Now that Su Shuochi had successfully guided everyone in planting medicinal herbs, the next step was to get them to start raising pigs.

Raising more pigs meant more pig manure for fertilizer. Using this kind of organic fertilizer to grow the herbs would also improve their medicinal properties—that’s what his wife had said.

The villagers liked using pig manure and chicken droppings as fertilizer to save money, since chemical fertilizer was too expensive.

They had no idea that organic fertilizer was actually more effective for medicinal herbs than chemical fertilizer.

Furthermore, chemical fertilizer was, relatively speaking, much more expensive than pig manure, which meant the cost of growing the herbs would also be higher.

Pig manure not only contains nutrients, but these nutrients are mostly in an organic state, making them easier for crops to absorb directly.

Organic fertilizer also had multiple advantages, such as improving the soil, increasing its fertility, and enhancing the overall soil environment.

This was especially crucial for the healthy growth of the crops. Fertilizers made using chemical or physical methods could be irritants.

If skin came into direct contact with chemical fertilizers, it could cause symptoms like itching, redness, and pain. If someone had an allergic reaction, they would even have to seek medical attention.

That would further increase costs, but Su Shuochi wasn’t going to tell the villagers all of this.

He only told the villagers how great pork was, and that it could be made into cured meat and sold in the city.

He told them that no matter how many pigs they raised, they wouldn’t have to wait until the New Year to take them to market like before. As long as a pig weighed over 165 pounds, someone would be ready to buy it at any time.

What he said was simple, clear, and maximized their profits, so he received everyone’s approval.

Even if a few people among them disagreed, they didn’t dare to speak up. The most they thought was, ’Our family just won’t raise pigs, that’s all.’

The main reason they didn’t want to follow along with raising pigs was that they believed Su Shuochi was just doing this on a whim. Once he got tired of it, he would naturally give up.

’Then what would happen to the pigs in our pens?’

But they also wondered, ’What if Su Shuochi is serious? Wouldn’t we lose face if we speak out rashly?’

These few people knew their own status and position, and they were well aware that they were no match for Su Shuochi.

As long as they helped Su Shuochi clear the wasteland, they would get paid, and he wouldn’t short them a single cent.

They weren’t stupid. All these years of life experience had taught them one thing: don’t stick your neck out.

So they signed up to work at the pig farm Su Shuochi was starting, to be farmhands and work for him.

In their hearts, they still believed, ’Su Shuochi is destined for greater things. It’s a miracle for someone so young to have such vision and courage. We definitely can’t go wrong following him.’ Before long, the pig farm was basically fully staffed.

In the end, Hu Yungeng benefited from his wife’s connection; Su Shuochi made him the manager of the pig farm.

The villagers had no objections, since he called Su Shuochi "Brother Su" after all.

The town mayor watched the whole thing, dumbfounded. It was a real eye-opener for him. Comrade Su either didn’t speak, or when he did, he laid out the benefits so clearly that the villagers were completely won over, roaring their approval.

Before coming to Shuanghe Village, the young man had been too embarrassed to constantly talk about money, money, money.

However, the villagers were just that pragmatic; they liked it when the speaker on stage constantly mentioned money.

The moment money was mentioned, the villagers perked up, their blood pumping. They started voicing their own opinions or whispering excitedly among themselves.

The villagers in the large sunning-ground were no longer listless and quiet as church mice.

So, when he gave his concluding speech, he announced loudly to everyone, "I came to Shuanghe Village this time mainly to sign an agreement with Comrade Su, to protect the personal interests of the villagers and to lead you all to earn more money."

As soon as he finished speaking, the villagers cheered and leaped for joy, one after another expressing their gratitude to him.

"The new town mayor is a man who gets things done."

"He’s such a good person. Now we don’t have to worry that Brother Su will leave and never come back."

"Yeah, with the new town mayor’s guarantee, what do we have to fear?"

"That’s right! Next year, I’m going to get five pigs to raise, and I’m going to clear another patch of wasteland to grow medicinal herbs."

"..."

The young town mayor waved his hands, gesturing for the villagers to quiet down, then continued, "Actually, I have another matter to announce today. I’m a man of principle. As long as everyone follows the rules, I can guarantee your interests."

After hearing the young town mayor’s words, the villagers started discussing excitedly again.

Even when the village’s head cook had finished preparing the pig-butchering feast, everyone was still talking, not yet having had their fill of the discussion.

It seemed that even pork wasn’t as important as envisioning the future, a sight that moved Song Zijie deeply.

"Su, watching this makes me want to move to Shuanghe Village and manage the herb cultivation."

"From now on, you’ll be in charge of collecting the medicinal herbs," Su Shuochi said with a wave of his hand. He had been looking for someone to handle that liaison role anyway.

After staying in the village for three days, Su Shuochi drove Song Zijie back to Qing City because his wife was about to start her winter break.

Gu Jiaojiao had originally said she would come back to Qing City, but Su Shuochi was worried the back-and-forth travel would be too tiring for her, so he decided to return to the Imperial City early instead.

Because Second Brother Gu was holding his wedding banquet at the end of the year, Su Shuochi and Gu Jiaojiao definitely had to attend.

Sheng Shiwu was also on winter break, but he didn’t plan on attending Second Brother Gu’s wedding celebration because the round-trip travel fare was too expensive.

He had earned some money working at the medical equipment factory. He bought some clothes for himself and also a long down jacket to give to his older brother.

During that time, he had also secretly asked Su’s mother to help him make some meat sauce to send to his older brother, so he didn’t have much money left.

He hadn’t spent a single dime on his own second brother, and he certainly wouldn’t give a single dime to his sister.

Sheng Yueyue knew he was a student and had no intention of leeching off him.

He bought a gift at a store and asked Eldest Brother Gu to take it to Second Brother Gu. He and Second Brother Gu had a good relationship.

This was because the two of them often secretly gossiped about Su Shuochi and would also talk about Second Brother Gu’s sister, Gu Jiaojiao.

When he saw how dark and thin Eldest Brother Gu looked, he wanted to lend him the one hundred yuan he had tucked away.

He felt guilty because his own sister, Sheng Yueyue, was endlessly demanding things from Eldest Brother Gu, and he was afraid Eldest Brother Gu wouldn’t have enough money for the trip home.

"Xiao Wu, I can’t borrow this money right now," Eldest Brother Gu said, embarrassed.

"Your salary this month is probably just enough for travel fare, right? Aren’t you going to buy a gift for your second brother?"

"I do want to buy a gift, but if I go home for the wedding, I’ll have to stay for the New Year. I might not be back to work until next year. Are you okay with that?"

"Hah, what are you saying, Brother? Of course I trust you. With some money on you for emergencies, your parents won’t have to worry either."

"Then thank you, Xiao Wu. I’ll pay... pay you back as soon as I get my salary next year."

When Eldest Brother Gu mentioned paying the money back, he remembered his promise to give Sheng Yueyue money when he got paid next year, and he hesitated.

’Xiao Wu is right. If I have some money on me, Grandpa and my parents won’t be so disappointed.’

In the end, Eldest Brother Gu steeled his heart and borrowed the one hundred yuan from Sheng Shiwu. To him, this was a huge sum—two months’ salary.

But it was also his confidence and his face. With it, he wouldn’t have to be so stingy when he got home, unable to afford a decent gift. 𝑓𝑟ℯ𝘦𝓌𝘦𝘣𝑛𝑜𝓋𝑒𝓁.𝑐ℴ𝓂

Sheng Shiwu looked at Eldest Brother Gu. He really wanted to tell him to stop giving his sister money.

After thinking about it, he decided to call Second Brother Gu and tell him instead.