Chapter 325: Chapter 304, Articulate_2
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Daohua nodded, “Not only do I know them, but Grandmother knows them too. That year, it was from that odd monk that I sought medicine.”
Yan Zhiqiang also remembered and immediately laughed, “Then our family really does have quite the destiny with them.”
Daohua also smiled, “Yes, last time in Jiguang, I also met Granny Gu and the strange monk. I wonder if Granny Gu’s illness has been cured?”
Yan Zhiqiang laughed, “Anyway, since you’re going to build a manor here, you can visit them when you come by next time.”
Daohua immediately said, “That’s what I was thinking.”
…
It was at dusk when Daohua and Yan Zhiqiang returned to the Yan Residence, just in time for dinner.
At the dinner table, Old Madam Yan asked a question, “Did you find a good piece of land?”
Daohua nodded, “I found it, I bought five thousand mu of land in Shahe County. I got the deed as well, Grandmother. After dinner, I’ll show it to you.”
As this was said, the table fell silent; everyone was looking at Daohua.
The elders thought: Goodness, so wealthy, to casually buy thousands of mu of land at one go. Her ability to spend silver is even more formidable than ours.
The younger ones felt somewhat upstaged: What to do? The eldest sister has already saved up so much silver on her own, while they were still calculating whether the monthly allowance was enough to spend.
Daohua, watched by everyone, was puzzled: “What’s the matter, why are you all staring at me like that?”
Madam Li coughed once, “Wasn’t it said that the land in Shahe County is poor? Why buy so much?”
Daohua explained, “Mother, that land is perfect for planting yams.”
Yan Zhigao’s eyes moved, and he looked over, “How do you know the land there is suitable for yams?”
Daohua casually replied, “I’ve experimented, Father. Don’t look down on sandy loam; as long as the right crops are planted, the yield is high. Oh, and peanuts and watermelons can be planted on sandy loam as well.”
Yan Zhiyuan looked at Old Madam Yan, and then at Yan Zhigao and Madam Li, smiling as he asked, “Five thousand mu is quite the amount, Daohua. It’s not that your second uncle is nosy, but with such matters, you should consult with the family.”
Daohua smiled faintly, “Second Uncle, I know you are concerned about me, afraid that I will waste silver. But I think, isn’t silver meant to be spent? I took a fancy to that land, and if I can buy it, then naturally I want to buy it. Even if it lays fallow in my hands, it’s my own silver, and it won’t trouble the family. I’ll bear the responsibility by myself.”
The smile on Yan Zhiyuan’s face became somewhat strained.
Alright, this girl’s tongue is getting sharper. In the past, she would have argued outright, but now that she’s a bit older, she’s started to use sarcasm instead.
Madam Li glared at Daohua.
Daohua pursed her lips; this second uncle just likes to meddle too much. Why should she discuss her own spending with anyone else?
However, she did not carry on with the subject but instead smiled and looked at Yan Zhigao, “Father, in buying that land, I also wanted to share some of the burden with you.”
This intrigued everyone; they all turned their gaze to Daohua, even Yan Zhigao’s face showed curiosity.
Daohua straightened up and said with conviction, “First, with the thousands of mu of land I bought, we will need laborers, right? I’ve already instructed Brother Xiaoliu to recruit displaced people to work. The number may not be huge, but it counts as a contribution, doesn’t it?”
“Second, the reason Shahe County is impoverished is because of it’s low grain yield. If the yams I grow produce a good yield, Father can promote the cultivation of yams in Shahe County.”
“This will not only solve the issue of feeding the people but also help to retain the population.”
“As for the sales issue of the yams, I’ve thought about it too. Ningmen Prefecture, located at the intersection of Zhongzhou, Jiguang, and Fenxi provinces, enjoys an advantageous geographical position with convenient water and land transport routes, making sales no issue at all.”
Yan Zhigao, intrigued by the proposal, if it indeed worked as the eldest daughter said, it could be a solution for the displaced people stranded in Ningmen Prefecture. But the precondition was that the yams must yield high and be easy to grow.
As for the sales problem, he wasn’t worried.
Wealthy households liked using yams in their food, but often they weren’t able to buy them.
Yan Zhigao thought for a moment and looked at Yan Zhiyuan, “Let’s also buy… five thousand mu of sandy loam. We will use some for planting yams and the rest for watermelons and peanuts.”
Yan Zhiyuan nodded in agreement.
Yan Yile then spoke up with a laugh, “Eldest Sister, you must be the wealthiest among us siblings now. If our silver becomes tight, you must help out.”
Daohua immediately responded with a laugh, “No problem. The last time I was shopping in the city, Yuanyao took me to a pawnshop, and I thought the rules there were pretty good. Everyone has difficult times. When it comes, you just need to leave something of equivalent value with me for safekeeping.”
“Don’t worry, I definitely won’t charge you interest.”
Yan Yile’s face stiffened, “Eldest Sister, isn’t that a bit stingy of you? Within a family, do we really need to do this?”
Daohua scoffed, “Fourth Sister, I find your jade bracelet quite pretty. Why don’t you give it to me?”
Yan Yile reluctantly said, “That’s my favorite jade bracelet.”
Daohua immediately replied, “Fourth Sister, aren’t you being stingy? It’s just a jade bracelet. What’s wrong with giving me one within the family?”
Yan Yile’s face reddened, and she stared at Daohua without speaking.
Daohua snorted coldly and carried on eating, ignoring the shocked looks from everyone else.
Yes, she was wealthy, but her money didn’t come from thin air. Lend out money today, lend out tomorrow, did she work hard to earn money just to support others?
She wouldn’t spoil them!
Seeing her daughter cornered into silence, the Sun Family madam gave a smile that didn’t quite reach her eyes, “Our Daohua’s tongue is really getting more formidable.”
Daohua directly returned the smile, “Thank you for the compliment, Second Aunt. I will continue to improve in the future.”
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