Chapter 367 Buying land and raising fish ponds
"You want to dig a fish pond?"
The old village chief looked surprised, and then persuaded:
"Girl Ran, this fish pond is not easy to raise! No one in our village has ever raised a fish pond. I heard that someone in Chenjia Village next door raised a fish pond. But for some reason, one day the pond was suddenly full of fish. They all turned white, and the losses were heavy! The man did not believe in evil, so he gritted his teeth and bought a batch of fry and put them in, but most of them were eaten by the ducks and geese in the village. The remaining ones were finally grown to be three fingers wide. It rained heavily and everyone rushed out again. Alas, raising fish is more difficult than farming!"
Qiao Ran asked: "Grandpa, village chief, I have planned to dig three fish ponds, which can raise fish and store water for farmland irrigation. It doesn't matter whether the fish can be raised, but it is always good to have ponds to store water. In the future It’s convenient for the villagers to wash things and other things in the pond. But my family only needs two fish ponds, and there is one left. Doesn’t anyone want it?”
The old village chief shook his head: "No one will want it. Everyone is focused on planting the land well and harvesting more food. Only when there is food at home will they not panic. As for the fish, they used to be caught in the river. When the water rises, In the end, you can also catch rising fish in the fields. This fish has many thorns, is fishy, and has no oil and water. It is not as delicious as pork and mutton. Except for restaurants and wealthy families who have chefs who can make fish delicious, ordinary people I just try to catch one or two from the river when there is no meat to eat, so who would dig fish ponds to raise fish?"
He further advised: "Ran Yatou, if you think it is necessary to dig a pond to store water, then let everyone dig it together and use it to store water in the future. You must not bother raising fish by yourself. There is no way. Throw all the money into the pond and let it go down the drain."
Qiao Ran smiled and said: "Grandpa, village chief, I have already decided. I will try to raise some small fry. It won't cost anything. Don't worry. Then I will buy those two pieces of land! I can dig a pond." I will pay you the labor when you have time to dig after sowing in the spring."
"Oh, you girl, what did you say?"
The old village chief got angry and twitched his beard: "The land in the valley is all wasteland now. What can we buy? Just take it if you want! As for the wages, what you did for us guys, where is the help?" Can you dig two fish ponds to make up for it? Everyone owes you so much kindness, and you still worry about not having a chance to repay it. What kind of wages should you pay? Then let them dig it for you and let everyone repay you a little. I feel better."
Qiao Ran insisted: "Grandpa, village chief, there is no rule without rules. Our village will take root here in the future, and the rules in the village must be established to avoid confusion over some things. For example, buying land, this Everything within a ten-mile radius of the valley belongs to our village, but it does not belong to each family, but to the village collective. Therefore, whoever wants to buy land or mountains must spend money to buy it and establish a written agreement. In this way, in the future There’s no need to argue, just follow the rules and there won’t be any trouble.”
The old village chief nodded: "I know this, but aren't you the special one? You are the great benefactor of all the people in Qingshui Village. Because of you, we can escape here safely. Everyone has received so many favors from you, but it's just Two pieces of wasteland and two fish ponds to help you dig, and I still ask you for money, isn't that ungrateful? If you give me money, we guys won't accept it!"
"Grandpa, village chief, you can't make an exception for me! I'm afraid that someone will use this to make trouble in the future and make everyone unhappy. It's better to follow the rules and no one can say anything in the future."
Qiao Ran thought clearly, people's hearts are unpredictable, although the people in these villages are indeed very simple and kind, and they all remember the kindness of her family.
But there is no guarantee that people's hearts will not change, and in the future the young men in the village will marry new wives, and it is also difficult to say that no one will think it is unfair in the future. It will be bad if there are any bad conflicts in a few years or more than ten years.
She likes to be frank when doing things herself and doesn't like to owe favors. She never likes to leave things that can be solved with money until later.
Therefore, if you spend a little money now, you can solve the big troubles that may arise in the future. Why not?
Seeing her insistence, the old village chief had no choice but to say:
"Okay! Now these are wastelands and not worth much money. You can just pay more than ten cents for those two pieces of land. In the future, if you let them help dig fish ponds, you can just give them a few cents. , let me see who dares to say anything?”
