LIGHTNOVELONLINE Chapter 8 - An Good Idea to Make More Money
It didn't take long for the elderly couple to engage in a squabble over the spoon. Eventually, Liu Mei resorted to the ultimatum that she would never cook again, leveraging Zhang Daniu's slight hesitation. She capitalized on this and swiftly seized control of the spoon, pouring another bowl for herself. With one hand gripping the spoon, the other conveyed the nourishing bite into her mouth.
Zhang Daniu, however, didn't concede either. Observing Liu Mei's refusal to relent, he seized the pot and poured the remaining contents into his own bowl. Spotting the last mouthful within the pot, he tipped it directly into his mouth.
“Dad, Mom, you two…” Zhang Xiaoloong couldn't decide whether to laugh or sigh as he gazed at the elderly couple. Witnessing this spectacle was utterly unexpected. “You've polished off the entire pot of porridge. Are you still eyeing the steamed buns and vegetables?”
“No!” The couple shouted in unison this time.
The elderly pair cleared out the pot and shifted their gaze toward the bowl before Zhang Xiaoloong. Their demeanor hinted that they wouldn't stop until they devoured every last morsel.
“Dad, Mom, are you full now?” Zhang Xiaoloong gestured towards the yard, feeling slightly helpless. “We've got acres of corn here—enough even if you folks insist on corn porridge daily. Besides, as good as the porridge is, it can't compete with the spread on the table. We'll eat again tomorrow. We've all gathered here to enjoy a meal.”
As he spoke, he also picked up his bowl and took a sip.
As the mouthful of porridge settled in his stomach, it released an immediate burst of sweet fragrance and a comforting warmth. It smoothly slid down his throat, like a gentle massage for his stomach. A sense of comfort permeated every pore of his body.
Even though Zhang Xiaoloong had braced himself, his eyes brightened at the sight of this kind of culinary delight. It was truly delectable.
“You're right, son. Let's dig in.” Despite her slight reluctance, Liu Mei sat down and began to enjoy the rice without the porridge.
“Xiaoloong, did the porridge become this delicious due to the geographical factor you mentioned?” Suddenly, from his seat, Zhang Daniu asked.
“Uh… Yes, I think so.” Zhang Xiaoloong feigned ignorance, not being able to reveal that he had infused divine energy into it, of course.
“Then, if we plant corn on this land next year, will it be as scrumptious as it is now?” Zhang Daniu quickly inquired.
“What's wrong? We haven't had enough to eat for a whole year. Do you want us to keep having this scarcity for a few more years?” Liu Mei playfully rolled her eyes at her husband.
“Has your hair grown while your smarts shrunk? If this cycle of growth continues annually, I might as well take control of this plot of land. It will become a precious commodity,” Zhang Daniu expressed his disgust, “Not just in Qinghe Village, but even across all of Qing Yuan County. I bet you we won't find another spot for cultivating corn. And if that indeed happens… If we sell corn, we can charge a few extra cents compared to others. Our harvest this season could sustain us for up to two seasons.”
“Can it really fetch that much more?” Liu Mei's curiosity was piqued by this revelation, yet she still held a tinge of skepticism.
“You're unaware. I've heard that city folks, especially the wealthy ones, find no satisfaction in their meat-heavy diets. They relish corn and sorghum, which taste just as delectable as our corn. If they can get their hands on it, they don't mind spending more money,” Zhang Daniu stated solemnly. In truth, he had merely heard about this and wasn't entirely clear about the details.
However, Zhang Xiaoloong's eyes brightened. He felt that his father adopting such notions was a significant step forward. As a farmer, broadening one's horizons was necessary to increase earnings. At least now he had a sense of direction.
“Dad's got a point. From my perspective, not to mention the price, if we discover an effective approach, even if it costs a few extra dollars, people will still be willing to buy it,” Zhang Xiaoloong added.
“Cough, cough, cough…”
His words made Zhang Daniu and Liu Mei cough.
“Xiaoloong, are you being serious? Even if it's valuable, it shouldn't be this expensive. The buyer isn't naive.” Zhang Daniu had just given his wife a lecture, but now… He also felt a sense of disbelief.
“Dad, you don't quite grasp this concept. It's about rarity translating to value,” Zhang Xiaoloong confidently explained, his smile unwavering. “I can confidently say that even within the whole province… we can't find another family with the corn we possess. If we can find someone who recognizes its worth, they'll gladly pay five yuan per jin, and maybe even ten yuan per jin. The truly wealthy city folks don't even flinch at such prices. Just like you said, they prioritize fresh, nutritious food.”
Not just within the province, but across the entire country, there's no comparable item. This corn has been enriched by divine power, the very essence of Shennong's divine energy.
Without using any measurement tools, Zhang Xiaoloong firmly believed that beyond its delightful flavor, this item's nutritional content must be astonishingly high.
While initially Zhang Xiaoloong had only casually mentioned aspiring to be a top-tier farmer, now a fresh idea crossed his mind. With this divine power, he wasn't just aiming to be the best farmer in Qinghe Village, but also in the entire region. Perhaps someday, he could even strive to be the nation's premier farmer!
Zhang Daniu and his wife were even more flabbergasted. After a lengthy pause, they tapped their bowls on the table and remarked, “Thinking about it this way, the few bowls of porridge we had just now cost more than ten or twenty yuan. It's almost painful to consider.”
“Xiaoloong, I've been telling you to point out how expensive this corn is. How can we afford to eat it? We'll gather the corn tomorrow. The day after, we'll head to the city with your father and find a good buyer to sell it. If we can fetch a decent price…” Liu Mei's anticipation was palpable. “I might be able to save up more money for your marriage.”
“Oh, Mom, please don't come up with any more ideas,” Zhang Xiaoloong said with a sigh. “I've already thought about all of this. Trust me. I promise you I'll not only recoup what I earned this year but also surprise you with it! A few kilograms of corn is nothing. To really make money, I need to figure out a more substantial approach.”
“Is there any other way to make more money?” Zhang Daniu and Liu Mei asked simultaneously, clearly perplexed.
In the minds of traditional farmers, the sole source of income was the crops cultivated in their fields. Apart from that, they could only consider seeking employment in the city.
“I've given it thought. I plan to switch to growing vegetables on our land. Crop growth cycles are extended, yielding only two harvests annually. We'd be left managing our land for most of the year. But with vegetables, it's different. Each season brings a short growth period. So long as they're timely… Our earnings can easily double,” Zhang Xiaoloong asserted confidently.
“How much could we earn from growing vegetables? Have you looked at Old Wang from the village who's into veggies? For the past few years, he's been switching crops. You can only succeed if you're up and at the market early. Plant too little, and you won't profit. Plant too much, and it'll rot in the ground. Maybe it's best we don't overcomplicate things. Let's just sell off this corn at a good rate. If we can gather enough of this for another season, that would be a blessing,” Zhang Daniu, his father, disagreed and dismissed the idea right away.
How could that be? He was just messing around!