Grandpa Li suddenly realized that planting over a hundred mu of land would cost more than four hundred taels of silver. He asked his granddaughter uncertainly, "By then, will you have enough money to pay the villagers?"
Even though the shops in the city were profitable, they couldn't have made more than four hundred taels in three months, right? Furthermore, the fermented bean curd workshop had to pay more than ten taels of labor each month, plus the cost of buying beans. The more Mr. Li thought about it, the more he felt this was a daunting task!
"Since I promised the villagers, I will fulfill my promise when the time comes. You can rest assured!"
Even so, Mr. Li still reminded them, "If you're short of money by then, I still have a few dozen taels of silver at home. I'll ask your grandmother to give it to you first!"
Li Yan didn't refuse the master's kindness and smiled as she thanked him. Although she didn't have that much money on hand, it was easy for her to get cash. Moreover, she still had chili peppers. If she just made a few spicy dishes, she would have the money! So she didn't really worry about the money.
Instead, she was beginning to worry about something else. "Grandpa, where do you think we're going to grow the seedlings? According to our earlier calculation of a 1:20 ratio, planting over 100 mu of peppers would require at least 5 mu of seedlings, and we don't have 5 mu of idle land right now."
His granddaughter's question stumped him, "Why not just give the seeds to the villagers and let them grow the seeds themselves?"
Li Yan shook her head. "The contract we signed with the villagers was to provide them with pepper seedlings. How can we go back on our word?"
Mr. Li thought about it and said after a while, "Why don't we clear the vegetable patch in the backyard, or go to the house at the foot of the mountain. I remember there should be two or three acres of open space from the foot of the mountain to where the house was built! That way, the backyard land plus the land at the foot of the mountain should be enough!"
Li Yan remained silent. She was thinking about the seedling cultivation method she had seen in the present world. It should be possible to use a cultivation pot to plant.
He only needs to ask someone to make some long wooden basins, drill holes in the bottom and around the basins, fill them with soil, apply some fertilizer, and pour some water! This simple seedbed is also ready.
Planting pepper seedlings is the same as planting flowers! When the time comes, just bury the pepper seeds in them and let them grow smoothly!
Li Yan's heart brightened at the thought. He told Old Man Li his idea, "This way, we can also save the vegetable patch behind us. Together with the few acres of land at the foot of the mountain, we will have enough!"
Although Mr. Li was moved by what he heard, he still had some concerns in his heart. "Will this method work?"
Li Yan nodded confidently.
With his granddaughter's affirmation, Grandpa Li no longer had any worries. "This thing can't wait. I'll go to the workshop to find your uncle and ask him to make the seedling pots you need as soon as possible!" After that, he hurried out the door.
After her grandfather left, Li Yan didn't even have time to rest. She had to go down the mountain to see the vacant land that her grandfather mentioned.
When Li Yan rushed to the foot of the mountain, the two families in the yard were busy turning over and drying the medicinal herbs they had picked a few days ago.
Seeing Li Yan coming over, Mr. Zhao hurried forward and asked, "Miss, you've come just in time. I was just about to look for you. Can you come and see if these herbs are done drying? I estimate that they will be done in today's sun."
These days she was so busy looking for a teacher for the village school and busy with the pepper business that she really didn't care about picking herbs.
Li Yan immediately followed Mr. Zhao and looked at the honeysuckle and isatis indigotica leaves that were placed in the yard to dry.
At this time, the honeysuckle has turned slightly yellow, and the indigotica leaves have become shriveled and lost moisture!
Li Yan nodded and said to the others, "There's no need to dry the honeysuckle flowers any further. Uncle Zhao, please take them back home. If we keep drying them, they'll turn black and won't look good when we sell them!"
Zhao Da and Guo Da's wife did not dare to delay and went to the warehouse with the bamboo weavings that were drying in the sun.
When Li Yan was about to help, she was stopped by Old Zhao. "There's no need for you to do anything, young lady. These honeysuckle flowers are light after being dried. We can move them in a few trips!"
Speaking of numbers, Li Yan asked, "Uncle Zhao, have you weighed the honeysuckle you picked? How much is the yield per acre?"
Old Master Zhao rubbed his hands awkwardly. "Oh, I picked these herbs and dried them immediately. I forgot about this one!"
Li Yan smiled and said reassuringly, "It's not a big deal. We'll weigh it the same after it dries!"
Seeing that Li Yan had no intention of blaming him, Mr. Zhao thought for a moment and added, "But when I was picking the fruits, I saw that the three-year-old ones were growing better, so I picked more!"
Li Yan nodded. Perennial honeysuckle naturally grows better than those with a shorter age!
While they were talking, the two of them ran a few times and moved the honeysuckle in the bamboo weaving back home.
"Let's go, follow me to the foot of the mountain to take a look!" Li Yan said to the three of them.
Li Yan led the Zhao father and son and Guo's wife to the foot of the mountain. There was a large open space from the foot of the mountain to the place where the house was built. Because livestock were raised here and it was a must-pass place for going up the mountain, the land was kept flat.
"Uncle Zhao, is this piece of vacant land three acres?" Li Yan looked at the vacant land and pointed.
Zhao Dayong measured it roughly with his eyes, "About the same!"
Li Yan gestured towards the empty space and said, "Uncle Zhao, just clear one path for people to pass through. The rest of the empty space should be reclaimed!"
"Look, I'm going to use this land to grow rice seedlings. I'd like to ask you to help me till the soil. Once the rice seedlings are ready to be transplanted, I'll leave this land to you to take care of. When the harvest comes, I'll charge you five cents per pound, just like the other villagers!"
The father and son seemed to understand. The boss asked them to help turn the soil, but they didn't seem to fully understand. When asked what to plant, the father and son looked at each other. Although they didn't know what to plant, they only knew that following the girl's arrangements would not be wrong!
Now, their family not only has enough food to eat here, but also lives in a new house and can save money every month, which they never dared to imagine before.
Li Yan thought that the two families might not have gone to the clan leader for a meeting, so she simply reiterated what she had just proposed to the villagers. "After the seedlings are grown, this piece of land will be handed over to you two families to take care of. If you follow my instructions, you will get at least twelve taels of silver by the time the harvest comes!"
After hearing this, several people expressed their gratitude and repeatedly assured, "Miss, we will do whatever you say!"
"Then it's settled. I'll bring the cows to you when I get back. Please dig up the land as soon as possible!"
General Zhao patted his chest and said, "Don't worry, young lady. I can plow this little bit of land today, and I guarantee you can plant seeds tomorrow!"
Old Master Zhao couldn't help but kick his son. "Alright, stop talking nonsense. Follow the girl back to lead the cow. Don't make her run again!"
Zhao Da didn't care about being scolded by his own father in front of outsiders. He said to Li Yan in agreement, "Yes, yes, young lady, let me go with you! It will save us from delays!"
Li Yan was amused by the interaction between father and son, then nodded and led people home!
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