Watching the rabbits nibbling grass in the cage, Wu Xiu was very happy. After all, Yan Yan said they would be slaughtered and eaten during the New Year.
Although she had never eaten rabbit meat, it was still meat! Anything that was meat, how could it not be delicious!
Wu Xiu had also been learning high school knowledge with Lin Yan recently, and she was now particularly convinced by Lin Yan. She thought everything Yan Yan said was right!
When Lin Yan helped her review junior high school knowledge before, it was the same knowledge, but she didn't understand what the teacher said. However, as soon as Yan Yan explained it, she understood.
So she believed what Yan Yan said, that she wasn't stupid, she just hadn't found the right way to learn. During this time, her younger brothers who came back for the holidays also asked Lin Yan questions. They all said that Lin Yan explained things better than their own teachers!
The rabbits were well taken care of by Wu Xiu and Lin Yan. A few days ago, the female rabbit was pregnant again. Seeing the rabbits increasing, and thinking of the meat for the New Year, even Lin Yan couldn't help but feel a little happy.
After all, she hadn't eaten meat for a long time. Recently, she always felt particularly craving it. She knew this was her body telling her that it lacked protein and fat.
After Zhou Qi sold the rabbits and ginseng in the black market, he exchanged them for some money and grain coupons. Then he went to the state-run restaurant for a meal to satisfy his cravings.
Finally having a good meal, Zhou Qi felt infinitely satisfied. It was a pity that the money he had here needed to be kept as capital, otherwise he would definitely have eaten more meals here.
But to be honest, the ingredients from this era were truly substantial. Although the seasoning was not as good as later, it was definitely made with genuine ingredients!
It had to be said that this harvest gave Zhou Qi a lot of confidence, and he became even more enthusiastic about going into the mountains.
For the sake of his own appetite, and also to accumulate capital for the future, he definitely had to go into the mountains a few more times.
The New Year was approaching, and the Wu family's New Year goods were unusually abundant this year. In addition to the meat distributed by the team at the end of the year, there were also the rabbits raised by Lin Yan and her family, plus the dried vegetables stored in the summer, which allowed the Wu family to have a prosperous year.
Several families who were on good terms with the Wu family also exchanged some items with Lin Yan and her family for rabbit meat.
Lin Yan was very generous, or rather, she didn't refuse anyone. As long as it was something she wanted, she could exchange it. However, she only exchanged meat, keeping the hides for herself.
Lin Yan searched her mind for knowledge on how to process rabbit hides and weave rabbit fur. However, she only gave instructions for these tasks; the actual work was done by the men in the family.
The hides of several rabbits were tanned with different combinations of solutions, and then the most suitable one was chosen.
The tanned rabbit hides were used for the family members' clothes, and Lin Yan also made a pair of knee pads. The finished knee pads were soft and warm.
Lin Yan gave this pair of knee pads to the team leader because she knew that the team leader's leg had been injured when he was a soldier, and he should be able to use these knee pads.
With such a tangible item, she could better convince the team leader.
As expected, the team leader was very fond of these knee pads. Lin Yan then proposed her idea of raising rabbits.
"Lin Zhiqing has a lot of ideas!" the team leader said thoughtfully.
"There's no other way, life in the countryside is too hard. I want to improve everyone's lives," Lin Yan said calmly.
"Actually, I know I don't have to worry about these things, but I really feel that my uncle and the others are too tired. Zaolin Brigade is too remote, and many ideas cannot be implemented."
"Does Lin Zhiqing have any other ideas?" the team leader was very curious.
"I have many ideas, but there are even more limitations," Lin Yan shook her head. "Let's talk about something practical!"
"Silage can help the team's animal husbandry develop. Sheep and cattle take a long time to raise, so I want to raise animals that grow faster, like chickens and rabbits."
"As for chickens, there are regulations that prohibit raising too many, and chickens have avian flu. Once it breaks out, there will be a huge loss!" the team leader disagreed.
"I thought the same way, so I didn't bring up this suggestion. As for rabbits, they breed quickly and grow quickly. Moreover, they only eat grass, which is quite convenient. The most important thing is that this can be raised by children," Lin Yan analyzed the pros and cons.
"The meat can be eaten, and the hides can be made into clothes. The weather is still cold, but when it gets warmer, the rabbit fur can be sheared to make rabbit wool yarn. If it can really be developed, then Zaolin's poverty can be changed."
"Let me think about this!"
"Take your time to think. After all, this is a major matter. Actually, I think there's no need to inform them at the beginning. When they see the benefits, they will naturally join."
"We don't need to raise too many in the early stage. Each family can raise a few, and the children can go pick grass to feed them. Then the team will uniformly collect the rabbit hides and fur. As for the sales of rabbit hides and fur, you don't need to worry about that. I will find a way!"
"But this is considered doing business!" the team leader didn't want to take the risk.
"But this belongs to the collective economy, not private property. This is everyone's property, and neither the team leader nor I will profit from it," Lin Yan smiled. "I just want everyone to live a little better."
"You let me think about it again. This matter is too important, and it's not something I can decide alone."
"It's okay, there's no hurry with this matter. After all, everyone has to see the benefits first!" Lin Yan comforted him. "I may have many more ideas later. I might have to bother the team leader more then."
"Your intentions are good, I understand," the team leader said. He also understood that Lin Yan truly cared about their villagers, especially since the silage was already showing initial results.
The livestock purchased this winter had good appetites. Not only did they not lose weight, but they even gained some. Everyone was very happy to see this.
"Then team leader, I'll be going now. When you've thought it over, we can discuss how to proceed!"
Lin Yan also knew that she couldn't convince the team leader and the others in one go, but she believed they would agree. After all, in her impression, this team leader was an official who truly cared about the villagers.
"Host, why do you insist on improving their lives? With your ability, if you wait for the reform and opening up, you can immediately change their future!"
"This is different. They treat me with sincerity, and I don't want them to suffer. Although there are many restrictions in this era, there are still many things that can be done."
Lin Yan didn't think it was difficult to develop in this era. The most difficult thing now was that she didn't have such an influence, nor could she make people believe her. Therefore, she needed to achieve results to better carry out her plan.
"Then Host, are you not planning to engage in business anymore?"
"Engaging in business doesn't quite suit the original owner's personality. I think with her personality, it's more suitable for her to engage in scientific research or be a teacher."
"So?"
"Changing to a new life, of course, one should also change their way of living. Isn't that more interesting!"