Chapter 179

However, producing these items in the traditional way was difficult for the villagers because the costs were too high. Whether pickling with salt, sugar, or vinegar, it was challenging for them. 𝘧𝓇ℯ𝑒𝓌𝑒𝑏𝓃𝘰𝘷𝘦𝘭.𝒸ℴ𝓂

Yueqian recognized this issue and taught them so she could hire them to work with her.

Since producing in large quantities reduces the cost per unit, eventually over ten housewives signed up as Yueqian’s regular employees. She also bought land to establish a store selling all these pickled products. This meant that the villagers no longer needed to travel to other towns to buy these items; they could purchase them right in Red Earth City.

Interest in the products wasn’t limited to Red Earth City’s residents; people from other towns were also interested. However, the knowledge of making these items was reserved for Red Earth City’s residents only. Outsiders had to pay to buy the long-lasting goods without learning the methods.

In the future, these residents would be the ones transporting goodsto sell to her. They would also take the fermented goods back to their own villages to make a profit. They would earn profits both from selling fresh products brought from other towns and later from selling the fermented goods as well. As for Yueqian, she would avoid the hassle of traveling to sell herself, and her townspeople would no longer face hardships.

Many residents shared the same thoughts. Some groups took up the task of transporting fresh goods for sale and bringing back Red Earth City’s products to sell. In the end, this flourishing trade benefitted both the neighboring towns and Red Earth City.

Currently, only Yueqian reaped the benefits. She kept costs low and requested the soldiers to transport the goods, allowing her to sell large quantities. The profits from this venture funded further employment and investment to help the townspeople.

Not only Xiao Long and Huan’er were involved; Qu Yi, skilled in embroidery, was also exceptional. She didn’t teach the villagers to embroider for commerce since there weren’t many wealthy people in Red Earth City or nearby towns who desired intricate items. Basic wearable clothing was sufficient. Therefore, Qu Yi taught them various sewing techniques.

In her hands, she held a manual given to her by the mistress like Yueqian. It contained various sewing techniques, such as hemming, stitching, and more. The most popular method was likely the one that sped up sewing, as sewing was a necessary skill that could also provide income. Consequently, many housewives and young girls came to learn from her.

On Yueqian’s side, she was busy at the hospital. She had to teach medicine preparation, basic medical treatments, and literacy and writing to those who enrolled. Therefore, Yueqian had no shortage of tasks.

However, the largest group of learners was under Mu Heng. The 100 selected soldiers also had to attend his lessons. Mu Heng had used his own money to buy large plots of land. If the villagers didn’t cultivate them, they would do it himself.

Fortunately, his previous actions was so great that it made him earned respect from the villagers. So when he announced he would teach farming and animal husbandry, many people showed interest.

Especially men who traditionally went into the forest to gather food or items for sale. While they were still recovering, they took an interest in learning.

In truth, Mu Heng didn’t know the methods himself, but as the governor, it was his role to impart this knowledge to the villagers, most of whom were male heads of families. Therefore, his voice carried more weight than Yueqian’s. For this reason, Mu Heng had learned all the farming techniques.

He introduced hydroponic farming first. This method didn’t require soil. Animal hides were used to hold water, preventing it from draining away and providing minor fertilization as the hides decomposed.

For the first vegetable that Mu Heng chose to teach, he had chosen an edible plant that grew in water first. That was “water spinach”.

This vegetable didn’t require complex cultivation setups. A simple water basin with waterproof materials placed on raised wooden platforms to avoid contact with the soil was sufficient. Then, they just needed to throw in the water spinach seeds. Yueqian had already experimented with growing water spinach, so her interdimensional space contained perfect specimens of the water spinach.

In reality, it didn’t take long to grow the plants. However, the water spinach that Yueqian obtained couldn’t be found in regular supermarkets because water spinach wasn’t sold there. However, Yueqian found it in a pre-packaged food item: "som tam." The som tam package contained water spinach as a garnish.

Yueqian separated and soaked it in water, and soon, the water spinach sprouted and grew. She then proposed growing water spinach as the first food crop.

Beyond this, Yueqian had also learned special vegetable growing techniques, enabling the cultivation of various vegetables, such as Chinese cabbage, green onions, coriander, and even tomatoes. However, these required fertilizers and pesticides to grow properly; otherwise, the vegetables would be stunted.

She had already prepared the necessary fertilizers and pesticides. Since the required amounts for cultivation were not very large, she could sell these through her contacts with the Art Institute’s affiliated shops. And yes! She had already contacted them to implement this plan.

Yueqian used the excuse of her past stay in the capital to contact and establish these connections. Even though people in the capital might not see them as very close, how would people from other towns know how close they truly were or how they cooperated? They would believe whatever she told them.

