When Yan Zhiqiang was purchasing the estate for its convenience, the major criterion apart from fertile land was proximity; hence, Yan Family’s large estate and Daohua’s smaller one were both situated within the sa village—one at the head and the other at the tail.
The village where the estate was located is called Danlin Village, which is ho to over five hundred families, mostly bearing the surna Zheng, and nearly all the tenant farrs for both estates ca from this village.
Yan Zhiqiang sent one of his attendants back to the Yan Family to deliver a ssage, informing them that he, Grandmother Yan, and Daohua would be staying at the estate for a few days and not to worry about them, then went off to tend to the fields.
That night, both Daohua and Grandmother Yan slept soundly, unaffected by any unfamiliar bedding.
The next day, seeing that both were in good spirits, Yan Zhiqiang felt reassured and focused his efforts on lon planting at both estates.
As for Daohua, noticing that the waterlon planting was overseen by her third uncle, with Grandmother Yan also watching, she turned her attention to the barren hill.
Zheng Zhuangtou did not dare neglect the new owner, and that very day, he brought back a cartload of fruit tree seedlings for her.
Daohua carefully examined the seedlings and, satisfied, nodded her head before turning to Zheng Zhuangtou to ask, “Uncle Zheng, do people in the village have any free ti currently?”
Zheng Zhuangtou: “Yes, they do. Each family in the village doesn’t have much farmland, and with plenty of labor at ho, many finished the spring plowing by early April. A lot of industrious young folks are now planning to go out and find work to supplent their family inco.”
Daohua smiled and said, “In that case, I’ll trouble you, Uncle Zheng, to find so people for to clear this barren hill. As for their wages, we’ll pay according to the rates they’d get for outside work. What do you think?”
Zheng Zhuangtou nodded repeatedly, gratefully saying, “Thank you, miss, for your kindness. I’ll go to the village and spread the word imdiately, I guarantee we’ll find enough hands for you right away.”
Daohua: “My grandmother, uncle, and I won’t stay at the estate for long, so it’s not a problem to have more workers. However, I don’t want to see anyone slacking off or cheating.”
Zheng Zhuangtou beca serious: “Rest assured, miss. I am well aware of who in our village is hardworking. I guarantee there won’t be anyone like the sort you ntioned.”
Daohua smiled: “That’s the best I could hope for. We still need more fruit tree seedlings. Please, Uncle Zheng, go buy three more carts, we need every variety. Right, I just noticed we also have grapevines. Buy so extra of those; the courtyard of the estate is large. Later, I’ll find soone to set up so fras specifically for growing grapes.”
Zheng Zhuangtou listened carefully and assured her that he’d see to it imdiately once Daohua had finished speaking.
Daohua: “That’s all from for now, you may go about your duties.”
After Zheng Zhuangtou left, Daohua asked Wang Manman to bring writing materials, and she began to keep the accounts.
When she ca out, she had taken all the silver she had left with Grandmother Yan over the years. After deducting the one thousand taels of silver spent on the estate, she now only had a little over three hundred taels.
Hiring people to clear the land required money, purchasing the fruit tree seedlings required money…
Daohua wasn’t sure if the little money she had would be enough for the initial investnt in the estate?
As Wang Manman ground the ink, she asked with perplexity, “Miss, isn’t planting fruit trees just about digging holes at will? Why do you need to hire people to reclaim the barren hill?”
Daohua: “Because I’m not only planning to plant fruit trees on the hill but other things as well.” It would take a few years before fruit trees could yield any harvest, and in the anti, she naturally had to think of other thods.
Wang Manman grew curious: “Other things? Like what?”
Daohua smiled: “Of course, the quickest profit-making dicinal herbs.” After arriving at Xingzhou, she had looked through so travel notes. They ntioned that Xingzhou was suitable for cultivating dicinal herbs such as Scutellaria baicalensis, Schisandra chinensis, Gentiana, Glycyrrhiza, Eleutherococcus, and Licorice.
These dicinal herbs are commonly used, seeds can be bought in dicinal herb shops, they have short growth cycles, and they are perfect for making money.
Upon hearing that the estate ca with a barren hill, she had already decided on planting dicinal herbs.
Daohua listed the needed dicinal herb seeds and handed it over to Wang Manman: “Give this to Uncle Zheng; he’s going to buy more fruit tree seedlings, so he might as well pick up these dicinal herb seeds too.”
Wang Manman took the note and went to find Headman Zheng.
At this mont, Headman Zheng was still at the village chief’s house.
The estate needed people from the village to clear and cultivate the land, so this matter had to be discussed with the village chief.
The village chief and Headman Zheng were cousins; their ages did not differ much. Hearing that the estate was hiring, the chief imdiately expressed his concern, “Then what are we waiting for? I’ll go and call so people for you right away.”
Headman Zheng did not stop him, as he knew this work was very precious to most people in the village.
In the past two years, there had been severe droughts in the northern regions. Their area, being close to the Dayuan River, was not as severely affected, but tis were still tough for everyone.
Now that there was an opportunity to find work, even if there was no wage but only als provided, there would be a large number of people competing for the job.
Just as the two of them reached the door, Headman Zheng saw his wife leading Wang Manman towards them.
“My husband, this young lady said she’s looking for you for so matter.”
Even from a distance, Headman Zheng’s wife began to shout.
Her voice was so loud that Wang Manman nearly couldn’t resist covering her ears.
Knowing that Wang Manman was Daohua’s personal maid, Headman Zheng imdiately ran over and asked, “Miss, do you have any instructions for ?”
Wang Manman handed the note written by Daohua to Headman Zheng, “These are the dicinal plant seeds that the young lady wants you to bring back on your way.” After speaking, she swiftly pulled out a silver note worth fifty taels from the purse on her waist.
“Keep the silver safe and rember to report to the young lady after you get back,” she said, then turned and left.
The village chief, watching from the side, approached after Wang Manman left and inquired, “So, the butler is a young lady?”
Headman Zheng nodded, “Although the Old Madam and Third Master are here this ti, it is their eldest young lady who makes the decisions.”
The village chief glanced at the note in Headman Zheng’s hand, looking sowhat worried, “How can they let a young lady take charge? Buying fruit tree saplings and dicinal plant seeds—what if they don’t grow? Wouldn’t the family bla you?”
Headman Zheng frowned, “That shouldn’t happen, I’m just following orders.”
The village chief sighed, “Haven’t there been enough instances where the previous masters of the estate wrongly blad you? When those above are dissatisfied, they often take it out on those below. Over the years, you’ve had a hard ti.”
Headman Zheng showed a helpless expression, “It’s the sa for everyone.” Serving as the headman, at least he could support a whole family without resorting to selling off children, which was already a lot better than many others; he should be content.
“Let’s go, I’ll call the people for you.”
That very evening, Headman Zheng pulled back three carts of fruit tree saplings, while the dicinal plant seeds Daohua wanted were also bought and brought back.
After inspecting them, Daohua asked Headman Zheng, “Have the workers been hired?”
Headman Zheng replied, “It’s all been arranged; we can start clearing the land at any ti.”
Daohua said, “Good, let’s begin tomorrow. After the barren hills are cleared, we’ll plant the fruit trees and dicinal plants.”
Later, Daohua had people place the fruit tree saplings in the vacant storage room. After sending Wang Manman away, she put all the saplings into her hidden space.
To ensure the quality of the saplings, she planted them directly in the fertile black soil, then nonchalantly walked out of the storage room, locking it carefully to guarantee that no one would discover the saplings were gone..
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