58 Greenhouse
"If this greenhouse is built, fruits and vegetables will be available year-round."
On the day Ningyuan City entered the Great Snow solar term, the sky and earth were dark, and it snowed continuously for three days and three nights.
The Zhao family, from Zhao Village in the north of the city, lay on the heated kang (a traditional Chinese bed-stove), their eyes fixed on the snow in the yard, which was thicker than their knees.
"Father, when will this snow stop?" Old Zhao's son asked. "I heard they're hiring in the city. They're building something on the west side of the city, and I'd like to go too."
Old Zhao slapped him across the face and said angrily, "Can't you see what it's like outside? We only have one set of thick clothes. If you take them, how are your mother and I supposed to go out? And the snow is so thick. You might freeze to death on the road. You're not allowed to go."
Old Zhao's wife chimed in, "We have a heated kang bed this year, which is why you feel it's not cold outside even though it's snowing. Don't you think about how we survived before we had a heated kang bed? You didn't see people freezing to death at their doorstep, did you?"
"Alright, alright, if you don't want to go, then don't. We'll talk about it again in the spring."
Meanwhile, amidst the swirling snow, Shen Suqin and Xu Youcai stood in the white expanse of the western suburbs, facing over a thousand wounded and disabled veterans.
Although they looked haggard, they all stood up straight, and not one of them spoke or moved in the heavy snow.
"Everyone, it's not that I, Shen Suqin, am making things difficult for you, but I've been waiting for two days and the snow still hasn't stopped. I really don't want to delay any longer, so I can only trouble you all."
“Please give your orders, Madam,” someone in the group said.
After their discharge from the army, they had barely lived a normal life. It was only after being conscripted that they had thick clothes to wear, a roof over their heads, and a heated kang bed to keep warm. They remembered the kindness of the general's wife.
Shen Suqin smiled and said, "Brothers, I'll get straight to the point. I want to build something called a greenhouse on this land. It's a simple house with a light-transmitting roof, three feet deep in the ground, and with a fire-starting wall. We can discuss the specific details later."
"If this greenhouse is built, it will be like spring all year round, with fruits and vegetables available year-round."
Since no one had ever heard of something so amazing, they were momentarily at a loss for words.
Shen Suqin continued, "Brother Xu, please find someone who can manage things. I'll directly assign him tasks."
"Alright." Xu Youcai waved his hand toward the line, and an old man with gray hair who was standing at the very edge stepped forward.
“His name is Zhou Wu. He’s a centurion in the army. Before he joined the army, his family was wealthy; his father was an officer. Most of them also know how to farm, so you don’t need to worry about them,” Xu Youcai explained.
The old man stood straight in front of the two of them. "Madam, General."
Shen Suqin spotted him at a glance because he stood straighter than everyone else and had the air of a scholar.
“Commander Zhou,” Shen Suqin returned the greeting, “you are educated.”
"Madam, you're too kind. I only recognize a couple of characters; I haven't really read any books."
Shen Suqin smiled. "Since that's the case, then I won't beat around the bush. I need to keep the construction of the greenhouse a secret. I don't want to see it anywhere else except Ningyuan." She paused. "I can guarantee that anyone who gets involved will make a fortune."
Besides supplying the Black Flag Army, she also planned to sell the vegetables produced in the greenhouse to the entire Liang province, making a fortune from the noble families.
"Madam, rest assured, we will cooperate fully."
"Thank you," Shen Suqin said sincerely. "Then let me explain in detail how to build a greenhouse. First of all, its frame can be made of wood, with oil paper pasted around it to let in light, and straw curtains used for insulation... I have already had the materials purchased."
Oil paper from Daliang is not expensive; a thick stack can be bought for one coin.
"I'll have General Xu give you the key to the warehouse later. You can take all the materials you need yourself."
Zhou Wu knew that this meant the lady trusted him, and solemnly replied, "Your subordinate will certainly not let you down."
Shen Suqin finally felt the joy of dealing with intelligent people, and said with a smile, "Since Commander Zhou is aware of the situation, I won't waste any more words." She took a step back, clasped her hands in a fist and palm salute, "I'll trouble you with this matter, Commander Zhou."
