Springtime Farming: A Happy Wife At Home

Chapter 1363: New Year Gift

Editor: Henyee Translations

He had hastily summoned his masters to address the aftermath of this crucial moment.

His masters had finally acknowledged his hard work, ensuring he wasn’t toiling in vain!

To be honest, those from the palace and the Ministry of Revenue carried an air of nobility. They were quite brusque and impulsive.

Fortunately, the steward of the East Palace accompanied him, and the head of the Ministry of Revenue was a colleague of his Old Master. He had to show them some respect and step in. Otherwise, who knew what those individuals might do to this parcel of land?

Especially the strawberries; they would hardly believe it until every last one was uprooted!

Qiao Xuan gazed at the strawberries and inquired with Songshi about the hundreds of acres of carrots and cabbages. Could they be put on the market now?

Songshi nodded enthusiastically. “… Look at the extensive planting we’ve done. There’s no need for me to venture into the city to find buyers. Many vegetable vendors have already expressed interest. More than half of it has been sold, and there’s less than 300 acres left! I believe it will all be sold within ten days!”

As Songshi spoke, he provided a clear breakdown of the pricing and income.

Given the bulk purchases by the vegetable vendors, they had to offer competitive prices. Carrots and cabbages were both selling for 2.5 copper coins per catty.

Qiao Xuan nodded in agreement; that was a reasonable price.

In other words, the capital’s prices were higher than elsewhere. In Heshan county, cabbages often went for one copper coin for 1.5 or 2 catties.

Qiao Xuan didn’t dare to charge significantly more for her own cabbages and radishes, aiming for only a 20% higher price than the competition.

In total, the 100 acres of land could fetch over 40 taels of silver. After deducting all the expenses, they would earn approximately 40 taels of silver.

The few hundred acres planted this winter could also yield more than 300 taels.

This 300 taels would be just enough to prepare for the upcoming New Year festivities at home.

He rewarded Songshi generously with 50 taels, while Lixia and Liqiu received 20 taels each, and Qingyan was given 8 taels. The farmers on the farmstead were each provided with 2 taels, and the tenants received 3 taels each.

Additionally, he tasked Songshi with purchasing a substantial amount of rice, flour, oil, salt, thick cotton cloth, quilts, and other necessities. He distributed these items among the farmers and tenants based on their population.

Even though prices in the capital were steep, particularly with the New Year approaching, the overall expenditure was not excessive. However, it brought happiness to the people and fostered a sense of belonging.

Qiao Xuan instructed Songshi to reserve 40 to 50 catties of radishes and cabbages from the field for the winter.

Songshi expressed his agreement and couldn’t help but remark, “Madam, you truly have a kind heart. I have never witnessed any master treat their subordinates as well as you do, Madam! If they fail to work diligently, they would betray their conscience without you having to say a word. I won’t tolerate slackness, and I will promptly dismiss them!”

Qiao Xuan smiled and replied, “You have been with my husband and me for a long time, so you understand our values. I can easily afford this small expense, and we can all enjoy a pleasant New Year, can’t we? If things go well in the future, that’s wonderful. If not, we’ll handle it accordingly.”

“Yes, yes, Madam is absolutely right!”

Qiao Xuan resided in a comfortable home, as warm as spring, with abundant provisions. However, her servants and tenants were enduring the harsh winter at 5,000 meters, struggling to survive. This discrepancy weighed heavily on her conscience.

Her upbringing and principles compelled her to take action. While she couldn’t meddle in others’ affairs or become a saint, she could make choices within her own family.

In the blink of an eye, the twelfth lunar month had arrived. The festive atmosphere in the capital grew more vibrant by the day, with the streets bustling with activity.