BXBX NOVEL Chapter 1295: Plan
Shao Yunduan and Qiao Xuan arrived with a substantial sum of money in their possession, enabling them to make an immediate purchase.
The capital lay a mere 400 miles away, connected by a well-maintained, spacious road that could be traversed in under two hours by wagon. Despite their location being slightly off the official route, it remained within a ten-mile proximity.
Their estimated arrival time was two hours and fifteen minutes.
The fields were meticulously maintained and ready for planting, sparing the province the effort of clearing land.
Qiao Xuan had already devised a plan for the upcoming year, intending to cultivate potatoes, watermelons, and cantaloupes.
All 20 mu in the town were designated for strawberry cultivation.
With over 10 mu dedicated to potatoes this year, they anticipated a bountiful harvest, with no concerns about seed availability for next year. They even considered expanding to hundreds of mu.
Additionally, they planned to grow hundreds of mu of watermelons and cantaloupes, intending to sell them directly in the capital once ripe.
Qiao Xuan harbored no doubts about the marketability of their melons after planting.
Although the landowner offered to introduce potential tenants, Qiao Xuan declined the offer.
She opted to recruit tenants herself, along with acquiring additional laborers. One of her plans involved setting aside a portion of land to construct houses for the tenants and servants.
Detailed arrangements were made for the warehouse, tool room, materials yard, and other essential facilities.
However, she decided not to oversee these tasks personally and delegated full responsibility to Songshi, who had been a loyal and diligent employee for an extended period.
Songshi was ecstatic about the opportunity and expressed his gratitude to Qiao Xuan. He assured her that he would perform excellently, determined to justify her trust in him.
Qiao Xuan found herself torn between laughter and tears as she urged him to rise from his excited kowtow.
During the journey back home, Qiao Xuan enthusiastically shared her plans for cultivating the 1,200 mu of land within the wagon’s confines with Shao Yunduan. He listened with a smile, fully supportive of her ideas.
Shao Yunduan was accustomed to his wife’s fervor for farming, whether it involved vegetables, fields, or various crops. He never hesitated to encourage her in pursuing her agricultural interests.
Songshi took his responsibilities with utmost seriousness. Not wanting to burden Qiao Xuan, he sought advice from Zhao Shu’s managers, displaying a fair and sensible approach.
Impressed with Songshi’s diligence, Qiao Xuan granted him the autonomy he deserved. However, she also recognized that as Songshi assumed a managerial role in the future, he would need assistance at home, particularly with the demands of the fields.
Qiao Xuan discussed this matter with Shao Yunduan, and together they enlisted the help of a 14 or 15-year-old pageboy named Qingyan to assist with various tasks.
What came as a surprise to Qiao Xuan was the immense popularity of her strawberries at Jinquan Restaurant. The manager of the restaurant personally approached her, expressing the desire to increase their daily strawberry supply to 150 kilograms, given the high demand.
Jinquan Restaurant even had a dedicated floor for female patrons, attracting a substantial female clientele. The strawberries proved to be a favorite among these women. When the ladies wished to purchase the strawberries for takeout, the restaurant couldn’t refuse, as they also offered takeaway options for snacks, candied fruits, and tea leaves in their tea house.
However, this surge in demand quickly exceeded the available supply of strawberries. Qiao Xuan remained the sole provider of these sought-after berries.
Word about the rarity and deliciousness of Qiao Xuan’s strawberries began to spread among the guests, fueling their desire to sample them. They were willing to pay 2 liang for every 500 grams of strawberries, highlighting their eagerness to savor this delectable treat.