"You all take a look first. When Du Jiu arrives, I'll discuss it with everyone."
The people Su Changjiu had invited today were all influential figures in the village.
He planned to follow Su Xiaotian's suggestion to build a breeding farm in the village, and then establish a food processing plant. This would require support.
If these few people could all support it, things would be much easier.
After all, times were different from years ago. People lived their own lives, and there was no longer a single voice dictating everything.
The three elders, with a combined age of nearly two hundred, looked at the novel items Su Changjiu had placed on the table with curiosity.
They had seen packaging bags before, but never packaging that was pressed so flat.
Would the contents inside be crushed?
Just as the group was discussing animatedly, Du Jiu arrived.
"Village head, you're back? What good news is it that you're treating us to drinks right away?"
Most households in Nanling Village were surnamed Su, but there were also some people with other surnames. Perhaps to avoid being bullied by the Su family, the people with other surnames in Nanling Village were also very united.
Du Jiu was a prominent figure among those with other surnames, which was why Su Changjiu had invited him today.
"I got some good things in the capital, and I have some ideas. I invited you all over to discuss them."
Su Changjiu had no intention of keeping things secret. He planned to lay everything out.
As everyone settled down, they saw Su Changjiu tearing open the packaging bags one by one and pouring the meat out.
"Changjiu, is this cooked meat?" the village party secretary asked.
"Old party secretary, this is cooked meat. It can be eaten directly. We'll have this with our drinks today."
Su Changjiu smiled as he sorted the meat into plates. It looked quite presentable.
There were large chunks of meat, as well as pig intestines, pig ears, pig skin, chicken legs, chicken feet, and eggs.
Soon, Su Changjiu had filled several plates. The rosy color made them quite appetizing.
When Su Xiaotung's wife and mother came in with dishes, they saw a table full of meat.
The mother and daughter-in-law were startled.
They had rushed to prepare four dishes, so why was there already meat on the table?
"Party secretary, village head, Young Master Qi, Third Master, Uncle Jiu, thinking you might not have anything to go with your drinks, I hurried to make a couple of dishes. Who knew you'd already have all this meat!"
Su Xiaotung's wife smiled and placed the dishes she had brought on the table as well.
"Xiaotung's wife is here? Could you please cut these a bit? The pieces seem a bit large!" Su Changjiu didn't stand on ceremony when he saw Su Xiaotung's wife and spoke directly.
"Sure, I'll do it now."
Su Xiaotung's wife took the plates to the kitchen to cut them. Su Dan Novel Network
"Village head, where is Xiaocao's mother?"
Su Xiaotung's mother looked around the yard for a moment and, not seeing Li Yuling, asked.
"Sister-in-law, she's still in the capital. She said she wanted to relax more, so I came back first."
"It's good to relax, but you've come back alone, and the house is a mess. I'll bring Da Fang over to help you tidy up, since it hasn't been lived in for so long."
As Su Xiaotung's mother was speaking, she happened to see the water basin and rag Su Changjiu had used and went to fetch water.
Su Changjiu tried to stop her, but Su Xiaotung advised him against it.
While they were talking, Su Xiaotung's wife, Da Fang, returned with the cut meat.
"Village head, this meat smells delicious!" Da Fang said with a smile, then went to help her mother-in-law.
The group looked at the cut meat. Da Fang had also specifically sprinkled green scallions and red chili threads on the arranged meat, making it look even better.
"Village head, is this meat you brought back? From the capital?" the village party secretary realized something and asked.
He had lived for over sixty years and had never seen meat packaged like this before.
Su Xiaotung also leaned in to smell it, unable to believe it. The aroma was indeed very pleasant, and it hadn't spoiled.
"It doesn't spoil like this?"
"Xiaotian told me this meat can last half a year without spoiling," Su Changjiu said gleefully.
"The capital is indeed different. Even the meat looks more高级 than ours here."
Su Xiaotung couldn't help but sigh, regretting that he would likely never have the chance to visit the capital in his lifetime.
At this point, everyone had a rough idea of what Su Changjiu meant.
As expected, after Su Changjiu poured wine for everyone, he spoke.
"Party secretary, what do you think if we also opened a factory like this here?" Su Changjiu asked tentatively.
Before the village party secretary could speak, Su Xiaotung interjected anxiously.
"Village head, are you dizzy from the train ride? How could we possibly build a factory like this? Even our county town couldn't build such a factory!"
Su Xiaotung truly believed that Su Changjiu's mind might have been addled by the journey, or perhaps his courage had grown after experiencing the capital.
Alas, people really needed to see more of the world.
Su Changjiu glared at Su Xiaotung, this little brat, what was he saying?
"Don't interrupt when elders are speaking!"
After saying that, Su Changjiu remembered that this was the village head successor he intended to groom. How could he not speak?
Not only should Su Xiaotung speak, but he should also speak well to establish his authority!
Later, he would have to give this rascal some pointers and tell him not to talk nonsense.
"Do you think I don't know? Isn't it precisely because we don't have it that we need to be the first to act?"
Su Changjiu recalled what Su Xiaotian had told him before he left.
Su Xiaotian said that the country was currently supporting township enterprises, and this was a good opportunity. If they delayed any longer, they would miss it.
Xiaotian had also advised him to seek support funds from higher authorities.
"Village head, are you serious? Do you think this can work?"
The three elders remained silent, but Du Jiu was the first to speak.
"It can work. It depends on human effort. You all don't know what the outside world is like now!" Su Changjiu said with emotion. "If we don't do something, we'll fall behind!"
"Changjiu, if you think this can succeed, then let's do it. I support you!" the village party secretary said first.
He, as the village party secretary, actually didn't manage much. Everything was handled by Su Changjiu, who was twenty years younger than him.
"Changjiu, you've returned from the capital. Did you ask Su Chuan and the others if this can work?" Young Master Qi asked.
The Su family had stayed in the capital for so long without returning and had raised so many capable children. He believed they were indeed competent.
Since there were such people in the village, they should be consulted.
Su Changjiu said with a wry smile, "This is the idea given by Uncle Su Chuan's family. Otherwise, how could my muddled brain come up with all this!"
Su Changjiu didn't mention that what they were seeing now was produced by the Su family's factory.
This was a matter for Xiaotian and the others themselves. Whether to tell the villagers or not was up to their family to decide.
After all, the villagers had their own agendas, especially with families like Su Shan's. If it were to get out, it might cause trouble for the old Su family.
Upon hearing that it was Su Chuan's family who had given the village guidance, Young Master Qi immediately stopped talking.
He felt that if Su Chuan's family had pointed out a path for the village's development, it must be correct.
"Su Chuan's family has lived in the capital for several years, and everyone in the family is educated. Especially with a son-in-law who is a high-ranking official, if they say it can work, I think this matter will definitely work."
Hearing that it was Su Chuan's family who had guided Su Changjiu, Third Master Su also expressed his agreement.
"Since everyone has no objections, we will convene the old and young men of the village tomorrow to discuss it. First, we will get the breeding farm up and running, and then establish a food processing plant."
Su Changjiu was full of confidence.
The village party secretary only then realized, "No wonder Xiaotung was looking for people to tidy up our breeding farm a few days ago. So that's why!"
Su Changjiu and Su Xiaotung chuckled.
With the major matters discussed, all that was left was to drink. The mother and daughter-in-law busy in the house had no idea that this meal would lead to such a grand development plan for the village.