CHAPTER 148: CHAPTER 148: STRIVING TO BECOME A GREAT LANDOWNER

Jiang Hu didn’t mention the discovery on the back mountain.

People, well, it’s impossible to have no personal motives at all.

Master Zhang found out for him how to plant them; lotus roots can be planted either with special seed roots or directly with lotus seeds.

He planned to try both methods.

It will take another two months for the lotus seeds to fully mature, and at that time, they can also harvest the roots.

By then, both the lotus seeds and shoots can be kept, and planted in spring next year to harvest more lotus roots.

Luckily, there’s less work in winter, and he could also dig out the lotus pond in advance.

This kind of lotus root is different from planting rice; it needs a deeper pond and more water reserves.

"Jiang Ge, I’ll help you dig come winter then, since it’s idle time, and I can learn from the experience. If it goes well, we can plant some ourselves too."

Li Sheng ate heartily, thinking to himself that he should let his wife interact more with Jiang’s wife, as Jiang’s wife cooks so well!

"Sure, I’ll give it a try first. If it works, everyone can plant together."

Jiang Hu didn’t want the discovery on the back mountain to be divided up, but it didn’t mean he wasn’t willing to share his experience in planting lotus roots.

Mainly because there are very few lotus roots on the back mountain, if there were a large area discovered, he surely wouldn’t act this way.

Old Master Liu, hearing this, was even happier than the other two: "That’s great! We’ll have more delicious food in the future, won’t we?"

Who could refuse the vegetables and grains grown by the Jiang family? Wouldn’t that be foolish?

Jiang Hu was happy too but still sighed.

"We’ve planted a lot these past two years, and it feels a bit overwhelming. If we plant lotus next year, I want to allocate half an acre from the rice field."

The main workforce at home is just him and Erniang, as the children are too young and can only help a bit.

Moreover, they can’t bear to treat the children as before, sending them to the fields to work like adults.

As parents, they understand this well; they know how Jiang Yu and Xiaoxue were in the past and how they are now.

The children used to be timid and afraid of making mistakes, speaking softly at home to avoid getting scolded.

Now, whether young or old, they are full of energy and vitality, always smiling every day.

No matter how hard or tiring, seeing the children’s smiles makes it all worth it.

Furthermore, the children are sensible and obedient, and won’t really just play at home every day.

During the busy farming season, they cook, wash clothes, sweep, feed chickens, rabbits, cattle, and sometimes even cook pig feed together.

They keep the house in perfect order, not bothering the adults at all.

As for the fields, it’s mainly him and Erniang.

Though they now have Qixi to help, but after all, Qixi belongs to the Liu family, and might leave unexpectedly.

So Jiang Hu thought, no more land clearing or buying; whatever is planted should be done on the existing fertile land, and that would be enough.

If they plant more, they truly couldn’t manage, and then they would end up neglecting both sides, which isn’t good.

Jiang Hu expressed his thoughts and concerns, and Li Sheng nodded in deep agreement.

Indeed, that’s how it is, everything about the Jiang family is good, but there’s just too few people; during intense farming periods, two people really can’t handle it.

However, Old Master Liu suddenly burst into laughter.

"Xiao Jiang, you’re just too honest. Who said farming has to be done by oneself?"

"Ah?" Jiang Hu was stunned, then suddenly realized: "Uncle Liu, are you suggesting hiring help?"

Old Master Liu nodded with a smile: "Exactly, for instance look at the lotus pond; if you and Erniang were to dig it, when would it get done? And you’d tire yourselves out."

"If you ask me, since it’s winter and everyone’s idle, you could pay some good workers from the village and get it dug in two days."

"Though I’ve never farmed, I’ve heard that fields like rice paddies need to be turned over, dried, and fertilized, right? That’s the way crops grow better, isn’t it?"

"By the time you two slowly manage to get it done, would there be enough time?"

Jiang Hu seemed enlightened and suddenly understood, feeling awakened, even clapped excitedly.

"Right! How could I forget about this!"

Finding help indeed; lotus roots sell for a high price, why worry about workers’ wages?

Li Sheng looked up with admiration: "Jiang Ge, won’t you become a great landlord!"

In his understanding, only great landlords hire many people to work for them, while they do nothing!

Jiang Hu chuckled: "What great landlord, just hiring some help."

However, he was already considering this matter seriously.

After eating, Old Master Liu chatted with Liu Ze for a while and visited where Liu Ze slept at night.

Although it was simple, with many sacks of grain piled beside.

Yet it was kept very clean, and there were newly made cabinets and chairs.

It was clear how much Jiang Hu and Erniang valued Liu Ze.

Having inspected his grandson’s living conditions, Old Master Liu went to the building site.

He repeatedly instructed the people in charge to be careful.

This will be his future residence; shouldn’t he be even more attentive?

Knowing Jiang Hu was busy with farm work, Old Master Liu said Jiang Hu could go about his own business, just provide the workers with two sacks of millet, and some sweet potatoes.

As for vegetables, they could eat whatever is in the field, especially the fast-growing winter squash, pumpkins, and sweet potato leaves, all of which are available.

As for the rest, it would be up to Jiang Hu’s own discretion.

Old Master Liu soon left, because the Jiang family’s little hut couldn’t accommodate more people, staying around would only hinder them.

After putting the kids down for a nap, Erniang and Jiang Hu worked under the sun next to the construction site, turning over a large patch of field to sow cabbage seeds.

With the weather hot, they specially inserted some branches into the ground, letting the leaves shade against the scorching sun.

Cabbages grow quickly; water them after planting during sprouting, and in a few days, they become ready to eat.

These vegetables are specifically for the workers building the house.

Although there’s some in the field, ultimately, quantities are limited, and workers consume a lot; these should be enough to keep up.

After finishing work, as they passed by the chicken coop, Jiang Hu suddenly asked.

"Erniang, you mentioned yesterday that two hens stopped laying eggs, right?"

"Yes," Erniang nodded, seeming to know what Jiang Hu was going to say: "I picked twenty eggs this morning and had them hatch chicks."

There are over sixty chickens at home, including roosters, hens, and wild chickens, and every few days, they send one or two to the restaurant.

The rabbits can have babies every six months, and then one litter per month, with no fewer than six or seven per litter, and sometimes ten.

Rabbits multiply quickly, making them more common to sell to restaurants.

But now, with twenty to thirty people building the house for two months.

Although Uncle Liu said to buy in town, Jiang Hu thought they couldn’t buy everything from town.

They don’t lack these at home, after all, just hatch more chicks, and every few days give the workers one or two; home-raised ones are much better than store-bought.