Chapter 57 Fast-Growing Chickens
Not only was Xia Liu, but the sons and daughters of other farmers in the village had also been called back. Working outside for a month only earned them two or three thousand yuan, and they couldn't eat well or sleep peacefully.
Now, with Xia Liu's development in the village, working a day could earn them five or six thousand yuan—life outside couldn't compare to that at home.
Xia Liu's son, named Li Dazhuang, was a simple and honest fellow with a hefty build. Xia Liu and Li Dazhuang had often played together as kids, so he knew him very well.
"Dazhuang, we haven't seen each other for many years, how have you been these years?" Seeing Li Dazhuang, Xia Liu felt a bit awkward. Time had changed everything; it had been years, and this guy had even gotten married and was about to have a child.
"Ah, life is tough these days, running long distances every day, and barely making enough to live on each month. I heard from old dad, you're now a celebrity in the village, handing out several tens of thousands in wages every day." Li Dazhuang was shocked as he spoke. It was the first time he had heard about it from his father on the phone, and he could hardly believe it. Threatened by the awe, even seeing Xia Liu, he still couldn't believe it.
"Heh heh, that's all hard-earned by everyone."
"Brother Xia, don't kid me. Are you calling picking up shells in the sea or pulling out weeds in the mountains hard work?" Looking at the grinning Xia Liu, Li Dazhuang's face grew somber. If those tasks were considered hard work, then what was his twenty-hour workday called?
"Haha, let's not talk about that. Did you just say you were running long distances outside?" Xia Liu suddenly became interested. Huang Xue, that demon, had left, and now there was no need for him to handle the shipping himself. If he could find someone to replace him, that would definitely free up more time for contemplation.
Li Dazhuang nodded, not understanding the reason.
"How about this, Dazhuang, you don't go out anymore. Stay in the village and drive for me. I'll pay you twenty thousand yuan a month."
"Twenty thousand yuan!"
Upon hearing this amount, Li Dazhuang dropped his cigarette, and his wife beside him was dumbstruck.
Having struggled outside for years, they knew the importance of twenty thousand yuan—that was two hundred bills! They barely made a bit over three thousand yuan a month after exhausting themselves to death.
"If you don't say no, I'll take that as a yes. I'll give you this month's salary upfront, and we'll talk about the specifics later."
As he spoke, Xia Liu went back to the car, took out two stacks of banknotes, and handed them to the stunned Li Dazhuang.
Gazing at the banknotes in his hand with wide eyes, Li Dazhuang's breathing became rapid. It really was twenty thousand yuan.
"Brother Xia, isn't this too much?"
"What's too much about it? Uncle Li and Auntie Li make six thousand a day."
"Ah! Dazhuang, you better thank this brother fast!" Upon hearing Xia Liu's words, Li Dazhuang's wife became excited. With more money, and better conditions, it would be a huge help for their child's future.
"Dazhuang, you rest first, I'll come later and we can talk more." Understanding that Li Dazhuang might not be able to accept this at once, Xia Liu gave him some time to adjust before driving off.
Xia Liu didn't go home, but instead went to the top of the mountain to check on the chicks. He hadn't reached by car yet when a woman anxiously ran over to stop his vehicle.
"Xia Liu, it's terrible, there's a demon!" At that moment, the woman's face was pale as if she had been scared by something.
"Fat Auntie, slow down, what happened?" Xia Liu was puzzled for a moment, wondering if a wild animal had entered the chicken coop.
"Xia Liu, I don't know what happened, but the chickens have all gotten bigger in just a morning!"
"Gotten bigger?" Xia Liu was utterly baffled. He let the woman get into the car and hurried to check.
Not expecting much, he was truly startled upon inspection; these chickens, which had just been brought back yesterday, were all yellow and weighed only about one or two taels.
It had only been one day, yet the chickens' feathers had turned a reddish-grey color. They must have weighed about three to four taels each. Compared to the small chicks, it was clear they had grown significantly.
Xia Liu calmed down and learned about the situation from a few women.
According to them, the chickens were still yellow in the morning and not very big, but by the afternoon when they came to check, they found that all had changed, and everyone was scared nearly green.
After finding out about the situation, Xia Liu told them to go home and rest, and he would notify them once the investigation was clear.
Looking at the chickens hopping around the yard, Xia Liu made a round and finally fixed his gaze on a few bags of feed.
Suddenly, a bold speculation burst in his mind—the chickens were growing too fast because of the feed!
Or to put it another way, they had all eaten feed nourished with Wooden Spirit Energy!
Xia Liu randomly grabbed a few chickens. The Inner Qi in their bodies was very active, and they were all very strong, which showed they were quite healthy.
"We've struck it rich!" he exclaimed excitedly after observing for a while.
These chickens were normal, and they had mutated due to the Wooden Spirit Energy!
Wooden Spirit Energy had the effect of promoting growth and healing, and when combined with silver needles, it could rapidly heal injured organs in people. These chickens, having eaten feed nourished with Wooden Spirit Energy, could grow faster!
Once he confirmed this answer, Xia Liu drove to the women's homes.
In fact, he saw the women in an open area of the village, and the news of the chickens' rapid growth had already spread throughout the village.
"Xia Liu, you're back. Is it a demon causing it?" asked a woman eagerly as she saw Xia Liu returning.
The others present also looked at Xia Liu. Such bizarre occurrences always drew people's attention.
"Haha, Fat Auntie, don't worry. There's no demon. I called the seller of the chicks, and he said these chickens are a hybrid variety from abroad, and they grow much faster than ordinary chickens!" This was all made up by Xia Liu; otherwise, it would be difficult to smoothly gloss over this matter.
"Oh, I see, you gave us quite a scare." The villagers all breathed a sigh of relief. They couldn't bear to see Xia Liu face enormous losses if there was another problem with this batch of chickens.
Xia Liu instructed the women about the feed; they were to feed the chickens twice a day in minimal quantities. Also, they were to collect as many Osmanthus flowers as possible, every day.
"Aunties, you must collect them every day. I'll add eight thousand to your salary this month."
Wow!
This news excited the women. With the eight thousand added to their previous salaries, that was over ten thousand!
"Fat Sister-in-law, congratulations."
"Sister-in-law Damei, congratulations to you too."
The other villagers present all shared smiles. They weren't envious. Ten thousand might have seemed like a lot in the past, but now it was just two days' work, whereas these few had to look after the chickens for a whole month!
Amid laughter and cheer, Xia Liu drove home. Zhang Xiaoman and Zhang Xiaoxue had already prepared dinner. They started eating as soon as he returned, like a husband with two sweet little wives.
THIS CHAPTER UPLOAD FIRST AT NOVELBIN.COM