"Come back on Saturday."
Song Qingchao was indifferent to these things.
"Everyone may have only heard of me, but has not seen me. Today I come to get to know you all, and secondly, for your livelihoods."
She looked at the whispering crowd below, her expression still unchanged.
"Everyone knows that this sandy soil cannot grow grain, and the imperial court will not give us seeds. Without food, we cannot survive. So please be quiet. What I say today is for you to have enough to eat and to live."
First, she explained how to manage and improve the sandy soil, then patiently persuaded everyone to plant grain together.
"Of course, I know everyone has doubts about this, but the Sifangtai has not gathered everyone today to let them work for free."
She curled her lips and looked at the people below. "We are responsible for improving the land and providing seeds. By autumn, if there is a good harvest, we will take fifty percent profit. If the harvest is not good, we will only take thirty percent."
At this point, someone retorted, "If we get nothing, won't we have to compensate you with ten percent profit!"
Song Qingchao was waiting for this.
In fact, the previous words were all nonsense.
She was uncertain about the specific harvest, but it would never be completely fruitless.
No matter how she calculated it, she would end up making a profit.
What she wanted was for these people to cooperate with her and promote the land improvement.
One reason was that when they knew that following her would bring benefits, it would be easier to do other things in the future.
She wanted to cultivate their confidence in her.
"If we get nothing, we will naturally pay you for your hard work. At that time, we will compensate twenty percent according to the acreage."
As expected, there were more doubts from the crowd.
"How can there be such a good thing in the world?"
"My dear brother, you cannot say that. Pie does not fall from the sky, but your efforts will always have rewards. If this effort does not receive the favor of heaven, don't you still have me, the head of the Sifangtai, to back you up?"
She cleared her throat and raised her voice, "Just go ahead and do it. This is a sure win-win business. I dare to do it because I bet that there will be a good harvest in autumn. As for the definition of a good harvest, Aunt Fang and the others will explain later."
Although there were still dissenting voices in the crowd, the general sentiment had already shifted mostly towards Song Qingchao.
Song Qingchao felt that things were settled and the next step was to formulate the details, so she said a few more words and then handed everything over to Aunt Fang.
As for the Zhou brothers, Song Qingchao only took Zhou Ri with her, leaving the rest to Aunt Fang to help control the crowd.
Zhou Ri, however, was somewhat puzzled.
"Miss, why are you calling me alone?"
Song Qingchao smiled knowingly. "You're still the clever one."
She entered the house, felt the warmth inside, and took off her cloak.
Zhou Ri naturally took it.
"It's finally my turn to play."
Song Qingchao said, "Mm," and then asked, "Tell me, how many toilets have been built so far?"
As soon as this was mentioned, Zhou Ri's expression instantly soured.
But he still pouted and replied, "Reporting to Miss, including the eight in the courtyard, a total of sixteen have been built. Each location is where you marked."
Song Qingchao, in a very good mood, sat by the fireplace.
"How many vats of compost have been piled up now?"
Zhou Ri's complexion visibly turned ashen.
Although he had adapted, who would want to do this every day...
Even now, he wanted to vomit it all out.
"Reporting... Miss... there are a full thirty-two vats... gag..."
Before he could finish, Zhou Ri directly covered his mouth and went out.
Song Qingchao felt both pained and amused in the room.
"This child."
When Zhou Ri returned, his face was already deathly pale.
"Miss, if I may be so bold as to ask, what are you doing with all these things?"
His furrowed brows now looked like a towel that had been squeezed dry of water.
Song Qingchao quickly poured him a cup of warm tea and handed it over.
Zhou Ri took it and drank it down.
"Of course, it's for land improvement. Next, I want you to do composting."
Zhou Ri: "How to compost..."
"First, dig a pit half as tall as a person, then spread a layer of balloon flower, then pour a layer of that stuff, then pour a layer of plant ash, and stir it every seven days..."
Before Song Qingchao could finish, Zhou Ri covered his mouth and went out to vomit again.
Song Qingchao: "..."
When Zhou Ri returned, Song Qingchao was also kindly persuading him, "Young man, a bet is a bet."
Zhou Ri was about to collapse.
"Miss, if I had known this would happen, I would never have made this bet with you."
"Alright."
Song Qingchao comforted him briefly again, only giving Zhou Ri water to drink, and did not take out the pastries.
She was worried that Zhou Ri would waste these things.
"I have another task for you."
Zhou Ri immediately became vigilant. "Miss, what are you going to do again?"
"Don't be nervous," Song Qingchao hushed him and motioned him to come closer.
Zhou Ri approached suspiciously, but still kept his distance from Song Qingchao.
"I am giving you another right. You can supervise the newly recruited people. If you find anyone disobedient or violating discipline, as long as the supervisor agrees, you can borrow people to help you. But the premise is that you cannot trick people into coming."
Zhou Ri's excitement immediately turned to steadiness.
"I understand what you mean, Miss."
"As expected of a smart child."
Song Qingchao then smilingly brought out the pastries.
"This time, I think you can eat it."
Unexpectedly, Zhou Ri stepped back.
"Miss, I... temporarily don't have much appetite."
"You really don't want to eat?"
Song Qingchao picked one up herself and asked Zhou Ri tentatively, then lowered it forward.
Who knew that with such a movement, Zhou Ri was so scared that he turned and ran away.
He even shouted, "I am not worthy of enjoying such delicacies!"
Song Qingchao's hand froze on the spot. "This is so delicious."
With that, she took a bite, picked up the plate, and walked back, leaning against the chaise lounge. She then picked up the blueprints on the table to read.
Land cultivation, fertilizer is one part, and plowing tools are the second.
She picked out some simple tools, as making these in a short time was also a problem. Simple ones would be quick.
However, what she wanted to do most was the curved-shaft plow.
With Elder Tan around, this should not be a problem.
It's just that Elder Tan was currently researching the equipment for papermaking.
It seemed she had to put the papermaking factory project on hold for now.
Song Qingchao acted immediately, put on her cloak again, and walked out.
Elder Tan was a highly respected senior, invited by Bai Youan.
If she had a favor to ask, she definitely had to go in person.
However, when she reached the location chosen for the papermaking factory, she was stunned.
What happened!!!