After this, all they needed to do was occasionally pretending to send goods. Moreover, they would have to come to pick up the special recipe wine to sell as well. Hence, Yueqian wasn’t afraid of them not cooperating.

Initially, when they heard about growing vegetables in water, especially with the use of many tools, they started to lose interest. But within a day, the Red Earth City villagers witnessed leaky water jars producing bean sprouts, which were turned into delicious stir-fried bean sprouts. Not only were the stir-fried bean sprouts edible, but even the fresh, uncooked bean sprouts were delicious. Eventually, when they encountered something they could actually eat, how could they not be interested in learning the method?

Yueqian only had to cook one meal for them. The next day, the villagers of Red Earth City eagerly awaited Mu Heng’s lesson on cultivation. However, since growing many crops had costs, Yueqian and Mu Heng understood the situation but didn’t want to provide assistance for free.

Even for seeds, if the villagers wanted them, they had to work for them. Mu Heng posted job listings on the employment board, allowing them to cultivate various plants and create hydroponic equipment. This was beneficial for both Mu Heng and Yueqian, while the villagers gained skills and earned money to buy goods.

Many people liked this approach. They were not lazy and understood that no one could hand out goods indefinitely. As a result, they were motivated to work even harder. Within just two weeks, the situation in Red Earth City changed. The once destitute villagers now had money to plan for their families’ futures.

During their recovery periods, many villagers used their free time to create their own cultivation equipment after working for the governor. The materials were free, requiring only a bit of their own labor to make.

Furthermore, the "plant fertilizer" sold by the governor in the "central store" was not expensive, and little was enough to make plants grow. With these benefits, how could they not invest in this?

Seeing the governor’s plants turning green and the once barren land was now filled with interconnected wooden racks connected like a network. It looked so beautiful that it was indescribable. Even though the land the governor bought was plagued with poisonous weeds, they didn’t affect the crops growing above ground at all.

Seeing the fruits of their hard work, the people of Red Earth City began to feel hopeful. From a life of waiting for death, they now saw a path to a prosperous and peaceful life!!

However, the situation for people in other cities was quite different from that of Red Earth City....

Previously, they had observed the behavior of Red Earth City’s residents and desired to become citizens of Red Earth City themselves. However, their own governors, who had negotiated on their behalf, told them that Red Earth City didn’t have enough medicine for everyone and was merely deceiving them. So, many decided to wait and see, afraid of being tricked if they applied for citizenship.

Many suggested that they could use their bargaining power to negotiate food with them. Everyone here knew what the people of Red Earth City lacked the most. So, they returned to their towns, gathered their produce, and prepared to negotiate.

However, after the first week, Red Earth City’s residents paid them no mind. The governor, whose wealth was unknown, used his money to employ the villagers and opened his own food stores. Moreover, the food was so delicious that even those from the other cities bought and stocked up on it.

Not only could the governor employ people and sell food, but soon they also managed to grow bean sprouts. It took only three days to harvest and eat them, a concept beyond their imagination.

After a week, green sprouts covered the area. If anyone had ever said that Red Earth City was a cursed city where nothing could grow... they would argue passionately against it.

If someone made such a claim, they would drag them over and point out the greenery everywhere, neatly arranged, and demand what else they could call it but vegetables!!

As the hope of the people in Red Earth City increased, their illness worsened. Ultimately, many families chose not to believe the rumors. They saw the people of Red Earth City still making medicine, so how could there be none left?

Furthermore, waiting around idly wouldn’t help. Ultimately, they might die before they could trade medicine for food. Look at the situation! Does Red Earth City even need their supplies anymore?

Additionally, there were threats from the soldiers in their towns that if they became Red Earth City citizens, they wouldn’t be allowed back easily if trouble arose. They would also have to sell their land to the government because the authorities wouldn’t maintain it without tax revenue.

In any other situation not involving life and death, no one would want to move. But now, they had no other hope. Even if they starved in the future, that was a future problem. For now, they needed to survive to see tomorrow.

The first person from a neighboring town who dared to request the governor’s signature handed over their documents to the representatives pressuring them. Although this was partly coercive, it also expedited the relocation process.

"Are you sure about this decision? The governor is seeking aid from the capital. Once the medicine arrives, you and your family won’t have the right to change your minds," the city representative asked, his eyes full of pressure. But the citizens, having waited too long for help, could only shake their heads."Thank you, governor, for trying to help us. However, my child and I can no longer wait. So please, sign the document," the citizen said with a sense of guilt, but of course, it was filled with confidence. It was all because he had made a decision already.