Chapter 154: Industry Expansion
The Gu family didn't believe it at all, and the Lu family was also skeptical, always thinking that they had secretly run away to some other place, otherwise they had never seen anyone go into the mountains for such a long time before.
But without evidence, nothing can be done.
The Lu family was willing to be the vanguard, and they asked with a smile if they had found anything valuable in the mountains. Why not take it out and show it to everyone! Let everyone see it.
Zhao Liya, Hu Ling and others naturally would not pay attention to such people.
What a joke! Never mind what I found in the mountains. What does it have to do with you? Why should I show it to you?
Aunt Lu smiled and said, "Oh, you didn't go into the mountains at all, but followed some big boss to do business somewhere else to make money? What's wrong with saying this? We are all from the same village, and we won't tell anyone. We are still counting on you to lead everyone to make money together."
Aunt Lu's words actually resonated with some people. Some people might be trying to take advantage of the situation and watch the fun, but more people probably really thought so.
It would be great to make money, so everyone can have a better life.
We made money from growing vegetables last winter, and everyone benefited from it.
Zhao Liya was about to say this, but when Aunt Lu spoke, it was exactly what she wanted, so she didn't even need to say the opening words.
"What do you mean by going somewhere else? No way! We are all exiles. Don't even talk about going somewhere else. You'll be punished! As for making money, my father talked to the big boss about it before the New Year. The big boss sent me a letter two days ago. Look, he's already agreed. Our village can make money."
One stone can cause a thousand ripples.
Everyone was instantly excited.
"Really? Haha, that's great!"
"I know that Mr. Zhao is kind. If there is any good thing, he will definitely not forget us."
"That's right, Xiaoya, can you please tell us about any money-making opportunities?"
"Yeah, yeah, what did the big boss say? Tell us now!"
Seeing that Zhao Liya had already deviated from her topic with just one sentence, Aunt Lu wondered if anyone would even remember the topic she had brought up. She became anxious and blurted out, "Don't overthink it. Don't forget that we're exiles. How can we possibly run a business? Don't let the authorities find out and punish us!"
Zhao Liya laughed and said, "What are you talking about? Who said we're doing business? Aren't we allowed to sell the crops from the land or help people with farming? If you're not allowed to do that, how are we going to make money? We have to make our own oil, salt, sauce, and vinegar, and our own clothes. If we get sick, we have to be doctors who can prescribe medicine. If your family doesn't want to do this, then don't do it. Don't put the blame on us!"
Everyone glanced at Aunt Lu with displeasure.
"That's right, we can earn some money from farming and selling the land, or from farming for others. The government hasn't said that this is not allowed!"
"Amitabha, thank goodness you're not a government official, otherwise we wouldn't have a chance to survive!"
"If you don't want to do it, then don't do it. Don't say that to everyone else."
Aunt Lu knew that she had said something wrong and was interrupted by Zhao Liya. She suppressed her anger and sneered: "I'm just worried. I'm just reminding you for nothing. Don't misinterpret my meaning."
Zhao Liya smiled and continued, "Did you know that the big boss wants to grow potatoes and sweet potatoes in Bajiao Village? He also promised to buy some land near our village to grow sweet potatoes. We can be hired to work there, and the wages will be the same as those paid to those two villages. We won't be shortchanged. What do you think? Is this a good thing?"
Sweet potato flour and potato flour are both good ingredients. They can be used to make hot and sour noodles. Zhao Liya plans to open a shop in the provincial capital and sell them there. They can also be ground into starch and sold to restaurants and ordinary people. This is another way to make money.
Everyone was happy to hear this and said that they would definitely go to work and do their best.
Some anxious people asked Zhao Liya when the boss would recruit workers.
Zhao Liya smiled and said, "It's almost time for spring plowing and planting. Once everyone finishes their work in their own fields, it will be almost done."
Everyone said it was a good idea. "That's great. It won't interfere with our work!", "That's right!", "The boss is really kind-hearted!"
Zhao Liya said: "The big boss is not doing this out of kindness, but to make money. Everyone works hard, we make a little money, and the big boss makes a lot of money."
"Oh! That's why." Everyone laughed.
Being able to make a little money is a rare good thing for everyone, and it makes people satisfied. But making a lot of money is something I have never thought about.
They don't have the luck to do that, nor do they dare to think about it.
When every family was busy with spring plowing, Hu Ling invited the headmen of Zaihu Village and Bajiao Village to accompany him to the county government office again to buy land.
Last year's bumper sugarcane harvest caused quite a stir in the county. All taxes were paid in full, and the county clerks and others smiled when they saw Hu Ling.
It’s a good thing that the big boss buys land and continues to expand.
With 150,000 taels of silver in hand, he could buy as much land as he wanted. So he bought 5,000 mu in Zaihu Village and 5,400 mu in Bajiaozhai, spending a total of 52,000 taels. He owned 6,000 mu in each village.
I bought one thousand acres of land around Yan Village and spent five thousand taels.
This time the government office did not give any preferential treatment, so the money spent was a bit too much. Perhaps the county magistrate thought that the boss had made so much money growing sugarcane, so he should not miss it.
Zhao Liya had no objection.
Even though she spent so much money on buying the land, she still had 100,000 taels left.
The cost of cultivating and tidying up all this land and expanding the workshop would be around two thousand taels at most.
With so much land, she plans to reclaim it all this year and plant as much sugarcane, sweet potatoes and potatoes as she can. If there is time, she will plant soybeans, peanuts, sesame seeds, corn, cotton, peppers and other crops on the rest of the land.
These are all good things that can make money.
Zhao Liya was thinking in her mind that she could make a lot of money this year. Adding the share from the huanghuali wood, she should be able to make a net profit of 300,000 taels, right?
She planned to ask Brother Zhou and Zhong Jing to help her run the operation and redeem Lin Mo and his two younger brothers and sisters first.
Brother Zhou said that Lin Mo's kung fu is much better than he showed. Of course, not as good as his, but most likely better than Zhong Jing.
They have been together for so long, Zhao Liya is willing to trust Lin Mo. Besides, to put it bluntly, Sister Shu Yan's indenture contract is still in her hands.
Lin Mo and his younger brother and sister have all redeemed their sins. If anything happens, Lin Mo can protect them and no one else can do anything about it.
Brother Zhou wouldn't stay in Lingnan for long. Zhong Jing was an official, and his family was a criminal. There were some things he couldn't openly interfere with. Only after he was freed from the criminal record could he intervene. With Lin Mo, it was safer.
(End of this chapter)
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