Zhao Jiaqi did not hide her knowledge. She had methods for dealing with saline-alkali land, but it was troublesome to implement and could not be completed in a few months.
"Village Chief, there are methods, and the improved land will yield no less than regular crops!"
Upon hearing this, Qiao Chuan immediately stated, "As long as we can grow something and feed ourselves, we'll plant whatever it is!"
Zhao Jiaqi respected people like this and made a decision, "Since the Village Chief is willing to improve this land, I will also help wholeheartedly. I'll provide the plan, and you provide the people!"
Qiao Chuan was naturally pleased with such a good opportunity. He immediately raised his hand to vote. This was not a problem, and he would gather the villagers for a meeting as soon as he returned to the village.
Seeing her father so excited he couldn't find his bearings, Qiao Jin subtly shook her head. Her father's enthusiasm was a fleeting impulse. With the lazy and indolent people in the village, would they listen to outsiders?
Especially since these people seemed well-off, they would certainly demand wages if they followed them.
Just as Qiao Jin predicted, her father returned dejectedly after going out excitedly. He didn't even go home and went straight to find Madam Fan.
As soon as he entered the outer courtyard, he saw them setting the table for dinner. Qiao Chuan's face immediately turned red. He had arrived at the most inconvenient time.
It was so awkward to arrive during mealtime. He immediately turned to leave but was called back by Fan Zehao.
"Village Chief, why are you leaving after arriving? Come in and have a bite to eat. We can chat then!"
Qiao Chuan rubbed his hands and chuckled, "How embarrassing. I'll wait until you've finished eating and come back. I'm not in a hurry!"
"What's there to be embarrassed about? In the future, we'll need your care in the village, so it's only right that we treat you to a meal!"
Building good relationships and laying a solid foundation would make it easier to get things done later.
As the saying goes, one feels indebted after accepting favors and softened after enjoying good food.
After being invited twice, Qiao Chuan stopped being polite and sat with Fan Zehao. While quietly waiting for the food, he did not forget to relay the news of his conversation with the villagers to Zhao Jiaqi.
"Madam Fan, the villagers are unwilling to do it. Firstly, they doubt that someone from a wealthy family like yours would understand something that even experienced farmers can't figure out."
"Secondly, it's too embarrassing to say!" Qiao Chuan wanted to hide his head under the table.
Seeing his ashamed expression, Zhao Jiaqi guessed the general idea without him needing to elaborate, so she didn't let him finish, saving the Village Chief further embarrassment.
"Since everyone doesn't believe me, how about I rent the land from the villagers? The rent will be two taels per mu, for a three-year lease. Then I'll hire some diligent long-term laborers. Meals won't be provided, but they'll earn fifteen wen daily. What do you think of this plan, Village Chief?"
Qiao Chuan immediately looked up, his eyes shining with intense light. "This is simply wonderful."
A moment later, he said with waning enthusiasm, "But if you rent this land, I can only say you'll lose money. Madam Fan, you should think carefully. Our village has quite a bit of land. Even with all the money you have, you shouldn't just throw it away like this."
He had been overjoyed earlier, but now he felt it was necessary to inform her, especially since he had already accepted fifty taels from her. He didn't want to offend the benefactor unnecessarily.
Zhao Jiaqi smiled faintly without a word. Wasn't she here to change the situation? Why would she mind losing money here?
She hadn't even considered the possibility of losing money because she was confident that the investment in the land was short-term and would yield returns later.
"It's alright. I'm quite confident in my farming abilities. Although the initial investment will be substantial, the cost recovery later will be very objective!"
Since Madam Fan said so, what else could he say?
"Alright, we'll do as you say. I'll go ask the households again shortly. For those willing to rent, have them sign a written agreement." The Village Chief was also preparing to roll up his sleeves and get to work.
Everyone at the table laughed. Although the Village Chief was a bit older, he had the air of an old child. Whether it was because of the meal or something else, he was full of energy.
He hadn't felt hungry before, but the aroma wafting from the kitchen was genuinely enticing his appetite.
He now looked forward to what delicious food he would eat, his eyes constantly glancing towards the kitchen. He had clearly forgotten that he had been worried that afternoon about whether Zhao Jiaqi would ask him for grain.
The dish was a stewed wild chicken with potatoes. The staple food was cornmeal flapjacks.
Seven or eight wild chickens were caught and stewed. They at one table, and the remaining guards and maids at another. Everyone ate the same meal; there was no distinction in food.
In his forty-plus years of life, this was the first time he had ever eaten so much meat. He even ate five or six corn pancakes, truly eating to his heart's content.
Patting his round belly, he felt ashamed. If he didn't manage to get Madam Fan's land rented, he would feel like he had let down this delicious meal.
After eating and drinking their fill, they even packed up the remaining food from home. Qiao Chuan was truly touched.
"Thank you, Young Master Fan. If you need anything while you're staying in the village, don't hesitate to ask. I will definitely help if I can, and if I can't, I'll do my best to!"
Fan Zehao waved his hand at him and politely replied, "If there's anything, I'll definitely ask the Village Chief for help!"
He came from a farming background himself, so he naturally understood what these meals meant to them.
They didn't care if it was leftovers as long as they could eat meat. In rural areas, leftover food from banquets was still packed and taken home. Diluted with some water and mixed with corn gruel, it would be another delicious meal.
The poor didn't fuss over such things; they weren't like the rich!
While they were sleeping soundly at home that night, the other households in the village were already buzzing with activity.
Land that yielded nothing could be rented for two taels of silver per mu. If a household had seven or eight mu, or ten mu, the annual rent would be over a dozen taels!
Who wouldn't want such a good opportunity?
Not only did they rent, but they even went to reclaim new wasteland overnight. The entire family and even the whole village mobilized.
Outside the village, every household, regardless of gender or age, was carrying shovels and hoes, working hard to reclaim the land.
Seeing that the villagers had gone mad, the Village Chief tried to persuade them, but his words were useless. They continued to do as they pleased, completely ignoring him.
This worried him greatly, and he stomped his feet in anxiety.
Seeing this, Li Yan simply said, "The villagers have suffered too much from poverty. When they see even a glimmer of hope, they won't stop. Let them be."
It was unrealistic to stop them now. Even if they reclaimed the land and it wasn't accepted, they wouldn't regret what they did tonight.
Qiao Chuan heard this and agreed. He stopped bothering them.
Instead, he pondered who in the village was capable and who wouldn't slack off. He first selected this group of long-term laborers.
He wrote down more than thirty capable individuals. Fearing that the number was too small, he chose another batch of acceptable people from the remaining villagers, making another thirty.
In total, sixty people were selected from the village. Madam Fan could hire as many as she needed.