RPAGF Chapter 50: Deciding to Start a New Journey
Chapter 50: Deciding to Start a New Journey
Zhang Fusheng drove the oxcart, taking Qian Fulai and Tian Tian with him to the wasteland on the outskirts of the county.
"How about this piece of wasteland?" Qian Fulai gestured.
"It's nestled against a mountain..."
Before Tian Tian could say anything, Zhang Fusheng remarked, "Young Master, isn't this place far too desolate?"
It took almost an hour to walk from the county town...
And it's right at the foot of the mountain!
Why is no one cultivating this wasteland? It's because it's near the foot of the mountain, and animals coming down from the mountain can destroy it... ruining a year's worth of hard work.
“There’s nothing we can do.” Qian Fulai shrugged. “As far as I know, this is the only piece of wasteland left.”
"Other places... have already been taken over by people from the county town."
"There are no plans to sell land recently..."
Zhang Fusheng asked in confusion, "Why is this happening? Aren't there people selling land every year around the time of the autumn harvest?"
Besides needing funds for their own operations, many wealthy families sell their land because after a few years of farming, the harvest is not as good as before, so they sell their land and move to another place.
Qian Fulai wiped his sweat with his sleeve. "I heard... that wealthy businessman from Xiushui County is going to buy land in Songxi County and Baishi County to build a tea plantation, so that's why no one is selling."
This was the second time Tian Tian had heard about the wealthy businessman who built the tea plantation.
This is similar to... developers from her era coming to acquire land.
No wonder nobody's selling land anymore.
Tian Tian stood on the oxcart, looking at the wasteland in front of her.
The grass in the wasteland was growing lushly, but it had begun to wither and droop.
Even so, it's still about half a person's height.
"Young Master, what kind of money do we need to pay to reclaim wasteland?" Tian Tian asked.
She absolutely must plant those seeds from the system next spring.
"Reclaimed land will be exempt from taxes for three years!" Qian Fulai said.
That is, the land is exempt from taxes for three years after it is cleared.
This policy mainly encourages land reclamation, and in remote or border areas, taxes can be waived for five years.
"Can we get a land title deed?" Tian Tian asked.
Qian Fulai nodded, "It can be done."
"But it's only a temporary land deed. Once you've finished cultivating the land, you'll need to go to the government office to get a formal land deed."
This is done to prevent land from being occupied but not cultivated.
"Then let's cultivate this land," Tian Tian decided.
If we start cultivating now, and let it rest for a few months in winter, it will be ready to be planted in the spring.
"How big is this place?" Tian Tian asked.
Qian Fulai squinted and estimated, "It's probably... at least seven or eight hundred acres."
What are you planning to plant?
"Let's plant vegetables!" Tian Tian said.
"Growing vegetables?!" Qian Fulai exclaimed in disbelief. "You only grow vegetables on such a large plot of land?"
"Why don't you plant some rice or wheat?"
"Why use it all to grow vegetables?"
Tian Tian turned her head to look at him, "Young Master Qian, remember what I said today."
"Next year... you'll probably complain that I didn't plant enough."
Qian Fulai's brows furrowed deeply. How could this be? Hundreds of acres of vegetables...
Even though all the dishes at his Fulai Restaurant are from her, they still can't use them all.
Tian Tian found his distressed expression quite amusing and laughed, "Haha."
"Young Master Qian, please tidy up..."
"Let's prepare to open a branch next year!"
On the way back to the village...
"Uncle Zhang, are you familiar with those oxcart drivers from other villages?" Tian Tian asked.
Upon hearing this, Zhang Fusheng guessed what she was thinking. "Miss Tian wants them to help reclaim the land?"
"Ah."
Zhang Fusheng: "It should be fine. We only drive oxcarts during our off-season from farming."
"If there's work to be done in the fields, then we should prioritize that work."
"The wages for clearing land for others are higher."
But in such a long year, the busy farming season only lasts for a short period; the rest of the time, you have to drive an oxcart.
Tian Tian asked, "Then how do you calculate wages when you help people reclaim land?"
Zhang Fusheng replied, "One mu of land can yield twenty wen."
"During the busy farming season, I could earn a hundred or so coins a day," Zhang Fusheng said, his voice tinged with a smile.
"But it's good now. Your aunt earns fifty coins a day, and I get forty coins for the round trip, which is about the same as during the busy farming season, haha."
"They know I regularly pick you up and drop you off, and they're so envious."
There's only that Zhou Dahai, whose eyes and nose are neither eyes nor nose.
However, he had never liked Zhou Dahai. This man was dishonest and would steal small things when delivering goods for customers, and he would even brag about it to everyone.
Therefore, he never paid attention to what Zhou Dahai said.
"Then find me a few honest and reliable people. Once the land deeds for the reclaimed land are processed, you can go and help me reclaim the land."
"Reclaiming wasteland is difficult, so I'll give you fifty coins per acre. The key is to do your best."
"After plowing, the grass is left in the ground, and the big stones are all removed."
Zhang Fusheng raised his whip, "Don't worry, girl, I guarantee I'll find you a reliable person to handle this matter properly."
"Uncle Zhang, I believe you!"
*
"Six thousand catties?!" I have to share this good news with my family.
The family was very happy, but...
"Sweetie, there aren't many beans left in the kitchen," Lu Tao reminded her.
Tian Tian slapped her forehead. Oh right, she had forgotten about that.
Tian Xiang immediately said, "Then Tian Tian and I will go to other counties to buy them."
Tian Tian immediately stopped her, "No need, elder sister, I've already spoken to these shopkeepers and asked them to sell me beans."
"From now on... I won't have to worry about running out of beans anymore."
Tian Tian took out the payment for the goods and the deposit, and announced, "Let's start dividing the money!!!"
Lu Tao and Liu San Niang sat upright, like well-behaved children going to school.
Manager Chen gave a final payment of 79 taels, plus a deposit of 108 taels for 6,000 catties of bean curd sheets, for a total of 187 taels.
Each family received ninety-three taels plus five hundred cash.
Liu San Niang hesitated to accept the money. "Tian Tian, why don't you pay for the shop first?"
She owed 150 taels of silver, and she was having trouble sleeping day and night.
Lu Tao agreed, saying, "Sweetie, I think the same way as Third Sister, let's pay back the money first."
"Young Master Qian... never defaults on payments, but we borrowed money and he's been slow to repay..."
She glanced at Liu San Niang, who then said, "The key point is, the young master knows exactly how much silver we received from the business he introduced to us."
"You have money, but you're not going to pay it back... Sweetie, that's not a good idea..."
Tian Tian wasn't in a hurry to repay the money because she wanted to save it for buying land. Now that she's decided to reclaim the land, she doesn't need to buy any more land, so she really doesn't need that much money anymore.
"Alright, I'll return the money tomorrow."
Tian Tian shoveled seventy-five taels back from each of the two men.
*
Tian Tian returned the money to Qian Fulai.
"..." Qian Fulai held the silver, looking up heartbrokenly, "Why? You want to break up with me?"
Tian Tian gave him a disdainful look.
After spending more time together, she discovered that Qian Fulai... had a bit of a goofy side.
"Didn't I tell you there's no rush to pay it back?" He handed the silver to Tian Tian. "Take it and use it; one hundred and fifty taels isn't much..."
"Or are you saying it's not enough?"
Tian Tian waved her hand helplessly, "My mother and aunt are not used to owing money to others, so you can just keep it."
Qian Fulai asked worriedly, "Are you sure you won't break up with me?"