Transmigration: A Farm Girl’s Brocade
Chapter 261 - 174 Unexpected Results_1

Chapter 261: Chapter 174 Unexpected Results_1

Before I knew it, the fifteenth of the first lunar month had passed, and Qian Hua, accompanied by the staff of Jinxiu Embroidery Workshop, went to the county city, while the family continued to hire people to dig ponds.

The lake in the large courtyard had been completely cleaned out, and the lotus seeds brought back from Cave Sky Pool were spread into it. Qian Sangui and Qian Yixiu had already agreed that these seeds would be bred in the lake, and only by the next year could they be planted extensively. As for the other ponds, they would purchase lotus rhizomes from outside to plant.

Because many workers were hired, by the end of February, all the ponds had been dug out. These ponds were slightly shallower than the lake in the large courtyard, measuring about ninety centimeters to one meter in depth. Besides the wasteland in front of the courtyard that had to be left empty, and the wasteland on the east side reserved for future construction, the remaining unused land consisted of about a hundred acres covered by the ponds, with a small hill formed from piled-up soil spanning over ten acres. Between each pond, and between the ponds and the hill, about ten acres were left vacant for buildings, pavilions, or gardens to be constructed later.

The Qian family’s first wife, second wife, and the Wan family had their lands dug into ponds, with the soil piled up on the hill belonging to the third branch. The small hill, undulating and rising amidst the vast lotus ponds before Xishi Mountain, could potentially be planted with fruit trees on about thirty acres designated for walking, pavilion construction, and flower planting.

This small hill was named Mountain of Flowers and Fruits, the series of ponds was named Moonlit Lotus Pond, and the lake owned by the family was named West Lake. Naturally, these names were coined by Qian Yixiu.

There were reasons behind these names: Mountain of Flowers and Fruits would bear blossoms and fruit, the lotus under the moonlight would surely be the most beautiful, and since their home was to the west, the family’s lake was called West Lake.

Even Mr. Yu praised Qian Yixiu’s explanation upon hearing it, finding it both vivid and pleasing to the ear.

The third branch hired five workers to tend to the lotus ponds and three to care for the fruit trees, while each of the three families also hired a worker. Qian Ergui was somewhat reluctant to hire help, preferring to do things himself, but Qian Manhe reported it to Old man Qian, who gave Qian Ergui a good scolding until he agreed to hire a worker.

The several servants of the third branch were reassigned, with Huang Tie managing Moonlit Lotus Pond, and Su Ming overseeing Mountain of Flowers and Fruits. Su Sanwu and Su Siwu were mainly dedicated to looking after the family lake and assisting with household matters. The eighty acres of land rented out required little attention, so Old man Cai took charge of it. The two acres of family land were also rented out.

Afterward, lotus rhizomes were purchased for planting in the lotus ponds, and a small number of fish fry were stocked in them. Additionally, eight hundred peach saplings and a hundred pear saplings were bought and planted on the hill.

During this time, Qian Yixiu also kept herself busy on-site. Turning Moonlit Lotus Pond and Mountain of Flowers and Fruits into a large, comprehensive Taiyuan that integrated agriculture, aquaculture, sightseeing, and vacationing was her original idea.

Initially, Qian Sangui disagreed, feeling it was not cost-effective to use the leftover land for houses, pavilions, and gardens. Later, Qian Yeejin mentioned this in passing to Mr. Yu, who showed great interest and even made a special trip to the site. After hearing Qian Yixiu’s explanation, he strongly supported the idea. Seeing that the most educated person also thought it was a good plan, Qian Sangui eventually agreed.

Labor was truly undervalued in ancient times, and the wasteland here wasn’t worth much either. The cost of purchasing land, labor and food expenses, plus the cost of the lotus rhizomes and fruit trees, didn’t even total five hundred taels of silver.

Thinking back to how those pearls had sold for 2900 taels of silver, Qian Yixiu now felt they were incredibly worth it. She had created such a large ecological park for merely a sixth of the price of those pearls.

By the time all these tasks were completed, it was already the second day of the fourth lunar month, with just a few days left until her younger siblings’ eighth birthday. That day also held another significance for Qian Yixiu—it was the second anniversary of her transmigration.

In just two short years, the family had undergone earth-shaking changes. This was directly related to the seven years she had been a ghost, as well as to the clever and valiant Monkey Brother, and because the head of the household, Qian Sangui, was willing to listen to his granddaughter’s advice.

Seeing all of this, Qian Yixiu felt a tremendous sense of accomplishment.

She had just finished inspecting Moonlit Lotus Pond and Mountain of Flowers and Fruits and was coming back. As for where the houses and pavilions should be built and what kind of roads should be constructed, she had offered her suggestions. From then on, she could wash her hands of the matters.

She walked briskly through the side door between the large and small courtyards, intending to head to her little room to tidy herself up and make her presence known to her mother, when she saw her mother standing at the doorway of the east wing workroom, staring blankly at her.

In the past few months, Cheng Yue’s embroidery business was going through a critical period. She spent her days bustling in the workroom with her assistant Qian Xiaoyu, leaving little time to look after Qian Yixiu.