Chapter 27 Pumps in Place

That afternoon, Wang Zhong arranged a car to take Xu Qiang back to the village, and also brought back the 8-horsepower 195 model Yongkang diesel engine.

Wang Zhong finally decided to "rent" the machine to Xu Qiang, and Xu Qiang wrote him a promissory note. As for the monthly rent of 500 yuan, it was a purely verbal agreement.

Some things cannot be made public, and leaving written records is even more dangerous. Both of them knew this very well, but from this moment on, Xu Qiang and Wang Zhong had become de facto business partners.

At this time, Liu Jun just came back from work in the fields, so the two of them lifted the machine onto the carriage and went to the peat field together.

“This thing is good!”

Seeing the diesel engine on the carriage, Erhu, who had just carried a bucket of water, immediately walked over quickly with a gleam of light in his eyes.

Unlike Shangzhuang Village, which has been equipped with a diesel engine room for a long time, Xiazhuang Village where Erhu and Dahei Niu live is extremely poor, with a large population, little land and low income. During the busy farming season every year, irrigation is basically done by carrying things on shoulders or by hand. They are too busy to handle it and have to rent a water pump from somewhere else for irrigation. The rent is not settled until the end of the year, and they all use this kind of small diesel engine. So when Erhu and Hei Niu saw this machine, they were still quite shocked, after all, their production team didn't even have this thing.

"Lift the machine to the ditch, connect the pipes, and let's try it now." Xu Qiang unloaded the machine from the carriage, turned around and directed his companions to connect the water pipes.

It is nearly a hundred meters from the reservoir on the hill to the ditch below, with a slope of about 20 degrees. Xu Qiang is not sure whether a four-inch water pump can pump the water up.

"okay!"

Liu Jun, Erhu and Hei Niu were all very excited at this time and started to prepare immediately.

The diesel engine that originally required two people to lift was easily lifted by Da Hei Niu alone. Liu Jun and Erhu were stunned. After a moment, the two of them quickly pulled out the water pipe and laid it down the hillside.

After the machine was in place, Xu Qiang picked up the oil barrel and filled it with oil.

Diesel was very cheap those days, with a price of 1.11 cents per liter at a state-owned gas station and only 8 cents at a farm machinery station, and it was even cheaper with a ticket. Compared to the oil prices of later generations, it was almost like free money.

This diesel engine was started manually using the joystick of an old tractor. Xu Qiang simply turned it twice with force. With a roar of the machine and the rise of blue smoke, the water pump began to work.

"Isn't this thing too expensive?" Erhu couldn't help asking as he looked at the brand new diesel engine.

"The diesel engine alone costs 1200. The water pump and water pipes cost more than in total." Xu Qiang said.

"1200!?"

Upon hearing this number, Liu Jun and Da Hei Niu who were present were stunned. They also knew that the machine was expensive, but they didn't expect it to be this expensive.

As for Erhu, he had seen this machine the last time he went to the supply and marketing cooperative with Xu Qiang. At first he thought Xu Qiang was just asking about the price, but he didn't expect that he actually bought it.

"Although this machine is a bit expensive, it is definitely worth the money. If we only rely on manpower here at the peat farm, the production efficiency will be too low." Xu Qiang glanced at the three people and then said, "Next, I plan to improve the production process and strive to double our output."

According to the process designed by Xu Qiang, this water pump can not only reduce the heavy workload of jumping water up and down the mountain every day, but also greatly improve work efficiency.

At present, the peat field can only start the refining process at noon, the hottest time of the day, because the water temperature is the highest at this time, and the drainage speed is slow, so Xu Qiang can only complete the refining process once during the golden time of noon. But with this pump, plus Xu Qiang's improved process, the production efficiency can be doubled, that is, the output of humic acid is nearly one ton per day!
"This machine is really a good thing." Looking at the water pump pumping water continuously, Liu Jun turned to Xu Qiang and asked, "Uncle, did you buy all this with your own money?"

"I don't have that much money now. Director Wang rented it to us." As Xu Qiang spoke, he took out a promissory note from his pocket, on which was clearly printed the seal of the town supply and marketing cooperative.

"Then how long will it take us to pay it off..." Liu Jun frowned when he saw the IOU.

"Don't worry about this. I won't reduce your salary or bonus by a cent. Just focus on your work." Xu Qiang smiled and continued, "Tomorrow morning, you and I will transport all the fertilizers in our warehouse to the supply and marketing cooperative. Once we get the money, I will give you bonuses!"

"Give out bonuses!?" When the other three heard Xu Qiang say this, their eyes suddenly lit up.

"Everyone has worked very hard during this period, staying here day and night. It is harder than working in the production team, so I have wanted to reward you for a long time. However, I don't have much money left. This time I will sell the fertilizer and share some of the money with you." Xu Qiang said.

"It's better to pay the bonus later. Renting such an expensive machine must cost a lot every day. Since my uncle doesn't have much money right now, let's pay it back later..." Liu Jun said after hearing this.

"Yes, we have food and drink now, and we don't need so much money for the time being. The key is to keep our stall." Erhu also said.

As for the big black bull at the side, he remained silent the whole time. This was his usual character, but he was absolutely honest in his work and never slacked off.

"I'm the boss. I've said before that as long as the first batch of products pass the inspection, I will give everyone a bonus. I will definitely keep my word! Seeing the three people's statement, Xu Qiang felt somewhat moved. The more they said so, the more Xu Qiang felt that the bonus must be given: "Not only will I give you a bonus, I also guarantee that within two years, you will all be able to marry a wife. Not only will you marry a wife, but you will also marry a beautiful wife!"

"Hahaha!"

Hearing what Xu Qiang said, everyone present burst into laughter, even the taciturn Big Black Bull grinned.

For the three of them, especially Da Hei Niu, being able to marry a wife is already a blessing. Wanting to have money to marry a beautiful wife is simply a foolish dream.

Afterwards, the three of them began to divide the work.

About twenty minutes later, Liu Jun, who was standing by the hillside reservoir, suddenly shouted, "The water is full! The water is full!"

"Ok?"

Xu Qiang and Liu Jun, who were guarding the water's edge, were stunned for a moment when they heard this, and then turned off the pump.

The two of them found it incredible that the tank could be filled with water so quickly.

You know, before, their main job every day was to fetch water to the reservoir. Because the puddle was dug large, it often took three people five or six hours to fill the reservoir.

But now, it only takes less than twenty minutes for the entire pool to be full. The efficiency is astonishingly high.

(End of this chapter)