Picking Up a General to Plow the Fields

Chapter 543: Dowry

The operations on Luosi mountain were already pretty decent.

With sufficient manpower and money in place, it wasn’t hard to move things along quickly.

There were fish in the ponds but the fry were still young and there wasn’t enough to harvest yet.

With the exception of the aggressive, ferocious fish, she was open to any species.

For this purpose, Lian Fang Zhou had specifically hired a pair of experienced fishermen, a father and son, to help.
Every time someone came to sell fish, the two would examine the fish to make sure there were no predatory species.

In terms of feeding, Lian Fang Zhou had also taught the father and son to mix the food and feed the fish twice a day.
They would patrol the area twice, especially in windy, rainy, and muggy weather for two or three days.

The dozens of acres of sweet potatoes and vegetables to fed the fish, chickens, and ducks were planted in rows, which looked very green.
When the chicks and ducklings started coming in, these plants would be good for the growing birds.

The simple thermometer that Lian Fang Zhou had given Old Man Wang was easy to use and he treated it like a treasure, no one was allowed to touch it.

Now it was much more convenient to hatch chickens and ducklings.
The efficiency is greatly improved and three kangs could be incubated at one time.
Both father and son could manage things independently, take turns, and have a good rest.

Although it was still hard work, it was much better than before.

At the beginning of spring, fifteen hundred chicks were sent to the chicken farm.
After half a month of feeding, they were now very strong and their voices were tender and crisp, full of energy.

When Lian Fang Zhou and Ah Jian went to look, the chicks were having a great time.

Lian Fang Zhou planned to raise twenty thousand chickens and ten thousand ducks on Luosi mountain.
Although the capacity was actually much higher than this, raising too many wasn’t good for the environment.
The pursuit of efficiency also needed to maintain a good ecological environment.

As for the sale volume, she didn’t worry about this.
Nowadays, there weren’t any farmers that conducted large scale farms like hers.
Xiaohuaguo mountain was already famous for its size.
Restaurants and shops were very willing to buy from her.

Not only in this county, but also the neighboring counties like Shuangliu, Fengxian, and Ningxian had customers coming to visit.

Moreover, Lian Fang Zhou planned to open chain stores in several counties that specialized in salted chicken, roast duck, salted duck eggs, and preserved eggs.
The raw materials were all ready-made.

If done well, this business model could be replicated and promoted.
Buy a suitable valley or mountain, breed livestock, and radiate sales to the surrounding areas and local city centers.

People’s need for food was a steady market, this was a sure-fire business plan.

The ecological environment in ancient times was good.
As long as the population density was not too high and they paid attention to hygiene, making sure to take precautions, and teaching Lian Fang Zhou’s livestock management methods, Lian Fang Zhou was not worried about disease spread.

Salted duck eggs and preserved eggs didn’t take much technical skill.
As for the salted chicken, Lian Fang Zhou still needed to experiment with the time of salting and amount of salt.
It would be fine after a few tries.

The roasted duck was a little more difficult.
Lian Fang Zhou had only seen it produced on TV but since she liked to eat Peking Duck very much, she had remembered it.

But that had just been the general description of the process.
The secret techniques and seasonings they used to marinate the duck, of course had not been shared.

This recipe was a little challenging and so in addition to experimenting, she needed to go to Xiuyuan a few times.

There were several top chefs working there and their input was very helpful.

In addition to the birds, the fruit trees had also been planted one by one.
Saplings half a person tall stretched out their new leaves, topped with clusters of dense foliage the occasional flowers, showing the breath of spring.

The trees were still young.
Although the land looked colorful, it would still be another year before they produced anything.
Next year would be different.

After staying at Luosi mountain for a while to look around and talk to the seven or eight watchmen, Lian Fang Zhou and Ah Jian went home.

“When we move to Hekou village, why don’t we build a fish pond and plant another ten acres of fruit trees?” Lian Fang Zhou said to Ah Jian, smiling.
“If you want to eat fish, you can go fishing.
We can enjoy the fruit flowers in the spring, the shade in the summer, and the fruit in the autumn.
How wonderful!”

Ah Jian naturally agreed with this.
The smiles on both their faces were equally bright and reflected the rays of the sun, almost impossible to look at.

It was indeed a wonderful thing to look forward to a leisurely, beautiful, carefree future.
And it was a future that could be realized without any pressure.

It was a pity that reality was full of surprises.
Some surprises were small waves splashing on the long river of life, disappearing in an instant, while some had the power to flood the river and cause it change its course entirely!

“After seeing everything, do you feel relieved? Go back and take a good rest.
You have been busy in Nanchang city and haven’t rested after driving such a long way.
Third Aunt will handle the arrangements for our marriage.
The things she chooses might not be what you want, so it’s better to keep an eye on her when you have free time!” Ah Jian laughed.

Lian Fang Zhou blushed, feeling sweet in her heart.
“I’m not worried.
Let’s go together to the city in a few days…”

“Take Third Aunt with you.” Ah Jian smiled at her.
“I will be out for a few days, at most eleven or twelve but six or seven should be enough.”

“You—?” Her heart jumped.
She really wanted to ask ‘did you remember something?’ and ‘who are you going to meet?’ but since they were about to get married, she didn’t want to bring it up.
Changing her words abruptly, she said: “What are you going to do? Why will it take so long?”

“Don’t worry, it’s nothing.” He obviously noticed her panic.
Holding her hand, he squeezed it firmly but gently.
The trembling in her fingers made him uncontrollably distressed.

Softly, he said: “I want to go to Xianteng mountain.
There are very few people there and the forest is vast, with towering old trees that block out the sun.
I think there will be some rare mountain goods and I can’t marry you empty handled, right? I have to bring some betrothal gifts!”

Ah! Lian Fang Zhou’s heart returned to her chest.
She was moved but she didn’t know how to cry or laugh.
Pursing her lips, she snorted and said angrily: “What kind of dowry do I need? Why go through so much trouble?”

She was half serious, half joking.
“Since you came to my house, you have helped us a lot.
I don’t know how many times you’ve saved me but I’ve recorded them in an account book including the thank you money and wages you should have received.
It’s probably ten thousand taels by now! If you want to buy a dowry gift, you can use the money from there.
Why go to Xianteng mountain? I… I won’t allow it! I don’t want you to go there, that place—”