xymnovel Chapter 9 Getting Ready to Go
Chapter 9 Getting Ready to Go
The six tender seedlings were so dazzling in Zhu Kaishan's eyes!
Old Zhu's gaze gradually hardened; that child...
That child really wasn't lying to him!
Such incredible skill!
He then forcibly suppressed his excitement and shouted:
"Shut up! What sprout did you come from?!"
The loud shout startled Zhu Chuanwu, who stammered, "Father, then, I..."
Despite her slightly plump figure, Wen's mother moved with surprising agility, grabbing his ear in one swift motion.
"What are you talking about? Are you still half asleep or just seeing things? Your dad dug up the peanuts last night, where did these seedlings come from?!"
Zhu Kaishan glared at Chuanwu, then plucked the six tender shoots, mixed them with the soil, and ate them whole, chewing them with a crunching sound.
"Keep this matter a secret! Neither Chuanwen nor Chuanjie, nor your sister-in-law or Xian'er, are allowed to mention it. Understand?!"
Under his intense and demanding gaze, Zhu Chuanwu behaved as obediently as a little chick.
"Dad, I... I didn't see anything!" That's what she said.
Once he understood the meaning behind this matter, the burning passion in his eyes was no different from that of Zhu Kaishan.
Zhu Kaishan saw the look in his second son's eyes and knew that he understood the gravity of the matter, so he believed that his son would not speak recklessly.
"While your older brother is still asleep, hurry back to sleep. Pretend you were never here. We'll take you to find the employer later!"
"Okay! I understand, Dad!"
Suppressing his excitement, Zhu Chuanwu went back to his room to sleep.
The main courtyard and its side rooms.
Lu Xingzhou, who had released excess energy the night before and slept exceptionally soundly, was woken up by Lin Fengyi.
"Sir, Miss Yu sent a servant to invite you to breakfast."
"Come with me."
"Mmm~~"
The quick-witted Lin Fengyi busied herself helping him put on his mandarin jacket without any discomfort, her face beaming with joy instead of her initial shyness.
Lu Xingzhou considered himself to be a man of good character even among scumbags.
Even if she was feeling incredibly frustrated, she was still a guest at Yu's home and couldn't do anything inappropriate.
The ordeal was so bad that Lin Fengyi couldn't get out of bed, which not only delayed their journey but also caused the young woman to lose face.
That's how he understood it.
Even after finishing breakfast with the Yu siblings, Lin Fengyi, with her head buried in her chest, still had bright red ears.
It seems that Lu Xingzhou's absurd behavior of "showing pity" for her last night had a profound impact on the young woman's mind.
After breakfast, Yu Fengzhu was about to go to the shop to start work.
Although he wasn't particularly talented, he was very obedient to his father.
Although I don't understand why Dad thinks so highly of this kid I've only met once, Dad told me to get closer to him, so I'll get closer to him.
"Xingzhou, nothing much to do? Want to come check out the shop with your second brother?"
The invitation, delivered without any prior warning and at an inopportune time, left Lu Xingzhou slightly taken aback.
Yu Fengzhi directly refused on his behalf: "Brother~~ Brother Lu still needs to check the men and supplies, and he has to leave after lunch. How come he doesn't have anything else to do!"
Lu Xingzhou smiled and said at the right moment, "Spring plowing is just around the corner, so I dare not delay any longer. There will be plenty of opportunities for us brothers to get closer in the future, so there's no need to rush."
Lu Xingzhou, who has spent his entire life in the grain business, believes that farming is probably the profession with the strongest planning and execution capabilities in the world.
Because while business owners might listen to your reasons for project delays, God won't.
Once the season is over, crops simply cannot be grown, no matter how much you explain it.
Yu Fengzhu's old face flushed red, and he smiled憨厚ly:
"Okay, I'll be going now!"
Yu Fengzhi shook her head, saying, "Second Brother's temperament is too dull. What will we do in the future?"
Yu Wendou was in poor health. His first wife, Qian, and eldest son had also passed away early. He had only this one son and one daughter among his several wives and concubines.
Lu Xingzhou thought about Yu Fengzhu's future, which would be very limited, and felt that Yu Fengzhi had a keen eye for talent.
But it's not appropriate to say it that way.
"My second brother's personality is perfect for maintaining the status quo. If he really encounters difficulties in the future, he'll still have his sister and brother-in-law to help him!"
Yu Fengzhi retorted, snorting, "Brother Lu~ Hanqing is four years younger than me, still a child! It's good enough if he doesn't upset Second Brother, how can he be of any help?"
Well, she was right again!
When Liu Zi grew up, he not only failed to help, but he also almost emptied the Yu family's coffers!
Lu Xingzhou didn't want to talk about this anymore: "I'm going to check on the front yard. I'll trouble you to look after your sister-in-law, sister."
"We're siblings, no need for formalities!"
Yu Fengzhi generously pulled the shy Lin Fengyi to the backyard to chat, while Lu Xingzhou went to the west side of the first courtyard to sit in the back room.
Sun, the steward who was carrying the water from the three rivers and checking the agricultural supplies in Niyang, explained the situation to him.
"Young Master, as you requested, I have recruited a total of 25 households with 153 people, including 49 able-bodied men who are 16 years of age or older."
In Zhengjiatun, a town with a population of less than 20,000, how could more than 100 people be brought in in just one night?!
Lu Xingzhou gained a direct understanding of the pioneering spirit of the people of Northeast China.
"I've prepared 200 sets of sickles, hoes, buckets, iron shovels, picks, and the like for you. Add to that 20 oxen, 20 draft horses, and 40 iron plows and rakes, and you can clear 2000 mu of land in ten days. It won't delay the spring planting."
