Chapter 12: Progress
Just as Zhang Yanyan sat down and picked up her chopsticks, the butler, Uncle Chen, hurried over. He held himself ramrod straight, his manner respectful.
“Miss, I’d like to update you on the villa renovations.”
Uncle Chen bowed slightly, his posture deferential. “The whole-house smart system and top-of-the-line security system have all been inspected and fully tested. They’ve also been linked with the estate’s security team for round-the-clock coordination.
“The full-wall bookcases in the study and the equipment in the gaming area are all in place.
“The bedding and toiletries in the master bedroom and guest rooms have been stocked according to the brands and styles you specified.
“The interior furnishings are currently about eighty percent complete. The remaining artwork, greenery, and decorative pieces will all be finished tomorrow. After one day of ventilation, the villa will be ready for you to move in with just your luggage the day before school starts.
“The cleaning, security, and housekeeping teams for the villa have also been screened in advance and can start work at any time.”
Zhang Yanyan took a bite of her bun. Only after chewing and swallowing did she reply, “Got it. There’s no need to report the progress to me every day from now on. Once everything is completely finished, just let me know that I can move in.
“There are still several days before school starts, so we should have enough time. There’s no need to rush—just make sure every detail is handled properly.”
“Yes, Miss. You can rest assured.” Uncle Chen bowed in acknowledgment. He said nothing more and quietly stepped aside.
Zhang Yanyan finished her breakfast at a leisurely pace, wiped her mouth, picked up the car keys from the cabinet in the foyer, and headed outside.
She didn’t drive her previous car. Instead, she chose a low-key black SUV. Since she was going to the market today, she drove herself and didn’t bring along a bodyguard or chauffeur. It would be more convenient to shop on her own.
The engine started, and the car glided out of the estate, heading straight for the large agricultural and livestock market on the outskirts of the city.
After the space had expanded yesterday, the farmland, forests, and fishponds had all doubled in size. The seedlings and young animals she had bought earlier were nowhere near enough to fill them. Her top priority today was to make up the shortfall.
After parking at the market, Zhang Yanyan didn’t rush to browse the shops. She went to the market’s administration office first.
She had a wide variety of goods to buy, and in large quantities at that. She didn’t want to waste time hauling everything back and forth, so renting a temporary storage warehouse for staging was the safest option.
“Hello, I’d like to rent a temporary warehouse with a loading and unloading area. I’ll only need it for one day, and I’d prefer something fairly spacious with good security.”
She got straight to the point, and the staff quickly processed the paperwork. They assigned her a transfer warehouse located toward the inner section of the market. Its exterior perimeter was covered by cameras with no blind spots, while there were no cameras inside. After paying the rent and receiving the key, Zhang Yanyan turned and entered the market.
Her first stop was the agricultural supplies and seed market. People streamed through the aisles, while neat, branded agricultural supply shops lined both sides. The dry scent of seeds and soil hung in the air.
Zhang Yanyan went straight to the largest shop she had visited last time. The owner, Boss Wang, was standing at the entrance, counting a shipment of newly arrived goods. When he looked up and saw her, he immediately greeted her with a smile.
“Hey, it’s you again! Did you plant the seeds you bought last time? How was the germination rate?”
Boss Wang spoke to her like an old acquaintance. Zhang Yanyan had purchased a huge batch of seeds from him before, leaving a deep impression. He simply assumed she was a customer who owned a large farm and had no idea about her family background.
“Pretty good. The germination rate was very high, so I’ve come back to restock.” Zhang Yanyan walked into the shop, her gaze sweeping over the seed packets lining the shelves.
“Do you have any newly released vegetable varieties that taste good and are highly disease-resistant? And could you recommend some rare grains I haven’t bought before, along with food crops that are suitable for dense planting and have stable yields?”
“You’ve come to the right person!” Boss Wang immediately perked up and led her over to the shelves, introducing the products one by one.
“Take this cucumber, for example. It’s a new variety—crisp, sweet, and seedless, with especially strong disease resistance. It doesn’t need a complicated trellis, and it’ll even produce well in a pot.
“And this tomato has a sandy, meaty texture. It’s an improved version of an old variety, with plenty of juice and a sweet-and-tangy flavor. It tastes far better than the ordinary varieties on the market.
