Chapter Seventy-Three: Preliminary Plans for Production Technology (Seeking Recommendations)

Monday, August 3rd.

With the addition of his older sister, the small farmstead was taking shape day by day, growing more and more like a proper operation. As for management, Zhong Di found he could hardly intervene anymore—his sister handled everything beautifully, and commanding the big picture was always her strength.

With Shao Hong's attentiveness added in, the entire place had taken on a finished look.

After they had hosted Qian Weining and his friends that day, his sister came up with several new suggestions and invested another sum to carry out renovations.

First, the homestead was sectioned off as a whole, separating the rabbit, pigeon, and chicken enclosures. The specifics of building proper walls would have to wait until there were enough funds for further construction.

Next, some metal frames were purchased, though not much money was spent there, with plans to plant climbing vines that would eventually grow up and form natural shade.

Beneath the trellises, three sets of tables and chairs, designed to mimic a natural environment, were set up. Given their current manpower, they could only host up to three tables at a time, so from then on, the farm would only accept reservations.

His sister had already started spreading the word.

Some of the vegetables in the garden were being sold now, primarily picked fresh for in-house cooking, with any surplus supplied to Dongyang at premium prices.

After internal negotiations at Dongyang, the materials they provided would now be sold at double the previous price.

Zhong Di had initially disagreed, but this only made Dongyang more anxious, so they accepted.

The tree belts on either side of the property had had their weeds cleared, and the road running between them had been repaired and topped with a layer of soil and gravel.

Both sides of this path would be planted with grapes come autumn, with plans for a grape arbor showcasing different varieties.

"Shao Hong, Yang Yi is bringing people over this afternoon for a meal. Get things ready," Zhong Di said softly, glancing at his phone. At this stage, only his earliest customers—like Yang Yi and Qian Weining—would message him directly; all other bookings went through his sister.

"Sure, send me the menu."

"By the way, last month's figures are in. My sister already sent your share, so remember to collect the payment," Zhong Di added, recalling what his sister had mentioned in private. Over the past few weeks, he'd straightened out all the accounts he could remember.

Since the farm started generating income up to the end of July, they’d made about 240,000 to 250,000 yuan; after subtracting joint investments and wages, there was about 100,000 yuan profit—Shao Hong’s share came to 10,000.

"No need. You already transferred me 20,000 before—just deduct it from that. Besides, we're still in the growth stage; keeping cash flowing is what matters," Shao Hong replied with a smile. Even after these investments, he could still get 10,000 a month, and that included major purchases like sheep, chickens, and equipment.

With time, those investments would only shrink, though naturally, further development would call for more spending.

The orchard’s profitability was obvious. If things continued this way, earning a hundred or two hundred thousand a year would be easy, and he was more than satisfied.

"Take it for now. There's money in the account, and we’re not short 10,000. I remember you said you only needed a few thousand more to finish paying off your debts, right?"

"Yeah, with what I owe you, it's a little over 7,000 left."

"Then take it, and don’t forget to transfer my share later. Once you’re paid off, we’ll deduct from next month’s, all right?"

"Fine, whatever you say," Shao Hong agreed.

That period, because of Xiao Xin, he’d had to borrow money from friends and relatives, though he hated asking. Others might think he was foolish, but that was only because it wasn’t happening to them—they always judged from above.

“Zhong Di, are you home?”

At this moment, Uncle Zhang’s voice called from outside the gate.

“You get started; I’ll go see what Uncle Zhang wants.”

“Okay, I’ll prep the vegetables,” Shao Hong replied, getting to work. After all, each table started at 5,000 yuan—a pleasing figure.

“Uncle Zhang, what brings you here?” Zhong Di asked as he opened the door.

“Nothing much, just came to check on your jujubes, see how the fruit’s setting,” Uncle Zhang replied.

He’d racked his brains trying to figure out how Zhong Di managed the place, but couldn’t pinpoint the secret.

Fertilizer? He’d used plenty of organic fertilizer himself. Foliar feeding? That was standard practice. He simply couldn’t see what was different.

He didn’t voice all his doubts, though—since witnessing Zhong Di’s tree-pruning skills, he’d realized the younger man was an expert. Some things, perhaps just a tiny difference, could lead to huge results in yield.

Uncle Zhang didn’t press for details—he doubted he’d be told anyway.

“Looking good. Your fruit set rate is over sixty percent, I’d guess. Do you expect two tons per mu?” Uncle Zhang asked, watching the swelling young jujubes.

Some had dropped since fruit set, but not many. Just the day before, the remaining fruit had stopped falling, meaning those left would all mature.