"However, there are only 40 carts available, and they also need to transport the elderly, women, children, and repair materials. I've prepared half a month's worth of rations, feed, firewood, and charcoal for you. As for seeds and other supplies, we'll have to wait until the Xiliao River becomes navigable in ten days, and then the Second Young Master will personally lead a fleet to deliver them to you."
Lu Xingzhou expressed his understanding.
Huaxia Animal Husbandry has a very poor awareness of breeds; in fact, the better the horse, the more likely it is to be gelded, resulting in the performance of horses declining from generation to generation.
The only redeeming quality of the draft horses from Northeast China these days is their ability to withstand roughage.
It can only carry a maximum of 1500 jin (750 catties) on long journeys, which is far behind the well-known foreign varieties that can easily carry three or four tons of load. As someone deeply involved in agriculture, he will definitely make improvements in the future.
"Understood, thank you for your trouble, Butler Sun."
Butler Sun could tell whether people were genuinely respecting him or just being polite, and he had a very good impression of Lu Xingzhou.
"Hey~ It's my duty, young master, don't be so polite! Besides the 40 people driving the cart, there's not enough room for the farmhands and kids, so I've provided you with 30 Mongolian horses to help you get there. I guarantee you'll have a comfortable trip to the source of the Liao River!"
Sanjiangshui and Niyang, who had never owned 20 silver dollars in their lives, were already numb. The Yu family refreshed their understanding of the rich!
Something worth tens of thousands of dollars is being given away for free!
Why weren't they the ones who got to be the adopted nephew?!
That's outrageously extravagant!
Zhu Kaishan, who had been summoned by Huhu Shengfeng, wasn't too surprised to see these things.
Yu Wendou even felt that he had made a huge profit by sending 1 silver dollars worth of supplies to Lu Xingzhou to help him get started, and that he would receive hundreds of thousands of silver dollars in return in the future.
Lu Xingzhou found it strange.
Logically speaking, peanuts should sprout as soon as it gets light, so why is he only coming now?
"Mr. Zhu, those peanuts..."
Zhu Kaishan quickly waved his hand: "Those peanuts won't sprout at all, so the bet is obviously invalid."
A question mark slowly appeared above Lu Xingzhou's head.
You, with your thick eyebrows and big eyes, dare to play tricks on your young master Lu?
Zhu Kaishan suddenly changed the subject: "But I thought about it all night last night. I feel really bad about not doing something that would net me 600 silver dollars a year with all the food and drinks. So I might as well play house with you for two years!"
Looking at this money-grubbing fellow, Ni Yang was filled with displeasure.
Lu Xingzhou smiled knowingly: "Alright, then I'll have to trouble Mr. Zhu to take care of me from now on!"
Zhu Kaishan chuckled: "I'm really a rough man. Calling me 'sir' sounds really awkward. Just call me Old Zhu, boss!"
"Haha, alright, Uncle Zhu, let's look after each other from now on."
Zhu Kaishan, whose identity transition was extremely smooth, automatically and consciously led Ni Yang and Sanjiang Shui to inspect the supplies again.
His two sons, who came with him, behaved very differently.
The second son, Zhu Chuanwu, who was known as a walking hormone, was busy running around, and occasionally he would look at Lu Xingzhou with a respectful yet fiery gaze, which made Lu Xingzhou's buttocks tighten.
The eldest brother, Zhu Chuanwen, looked resentful and disgruntled, squatting to the side with his hands in his sleeves, watching coldly.
Lu Xingzhou thought this was normal.
The Zhu family were small landlords who employed six or seven farmhands. They hadn't been robbed by bandits, and while they might not have accumulated much wealth, they certainly had at least two thousand silver dollars.
Suddenly going from a pampered young master to a long-term laborer, it would be strange to be happy, right?
Steward Sun was thorough in his work, and Zhu Kaishan checked the records but found no oversights.
After lunch, Lu Xingzhou set off.
Outside the gate of the mansion.
After resting for a morning, Yu Wendou, having recovered, personally saw him off at the mansion gate, and even brought a magnificent Jinzhou horse with him.
"This is the best horse in the village. Even your Uncle Wu wanted it, but I wouldn't give it to you. I'm giving it to you today, wishing you great success!"
The meaning is excellent.
If the angel investor does a good job, Lu Xingzhou can't slack off either.
"Thank you for your kind words, sir. I, Xingzhou, guarantee that if I cannot make the hundred-mile waterway upstream and downstream of the Liaohe River flow smoothly within three years, I am willing to offer my head in return!"
Yu Wendou, fearing his youthful impetuosity, cautioned him, "Don't say such risky things. Remember to be careful and cautious, and don't be rash and lose your life. Take it easy, preserve your health, and proceed slowly. I can wait ten or eight years!"
Lu Xingzhou thought to himself, "Sir, you really can't wait."
"Enough talk, let's see how things go!"
Only those with a large and established business have the right to proceed steadily and surely. If you don't strive for progress at the beginning of your business, are you just waiting to be a stepping stone for others?
After seeing Lin Fengyi and Yu Fengzhi holding hands and saying goodbye reluctantly, they got into the carriage.
He made a half-hearted grabbing of the front bridge of the saddle with one hand, and then pushed off with his feet.
'Whoosh~'
He leaped and sat steadily on the back of the Jinzhou horse, which was 1.67 meters tall. Just by looking at his horsemanship, one could tell that what Wu Junsheng said in his letter was true.
Yu Wendou's eyes lit up. This child was indeed both literate and skilled in martial arts!
The farmhands felt a surge of confidence.
The new owner is really capable!
The fact that a simple act of mounting a horse can boost morale only shows that chaotic times have their own value judgment system.
Lu Xingzhou, his eyes sparkling with confidence, lightly tapped his heel against the flank of his horse and waved his hand forward:
"Set off!"