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After careful consideration, Jiang Mixia set her sights on two plots of land.
Both were fifty acres in size, with one being high-quality paddy fields and the other high-quality dry fields.
The paddy fields were located near a village called Fengjiazhuang, owned by a landlord from the village who wished to settle in the county town and was selling off all his land. If purchased, the buyer would need to manage the land, but most of the villagers were willing to rent, alleviating concerns about leasing issues.
The dry fields, on the other hand, originally belonged to a large estate. As the main family relocated to the capital city, they sold off the estate. Due to the extensive size of the estate, it was divided into several plots. The largest buyer acquired a hundred and fifty acres, leaving fifty acres available for purchase.
If the land here was bought, it could be collectively managed by the estate. However, the estate would deduct ten percent of the rent each year as a management fee. Rent collected could be used to transport grain regularly or saved as money in the Bofeng Money Bank in the county town.
In terms of pricing, the urgency to sell was higher for the paddy fields, priced five percent cheaper than the dry fields. The Real State Agency strongly recommended the paddy fields.
After some thought, Jiang Mixia decided to go for the fifty acres of dry fields.
The staff at the Real State Agency seemed slightly surprised but maintained a courteous smile. “Why not choose the paddy fields, perhaps due to the price? The main family did mention that if the price was high, it could be further discounted by five percent.”
“Paddy fields are originally cheaper than dry fields in terms of price, and now with an additional discount, it seems the main family is indeed eager to sell,” Jiang Mixia squinted, “Fengjiazhuang isn’t too far from the county town. If they’re planning to move there, it’s likely due to their affluent background rather than selling off all their land just to relocate.”
“The villagers hold strong values for familial ties and lineage, even if they achieve success, they wouldn’t sell off all their roots without a second thought. Selling off everything at once might indicate a desire to sever ties with the village for good.”
“Something seems amiss here.”
After Jiang Mixia’s observation, the staff, slightly embarrassed, chuckled and gave her a thumbs up. “You have a keen eye for detail, truly impressive.”
“In this situation, if we say there’s nothing going on, indeed, there’s no direct issue with the land. However, the villagers in Fengjiazhuang have a somewhat bold temperament. Additionally, Old Master Feng , being a wealthy figure in the village, has had disagreements with the locals. Over time, he grew weary and decided to seek a quieter life in the county town.”
“This is what Old Boss Feng mentioned himself, and during our visit to inspect the land, we could sense the tension between him and the villagers. The conflicts may stem from trivial matters or other underlying issues, which we couldn’t ascertain.”
“For the Real State Agency, as there are no disputes regarding the land, we can’t say there are issues, and we can’t delve further into the matter. Therefore, we can’t elaborate more to you,” the staff at the Real State Agency stated.
Jiang Mixia nodded in understanding. “I see the point.”
Since this was primarily the previous owner’s affair and not directly related to the land, the Real State Agency had no obligation to investigate personal relationships when engaging in transactions.
The Real State Agency mentioned that they knew only this much, and beyond that, they were uncertain. Jiang Mixia increasingly felt that the paddy fields were not a viable option. Hence, she temporarily settled on the purchase of the fifty acres of dry fields through the Real State Agency.
The next day, Jiang Mixia and Song Jingyun accompanied the Real State Agency to visit the estate.
The primary buyer of the estate was surnamed Song, running a escort service in the neighboring Luo County. After years of living off the edge, he aimed to invest his savings in purchasing land to secure a stable future of renting and farming for peaceful days ahead.
Coincidentally, the estate was up for sale, but he didn’t have enough cash on hand to buy it in full. Consequently, he acquired most of the estate, appointing a steward to oversee the land.
The proprietor, Song, planned to purchase the remaining land once he had sufficient funds. He also intended to assist the other buyers of the estate in managing the land, earning a share as compensation to support the steward and staff of the estate.
When Jiang Mixia visited, the proprietor, Song, was absent, leaving the steward, Qiao, in charge.
After a conversation with Qiao, Jiang Mixia recognized him as a capable, dedicated, and sincere individual.
After inspecting the estate, Jiang Mixia finalized the purchase of the fifty acres of land. She signed an agreement with the steward Qiao to manage the land on her behalf, with the understanding that the harvest from the estate would be converted to cash and deposited into an account she held at the bank.
Qiao readily agreed and welcomed Jiang Mixia to visit the estate at any time to inspect the land and accounts or even stay for a few days.
As Jiang Mixia and Song Jingyun were leaving, Qiao specially presented them with a large basket filled with radishes, Chinese cabbage, and dried long beans for them to enjoy at home. He also mentioned that when next year’s harvest came in, in addition to the deposited money, they could bring back some grains and vegetables if they didn’t wish to purchase them, extending their warm hospitality.
It was just past the Mid-Autumn Festival, and while the radishes and Chinese cabbage had not fully matured, they were tender and flavorful. The dried long beans, once soaked and cooked with dishes, would add a delicious taste, surpassing even some meat dishes.
On their way back, Jiang Mixia also bought a large piece of pork belly and tofu, planning to use the dried long beans to create a stew upon returning home.
Busy with these preparations, by the time they arrived home, the sun was setting, painting the western sky with hues of twilight.
“Wife, let’s make fried radish balls with these radishes when we get back,” suggested Song Jingyun, counting the radishes in the basket and contemplating the various ways to enjoy them.
Radish balls could be eaten dry, used in cooking, or even made into a soup, offering a versatile and delicious option that paired well with many dishes.
Just the thought of it made Song Jingyun’s mouth water, and he couldn’t wait to eat the radish balls. He found a thin strip of bamboo as a makeshift knife, peeled the cleaned radish, and began munching on it eagerly.
The fresh radish was crisp and juicy, satisfying his taste buds as they made their way back to Jiang Family Village.
Upon their return, the villagers informed Jiang Mixia and Song Jingyun, “Hurry back home, Xiaoxia and Jingyun! There are visitors waiting for Jingyun at home.”
Visitors?
Specifically looking for Song Jingyun.
Jiang Mixia glanced at Song Jingyun, who, with half of the radish still in his hand, simply shook his head in bewilderment.