Lao Huang's family couldn't help but be overjoyed by the isatis root waiting to be harvested. In their eyes, it was not medicinal materials, but money. With hope in their hearts, they became more energetic in their work.
Lao Huang raised his sickle and asked Zhu Feng excitedly, "Boss Zhu Feng, how do you harvest this? Cut it all at the root?" Crops are cut at the root, and Lao Huang naturally thinks that this medicine is the same.
Zhufeng smiled and waved his hands: "That's not possible. This isatis root needs to be harvested from big green leaves and isatis root.
These big green leaves can be cut twice a year. The first time is in mid-June, and the second time is now. The best way to harvest the big green leaves is to cut them from the base half an inch above the ground." He said while demonstrating.
Then he added: "In early October, when the stems and leaves on the ground have withered, you can dig the roots underground. Remember to dig deep to avoid damaging the roots."
Lao Huang nodded: "Then let's cut the big green leaves now. What happens after? There are so many big green leaves, what should I do if I cut them?" In fact, he wanted to ask, has the buyer decided? After harvesting today, there will be
Money? But I didn’t have the nerve to ask directly.
Zhufeng naturally guessed what he was thinking and said: "Dried medicine is more expensive than raw medicine. This isatis root is easy to handle. After you harvest it, spread it out in a clean place and dry it until it is 70 to 80% dry. Then tie it into small bundles and continue to dry it."
Until completely dry.
The same is true when digging roots later. Remove the soil, reed heads, stems and leaves from the fresh roots, wash them, spread them in a clean place to dry until they are 70 to 80% dry, tie them into small bundles, and then dry them until they are completely dry, then put them directly into sacks.
Storage.”
"So simple?" Lao Huang was a little surprised. He thought that making dried medicine would be troublesome.
Zhufeng said: "Sun-drying sounds simple, but don't be careless. Daqingye should have large leaves, less broken, clean, dark green color, and no musty smell; Isatis root should have long, straight, thick, and solid roots.
, those with sufficient powderiness are better.
Excessive exposure will cause the leaves to turn yellow, break the leaves, and shrink the roots; insufficient exposure will cause mold to form. So you have to take care of it every day and don’t slack off."
Lao Huang suddenly nodded and said he understood.
...
Thirty-two pieces of land, thirteen households of tenant farmers, Zhufeng and Old Man Xu worked separately, and they were all finished in one day. Near evening, the two finally returned to Taoyaju.
At the dinner table, Zhufeng talked about the day's harvest, "Thirteen acres of land have been harvested today, and the rest will be harvested in September or October."
Then he looked at Qingyu. The head junior sister had previously said that she had her own plans for the medicinal materials, but she never made it clear what she was going to do.
Old man Xu continued: "I have to prepare to buy the next batch of medicinal seeds."
Currently, most of the medicinal materials currently in the field are not winter-planted, but there are also medicinal materials such as Platycodon, Bupleurum, and Atractylodes that are suitable for winter planting and spring harvest. After all the medicinal materials are harvested in October, the land will be vacant, which is perfect for planting.
Zhufeng nodded: "I also plan to buy medicinal seeds in the next two days." It's just the beginning. In the future, the more types of medicinal materials will be planted, the medicinal seeds can be kept by oneself, and there is no need to go to so much trouble to buy medicinal seeds.
.
Qingyu said: "I have other plans for the sale of medicinal materials. We will not sell them for the time being. All medicinal materials will be made into dry medicine.
In addition, we have to purchase medicinal materials on a large scale. The purchase price of medicinal materials in Yinzhou is low. Dad and Grandpa Xu can discuss our price. It should not be too high, but it must be higher than the current price in Yinzhou."
"Purchase medicinal materials?" Zhufeng and Old Man Xu were both surprised. Zhufeng thought for a while, "Do we want to be our own pharmacist and open a pharmacy?"
Qingyu smiled slightly, "Yes, and no."
Everyone at the table was confused, but Shi An was smiling.
"The more, the better?" Zhufeng asked again.
Qingyu nodded and said, "My dad will definitely be too busy on his own. We need to find some farmers who know the medicinal materials. Although we can't collect them in all villages and towns, we can collect as much as we can."
Old man Xu said: "I will go back to the mountains tomorrow. There are many medicinal farmers in the mountains. They will be very happy to give them some money for running errands." After all, who can have trouble with money.
