Besides, in Luohe Prefecture, after receiving the letter from Zhou Scholar, You Jin hurriedly arranged the affairs at hand. The carriage I bought went south.
Tea Township, as the name suggests, grows tea for a living. Compared with the tea gardens in the Suzhou-Hangzhou area, the tea leaves in the tea villages are picked a little later, which is different from the saying before the Ming Dynasty and after the rain.
Youjin had already visited the tea village in February, but it was the time when spring tea was sprouting, and it was impossible to buy a suitable tea mountain. Besides, most people were used to growing tea by themselves. An accident was in a hurry to get money, and he didn't want to sell the tea garden that the whole family depended on for survival, so Youjin stayed in the tea town for more than ten days and couldn't find a suitable tea garden, so he had to change his mind and ask Zhou The scholar looked for a hill near the tea town that was suitable for planting tea, and then found a few veteran tea growers. She wanted to find a tea garden of the Su family in the tea town.
Although Zhou Scholar is a scholar, he also knows that his talent is only for Tongsheng's sake. After he is admitted to Tongsheng, he no longer regards reading as his only focus. What Youjin entrusted him to do was done quickly.
"According to Miss Su's request, there are continuous hills here, with a total of 379 acres of hills. If all tea trees are planted, the cost of the saplings alone may be a huge expense." Zhou Shusheng Taking You Jin one after another on the uneven mountain road, he introduced the situation of this tea mountain to her: "This tea mountain is also an unowned wasteland. If Miss Su wants to buy it, I will also talk to the Yamen. People have inquired about it, including taxes and fees, one tael per mu of land."
The price of buying a barren mountain is about the same, but the location of the hill that Zhou Shusheng chose was excellent. The official road that bypassed the previous hill was very cheap if tea was to be transported in the future.
Youjin nodded slightly and asked, "Where is the water source?" If there is no water source for the nearly 400-acre tea mountain, the irrigation of the tea garden will also be a big problem in the future.
"The source of water is just ahead. There are several springs in this hill. As long as you dig bigger, the water will be enough." Since Scholar Zhou was able to choose this place, he naturally had to consider many aspects.
The two walked around the mountain one after the other, and talked one after another. When they came down from the mountain, Uncle Song, who was behind his girl, felt that his back was sweating and it was too hot. Looking at his girl's radiant expression, Uncle Song couldn't help but sigh that he was getting old. Seeing that the master was far away again, he hurriedly followed.
Zhou Shusheng is also a well-known yacha in the county government. You Jin has already decided to buy this land, but he exchanged the red deed and handed it back to You Jin in two days. In addition, many part-time workers were found to start cleaning up the tea mountain.
It takes a lot of effort to clean up the nearly 400 acres of tea hills, but the people who are used to working in the tea villages are also experienced in repairing the tea hills. All work is in an orderly manner under the negotiation between Zhou Shusheng and You Jin. unfolding.
Scholar Zhou has already contacted the saplings needed for tea planting. As long as the tea hills are repaired and the manure that has been composted the day before has been dug and buried, they can arrange to plant them.
You Jin doesn't know much about the cultivation of tea trees. He only made up some knowledge about tea planting in the past two months, but the general direction still depends on Scholar Zhou. The so-called employment is not suspicious. Most of the reasonable opinions put forward have been adopted, and the two of them are very happy to cooperate in this way.
On this trip, Youjin stayed in the tea town for nearly a month. Not only did he repair the tea mountain, but he also bought the newly bought Daye Oolong and Biluochun each 100 mu, Dahongpao and Baihao Yinzhen each 50 acres. Mu, and another 70 acres are planted with a tea tree called Meirenxiang, which is popular in the tea town.
They also found someone to build a big mansion with two entrances and two exits at the foot of Chashan. The area is similar to the area of Su's house in Wuliqiao, but it was not cleaned up much, it was just a clean and flat farmyard. Two rows of green brick houses were also built next to the house as dormitories for the tea workers of the Su Family Tea Garden. After all, the Su Family Tea Garden is so big that it would take more than a dozen people to look after the growth of the tea trees on weekdays. I'm afraid there will be more people.
In addition, under the suggestion of Scholar Zhou, a tea-frying workshop covering an area of about three acres was built to prepare for tea picking next year. There are so many things to count. During the month he stayed in the tea town, Young Jin had already spent a third of the 10,000 taels lent to him by Xiao Linyu.
"Girl, do we want to keep someone here to watch? After all, there are three or four hundred acres of tea gardens!" Uncle Song was still a little worried. After all, they were recruited locally. If they returned to Luohe Prefecture, I'm afraid that even the tea seedlings can be plucked out!
You Jin nodded, although there was Scholar Zhou who could occasionally help take care of Gu Yi or two, but he still had to have his own people here, so he explained his calculations: "I originally thought about letting Song Hua go to Houjiawan. I went over there, but now it seems to be more important here, Song Hua has been practicing with you for a while, what does Uncle Song think?"
When he heard that the eldest girl was going to hand over such an important matter to her son, Uncle Song said, "Thank you eldest girl for your admiration for Song Hua, but that child is always uncertain, and I am afraid that he will cause trouble for the girl... "Although I know this is a rare opportunity, if my son messes things up, that's a bigger sin.
