Transmigrating with a Five Million Dollar Retirement Life

Chapter 165 Wide Potato Noodles

"Okay, I'll inform everyone this evening."

The village chief asked Wang Fugui to bring out paper and pen, and the group signed the contract.

Song Jiaojiao spoke again, "Uncle Wang, the He Shou Wu planted in the village last time was too young and not very effective. This time I plan to have the villagers plant some Asparagus. I have seeds for sale at 20 wen per jin, and the purchase price will also be the same. Uncle Wang, we can talk about it together later."

Thinking about what happened at Huichuntang last time, Song Jiaojiao realized that the processing of Asparagus was much simpler than that of Polygonum multiflorum, so she offered a higher price.

"Fine, then we won't plant He Shou Wu?"

"You can plant it on the edge of the field or under the eaves. Wait a few years before buying it. The older the Polygonum multiflorum is, the higher its medicinal value, and the higher the purchase price will be."

Song Jiaojiao explained with a smile.

"Okay, I understand. I'll inform them all this evening. Jiaojiao, when are you planning to leave?"

Song Jiaojiao thought that the servants she had just bought were only just starting to practice martial arts and didn't know anything. They needed to practice for at least a month or two.

"Around mid-March, when it's neither too hot nor too cold."

The village chief thought that it was around mid-to-late February, with about a month left, which was a good time.

"Alright, you can spend more time teaching your aunt and the others during this period. You can also explain the plans to them so they don't get lost later."

"Nothing major happened after that. The main problem is that the fruit is ripe and needs to be made into preserves. The method for making peach preserves is the same as for apricot preserves, so I believe you can master it."

Song Jiaojiao thought about the peaches that would grow later. She estimated that there wouldn't be many fruits this year, so it wouldn't hurt to use them for trial and error.

"Just take the finished candied fruit to Huichuntang. The price and everything else will be agreed upon. You can also ask the person who comes to pick up rice candy every day to pass on the message and give it to them directly."

"Okay, now that you mention it, I feel more at ease," the village chief said with a smile.

After the matter was settled, Song Jiaojiao went back. She wanted to send her third uncle back as well, but her third uncle said he had something to discuss with the village chief and did not go back with Song Jiaojiao.

“This is our home, and the barren mountains behind it, as well as the area with the workshops, all belong to our family.”

Song Jiaojiao pointed to the barren mountain behind the house and spoke to the workshop in the distance where smoke was rising from the chimney.

Following Song Jiaojiao's finger, Zhang Li was surprised to find that the owner's property was quite substantial, with several properties visible to him.

"Xu Fang, this is Zhang Li. Take him to his room," Song Jiaojiao said, calling over Xu Fang, who was in charge of the task. Then she spoke to Zhang Li.

"This is Xu Fang, she's the manager here, you can call her Granny Xu."

Zhang Li nodded to Xu Fang.

"Madam, I'll take him to his room first."

"Okay, come find me in the lobby when you're done. I have something to tell you."

Song Jiaojiao nodded and said that after Xu Fang left, Song Jiaojiao went to check on the workshop. The rice candy was still being made in the downstairs workshop, while the dried bean curd and tofu workshops had been moved to the Qingshui hillside. The tofu workshop was now being managed by Sister-in-law Sun.

Aunt Li managed the workshop below. When Song Jiaojiao arrived at the workshop, she saw Aunt Li keeping accounts at the table.

"Auntie, have you been free lately?"

"Jiaojiao is back. Everything is fine at the workshop. We've harvested a lot of potatoes, but we haven't started processing them yet. We're just waiting for you to come back."

Aunt Li looked worried as she thought about the potatoes piled up in the cellar.

"The method of making potato noodles is the same as that of sweet potato noodles. This time I brought different molds for making noodles. This time I'm going to make wide noodles."

Song Jiaojiao said with a smile that she had already thought about how to cook the potatoes.

"Perfect, let's start making it tomorrow. I reckon we'll need it soon."

Song Jiaojiao thought that once the hot pot restaurant opened, there would be a huge demand.

"Okay, I'll arrange for a few people to come tomorrow."

Aunt Li said with a smile that she knew there was nothing Song Jiaojiao couldn't solve.

After finishing her business here, Song Jiaojiao returned to the courtyard, where Xu Fang was already waiting for her in the main hall.

“Xu Fang, in about a month, I will be going on a long trip. This time I will take Mu Xue with me, and Xu An will also need to come along.”

Upon hearing this, Xu Fang looked up at Song Jiaojiao in disbelief.

"What does Madam mean?"

"I don't know when I'll be back from this trip, so I won't take you with me this time. I need someone to look after the house, so I can only entrust this matter to you."

Song Jiaojiao smiled and said again.

"Don't worry, Madam, I'll be fine at home. It's Xu An who will keep me in check..."

Xu Fang was worried about Xu An. Xu An was still young, and she didn't know if she could handle it. Thinking about how Xu An used to get sick so easily, Xu Fang was very worried.

"There's no rush. There's still over a month. You can think about it more then, and let me know when you've made up your mind."

Song Jiaojiao thought that Xu An had never left Xu Fang all these years, and it was only natural for a mother to worry about her son wherever he went.

"Yes, ma'am."

……

The next day, Song Jiaojiao went to the workshop after breakfast.

Aunt Li and her team started washing potatoes early in the morning.

"Jiaojiao, you're here. I remembered you said yesterday that the method for making potato starch and sweet potato starch is similar, so I had them start washing them first."

"Yes, that's how it's done. Just like with sweet potato starch, the subsequent steps are the same."

Song Jiaojiao said with a smile that she mainly wanted to make wide rice noodles today, but she had to make the potato starch water today and make the wide rice noodles tomorrow.

The workers who came here had all made sweet potato noodles before. After Song Jiaojiao said that, everyone understood. Some cut potatoes, and some pounded potatoes.

Everyone was busy with their own tasks in an orderly manner.

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A month or so passed quickly. Mu Xue was overjoyed to learn that her mother was taking her out this time, and even her steps became much lighter.

The hot pot restaurant in town had already opened. Song Jiaojiao went to check it out on the opening day. Thanks to Song Jiaojiao's previous promotion, the hot pot restaurant was packed with people that day. Even Sifanglou and the barbecue restaurant chose to close for the day, making way for the hot pot restaurant.

Mu Qing had thought it over for a long time, but she still felt that there was no one at home, so she did not choose to go with Song Jiaojiao. Song Jiaojiao gave the twins Li Chun and Li Xia to Mu Qing and even gave special instructions to the village chief.

No news came from Fengtang, presumably because there was no flattery to sell her. In the end, Song Jiaojiao had no choice but to ask Wang Ziyi to buy a few horses.

For Prince Yi, who was from the General's Mansion, this was a trivial matter. There were many experienced soldiers in the army who had left the market, and he could resolve the matter in no time if he asked.

On the fifteenth of March, the weather was clear. In ancient times, people were particular about going out alone, so Song Jiaojiao planned to set off today.

Wang Ziyi's hotpot restaurant has also found a takeover. Since he was going to Nanning County anyway, he went with Song Jiaojiao.

In preparation for this trip, Song Jiaojiao prepared her things well in advance, especially since she would often have to sleep in the wilderness along the way. Song Jiaojiao had many simple tents made of oilcloth.