"Yes," replied Zhou Baihu.
"Also, since these are fresh vegetables, they're only really rare when they're available in winter. So I hope you guys hurry up and let's make a killing before the new year."
"Now that I've said this, I'm not afraid to give you brothers a heads-up: if this is done, it will be your way out, and the money you earn will be your means of survival."
"The bigger and more successful this project is, the more people will be recalled. So, gentlemen, go all out and do it boldly. If the sky falls, your general will hold it up. Because he has never abandoned you for a moment."
Tears welled in everyone's eyes, and they roared in unison, "Yes!"
The sound pierced through the clouds, passed through the swirling snow, crossed the snow-covered mountains, and spread to a more distant and expansive place.
After Shen Suqin finished giving instructions, everyone eagerly dispersed to get to work.
Xu Youcai stood silently beside her, lost in thought.
"Does the general think that nothing can grow in my greenhouse?" Shen Suqin asked deliberately.
Xu Youcai: "Madam knows perfectly well that I will believe whatever you do."
"Alright, based on what you said, General, you can eat the first bite of vegetables we grow. Let's go back, I have something else to ask you."
"yes."
Upon returning to the General's Mansion, Shen Suqin led Xu Youcai directly to his study.
Her study was converted from a side room. The lighting wasn't as good as Xiao Pingchuan's, but it was spacious.
This was Xu Youcai's first time entering the main courtyard. In the past, to avoid suspicion, he would only go as far as the gate and then not go in.
At this moment, he stood by the desk by the window and couldn't help but crane his neck to look at the man in black sweeping the yard.
After a while, the little boy who used to be so lonely has grown into a little adult in the blink of an eye. He must be growing taller and taller because he's been eating well.
"Brother Xu, Brother Xu," Shen Suqin called out to him.
Xu Youcai snapped out of his daze: "Hey."
"Look here." Shen Suqin tapped the table.
Xu Youcai looked down and couldn't help but gasp. Before him was a detailed map of Jinzhou, showing villages and rivers. Their army probably only had maps this detailed.
"This... was taken from the general's study?" he asked, bewildered.
Shen Suqin raised an eyebrow: "You underestimate the capabilities of Xingyuan Restaurant. This was drawn by my people."
Xu Youcai nodded repeatedly.
Shen Suqin pointed to the confluence of Lao Mao Ling Mountain and Gu Zong River in the western suburbs of Ningyuan. "This place is nestled against the mountains and by the water, and the terrain is quite good. I plan to use it to settle retired veterans of the Black Flag Army in the future. If you have time, please tell the general about it for me."
"Why not let them live in the city?"
"Because I will have some businesses in the future that require high secrecy, I need them to help keep an eye on them. Don't worry, I will build this place into a small town with everything you need for food, clothing, housing, and transportation."
This is a plan that Shen Suqin referenced from industrial parks in later generations; she will use it for the entire western suburbs in the future.
Before she died in her previous life, the apocalypse had only just begun a little over a decade earlier, when she was in her twenties. Before that, she worked as an actuary, a job that required calculation skills and intelligence, and also a job with high educational requirements.
Over a decade of living in the apocalypse, her actuarial skills didn't help much, but her physical abilities improved with practice.
“Oh, that’s not what I wanted to say,” she said, gesturing across the map to encompass the entire Jinzhou region. “As soon as the fighting stops, the imperial court will definitely cut off the Black Flag Army’s food and supplies, so we need to make plans early.”
"Fortunately, Jinzhou is now the general's fiefdom, and the general can decide how to manage it."
"I want to restore agriculture in Jinzhou as soon as possible, so that the Black Flag Army can be supported by Jinzhou next year."
“That’s impossible,” Xu Youcai said decisively. “With years of war, there are hardly any living people left in Jinzhou. Eighty percent of the land has been destroyed. Who will farm it?”
"Even if there were people, it would be useless. The land belongs to large landowners, wealthy merchants, and officials. Ordinary people have no land at all, so how can they cultivate it?"
