Chapter 259

Everyone was eagerly awaiting Gu Xixi to freely disclose her "secret formula".

Gu Xixi composed herself and delivered the remarks she had prepared in advance.

From common pests and diseases of corn, to how to prevent them.

From how to promote growth, to which factors need to be in place for corn ears to be big and kernels plentiful, achieving a bumper harvest.

And the distinctions among different types and functions of fertilizing, watering, and applying pesticides.

The entire venue fell silent.

Like Lao Qian, who could read and write, had prepared paper and brush in advance, taking notes while listening.

Many more were illiterate; hearing one sentence they'd immediately forget the previous, some content they heard but didn't understand, their heads soon a mush of paste.

Gu Xixi had anticipated this, and had discussed it beforehand with Lao Qian.

Lao Qian wrote furiously while loudly saying, "Don't panic, everyone; whatever you absorb counts, I've noted it all down."

"If anything remains unclear later, we can go over it anytime."

Then the crowd relaxed and continued to listen attentively.

Gu Xixi never drags things out; she finished in the time it takes to eat a meal.

Someone began asking, "If we want our corn yield to be as high as yours, does doing all the points you mentioned mean that?"

Gu Xixi nodded, "Exactly."

Another person chimed in, "Then you should also teach us how to prepare those medicines and fertilizers you mentioned."

He Jinglan looked worriedly at Gu Xixi, thinking, "Isn't this putting people on the spot? How should she answer?"

Gu Xixi lifted her gaze and stared straight at the crowd, "Buy."

Like cold water dropped into hot oil, the venue erupted.

"Buy? That means we still have to spend money?!"

Although Gu Daye and Gu Erye themselves didn't come today, each of their households sent someone.

Gu Youfu sneered loudly, "I said she couldn't possibly have a change of heart and teach us the secret formula."

"In the end it's just to make money for herself, sucking us dry!"

"Oh, she even summoned those surnamed Gu from other villages—truly she's out to swindle her own kin!"

"That just means you're foolish, making that long trip for nothing!"

Gu Youfu is the eldest son of Gu Daye, somewhat scheming; in the earlier incident where the Gu clan surrounded and attacked Gu Xixi, he certainly played a role in stirring things up.

Their two households had been expelled from the clan, already feeling resentful; today they couldn't pass up the chance to mock a bit.

Fortunately, the other Gu clan relatives present weren't swayed by Gu Youfu's words.

Someone retorted, "You came too, didn't you? You talk as if you know it's a pile of dung yet insist on tasting its saltiness."

The Gu Daye family's relations in the village were never good; villagers laughed, and some even joined in the jeering.

Lao Qian had to step forward to maintain order.

When quiet returned, Gu Xixi continued, "There's no need to speak so harshly; I'll say my piece, and whether you want to do it and how you do it is entirely up to each of you."

"Besides, the pesticides and fertilizers aren't sold directly by me; the little amount I painstakingly produce is barely enough for my own household."

"Later there will be workshop supplies; I'll use the same stuff and stop making it myself."

The crowd murmured in discussion.

Having learned from the previous experience with the pingbo fruit trees, this time, aside from Gu Youfu, nobody was eager to speak against it.

After all, the few households that followed Gu Xixi in planting trees were clearly seeing profits.

Nobody wanted to miss the opportunity again on a whim.

Villager A asked, "Our ancestors have always used manure, not buying fertilizer; would using this work?"

Gu Xixi replied, "What you mentioned can serve as base fertilizer, but at least it needs to be combined with another kind of fertilizer."

Villager B raised a hand, "Then we really can't make it ourselves?"

Gu Xixi smiled, "I can only say that making fertilizers and pesticides isn't easy; I can give you the method, but you might not succeed. The raw materials always cost something, right? If you fail, you'll waste the materials and still have to buy the equipment for making them,"

"You can figure out the accounts to see what's most economical."

The discussion continued, with some nodding and some frowning.

At that moment, Shitou shouted, "You want to make it yourselves? Sister Xixi, each time she succeeded she had at least eighty failures; do you have confidence you can do better than her?"

"If amateurs like you try, you might find the corn already matured before your fertilizer is ready!"

The crowd erupted again, "Really, is it that hard to make?"

Some clear-headed persons in charge of the local Gu clan whispered, "Given how complex it is, no wonder Gu Erye earlier only stole a bit of fertilizer water—it was utterly useless."

Others agreed, "In that light, Boss Gu hasn't been deceiving us before!"

More and more people's minds became active.

Especially those with relatively comfortable means had already prepared to ask about the price.

Shitou, arms crossed, spoke like a little adult, "Moreover, those are the recipes Gu Xixi often works on until midnight, spending how much capital, trying over and over; why should you get to use them for free?"

"Even we kids know you can't just take someone's hard work for nothing!"

"It was you who chased after people begging for the secret formula; now you're the ones afraid Gu Xixi will take advantage."

"And nobody's forcing you to buy or sell; even if you harvest more grain, it won't end up in our granary!"

The children's words, spoken without restraint, made a bunch of adults' old faces flush red.

At the same time it thoroughly woke them up.

Yes, Gu Xixi taught the method; in the end corn yields increased, and each household kept its own gains.

What need would they have to swindle them?

Besides, buying pesticides and fertilizers for personal use is clearly less trouble and cheaper than making them yourself.

Even if Gu Xixi, who put up her own money and labor to develop the recipe, makes a bit of profit from it, what's the problem?

Before, someone wanted to learn the vegetable-farming business from Gu Daye's family, promised benefits, but Gu Daye still wouldn't agree!

With this line of thinking, everything becomes clear.

Immediately, someone asked about the price.

Gu Xixi said frankly, "This isn't under my control; the exact price hasn't been set yet, and you know the person who makes this—it's An Qinghe."

Everyone recalled that enthusiastic young man with blue eyes, and they all laughed.

"Little An!"

"Is he back?"

Gu Xixi said, "In a few days he should deliver the goods; we'll see then, but..."

Inside the courtyard, some were happy, others worried.

Gu Xixi took in all those worried looks, then shifted the topic: "There's something I can guarantee."

"First, the price won't be high; I'll make sure everyone can afford it."

"Second, those with spare money can buy outright; if you're temporarily short on cash, you can buy on credit—all credit will be in my name. I won't charge interest during the millet's growing season; you can repay the debt after the autumn harvest."

As soon as she said that, the worried people's faces instantly lit up with joy.

Someone doubted, "You can buy on credit, no interest, and no collateral required?"

Gu Xixi laughed and said, "No need."

"However, to prevent anyone from deliberately defaulting, interest will be charged after the autumn harvest, calculated at one fen for overdue payments."

He Jinglan said, "Rest assured, we won't let the interest compound to the point you can't repay."

"Xixi will write it clearly in the credit contract: if you follow her method strictly and the yield per mu is less than five hundred jin, you only need to repay half the debt."