Chapter 197: Fighting against Counterfeiting to the End

In late September, the aroma of corn fills the air, and the golden harvest scene can be seen everywhere in the fields and village courtyards.

For corn seed companies, October 10th marks the beginning of the new year's corn seed sales work.

Before that, the most important thing is to store the seeds, or to find the desired source of seeds.

Zhangye, Long Province.

This place is known as the Gobi Wetland Ecological City, and it is also the region with the best conditions for corn seed production in China, without a doubt.

The seed companies in Zhangye are a mixed bag, including companies that started out as ditches, companies that started out as loan sharks, and companies with a background in money laundering.

Some people compare people in the seed industry to prostitutes. Whenever they think of China Seed Industry, they think of the bitches in heaven and earth. This is a crime in thinking.

There is a widely circulated saying among underground seed workers in Zhangye.

Break the laws of the country and be your own man.

Some traffickers would go to the village and trick farmers into planting thousands of acres of land with 30,000 or 40,000 yuan in cash, without any backing funds.

It can be said that he has taken the use of a small amount of money to the extreme, and thirty or forty thousand yuan can leverage a business worth millions.

Hongman Town, Heiyun Village.

Wang Chengdong naturally didn't have the courage to do so, as he was a laid-off worker from a state-owned enterprise.

Survival depends on the seed business.

Over the past few years, I have planted two to three hundred acres of seed corn fields, but they were all grown privately in the corners and were grown without permission. They could not stand the sun, like thieves or prostitutes.

When I look in the mirror every day, I see my appearance, just like I see the unlicensed street vendors in many cities.

The humane management of urban management personnel can bring them a little happiness. In fact, the quality of seeds is their personality.

Wang Chengdong also helps clients from other places find seeds, which in layman's terms means he's digging ditches.

Digging ditches is also a trick.

Infringement, secret planting, arbitrariness, serious homogeneity, ditch digging, prying into bases... Wang Chengdong has become accustomed to all these chaos.

Because to the vendors and seed companies who have no innovation ability and dare to do anything bad, he is one of them.

"One of our own?"

"I have never done anything to harm farmers."

"Seed companies buy seeds at low prices and sell them to farmers at high prices. They are not good people either."

Wang Chengdong sneered, "Thieves also have their own code of conduct. This is the chivalrous thief. Foreign countries have Robin Hood, and China has a plum blossom."

He never regretted it because he believed there was a red line he had never crossed, and that was harming the interests of farmers.

As for seed companies?

In his eyes, that was another hungry wolf!
A certain tempting voice was still echoing in Wang Chengdong's mind.

"Let's do it. The price of Tianyu No. 1 reached 70 yuan per kilogram last year. This year's demonstration was so popular that the price will definitely increase."

"How much did Tianhe pay you for it? 1.25 yuan per catty, that's just like paying beggars."

"Sell some to Li Li Jin, we'll give you 2.5 yuan! If you hide the yield of to kilograms per mu, you'll earn an extra to yuan, which adds up to tens of thousands of yuan!"

"Next year, if you can get some parent seeds of Tianyu No. 1, LiLiJin can still buy them at a high price."

"All told, you can earn more than 100,000 yuan in half a year!"

It’s really crazy!
Wang Chengdong thought of Nongda 108 and Zhengdan 958 from previous years. Whenever a variety was popular, someone would immediately go and "dig ditches".

They rushed in and made appointments to purchase from farmers. After getting the parent seeds, they started to engage in large-scale private breeding and production.

Don't ask him how he knew that, because he had also privately copied Zheng Dan 958.

LiLiJin Seed Co., Ltd. is also a super big customer of Zhengdan 958.

Few people outside know where the breeding base of LiLiJin is, but Wang Chengdong knows clearly that it is located in Heiyun Village.

Oh.
It should not be called Zhengdan 958.

Lilijin gave it a new name, Jinyu No. 2. It passed the provincial variety evaluation in a certain province and has become famous in some areas.

