The village chief and his family were very happy to learn that Shen Ling had passed the boy's preliminary examination. Mrs. Lin even turned away and secretly wiped away her tears.
"This is such a good thing, there's nothing to shed tears about. It's time to celebrate!"
The village chief's face glowed red.
He said that this boy Shen was different from other boys in the village. He was born with a talent for reading. He might be able to pass the examination like Shen De in the future!
"Grandpa, village chief, you have just passed the preliminary examination, so it's a little early to celebrate."
Zhuang Keqing knew that the village chief was sincerely happy for Shen Ling, so he smiled with a smile on his face, and then explained: "In another month we have to go out and take the exam again. Only after we pass that exam can we be qualified to take the scholar exam."
The village chief could never have imagined that after going through so much trouble, he would only be able to qualify for the exam. He immediately felt that it was not easy to be a scholar.
He originally thought that now that the conditions in the village were better, he could build a school in the future. Then all the children would start studying, and he might have a glorious ancestor who would be promoted to a scholar. But who would have thought that studying and testing for merit would be so complicated.
It’s not easy for a farmer to get ahead!
I think back then, the Shen family was one of the richest families in the village. Over the years, they could only support Shen De. It is not easy for these skinny kids in the village to get ahead!
But no matter what, the village now is not better than before, but it has more hope than before.
The old man and the young man hadn't seen each other for a long time, and they had a good chat. The village chief was a lot older, but the furthest he had gone was Songling Town, so he listened with gusto to Zhuang Keqing's experiences along the way.
While chatting in the mood, I heard Li You calling from outside. When I went out, I saw that it was Pan Da, the shopkeeper of Five Blessings, who was here.
Shopkeeper Pan didn't take a carriage this time, but he was very down-to-earth and drove a donkey cart by himself. At this time, he saw Zhuang Keqing who came out with the village chief, and greeted him in surprise.
"Village chief, oh? Miss Zhuang is here too."
"Hello, great shopkeeper."
Zhuang Keqing smiled and said hello.
Just now I was thinking of going to the winery to pick up the lees, but someone here came, which saved me a lot of trouble.
Outside, Li You helped open the courtyard door and led the little donkey in.
As soon as he entered the yard, shopkeeper Pan jumped out of the car and greeted the village chief with his hands in hand.
"How come you have time to come here? Isn't the wine shop busy?"
The village chief seemed to know the other person very well, and he asked questions casually.
"I'm busy, why am I not busy? No matter how busy I am, I still have to give you some good things!"
As he spoke, Shopkeeper Pan turned around and let out a few jars pulled up on the cart, "My boss has specifically asked me to deliver the first batch of raw wine to you first."
As expected of the big shopkeeper who followed the owner of Wufuji, he opened his mouth with complaints and flattery, which made the old man smile and narrow his eyes.
Original wine?
Zhuang Keqing's heart moved. Now that the wine has come out, the lees...
The village chief on the side put aside his son's hand that wanted to unload the wine from the car, walked to the car, looked at the six large jars neatly lined up on it, and his eyes were as if he had seen some rare treasure, which was delicious in his mouth. I still have to say a few words of evasion.
"It's not worth it. It's too precious."
The big shopkeeper had known that the village chief was a good drinker, so he laughed and said with relief: "My boss asked me to do this before he left. You must accept it and let me complete a beautiful job at least, right?"
These words were round and full, emphasizing the old village chief's intention to remember his employer.
Zhuang Keqing stood aside in admiration, thinking that no wonder the village chief could praise Zuo Jin like this in front of her. Who could not remember this diligent and appropriate person?
He is really a powerful businessman and has his own way of winning people's hearts.
"Come in and talk, come in and talk."
After getting a few jars of good wine, the village chief was in high spirits. He spread his hands sideways and invited shopkeeper Pan into the house to drink tea and talk.
"Then it's annoying."
After entering the house, the two chatted about the winery. After learning that the latest batch of potato wine had been sealed and put into the cellar, Zhuang Keqing asked every detail.
"Shopkeeper Pan, are you satisfied with the quality of the first batch of wine you've made?"
"Satisfied, naturally satisfied!"
For this winery, Wufuji not only spent a lot of money to buy wine steaming equipment, but also hired two experienced winemakers. Now the wine is fragrant and mellow, better than what Zhuang Keqing brewed before.
