Reborn as the Blissful Wife in the countryside

Xiao Yu explained that the aphid grass was easy to plant; after soaking the seeds in water for two days, wait for them to sprout then scatter them directly into the field, and that's it.

But even though the price for Mingya Grass is low, it could still sell for six copper coins per catty, which is twice as expensive as soybeans. Such a price, in Third Grandpa's eyes, is indeed a decent income.

Since it's a profitable venture, Third Grandpa would take it seriously, fearing that they might not grow well.

Gu Jinli checked the medicinal herbs given by Aunt Wu and said, "Third Grandpa, Mingya Grass is a medicinal herb, and it is also a grass. It doesn't need meticulous care. Just scatter the seeds in the bamboo forest, the empty space in front of the house, or by the side of the paths, and it will grow. It can be harvested once every three months, and it's not afraid of frost or snow. The roots won't die and will grow again the following year."

This is one of the reasons why Mingya Grass seeds are hard to come by.

In places with Mingya Grass, people don't even need to scatter seeds, as the roots can sprout on their own, so there's really no need for meticulous care.

Third Grandma was very happy to hear this: "Is it really that easy to grow? Then we could really make a fortune."

Gu Jinli said, "Making a fortune might be an overstatement, but it doesn't use up any farmland. For families who are poor, planting a patch in the empty space in front of their house or behind it, harvesting three times a year, they could cut about three hundred catties each time, and can make about five taels of silver in a year."

"Five taels of silver!" Third Grandma was shocked: "Oh my, to think that this grass doesn't look valuable, but it turns out to make so much money in a year."

Third Grandpa was also very happy: "This doesn't use up any farmland, those five taels of silver in a year are like getting it for nothing. So, when do we start scattering the seeds?"

Gu Jinli said, "Call a few families over tonight, distribute the seeds, soak the seeds tonight, and the day after tomorrow we can start scattering them."

"Alright, I'll go and inform the other families now, and have them bring the Silver Coin to get the seeds tonight." Third Grandpa was someone who couldn't sit still and immediately stood up to inform the families.

However, while he was informing the families to get the seeds, he ran into Village Chief He.

Village Chief He, having made a fortune through the Gu's Workshop's bean products and spices, loved to stroll to the end of the village for no reason, looking to foster relations with the Qin, Gu, and Luotian families, hoping they can give the He family another boost.

"Brother Gu, are your families going to plant grass?" Village Chief He was befuddled when he first heard about it, but he knew that the Qin, Gu, and Luotian families were capable, and even if they were insane enough to plant grass, that grass would definitely be profitable. He became immediately interested and asked, "What kind of grass are you a few families going to plant? Can it make money? How much per catty? Include the He family too."

Third Grandpa, remembering what Gu Jinli had explained, said, "We're planting a kind of grass that can drive away insects. It's that girl Xiao Yu who wants to plant it, saying that it can make some Silver."

"If it's Xiao Yu who says to plant it, then there is no need to discuss, surely it will make money. Let's go, let's go to your house, I will personally talk to Xiao Yu." Village Chief He, hearing there was money to be made, immediately put away his walking stick, appearing full of youthful vigor, and dragged Third Grandpa toward Gu Jinli's house.

Soon after, Village Chief He arrived at Gu Jinli's house, and as he entered the courtyard, he called out, "Little Xiao Yu girl, I heard that your families are planting grass, do you still have any seeds left? Share some with your village chief grandpa."

Just after Gu Jinli had finished checking the precious medicinal herbs Aunt Wu had sent, she heard Village Chief He's voice and got up to walk out of the main room.

Third Grandpa said, "I ran into Village Chief He on the way, and he wants to join our families in planting the Mingya Grass."

Gu Jin'an, carrying a stool, came out and placed it in the courtyard, saying to the village chief, "Please have a seat, elder."

"Eh, eh." After sitting down, Village Chief He asked Gu Jinli, "Little Xiao Yu, tell me, what exactly is Mingya Grass?"

Gu Jinli explained what Mingya Grass is, its uses, how much it costs per jin, and how to cultivate it to Village Chief He.

Then she corrected, "Mingya Grass is a kind of medicinal herb."

Village Chief He was shocked after hearing this, "There's such a good thing. It doesn't take up farming land, can grow on barren ground, can be harvested three times a year, and I reckon it can bring in an income of about five taels of Silver! Ay yo yo, Little Xiao Yu, you must be the reincarnation of the God of Wealth, how did you manage to find such a great thing."

Ordinary country farmers hardly have any land, and any bit of land they do have is used for growing food. Nobody thinks about growing medicinal herbs. But Mingya Grass doesn't waste land and can be planted in the empty spaces in front of and behind the houses.

"Which family in this village doesn't have empty space in front of and behind their homes? Everyone has it. Besides these spaces, there are also empty spaces by the roadside, pondside, around rice ridges, and next to the rivers. We have empty spaces everywhere. This Mingya Grass is highly suitable for our village, we must grow it!" Village Chief He became so excited his face turned red. He had always wanted to find a sustainable livelihood for the villagers, and this herb was just the thing.

Village Chief He pleaded with Gu Jinli, "Little Xiao Yu, I heard you have the seeds of the Mingya Grass, you must spare some for old Village Chief Grandpa."

Gu Jinli said, "That can be arranged."

"What?" Village Chief He was dumbfounded, it was agreed upon so readily that he couldn't believe it.

Gu Jinli said, "I mean, I can spare you some of the Mingya Grass seeds."

She needed a lot of Mingya Grass for making mosquito incense; just a few families growing it would not be enough, so it's beneficial for her to have the He Family People grow it too.

However...

"Village Chief, Mingya Grass seeds are hard to find. Our family had to get someone to buy them from other places, and the seeds are limited. Not every household can grow Mingya Grass this year, I can only give you a hundred jin of seeds. You can either keep the seeds for your own cultivation or distribute them to other honest He Family People. But don't give any to those unreliable poor families," Gu Jinli said.

Village Chief He quickly promised, "I won't, I won't. We've done business together many times. I know your rules; I only deal with those who are honest, obedient, and willing to work. Don't worry."

Gu Jinli continued, "Besides that, I have a few conditions."

"First, the Mingya Grass grown by the villagers must be sold to me first. If I don't need it, then they can sell it to the pharmacies."

"Second, the Mingya Grass must be harvested, dried, and free of weeds according to my requirements. If anyone, out of greed for an extra jin or two or to save effort, does not follow the requirements or tries to pass off inferior product as quality, I will refuse to buy their harvest and will also have the right to pull out all the Mingya Grass from their field."

"Third, you must represent the He Family People and sign a contract with me to guarantee that the Mingya Grass provided by the villagers is of good quality. If there is any issue with the Mingya Grass, you must take responsibility."

She didn't have the time to manage everything, so she set very strict terms in order to let Village Chief He manage the households growing Mingya Grass in the village and share her workload.

If it was before, Gu Jinli wouldn't dare to propose these conditions to Village Chief He; he would have been so angry he would have just walked away. But after doing business with Gu's Workshop for half a year, Village Chief He knew well Gu Jinli's rules; if Gu Jinli didn't sign a contract with him, he would even feel something was lacking.

"Alright, we'll do as you say," Village Chief He agreed readily. He then said to Gu Jin'an, "Good Brother An, you write the contract. After signing the contract, I can take the seeds back. My house actually has quite a bit of empty land."