When Zhang Wangjia proposed to lease the mountain, he didn't mention the price, but it was clear that he meant to pay less than the market price or just a little more.
Song Tan accepted his kindness.
What he just said about leasing his own mountain land to Song Tan was referring to the slope below his house, which happened to be connected to the wasteland behind the mountain.
About twenty acres, which is one-sixth of this bowl-shaped mountain range. Mountains and forests are certainly not as good as fields, but Zhang Wang's family is capable. This piece of land is planted with kudzu roots and can make money.
Pueraria root was not planted intentionally at first.
However, there were a lot of kudzu vines growing in this forest. Aunt Zhang was clever. One winter, she dug up 100 to 200 kilograms of kudzu vines and brought them back. She dried more than ten kilograms of kudzu powder and, in addition to giving it to the children, she earned 1,800 yuan from the rest.
The next year, the couple deliberately cleared the land and buried more fertilizer to allow the wild kudzu roots to take root and spread quickly.
Now, every winter, the couple can earn tens of thousands of yuan from this.
Ten thousand yuan may not sound like a lot, but it’s free! You just need to put in the effort.
If you want to make money in this mountain, you have to invest a lot in the early stage, which is not cost-effective for the villagers.
So the two of them also interplanted some beans, watermelons, peanuts and so on. The harvest was really average, but with these, it was not a problem to earn another two or three thousand yuan.
Therefore, the old couple no longer went out to work, but instead took care of the fields at home peacefully.
Now it is early April and the green leaves of kudzu vines are sprouting. It is not a good time to dig kudzu roots. It is only suitable when winter comes.
Besides, digging kudzu roots and clearing the forests now would not be in time for the good farming season. Therefore, neither of them mentioned the current land lease.
But because of this consideration, Song Tan gave his advice with sincerity:
"Uncle Zhang, it's not enough for you to just take the money away. I would say you should hold on to the money tightly and don't give it to your children no matter what they say."
"If you feel the time is right, just donate it. Donations cannot be taken back. Doing good deeds will bring you good fortune in the next life."
There is no next life or not. Song Tan is cultivating immortality, not the underworld. The spiritual energy here is so thin, so she naturally cannot say for sure.
But for Zhang Wangjia, spiritual sustenance is better than anything else!
At this moment, he really reacted: "Yes, yes, yes! I donated it all in your aunt's name. I will accumulate blessings for her! I hope she will live a good life in her next life!"
His expression was one of visible admiration:
"You young people are more educated and know more."
Then he thought of another worry: "What if something happens to me?"
Who can say for sure
If the patient is diagnosed with an illness, it would be fine if they can arrange the funeral when they have time. But if they encounter a natural disaster, such as falling down on flat ground, or something like that…
He has thought about it so carefully. I guess Zhang Wangjia has really thought about it seriously and thoroughly.
Then think about it, people even went to the town to ask about the policy of severing ties...
Song Tan also answered seriously: "Then I will take you to the city when I have time, and we will make an appointment with a lawyer to write a will. Then, we will spend a few hundred dollars to get it notarized."
"When the time comes, how will you arrange your affairs after your death? How will you arrange the money? Under the national law, even your own children cannot get it back."
It was the first time that Zhang Wangjia had listened to such detailed instructions. At this moment, he was relieved: "Okay, okay, let's do it!"
After thinking for a while, he said, "Don't worry, I'll ask a lawyer to write a document. If anything goes wrong while I'm working for you, no one is allowed to blackmail me!"
Seeing that his back had straightened up a lot, he went home in high spirits.
Song Tan sighed, looked at the barren mountain that was almost in shape, and let out a long sigh.
There are so many things to do at home. Now that someone can come to do the work, it seems like a lot of the burden has been lifted off of me.
Song Sancheng was a little hesitant: "Tan Tan, didn't you discuss with your Grandpa Li not to pay him and ask him to look after the rice fields for us?"
"Your uncle Zhang gave me another two thousand. Should I tell him to keep it secret and not tell anyone?"
Song Tan laughed: "No need, Dad."
Zhang Wangjia's original intention was to vent his anger. If he was asked to hide, what was the point of his job? He might as well go out and find a job.
"We have so much work to do, we have to find some reliable people to do it. Let's talk about the salary first, so that they don't have to ask for too much. It's not appropriate and it hurts their feelings."
Working in the village, even though these short-term workers earn one or two hundred yuan a day, if you really want a long-term and stable salary, two thousand yuan is about the right amount.
After all, farm work is done when there is money, and can be delayed if there is no money. So after so many years, except for large-scale agricultural projects, I have never heard of anyone hiring long-term workers to do farm work.
This leads to the situation that those who are willing to endure hardship complain about low wages, while those who do not complain about low wages may not be willing to work. And if the wages are high, the farmers cannot afford it.
Song Sancheng took a puff of his cigarette and said, "I know this, but I'm afraid your Grandpa Li might not feel comfortable hearing this..."
What is worrying is not the scarcity of wealth but the inequality of wealth!
Song Tan shook his head: "My Grandpa Li has filial descendants. Besides, he doesn't do any hard work, he just helps out and comes for a stroll when he has nothing to do."
"If I offer a salary of 2,000 yuan for this job, wouldn't the other old men and women in the village be crazy about it? So we discussed it earlier. If he is willing, we won't ask for money, but just help deliver rice, flour, grain and oil. It will be more convenient than for him to buy them all by himself."
"By the end of the year, we can get another 20 kilograms of pork, and that'll be enough."
"If you don't like it, just say so."
Song Sancheng breathed a sigh of relief: "I know... As long as you explain it clearly."
He turned around and said proudly: "Look at how my daughter is doing things now, she is so organized, she is worthy of being my daughter!"
Song Tan: …
You are really my father. Your daughter has been in the society for less than two years since she came out of the ivory tower of university, and now her mind is so clear. Don’t you think about why
But she was also happy that the parents were relieved, and now she asked again:
"Dad, after tomorrow, I think the fields in front of the door will be almost finished. When the pond is released, the two rice fields below will have to be prepared."
"Then we have to sow the vegetable seeds and transplant the seedlings. The care of the mountain behind is entirely up to you."
Song Sancheng glanced at her and said, "Is there anything else I can do? I'm the only one taking care of it."
"Besides, your uncle Zhang will definitely come over tomorrow!"
"Oh, right," he remembered something else.
"Your uncle called and said that we will all go back to our hometown to visit the graves tomorrow. We have a large family, so don't forget to tell your grandma in the evening not to pick tea tomorrow morning, but to help cook a meal."