Chapter 290 Shen Xiangwan’s Advice
According to custom, the Western Hu people would break through and plunder after the beginning of spring. They didn't have much time. After settling their families, General Wang and others returned to the barracks before dawn the next day to continue training the soldiers. Although Wei Chengyi stayed at home, he was also very busy. Shen Xiangwan did not disturb him and continued to do what he had to do as usual.
"Uncle Zhao, are you home? I'm coming in."
In broad daylight, most villagers would not lock their doors. Shen Xiangwan directly pushed open the half-closed courtyard door and walked in with Yuan Yue and Yuan Ying.
"It's Wanwan, why did you think of coming to my place today?"
Zhao Dashan, who was cutting pig grass in the yard, stood up with a smile and quickly invited them to sit in the house. Although they were not like the rich families who would burn charcoal to keep warm at home in winter, it was still warmer inside the house than outside.
"I have something to ask you."
Shen Xiangwan didn't treat herself as an outsider at all. She found a stool and sat down. "Uncle Zhao, you should know that a few more families came to the village yesterday. They are also old friends of the Wei family. I'll have to trouble Uncle Zhao to take care of them in the future."
"Are they also exiled commoners?"
Sitting down opposite her, Zhao Dashan asked in confusion. He knew that so many people had suddenly come to the village, but there was no official document from the government, and those people did not show up. He did not know with what identities they settled in the village.
"That's not the case. They are just ordinary people who have settled in the village temporarily."
Shaking his head, Shen Xiangwan thought for a moment and then said further: “Uncle Zhao, don’t worry, I promise they won’t take the initiative to cause trouble in the village.”
"Okay, if they need any help, just tell them to come to me directly."
Since she said so, what else is there for him to worry about?
Zhao Dashan didn't worry about it anymore. After all, they all lived in the innermost part of the village. Even if they couldn't get along as well as the Wei family, they shouldn't have any conflicts with the villagers.
"good."
Hearing this, Shen Xiangwan smiled and nodded, then calmly changed the subject: "By the way, Uncle Zhao, how are the pigs at home? They are very fat. I am going to slaughter them tomorrow."
"Thanks to you, the pigs at home are all fat and strong. They probably weigh around 200 kilograms."
Speaking of this, Zhao Dashan's face suddenly broke into a smile. Seeing the pigs in his family growing better and better, and becoming fat and strong in just a few months, he was thankful more than once that he had chosen to believe her. After selling those pigs, the family would have an extra income. He had already made up his mind to build a new house after the spring planting next year, and then catch dozens of piglets to continue raising.
"Really? It seems you've taken good care of them."
Shen Xiangwan was happy for them from the bottom of her heart. After selling the big fat pig, everyone's life should be better. Thinking back to when they first came to Yong'an Village, the villagers were so poor that even the village chief wore clothes with patches all over his body. Now almost every household has someone to help her with work. Although they have not yet escaped poverty and become rich, at least everyone can have enough food and clothes.
"Don't you have to serve me carefully?"
That's all money.
Zhao Dashan was grinning from ear to ear. Not only him, but every household in the village treated their pigs like their ancestors, hoping to sell them for money. Those who raised fewer pigs at the beginning all regretted it and later caught a lot of piglets, all eager to make a big move.
Afterwards, Zhao Dashan invited them to take a look at the pigpen in the backyard. It was just as he said. In just a few months, the pigs they raised became fat and strong. Of course, this was not only because they took good care of them. The more important reason was that they ate well. The brewing workshop would process a lot of residue every day, leaving only what they needed, and let the villagers take the rest back to feed the pigs. That was real food. How could the pigs not grow meat after eating it?
"Wanwan, the Chinese New Year is only twenty days away. When do we start selling pigs?"
When they returned to the main hall, Zhao Dashan's smile faded. In fact, he wanted to ask, can so many pigs really be sold at a good price? But he was not a child after all. Shen Xiangwan had repeatedly promised them, and asking that question again would undoubtedly hurt their feelings. However, he was a little worried in his heart, fearing that the pigs he had worked so hard to raise would have to be sold at a low price.
"That's why I came to see you today."
Shen Xiangwan pondered for a moment and then continued, "People outside don't know that our pork not only has no fishy smell, but its meat quality is no worse than mutton, chicken, duck, and fish. If we sell it as live pigs, we certainly won't get a good price. My suggestion is that we set up a pork processing workshop in our village, and everyone works together to make pork into sausages and bacon and sell them. When the time comes, you can just take them to my shop in the county town and sell them. In order to attract people to buy, we can take out a small amount of sausages and bacon, cook them, and cut them into slices. Let some people taste them for free every day. Those who like them will naturally buy them. Moreover, this is not like selling live pigs, which is just a one-time deal. We can do it for a long time. As for how to make sausages and bacon, I will teach you for free."
If possible, she hoped they could accept her suggestion. That way, even if they left the village in the future, they would not have a bad life because they would have their own workshop in the village.
"We can open our own workshop? Can we do that?"
Zhao Dashan was a little unconfident. After all, he was just a farmer, working hard in the fields. It would be difficult for him to do some small business, let alone open a workshop.
"Why not?"
Seeing through his fear and worry at a glance, Shen Xiangwan said half-jokingly and half-seriously, "Who says farmers like us can't do business on our own? Counting back a few hundred years, maybe the ancestors of the current emperor were also farmers."
“But we don’t understand anything.”
Having said that, Zhao Dashan was still a little hesitant. Even though he was very tempted, everyone had high hopes for the pigs raised at home. If he lost money, how would he explain to everyone?
"If you don't understand, you can learn. Many people in the village are managers in my workshop. They should know how to manage it. As for selling to the outside world, you can ask the owners of my two stores yourself or send a few trustworthy people to ask for advice. I can't say anything else, but when it comes to business, they are all experts."
Shen Xiangwan smiled slightly, not taking his concerns seriously at all. No one is born knowing everything. As long as they do business steadily, they don't need a very smart mind, and they should be able to figure out the tricks soon.
"OK."
After staring at her deeply for a while, Zhao Dashan gritted his teeth and said, "I'll gather everyone to discuss it later. If everyone is willing, we can open a workshop together. If not, I'll do it myself. Wanwan, I believe you. Since you say it's okay, then there must be no problem. It's just that I don't know anything, so I will definitely trouble you when the time comes. Please don't think I'm annoying."
He really trusted Shen Xiangwan and believed that she would not harm them. In order to live a good life, he was willing to risk it all.
"Look at what Uncle Zhao said. What's so troublesome or not? Don't I bother you enough on a daily basis?"
After they came to Yong'an Village, Zhao Dashan helped her a lot. Although they were all insignificant little favors, his kindness was precious, which was one of the reasons why she was willing to plan for them.
"Okay, then I won't be polite with you."
"There's no need to be polite."
They smiled at each other, and then talked about how to process pork, how to open a workshop and other topics. When it was almost time, Shen Xiangwan got up and said goodbye. However, before leaving, she did not forget to remind him that their family would slaughter a pig tomorrow, and asked him to find a few trustworthy women to help, and by the way, learn how to make sausages and bacon.
[End of this chapter]
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