Chapter 25: Advantages

Tian Xi'er was touched once again by her inner worries, and her previously brightening complexion clouded over instantly.

Seeing this, Village Head Li suddenly remarked, "Xi'er, my third son, Li Shang, grew up playing with you. Even now that he's older, he often speaks of you to me in private. You two should really see more of each other and chat when you have the time..."

Damn it! So this was what the Village Head was waiting for all along! He actually wanted his son to marry Tian Xi'er!

Lin Feng began to doubt the veracity of what the man had said earlier, or at least suspected it had been exaggerated. He would have to ask Zhang Yuan about it later.

Just then, Tian Zhong returned. "Village Head, it is five point six mu of land."

"It is indeed five point six mu," the man who had been measuring with the pole added as he ran back.

"Tian Zhong's pacing is as accurate as the measuring pole; truly impressive." Village Head Li smiled as he flipped through his land register. "It matches the registered size. Young man, this land is yours for the time being."

"Village Head, can I grow vegetables on it?"

"Of course, grow whatever you like. But how long do you intend to work the land?"

"That's hard to say, but it won't be for too long."

Beside them, Tian Xi'er’s pretty face showed a flicker of disappointment that was difficult to detect.

"If you decide to leave, let me know in advance so I can find someone else immediately. Such good land cannot be left idle; the authorities wouldn't like it. Otherwise, I’d have to pay the taxes on the empty land myself."

In Jiangzhou of the Great Chu Kingdom, a land of fish and rice, most fertile farmland was controlled by the government. No one was permitted to reclaim or cultivate land at will, nor could they leave it fallow. Even if left uncultivated, the grain tax had to be paid. If it couldn't be collected, the village head was responsible for making up the difference out of his own pocket or grain stores. Fertile land not controlled by the government mostly belonged to landlords and gentry; since their land was private property, they were either exempt from grain taxes or paid very little.

After measuring the land, Village Head Li departed, but not before reminding Tian Xi'er once more to spend more time with his son, Li Shang.

Once they returned to the farmhouse, Lin Feng said to Tian Zhong, "Brother Tian, I would like to entrust the cultivation of these few mu of land to you."

"Entrust it to me?"

"I am hiring you to work for me, and of course, you will be paid what you deserve. I will give you five hundred wen per month."

"What? Did I hear you correctly? Five hundred wen a month!?" The honest and straightforward Tian Zhong widened his eyes. "This... this is too much."

For tenant farmers working for wealthy landlords or local gentry, they might not earn five hundred wen even after a whole year of labor, and they were often paid in grain rather than silver.

"It's not too much. I simply believe you can do a good job."

Tian Zhong replied, "We have a plot at home specifically for vegetables, so I do have experience, though my father is even better at it."

"If Uncle Tian is free, he is welcome to come and help."

Tian Zhong thought to himself that at five hundred wen a month, he had to do a great job for Brother Lin and would certainly ask his father for help.

"We will go to town this afternoon to buy seeds," Tian Zhong decided. Vegetables were not grain; if grown well, they would yield a harvest in a short time, so they had to act quickly.

"It's a deal, then."

At noon, Lin Feng made another eighty skewers of candied hawthorn, determined not to waste the afternoon. He wanted to capitalize on the popularity of the snack while it was still trending. Once the weather grew too hot, the sugar would melt, and the hawthorns would lose their freshness, ruining the texture.

As for the five-spice peanuts, Tian Xi'er had roasted twenty jin in the morning and sold ten. With ten jin left, there was no need to roast more at noon.

That afternoon, Tian Zhong accompanied them to town. While the three girls set up their stall, Lin Feng and Tian Zhong went to the market to buy seeds.

There were indeed vendors selling various grain and vegetable seeds. To Lin Feng's disappointment, there were no tomato seeds. When he asked, the vendors didn't even know what tomatoes were, suggesting that they likely weren't grown in the Great Chu Kingdom yet.

Lin Feng had initially considered buying seeds for off-season vegetables, but realized it wouldn't be cost-effective. First, the materials needed to build a greenhouse were hard to find. Plastic didn't exist, and using glass was impractical; while the Great Chu Kingdom had glass, it was far too expensive for him. Alternatives like translucent fabric, straw, or paper were inefficient, labor-intensive, and required experienced hands to manage temperature, humidity, and sunlight around the clock.

Furthermore, he wouldn't be staying here for long, so why go through all that trouble? It was April—neither too cold nor too hot—and plenty of vegetables could grow naturally. That would be enough to supply his food stall and his own group's needs.

Setting up a food stall was essential; he needed money quickly, and this was undoubtedly the best way.

It wouldn't be practical to set up in the small town without a portable heat source, and he couldn't build a stove there. A small charcoal brazier could handle boiling wontons or plain noodles, but anything more elaborate, like stir-frying, was impossible. Renting a shop was out of the question, as he would be leaving soon.

When he returned in the afternoon, Lin Feng spent another half-hour by the river observing the passersby. The foot traffic was indeed good. It wasn't just villagers; there were many merchants and travelers from two nearby towns. He believed that if he set up a food stall, they would be more than happy to sit down for a meal and enjoy the beautiful riverside view.

However, the weather did not cooperate. By evening, it began to rain.

The rain in the Jiangnan region was like the tears of a young girl in love—it started abruptly, then continued with a persistent, lingering drizzle that refused to end. It seemed Lin Feng's plan to set up his food stall tomorrow would have to be postponed.

During dinner that evening, Zhang Yuan paid a visit.

"Brother Zhang, what wind blew you here today?"

"The wind of missing you," Zhang Yuan laughed.

"Brother Zhang, you've come at the right time. Let's have a drink."

"I won't stand on ceremony, then." Zhang Yuan sat down immediately, no longer considering himself an outsider.

Lin Feng poured him a bowl of wine, and Zhang Yuan downed a gulp. "I came to get the five-spice peanuts. The teahouse and the restaurant have decided they want three jin every day; they want to be long-term customers. I saw it was raining today—and rain here can last for days—so I was worried you wouldn't be at the stall tomorrow. I came to pick up two days' worth in advance. Do you have enough at home?"

Lin Feng nodded. "Yes, I roasted thirty jin after returning this afternoon."

"That's perfect."

"Actually, Brother Zhang, if you could just tell me the locations of the restaurant and the teahouse, I could have Liu Xi deliver them daily. Is it really necessary for you to come yourself?"

"I..." Zhang Yuan paused, his expression shifting as he stopped mid-sentence.

Seeing his look, Lin Feng understood immediately. Zhang Yuan was afraid that if Lin Feng connected directly with the restaurant and teahouse, he would be cut out of the arrangement and lose the ability to earn his middleman's commission.