After Lu Dahai and the other two finished their meal, Li Changlong tidied up their rooms and told them to rest.

Lu Qiqi then instructed Lu Da to gather the villagers and drive the oxcart to Tianmiao Village.

The saplings in Tianmiao Village are almost fully grown into trees, and the green of the various leaves is a feast for the eyes.

The saplings remained in the ground for several years without being sold, and the villagers gradually reduced their frequency of going to the fields.

Lu Qiqi sat in the carriage and lifted the curtain, and saw the villagers of Tianmiao Village gathered on a large platform chatting.

Men, women, young and old were all there, each sitting on a small stool, gathered together. If you didn't know better, you'd think they were waiting for the feast to begin!

Seeing this, Zhao Xiaodong couldn't help but click his tongue and whispered, "Brother, don't people in Tianmiao Village work in the fields? How can they get food just by sitting like this?"

He thought about it and realized that the question was inappropriate. Tianmiao Village was now full of saplings, as lush as a forest, with not a single weed. There was indeed no need for any farm work.

Lu Da said, "They've been growing seedlings for several years and can't sell them. It's a pity to throw them away. If they switch to growing grain, they probably won't have enough money to last until then."

"Moreover, when people from our villages go out to work, everyone tries to avoid us. If we ask for the lowest possible wages, I doubt anyone will accept us."

Since the plague, the days of fear and anxiety in Heshun Prefecture have finally passed.

However, when villagers who had suffered from the plague were known on the street, people would keep their distance, fearing that they might still have an incurable disease and be infected by them.

Lu Da stared straight ahead and said, "Xiao Dong, go find Village Chief Miao and tell him that the Township Head is waiting for him here."

After Zhao Xiaodong left, Lu Da heard Lu Qiqi calling him from the carriage, "Brother Lu."

As Lu Da walked to the carriage, Lu Qiqi said, "Although the sun isn't scorching, the seeds can't withstand the heat. Let's move the oxcart to the shady eaves in front."

"Yes." After saying that, Lu Da told someone to drive the oxcart.

When Miao Dajiang arrived, he had a big smile on his face, as if he had won some big prize.

He didn't expect that what Lu Qiqi said was true. Exchanging medicinal seeds for unwanted tree seedlings was such a great thing to happen in their village, it was like getting a free bargain.

Under normal circumstances, ordinary medicinal herb seeds are naturally no match for tree seedlings that have been planted for many years.

But now no one wants the saplings, and they can't even afford ordinary medicinal herb seeds.

Not to mention that Tianping Village borrowed money from Tianlong Village by mortgaging their land to buy vegetable seeds; medicinal herb seeds are much more valuable than vegetable seeds.

They really hit the jackpot in Tianmiao Village!

As expected, the village head still favors their Tianmiao Village more!

When Miao Dajiang learned that Lu Qiqi had come to deliver medicinal herb seeds, he was about to take a nap when he suddenly sat up, got out of bed, grabbed his shoes, and ran outside.

On the way here, I was running and putting on my shoes, and I almost tripped and fell flat on my face several times.

"Lord of the Village!"

From a distance, Miao Dajiang shouted something to the carriage.

He's in his fifties, but he acts like a young boy, completely ignoring the people sitting on the large platform looking this way.

Hearing the sound, Lu Qiqi lifted the carriage curtain and looked out. She saw Miao Dajiang grinning as he ran towards the carriage.

When Miao Dajiang ran over, Lu Qiqi also got off the carriage.

Miao Dajiang bowed to Lu Qiqi, panting heavily, his eyes practically glued to the sacks on the oxcart.

A moment later, Zhao Xiaodong also ran over and couldn't help but complain, "Are they running for their lives?! Running so fast! The stuff isn't going anywhere!"

Lu Da glanced at Zhao Xiaodong and said indifferently, "I'm afraid it's time for you to start practicing."

The implication was that it was shameful for a young man to be outrun by a middle-aged man!

Zhao Xiaodong was scolded by his brother and didn't dare to say anything more, so he hid to the side and became a foil.

Lu Qiqi said, "We discussed it with the village chief a few days ago and agreed to exchange medicinal herb seeds for tree seedlings in Tianmiao Village. Has the village chief discussed this matter with the villagers?"

Upon hearing Lu Qiqi speak, Village Chief Miao finally came to his senses and hurriedly said, "It's all settled. The contract has been written, and every household has put their fingerprints on it. They all agree."

As he spoke, Miao Dajiang pulled out a piece of paper from his pocket, the entire paper covered with red fingerprints.

After confirming that there was no difference, Lu Qiqi also took out a piece of paper and handed it to Miao Dajiang.

"This is a method for planting medicinal herbs. Your village has been growing saplings for generations, so this should not be difficult for you."

If you just follow what's written here, you can solve most problems.

Miao Dajiang was moved to tears, took the prescription with both hands, and examined it carefully, cherishing it dearly.

But there was still one thing he didn't understand: "Village head, where are you going to take all these saplings to plant?"

Yes, where should we plant so many seedlings?

Zhao Xiaodong was also pondering this in his heart when suddenly, an idea flashed through his mind, and he looked up at Lu Da.

Lu Da's expression remained unchanged, as if he had known all along.

Lu Qiqi said, "The barren hillsides in Tianshui Village have been prepared. You can simply dig up the trees and transport them to Tianshui Village to plant them."

I see.

But the road to Tianshui Village is too narrow for oxcarts to pass through. It's crevice in the mountainside. Are we supposed to carry it by hand?

How are we going to carry so many saplings?!

Thinking of this, Miao Dajiang hesitated.

But he still asked, "Village head, that road is impassable for oxcarts. If our village has to carry the loads by hand, I'm afraid we won't be able to manage!"

After all, it's such a long way; we can't just fly there.

Lu Qiqi said, "I have my own plans for this. You just need to have the villagers dig up the seedlings the day after tomorrow and send them to Tianshui Village."

"By the way, we need manpower to plant trees. Your village is full of skilled tree planters who are willing to help. They will provide two meals a day and pay thirty coins a day."

Although the wages weren't much, it included two meals a day, which was infinitely better than not being able to find a job. How could Miao Dajiang refuse?

He chuckled twice and said, "Yes, I'm willing. Thank you, Lord Xiang."

Lu Qiqi said, "Let the villagers unload the seeds; we need to go back too."

After saying that, Miao Dajiang hurriedly ordered people to unload the goods.

Upon hearing that the truck was full of medicinal herb seeds, the villagers rushed over with smiles on their faces and began unloading.

With many hands making light work, several truckloads of medicinal herb seeds were unloaded in no time.

Lu Qiqi then took her leave, boarded the carriage, and headed back.

Once seated in the carriage, she began to ponder how to carve out a section of the mountainside to allow the oxcart to pass smoothly.

Isn't there an old saying?

If you want to get rich, build roads first.

This road is a necessary route; if it's not repaired now, it will definitely have to be repaired in the future.

Growing tea is relatively straightforward, but growing fruit trees requires transportation channels to sell the fruit.

Therefore, this matter must be done.

However, she didn't have any explosives. These things are strictly controlled by the government, and ordinary people rarely come across them in their entire lives.

You really can't get by without connections.

Therefore, the only option left is to use the most laborious method: to carve out the rock face from the mountainside.