Her Cultivation Diary
Chapter 355 - Chapter 355 355. Kudzu Root Powder _1

Chapter 355: 355. Kudzu Root Powder _1 Chapter 355: 355. Kudzu Root Powder _1 Song Tan wasn’t perplexed, yet she felt that this was Zhang Wang’s only remaining piece of mountain land, which he might want to keep as a dependency.

However, with the addition of Zhang Wang’s 30-odd mu of sloping land, she reckoned that, in total, inside and out, she would have nearly 280 acres at her disposal!

The thought alone was enough to stir excitement within her!

And since Zu Jun was so confidently sure, she didn’t delay and took the opportunity to ask while Zhang Wang’s family was up in the mountains helping to pick peaches:

“Uncle Zhang, I’m planning on renting more mountain land next year. Since yours is next to mine, how about renting it to me too?”

“As for the rent, we can listen to what the village thinks, it’s negotiable.”

Zhang Wang’s family was taken aback, then nodded without hesitation: “Sure! You can plant it! What much can I, a cripple, do! But…”

He hesitated as he looked at the lush greenery on the neighboring hillside and seemed reluctant:

“When do you want to rent? Can we wait until the beginning of next year? I still have kudzu roots planted on this mountain. I was thinking of digging them up to dry some kudzu root powder this winter…”

This kind of mountain land was something every family in the village had, but most weren’t taking advantage of it. At most, they would go up in winter to chop some firewood, or choose a few good ones to use as rafters when building a house in the past…

It wasn’t that they lacked the courage or vision, but sometimes, poverty really was a shackle.

Because of poverty, they couldn’t afford the risk of losses; stability was far superior to taking chances.

Also due to poverty, they couldn’t gamble with their family’s livelihood or their children’s education expenses.

The cost of trial and error for a farmer was too precious. So precious that they would rather endure hardship and not seek change.Thus, these mountain lands simply continued to be lush and also lay unused, day after day.

For Zhang Wang’s family, the expanse in front of their house was quite large, but for them, it was truly of little value.

If it hadn’t been for the accidental discovery of wild kudzu roots on the mountain a few years ago, which they scrubbed, pounded, and sun-dried to earn some money, the elderly couple wouldn’t have known how much longer they would have left it unused.

As for something like kudzu root, without mechanical aid, it’s all about brute force labor. Not only is it exhausting to produce, but it also doesn’t sell for much when it’s made on a small scale.

The younger generation might be able to help promote it online, but for honest folk like Zhang Wang, they could only take it to town and wait for buyers.

This pure wild kudzu root powder normally sold by peddlers for 80 to 100 yuan per half kilogram.

When it came his turn to sell, it was just around 30 to 40 yuan, and only occasionally would relatives and old friends buy a pack through introductions from others.

Being thin-skinned, they were awkward asking for more, and they were overjoyed to even get 50 yuan in the end.

Therefore, they didn’t make much of an effort to cultivate the wild kudzu roots on the mountainside; they just piled on some well-prepared manure thickly each year after digging them up, and that was enough.

Now that his spouse was gone and the children had no intention of taking over, the large expanse of mountain land was of no use to him alone.

Zhang Wang was actually pleased that Song Tan wanted to rent it, but he had fertilized the kudzu roots just last year and saw that they had grown well this year too.

To dig them up now, when the kudzu vines were robust and their leaves glossy, was not yet the right time.

Waiting until Song Tan came to clear the land in the spring would mean wasting these kudzu roots.

That’s why he raised the question.

“Of course!”

Song Tan was equally straightforward: “But Uncle Zhang, don’t dig them up yourself in winter. How long would that take with such a large expanse of mountain? I’ll have some guys with excavators dig them out for you by then, so you can take your time sorting them out.”

There were too many wild grasses, vines, shrubs, and small trees on the mountain. Compared to them, kudzu roots struggled to grow. Without thoroughly using excavators, there was no way to deal with the mountain afterward.

Zhang Wang cheered up:

“Alright, if you have the time, you can start clearing the kudzu roots and the mountain land in the autumn. That way, you won’t be too rushed when spring starts.”

That actually made sense.

If the contract with the village is really agreed upon, next spring would indeed be a time when every second counts.

Song Tan nodded readily, “Okay.”

After thinking it over, she added, “Uncle Zhang, the quality of your kudzu root looks good. How about I have Qiaoqiao do a live broadcast when you make the kudzu root powder? We could also help you sell some on the side.”

“But the price will be based on the market rate, maybe even a bit cheaper, and it won’t carry my family’s brand.”

Zhang Wang’s family was already overjoyed!

At that moment, he nodded repeatedly, “Yes, yes, yes!”

Then, carrying baskets of varying weights, he walked over excitedly, saying,

“I’ve seen people selling goods on quick videos, and they’re really hot. I don’t have that skill… I still have more than ten kilograms of kudzu root powder at home, why don’t I just bring it all to your place for everyone to try first! You can set the price later.”

At the same time, he exclaimed, “Kudzu root is really good for you, nourishing and cooling. It’s good in all seasons.”

Song Tan knew.

Seventh Uncle once came to the mountain for a stroll and praised the quality of the kudzu roots here, teaching Qiaoqiao that kudzu root can relieve alcohol poisoning, heal the throat, moisturize dryness, and help prevent and fight cancer…

Qiaoqiao memorized it all and summarized it for everyone to hear.

Seeing the nervousness of Zhang Wang’s family and their eager eyes fixed on her, Song Tan initially felt there was no need for this.

But at that moment, she had a change of heart and simply nodded in agreement,

“Okay, Qiaoqiao does have a fan base now, so selling goods should be feasible. Uncle Zhang, let’s consider these ten-plus kilograms of kudzu root powder as Qiaoqiao’s promotional fee, shall we? We can discuss the actual price later.”

“Yes, yes, yes!”

At that moment, the lean and sunken face of Zhang Wang’s family seemed to reflect the brilliant red glow of the sun.

When descending the mountain, Zu Jun even asked Song Tan with a smile,

“You’re letting Qiaoqiao sell goods for Zhang Wang’s family. If their products are of average quality, won’t that affect your own family’s reputation?”

“No, it won’t,” Song Tan shook her head, “I’ll make it clear in the live broadcast that this is just ordinary kudzu root powder, not our family’s product. If the fans want to try it out, they can buy some; if they don’t want to, we won’t insist.”

However, from her analysis of the current market, a live broadcast showing kudzu root being dug up and made into powder would actually be more trustworthy.

Besides, the supply from Zhang Wang’s family wasn’t so abundant that they couldn’t sell it all. It should be manageable.

She just looked at the lush mountains and forests and the scattered fields at the foot of the mountain, and now she sighed deeply.

“What’s wrong?”

Zu Jun asked curiously.

Song Tan shook her head, “I just suddenly understand you a little better.”

Nowadays, everyone is shouting slogans, and Zu Jun often recites them.

But what is rural development, really?

Is it about making the firewood piles neater and the houses more beautiful, ensuring that households no longer need to work the fields, or having roads built right up to their doorsteps?

For those elderly folks left behind in the village, it’s not about any of these things.

What they want is a tangible change in their lives and hope for the future.

Zu Jun also turned to look at her, suddenly appearing serious like a seasoned official, he patted her on the shoulder and said earnestly,

“Do well.”

“You need to realize, there’s going to be a wave of people returning home for the New Year. Whether the labor force will be found here next year and whether the village can retain its people, that’ll depend on how you perform this year.”