing in his eyes. He had finally arrived!

The motorcycle slowly drove along the road outside the industrial park, and Xu Liang carefully observed the scene before him.

The industrial park is not small in scale, and there is a simple sign hanging at the entrance that reads "Tongchuan Selenium-Rich Industrial Park".

The handwriting is somewhat blurry, indicating that it was erected not long ago.

There are no tall walls around the industrial park, only a simple wire fence.

Just then.

The motorcycle suddenly lurched, and the driver slammed on the brakes to stop.

After driving so far, we finally arrived at this largest selenium-rich industrial zone in eastern Sichuan.

Xu Liang had seen it from a distance long ago; Mu Ping was waiting for him at the door.