Chapter 262

Wang Guifen returned home and quickly shared her idea with her family, concluding with: “Shuiqing said she’s willing to sell piglets at the same price as outside. We won’t have to go outside the village to purchase them, saving a lot of effort.”

The Li Wen brothers were intrigued.

Who doesn’t enjoy eating meat, especially thick and fatty pork cuts!

Once they raised their own pigs, they could enjoy eating during the Chinese New Year. Even if they couldn’t indulge in fatty pork, they could still use pork offal. If it didn’t sell well, they could keep it for themselves, at least it would be a meat dish.

However, someone mentioned, “Piglets need to grow into pigs before they taste good. We can’t do that.”

Wang Guifen had already inquired and calmly replied, “Shuiqing’s father is a butcher. When there are no pigs to slaughter, he also takes care of raising piglets. Otherwise, who do you think raised the piglets in Shuiqing’s house?”

The others immediately understood, showing joyful expressions and exclaimed, “That’s really doable!”

“A piglet costs a bit over a coin. How about we start by buying two or three?”

Previously, they couldn’t afford to buy so many at once, as one piglet cost over a coin. They earned two to three coins a day working for wealthy households in the city, so it would take them two to three months to buy a piglet.

Only their recent earnings from selling potatoes to Mr. Bai, where they earned four taels of silver, had increased their savings significantly, giving them the courage to take the risk of raising two to three piglets.

The most crucial factor was that the rabbits were gradually being sold off, providing additional income. Since raising rabbits was also taught by Shuiqing, they were confident that they could seek her guidance when raising pigs at home.

The three brothers and their respective wives grew more excited as they thought about it. They couldn’t wait to buy the piglets and start raising them right away!

All six of them looked expectantly at the old village chief, waiting for his approval.

However, the old village chief sighed and asked, “Have you decided where to build the pigsty along the village walls?”

They fell silent. Since building the walls, the pathways along the walls had been kept clean by the men patrolling the village, forming a solid path from constant treading.

The sanitation of the village had improved significantly, and the villagers were now more conscious of cleanliness.

Even the sides of the walls wouldn’t be suitable.

“The only large empty space is behind Uncle Ding’s house, but think about it, if you occupy that space to raise pigs, it might be manageable in winter, but who can bear the insects and odors in summer?” the old village chief added.

The group continued in silence.

Realizing that Shuiqing could raise pigs because of her spacious land and strategically located pigsty, away from the main house, with the pigsty positioned downwind to prevent odors from spreading, directly channeling pig manure to a manure pit uphill, making composting easier.

This made fertilizing the fields simpler.

These conditions were unattainable for them in the village.

“Then… can’t raise pigs?” Zhang Hui asked hesitantly, knowing the answer deep down.

Their village was already quite crowded, and adding pig raising to the mix would only make it more cramped.

The excitement and enthusiasm of the other five dimmed.

The old village chief observed the children and realized they genuinely wanted to raise pigs.

It made sense – which young person wouldn’t crave meat? The past days had been tough, but now that they were seeing better days with Fan Jin and Shuiqing, who would want to go back to the hardships they endured before?

To achieve a better life with enough food, meat, and eggs, they had to work hard themselves.

“If it’s not feasible in the village, what about outside?”

Li Wen, Wang Guifen, and the others looked at their father in confusion when he mentioned “outside.” The old village chief had been invited for a meal when Fan Jin moved house. While the women were inside exploring, the men, including him, had inspected the chicken coops, duck pens, rabbit hutches, and pigsties outside.

He had carefully considered the possibility of utilizing the several small hills in their village. Isn’t it wasteful for them to lie barren, only used for grass cutting and firewood collection every year?

The eyes of Li Wen, Wang Guifen, and the others lit up, and their lips curled into smiles. Yes, their family had a few small hills, one of which was already planted with arrowroot. However, even if arrowroot was grown, it wouldn’t interfere with pig farming, especially considering they had other hills available.

Fan Jin already lived on higher ground, and while their pig manure disposal system couldn’t match his, they could build the pigsty at the foot of the hills, dig a large pit at the back as a manure pit, and still produce compost. It was a remote area, so any potential odors wouldn’t affect anyone.

Beside Fan Jin’s pigsty, there was a stove built for cooking pig feed after harvesting pig grass. They could do the same later, saving money on a large iron pot and eliminating the need to transport cooked food for the pigs.

There were no predators in their area, and if they raised pigs this way, other families in the village might also learn. Since the hills were mostly interconnected, once the piglets grew, each family could take turns watching over them at night.

Listening to their father’s clear explanation, Li Wen and his brothers were amazed.

Had their father already planned this all along?

Zhang Hui, quick to react, asked, “Father, have you also considered raising pigs?”

The old village chief chuckled.

After witnessing others succeed, how could he not be tempted? Naturally, he wanted to learn too.

In the past, they didn’t have much money and were afraid to try because a failed attempt would greatly impact their family’s livelihood. They’d have to tighten their belts, which could demotivate the children from working hard.

But now that they had taken the initiative, it was okay to speak up. Even if they failed, it would be a learning experience.

Wang Guifen and Zhao Lan felt like jumping for joy, if not for their age. Their father had thought ahead and only revealed his thoughts after they brought it up!

He always seemed to provide useful advice at crucial moments.

“This is unbelievable!”

“Mother, mother, don’t sell our sister! We can’t be without her!”

“You wicked woman, how could you think of selling our daughter! Watch me deal with you!”

The commotion spread throughout half the village, mixed with cries and wails.

The old village chief furrowed his brow.

Wang Guifen and the others exchanged glances, then walked out of the house. Today was the day Shuiqing’s family slaughtered a pig, and everyone was excited after exchanging for pork. As they left for soil picking, they noticed the commotion. Which household was causing all this crying and shouting?