"Old man, just rest and I will go," Zhufeng refused. The road in the mountains is not easy to walk, and as a man in his eighties, old man Xu has no choice but to run around again.
"I can still do it." Old Man Xu patted his legs anxiously, "I can still walk."
"You have to rest even if you can't walk." Zhufeng said with a smile: "And this trip will take more than half a month at least. I also need you to help take care of the medicine field, in case the tenant farmers encounter something.
What's the problem?"
After saying this, Old Man Xu no longer persisted. After thinking about it, he said: "Then I will choose some people for you, all of whom are trustworthy and reliable."
Xu Lan looked apologetic: "I'm familiar with the mountains..." But Juxianzhai was still busy, and she really couldn't spare the time.
"You are busy with your business." Zhufeng shook his head. Then he discussed the purchase price with Old Man Xu.
"I think it is 30% higher than the price at Yinzhou Medicine Store, so it should be about the same." Old man Xu has been selling medicinal materials for decades and knows the price, so 30% higher is actually the ideal price in his mind.
Qingyu reminded: "The purchase mainly focuses on common trauma medicinal materials."
Zhufeng had doubts in his heart, but he decided to do it. After the meal was finished, he got off the table and went with Old Man Xu to decide on the medicinal materials to be purchased and the purchase price of the medicinal materials.
Hongtao yawned and got off the table, "There have been a lot more people coming to Tongyuan to look at houses recently. I've been running around all day today and I'm really tired. I'm going to rest first."
Everyone else at the table advised her to take a rest quickly, and then Wen Ya and Shi An cleared the table and dishes, while Xu Lan discussed with Qing Yu about Juxian Zhai.
"I've already gone to Qian Er Er to look at the location of the store, so it shouldn't be a big problem. I also asked a few rural vegetable farmers today, and I plan to go to the countryside tomorrow to have a look and compare prices.
The other thing is the clerk and the accountant, I'm a little unsure." Especially the accountant and the person in charge of the money are not very knowledgeable, so they are really a little unreliable.
Qingyu nodded slightly, "Leave all the candidates for Juxian Zhai to me. In addition, you must decide on the food list first. With the food list, everything can be prepared accordingly."
Xu Lan said: "I have already written the food list, and I have only prepared a hundred items for the time being. I want to wait for half a year before replacing it with a new one.
It's just that the price has to be decided by the third lady. I'll get the food list." Then he hurried out of the dining room and returned to the house, and soon came back with four orders.
Qingyu took the food list and looked at it, very satisfied: "Fortunately, you also know a lot about medicinal materials. This food list is well prepared."
Xu Lan pursed her lips and smiled, extremely happy.
...
Early the next morning, Zhufeng carried his baggage and went out alone; Wen Ya and Hong Tao also went to their respective territories; followed by Xu Lan, who also carried a bag and prepared to go to the countryside to find a vegetable farmer. Old man Xu couldn't sit still at home, so he also followed
The granddaughter goes out together.
Xu Lan thought that he was going to the countryside with her, so she persuaded him: "Master, go play with your friends. I can do it alone."
But old man Xu said: "I'm going to Pingpo Village to look at the medicinal fields. Anyway, I have nothing to do."
Xu Lan made a sound, thought for a while, and then said: "By the way, I'd like to ask if anyone raises livestock over there."
Old man Xu said hello, and seeing Xu Lan's smile on his face, he couldn't help but sigh: "I've been here for three months, and I'm really happy to see you this time."
Xu Lan laughed, "Really? I am very happy now. I have found something I can do."
Old man Xu was very pleased. He thought for a moment and then said: "The job of a cook is a man's job. If Juxianzhai wants to grow bigger, he will definitely recruit other cooks, but don't be timid. Your cooking skills are better than anyone else's."
Everyone is strong."
Xu Lan chuckled. Although she knew that grandpa was deliberately praising her, she was still very happy, "Grandpa, don't worry. The third lady said that I will definitely become a famous person in the future."
－－－－－－Digression－－－－－
I finally know that I can’t talk too much in the future, otherwise it will hurt my piapia when I slap my face. Actually, it’s nothing, it’s just that my head hurts due to the sudden carding. Emm... One more update today, which makes me feel a little less embarrassed. Try my best.