Back to 1980: Farming the Sea and Expanding the Island

After dealing with the enthusiastic aunties and uncles and finishing his work as the scorekeeper, Lin Chuan returned home to find the sun already high in the sky.

"Brother, you're back! Grandma made stewed ribs and braised pork." Xiaoman said with delight as she looked at Lin Chuan returning home.

"Brother Chuan." "Brother Chuanzi." Shui Houzi and Li Jiaye were squatting to the side, fiddling with duck feed. When they saw Lin Chuan return, they grinned and chuckled.

"Does it smell good?" Lin Chuan smiled and walked forward, taking the food bowl from the water monkey's hand and then helping out.

"It smells so good, I've been wanting to eat it!" Xiaoman sniffed hard, her face shining, looking like she couldn't wait.

Li Jiaye and Shui Houzi nodded repeatedly, their eyes glancing towards the kitchen from time to time, and they even secretly swallowed their saliva.

"It smells good, doesn't it! You've benefited from the family business and Brother Pu's influence, so you should thank them properly." Lin Chuan smiled and playfully hooked Xiao Man's nose.

Upon hearing this, Xiaoman's eyes lit up, and she said crisply to the two of them, "Thank you, Brother Xiaopu and Brother Jiaye. From now on, I'll have my older brother buy meat for me every day so I can benefit from your generosity."

"You little rascal!" Lin Chuan pinched Xiao Man's cheek with a smile.

Water Monkey and Li Jiaye burst into laughter upon hearing this.

Just then, the kitchen door creaked open, and Lin's mother poked her head out, calling out to the group, "Stop busy, wash your hands, dinner's ready."

"Coming," Lin Chuan replied, then urged everyone, "Let's stop here, let's go, let's eat."

"Time to eat!" Xiaoman cheered and skipped away like a happy little bird.

Water Monkey and Li Jiaye also hurriedly got up. At this moment, the aroma of the food filled the entire courtyard, making everyone's stomachs rumble.

Before long, the steaming hot and tempting braised pork was served. Everyone sat around it, while Xiaoman quickly set out the bowls and chopsticks.

"Eat up, you've all had a long day." Lin's mother smiled as she sat down, picked up her chopsticks, and first put a piece of braised pork into the bowls of Shui Houzi and Li Jiaye, then put a piece into Xiaoman's bowl as well.

"Thank you, Aunt Lin!" "Thank you, Aunt Lin!" The two grinned and eagerly began to eat.

"Mmm! Grandma's braised pork is the best!" Xiaoman said, her little face puffed up as she bit into the meat.

Lin Chuan also shoveled a large mouthful of rice into his mouth and picked up a piece of pork rib, gnawing on it with a loud slurping sound. For a moment, everyone ate in silence, no one spoke, only the clinking of bowls and chopsticks could be heard.

After everyone had finished eating, Li Jiaye put down his chopsticks, wiped his mouth, and looked at Lin Chuan with bright eyes:

"Brother Chuanzi, I see a lot of small fish and loaches in the swamp. Once the land is developed, can we raise a lot of ducks and speckled chickens on the island?"

"That way we won't lack meat anymore." Li Jiaye couldn't help but chuckle foolishly as he spoke.

"This idea of ​​building a family business is good. Once we've secured the land, we'll raise more chickens and ducks on the island, and then we can eat meat every day," Lin's father said with a smile.

"Raising ducks!" Xiaoman put down her chopsticks, rested her chin on her hand, and replied with longing in her eyes, "Ducks are fine too, and we can plant lots and lots of fruit trees on the island."

Apples, peaches, and pears—once the fruits ripen, we can pick them and eat them, or we can sell them for money.

The old man took a sip of the rice porridge in his bowl, put it down, and looked at everyone with gentle eyes: "What I look forward to most is to improve the land on Canhong Island, use the new technology you mentioned, Xiao Chuan, and grow more grain and vegetables."

Lin Chuan listened to everyone's comments and felt a warm glow in his heart. He smiled and said, "Everyone's ideas are good, and these will definitely come true in the future."

Once the greenhouses are built, we'll first grow the vegetables well and build a reputation, then gradually move on to raising ducks and planting fruit trees.

"Canhong Island will definitely be lively and prosperous in the future!"

Xiaoman clapped her hands excitedly and cheered. The laughter and aroma of food mingled together in the courtyard, creating a warm and wonderful atmosphere.

After everyone finished eating, Lin Chuan, Shui Houzi, and Li Jiaye went to the classroom to continue today's teaching.

After about an hour of lecture, it was already dark. The night light was dim and yellow, and a faint smell of tobacco filled the main room of the Lin family.

Lin Chuan told his family about today's itinerary in the county town and the money they would need to spend. "Based on this calculation, the materials alone for a one-acre greenhouse will cost around two thousand eight hundred yuan."

The main room was quiet for a moment.

Lin's mother stopped sewing, the needle tip hovering in mid-air. Lin's father held his pipe, not smoking, but staring at the plastic factory's order form.

The old man leaned back in his chair, his eyelids slightly drooping, making his expression unreadable. Only Xiaoman sat next to Lin Chuan, her little hand quietly tugging at the hem of his clothes.

"Xiao Chuan, why does this greenhouse cost so much? It costs 2,800 yuan to build one." Lin's father spoke first, his voice a little dry.

"It is a bit expensive, Dad." Lin Chuan nodded and said seriously, "But think about it, if the greenhouse is successful..."

In winter, we can grow cucumbers and tomatoes, and the price the commune's supply and marketing cooperative pays is at least three times the usual price. After one harvest, we can recoup a significant portion of our costs.

We can plant another crop in the spring! It won't be long before we're making a profit.

Lin Chuan looked at everyone and continued, "I've calculated that as long as the greenhouse is built, we can grow three crops a year. After deducting costs, I estimate that we can make back our investment next year, and then it will be pure profit."

"This stuff makes so much money?" Mr. Lin was somewhat surprised.

The old man tapped his pipe and slowly began to speak: "Since Xiao Chuan has figured it out, then let's do it."

The money earned from fishing is just disposable income; it's good to use it for developing the island. Spending it where it's needed, as long as it's spent wisely, won't be a loss.

The old man's words were the final word. Although there was some worry on Lin's mother's face, she didn't say anything, but just kept her head down and continued sewing the shoe soles, but the stitches became denser.

Lin's father let out a breath and lit his pipe: "Alright, I'll listen to my father, and I'll listen to Xiao Chuan too."

The funding was settled. Lin's father felt relieved and then told him the news that Master Chen had brought.

"Master Lu?" Lin Chuan's eyes lit up after hearing this. "If we can really get good timber from the old house, that would be a great thing!"

Not only our sweet spring, but it will also be a good material for building houses on the island in the future.

I'm going to the county town the day after tomorrow to bring back the steel pipes and timber. I'll also stop by Huai Shu Hutong to look for Master Lu.

If this goes through, the timber for the well pavilion will be secured, and it might even be more cost-effective than buying new timber.

"It's too tiring for you to run around alone," Lin's mother said, looking at her son with concern. "Why don't you have your father go with you?"

"No need, Mother. You and Father still have to stay on the island tomorrow to oversee the burning and land clearing; we can't leave them alone there."

Lin Chuan smiled and said, "I'm young and can run. Besides, it's just a trial run; it might not even work out."

After Lin Chuan finished speaking, although his mother still looked worried, she didn't say anything more.

Lin's father took a puff of his cigarette and said, "Then be careful on the road, and be smart when you get there. If Master Lu is difficult to talk to, don't force him." Lin Chuan nodded in agreement.