Chapter 273: with translation of chapter title

The people of Huachi Du Cun have all received theirs; Gu Xixi had An Qinghe point out the share for the local Gu Clan relatives, to be sent by the carriage driver to Sweetwater Village.

Many Gu-surnamed people live in Sweetwater Village; leave it there and have them notify others to come pick it up.

The three returned home, watched An Qinghe dump out a pile of copper coins, and began counting money.

Gu Xixi said to An Qinghe, "You don't need to run today; the clan elder will personally guarantee and collect the payment; once the money there is gathered in a couple days, you can go then without delay."

"Okay." An Qinghe strung a thousand copper coins together with a rope into a string.

He didn't show much joy at making money on his face, sighing, "Ah, what are we opening a workshop for? To get raw materials we need considerable capital, and we also have to properly handle wastewater as Xixi said."

"Hiring workers plus experienced foremen, that's eight people."

"Out of eight shares of wages, what finally ends up in our own hands is just three melons and two dates."

Because Gu Xixi set the price of fertilizer and pesticide low from the start, opening the workshop would at most earn a little hard-earned money.

He Jinglan said, "I actually think this is quite meaningful."

"Look, this tiny workshop has given eight people a livelihood to support their families."

"An Qinghe, what you're doing is boundless merit."

An Qinghe thought it also made sense, "Now that we're on the right track, I don't need to watch over it all day; earning less is fine."

Gu Xixi laughed and said, "What you're talking about is only immediate profit."

"In the future, the Pinpo Guoyuan in Yunling County and Shu region, my orchard, the Guo Fruit Forest in Xi Bei, the land I newly bought—just for us alone we cannot do without this workshop."

"It won't be long before you need to hire more people, buy more sets of tools, and expand production."

An Qinghe slapped his forehead, "Right, how did I forget this? Truly focusing on this and losing that, short-sighted!"

He Jinglan pursed her lips, "This time you used the idiom well."

Gu Xixi added, "Not only that; if our production process can be further optimized to raise efficiency, the product could also be sold to more people."

"Just letting you sell cheap now doesn't mean selling to others will be at the same price."

An Qinghe took a deep breath, a merchant's gleam appearing in his eyes, "Exactly!"

"These pesticides and fertilizers are your exclusive formulation; I have goods that others lack, naturally they should be a rare commodity!"

He stopped counting the money, turned to Gu Xixi with fervent eyes, "As long as we can open up the market, let people know our stuff is good and effective, raising the price is a foregone conclusion!"

Ordinary folk who farm buy large packs at wholesale prices; wealthy people tending estates buy small packs, which can be a bit more expensive.

Gu Xixi smiled and nodded, "Figured it out?"

An Qinghe is a true man of action; he immediately said, "Otherwise, why not make some fertilizer for tending flowers and grasses?"

It can also be further divided into different types—like for orchids, peonies, roses—basically the same raw materials; the more categories, the more profit.

Gu Xixi looked at An Qinghe with some surprise.

An Qinghe frowned, puzzled, lowered his head to size himself up, "What's wrong? Why are you looking at me like that?"

"Oh, I'm a layman, I was just saying it casually; if we can't make many varieties, forget it."

Gu Xixi said emotively, "I mean to say, I admire you; your idea is great."

Not only is it good, it's also very ahead of its time.

The concept An Qinghe proposed is exactly the kind of professional horticulture brand common today.

Fertilizers and pesticides subdivided by type also emerged when people generally could eat well and dress well, began pursuing spiritual needs, and gardening became popular.

Packaging is more refined than that of agricultural fertilizer, so the price naturally rises layer upon layer.

Gu Xixi said, "I think we can give it a try."

An Qinghe exclaimed in delight, "Really?"

Gu Xixi smiled and nodded.

The nutrients plants need are nothing more than those few kinds.

Just adjust the formula ratios slightly according to each plant's characteristics; it's actually not complicated.

He Jinglan said sourly, "All I know is you two are going to make a fortune."

An Qinghe said, "When we later expand the scale, Miss He, if you're interested you can buy in."

He Jinglan immediately perked up, "This is what you said! As long as you've planned it well, just find me anytime."

An Qinghe said seriously, "It's a deal."

Gu Xixi couldn't help but laugh and sigh, "Now we're all happy—real money‑grubbers."

He Jinglan gave a light humph, "Should say we three money‑grubbers have met; nobody should look down on anyone."

She was in a good mood and rolled up her sleeves to help An Qinghe count the money.

After verifying the amount was correct, An Qinghe pushed half of it toward Gu Xixi.

"This is your share; treat it as pocket money."

Gu Xixi pushed it back, saying solemnly, "You keep these yourself."

"I've already taken my share of the payment."

An Qinghe was initially puzzled, but after thinking a moment he understood.

"You mean the people who learned to grow millet from you?"

Gu Xixi nodded, "Yes."

"The current selling price is the limit they can bear; I hope they can, through these means, gradually become free of worries about food and clothing and have a little extra money."

He Jinglan exclaimed excitedly, "You want to make the whole Huachi Du Cun prosperous?"

Gu Xixi said, "Not just Huachi Du Cun; the more places like this, the better."

"This is good for my farming and for your business."

"Hmm…" He Jinglan mused, "Let me make an analogy that might not be quite apt—listen and see if it works. It's like raising fish: if we first throw in bait, let the fish eat their fill and drink well, then they can settle and live comfortably. Once they have good lives and can earn money themselves, they'll naturally be willing to spend."

Gu Xixi's mouth twitched, "Although it's not very polite and the logic is a bit muddled… the idea is roughly the same."

An Qinghe stared blankly at Gu Xixi, "Xixi, in this life, I am utterly devoted to you! My most beautiful rose..."

Gu Xixi didn't want to hear An Qinghe's cheesy talk, she got off the kang with a wooden face, "Hurry up and put away your money, I'm going to get something to drink."

She hurried out the door and bumped into the sneaky Gu Erye.

Gu Erye paced outside the door for a long time, finally made up his mind, and only then stepped one foot over the threshold.

Then they heard Gu Xixi ask, "Anything?"

Gu Erye started, lifted his head, a little embarrassed, "Oh... I... I just came to have a look."

Gu Xixi responded indifferently, "Then you can go back after you've looked."

Having said that, she turned and was about to enter the kitchen.

Gu Erye grew anxious, "Um, the pesticide and fertilizer—are they all gone?"

He didn't go to the grain-drying field today, he had been squatting on the road.

Watching everyone else receive fertilizer and head to the fields, Gu Erye felt agonized, scratching his liver and heart.

Finally he saw a donkey cart pulling goods out of the village, and he panicked completely.

They didn't leave him even a single packet!

Gu Erye could no longer hold back, and ran to Gu Xixi's house again.

Gu Xixi looked at him, feigning ignorance while knowing the truth, "You sold at the grain-drying field this morning for half an hour, didn't you buy any?"