CHAPTER 133: CHAPTER 133: EVEN THINGS LIU YANG DOESN’T KNOW

In the morning, the second sister-in-law soaked some brown rice, and at noon she chopped some string beans.

She fried the diced string beans with lard, then poured the three-quarter cooked brown rice on top, added a little water, and let it simmer to make bean rice.

Bean rice has both rice and vegetables, and it’s particularly fragrant, one of Xiaomi’s favorites. Then sauté two vegetarian dishes, and even though it’s simple, it’s especially satisfying to eat.

Although they caught an eel, they didn’t cook it for lunch but prepared it for dinner when Jiang Yu would come back so everyone could eat together.

After lunch, the children were sent to take a nap. Children, after all, need to eat well, sleep well, and rest well to grow up healthy.

Moreover, during the summer, they naturally sleep late and get up early, so if they don’t rest at noon, they won’t have energy in the afternoon.

Xiaomi was eager to nap, happily running to bed, chatted briefly with her second sister, then pretended to yawn, indicating sleepiness. As soon as she closed her eyes, she entered her magical space.

After over a year of experimentation, Xiaomi discovered that when her consciousness entered the space, her body would appear to be in a state of deep sleep.

So outside, she didn’t dare to enter the space casually, only doing so when she pretended to be asleep.

Once inside the space, Xiaomi headed straight for the turtle eggs—there were a full fifteen of them!

"Great, I hope they all hatch."

In the space, boxes aren’t needed. She simply moved the moist sand to the pond’s edge and buried the turtle eggs in it.

She intentionally used her thoughts to draw boundaries so that the ducks and geese wouldn’t come over, and the turtle eggs wouldn’t escape after hatching.

With the area around the pond being very humid, it should be more suitable for hatching.

"Right, I should check some information."

She had categorized the books uniformly, making it easy to find. Indeed, there were books about aquaculture introductions.

A moment later, Xiaomi exclaimed in surprise: "Really? It actually takes four to five years to lay eggs?"

The book stated that a turtle could grow one or two pounds in a year, but they would only start laying eggs at four or five years old, even the fast-growing ones would take at least three years!

However, Xiaomi quickly calmed down—what’s the rush? She wasn’t in a hurry to make money.

Four or five years later, she would only be seven or eight years old, and by that time, these turtles would be laying eggs.

Even if the males and females were split half and half, there would still be seven female turtles.

According to the introduction, each turtle lays one to two clutches a year, with each clutch containing fifteen to twenty-five eggs.

The old turtle outside had already laid 25 eggs, and Xiaomi had every reason to believe that it was definitely related to the spiritual spring water she’d been applying to the fields these past two years!

"So, counting it up, two clutches a year, each female turtle laying fifty eggs annually. If there are seven female turtles, that’s over three hundred eggs!"

Unless she was extremely unlucky and none of the fifteen turtle eggs were female!

Turtles aren’t cheap, and raised in her space, they’re only going to be more expensive!

"When they hatch, I’ll dig a small mud pond outside to raise them. Periodically, I’ll swap them between the space and outside."

With this decision, Xiaomi didn’t think much more of it, stretched lazily, left the space, and went to take a nap.

In the afternoon, the village chief came to the Jiang family, inquiring somewhat about the carriage that came to the Jiang family yesterday and the young man who joined them today.

Liu Yang had just learned about Liu Ze’s matters and hadn’t had the chance to spread the word yet.

Jiang Hu didn’t keep it a secret; there wasn’t anything to hide, so he explained it again.

"By the way, Chief, now with two more members in the family, the house is not enough, so I’m planning to build a small yard next to it."

Jiang Hu gestured to a general location, not far from the thatched house, where there was a large vacant space.

Currently, in Fu’an Village, there are few people and much land, with many places abandoned, making it convenient to open up new land, buy land, or build houses.

The village chief nodded: "Your family really should build a house. This thatched house has been lived in for years, the kids are growing up, and in a few years, Jiang Yu will be ready to discuss marriage."

"What size do you plan to build? Tell the villagers, it’s just the right time since they aren’t busy these days. First, set the foundation, and then wait a bit; the harvesting of rice will shortly be upon us again."

Jiang Hu smiled: "I was just about to discuss this with you, Chief."

The village chief looked at him, and Jiang Hu continued.

"Grandpa Xiao Ze heard I was going to build a house and told me not to worry, he would help."

The village chief was surprised: "Mr. Liu?"

"Yes, the Liu family specializes in building houses, and Mr. Liu’s team said they would come in three days."

"I don’t know exactly how many will come, but if help is needed with odd jobs, I’ll find someone from the village. If not, then there’s nothing I can do."

Hiring villagers to work does require paying wages, and not cheaply, about twenty copper coins a day.

In the past, when others in the village were building houses, he went to help and was paid the same wage.

Also, finding help locally from the village is generally about supporting neighborhood relations.

The village chief inquired with this understanding; if anyone’s hired, they must first consider local villagers.

The village chief was so surprised his eyes widened: "Mr. Liu is building you a house? And told you not to worry, not asking for money?"

Jiang Hu shook his head: "Of course money is needed, but Mr. Liu said just the cost price will do; he didn’t elaborate further."

However, when Mr. Liu said that, he left, and Jiang Hu forgot to ask about many details, like what materials needed to be prepared.

Well, he’ll find out when the time comes.

The village chief took quite a while to recover, patting Jiang Hu’s shoulder.

"Little Jiang, your family’s luck is truly undeniable."

Jiang Hu smiled without explaining further.

With this development, whatever house his family builds in the future, no one will probably say much or have any ill intentions.

Anyway, their luck truly is undeniable.

After finishing his questions, the village chief didn’t hurry away but stayed to help make a cabinet.

Almost all the country men could make various furniture with bamboo. Those with good skills could make a set of cabinets that would last many years.

Moreover, bamboo was plentiful on the mountain and cost nothing, much more economical than buying.

"Little Jiang, there’s one more thing. In the past few days, you’ve all been busy, and Liu Yang probably doesn’t know yet. If he knew, he would have told you already."

Jiang Hu was slightly surprised: "What is it?"

Even something Liu Yang doesn’t know? That’s indeed rare!

"It’s about buying a cow."

Jiang Hu’s expression turned serious: "Is someone in the village buying a cow?"

This was a major issue.

The village chief nodded: "Yes, but it’s a few families buying together. Would you like to join? After all, having a cow makes work much easier."

Especially for plowing fields; what would take people several days, a cow could finish in a day or half a day.

Jiang Hu was very tempted. He currently had this Big Water Buffalo that couldn’t work, and he secretly wanted to buy one but feared attracting too much attention.

However, after the brief temptation, Jiang Hu quickly calmed down.

"Chief, which families are buying jointly? If too many people are involved, wouldn’t it be difficult to manage during peak farming seasons?"

The village chief: "I’ve also thought about that. We can’t have too many people involved; at most, four to five families together."

"But Little Jiang, I never said we’d only buy one cow..."