It is normal for a variety to have several variety names. Everyone is selling them, but they are actually the same variety.

The hot sales and high profits of Tianyu No. 1 last year caused this group of people to crazily pursue it, and the "ditch digging" has reached a crazy level.

However, Tianhe provides full technical guidance from the beginning of sowing, so it is not easy to obtain parent seeds on a large scale.

Therefore, seed-producing farmers became the target of this group of people.

Wang Chengdong was naturally happy to make more money.

He walked to the seed field and was delighted by the large and neatly arranged corn cobs.

When he saw Tianhe staff conducting tests and taking samples in the field, he couldn't help but reveal a look of disgust.

It would take some effort to conceal the seed yield.

When the Tianhe staff saw him, they also came over.

"Master Wang, when will your family's corn be harvested so that we can organize the labor together?"

"Wait a few more days, let it dry out in the sun, and the moisture will be less, don't you think?"

The staff frowned and said, "From today's sampling results, the water content has fully met the standard."

Wang Chengdong smiled and said, "I know. Aren't the villagers busy harvesting now? I'm not in a hurry. Let them finish harvesting first."

"Oh, by the way, the per-acre premium will increase by 20% next year."

"What, a 20% increase?"

"Yes, the company has already issued a document, and we will organize everyone to go to the township to sign the contract later."

Wang Chengdong looked at the two kids and they didn't seem to be lying, so he smiled and said, "That's great, Tianhe is really a good company."

A 20% increase?

Because of the high yield of Tianyu No. 1, the per-mu premium is much higher. Now, the per-mu premium is almost 3000 yuan!
Wang Chengdong just felt crazy.

Thinking of the gold grains, he became angry and said, "If I want the seeds, you have to raise the price a bit."

Looking at Wang Chengdong's departing back, Tianhe's staff gathered together and whispered.

“I feel like there’s something wrong!”

"Yeah, a guilty conscience?"

"It is very likely that there are several seed-producing companies in Heiyun Village, and among the seed-producing companies, Wang Chengdong is the closest to that group of people."

"Ah, it's another ditch digger."

"We catch a batch every year, and we never stop catching them."

“The profits are still too high.”

"Report it to the higher-ups. The company has set up an anti-counterfeiting team. All we have to do is provide the suspected targets."

"Can you beat it off?"

On the other side, Wang Chengdong was strolling in the surrounding seed production fields, where Tianyu No. 1 seeds were being produced.

The output seems to be quite high.

While walking, he was listening for news.

"Aunt Zhang, Tianhe's per-acre insurance premium has been raised. Did you know that?"

"I know, I know. Two to three thousand a year."

"Wow, Brother Wu, your corn is really bright this year. It looks like golden beans. How many kilograms can it produce?"

"Hey, Wang Chengdong, I know what you're up to. I think you should give up. Tianhe's per-acre insurance premium has increased again. Isn't it better to earn money honestly?"

Wang Chengdong was furious. "Why am I not honest? I'm suing you for defamation. I'm suing you for defamation!"

"Hehe, if you walk by the river often, you will get your shoes wet."

Wang Chengdong did not stay any longer. He rode his bike, took a few turns, and quietly turned into an inconspicuous small seed factory.

It is called a factory, but in fact it is just a small yard. The factory only carries out simple processing, and then packs the products into large hemp sacks and transports them to the headquarters of LiLiJin.

"Yaozu! Yaozu!"

"Stop shouting!" A man with thick eyebrows and big eyes walked out.

"What's the matter?"

Wang Chengdong looked at the sanctimonious Li Yaozu. No one would have thought that this man was actually a repeat offender.

After making sure there was no one around, he said proudly, "I can sell you the seeds, but I'll have to add 20% to the price."

"What the hell are you thinking? A 3% increase means yuan per pound, right?"

Wang Chengdong crossed his arms and glanced around the room, "Tianhe's per-acre premium has increased by 20%!"

