Qin Zhao wrote fluently, sketching and drawing. Jing Li couldn't make out anything at first, but gradually, a rough sketch of a courtyard emerged on the paper.

Jing Li: “…”

What on earth can’t this person do???

Farmhouses are usually surrounded by a low fence, but the disadvantage is that it is not very airtight, and people can see what is going on inside from outside. However, if you build a brick and stone wall like the Chen family, the cost will increase many times.

Qin Zhao took a compromise approach.

Walking upstream along the stream outside Linxi Village, there was a bamboo forest halfway up the mountain. Qin Zhao planned to hire someone to collect some bamboo. The bamboo was tall and would be perfect for a fence around the courtyard.

Beautiful and practical.

After the sealing problem is solved, there are two small rooms, one for bedroom and one for kitchen.

Farmers in the village hired their own workers to build their own houses, but before they could do so, they had to pay for the land based on the square footage. Qin Zhao lived alone, so a large yard wasn't necessary. However, he still reserved enough space for another room.

I’m short of money now, but maybe when conditions get better in the future I can build another study.

Finally, there is a pond built for the little koi.

Since he was going to build one, Qin Zhao didn't intend to make it too crude. He wanted it to be large, deep, and have running water. Digging a pond wasn't difficult; the challenge was finding a way to drain the unpolluted water and get it to flow out of the yard.

The thing that Linxi Village lacks the least is water. The only problem left is the site selection and the design of the underground ditch for water diversion.

Qin Zhao finished sketching the pond. Seeing the little koi looking intently, he asked, "How is it? Are you satisfied?"

Jing Li was already stunned, and upon hearing that, he quickly wagged his tail at him.

But Qin Zhao still seemed unsatisfied. He looked at it for a moment and then made a few changes.

Hey, why do you want to change this place? He likes it very much!

The little koi fish slapped the barrel wall in protest.

Qin Zhao explained: "After simplifying it this way, less materials will be used."

Now these are just preliminary layouts and designs. If he wants to achieve his expectations, it will cost a lot of money.

Doctor Ge had previously told Qin Zhao roughly what prices were being offered by several clinics in town. They were mostly similar, with little room for price increases. With this system, the money earned from selling black ginseng would likely be completely spent.

Qin Zhao didn't want to spend all his savings on building a house.

Jing Li understood what he meant and felt a little disappointed.

There's nothing we can do about it. Qin Zhao is good in every way except being a pauper.

What a pity.

The sky outside was gloomy and the breeze made the windows creak.

Qin Zhao opened the window and looked out at the sky, his brows furrowed unconsciously. Then he put away the blueprints and took out his coat from the closet.

Is he going out?

Jing Li looked at him in the water.

Qin Zhao had just put on his clothes when he heard someone knocking on the door.

It’s Doctor Ge.

Doctor Ge walked into the room, beaming: "It's done, the next buyer has been decided!"

Qin Zhao welcomed the man in and poured him a glass of water.

Doctor Ge didn't even bother to drink his water. His face beamed with joy as he said, "Didn't I tell you earlier that the prices offered by several clinics in town were pretty much the same? And guess what? This morning, a wealthy family in town suddenly came knocking on our door and agreed to raise the price by four hundred coins per plant of Wushan ginseng!"

The original estimated price was about 1,600 wen per plant, but after the price was raised by 400 wen, it became 2,000 wen.

Even Qin Zhao couldn't help but be a little surprised.

Two thousand coins, this is the price you would get if you sell it in a big city.

Doctor Ge was very excited and said, "They will send someone to collect the herbs the day after tomorrow. Qin Zhao, you must hurry and collect them."

Qin Zhao said, "I was just about to go out and pick some herbs."

"Yes, we should hurry and collect them," Doctor Ge said. "There's a lot of rain around Qingming Festival, so it's not suitable to go up the mountain. The herbs are precious, and if they're exposed to the wind and rain for a few days, I'm afraid half of them will be lost."

"I see."

After seeing off Doctor Ge, Qin Zhao said to the little koi, "Did you hear everything? I'm going up the mountain to collect some herbs now. Be good and wait for me at home."

The little koi wagged its tail obediently.

Qin Zhao thought for a moment, then took out two egg pancakes from the stove, put them on a plate and brought them to the table: "If you're hungry, eat something by yourself."