The Humble Family's Daughter Has A Spatial Pocket!-Chapter 1047 - 880, Wait and See_2

Daohua nodded, "We haven’t raised cattle and sheep before after all. See if you can hire a few herdsmen to help out."

Cao Chuan replied, "This servant has noted it down."

Daohua went to the grass planting area and saw that the grass had sprouted from the soil, nodding her approval, "We had fewer seeds this year, next year we’ll strive to plant the entire ranch with grass."

Speaking of which, she looked towards Cao Chuan.

"This patch of grass is growing better than I expected. If the cattle, sheep, and camels adapt well, we can consider buying more to raise."

Cao Chuan nodded again to indicate his acknowledgment.

Afterward, Daohua arrived at the bank of the Dan River.

Since Daohua had purchased the hillslope opposite the ranch, to facilitate passage, she had Cao Chuan build three bridges – left, right, and center.

The river was at a low ebb, which fortunately facilitated the construction. At this moment, the central bridge was already built.

Daohua crossed the bridge and examined the progress of converting the hillslope into terraced fields.

Yan Shouhou had hired a large number of the local populace and supplied various tools. The hillslope with the gentlest slope and shortest height had been transformed into terraced fields.

At this moment, a group of farmhands were pushing wheelbarrows, applying fertilizer to each of the terraced fields.

In the Ganzhou Guard area, spring plowing generally started after mid-February. To avoid delaying sowing, Yan Shouhou was now urging everyone to speed up the pace.

Although the labor was intense, Xiao Residence provided three meals a day, ensuring full bellies, and every third day at noon, there was even meat to taste. Wages were settled daily, and the nearby populace competed to come over for work.

...

While Daohua was observing the progress in transforming the terraces, many people were also watching; there were commoners, officials from the guard posts, and wealthy individuals of the Ganzhou Guard. Even Xia Jianren was paying attention.

Initially, everyone thought Madam of Xiao Residence was nuts for spending so much effort to buy a barren ranch and five useless barren hills.

Yet, seeing the area of Qingyang Ranch alongside the Dan River turn greener bit by bit left many astonished.

It’s known that there were many ranches along the Dan River, with quite extensive areas to boot. However, due to the lack of water, it was impossible to plant grass, and now many had fallen into disuse.

Now, someone had actually managed to grow grass, how could it not be surprising?

Xia Jianren had the strongest reaction. After the Dan River had dried up, he struggled with his ranch, planting various grasses, to ill effect – the germination rates were very low, the growth was poor, and he could barely support a few cattle and sheep.

A ranch occupying 50,000 mu yielded only a handful of cattle and sheep annually, leaving him disheartened.

Yet unexpectedly, Madam of Xiao took over the ranch and managed to grow the grass.

Xia Jianren was full of regret, and like others who owned ranches, he sent people to inquire. When Cao Chuan received Daohua’s orders, he didn’t hide anything, merely stating the main house had cultivated a new grass seed type.

Many expressed a wish to purchase, but Cao Chuan outright refused, "The Xiao Family has just arrived in Xiliang and the cultivated seeds are only enough for their own use. Everyone may wait. If there are extra grass seeds in the future, Four Seasons Grain Store will sell them."

Upon hearing this piece of information, the wealthy households and guard post officials who were slightly dissatisfied with Four Seasons Grain Store selling grain at low prices and preparing to argue with Xiao Yeyang, all spontaneously shut their mouths.

They had also bought some of the grain seeds, and whether they yielded high or low, they would know this year.

But the high-germination, drought-resistant grass seeds were something they had witnessed themselves. Since Four Seasons Grain Store was capable of bringing benefits, naturally, they wouldn’t go against it.

The next issue was the transformation of terraced fields.

Their utility in converting barren hillsides into terraced fields was not yet clear to them, but they could see the increase in planting area.

"Barren hills are just that, barren. No matter how large the planting area, if it doesn’t yield crops, it’s useless."

"Even if the grain yield provided by the Xiao Residence is higher, the investment is too great. It’s uncertain whether the cost can be recovered."

Everyone was watching and waiting to see if the Xiao Residence would actually grow crops before deciding whether to follow suit.

...

Whether it was the ranch or the terraced fields project, Daohua didn’t deliberately hide it, and the Dong Family knew that the Yan Family was skilled in farming. Hearing the news, Madam Dong really wanted to join, but unfortunately, she had no silver. frёewebηovel.cѳm

Liu Xiaoman saw her mother-in-law’s frown and asked about it. After learning the reason, she supported her waist and returned to her room. Shortly after, she came out with a wooden box: "Mother, here."

Madam Dong looked at the wooden box and her face immediately fell: "This is your dowry, you should keep it well."

Liu Xiaoman stuffed the box into Madam Dong’s hands: "Mother, I may not know much, but if you think it’s beneficial for our family to follow my sister-in-law’s lead, then we should do it."

"I’m now a daughter-in-law of the Dong Family. If you don’t think of me as family, then don’t accept it."

Madam Dong looked at Liu Xiaoman helplessly: "Aren’t you afraid that your dowry silver will be thrown away to no avail?"

Liu Xiaoman laughed: "Mother has more experience than I do. I trust you, and I also trust my sister-in-law. She’s the Crown Princess of the Prince Residence; whatever she does is bound to succeed. Even if it’s wasted in the end, I still have my husband, who will provide for me and the child in my belly."

Madam Dong looked at the wooden box and fell silent for a while: "Our family does indeed need the capital to get started. I won’t stand on ceremony then."

Liu Xiaoman smiled and nodded vigorously: "We’re family; there’s no need for politeness. But Mother, I don’t have much silver, only a few thousand taels. Can it help the family?"

Madam Dong nodded: "Of course, it can. We can’t afford big barren hills and ranches, but we can buy smaller ones."

Hearing this, Liu Xiaoman was reassured.

At night when Dong Yuanxuan returned, Madam Dong discussed Liu Xiaoman taking out the dowry silver with him.

Dong Yuanxuan fell silent for a while: "Mother, accept it. Sister Yan has researched farming extensively. She wouldn’t be invested so heavily in terms of financial and human resources if she was unsure."

"As for Xiaoman’s dowry, we’ll give her more once we’ve earned more money."

With her son’s agreement, Madam Dong was no longer conflicted: "Since you have good information at the Guard, ask around for a suitable barren hill or ranch. Ideally, it should be next to the Xiao Family."

Dong Yuanxuan nodded: "I’ll make note of it, Father."

After washing up, Dong Yuanxuan returned to the room. Liu Xiaoman had become quite sleepy during her pregnancy and was already asleep at this time.

Dong Yuanxuan lay down gently beside her and, reaching out, he touched Liu Xiaoman’s belly, feeling an extraordinary peace in his heart. It didn’t take long before he too drifted into sleep.

Liu Xiaoman had no comparison to the sheltered ladies and noblewomen he had encountered before. She was more than a match for him, an exile and a divorced man.

What was most precious was her devoted heart for him.

He should be content!