“For grains, we have black wheat, quinoa, chickpeas, and highland barley. They’re all new varieties this year, with stable yields and high nutritional value.
“For food crops, I recommend this short-stalked waxy corn. It has a high rate of producing two ears per plant, doesn’t attract many pests, and has a wonderfully chewy texture. It’s our best seller.”
Zhang Yanyan listened attentively, occasionally asking a question or two. “How much can this cucumber produce per acre? Does the tomato have high sunlight requirements? And roughly how long is the growing cycle for these grains?”
Boss Wang answered every question clearly and thoroughly, without the slightest hesitation.
Once she had all the details, Zhang Yanyan placed her order right away. “For each of the vegetable varieties you just mentioned, give me ten packets. For the grains, fifteen packets of each. I’ll also take twenty packets each of the high-yield varieties of rice, wheat, and corn. And for any herb and spice seeds you carry, give me two packets of each.”
Boss Wang’s eyes lit up. He hurriedly agreed. “Sure thing, sure thing! I’ll pack everything up right now! Since you’re buying so much, I’ll give you fifteen percent off. I’ll also throw in ten bags of seedling mix and two bags of special organic fertilizer. I guarantee everything you plant will grow vigorously!”
“Sounds good. Thank you.” Zhang Yanyan nodded.
After Boss Wang had packed and sealed all the seeds into boxes, she left him the address of the warehouse she had just rented and her contact information. She paid the bill and asked him to arrange for a truck to deliver everything there before noon that day. Then she turned and headed for the livestock market next door.
The livestock market was considerably livelier than the agricultural supply market. Licensed breeding shops stood in neat rows along the passageways, while the calls of livestock and poultry rose and fell without pause. The air carried the distinctive scent of a farming facility.
Zhang Yanyan went to the reputable breeding shop with the most complete credentials in the market. The owner, Boss Li, was introducing some young animals to a customer. The moment he saw her enter, he immediately greeted her with a smile.
“Miss, what kind of young animals are you looking for? Everything we sell comes from licensed breeding operations, and all the vaccinations are up to date. Their survival rate is guaranteed!”
Zhang Yanyan glanced over the animal cages and asked, “I bought a batch from you before. I’ve expanded my facilities, so I’d like to add a few more. Could you recommend some breeds for me? What kind of chickens have both a high egg-laying rate and good-quality meat?
“As for ducks, which breeds taste good, grow quickly, and aren’t prone to illness? And what breeds of cattle and sheep are suitable for confined raising—good breeds with steady growth?”
Boss Li immediately began introducing them one by one. “For chickens, I’d strongly recommend the barred chicken and the green-shelled layer. Barred chickens have firm, flavorful meat, grow quickly, and lay steadily. Green-shelled layers produce eggs with high nutritional value that also command a higher price. Both breeds are easy to raise and highly disease-resistant.
“For ducks, go with the Beijing duck. It grows quickly, tolerates rough feed, and can be ready for market in three months. It’s good for both meat and eggs.
“For cattle, Simmental calves are your best choice. They grow quickly, have a high dressing percentage, and do perfectly well in confined housing.
“For sheep, I’d recommend Small-tailed Han sheep. They have a high twinning rate and can give birth twice a year, making them especially suitable for large-scale farming.”
Zhang Yanyan pressed him further. “How many vaccine shots have all these young animals received? Is there any after-sales guarantee? And for the cattle and sheep, will you include breeding males?”
“Don’t worry! Before any of the young animals leave here, they’ve all received two basic vaccinations and been dewormed. I guarantee a survival rate of over ninety percent. If any of them die from non-human causes within a week, I’ll replace them immediately! As for the cattle and sheep, I’ve already included suitable breeding males. It absolutely won’t affect their ability to reproduce!” Boss Li thumped his chest as he gave his assurance.
Now that Zhang Yanyan had a clear idea of things, she gave him the quantities directly. “Three hundred each of the barred Plymouth Rocks and green-egg-laying hens; two hundred Muscovy ducks; one hundred lion-head geese; fifteen Simmental calves; forty Small-Tailed Han lambs; twenty Tibetan pork piglets; fifty meat rabbits and fifty lop-eared rabbits; and one hundred and fifty pairs each of homing pigeons and meat pigeons.”