When Zhao Guangran and the others were discussing the issue, the village was in an uproar.
There had been rumors that the village planned to unite with several nearby villages to set up a primary school, which made the villagers quite happy.
After all, it was really tiring for the children to travel so far to attend school every day, but even if unwilling, so parents had to be a bit harsh.
The villagers had thought how nice it would be if there were a school nearby, but it was just a thought since building a school wasn’t easy.
So after the rumor lingered without further news, everyone just dismissed it.
The issue was that they never expected it would beco a reality; Zhao Gang actually helped the village solve a big problem by finding teachers for the village school.
No one expected that Zhao Gang not only found teachers, but he also overachieved in the task.
In terms of both quantity and quality, the choices made everyone more than satisfied.
So when the village held a eting to discuss building the primary school, not only were the villagers stirred, but also villagers from nearby villages rushed over, each eager to contribute.
Everyone was straightforward; they couldn’t bear the thought of just sending their children to study without helping.
The school was to be built in the Red Flag Brigade; if the people there got irritated, what if they simply refused to admit children from the surrounding villages?
Only by helping out could they feel at ease, and then the people from the Red Flag Brigade would have no grounds to refuse the admission of non-local children.
Gong Ruini was indifferent to the various changes in the village as she was busy.
For instance, collecting dicinal herbs and not forgetting to dig out so smaller ones to plant in specially prepared herb fields.
Only if they were planted there would Gong Ruini have peace of mind, ensuring they wouldn’t be stolen, and she thought that once there were seeds, she could scatter them in this field, so that next year a large number of dicinal herbs would grow.
As long as they worked hard this year, they could relax much more next year, waiting at ho for the dicinal herbs to grow for harvest, earning quite a bit of money.
The only unknown was how the dicinal herbs grown in this simulated wild environnt would perform; if not effective, the price might not rise high.
Gong Ruini and her family quietly studied and planned at ho regarding which herbs to plant.
Zhan Jing had thought of it long before the children planned to plant dicinal herbs, saying, "We’ll plant Schisandra, Eleutherococcus, Bupleurum and Platycodon. These are regularly collected by the supply and marketing cooperative."
Zhan Jing, having lived here for years, knew precisely what was required for procurent, "Even if they don’t collect them temporarily, they will after so ti."
"These are needed in large quantities, so there’s no worry."
"Most importantly, they aren’t tricky to grow."
Of course, although Gong Ruini hadn’t dealt with this before, she knew that even Zhan Jing could dig a lot out in the mountains, aning these herbs were plentiful.
If they grew well in the wild, there’s no reason carefully nurtured ones wouldn’t.
As for the price not being very high, it wasn’t a concern as long as the quantity increased; although ginseng sells for a higher price per piece, it’s not like they could dig out a few each year, making herb cultivation more profitable without drawing attention.
But, if they frequently went to the cooperative to sell herbs, news about it might spread. Once it reached the villagers’ ears, so would inevitably beco jealous. If they sold herbs only occasionally, there wouldn’t be many envious people, but consistently selling would make others overthink.
Gong Ruini didn’t want instability at ho; after all, it was still 1974, and it would be another two or three years before they could leave.
However, if news of planting dicinal herbs got out, the villagers would likely rush to plant them too, and would the price still hold?
Prices would certainly drop significantly, which made Gong Ruini a bit reluctant.
Zhao Xuran was initially excited, but realized that if various herbs grew well, it would also be troubleso.
Zhan Jing had long considered these troubles, but didn’t ntion them before because she hadn’t planned to plant them; therefore, there was no point in speaking out.
Living there for these years, if not for the villagers’ support, could their family have lived so peacefully?
Zhan Jing wasn’t ungrateful, "This year we’ll treat it as an experint. I’ll inform the village at the end of the year, so they can arrange it."
"Once the village issues proof, we can sell to Linxian next year. As for further expansion, that’s a matter for later, and maybe by then the ginseng will also be cultivated."
Zhan Jing originally intended to discuss ginseng cultivation, but now it seed a different approach was needed.
In ’74 and ’75, they would plant dicinal herbs, and by ’76 the ginseng would be preliminarily matured. Although not old enough, they could still sell it, equating to their last major profit.
As for the ginseng that hadn’t matured fully, it could be unearthed and processed, and although its efficacy wouldn’t be great, it could still be consud in soup.
Zhao Guangran was slightly reluctant hearing that their initial plan for fortune would now be shared, but knew that if his mother said it, his father would likely agree.
Even his eldest brother didn’t object, and Zhao Guangran realized this decision was pretty much set and wouldn’t change because of him.
Since future earnings might be less, Zhao Guangran suggested earning more this year, "Let’s plant more this year."
The idea was sound, but the child was a bit greedy, "No manpower." Clearing land was tough work.
With more family mbers at ho and with grandmother staying long-term, relying on their parents’ character, abandoning grain farming was not an option, and with limited land, to increase dicinal cultivation, they would have to open up new land. Could the children manage this on their own?
"It’s easier said than done. When it cos ti for you to help clear land, you’ll find an excuse not to go," Zhao Xuran glared at Zhao Guangran, who was slightly retreating.
But Zhao Xuran had to admit Zhao Guangran’s idea was good, "Ni Zi, what do you think?"
Ah, why did they call her na? Gong Ruini was puzzled. Wasn’t this Zhao Guangran’s idea? Shouldn’t they ask him instead of her?
If given the choice between earning more and not being so exhausted, Gong Ruini would undoubtedly choose the latter.
While earning money is essential, health is equally important. They couldn’t risk their health for a bit of money.
"I think we should take it step by step. If it doesn’t work out, we could scatter seeds in the wild. Since wild ones can grow, so can planted seeds." Gong Ruini was genuinely impressed with herself for coming up with such a good idea at such a critical mont.
"Like in the forest gaps at the foot of the mountain or roadside," Gong Ruini believed this would not only save effort but also maintain the dicinal qualities, resembling a truly wild growth environnt.
And since the growth areas would be within view, future harvesting would be quite convenient.
"Yes, yes," Zhao Guangran nodded in agreent to Gong Ruini’s suggestion.
Zhao Xuran was also taken aback by Gong Ruini’s clever idea, yet suspected her motive was to avoid hard work.
Don’t assu we don’t know her thinking; she aid to earn money without tiring herself out.
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