Qiao Ran laughed: "It's better not to give me this little money! The village chief really doesn't have to save money for me. I can make money, and I will make money with you in the future. This little money is nothing." Yes. I will buy those two pieces of land at one tael per piece! As for the wages, we will see when the time comes."
The old village chief shook his head helplessly: "You girl, how can grandpa save money for you? I know you are a capable person, and your ability to make money will be great in the future. But it is your business to make money, and we guys can't. Because you can make money, I take advantage of you! Where are those two pieces of wasteland worth two taels of silver? This entire valley and the extra surrounding mountains are all earned by you, and you deserve not to give me a penny. We I have to thank you.”
Qiao Ran couldn't help but take out two taels of silver and stuff it into the old village chief's hand: "Grandpa village chief, it's settled! Let's sign another land deed, and then these two pieces of land will be given to me."
"Hey, you kid!"
The old village chief couldn't resist this stubborn little girl, so he had to sign a land deed with her in duplicate, and both parties had their thumbprints.
The village has not yet been built, and the land deed cannot be stamped by the government, but with this land deed, it can at least prove that Qiao Ran paid for the two pieces of land.
During dinner in the evening, when the Qiao family learned that Qiao Ran had spent two taels of silver to buy two pieces of wasteland to dig a pond and raise fish, Mrs. Qiao didn't say anything. Ranran had big ideas and never made mistakes in her decisions. Knowing that my vision is not as high as that of my eldest granddaughter, I won't mess with it and let the younger generations do it!
Qiao Erhe, Qiao Sanhu and Qiao Dong listened and agreed very much.
"Ran Ran, just tell us what to do, and we will listen to you from now on!"
"Yes! Ranran, you have a lot of ideas. We will all follow your lead. We will fight wherever you point us and we will never hold you back."
Qiao Erhe and Qiao Sanhu were the first to express their stance.
Qiao Dong also said: "Then I will be responsible for cutting grass and feeding the fish from now on. I heard that people in Chenjia Village raise fish ponds by cutting some grass and throwing it into the pond every day for the fish to eat, and the fish will grow up."
Qiao Nan and Qiao Xi also said that they can cut fish grass to feed the fish after school.
Chen Huiniang and others also smiled and expressed their support, asking Qiao Ran to speak up if they needed anything.
Even Xiaobei and the other little guys clamored to cut the grass and contribute to their sister's fish farming business.
His decision to kill first and tell later was unanimously supported by the whole family, and Qiao Ran felt very warm in her heart.
No one in this family will question her decision, allowing her to do what she wants to do with confidence.
Two days later, Butler Zhou and the men from the blacksmith shop came to deliver farm tools.
The people of Qingshui Village were very happy to see two carriages full of brand-new iron farm tools.
With these sharp new farm tools, the remaining wasteland will soon be cultivated, and then we can start to rake, level the land, and put in water for sowing.
While delivering the new farm tools to the people of Qingshui Village, Butler Zhou also wanted to take the old farm tools lent to them and send them to the people in the village. After all, spring sowing will start soon, and everyone will start to get busy.
The old village chief decided to take away the new farm tools to Butler Zhou. They left the old farm tools behind. After all, the borrowed items had been used for so long and were somewhat worn.
However, Housekeeper Zhou refused to take it no matter what and insisted on taking the old farm tools back with him.
Qiao Ran left Butler Zhou to stay for dinner and then watched him get into the carriage. He asked curiously: "Uncle Zhou, has Mr. Mo not come back yet? Have you received any news about when he will come back?"
It seems that they are about to arrive at the Lantern Festival. Mr. Mo has not come back yet, and it is not known whether the poison in his body has taken effect.
When we parted last time, she told him that she would find the antidote as soon as possible so that he could detoxify as soon as possible.
Because the toxins in his body have been fighting for so many years, he has begun to lose his balance.
She expected that his virus attacks would become more and more frequent in the future, and the conditions during the attacks would become more and more serious. It was possible that one or several toxins could disrupt the balance at any time, and there would be no cure.
Butler Zhou sighed, with deep worry in his eyes:
"Alas! No! My master's trip to look for red fire ants requires him to go out of customs and take a boat to a far, far away island. It has been almost two months since he left, and he doesn't know when he will be able to come back. , I hope the young master is safe and returns as soon as possible!"
