Picking Up a General to Plow the Fields

Chapter 454: Discussion

All credit to original author: Yi Yi Lan Xi

Third Aunt immediately raised her eyebrows vigilantly.
Glancing at her, she said coldly: “What’s the use of asking me this? It’s the Su family and Fang Zhou who are in charge, I don’t control anything! I’m not involved, I’m not involved in anything! I don’t understand, what if I get cheated by others? This is handled by Fang Zhou!”

“Hehe, I was just asking casually, asking casually.” Wang Shun’s wife dared not say anything more and complimented: “Third Aunt really cares about Fang Zhou!”

“That’s right!” It’s my niece, how could I not care!” Third Aunt said proudly.

“Yes, yes! Hehe.” Wang Shun’s wife laughed awkwardly and left.
Internally, she thought to herself: If I had such a niece, I would care even more than you… there are not many stupid people like the Lian couple in the world!

One after another, the gossipy women came to reluctantly apologize to Lian Fang Zhou.

Of course, not all of them came.
Liu Mai’s wife, Madam Gu, did not come.

Even a notoriously awful and aggressive man like Liu Mai couldn’t control her.
Others might bow their heads in submission but she never did.
Lian Fang Zhou could not force her.

For example, if she stole eggs from another family and was caught, she would just scold them: “Who told your chickens to lay eggs at this time? Isn’t it just for me? I’m not a fool, why don’t you take it up with them! If you don’t want to, then just get someone to watch your chickens better!” Then she would take the eggs forcefully, choking people to death.

Third Aunt couldn’t help but mutter a few words but Lian Fang Zhou only smiled lightly: Let her be!

Then something happened.

After dinner, Su Zi Ji and Qin Feng came to speak with Lian Fang Zhou as Lian Ze listened in.

When Qin Feng saw her, he couldn’t help but wipe sweat from his forehead.
Smiling wryly, he said: “Miss! You are finally back! If you didn’t back quickly, I don’t know what I would do!”

Lian Fang Zhou was surprised and smiled curiously: “What’s going on? It’s rare to see you so scared!”

Su Zi Ji laughed: “What else can it be, it’s about the cotton seeds! Brother Qin has become a fragrant bun these days!”

“You! Stop laughing at me!” Qin Feng bitterly.
“After Miss left, I don’t know what was going on but all those old men came by one by one to ask about the cotton seeds until I was dizzy.
I don’t have time to do anything else but deal with them!”

Lian Fang Zhou was stunned: “Speaking of this, it’s my fault.
It was me who has inadvertently inconvenienced you!”

She had agreed to let them buy and then left after speaking.
If she hadn’t mentioned the cotton seeds, those people might not have thought about going over all at once.

Qin Feng was stunned.
Smiling, he said: “How can this be? I think they are too impatient!”

“How could they not be impatient?” Su Zi Ji sneered: “Those bastards talking behind your back, they’re all anxious now! I heard that the government is not promoting cotton seeds this year, so they’re very uneasy.”

“It was just a matter of time, anyways.
It’s too early to finish.” She smiled and went into her room to bring out a piece of paper.
She handed it to Qin Feng, saying: “Prepare the seeds by what is written here.
When you are finished, send a letter to the Su family and have them send someone to pick it up.”

This was more convenient.
When Fang Qing had given her a list, Lian Fang Zhou had removed the names and written a new list for Qin Feng that only contained how many catties were needed and how to bundle them.

Including the Su family, there were nineteen families and the total came to about 50,000 catties.
Each family received seeds for every 1,000 mu of land.

Excluding various losses, Lian Fang Zhou currently had about 367,000 catties of seeds, so 50,000 was not a lot.

She had made a fortune this year and who knew how many people were dying of jealousy.
She didn’t want to invite envy and hatred for no reason.

Qin Feng took the list and nodded in agreement.

At this time, Su Zi Ji began to report about the situation of the quilts and cotton cloth.

After discussing these matters, Lian Fang Zhou finally brought up the oil mill and briefly explained her thoughts.
She smiled and said: “Taking advantage of this year’s bumper harvest of soybeans and peanuts, it’s a very promising time to open an oil mill.
We can’t just rely on cotton.
After all, the price of cotton will drop sharply within the next three to five years.

“Miss is wise! It’s a good time to make long-term plans.” Qin Feng was awed by her ideas and didn’t dare to believe her.
“Miss, you, you said you have a way to increase the oil yield to 18% or even 22%?! This is not a joke, right?”

Su Zi Ji nodded over and over: “Miss, how can this be possible? Whether it’s soybeans or peanuts, the oil yield has always been constant when the raw materials are the same.
How could it be improved so quickly? Could it be that Miss has found a good variety?”

“Oh!” Qin Feng said, feeling enlightened by Su Zi Ji’s guess.
“Yes, yes!”

However, Lian Fang Zhou’s next light-hearted words shattered his sudden enlightenment.

As Lian Fang Zhou explained the new method again, Qin Feng was stunned.
“This is real?”

“I am 80% sure.” Lian Fang Zhou smiled.

Su Zi Ji thought about it for a while.
Finally, he smiled and said: “I think what the Miss suggests is reasonable.
It’s easier to squeeze oil out of powder than whole kernels.
Logically speaking, it will be more oily.”

As for whether they could really reach 22%, that was a different matter.

Qin Feng nodded and smiled: “Your idea really does sound like it should work.
Let’s try it!”

Lian Fang Zhou smiled: “Send someone to inquire about the market first and buy some land to build a workshop.
I will give you the blueprints.
Steward Su—”

Su Zi Ji understood and nodded.
“Let me make the molds, please instruct me.”

“I only have a few ideas.
As for whether the ideas are reasonable or not, we will have to discuss it together.”

“Actually, it’s not difficult to make these things.” Su Zi Ji told her.
“The rarity comes from the idea.
Miss is very smart, I am in awe!”

As for where Lian Fang Zhou’s idea had come from, where did they need to know this? Although they were curious, Lian Fang Zhou had always acted like an ordinary woman and they were only servants, so naturally Lian Fang Zhou didn’t have to explain anything to them.

Unique skills and knowledge had always been kept secret.

“Steward Su is too modest.
Your craftsmanship is not comparable to ordinary people!” Lian Fang Zhou smiled.

After negotiating for a while, the matter was settled and Lian Fang Zhou said: “Steward Su will have to work harder and be responsible for the oil mill.
Later, I will find another person to take over this matter.
I want to start construction as soon as possible.
We also plan on constructing the new family house.
Ah Ze and I are worried there will not be enough time!”