"Song Hua is almost sixteen now, so he should come out and practice a few times. Besides, Luohe Prefecture is not too far away. If there is anything, it is convenient to send a letter back, isn't it?" You Jin felt that This is a good opportunity to practice. Song Huaren is smart and will come to the rescue. If he has a good experience, he may be able to help a lot in the future.
Uncle Song kowtowed heavily: "Old slave generation Song Hua, thank you girl!" Young Jin hurriedly called someone up: "Uncle Song, you are too polite!" Xin, after another ten days, Song Hua, who was carrying a burden, also arrived at the tea town in a carriage.
During these ten days, You Jin, Zhou Scholar, Uncle Song and others also bought back 17 young and strong laborers, and hired four old tea farmers in the tea village to teach these workers how to care for the tea trees, waiting for Song Hua When I arrived, I only saw a hill that was still bare in the past, and there were scattered groups of people on the top who didn't know what they were doing.
"Brother!" Qiao'er at the foot of the mountain was the first to see her brother, whom she hadn't seen for nearly a month and a half, and waved to him happily, then quickly ran over: "I heard the eldest girl say you're coming, so it's a good idea. Waiting for you!" Breathlessly, he took his brother into the newly built house, put his luggage in the house in the front yard that the eldest girl had arranged before, and then took him up the mountain.
Seeing that the little girl who hasn't seen her for more than a month has gotten a lot of tan, Song Hua asked with a smile, "Qiaoer, what are you doing with the eldest girl? Why are you black like a briquettes?"
Although Qiao'er is still young, how can there be a little girl who doesn't love beauty? Hearing him say that, he pouted, "Brother!"
The two brothers and sisters laughed and went up the mountain. At this moment, You Jin was taking a group of workers with a few old tea farmers to study hard. Seeing Song Hua coming, he hurriedly waved to him: "Just in time for you to come, let's listen together."
Song Hua saw the girl, and the expression on his face became serious: "Yes!" Then he squatted and listened beside a few tea workers who gave up some positions. Although he didn't understand, it was better than being serious. I also remember some.
Young Jin specially bought three middle-aged women who were specially responsible for cooking. They were responsible for cooking for the workers at home every day, which was very convenient. On the night Song Hua arrived, the four master and servant had a sumptuous dinner together, and then Young Jin rested early. On the other hand, Uncle Song talked to Song Hua and his son late at night. Uncle Song knew that his son had been by his side since he was a child. He had a good character and a smart person, but when he thought of keeping his son so far away from him, he always felt a little shy. Don't worry.
He took Song Hua and introduced them to Scholar Zhou and others in the tea town. Because he was a confidant left by the master, and Song Hua was very good at coming, he and the workers of the tea garden of the Su family were in a few days. They are all mixed up. After staying for a few days, seeing that everything was fine with Song Hua, Young Jin's master and servant returned to Luohe Prefecture.
When Youjin and the others returned to Wuli Bridge, they had already left Wuli Bridge for two months. During this period, five or six letters from the capital had been piled up, and Su Shi and others were eagerly waiting for Young Jin to come back every day. After all, no one expected her to come back after such a long delay.
"When I left, I was so easy-going. I thought I would be back in a few days, but I never thought I'd been gone for two months! The whole person is a lot darker and thinner!" 's daughter, Su Shi complained bitterly: "I'm afraid we are not in front of you, you are so busy that you can't even eat?"
Young Jin, who was sitting next to the Su family, listened to the lesson honestly. Seeing the tiredness on her daughter's face, Su family couldn't bear to scold her, and said, "That's it, just go back to wash and rest! I'll have dinner later. I'll call you again."
Young Jin, who had been in the carriage for several days, was naturally happy and relaxed. After taking a bath, he was wearing thin clothes before going to sleep, but when he saw a lot of letters on his desk, he picked it up out of curiosity and sat on the kang. Looking at it at random, I found that all the letters were written by Xiao Linyu: "This person is really busy!" He laughed and scolded, and fell asleep without reading the letter.
Young Jin left a few days after the Dragon Boat Festival, and when he returned, the Mid-Autumn Festival was almost here. The little girls in the Su family are all eager to see the eldest sister, but my mother said that the eldest sister had been on the road for a few days, so they could not quarrel with the eldest sister, so they had to wait in the front yard obediently. Sister get up.
"Eldest sister is awake!" I don't know when I slipped quietly into the backyard, and when no one noticed, Xiaoba, who entered Youngjin's room, sat on Youngjin's bed with round eyes, looking at the sleeping eldest sister, seeing her Opening his eyes, he jumped into her arms happily.
Just opened his eyes, and the superior Young Jin was taken aback by the little thing that suddenly slammed into his arms, and instantly sobered up a lot: "Little Eight, let the eldest sister wake up first, okay?"
Xiao Ba Lai was in her arms for a while before she reluctantly let go of her. After pinching Xiao Ba's little fleshy face, he sat up and looked at the half-dark sky outside through the glazed window. Only then did he realize that he had slept for a long time, and he slept with a sense of fatigue in his bones.
The maid outside Cao Guo heard the movement in the eldest girl's room, so she brought hot water in: "The eldest girl is up?" Seeing two girls, one big and one small, sitting on the bed, she smiled and said, "Just now The wife also said that the eighth girl will disappear if she looks wrong, so she came to the eldest girl."
"You take the girl to the front first, I'll clean up and go over here." Handing Xiaoba to Cao Guo, he took the hot handkerchief handed over by Cao Guo, wiped his face, and cleaned up before leaving. Go to the front yard.