Chapter 125: Free? Impossible!

The Beginning of Spring ceremony requires offering the three livestock—pig, sheep, and chicken—with the Village Chief representing the whole village in burning incense and worshipping the village's land.

Besides that, one must also take a ladle of Beginning of Spring water in advance from the village's thawed river water or mountain spring.

Additionally, a boy and a girl are to casually take a handful of soil from the village.

One water and one soil are offered to the deities, symbolizing that villagers should never forget that every meal and drink comes from the local water and soil, under the deities' protection.

Gu Xixi followed local custom, standing quietly in the crowd.

Only after Village Chief Lao Qian announced the end of this Beginning of Spring ceremony did the devout people begin to stir and move about.

Qin Dasao had already spotted Gu Xixi's location and immediately pushed through the crowd to come over.

"Xixi, what do you really think about our big matter?"

Since before the New Year, Gu Xixi has kept Qin Dasao waiting, but today is already Beginning of Spring.

Not long after, when all things grow and it's time to plant trees and sow seeds, discussing what to plant then would be too late.

Gu Xixi smiled and patted Qin Dasao's hand, saying, "I know you're anxious, sister-in-law, and I am no different."

"It's better to pick the day than to wait for an auspicious one—let's do it today, speak now."

"Ah?" Qin Dasao exclaimed in surprise, thinking she had misheard.

Gu Xixi loudly addressed the dispersing crowd, "Villagers! If you wish to hear a few words from me, please stay!"

Everyone stopped in their tracks, curious—after all, listening costs nothing!

Among them, Qin Dasao, Lao Qian, and others were the most excited, having long awaited this moment!

Seeing this, Gu Xixi continued, "I know that since last autumn's end until now, many neighbors have been curious about what we will plant next year and how."

"Today I will discuss this matter in detail with everyone."

Someone shouted, "Then what exactly are you going to plant!"

During the winter idle season, this topic had been guessed back and forth by everyone, yet remained undecided.

Now it is finally to be revealed—who could not be excited?

Gu Xixi smiled and said, "Fruit trees."

Before she could continue, someone urgently asked, "What kind of fruit tree? Peach, pear, or apricot?"

Locally, the common fruit trees are nothing more than these three.

The villagers began to lose interest at this point.

Fruit trees, you can't eat them or drink them.

Just like children eating candy, only those with spare change in their pockets will buy them to indulge a craving.

Not planting grain but fruit trees—isn't that just fooling around!

Several elderly people had already shaken their heads and turned to leave.

Gu Xixi said, "Compared to the three you mentioned, our village's water, soil, and climate are more suitable for growing pinpo fruit."

"One could even say it is exceptionally suited, nothing could be more fitting."

"Pinpo fruit? What is that?" The villagers' curiosity was piqued, and they began to chatter.

Lao Qian raised his hand to signal Gu Xixi, "Great-niece, may I explain this to everyone on your behalf?"

Gu Xixi nodded, "Uncle Qian, please."

Lao Qian still carries considerable authority in the village.

When he was about to speak, the few people who had been about to leave stopped in their tracks.

Lao Qian cleared his throat and spoke with vigor, "Pinpo fruit is a fruit tree transmitted from the Western Regions; as early as ten or twenty years ago, it was already cultivated within our Great Enterprise borders, especially in the north."

The villagers were half-believing, half-doubting, "If it's been cultivated, why haven't we seen it?"

Lao Qian put on a stern face, "What's the rush? Hear me out first!"

"The nurseries for pinpo fruit are controlled by Western Region merchants; the saplings aren't something just anyone can buy! Moreover, they're not cheap—only officials, nobles, and wealthy families plant them in their mansions or farms."

Gu Erye said disappointedly, "I thought it might be some good way out!"

"What does such a rare thing have to do with us ordinary folks? Am I right, everyone?"

Everyone echoed in agreement.

Gu Erye is Gu Xixi's paternal second uncle; having said that, the others

Seeing more and more people about to leave, Qin Dasao grew anxious first, "Xixi, the crowd isn't listening—what should we do?"

Gu Xixi was not surprised by this situation.

"I have already arranged a supply of pinpo fruit trees; the saplings will be delivered to the village in a few days."

"Those who wish to plant fruit trees with me this year need not spend their own money to buy saplings."

Free— for humanity, it is a temptation of equality.

Sure enough, someone stopped and asked, "No cost? That's just giving it away for free, right?"

Gu Xixi let out a light laugh, "Free? How could that be possible."

"If I gave you the saplings and you turned around and sold them, or chopped them for firewood, wouldn't I suffer a huge loss while you reap the benefit? Who in the world would be that foolish?"

The person who asked rubbed his nose, feeling a kind of embarrassment at being exposed.

Gu Xixi took a breath and said, "What I am about to say concerns the details of tree planting; whether you are inclined or harbor doubts, you may stay and listen."

"If you truly have no interest in this, I won't waste your time—please go back."

Upon saying that, about one-third of the people left.

Of the remaining two-thirds, at least half were idle and bored yet strongly curious.

Zhang Shen looked at Gu Xixi with worry, but said nothing.

Since last late spring, she has watched Gu Xixi overcome numerous seemingly impossible obstacles.

No matter how difficult this undertaking seems to achieve, she only needs to steadfastly support Gu Xixi.

Zhang Shen looked toward Mu Nan Zhao again, seeing his calm demeanor, he still hadn't spoken up to now.

Zhang Shen's heart settled completely.

Anyway, as long as nothing bad happens, that's fine!

Gu Xixi patiently waited for the crowd size to stabilize before giving the formal explanation.

The cultivation of Pinpo fruit is basically divided into two parts.

First, those who want to plant must meet the conditions set by Gu Xixi herself, and sign a contract with her according to the number of saplings received.

Second, Gu Xixi provides full guidance for planting Pinpo fruit trees, and after the trees bear fruit, she takes a share of the net profit per jin of Pinpo fruit for five consecutive years.

The villagers also had many questions.

They asked: "It's too hard for the trees to bear fruit; even if we follow your conditions and use only half of our family's fields to plant fruit trees, while intercropping multiple crops, we would still have some income."

"But those many fruit trees occupy the land and require tending; if they don't bear fruit for three or four years, isn't that a loss?"

Gu Xixi said, "What if I say I can make them bear fruit in at most two years?"

"Moreover, I can ensure the fruit will be delicious, high-yielding, and uniformly beautiful in appearance."

The villagers erupted in an uproar.

Even those secretly hiding outside the Tudimiao gasped in surprise.

They are all farmers; although they have never grown fruit trees, they know that whether the fruit turns out big and sweet or misshapen depends entirely on heaven's will.

Could this girl Gu Xixi be thinking she's a deity?

Gu Erye unexpectedly didn't leave; he loudly said, "Then can you guarantee to everyone that it will be exactly as you said in two years?!"

I originally thought Gu Xixi would at least put up a front for her reputation.

Who knew she would smile and say, "I cannot guarantee it."

Everyone was stunned, followed immediately by a chorus of boos.

Even Lao Qian and Qin Dasao couldn't figure out Gu Xixi's intentions.

Only Mu Nan Zhao gazed at Gu Xixi, the corners of his mouth twitching as if he could hardly hold back his laughter.