Chapter 144 Ji Xuening recounts how the army raises pigs.
Wang Yuqing was sitting cross-legged on the bed, happily counting her money, which totaled seventy-nine yuan and thirty cents. She had actually counted it many times, but she was simply enjoying the feeling of counting money.
She picked out nine one-yuan bills that were in relatively good condition and not damaged, and decided to keep them safe, as they would appreciate in value decades later.
I had to spend the rest of the money to buy some things; life was really too tight.
If we're talking about collecting, old-fashioned abacuses, old cassette tapes, sewing machines, and the like are all collectibles, but she can't afford them now. Of course, almost anything these days will be very valuable decades from now.
These days, every household has some old objects in their house. For example, the Ji family has a wall clock, and some people may have porcelain, jade, gold hairpins, or the like.
Wang Yuqing thought for a moment. It was 1976, and the trade in antiques and secondhand goods had made a comeback. Many merchants were buying antiques, secondhand goods, and cultural relics from the public. However, privately trading antiques was illegal and punishable by imprisonment, but they could be sold to cultural relic acquisition departments.
A few collectors and enthusiasts also treasure these antiques.
Few people know that these antiques will appreciate in value in the future, and many will fetch astronomical prices at auction.
Wang Yuqing even thought that she could use her prophetic abilities to collect these antiques, and that decades later, she might be a millionaire.
Now I have the position of team leader of the non-staple food team. I don't have to do farm work. I can also get work points every month. Actually, I'm busy for the first few days, but then I can relax and enjoy myself.
She can collect antiques in her spare time; after all, collecting antiques isn't tiring and doesn't require much brainpower.
She had read many period dramas, and the female protagonists in them were all very capable, using all sorts of methods to get rich. But she was just an ordinary working woman with a low level of education, limited experience, and average intelligence. She didn't want to bother with those complicated things.
After all, she can live a carefree life from now on, so she has no desire to get up and work hard.
Earning a little money is just a way to leave myself an escape route in case of future marital conflicts or divorce with Ji Xuening.
If she doesn't have a job or earn money in the future and ends up being the one who sits at home and enjoys the fruits of others' labor, she can't guarantee that Ji Xuening won't look down on her.
Therefore, it's reasonable to have a little savings of your own.
Besides, who wouldn't want more money?
If the original owner hadn't only attended school for two years and didn't have a junior high or high school diploma, she would have wanted to take the college entrance exam tomorrow. At least she would have a diploma and another option.
Seeing that she was engrossed in counting the money, Ji Xuening did not disturb her.
After making up her mind, Wang Yuqing smiled and looked up to see Ji Xuening standing at the door.
He arrived just in time. Wang Yuqing took out twenty yuan and handed it to Ji Xuening: "Here, haven't you always wanted to buy piglets to raise at home?"
Ji Xuening was a little shocked. He shook his head and said, "No need, I won't spend your money."
Wang Yuqing actually wanted him to become a millionaire as soon as possible, which was basically an investment. She smiled and said, "Didn't we get our marriage certificate? We're a couple now, so why are we splitting your money? How about this, I'll consider this money a loan to you, and you can pay me back when you make money raising pigs?"
Ji Xuening thought it was a good idea. He had always wanted to buy pigs to raise at home as soon as possible. The current policy supports every household to raise pigs, and you can raise as many as you want. However, most people only raise one pig, and those with better economic conditions raise two. Most people choose not to raise pigs at all.
He keenly realized that raising pigs was a way to get rich. He would work every day to earn work points, but apart from making some stools to sell, he had no extra income and was always short of money.
He had no acquaintances or connections at the cooperative, so the cooperative refused to lend him money.
Ji Xuening took the twenty yuan, his eyes filled with excitement, and said, "Then I'll take some time to go to the poultry market in the next commune to buy a sow seedling."
He knew that good, healthy piglets these days cost one yuan per jin (500g), and he could buy about twelve jin of them.
Wang Yuqing asked in confusion, "Why buy a sow?"
Ji Xuening explained: "Buying sows allows for self-breeding and self-raising, eliminating the need to buy piglets from outside. Sows can be bred after five to six months and produce piglets after three months. They can produce two to three litters of piglets per year, with ten to fourteen piglets per litter. These piglets are all well-known, healthy, and of good breed, which can reduce a lot of risks."
He then succinctly stated, "Raising sows is beneficial for long-term development."
Wang Yuqing really wanted to give him a thumbs up. This was the 1970s! He had such foresight. No wonder he became the richest man in the future.
However, raising sows requires a high level of technical skill and carries significant risks, she said with some concern, "Raising sows is quite troublesome."
Ji Xuening's voice carried a faint hint of amusement: "I'm not afraid of trouble."
Wang Yuqing's eyes were filled with admiration: "You're really amazing."
Ji Xuening said, "It's not that I'm great, it's that the country is great. I didn't know anything before, I learned after I joined the army."
Wang Yuqing didn't ask any more questions. Instead, he slowly recounted the story: "Our troops are stationed in a very remote area with harsh conditions. The climate is dry, and the winters are long. There's nowhere to buy food and vegetables. The only vegetables we ordered from the Production and Construction Corps were Chinese cabbages, which spoiled when it was hot and froze when it was cold. In order to improve the soldiers' physical fitness and combat effectiveness, the troop leaders required each company to be self-reliant and cultivate vegetables."
Wang Yuqing listened intently.
Seeing her like this, Ji Xuening sat on a bench and patiently recounted: "I remember that we had cleared the land, but we didn't have any seeds. I made a suggestion to the company's Party branch to have the soldiers write home to ask for vegetable seeds. The branch leaders agreed and mobilized everyone to write home. I was praised for that."
"Later, when we had vegetable seeds, we ate the vegetables we grew ourselves. But even with vegetables, we lacked meat, so we started to vigorously develop pig farming."
He spoke of this with a sense of pride on his face.
Wang Yuqing found it quite interesting; if Ji Xuening hadn't gone home, she probably could have become a military dependent's spouse.
Ji Xuening continued, "I was assigned to a pig farm and was chosen by the quartermaster to be a feeder. Under the quartermaster's guidance, I learned a lot."
"With the quartermaster and my careful care, the piglets had a high survival rate, growing from three pigs at the beginning to more than forty pigs a year later."
"Later, as things gradually developed, these pigs entered a virtuous cycle. The comrades went from eating pork once a month to eating pork once a week, and then even eating meat every day."
"At that time, our company clerk wrote a news article, which was published in various newspapers. Our company was praised, and our quartermaster and I were both awarded the 'Third-Class Merit'."
Ji Xuening's expression suddenly turned somewhat sorrowful. He lowered his head and paused for a long time before speaking: "I was originally eligible for promotion to deputy platoon leader because of my meritorious service, but then my older brother had an accident..."
Wang Yuqing felt a pang of sadness; this man was truly pitiful.
She said gently, "You're so outstanding and capable, you're sure to achieve great things in the future. I believe in you! I also support your pig farming!"
Men most desire support and encouragement from women in their careers, and Ji Xuening is no exception. Now, filled with the passion to strive, he likes Wang Yuqing even more.
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