Chapter 31: How to Make a Quick Buck?

Thinking about the need to accumulate enough capital for mining in two years, Tang Jiancheng felt a sudden sense of urgency to earn money. In his previous life, due to low self-esteem and the inability to father a son, he had lived a mediocre, spiritless life, achieving nothing of note before his death. But in this life, his perspective had shifted; he no longer felt inferior, nor was he dejected by the lack of a son. On the contrary, he found joy in having nine daughters.

He was determined to raise his nine daughters to be healthy, plump, and happy, and this motivation filled him with drive from the very start. Now, that drive was even stronger.

But how could he make money quickly?

As Huang Tianyue had pointed out, Sanchong Township was a remote and backward place. It lacked industry and infrastructure, surrounded by towering, rugged mountains. However, as Tang Jiancheng himself had noted, it possessed mountains, forests, and water, offering beautiful scenery. In such a place, quick wealth could only come from living off the land.

Tang Jiancheng quickly combed through the information he retained from his past life. He had been a simple, salt-of-the-earth farmer, so his knowledge was limited. Yet, under the pressure he placed upon himself, a few ideas began to surface.

One was the "Three Treasures" of Sanchong Township in the future: chili peppers, ginger, and bayberries.

The chili peppers of Sanchong were known for their intense fragrance and heat, highly sought after for both chili sauce and dried chili products. The ginger was exceptional—crisp, refreshing, and spicy without being harsh—perfect as either a vegetable or a snack. The bayberries were famous far and wide; large, dark, and sweet, the wine brewed from them would eventually generate over a hundred million yuan in annual revenue.

Another path was tourism and mining.

Then there was the livestock industry. Sanchong had a unique fish found nowhere else, known as the White-Scale Fish. These fish had scales as white and beautiful as jade and a delicious flavor, but they required strict breeding conditions: they had to be kept in mountain caves that never saw sunlight throughout the year.

Sanchong also had a commendable cattle industry. With its high mountains and lush grass, the local beef was of such high quality that it reportedly met the standards of a foreign company specializing in steaks, which supposedly purchased three hundred thousand head of cattle from Sanchong annually. At a minimum of eight thousand yuan per head, that was a production value of 2.4 billion yuan!

The more Tang Jiancheng thought about it, the more excited he became, taking a moment to calm himself down. He could tap into any of these industries, but almost all of them required time. He needed a quick influx of cash to secure his starting capital. So, how could he earn that first sum quickly?

Before he could reach a conclusion, he arrived back at Daping Village.

"Daddy, come sledding!"

Suddenly, a little one sitting on an overturned stool slid to his feet. Tang Jiancheng saw it was his sixth daughter. Looking ahead, he saw his fifth, seventh, and eighth daughters on the slope, seemingly waiting in line to use the stools as sleds.

"Sit tight, I'll push you up."

"Okay!"

The sixth daughter tucked herself into the space between the four legs of the stool, and Tang Jiancheng grabbed the rear legs, pushing her forward rapidly.

"Wheee! Daddy, faster, go faster!" the girl shouted in excitement.

Tang Jiancheng strode forward with vigor, feeling like a youth running against the wind.

"Daddy, we want to go too! We want to go too!" the seventh and eighth daughters called out enviously. Even the fifth daughter’s longing gaze betrayed her feelings.

"Alright, one by one!"

Tang Jiancheng fulfilled their wishes, playing until he was drenched in sweat and the lingering smell of alcohol had completely dissipated.

"That's it, Daddy is tired. You play yourselves now!"

An hour later, Tang Jiancheng was exhausted. The four children were still in high spirits, clamoring to keep playing, and it was only when the fifth daughter saw how tired he was that she pulled her sisters away.

Tang Jiancheng sat for a while before slowly strolling through the village. It was a beautiful, sunny day. Many children were out sledding, their noses and ears bright red from the cold, yet they remained tireless. Some had runny noses, but they didn't care, letting the mucus drip until they finally wiped it away with their sleeves to keep playing. The elderly had moved their chairs out in front of their doors, lying back to soak up the sun, or gathering in small groups to chat, play cards, and smoke dry tobacco.

Unknowingly, Tang Jiancheng arrived at Tang Xingde’s house.

The house was being rebuilt. The funds were subsidized by the township, the materials were salvaged from the old structure, and the labor was arranged by the new village secretary. Tang Xingde didn't need to pay wages, only provide a meal every day—but it had to include meat, as building a house was hard work.

"Jiancheng!" Tang Xingde greeted him, pulling a cigarette from his pocket and offering it.

Tang Jiancheng waved him off. He used to smoke, but since his rebirth, he had quit.

"What, you think your brother's cigarettes aren't good enough?" Tang Xingde tossed the cigarette to him. "This is a rolled cigarette, costs two mao a pack!"

Tang Jiancheng picked it up and tucked it behind his ear. "It’s not that. I just don't want to smoke anymore. By the way, Xingde-ge, I remember you have a bird gun at home. Are you still using it?"

Tang Xingde squinted at him for a long time before asking, "What, you want to go hunting?"

Tang Jiancheng chuckled. "Just asking."

Tang Xingde patted his prosthetic leg and said, "Brother, it’s not that I won't lend it to you, it’s just that this thing is too dangerous. Look at this—my leg is gone because I went hunting in the mountains!"

Tang Jiancheng replied, "Hunting is indeed dangerous, but with snow everywhere, there’s nothing to do. I’m just bored and thought I’d give it a try. If you don't want to lend it to me, I’ll ask someone else."

Tang Xingde quickly stopped him. "Brother, don't be angry. Since that night you saved my five children and gave them meat broth, I’ve considered you my own brother. It's because I see you as family that I’m being blunt."

"You’ve never hunted in the mountains before; doing so blindly is extremely dangerous! You could lose your life!" He paused before adding, "If you really want to go, it’s not impossible, but you must take me with you."

"Take you?" Tang Jiancheng instinctively glanced at Tang Xingde’s missing leg.

Tang Xingde understood the look and laughed. "Don't worry, I won't hold you back. I’ll just guide you on how to track prey, how to use the gun, and how to avoid dangerous areas."

Hearing this, Tang Jiancheng agreed immediately. "Alright, shall we head out tomorrow morning?"

"Sure, come find me tomorrow."