The words were spoken so beautifully, making them pleasant to hear!
Zhao Jiaqi: "Don't worry, even though medicinal herbs like ginseng, notoginseng, and polygonum multiflorum aren't profitable in a single year, I can cultivate some that can be harvested within a year. The money earned from these will cover their expenses. To make substantial profits, we'll likely need to wait about two years!"
She hid nothing about these matters, believing it was better to explain things upfront to avoid future misunderstandings.
Ying Xiong had some understanding of these matters, but the elderly herb collectors spoke differently. According to them, true profits wouldn't be seen for four to five years. He was surprised she spoke so frankly and openly about it. Not only that, but her projected profitability was one to two years earlier than what the herb collectors he had found had indicated, not to mention the annual small gains.
"To be honest, Madam, I was prepared to invest funds for several years before expecting to make any money. You truly have a talent for cultivation. Even the old herb collectors who have dug for a lifetime are not as skilled as you. I am very impressed, Ying Xiong!"
Zhao Jiaqi smiled lightly. See, she was praised again. Fortunately, she wasn't as beautiful as a celestial being, or she'd truly fear having too many admirers!
However, Ying Xiong's words did remind her of something. She said, "If you know any herb farmers, you can find more of them. They know about herbs and likely have experience with cultivation. Having them tend to the medicinal fields would be much better than amateurs!"
Ying Xiong was not one to delay. He immediately set about arranging these matters, ready to start work as soon as spring arrived.
He rose, cupped his hands, and bowed to her, "Then I shall go and attend to these matters, Madam. I will not disturb you further, and I look forward to showcasing my skills next year!"
Zhao Jiaqi smiled and replied, "I await good news!"
Ying Xiong left. Zhao Jiaqi remained alone in the study, sitting on a chair in deep thought for the entire morning.
Su Ya couldn't understand what was wrong with her mistress. She had just concluded a business deal, yet instead of being happy, she looked troubled. This was not like her at all.
"Su Ya, go and find Song Fei and Fang Mingjiang. I need to see them!"
After a long while, her mistress's voice finally came from the study. Su Ya immediately replied, "Your servant will go and invite Young Master Song and Young Master Fang at once!"
Song Fei was Fang Mingjiang's elder brother-in-law. Fang Mingjiang himself was from a concubine's family and was not favored by his father. His mother had died early. After he resigned from his official post, his father severed ties with him. Therefore, when buying a house, Fang Mingjiang deliberately bought one next to Song Fei's.
He yearned for family affection. If he had known his parents-in-law would come to the inner city, he wouldn't have bought a house; he would have lived in his elder brother-in-law's mansion. It would have been so lively!
Unfortunately, he found out too late. However, with their residences separated only by a wall, he had directly carved a door through it. This made visiting unnecessary, and it was also convenient.
Su Ya quickly found Song Fei in the manor's carriage. Coincidentally, Fang Mingjiang, the wet nurse's husband, was also there, holding his five-month-old son and teaching him to speak!
"Madam requests that both young masters come over immediately. Madam has something to discuss!"
Song Fei and Fang Mingjiang exchanged glances. Their Madam rarely sought them out. Today, she had actively summoned them. It seemed they hadn't visited the manor in two days.
Song Xin and Qiangwei heard that Zhao Jiaqi was looking for the two of them. As the maternal grandfather, he directly hugged his elder grandson and urged his son and son-in-law, "Little Qiqi must have something important to discuss with you. Don't delay, hurry up and go!"
Fang Mingjiang playfully tickled his son's cheek. His son was blowing bubbles at him, making him feel even happier!
"Dad, please take care of the child. Big Brother and I will go now!" Fang Mingjiang, being very familiar with them, looked at his child in his father-in-law's arms and chuckled.
Song Xin rolled his eyes upwards. Who else would look after his grandson if not him!
If it weren't for him giving him a great-grandson, with this brat always freeloading at his house, he would have kicked him out long ago with a stick!
Speaking of which, his son wasn't very driven. He was already in his twenties but didn't even have a concubine in his room. He wished he could be a grandfather, but his son wasn't giving him the chance!
He spent his days looking at other people's sons, longing for a grandson!
The two of them went to the manor with Su Ya.
Upon seeing them, Zhao Jiaqi didn't dally and directly stated the purpose of summoning them.
"The New Year is just a few months away, and after spring, it will be the prime time for wild vegetables to grow. I'm planning to get into the wild vegetable deep processing business. I've called you both here to discuss this matter."
Wild vegetables?
Hearing these two words, Fang Mingjiang and Song Fei's faces turned as green as wild vegetables. Nowadays, every household had money; who would eat wild vegetables!
Although Fang Mingjiang came from a humble background, he had never eaten wild vegetables, but that didn't mean he didn't know about them!
"Madam, now that ordinary folk have a little money, they'll prefer to eat cultivated vegetables. It can be said that wild vegetables are their nightmare. I think a business dealing in wild vegetables would be very unpopular."
He spoke rather diplomatically, but his meaning was clear.
Compared to his tact, Song Fei was more direct and blunt, "Madam, the customers for our businesses are almost all ordinary people. Wealthy families might try wild vegetables out of novelty, but ordinary households wouldn't even glance at them. It's not just unpopular, Madam, it simply won't sell. Doing this kind of business would be like throwing money down the drain."
"No, throwing money down the drain at least makes a sound. But once this money is invested, it will be gone forever. Madam, please reconsider."
The two of them expressed their opinions one after another. Zhao Jiaqi understood them.
However, she didn't agree with what they both said.
"There are many kinds of wild vegetables, and each variety has its name. Moreover, if these wild vegetables are processed properly, the resulting dishes are very delicious. They are not as unpalatable or common as you imagine."
Fang Mingfei and Song Fei heard her words, implying that wild vegetables could be transformed into many dishes?
Weren't they all bitter, astringent, and even scratchy to the throat when eaten!
The two exchanged glances and remained silent, listening to her speak.
"What I want to do with wild vegetable deep processing is to preserve the nutrients in the wild vegetables, so that they can be eaten in summer and autumn, even though they are spring vegetables. This isn't just for wild vegetables; it could apply to regular vegetables, and even seafood!"
This... this was simply delusional!
How could spring food be stored and eaten in summer and autumn? Those wild vegetables would surely breed something alive, almost as an insult to the time they were stored!
Could it be that she also intended to sell live creatures along with them as a bonus?