You need to raise your pet using a system [Era]

Chapter 158 A Group of Enthusiastic Old Men

Lu Yuanqing gave Lu Ming, who had spoken the key point, an approving look.

“You’re right. It’s very difficult to build a bamboo ware factory in our village, so we need to find another way.”

"How can we find another way?" Lu Pingsheng pressed.

Lu Yuanqing: "Setting up a bamboo ware factory is neither easy nor difficult, but the most important thing is the craft itself."

"Without this skill, even if we build the building, we won't be able to sell anything we make."

“This isn’t difficult!” Lu Ming said, “Every family has someone who knows how to make a bamboo basket, and they can make other things too! Baskets, winnowing baskets, wicker baskets…”

Lu Yuanqing: "Yes! Everyone can weave these kinds of things that are common in the village and needed by every household. But for more complicated things, like this recliner and this cool bed, there are very few people who can do it."

“If our village builds a bamboo ware factory, then the types of products need to be determined. If they are all the same ones that everyone can make, then what do you think will make us comparable to the bamboo ware factories in the city?”

"The bamboo ware factories in the city also produce these kinds of products, which are sold to other provinces. If we were to do the same thing, we wouldn't be able to find buyers in a short time. The city has already established its own brand. How can we compete with them?"

"So, you want to make these intricate bamboo weaving products, and sell something different from the bamboo ware factories in the city?" Lu Ming asked.

As soon as he finished speaking, the others started talking.

“How can this be? A bamboo basket can be woven in a day or two in our spare time, but we can’t weave a reclining chair like that. If we do this, we won’t be able to make many.”

"Also, selling them is another matter! These days, there aren't any landlords or capitalists buying these things. Who would waste money on this stuff that can't be eaten or worn? Selling it to anyone is a problem."

"Uh, haven't you guys forgotten something? There aren't many people in the village who know how to do this. How much can we old men possibly make? And everyone else can just watch us make money?"

Each and every question was something that Lu Pingsheng and his team had thought of.

Xia Yongshou, who had been watching quietly, coughed a few times, interrupting their questions, "I told you not to rush, just listen to what Yuan Qing has to say. Since he brought it up, he must already have a plan."

Hmph, they're all so easily agitated, none of them are as composed as him.

Otherwise, why is it that among people of the same age, only he has been able to serve as the village party secretary for so many years?

That's real strength!

Xia Yongshou was old enough and was also the village party secretary. When he spoke, everyone gave him face and quieted down, waiting for Lu Yuanqing to speak.

Lu Yuanqing gave Xia Yongshou a grateful look before looking at them and continuing, "I know you grandfathers have many questions, but don't worry, I will explain them to you one by one."

“First of all, if our village builds a bamboo ware factory and sells the same bamboo weaving as the ones in the city, then we have no advantage. Their factories are in the city, and in every aspect, they are better than us. We can’t compete with them for business.”

"Therefore, we need to make products that are different from theirs. It's impossible that the city hasn't considered making other exquisite bamboo weaving, but that wouldn't be worthwhile for them. For example, the time it takes to make this recliner isn't the most important thing; the real issue is that they don't have that many traditional skills."

“We can do it! Our village has many traditional skills, and we can also recruit skilled workers from other production teams. We need to think long-term. The city is unwilling to waste time training other people, but we can do it!”

“We have an old craftsman who trains a few young people who know a little bit, like Lu Ming. His skills can not only help Grandpa Lu, but with special training, I think he might be able to complete the craft of making the cold bed on his own in less than a year.”

Lu Ming raised his hand: "I can do it all by myself now!"

"Shut up, listen to Yuan Qing!" Lu Pingsheng tapped him on the head.

Lu Ming's eyes widened. Although his grandfather hadn't sided with Lu Yuanqing in the past few encounters, he still found it hard to accept such favoritism.

Lu Yuanqing met Lu Ming's 'condemning' gaze, tilted his head, and gave him a bright smile.

Lu Ming: "..."

I'm even angrier!

Lu Yuanqing continued, "Grandpas, if the only goal is to make money, we can simply continue raising pigs. Our village is doing very well with pig farming now. As long as we expand the pig farm, we will definitely earn more money in the future."

"But I still put a lot of effort into setting up a bamboo ware factory. Do you know why?"

"what reason?"

Lu Yuanqing said, "There is a lot of bamboo in our Yu'an City, so various bamboo weaving crafts are more prosperous than in other places. I saw many exquisite bamboo weavings when I was a child, but now, if it weren't for you grandfathers re-weaving them, I wouldn't have seen these things for a long time."

“We can’t sell them even if we make them, and this stuff takes a lot of time. What’s the point of making them?” Zhao Lide said.

Since buying and selling are not allowed, and making them wouldn't generate profit, there's no need to make a lot; just enough for personal use is sufficient.

However, people who use bamboo weaving for daily necessities and for enjoyment or aesthetic purposes are naturally unwilling to waste their time on it.

“That’s right!” Lu Yuanqing nodded in agreement. “So haven’t you noticed a problem? These are all skills we used to know, but because some are no longer needed or required, we no longer do them. Even worse, the younger generation doesn’t even respect these skills anymore.”

"Have you not realized how serious the problem is? If this continues, this craft may be lost in our generation. Even someone as talented as Lu Ming may only be able to weave baskets and bamboo baskets in the future."

"Wouldn't it be a pity if the exquisite bamboo weaving craft were to be lost in your generation, Grandpa?"

"Yuan Qing wants to set up a bamboo ware factory, not to make money. Of course, we hope to make money and let everyone live a good life, but as I said before, we make quite a bit of money raising pigs."

Lu Pingsheng and the others were so shocked by what Lu Yuanqing said that they didn't know what to say.

The scene immediately fell silent.

It was this quietness that made these older folks think about many things they had never considered before.

At first, they couldn't buy or sell their exquisite bamboo crafts, and no one bought them. They were very angry and panicked, feeling that they had no way to make money.

In the end, life became too hard, and they channeled all their worries into working in the fields.

After all, any sentimental thoughts are insignificant when it comes to going hungry.

Over time, they seemed to have forgotten the bamboo weaving skills they had once spent time and effort learning.

They began weaving baskets, bamboo hampers, steamers, and other household items.

When Lu Yuanqing came to their door to ask for exquisite bamboo weaving, he was happy and excited while making it.

They had never considered this before, but now Lu Yuanqing was telling them directly.

They had also regretted that their children were immature, uninterested in the craft, unwilling to spend time learning it, and thought it was useless.

It's rare to meet someone like Lu Ming who is also talented, and Lu Pingsheng dotes on him the most.

In fact, all these things subtly reveal their inner thoughts.

"Yuanqing, let's do it! We'll do it! No need to pay me a salary, I'll make cooling beds for the factory for free!" Lu Pingsheng's excited, trembling voice suddenly rang out.

Instantly, the others who were deep in thought were awakened.

“Yes, your Grandpa Lu is right. We’ll set it up. We’ll get the bamboo ware factory up and running. We old folks will make things for you for free and teach people. The money we earn will pay the students. If they have money to pay, they’ll come to learn on their own!”

"I agree!"

"I agree……"

Xia Yongshou looked at the group of old men in the room who had suddenly become so energetic, and gave Lu Yuanqing a deep look.

It is often said that a person's ability to do things is inseparable from their experience.

But Lu Yuanqing seems to have contradicted this statement.

He's so young, yet he's already so experienced. With just a few words, he can get people excited and make them stand on his side.

Xia Yongshou, living in the present, wouldn't know that Lu Yuanqing's behavior was no different from that of a cult or a heretic.

Of course, Lu Yuanqing meant well and had no ill intentions.