Gourd Farm Chapter 73
Translated by Etherna
Chapter 73: Following the Trend
Just after lunch, Liu Wan'er came over to inform everyone who had leased land to gather at the village office to prepare for land measurement.
Not many people came today, and upon a quick look, they were generally wealthier individuals in the village.
The village chief walked out of his house, followed by a few others in uniforms.
"Looks like almost everyone is here; we won't wait for those who haven't arrived."
"Now, according to the order on this list, we will start measuring the land, beginning with Yang Feng."
The group of people arrived at their respective greenhouses, and several individuals in uniforms started working systematically, holding some peculiar instruments.
In no time, flags were planted in different locations.
Looking at the four large frames marking the directions, it seemed to be the fifty mu of land.
"Yang Feng, do you see this extensive area? This is your contracted range."
The village chief walked over and pointed to the four large frames.
Looking at this vast expanse of land, it would transform into a series of large-scale greenhouses in the coming years. Then, perhaps they could add a fish pond or something. How delightful!
Liu Wan'er approached, holding a notebook. "Yang Feng, seeing such a large piece of land, what are your thoughts?"
"Tired."
Liu Wan'er expected Yang Feng to express some grand plans for the future, but unexpectedly, he uttered only one word.
Standing on the side, Xia Ying couldn't help but burst into giggles at Liu Wan'er's surprised expression.
"Chuckle."
Realizing the unexpected response, Liu Wan'er also joined in the laughter.
After a while, Hua Wuque walked over.
"Miss Liu, what's so amusing here?"
Liu Wan'er immediately adjusted her demeanor. "Oh, nothing."
"Well, the village chief asked me to come and give you the deposit for leasing the land."
He then pulled out a stack of yuan bills wrapped in tissue paper from his pocket.
Liu Wan'er took the money. "Hmm, didn't Aunt Hua say she wasn't leasing land? Did she change her mind?"
"What change of mind? It's me who wants to lease. We, the old couple, were forced into it and reluctantly agreed."
Liu Wan'er counted the money. "Starting a business at a young age is a good thing, but you also need to consider comprehensively and not act impulsively."
"..."
"For heaven's sake, Yang Feng, with so much land to manage, can you handle it all?"
Hua Wuque looked at the vast barren land in front of him. He couldn't even look straight and is already afraid to look at it, let alone imagining cultivating it.
Biting his lip, he had only contracted twenty mu, and even with that, he felt uneasy.
"Hey, take it easy and get busy," Yang Feng shrugged, indifferent.
Watching Yang Feng's nonchalant attitude, Hua Wuque couldn't help but admire his childhood friend.
"The money is correct, exactly five thousand."
In the time it took for these few sentences, Liu Wan'er finished counting the money and jingled it in her hands.
"You guys carry on; I'll go check if they've measured my plot of land."
Liu Wan'er put the money in her bag and looked up. "Yang Feng, the village chief asked me to tell you that if the initial funds are not enough, you can apply for a low-interest loan from the cooperative."
Yang Feng quickly shook his head, "No need. I have enough money; don't worry about it."
From childhood to now, even borrowing a hundred or two hundred yuan would keep him up at night with worry. Thinking about applying for a loan of tens of thousands of yuan was something he didn't dare to contemplate.
"This is a normal phenomenon and also a form of support provided by the country. Many people can't even get a loan when they want to."
Liu Wan'er spoke the truth. Normal loans usually come with interest rates close to one percent, while this poverty alleviation fund has almost no interest.
"I have enough money for now. I dare not use that thing; it doesn't feel right to use other people's money."
"..."
Meanwhile, the measurement team seemed to have reached Uncle Yang’s area.
"Make sure you measure it accurately. If anything is missing, I'll come to settle accounts with you later."
Uncle Yang followed behind the measurement team, still somewhat uneasy even after they finished. He took cautious steps, preparing to use his old method. He watched as the team members, holding some unfamiliar tools, chanted a few incantations, and it was done.
"Dad, come over quickly."
Yang Meng, seeing so many people around, quickly ran forward and pulled the old man, who was counting his steps, over.
"Old man, what are you doing? How many steps did you just take?"
Uncle Yang, interrupted by Yang Meng, forgot the number of steps he had just counted.
"Look at this vast area. If you finish counting, it will be dark, and the people over there are waiting for your signature."
Listening to his son's words, Uncle Yang turned his head and saw the village chief and several members of the measurement team all looking at him.
The village chief smirked, "Old Yang, I'm not saying this to mock you, with technology so advanced nowadays, can anyone still deceive you about two acres of land?"
Uncle Yang thought about it and agreed, thickening his face, "Well, let me confirm it again. It's just being cautious."
After signing, Uncle Yang, holding a handful of soil, looked at the land in front of him silently.
As a true farmer who had plowed the land all his life, facing the yellow soil with his back to the sky, his emotional connection to the land was undoubtedly different from the younger generation nowadays.
Most of the young people nowadays, when it comes to farming, mostly shake their heads. Some can't even recognize basic seeds, let alone plant them.
"Yang Meng, this is everything our family has earned. You can't be inconsistent with our efforts."
"Yang Meng?"
Uncle Yang called twice, but there was no response. He turned around and saw Yang Meng on the phone, full of spirit, and gesturing continuously.
Approaching, he overheard something like "Demacia," all mixed up.
This time, Uncle Yang didn't scold him as usual when he approached.
"Ah."
Seeing his son behaving carelessly, Uncle Yang walked away, but from his back, he seemed to have aged quite a bit.
"Dad, what did you just say?"
Yang Meng hung up the phone and jogged after him.
...
"Woof, woof, woof."
"Stop barking; look at how anxious you've made yourself."
The big white dog at the entrance saw Yang Feng approaching and joyfully spun around in place, shaking its head and wagging its tail.
"Look at you, so poor. Here, have some."
Having had chicken legs for lunch and bringing back some bones, this fellow was quite picky; if it wasn't meat, it wouldn't eat.
"Yang Feng, with your expansion, will you still need to hire more people?"
Xia Ying asked with her head lowered, a bit shy.
This matter had been considered in the past few days. With the current scale, although they couldn't fully utilize it for now, relying solely on Yang Feng and Xia Ying wouldn't be enough.
"Yeah, after sorting out the trivial matters these days, I plan to find someone soon."
When Xia Ying heard that they were hiring, her eyes immediately lit up, and her tone became more eager, "Um, I have someone on my side. Could you consider giving him a chance?"
"Well, that works out perfectly. But it's better if the person is young, so there won't be a generation gap in communication."
"It's actually my younger brother. He doesn't have a steady job right now and is thinking of being with me. I can keep an eye on him. Don't worry, let him come and try. If it doesn't work out, he can leave."
When Xia Ying mentioned her brother, she shyly lowered her head, feeling a bit like she was using her connections.
"Sure, have him come over whenever he's free."
Thinking that Xia Ying was diligent, Yang Feng believed her brother probably wouldn't be lacking in capabilities either.