Chapter 79: The Shumu Ridge Wealth Creation Project

Chen Shuli's panic was not without reason. Yesterday, he had just officially reported the matter to Deputy Secretary Wang and the county magistrate. Today, Zhu Daodong told him that Dai Zhengjun was a fraud. How could he accept this? Hadn't he just announced that Shumu Ridge was about to establish a diatomite factory yesterday, only to have to retract it today, saying that the diatomite factory couldn't be built? Wouldn't that be slapping his own face?

"Let's find a place to sit down." Chen Shuli sighed slightly. Now that the issue had arisen, it was better to discover it early rather than late. At least Dai Zhengjun hadn't caused any substantial damage to Shumu Ridge yet. If it had been a few months later, the situation would have been much more difficult. Just thinking about the consequences made Chen Shuli shudder, and his mind was now in turmoil.

The two of them went to Xiangshan Villa, booked a private room, and it was already time for a meal. After ordering the food and drinks, Zhu Daodong poured a glass of Shumu Ridge wine for Chen Shuli.

"Secretary, what do you think we should do about the diatomite factory? Should we proceed or not?" Zhu Daodong asked gently.

"We must proceed, of course." Chen Shuli said firmly. In the matter of the diatomite factory, he had no choice but to move forward. Stopping now would mean admitting his mistake to the county, and that would be a failure before even starting. Not only would others laugh at him, but he would also look down on himself.

"But what if it doesn't make a profit, or even fails to produce qualified diatomite?" Zhu Daodong asked worriedly. If the diatomite factory failed, Chen Shuli would certainly bear the responsibility. However, if it didn't make a profit and even incurred significant losses, it would still cause trouble for Chen Shuli. They were in a difficult situation.

"Profit shouldn't be a problem. If Dai Zhengjun isn't up to the task, we can always replace him." Chen Shuli waved his hand and smiled.

"Still proceed with the diatomite factory?" Zhu Daodong asked, his confidence shaken by the initial setback.

"Of course. Do you have a better project?" Chen Shuli glanced at Zhu Daodong and asked.

"After the new liquor from the distillery hits the market, the production scale will definitely expand, and the tofu factory in Houjiatang will also expand. The production waste from these two factories—spent grain from the distillery and tofu residue—can be used to establish a new factory, a feed mill!" Zhu Daodong had actually been planning this for a while. The spent grain from the distillery was being discarded, and the tofu residue was being used by villagers to feed pigs, with the excess being thrown away. These materials could be excellent raw materials for feed. Establishing a feed mill could be a good thing for Shumu Ridge.

"Daodong, not to criticize you, but you've studied in the provincial capital for four years. Why do your ideas always revolve around tofu and feed? Running a business isn't just about making a profit; it's also about maintaining a good image. Which one would attract more attention from the county leaders, a feed mill or a diatomite factory?" Chen Shuli laughed. He was running a township enterprise, not a private one. Besides profit, the most important thing was to attract the attention of higher-ups and use the enterprise as a stepping stone. It would be difficult to invite leaders to inspect a feed mill, as it produces food for pigs, chickens, and ducks, and they probably wouldn't even want to step inside.

"I'm just considering the actual situation of the township. If we run the feed mill well, we won't need to sell the feed outside the township; it can all be consumed locally." Zhu Daodong smiled awkwardly. He had indeed lived in the provincial capital for four years, but those years had only broadened his horizons. This didn't mean he had to follow the city's way of thinking. The city had skyscrapers and various economic zones, but did Shumu Ridge? Shumu Ridge had tens of thousands of farmers who relied on the weather for their livelihood. To develop the economy of Shumu Ridge, they needed to first make these tens of thousands of people prosperous.

"Your feed mill seems too small. Can it really be consumed within the township? The tofu from the tofu factory can even be sold in the city." Chen Shuli's furrowed brows relaxed somewhat when he heard Zhu Daodong's words, and the corners of his mouth curved slightly. A feed mill of such a small scale might not be worth it.

"Secretary, the feed mill can be consumed within the township, but not in the current situation. If the township supports it, I believe we can develop a large-scale livestock farming industry, focusing on raising pigs, chickens, and ducks." Zhu Daodong explained. The purpose of establishing a feed mill was to promote the livestock industry. Developing a large-scale livestock industry would truly benefit the many people in the township, allowing them to become prosperous through hard work.

"Letting the livestock farmers consume the feed from the feed mill can make the feed mill profitable, and the farmers can also earn a certain income." Chen Shuli didn't laugh this time. Compared to a significant increase in the average annual income of the township, the profit of a single enterprise would seem much less significant.

"Not just a certain income, but a substantial income. The livestock farmers I'm referring to can be called specialized livestock farmers. They should raise at least ten pigs, or at least two hundred chickens or ducks. Feeding pigs with feed can reduce the time to market from ten months to about six months, and the egg-laying rate of chickens and ducks can reach over 95%. Individually, these farmers might not be noticeable, but if we have a hundred, a thousand, or even ten thousand households, the scale of the feed mill might not be enough to supply all the farmers." Zhu Daodong smiled. The township had only about ten thousand households. If every household engaged in livestock farming, Shumu Ridge could leap from the bottom of the county's rankings to the top.

"But how many villagers in the township can raise ten pigs or two hundred chickens at once?" Chen Shuli was also shocked by Zhu Daodong's grand plan. If such a plan were really implemented in Shumu Ridge, the achievements would be described as great. The diatomite factory's annual profit of several hundred thousand yuan would pale in comparison, especially since that was just what Dai Zhengjun claimed, and it was uncertain whether it would actually happen.

"This requires support from the township. All piglets, chicks, and ducklings should be provided free of charge by the township, and the same goes for the feed. The agricultural economy station, agricultural technology station, forestry station, and veterinary station must all fully cooperate. This is not just a project but an engineering effort, which I call the Shumu Ridge Livestock Wealth Creation Project." Since learning he would be promoted to deputy township head, Zhu Daodong had been thinking about what he could do. He needed a project that would benefit the entire township. As the party secretary of Jinsha Village had said, with the example of the tofu factory in Houjiatang, no one would want to miss another opportunity to change their fate.

"How much money would this require? Even if we don't build the diatomite factory, the township doesn't have that much money." Chen Shuli's eyes dimmed again. Zhu Daodong's wealth creation project sounded tempting, but it required a significant investment, and the corresponding risk was also high.

"Secretary, your tone now is just like when I first discussed the tofu factory with the party secretary of Jinsha Village." Zhu Daodong laughed. The party secretary of Jinsha Village later regretted it deeply. Would Chen Shuli follow in his footsteps?