Chapter 396: Already Regretful
Translator: Atlas Studios Editor: Atlas Studios
Without needing to work, the farmers who were guarding the land stayed behind with interest. They smiled and asked, “Why is the Great Empress thinking of planting mushrooms?”
Every time Bai Wutong discovered a delicious vegetable and fruit, she would always use the vegetables and fruits to make all kinds of delicious food. Then, she would let the food factory process them into various products. After receiving everyone’s unanimous approval, she would often let the farmers plant them themselves. If they reclaimed more than an acre of wasteland, she would even give them subsidies for planting.
The more land they cultivated, the more land they would have the right to use and the more subsidies they would receive. This allowed them to live a good life without working in workshops. Moreover, these lands could bring them a great sense of satisfaction.
Every time Bai Wutong had something new for everyone to plant, this batch of farmers would always be the most proactive. For fruit trees and crops that had no benefits in the first few years, they would be given more subsidies to plant them.
A few people had planted mushrooms before. It would take at least two years for the mushrooms to grow. Since they were certain that they could receive subsidies, they naturally did not want to let go of the chance.
He Guihua smiled and said, “The Great Empress said that the price of mushrooms has always been high, especially in the winter, they’re even more expensive. When we plant the mushrooms, not only can we eat them ourselves, but we can also process them into all kinds of dry goods, canned food, and medicine. We can earn a lot of money.”
No matter how expensive mushrooms were, they could not be more expensive than pearls.
Moreover, the production of mushrooms was easily affected by the climate and conditions. It was a fool’s dream to supply it to the processing plant in the long term.
However, it was Bai Wutong’s words after all. Everyone only asked, “How much subsidy is given for an acre of land?”
He Guihua knew what the subsidy they were talking about was and explained, “There’s no subsidy for planting mushrooms. You have to pay extra money to build a separate mushroom cultivation room and learn how to plant mushrooms.”
As soon as these words were spoken, the farmers’ expressions changed.
They were not given any subsidies and would have to pay to plant mushrooms. Who would be willing to do that?
Mushrooms were not like pearls that were irreplaceable treasures and could definitely earn money.
Mushrooms were produced everywhere. If they couldn’t afford it, they could just stop eating.
When He Guihua saw everyone’s expressions, she immediately added, “It doesn’t take much money to build the mushroom cultivation room and make fungi bags. Moreover, the yield is as high as a few hundred catties per mu of land. We can harvest it in a month.”
As soon as she said this, the farmers all looked doubtful.
Although they knew that Bai Wutong was capable in many aspects, how could mushrooms be produced at hundreds of catties per mu of land?
It was even more ridiculous to think that they could harvest in a month.
No one believed it. Even if some people believed it, they wanted to see the mushrooms produced with their own eyes before they were willing to plant them.
Bai Wutong had expected from the beginning that many farmers would not believe that mushrooms could have such high yield, so she instructed He Guihua and Yan Tingting that they only needed to take good care of the mushrooms for the time being.
Seeing that no one believed them, they did not explain further. In any case, after the mushrooms were planted, these people would definitely fight to sign up to plant them.
Bai Wutong claimed that they could plant hundreds of catties of mushrooms on an acre of land. Everyone discussed fervently. When Lin Hu’s wife found out, she hurriedly ran home to inform Lin Hu.
Lin Hu asked curiously, “You still want to plant mushrooms? Isn’t our family already cultivating pearls?”
He subconsciously also thought that mushrooms would not earn as much money as pearls.
Lin Hu’s wife said, “Didn’t our father want Eldest Brother and Second Brother to cultivate pearls with us? If mushrooms can really be harvested at hundreds of catties per mu of land, and we can harvest them every 30 days, the profits won’t be small at all. It will take at least two years for us to see the benefits of cultivating pearls! Even if we raise fish together, including fish seedlings and fish food, it will cost a lot of money! If the first and second family branches want to take advantage of the situation, we might as well let them plant mushrooms themselves!”
Lin Hu’s eyes lit up. He felt that what his wife said made sense.
However, after thinking for a moment, he said, “What if Eldest Brother and Second Brother don’t want to plant mushrooms?” After all, the risk of cultivating pearls was low after splitting across the three families. If they planted mushrooms alone, just building a mushroom cultivation room and buying mushrooms would cost a few taels of silver.
However, Lin Hu’s wife said disapprovingly, “Who wants to share the profits with others? The contract rights to the sea are in our hands. Even if they want to take advantage of it, they won’t be able to take much. Go and tell them well. If they have any brains, they will definitely agree to it.”
“If they’re really stupid, our father is smart, so it will definitely work too!”
“It’s best to persuade them quickly. If they really want to sign up to plant mushrooms after the mushrooms are grown, it will definitely be too late.”
However, Lin Hu still doubted that an acre of land could grow hundreds of catties of mushrooms. “What if they can’t grow these mushrooms when the time comes?” If they failed, with his eldest brother and second brother’s character, they would definitely argue with him.
Lin Hu’s wife rolled her eyes at him. “In any case, they’re also making a fuss now. If the mushrooms are grown, they definitely won’t make a fuss anymore. Besides, how can the Great Empress do something she’s not confident in? Which unbelievable thing has the Great Empress failed to do? Even for raising pearls, although everyone is suspicious of it, they are still fighting to raise them.”
“When everyone figures this out, just wait. There will definitely be many people who will take the initiative to sign up to plant mushrooms.”
It was said that if they followed the Great Empress, they would definitely be able to live a good life. Who wouldn’t want to take a gamble? Besides, the bank had a loan policy. If they really couldn’t take out money, they could even mortgage the house.
His wife made too much sense. Lin Hu was completely convinced and hurriedly went to his eldest and second brothers to suggest that they plant mushrooms.
After some thought, Lin Hu promised to let them cultivate pearls together if their mushroom cultivation failed. Only then did they reluctantly agree to sign up to plant mushrooms.
Planting mushrooms required a basic investment of five taels of silver. They wanted Lin Hu to fork out the money, but they were scolded by Elder Lin. Only then did they reluctantly take the monthly income they had painstakingly saved in the past few months to sign up.
As soon as they signed up, the hearts of the others immediately swayed.
Just as they were about to sign up, the 30 families of Qinghe signed up.
To them, even if the mushrooms could not have high yield and could not earn money for them, as long as they could produce some for themselves to eat in the winter, it would be very good.
Besides, if they did not partic.i.p.ate actively in the mushroom cultivation project personally organized by the Great Empress, when would they have the chance to get closer to her?
The 30 families of Qinghe had partic.i.p.ated, and Qinghe Academy and Qinghe Women’s Academy had also signed up. The mushrooms produced could be supplied to the canteen and let the students experience the joy of planting mushrooms themselves. It was a very meaningful investment for the students.
If they could really earn money, it would also be a source of income for their academy.
With so many people signing up, the spots were filled in an instant.
The others wanted to sign up, but they were informed that they could no longer sign up.
If everyone went to plant mushrooms, the local market would be too saturated. After all, it was a long journey to transport the harvest to other places for sale, and the labor force would decrease sharply. Every industry had to have precise control.
Those who didn’t register regretted it before the mushrooms grew out..