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Learning that Wu Yan and Jiang Tao had come to propose marriage, all the Chu family members who could return did so, filling the house with lively activity.

Li Qingyu brought out the family’s fruits and snacks to entertain the guests, showing warmth and thorough hospitality.

After exchanging pleasantries, they got down to business.

Wu Yan signaled Jiang Tao, who promptly said, “Uncle, Aunt, our main purpose today is to propose marriage between Qingning and our family’s Zhaozong…”

He spoke at length before handing a list of betrothal gifts to Chu Rong, followed by presenting a box and giving over one thousand silver coins as betrothal money.

“Uncle, these are our betrothal gifts. If there are no issues, shall we set a date for their marriage?”

Chu Rong examined the list carefully, surprised by the generous offerings, and felt inwardly shocked.

Li Qingyu, Grandfather Chu, and Grandmother Chu couldn’t read, but they understood numbers. Seeing the lengthy list, they assumed it included many items, indicating the great value placed on their Qingning, which satisfied them.

Chu Rong closed the list and inspected the gifts, which were all high-quality items, showing genuine effort, “We have no objections on our side.”

Wu Yan and Jiang Tao internally sighed in relief. Wu Yan then took out a red paper with three auspicious wedding dates written on it.

She handed the paper to Chu Rong, “Uncle, these are all good dates for the wedding. Please take a look and see which one you like.”

After some discussion among the elders and consulting with Chu Qingning, they settled on a date, the sixteenth day of the first lunar month next year.

Li Qingyu enthusiastically said, “Wu Yan, Jiang Tao, Zhaozong, please make yourselves comfortable. I’ll go cook lunch. Have it here at noon. Qingning, please accompany your brother and sister-in-law for a chat…”

Wu Yan and Jiang Tao politely accepted the invitation.

“Mother, understood.” After Li Qingyu headed to the kitchen, Chu Qingning took Wu Yan, Jiang Tao, and the two children out for a stroll around the village, with Jiang Zhaozong accompanying them throughout.

In Sun Village.

After arranging the workshop tasks, Chu Qingzhi went straight to Sun Village to select piglets.

Not only did the villagers rear pigs, but the landlord also did, with a pigsty housing over three hundred meat pigs, ten sows, and over a hundred piglets.

Chu Qingzhi headed to the landlord’s place.

Hearing that Chu Qingzhi wanted to buy a large number of piglets, the landlord personally greeted her, “Miss Chu, please follow me.”

Leading the way to the pigsty, he said, “Miss, take a look at our piglets. Plump and active, they’re definitely easy to raise.”

After inspecting all the piglets and the sows, confirming their health, Chu Qingzhi asked, “How much for the piglets?”

The landlord was straightforward, “They’re sold by weight, two thousand and five hundred copper coins per kilos. If you take them all, I’ll give you a price of two thousand and two hundred.”

Chu Qingzhi nodded, “Let’s weigh them. After that, please deliver them to Chu Village.”

The landlord readily agreed, “No problem.”

A total of one hundred and twenty-eight piglets weighed in at four thousand four hundred and eighty jin, averaging thirty-five jin per piglet, amounting to one hundred and three taels of silver. The landlord generously rounded down the figure.

With the pigsty already repaired, the piglets, upon arrival, were allocated ten per pen for convenience in feeding and management until they grew bigger.

The entire pigsty was built to accommodate five hundred pigs, with room for expansion.

Guo Shangyong knew how to raise pigs, and Chu Qingzhi assigned ten people to him, “Brother Guo, from now on, the pigsty is your responsibility.”

Guo Shangyong promised, “No problem, Miss Chu. We’ll take good care.”

“Your wages will still be one tael per day, the same as everyone else. Good performance will earn a bonus at the end of the month, and regarding holidays…”

Chu Qingzhi gathered everyone to discusswages, bonuses, and holidays in detail, and contracts were signed to instill a sense of responsibility.

She also addressed the cattle shed, assigning it to Fu Kangping with ten people, and the horse stable to Luo Hongping, giving him the remaining injured soldiers. As the number of horses increased, more people would be added.

Wan Haonan was tasked with overseeing the brick kiln, which had no soldiers assigned, so Chu Qingzhi planned to hire workers once the kiln was operational.

“Also, there’s something else,” Chu Qingzhi pointed towards the walnut grove, “After the kiln is built, I’ll fence off this area, including the walnut grove. Please keep an eye on it, apply fertilizer, etc. Next year, you can harvest for consumption, and I’ll collect any surplus for other arrangements.”

“And about the forest, it’s full of mushrooms and wood ears. If you’re free, you can take Da Bai to forage. Later, you can sell them to me.”

“If you’re interested in cultivation, I can teach you.”

The mention of mushrooms and wood ears stirred hope among the listeners, “Thankyou, Miss.”

Chu Qingzhi responded, “Just do your jobs well as a thank you.”

“Miss, we’ll do our utmost.”

“Okay.”

Wan Haonan hesitated before speaking, “Miss Chu, there’s something I’d like to discuss.”

“What is it? Just say it,” Chu Qingzhi encouraged.

Wan Haonan scratched his head, slightly embarrassed, “Miss, now that we’re all working here and really like it, we’ve decided not to leave. There’s a nice open space next to the walnut grove where we’d like to build our houses. We’ve saved some money from the army and can buy the land. What do you think?”

Chu Qingzhi responded, “Of course, you can. But there’s no need for you to buy it; keep your money. I’ll arrange the housing.”

Tang Jinghong had given her thirty thousand taels, and she had barely spent any. There was more than enough to build houses.

Wan Haonan insisted, “Miss, that wouldn’t be right. You’ve already helped us so much; we can handle this.”

Chu Qingzhi said, “Since I’ve helped this much, one more thing won’t hurt.”

Grateful, Wan Haonansmiled, “Thankyou, Miss.”

Just then, a villager ran over, “Qingzhi, the people delivering the calves have arrived. Come and check.”

“Thanks, Uncle.” Chu Qingzhi hurried home.

Rows of calves, tied with ropes and looking impressive, were a rare sight, attracting many onlookers from the village.

Chu Qingzhi approached, “Manager, you came yourself?”

“Yes,” the manager replied with a smile. “Where’s the cattle shed? I’ll help drive them there.”

Chu Qingzhi pointed, “Over there.”

With the manager’s skilled guidance, the calves were smoothly led into their new home.

Chu Qingzhi politely inquired, “Manager, how much for the calves?”