Chapter 13

With the brick factory project, due to the 12,000 silver dollars, the shares were quickly subscribed. The four of them briefly discussed and agreed on 5,000 yuan, which was basically in place. The key was the upcoming Baokeng Company, the new name for the agricultural development company. For now, the Weijia Draft Bank would issue the shares, and preparations would begin. Yang Yue and Yang Yuanzhao would go to Shanghai to secure seeds and fertilizers. The rest would be handled by Weiming and Liu Shu in Baotou. To ensure the double planting of wheat and cotton, a greenhouse would need to be built to help the cotton survive its first month. On 210 hectares of land, using the greenhouse seedling method, each mu could produce about 170,000 to 180,000 seedlings. According to the standard of 4,800 to 5,000 seedlings per mu, one greenhouse mu could support about 35 mu of planting. Therefore, 600 mu of greenhouses would need to be built. This was a significant project. The plastic film was readily available, and while it was not as durable as specialized agricultural film, it was more cost-effective than glass. Besides, after the seedlings were grown, the greenhouses could be used for the remaining 11 months to cultivate off-season vegetables, which was also a promising project. Just in Baotou, and perhaps including Suiyuan, the production could be absorbed.

The 600 mu of greenhouses would require half-walls and wooden frames, which would take considerable time to build. They also needed to order a batch of 2.5-inch square nutrient pots. Fortunately, the quality requirements were not high, and ordinary kiln-produced pots would suffice. These could be pre-ordered and should be available. This task was assigned to the Yang family. Yang Yue followed Yang Yuanzhao to Shanghai, and the Yang family had connections all over the country. As for Wu Guangren and Zhao Shuming, they were responsible for land improvement and recruitment. According to Yang Yuanzhao's data, one hectare required about 20 people, so 210 hectares would need around 4,000 people. This number shocked everyone, especially Weiming, who couldn't help but remark that he knew growing cotton was difficult, but he hadn't expected it to be this challenging.

Fortunately, both Shanxi and Jin-Sui had a large number of displaced people. Just in Baotou, more than 10,000 people flowed in daily. As long as there was food, recruiting these people would not be a problem.

Assigning the right tasks to the right people, Yang Yuanzhao was very clear about his capabilities. Relying on his own abilities, managing even a few hundred people would be a challenge, let alone thousands. The Wu and Zhao families were large landowners with thousands of tenant farmers. Even if they recruited a few thousand more, they could handle it. These people were the foundation of Yang Yuanzhao's start. Agriculture was the most basic industry, but the real need for people and a solid foundation was in industry. This group of people would be the foundation for him to realize his ambitions.

"Uncle Ren, Uncle Ming, the recruitment will be handled by you. I assume you have food supplies. We'll buy it at market price and record it with Brother Zelun."

As large landowners, they had more food than they could consume. Selling to a grain store or a company made no difference, especially at market price. They quickly agreed.

Soon, all matters were settled, and everyone knew their tasks. Yang Yuanzhao looked around and suddenly said, "By the way, I have a small request!"

At this point, no one underestimated Yang Yuanzhao. His financial resources and organizational skills had impressed them. As a graduate from Britain, he had indeed opened their eyes. Everyone turned to him, expecting him to have discovered some issue.

"I want them to learn to read."

"Learn to read? Don't joke around. They're just peasants. Learning to read is a joke, right?" Zhao Shuming was taken aback and blurted out.

Zhao Shuming had attended a private school, while Wu Guangren barely knew a few words and had never read any books. To him, teaching peasants to read was absurd. He wondered if Yang Yuanzhao had been reading too much.

"Our initial goal isn't just farming. Farming is the foundation, but talking about it now is pointless. Industry is far more profitable than farming. With this group of farmers, they can only farm at best. But what if we train them to be workers?"

"Workers?" The term was unfamiliar, and the others looked puzzled. Only Yang Yue was moved. Having studied in the United States, he knew the scale of American industries. Factories and workers were everywhere, and the products they produced with machines were sold worldwide, generating immense wealth. However, this was China, and Yang Yue hesitated, "Brother Yuanzhao, not all American workers are literate, right?"

"The factories I plan to establish will have much higher production efficiency. Literacy is just the foundation. In the future, we will provide further training and education based on each person's role," Yang Yuanzhao said firmly, noticing the surprised looks. "Uncle Ren, Uncle Ming, Brother Zelun, Brother Wenju, you are all well-informed. Have you heard of similar factories? You've seen my plan. Even without the cement plant, just the brick kiln, 50 people can produce 3.6 million bricks annually. Calculate the profit!"

"50 people? That's impossible!" Weiming said, surprised. Their brick factory in Taiyuan required at least 500 people. Labor in China was cheap, but even for a brick factory, workers needed to be fed, which was a significant expense.

"That's the power of knowledge. Only knowledge can continuously improve production efficiency," Yang Yuanzhao said decisively.

Wu and Zhao were taken aback. They were shrewd, and while they were skeptical, they couldn't deny Yang Yuanzhao's logic.

Yang Yuanzhao continued, "It's not about passing exams. Just teaching them to read will make management easier. We can also teach them some skills, which we can consider in the future."

"Brother Yuanzhao, I understand your good intentions, but do those peasants know? Learning won't feed or clothe them," Zhao Shuming sighed, trying to persuade him. Despite their initial meeting, he admired Yang Yuanzhao's eloquence and wealth and wanted to form a good relationship.

"Don't worry about that. I'll find a way. I can hire teachers from Shanghai, and I'll cover the costs. You just need to provide a place. As for motivation, I'll offer incentives. For example, those who study diligently and reach a certain level will receive 15 kilograms of flour monthly."

The others were taken aback. 15 kilograms of flour was worth about half a silver dollar in Baotou. For 4,000 people, that would be 2,000 silver dollars monthly, a significant investment. This showed Yang Yuanzhao's determination to educate these peasants.

Yang Yuanzhao thought, "This is nothing. I earn over 2,000 silver dollars daily. Money sitting idle can never form a force. Only by organizing a sufficient number of people and building enough factories can we create a national force. Acting alone, we will always be scattered. For China to rise, knowledge is essential. Teaching these workers is just the beginning, and it's the only thing I can do now."

The biggest issue was resolved by Yang Yuanzhao. The two large landowners felt some discomfort but did not contradict him. Weiming, however, stared at Yang Yuanzhao, deep in thought.

Unconsciously, it was already past 10 PM. Baotou was dark, and the excited group bid farewell and left the Fuhua Building. No one knew that in this small, somewhat crude building in the northwest of Baotou, something extraordinary had just been born.