Chapter 1084: Preparing to Build a Granary (12)
Yang Ruxin’s eyes immediately brightened. Tofu was a good item, indeed, and this business must be done, but there was no hurry. She would wait until the chili peppers were available.
Lunch was simple, a large plate of radish stewed with rabbit, a big bowl of cabbage stewed with pork belly, and a bowl of braised tofu, followed by steamed buns made of mixed grain flour. Although ordinary, it filled everyone up nicely.
In the afternoon, the young ones, who had already grown familiar with the village children, ran off to play again, while Yang Ruxin called over Liu Genmao and handed him the four chili peppers, "Find a way to sprout these seeds. As long as you can grow them, there will be substantial rewards for you."
Liu Genmao carefully accepted the four small chili peppers, "Don’t worry, Miss. We will carefully experiment and strive to sprout them as soon as possible..."
"Mhm," Yang Ruxin nodded. "Also, after spring begins, organize people to build a granary on this hillside. Then don’t sell any of the grain, store it all instead. If people from the surrounding villages have grain to sell, buy as much as possible. Let everyone keep enough for seeds and their consumption. I will buy the rest at market price..."
Liu Genmao was taken aback but then nodded and promised, "Miss, will we still farm the same way we’ve always done after spring?"
"I’ve examined the soil here. Apart from some near the foot of the mountain suitable for wheat, the rest is sandy. So, my plan for next year is this: switch to soybeans and sweet potatoes. Additionally, allocate a plot for a medicinal herb garden... Don’t worry if you don’t know how, I will arrange for someone to come and teach you..."
Liu Genmao nodded, "But, how do we pay rent with these medicinal herbs?" The tenant farmers on this estate had always paid forty percent, keeping sixty percent for themselves, but how to deal with medicinal herbs?