"What? Is Tianhe Seed Industry crazy?"

Li Yaozu couldn't understand it at all. Tianhe's per-acre premium was already high enough, which put great pressure on other seed companies. Now it has suddenly increased. Isn't it giving money to farmers?
How can these small seed companies survive? Isn't it forcing everyone to copy Tianyu No. 1?

"You can go ask. The news should have spread by now."

"That's definitely a question."

After a while, Li Yaozu learned from multiple channels that Tianhe had really raised the per-acre insurance premium.

In an instant, Li Yaozu gnashed his teeth.

"Buy it. 3 yuan is 3 yuan."

"Don't talk so harshly. If you sell it for thirty or forty-one kilograms, you will make much more money than us."

Li Yaozu's expression changed immediately, and he said with a smile: "Before next spring sowing, you must find a way to get us some parent seeds of Tianyu No. 1."

"That's not easy, I'll try my best."

Li Yaozu stared at him fiercely, "It is necessary. Don't forget, we are all in the same group."

Wang Chengdong pursed his lips and looked at this ugly face.

Tianhe did not publicize the news of increasing per-acre premium.

There is no need for publicity.

The seed production bases are all located in villages, and Tianhe staff only need to mention them casually.

The news spread like a virus.

The seed producers in Tianhe were all as happy as if it was Chinese New Year. How could they not be happy? Their income increased by hundreds of dollars in a flash.

For two or three acres of land, that would be more than a thousand yuan.

Ordinary farmers are easily satisfied and will remember the good things that the company has done. Tianhe’s anti-counterfeiting team also took the opportunity to visit villages and households.

There is no impenetrable wall when it comes to digging trenches, and many ordinary farmers know some of this information.

They all provided information to the anti-counterfeiting team.

But in the eyes of other seed production companies, an increase in per-acre premium would be a disaster, and seed producers are clamoring for an increase in per-acre premium.

If you can’t stand the pressure, you can only give up the best base;

Or they could increase the per-acre premium, but the composition of these people is very questionable.

Li Denghai had just finished the call when he learned that Tianhe had significantly increased its per-acre insurance premium.

"What does Tianhe want to do?"

"Isn't this forcing others to make decks?"

Li Denghai was puzzled. This was not good news for Denghai Seed Industry either. Whether he followed it or not, it would be extremely uncomfortable.

Although Tianhe was established not long ago, every operation it performs is extremely uncomfortable.

"Keep a close eye on Tianhe Seed Industry in the future. They are our main competitor."

"Especially for Xianyu 335, we must not only maintain the existing market, but also further expand it."

……

Jiuquan, a street of seeds.

Guo Yang and Ning Xiaojing pretended to be farmers and walked into a seed store. Ning Xiaojing spent 50 yuan to buy a bag of corn seeds.

Just as the female owner was picking up the goods, the male owner suddenly appeared. After taking a look, he broke the silence.

"Not for sale."

The atmosphere suddenly became tense, and the female owner hurriedly took back the seeds.

Seeing that the truth had been revealed, Guo Yang gave Ning Xiaojing a look, asked for the money back, and quickly walked out the door.

A voice floated behind him: "If you come again next time, I will break your legs."

After walking out the door, Ning Xiaojing breathed a sigh of relief when she saw the iron tower-like Luo Xiu.

Guo Yang estimated that the street was only two hundred meters long, but there were thirty or forty seed stores lined up on both sides.

Although it is the off-season, many seed stores have promotional banners for various seeds posted on the walls or beams in front of their doors.

After some investigation, I found that there was something fishy about the seeds in almost every store.

"Is there Zhengdan 958?"

"Try this?"

"Isn't this Jinyu No. 2?"

“It’s the same effect, but cheaper.”

Every store had similar excuses, even Tianhe had run out of stock of Tianyu No. 1, but seed stores could find similar ones.