“No way I’ll get two tons. My trees are spaced out and there are gaps. At best, four hundred kilos per mu,” Zhong Di replied, well aware of his expected yield.

Four hundred kilos per mu was already good; overall, that would be about twenty tons.

A typical orchard would get that kind of yield, but a well-managed jujube orchard, with forty-odd mu of net-planted area, could hit twenty-five tons at least.

If Zhong Di’s trees were as densely planted as those elsewhere, the yield could easily double—fifty or sixty tons, with dried fruit equaling fresh in value.

“You’re right, your trees are sparse. But with your technique, why not stick with jujubes? At current prices, you’d definitely turn a profit with proper care,” Uncle Zhang suggested, tempted by the numbers.

“I’ll have to switch. My business model means the fruit trees must be changed eventually.”

“I suppose, but don’t let your jujube expertise go to waste. Keep refining your technique,” Uncle Zhang said, a bit regretful. Such skills were a real loss to the whole industry if abandoned.

“I plan to refine it more and put together a technical guide. I won’t let it go to waste. When it’s ready, everyone around here who grows jujubes will get a copy.”

“What? Are you serious?” Uncle Zhang was astonished. In these times, anyone with a killer technique would guard it jealously, not share it.

“I’m completely serious!”

Uncle Zhang asked several more times, and, satisfied with the answer, took his leave.

As for the technical guide, Zhong Di truly meant to do it. The high fruit set rate he achieved owed a lot to the miraculous Xianya, but his own ability to observe plant behavior and manage precisely was also a powerful advantage. Even if others couldn’t match his yields, they could still get sixty or seventy percent of his results.

If that happened, regional yields could rise by twenty or thirty percent easily.

It was time to get started on that plan.

It wasn’t until the afternoon that Yang Yi and his group arrived, with Su Rou and Lin Xiao accompanying him.

“Zhong Di, honestly, Su Rou just wanted to come; I’m just the excuse,” Yang Yi whispered as soon as he arrived.

There were four of them: two men and two women. The women were Su Rou and Lin Xiao; the other man, besides Yang Yi, was his close friend Gao Lei Qiang—Lin Xiao’s fiancé.

The two planned to marry soon, making them early birds in their circle—a union of wealth and status.

Zhong Di only learned after supplying double-yolk eggs that Lin Xiao was actually the head of the Food Safety Bureau in Kulun City—thank goodness his eggs were up to standard.

Gao Lei Qiang was the son of the city’s leading real estate developer—a match made in heaven.

“Yang Yi, you liar—if you’ve got the nerve, don’t eat later!” Su Rou, flustered like a cat whose tail had been stepped on, snapped back.

Today she had clearly taken extra care with her appearance. Unlike before, Su Rou had changed her usual style, choosing to wear a dress—a pure white one with some patterns, reaching to her knees, showing off a pair of fair calves.

“Okay, okay, I’ll stop talking. Women are such mysterious creatures,” Yang Yi muttered, then went off to tease Yu Sheng, as he always did, drawn by the cat’s disdain.

Previously, Yang Yi had tried to tempt Yu Sheng with a chicken bone, only to be met with a contemptuous glare—a blow to his pride. Ever since, he never missed a chance to try again, always failing, always outwitted by the cat.

“Don’t mind Yang Yi’s nonsense,” Su Rou explained quietly to Zhong Di. “We’re here because Lin Xiao and Gao Lei Qiang are getting married soon. We wanted to celebrate with a meal.”

“I know. Yang Yi just likes to joke. You all enjoy yourselves; I’ll go help out and make a couple of extra dishes for you this afternoon,” Zhong Di replied.

It was only after he left that Su Rou relaxed, though a hint of disappointment flickered in her eyes. She had actually hoped Zhong Di would misunderstand.

“Su Rou, if you ask me, you should just tell him how you feel. But honestly, I can’t figure out what you see in him,” Lin Xiao said, ever perceptive.

“I don’t know either. Life is strange like that. Sometimes, you just fall for someone inexplicably—just one look and you feel there must be a story between you,” Su Rou murmured.

They chatted for a while, then wandered around together. Thanks to Zhong Di, they knew what was for sale and what wasn’t.

“Qiang, those baby rabbits are so cute! Let’s buy two to take home,” Lin Xiao said excitedly as she and Su Rou stood in front of the rabbit pen.

“Okay, we’ll get two.”

“And these pigeons—your father likes stewed pigeon, right? Let’s get a couple of those too.”

“Alright…”

The group strolled around, sometimes feeding the chickens, sometimes picking a few greens—planning to buy some to take home.

They didn’t pick much, aware of Zhong Di’s limits on sales. If he didn’t set those, people would clean him out in one visit, leaving nothing for the farm to survive on.