Chapter 31: Nobles Don’t Eat Common Meat
Han Lei took the land deed that Mr Wang brought back, checked it over, and then tucked it into her bosom.
"Brothers, this storefront is ours from now on." Han Lei shouted to the injured soldiers.
"Wow, that’s great!"
"We’ll be working here from now on."
"We have something to do now."
The injured soldiers cheered, leaving Mr Wang somewhat stunned.
This girl called these guards brothers?
Han Lei was happy too, and suddenly a series of ding sounds popped into her head.
"Ding! Reward of one thousand taels of Gold."
"Ding! Reward of cement manufacturing method."
"Ding! Reward of one thousand taels of Gold."
"Ding! Reward of refined salt making method."
...
Han Lei was startled, seeing everyone was busy being happy and hadn’t noticed her, she quickly sat on a chair to access the system.
The system panel was flashing with the rewarded items, Han Lei mentally asked the system why she was being rewarded, but the system ignored her, just kept dinging, maybe it was too busy.
The dinging lasted for about two minutes. After it ended, Han Lei checked the system warehouse and was shocked.
In the system warehouse, there were suddenly fifty-four thousand taels of Gold, along with cement, refined salt, glass, and steel manufacturing methods, and a computer that could connect to the system network.
Why were fifty-four thousand taels of Gold and these items suddenly rewarded?
Han Lei thoughtfully looked at the injured soldiers who came with her today, aside from Tao Qing and Ah Mao, the remaining number was exactly fifty-four.
Could it be because she solved the employment problem for these fifty-four people, and the system rewarded based on headcount? These manufacturing methods are what she needs for future development?
Han Lei thought it over carefully and felt that must be the case.
Seeing everyone had calmed down after their excitement, Han Lei called all members of the minor team to her, introduced the minor team’s leader to Mr Wang.
"Starting tomorrow, all of you will temporarily work here with Mr Wang, earning two taels of Silver per month. You must diligently learn from Mr Wang, and once you’ve mastered the skills, your wages will increase, and additional arrangements will be made when other work is ready." Han Lei said to the injured soldiers of the minor team.
Upon hearing two taels of Silver per month, the injured soldiers cheered again. This was much easier than enduring hardships in the military camp and charging in battle. Silver was doubled, and they were closer to home.
Han Lei then asked Mr Wang where she could buy land, and how much per mu?
"Girl, are you planning to buy land for a house?" Mr Wang asked back. "If you are building a house, you need to buy from the County Magistrate."
"No!" Han Lei shook her head, "I want it for farming and building a pig farm."
"Girl, you want to farm and raise pigs?"
Mr Wang was very surprised, unable to understand the unusual ideas of these noble people.
Han Lei motioned towards the injured soldiers of the minor team, and explained, "I’m not farming; they are. I’m finding them work, and also letting them work together with the local people. So that all local residents can have a meal, and even every family can afford Silver to buy meat. I’m just teaching them how to do it, as it’s better to teach a man to fish than to give him a fish!"
"Oh! Girl, you’re really a great person!" Mr Wang understood now, and his admiration for Han Lei was like a flowing river, endless.
"Girl. If that’s the case, you don’t need to buy land. The land in Canzhou is relatively barren, unable to grow much food. The good land has already been monopolized by noble families, and the remaining wasteland is unwanted. The County Magistrate has decreed that the common folk can cultivate it themselves; whoever opens it up, owns it."
"Oh?"
Han Lei’s eyes lit up. Whoever cultivates it owns it, isn’t that like directly giving her the land?
The barren land was not a problem for her because the system could purchase various fertilizers. If the pig farm is established, the stored pig manure would be ready-made organic fertilizer.
Besides, in modern times, she knows there are many crops suitable for barren land, such as corn, potatoes, soybeans, sorghum, etc.
Corn does not require high soil quality; most soils can grow it. They rested on their journey to Qingshui County, and she observed that Canzhou’s land certainly couldn’t grow rice, but was suitable for corn.
Additionally, soybeans are legumes, which have a special ability to form symbiotic relationships with bacteria and fix nitrogen from the air. Therefore, soybeans can grow well even in nitrogen-poor barren soils. If soybeans are planted in fields where other crops have been grown, it can even restore the soil’s fertility, making barren land fertile again.
"Mr Wang, please take me tomorrow to see the nearest wasteland from here."
"Alright!" Mr Wang nodded, and added, "Girl, I hate to rain on your parade, but raising pigs is not suitable either! Nowadays, people so often don’t have enough to eat themselves, where would they find grain to feed pigs?"
"Mr Wang, you don’t need to worry about this. Before the harvest from the wasteland, all pig feed will be provided by me." Han Lei said confidently.
"But poor people can’t afford pork, and the wealthy regard pork as low meat, unwilling to eat it! Who would buy the pork you raise?" Mr Wang worried that Han Lei was acting on impulse.
"Haha...," Speaking of this, Han Lei laughed. "You really don’t need to worry about that. I can guarantee that by then, those nobles will line up and vie to eat their so-called low meat. If they come late, there will be none left. Haha..."
"Huh? Girl, are you serious?" Mr Wang’s entire worldview was overturned by Han Lei’s words.
"Of course it’s true. If you don’t believe it, just wait and see! Upstairs and downstairs, you’ll get tired running as the Shopkeeper here. Haha..."
Mr Wang showed disbelief.
"Hahaha..."
Mr Wang’s expression made the injured soldiers laugh along. A couple of days ago, while traveling, they ate boxed meals with two meat and two vegetable dishes, which included pork dishes, and the taste was excellent.
Additionally, having been with Han Lei for over a month, she constantly surprised them. Therefore, they had a mysterious confidence in Han Lei.
After everyone laughed for a while, Han Lei wiped the smile off her face and began to seriously instruct Mr Wang.
"Mr Wang, today you will post a hiring notice at the door. In addition to hiring staff for the shop, recruit craftsmen who can build houses and make tables and chairs. Also, farmers who can raise pigs and grow crops. Everyone, regardless of age or gender, can apply as long as they work diligently; they will be paid one tael of Silver per month, those who shirk will not be hired. Inform them that this is not temporary work, it’s permanent work. Moreover, to speed up the project, once the house is built, all workers will be provided with meals and accommodation."
"Oh, really? Then I’ll go do it right away." Mr Wang was elated and turned to carry out the task. After taking two steps, he returned to bow deeply to Han Lei.