Chapter 75

Qing Mengzhu agreed, "Okay, let's do it that way."

Author's Note:

See you tomorrow!

Chapter 75

The bamboo on the mountain hasn't fully grown yet, so there aren't enough bamboo plants to make fresh bamboo sap.

Qing Mengzhu told Zhao Hexi to run the task of making the white fungus and lotus seed soup first.

As the vice president, Zhao Hexi had no objections whatsoever. Starting from Monday, he contacted people to buy raw materials, contacted contract manufacturers, and found someone to design the bottles and appearance.

Qing Mengzhu wasn't very interested in business, so she let him run it, while she took care of the fields and mountains.

That evening, Zhao Hexi excitedly carried in a gift box and exclaimed as soon as she entered the courtyard, "The white fungus and lotus seed soup is ready! Come and try it!"

Qing Mengzhu was busy in the kitchen, came out after hearing the noise. "So fast?"

Zhao Hexi: "It's urgent, we'll try to meet the Mid-Autumn Festival and National Day holiday schedule."

Ming Chunxi followed behind Qing Mengzhu: "You've worked hard."

Zhao Hexi: "Hehe, it wasn't too hard. I'm quite excited now. Come on, everyone, one can each try it and tell me how it feels, then we'll adjust it."

Zhao Hexi placed the gift box on the table.

The gift box is predominantly green, decorated with delicate flowers, and features the words "Silver Ear and Lotus Seed Soup" in seal script in the center. It looks exquisite and refreshing, clearly a gift box targeted at women.

Qing Mengzhu looked at the back again and found the ingredient list and other information.

Zhao Hexi urged, "Stop looking, hurry up and try it. Here, it's 200 grams a jar, one serving."

Qing Mengzhu opened the box, took out three frosted glass jars of white fungus and lotus seed soup, and gave them to the two of them. "The glass jars inside are quite pretty too."

Zhao Hexi said smugly, "That's right. Clothes make the man, and gold plating makes the Buddha. High-end gifts rely on packaging, and this is essential."

Qing Mengzhu unscrewed the lid, took out the spoon made of fritillaria, and gave Zhao Hexi a thumbs up. "Let me try it."

The white fungus and lotus seed soup in the glass jar was very thick, with all the gelatinous substance extracted. It was also garnished with goji berries and red dates, giving it a very nourishing appearance.

Qing Mengzhu looked at it, took a spoonful, and put it in her mouth. Instantly, a cool and sweet feeling spread. The white fungus and lotus seeds inside were sweet and glutinous and soft and tender, respectively, with a great texture and just the right amount of sweetness.

Qing Mengzhu's eyes lit up with surprise. "It tastes really good, even better than I imagined the white fungus and lotus seed soup."

Zhao Hexi shook his head smugly. "We adjusted the recipe several times. This version doesn't use as many ingredients, but it tastes the best. Chunxi, what do you think? Is it too sweet?"

Ming Chunxi tasted it carefully. "It doesn't taste sweet when you eat it, because the sweetness is just right, which perfectly masks the grassy taste of the lotus seeds and white fungus. It tastes very good. Only after you finish eating it will you feel a little sweetness in your mouth, so you have to drink water to smooth it out."

Qing Mengzhu looked at Ming Chunxi and smiled, "You may not like sweets, but I think it's just right. The sweetness is just right, and I don't feel any burden after eating it."

Zhao Hexi: "You have a good eye. The rock sugar inside is a special kind that costs 31 yuan per catty, which is a bit different from regular rock sugar. The same goes for the white fungus; it's the best grade, which costs 200 yuan per catty in bulk. The goji berries are 380 yuan per catty, and the red dates are 81 yuan per catty. I'll send you the brand and price list later."

Qing Mengzhu nodded. "Now is the time to build a reputation, don't be stingy."

Zhao Hexi: "Alright, if you all think it's okay, then produce according to this formula. Qing Xun and his group have already ordered 500 boxes, at 280 yuan per box. We'll ship the goods there first."

Qing Xun ordered the gift boxes for his clients for the Mid-Autumn Festival. He did this because he was familiar with them and trusted the quality of their gift boxes.

Qing Mengzhu: "Then let's be careful and make sure the first batch of goods doesn't go wrong."

Zhao Hexi: "Don't worry, there are multiple quality checks and random inspections to ensure there won't be any problems."

Everyone was happy that their company got back on track so quickly, and the whole company was filled with an uplifting atmosphere.

