The happy little days of the Ye family

Tang Xiaojing asked again: "If we buy barren mountains, build roads, and open up wasteland, how much money will it cost in total? Which one is more cost-effective than buying paddy fields directly?"

He grew up in the county and has never farmed since he was a child. He really has no idea about these things.

Tangshan began to settle accounts, "This valley is about 50 acres, and the purchase of the barren hill, including the red deed and the management of the yamen, will cost about 30 taels."

"The road doesn't need to be built like an official road. Simply clear away the weeds and make the road smooth enough for oxcarts to ride on it. If possible, it would be best to lay a layer of sand and gravel. I estimate that 30 taels should be enough." .”

"I don't know how much money it will cost to open up wasteland. Isn't 40 taels enough? It adds up to 100 taels."

It seems that it is still cost-effective to open up wasteland. "If you take away the ridges, rivers and water diversion canals, you can still develop 40 acres of paddy fields. If you are lucky, you can cultivate the land for a few years and turn it into a medium-sized paddy field, even if it is a low-grade paddy field. We also make money.”

Tang Xiaojing was also thinking in his mind, the low-grade paddy field was only 6 taels per mu, how could it take five years to cultivate the low-grade paddy field? 5 acres of low-grade paddy field costs 40 taels. Based on this calculation, buying a valley is indeed more cost-effective than buying paddy fields directly.

Tang Shan said happily: "We will buy the valley to open up wasteland. We will take a look at the mountain again. If it is suitable, we will buy it together."

Tang Xiaojing also agreed to buy the valley, "I definitely want to buy the valley. I think this hill is pretty good. There are a lot of pheasants and hares on the mountain. I also saw a lot of medicinal herbs along the way."

Although the herbs are all ordinary herbs, they can't stand the quantity.

The further the two of them walked inside, the more lush and luxuriant the surrounding trees and vines became. Thick and strong vines and trees were clinging to each other, and the fallen leaves under their feet were very thick.

From the foot of the mountain to the top of the mountain, the two of them encountered several lush honeysuckle trees along the way. Unfortunately, it was a little late, because all the honeysuckle trees were in bloom.

In addition to honeysuckle, there were also many mushrooms hidden under the fallen leaves. The father and son did not pay attention, and they also trampled many green head mushrooms and straw mushrooms along the way.

There are thick fungi growing on some dead trees, and there are chicken fir trees under the fallen leaves in more hidden places. Unfortunately, the father and son did not have time to take a closer look at them one by one.

But what surprised Tang Xiaojing the most was the many medicinal materials on the mountain. Along the way, he saw some medicinal materials such as Panax notoginseng, Sappan wood, Amomum villosum, Broad bean root, Polygonatum japonica, Wood butterfly, Dracaena and Desmodium chinensis, etc.

The father and son were a little tired when they reached the top of the mountain, so they sat down on the big rock on the top of the mountain to rest.

Tangshan looked at the lush mountain and said: "The soil quality of this mountain is very good, but the vegetation is too lush. If it is used to grow jujube trees and honeysuckle, it would have to hire people to cut down the trees and clear the weeds. It will take time, effort and money. Buying this The mountains cannot be rowed.”

At this time, there was a sound of wild boars coming from the mountains behind, and a small howl of a wolf.

Tangshan explained to his son: "There are wolves and wild boars in the mountains behind. This mountain is closer. The villagers dare not come to hunt and look down on this place. This mountain is quite rich in products. We usually come here to hunt and collect." Herbal medicine is very good.”

Tang Xiaojing also thought the mountain was good, so he came over to collect herbs when he had some free time. Moreover, there were many pheasants and hares in the mountain, so he didn't have to worry about running out of meat.

Tangshan stood up and said: "I heard the sound of water nearby. I will go find the water source and process the pheasants so that you can have a taste of my good craftsmanship."

Tang Xiaojing also stood up, "Dad, I'll go with you."

Tang Xiaojing also wanted to take a look around, if he could come across some precious medicinal materials.

Tangshan listened carefully to the direction from which the sound of water came. The sound of the water became clearer and clearer as they walked. After a while, they found a mountain spring.

The mountain spring water flowed out from the cracks in the stone wall. Tang Xiaojing was sweating all over, and he was indeed a little thirsty. He bent over and went to the spring eye to drink the cold and sweet spring water.

Tang Xiaojing drank a full stomach of mountain spring water and wiped the water droplets from his mouth with his sleeves with satisfaction.

Tang Xiaojing shouted happily: "Dad, this mountain spring water is so sweet and ice cold. Come and try it."

Tangshan was also a little thirsty. He followed his son's example and bent down to the spring, drinking the cold and sweet spring water in big gulps.

Tang Xiaojing took out two pheasants from the basket on his back. When he looked up, he saw dendrobium on the rocks above the spring.

Tang Xiaojing looked at the dendrobium on his head with sparkling eyes. This dendrobium grew very well and was worth at least 20 taels of silver.

Tang Xiaojing put down the basket in his hand, and the pheasant also threw the basket back. He looked around the rock wall carefully and soon found two smaller Dendrobium officinale trees.

As soon as Tangshan finished handling the two pheasants, he saw his son running over happily, smiling like a fool.

"So happy that you found some money?"

Tang Xiaojing glanced around and lowered his voice and said: "It's almost like picking up silver. I found three dendrobium trees that are of good quality. These dendrobium trees are valuable. Even though there are only three trees, they can be enough to buy this hill."

After speaking, Tang Xiaojing glanced at the pheasant that Tang Shan was holding and touched his stomach. He felt a little hungry.

"Dad, I can just pick it myself. You roast the pheasant first and eat it when I come back."

Tangshan rolled his eyes at his son, "I just know how to eat."

But I still went to collect firewood to prepare roast chicken.

Tang Xiaojing smiled and took out the sickle from his backpack, tied the sickle to a long bamboo pole, then raised the bamboo pole and carefully cut off the dendrobium with the sickle.

Tang Xiaojing did not cut all the dendrobiums, leaving about one-third of each tree so that he could continue to cut the dendrobiums next year.

When Tang Xiaojing was clearing away the dendrobium trees, he saw a large patch of honeysuckle on the mountainside behind the mountain, and a good idea came to his mind.

Tang Xiaojing put away the dendrobium, and Tangshan had already made the pheasant into fragrant roast chicken.

The father and son, who were already hungry, each took a pheasant and gnawed it. The martial arts practitioner had a big appetite. After eating the pheasant, Tangshan took some pancakes and roasted them on the fire.

Having just eaten roast chicken, Tang Xiaojing was not in a hurry to eat pancakes and talked to Tangshan about his thoughts.

"I have only picked two-thirds of the dendrobium on the rock, and the remaining third is left to continue to grow. I can continue to pick and sell it next year. I plan to use the money from selling the dendrobium to buy the mountain."

Tangshan felt it was unnecessary. "No one comes to this mountain usually. It doesn't matter whether they buy it or not. Besides, people in the village don't know herbal medicines like dendrobium."

"I heard from the village chief that there is a doctor in the village who often collects herbs in the mountains. If you keep these three dendrobium trees well, you can earn more than ten taels of silver every year."

"I just saw a large field of honeysuckle on the mountainside behind the mountain. Together with other herbs on the mountain, the output of this mountain is at least 30 to [-] taels a year."

Tangshan had nothing to say at this time. He took the cake in his mouth and went to the big rock on the top of the mountain. Looking down, he could see a large piece of honeysuckle halfway up the mountain.