But Tianyu doesn’t have so many agents, and there are only direct stores in Jiuquan. There is no doubt that these are fake seeds of copies.

As soon as the news of increasing the per-mu premium was proposed, the anti-counterfeiting team led by the Weiguan Institute received clues from various places one after another.

Then comes the collection of evidence.

As for Guo Yang, he also became curious after reading the relevant information.

So he and Ning Xiaojing went to Seed Street for a secret investigation.

As Guo Yang expected, the situation was extremely bad.

Almost all popular seeds were not spared, and counterfeiting and infringement have become a collective carnival for illegal merchants.

After walking for a whole morning, Ning Xiaojing was also shocked by all kinds of situations: "Isn't the country vigorously cracking down on fake seeds?"

"At this stage, we are mainly cracking down on fake seeds with fake brands, fake packaging, and fake procedures. However, counterfeit seeds are different. Even if they are caught, most of them will be punished with financial compensation, and it is difficult to involve criminal punishment."

"Moreover, counterfeiting is like putting Moutai in Erguotou bottles but selling it at Erguotou prices. No one objects except the counterfeited seed companies and compliant distributors."

"What should I do?"

Guo Yang looked out over the seed street and said, "Innovation is the foundation of the seed industry. The collective carnival brought about by collective copycats can only lead to collective sinking, which is like digging one's own grave."

"We must fight against counterfeiting! No matter it takes three years, five years, or ten years, no matter how many miles we have to travel or how much it costs, Tianhe will persist in fighting against counterfeiting to the end."

Ning Xiaojing couldn't help but be shocked. Jiahe Group was completely different from the investment and financing companies he had been in contact with before.

They were a group of moles that were only concerned with digging roots and never considered the entire grassland.

Under the leadership of its boss, Golden Harvest has always been great and glorious, and its corporate image and influence are growing day by day.

However, Guo Yang is not as noble as Ning Xiaojing thinks. Tianhe occupies the top of breeding, and fighting against counterfeiting is also for profit.

Increasing the per-acre premium will also force small seed companies that have no competitiveness to go to the brink of destruction. These are all commercial means.

On the way back, after thinking for a while, Guo Yang took out his mobile phone and dialed a number.

"Hello, Mr. Li, I'm Guo Yang."

On the other side, Li Denghai laughed and said, "It's rare that my brother would take the initiative to call me."

"Hey, isn't this you who asked someone to invite me to the Corn Seed Industry Summit? I agreed."

"That's a great thing. I can hear your views on the corn seed industry. It's a dream come true for me."

Guo Yang said: "Maybe it will make you uncomfortable?"

"Ok?"

"Tianhe wants to crack down on counterfeit profits. Do you think everyone at the summit will have the same goal?"

Li Denghai was stunned. Only well-known and large companies could attend the summit.

But are they all good birds?

Not necessarily.

Playing rogue and not paying the agency fee;
Large companies with the most influence in the industry have been laying off employees on a large scale, and employees are calling around to ask for job recommendations, which has even become a common sight in Zhangye.
Even Longping High-Tech, which claims to be a leader in the seed industry, has made its main profits in the past two years from real estate and stock speculation, which is surprising;

There are also those who started out as loan sharks…

It is in times of adversity that one's true heroic qualities are revealed, and those who can make it big and strong in this field are not kind-hearted people.

As for Tianhe, does it want to fight against counterfeiting with the same goal?
Very rare,
As far as Li Denghai knows, some large companies also have copycat products.

"Disaster!"

"Is it too difficult to just do it?"

“Youth is full of vigor!”

Guo Yang said: "Breeding is not as good as imitation, imitation is not as good as copying, variety innovation is getting slower and slower, and the domestic corn yield is less than 60% of that in the United States..."

After a moment of silence, Li Denghai sighed, "Denghai Seeds also has varieties that are counterfeited. But combating counterfeiting is an impossible task."

"Nothing is impossible."

(End of this chapter)