During dinner, Chen Lan heard her mother-in-law say that all the families had been notified and the matters had been clearly explained to their respective heads of household. They would spend tomorrow preparing, and Chen Lan was asked to procure some tables and chairs for the main study. The reading society would officially open the day after tomorrow.
Chen Lan readily agreed. After dinner, she went to the main study.
Since Chen Lan had decided not to manage the reading society anymore, she resolved to hand over its full responsibility to Ming Wei.
The next day, in the small study, Chen Lan briefed Ming Wei on some important points and gave her a stack of first-grade Chinese exam papers purchased from the system. She instructed Ming Wei to administer tests every few days according to the teaching progress. With that, she truly relinquished all involvement.
When Ming Wei heard Chen Lan say she was in charge and that she would no longer be involved, her eyes widened in surprise. Whether from excitement or nervousness, she stammered after a long pause, her voice wavering, "B-big sister-in-law, you're leaving it to me? C-can I do it?"
Chen Lan calmly retorted, "Why not? Is it that you haven't learned to read and write using Pinyin? Or do you not know how to teach?"
Upon hearing Chen Lan's words, Ming Wei shook her head repeatedly. Still a little nervous, she fiddled with her braid hanging over her shoulder and whispered, "That's not it, big sister-in-law. I-I'm afraid I can't manage it well!" The Su Dan Novel Network.
Seeing Ming Wei's awkwardness, Chen Lan thought that Ming Wei lacked confidence. She reached out and patted Ming Wei's small shoulder, saying gently, "Ming Wei, you haven't even tried, how can you know you can't do it? You need to have confidence in yourself and give yourself a chance to try. You are a talented woman who studied at a foreign school in the Imperial Capital!
Just treat it like you normally teach Ming Zhe and Wen Kai. I'm only asking you to teach them to read and write, not to pass exams.
Don't worry! I'll hire other teachers specifically for those who want to pursue further studies in the future."
When Ming Wei heard Chen Lan say this, she exaggeratedly patted her chest, feeling relieved. She smiled brightly and said, "That's good! That's good! Big sister-in-law, just teaching them to read and write is not difficult. I can do that."
Chen Lan smiled with satisfaction, patted Ming Wei's shoulder twice more, and encouraged her, "That's right! This is the Ming Wei I know, always so confident and decisive! Big sister-in-law believes you will do a great job! Alright! It's getting late, hurry and get busy!"
Watching Ming Wei happily skip out of the small study, clutching the stack of papers, Chen Lan thought how wonderful it was to be young.
Chen Lan withdrew her thoughts, got up, and left the small study. She went upstairs to her room. She had no time to think about other things now. She needed to calm down and carefully consider her future path.
The most pressing matter to consider was the livelihood of the many people in the valley for the coming year.
Yes! Her mother-in-law was right. The burden on her shoulders was growing heavier. They might not even have to wait until the new year for Xiang Dong and his brothers to return with Xu Mingxuan's comrades. Dozens of families, over a hundred people, would suddenly be added to the valley.
It wasn't about worrying if these people would have enough to eat. With the almighty system's assistance, ensuring they were fed and clothed posed no problem! Even supporting them for decades would be fine.
The issue was how to ensure that Xu Mingxuan's comrades, heroes who had returned from battle with injuries, could "be disabled but not useless!"
How to enable them to shine and contribute in the valley with resilient spirits despite their physical limitations; how to actively involve them in the valley's construction; how to make them feel proud and honored to be a part of the valley and contribute to its development;
How to let them know they were still capable individuals, not useless simply because they were disabled. This was the most important and the most difficult problem Chen Lan worried about solving.
Indeed! Everyone wished for a smooth and easy life, a life of comfort and leisure. This was everyone's greatest aspiration and hope. But how could life always be as one wished?
Her mother-in-law was right: "Giving a man a fish feeds him for a day, but teaching him to fish feeds him for a lifetime!" How to enable everyone in the valley to be self-reliant and strong was a crucial issue that had to be considered.
No matter what storms they had encountered in their past lives, since she had brought them to the valley, she now had the responsibility to lead them forward through the storms. She believed that one day they would see the most beautiful rainbow in the sky.
With this thought, Chen Lan's conviction deepened. Based on the valley's abundant natural environment and resources, combined with the physical conditions of Xu Mingxuan's comrades, she decided to develop animal husbandry in the valley.
Although the livestock raised would not be sold externally, the people in the valley could be self-sufficient, and raising livestock would be a good way to improve the dietary standards of everyone in the valley.
Chen Lan mentally opened the system and searched for information on animal husbandry in her previous life in the Changbai Mountain area. After carefully reviewing a large amount of data and articles, she found that raising Liaoning cashmere goats in the valley was the best option.
Liaoning cashmere goats not only produced a high yield of wool, with long, moderately fine fibers, but their cashmere quality was also excellent and their genetic traits stable. This breed was the best among white cashmere goats worldwide, hailed as a "national treasure" and known as a "gem of fiber."
Liaoning cashmere goats had robust physiques; they were highly adaptable to their living environment and easy to feed. They could be fed with pasture and straw, with a small amount of concentrated feed during special periods.
During the winter when grass was scarce, they could be fed with crushed bean stalks, corn stalks, and peanut stalks, which would meet their nutritional needs. These materials were discarded in the fields this year to fertilize the land, and thinking about it now, it felt like a waste of good resources.
Raising cashmere goats in pens allowed for the full utilization of crop stalks, converting them into manure and providing ample organic fertilizer for the fields.
Furthermore, Liaoning cashmere goats grew quickly. Adult does had a high lambing rate, and the survival rate of the lambs was also high. They also had the characteristics of high meat yield and tender, delicious meat, making them a popular delicacy.
One of the most important reasons Chen Lan decided to raise cashmere goats in the valley was their suitability for enclosure. This significantly increased the participation of Xu Mingxuan's comrades. Enclosure not only reduced the labor intensity of daily feeding for the comrades but also facilitated their practical operations.
Simultaneously, enclosure could increase the wool yield of the cashmere goats and improve the quality of the wool. It was also beneficial for the growth of young lambs.
Upon seeing this, Chen Lan felt an urge to immediately go to Liaoning province and bring back a few cashmere goats to raise in the valley. She remembered that Zhao Tie and Zhou Sixi were both from Liaoning, and since their two families lived together in the fifth building, she could inquire with them about the specific situation of cashmere goats.
She immediately took action, put on her warm jacket, hat, gloves, and scarf, and went downstairs to the living room. Seeing the dragon-phoenix twins playing happily, she didn't disturb them. She quietly informed her mother, then opened the door and went out.