Shen Suqin waved his hand, "This is where I need your help. First, I need to measure all the land in Jinzhou, regardless of whose it is, as long as it can grow grain, it must be registered."
"Secondly, I need to spread the word that all the people of Jinzhou will receive four mu of land for men and three mu for women, regardless of age; finally, before implementation, I need to inform the general and the crown prince, and have them draft and issue the decree."
“I know your military has its own communication channels, please help me deliver these plans to the general.”
Xu Youcai held his breath from the moment she began talking about measuring the land until the last word fell.
"You, you want to divide the land equally among the people?" he asked.
"yes."
“But this land belongs to the government landlords, we have no right to take a share.”
Shen Suqin raised an eyebrow: "I'm asking you, are those officials, landlords, and wealthy merchants still in Jinzhou?"
Xu Youcai shook his head.
"Since they're not here, they're not theirs."
"But once they hear the news, they will definitely come back to demand it back."
“If they don’t give it to you, and they won’t listen, then go up and beat them up,” Shen Suqin said. “Beat them until they’re willing.”
Xu Youcai silently gave a thumbs up, feeling that his wife's style was bolder than theirs.
"You must also handle this matter as soon as possible; we cannot delay spring planting."
"I know."
"Alright, then General, go ahead and get busy. By the way, I don't want anyone unrelated to this matter to know about it until it's done."
"yes."
Two days passed after Xu Youcai was informed.
That morning, after Shen Suqin finished writing, she saw Xiao Hei standing in the courtyard in a daze, so she beckoned him over.
Through the window, she asked Xiao Hei, "Have you had lunch yet?"
Little Black nodded.
Want to go out and have some fun?
Xiao Hei shook his head.
"Alright, go and call Sister Ju Tao over."
Ju Tao arrived soon after.
After the matter of the memorial text was settled, Ju Tao took a two-day break.
"Did Sister Qin need something from me?" Ju Tao asked.
Shen Suqin lay on the table and said lazily, "I've been using my brain too much lately, and my head hurts a little."
Ju Tao immediately became nervous: "I'll go find a doctor."
“No need,” Shen Suqin sat up. “How’s business at Xingyuan lately?”
"Winter is the off-season, and people don't want to go out, so business is usually slow."
"Hmm, it's time to get our spirits up and make some money." She stood up. "Let's go check out the restaurants in Ningyuan. Oh, and bring the copper pot we brought from Fuliang Mountain."
"yes."
Ju Tao followed her out. When they reached the courtyard gate, Shen Suqin waved to Xiao Hei and said, "Come on, let's go take a look together."
Xiao Hei paused for a moment, then dropped the broom and quickly followed.
Xingyuan Restaurant in Ningyuan is the most magnificent restaurant in the city. It is three stories high and is made entirely of solid round wood, making it particularly sturdy.
Shen Suqin pushed open the curtain and went inside. It was warm and cozy inside, so it seemed that Manager Zhao had some skills.
"Master, you've arrived."
As soon as Shen Suqin entered, Zhao Ji came to greet him.
Zhao Ji had been waiting for his mistress ever since she arrived in Ningyuan, and he was so excited to finally see her.
"Manager Zhao, may you make a fortune!" Shen Suqin said.
"Get rich, get rich! Please come to the private room on the third floor, host."
“I won’t go to the third floor. Just get me a table in the lobby on the first floor,” Shen Suqin replied. Then she said to Ju Tao, “Take Xiao Hei to the kitchen to prepare.”
Ju Tao should go down.
“I’ve come to deliver silver to the shopkeeper,” Shen Suqin said.
Zhao Ji laughed and said, "The master's ideas are always good."
Shen Suqin waved his hand: "Your restaurant is the most profitable in Jinzhou every year. You can tell that Boss Zhao knows how to do business."
"That's all thanks to the good foundation laid by the employer."
"You're too modest, Mr. Zhao. To be honest, what I'm here to promote today might even take Xingyuan to the next level."
Zhao Ji's eyes immediately lit up.
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