That day, Gu Benshu came to Qing Mengzhu's house to report on his work.

Gu Benshu, holding the folder, opened the files inside and said to Qing Mengzhu, "Boss, we have now independently isolated Bacillus cereus, Bacillus licheniformis, and Bacillus polymyxa. These are all Bacillus species that can effectively kill lepidopteran pests. Take a look."

Qing Mengzhu looked at the document and said, "Thank you for your hard work."

Gu Benshu: "That's right. We've recently been isolating Bacillus lactis and have made some progress. Unfortunately, there are already well-established products on the market for these Bacillus strains, and we can't apply for a patent for the Bacillus strains we've independently isolated."

Qing Mengzhu: "It's alright, we can apply once we find a new Bacillus strain that can kill insects."

Seeing that Qing Mengzhu seemed to be in a good mood, Gu Benshu secretly breathed a sigh of relief.

He had just started working for a new boss, and he was most worried that the new boss would be impatient since the business was just starting out. That's why he went out of his way to explain in detail, to show that his department hadn't been paid for doing their work, and that even if they hadn't found any new Bacillus strains yet, it was just bad luck, not because they were being lazy.

Seeing that the new boss was in a calm state of mind, he breathed a sigh of relief and even inquired about the fresh bamboo juice.

Qing Mengzhu said, "It's a cough-relieving and lung-moistening health drink. There's still some in the fridge. Why don't you take a can home with you later?"

Gu Benshu said cheerfully, "Then I won't stand on ceremony. The drinks produced by our company are sure to be very effective."

Qing Mengzhu and said, "Whether it's effective or not, it's up to the people who have tried it to judge."

Qing Mengzhu went to the refrigerator to get him some fresh bamboo juice. "Fresh bamboo juice is cooling in nature. When drinking it, it's best not to exceed 30 milliliters at a time. Also, be careful to prevent contamination when pouring it. If it tastes or changes color, you shouldn't drink it anymore."

Their homemade bamboo sap, without any preservatives, is relatively easy to spoil, so Qing Mengzhu had to give them a few more words of advice.

Gu Benshu nodded to indicate that he understood, and casually asked, "Are those bamboo strips piled up in the back the bamboo strips left over from boiling fresh bamboo sap?"

Qing Mengzhu asked with a smile, "Is it a bit messy? I'll take some time these next couple of days to burn it, so it won't get in the way."

Gu Benshu: "Will you burn it as firewood? I think you guys are using natural gas for cooking?"

Seeing his regretful expression, Qing Mengzhu explained, "It's alright. The ashes left over from burning bamboo have other uses; they won't go to waste."

Gu Benshu still felt it was a bit of a pity. "I think bamboo is quite good. Wood ash can be made from any plant, so it's a bit of a waste to burn bamboo directly into wood ash."

After saying that, Gu Benshu realized he had been too relaxed in front of his new boss, and added, "I've seen other people distill bamboo into vinegar or something, but I rarely see people burn it directly into ashes."

The term "bamboo vinegar" sounded familiar, Qing Mengzhu couldn't quite place where she had heard it before.

He looked puzzled. "Bamboo vinegar?"

Gu Benshu explained, "It's an acidic liquid obtained by cooling the fumes produced by the dry distillation of bamboo, also called bamboo vinegar. We use high-quality bamboo vinegar as a high-osmotic synergist."

Qing Mengzhu suddenly remembered. "Isn't there a type of wood that, after dry distillation, yields an acidic liquid called wood vinegar? I've seen some information about it. But what is a hypertonic synergist?"

Gu Benshu: "In agriculture, it's roughly an agent that allows agricultural chemicals or pesticides to penetrate insect body walls, plant epidermis, and other barrier structures more quickly and effectively, thus enhancing their effects."

Qing Mengzhu understood. "It can reduce pesticide usage, enhance effectiveness, and lower costs, right?"

Gu Benshu: "Pretty much, but safety must be considered when using it, and regular assessments are necessary. After using high-penetration synergists, the effects of pesticides and fertilizers become too good, which also has a significant impact on the environment."

Qing Mengzhu nodded in understanding. Planting is never an isolated matter. Every time pesticides and fertilizers are used, it affects water sources, soil, and even air.

Gu Benshu emphasized, "Ordinary bamboo vinegar has limited effects; it must be high-quality."

Qing Mengzhu: "Let me find out first."