Her Cultivation Diary
Chapter 830 - 820. In the wine

Chapter 830: 820. In the wine

Because of this matter, Song Tan thought for a long time during the meal.

There’s actually not much of a flaw in Yunqiao Village. But everything is just so-so, without any particular standout feature.

The climate is ordinary, with each of the four seasons distinct—cold in spring, snow in winter, and summer heat above 40 degrees is also normal.

The geography is ordinary too, with neither vast plains nor steep peaks, but a haphazard mix of plains, hills, mountains, and high slopes.

Even the soil and water are the same, not all sandy soil or fertile black earth, but with rivers, lakes, ponds, and streams...

It’s like those mediocre students in every class, lacking the consistency of the ones in front, and without the improvement potential of the underachievers, mainly playing up their lack of distinctiveness.

Perhaps it’s because of this that her uncle and auntie must go out to work to earn money in the countryside, as relying solely on the family is out of the question. If they don’t want to work, mastering a particular skill is a must.

Just like the plan she made for Wu Lei, learning animal husbandry will never be a loss.

Since that’s the case, she’ll ask the construction team later if they can build a small dormitory there? Nothing fancy, just big enough to accommodate four or five people.

She kept this idea in mind, turned around, and noticed everyone had started toasting at the table.

A small bottle of alcohol, pouring into the tiny cups that couldn’t get any smaller, everyone would gingerly cover it with their hands as if that would prevent the liquor from spilling and going to waste.

Then she saw grandpa and great-grandpa toasting.

One said, "What will you do when you go back? Can a meal for two ever be as delightful as our big family feast? This is the age to enjoy life, don’t worry too much about the kids, just stay here."

The other replied, "Old brother, you say this about me, but Tantan has left so many empty rooms in the upstairs just for you two. Why don’t you come and stay?"

In the end, both sighed, "A golden nest or a silver nest is not as good as one’s own doghouse. Come, come, let’s drink up!"

Looking over here, Seventh Uncle was toasting with Jian Xiaokang.

His tolerance for alcohol wasn’t great; after just two sips, tears were already welling up in his eyes:

"Xiaokang, I looked after you since you were only this tall. Your master’s skills might not be as good as mine, but I admit one thing to him, he’s got good vision!"

When had Jian Xiaokang ever drunk such fine alcohol?

Especially since the doctor strongly warned that he couldn’t drink anymore, he held his tiny cup and sipped delicately, as if in doing so he could taste every nuance.

Hearing this, he wasn’t convinced, "Master Song, your skills are great, my master’s skills are just as good... drink slowly, drink slowly!"

Then looking at Secretary Xiaozu, she was holding her cup, toasting with Professor Song, cheeks slightly red, but her eyes sparkling:

"Professor Song, I must toast to you! Song Tan said that the ecological planning for the mountain was all done by you, I went to see it, and it’s really, really good!"

"I heard you’re going back, you must come over next year! After the new year, the village will definitely have a new look, we need talents like you!"

Professor Song also slightly tipsy, waved his hand, "I didn’t do much, it’s all thanks to the good land and water here—not leaving so soon, Tantan said he needed me to prune their family’s fruit trees, graft for the villagers... I need to oversee it... not to mess it up..."

Secretary Xiaozu was immediately thrilled!

...

Song Tan’s estimation was correct, the drinking session wasn’t as intense as at the beginning, instead of falling into a deep sleep until the next day, everyone had merely napped in a slightly tipsy state. Around four or five o’clock, Jian Xiaokang, who drank the least due to his recent recovery, was the first to awaken. Without a word, he hurried back up the mountain.

—Ah, the workers were waiting for him to cook dinner tonight!

While Secretary Xiaozu did not drink much because she was preoccupied with another matter. It wasn’t long before Seventh Uncle slipped into the kitchen, and she also sauntered over, soft as a noodle.

"Song Tan," she asked, "during dinner I heard Professor Song mention that your fruit trees need pruning to provide scions for the villagers to graft, right? Are you planning to have the entire village grow the same fruit as your family?"

She hurriedly finished asking, then quickly nodded: "That’s a fantastic idea! Just like the Yangcheng Lake hairy crabs, first establishing the brand, then gaining reputation with a small quantity of exquisite products, and eventually boosting the national circulation of hairy crabs..."

Song Tan: ...Without you mentioning it, I hadn’t really thought that far ahead.

But...

"It’s not realistic," she interrupted.

"How much money was poured into promoting the overall brand of Yangcheng Lake, and how many crab farmers’ businesses supported it from beginning to end?"

"And what about us?"

"Not to mention anything else, when banks offer low-interest loans to farmers, do you think they dare to commit to planting even two acres of fruit trees?"

Secretary Xiaozu was immediately at a loss.

Relying on the weather to eat, the biggest fear is being in debt—let’s not even talk about low-interest loans; they wouldn’t dare to take out interest-free ones.

With the weather becoming more extreme year by year, every part of the country is either experiencing drought or flood, plus the hailstorms in July and August... In such conditions, ask farmers to invest in the land?

Then who would bear the burden of their livelihood if problems arose?

Moreover, even if the fruit trees are planted, there are myriad follow-up issues—such as how to prevent farmers from undercutting prices to attract customers, or how to keep them from harvesting unripe fruit too early to get money, thus harming the reputation?

Finally, when it comes to bulk purchasing, can they put aside the mentality of seeking petty gains and honestly focus on quality?

Each and every one of these issues is difficult, but Secretary Xiaozu is not afraid.

She only lost at the very first step.

Farmers have no money and are afraid to make big investments, even if it’s just a few tens of thousands of yuan.

But the more they hesitate to take risks, the more their lives remain in a state of shortage of money.

It’s a vicious cycle.

"Alright, alright," she sighed, "then are you just planning on grafting the fruit trees in their own doorsteps?"

Song Tan shook his head: "Do you remember Tian Tian who worked for me before? She dares to dream and take risks... So, when she came over in the summer, she told me to help her prune the branches, and then graft onto her own chestnut trees."

The chestnut yields here are quite good, but without distinctive features, the price is too low, and it’s too labor-intensive, so they can’t sell for much.

But once the road is fixed, her chestnut trees, which have been bathed in Spiritual Energy the longest and have vigorous vitality in their branches, will surely see a significant quality improvement with a graft.

Not to mention anything else, if she can sell each pound for two extra yuan, she can make a profit just by taking the bus to the urban area to sell them each day.

Even if the fruit trees degenerate after a couple of years, she can just re-graft, right?

What’s more, besides chestnuts, she also took Professor Song’s advice and bought more than twenty peach trees, planting them on the small hill in front of and behind her house for her parents to look after...

Not to mention anything else, Old Zhao will take them directly next year.

Year by year, slow and steady; although the progress is a bit slow, it’s just right for their family situation, with an ill person at home and no wish to take on more debt.