Even better.
"That's good."
Zhuang Keqing's eyebrows arched, and then he asked: "I wonder if the shopkeeper has preserved the lees? I just discussed with the village chief about when to get it."
Shopkeeper Pan was involved in the winery contract all the way. Of course he knew that Erli Village wanted to purchase the distiller's grains, but he never figured out what the use of the distiller's grains was.
It's not that he wants to know any secrets, it's just that these days in the winery, he has witnessed with his own eyes the process of the steamed wine changing from strong to light. Even the winemakers said that the tail wine tastes light and sour, and is actually of low quality.
Even the steamed wine has no flavor at all. What else can be done with the remaining dregs?
However, although he was curious in his heart, Shopkeeper Pan didn't show it on his face. He only smiled and replied, "I have left it long ago, just waiting for you to pick it up."
Zhuang Keqing and the village chief looked at each other, and they both looked at ease.
In this case, let’s collect the slag and open the kiln tomorrow!
The next day, the village chief summoned several young people in the village, and the group drove several carts to the winery. When they came back, the carts were filled with large barrels.
The barrel was full of wine dregs, which were put into the kiln and dried for a day and night. When the finished product was obtained, Zhuang Keqing asked his own Dahei to try it first.
The potato starch dried with wine dregs was darker in color and richer in flavor than the previous one. Dahei only sniffed it lightly and ate it with relish.
As soon as the news about the villager's opening of the kiln came out, every household didn't even bother asking when the tofu stall would be opened. They just brought the firewood they had saved to exchange for feed. They were much more energetic than at the beginning.
How can it not be hot? This winter, as long as there is feed at home, the animals will be fat and strong.
Two days ago, the Liu family and the Zhang family took advantage of the low price of meat in the town and sold their fat pigs, earning almost three taels of silver.
This butcher is still bragging, saying that their pigs are well fed, but it seems that they have not saved any material. If they want to sell them again later, if they come to him, they will definitely pay a high price.
Everyone has eyes, and they all know how their animals are doing.
So when the village chief sounded the gong again to notify the villagers of a meeting and said that the village was going to set up a pig farm, almost everyone agreed.
"If this pig farm is going to be built, it will need money. Since everyone agrees, then come back to me to register."
The village chief held a gong in his hand, stood under the plum tree with some new buds, and explained to the villagers: "When the time comes to sell the animals, if you get more, you will get more, and if you get less, you will get more.
Just divide less. Whether it’s a loss or a profit, it’s all based on this.”
Everyone was convinced.
That is, if your family is in good condition and the population is large and you have enough money, you won't feel bad if you have more people. If you have poor conditions, you don't have to worry about everyone making money and not having your own share. In the end, you will all benefit.
So this time the village was very united, no one said anything mean, even Aunt Wang kept her mouth shut at home.
She regrets it very much now. Why did she throw away the material in the first place? Otherwise, wouldn't she be the one selling the fat pig to make money now?
Three taels of silver!
Once the regulations are set for this matter, it will be easier to handle later on. It is nothing more than recruiting people to enclose the land and build a factory.
In the first batch, I bought 20 piglets and 200 chickens.
Zhuang Keqing had planned it. Pigs have a longer growth period and it takes a year before they can make any profit. Unlike chickens, which can lay eggs in just half a year. Once they start laying eggs, the egg production peaks in the next year and a half.
According to the current calculation of one penny per egg, when these hens reach the egg-laying period, the income from selling eggs alone will be a hundred pence a day!
Just doing the calculations made her excited and excited, not to mention the villagers. It could be seen from the enthusiasm for building the factory.
"Master, how much do you think our farm will cost this time?"
Wu held her daughter in her arms, fed her rice porridge, and asked the man who was engrossed in eating.
"Liu Chanzi's daughter-in-law next door showed off to me in the morning, saying that her family paid for this amount in one go."
After saying that, Wu took out his free hand, raised all five fingers, and waved them in front of Zhuang San.
"Five taels?"
Zhuang San was shocked, Liu Chanzi's family had so many children?
"Hey, how can that be possible!"
Mrs. Wu sighed, "It's five hundred coins!"
"Her family is very stingy. It's not like you don't know that, so you still pay five taels?"