Chapter 40: Dream Manor
Contracting the barren mountain made Yang Jianjun feel as if he was in a dream. Holding the contract, he looked at Yang Jiabo in disbelief and asked, "Jiajia, did we really just contract over 200 acres of barren land?"
"Yes, so you need to quickly hire people to clear the mountain and plant fruit trees," Yang Jiabo said with amusement. However, seeing Yang Jianjun's joy eased some of the gloom in his heart.
"What kind of fruit trees should we plant?" Yang Jianjun asked.
"The eagle-beak honey peaches grown at home are delicious, how about planting those? We don’t need too many. Leave some space for medicinal herbs and flowers."
[Eagle-Beak Honey Peach: A variety of peach known for its curved tip resembling an eagle’s beak and its exceptionally sweet, juicy flesh]
"Peaches are manageable, but we have no experience growing medicinal herbs. Will that work?"
"Let’s try it. Anyway, we’re not short on funds, so there’s no need to be overly cautious."
"Having money doesn’t mean we should waste it. Building fences, houses, buying saplings, pesticides, hiring labor, everything costs money."
Listening to Yang Jianjun list so many expenses, Yang Jiabo suddenly wondered if his savings would be enough. "If we budget carefully, it should be sufficient, right?"
"I don’t know. We’ll have to calculate properly. For the fence, I was thinking of using wire mesh and planting wumeici (五枚刺)."
"Dad, let’s plant qizimei (七姊妹花) flowers instead, they’re pretty and fragrant when they bloom. There are plenty growing by the ditch behind Uncle’s house, we can just take some cuttings."
"Alright, we’ll do as you say."
"The lotus pond also needs cleaning. Later, we can build simple bridges and pavilions, add a few bamboo houses by the pond, plant some willow trees, and maybe open a farmstay." Yang Jiabo shared his plans.
[Nongjiale (农家乐): farmstay where urban visitors experience rural life, often including farm activities and home-cooked meals.
"Jiajia, who would come to a farmstay in such a remote place?"
"People will come. In fact, more and more will visit in the future. Besides, farmstay brings quick returns, so we won’t have to worry about money." Truthfully, Yang Jiabo wasn’t keen on running a farmstay, it was troublesome, but fruit trees took time to yield profits, and he feared funds might run short.
When the father and son returned home, Li Guizhen glared at them coldly. "What have you two been busy with these past few days? The business is neglected, and what about Mom’s medical bills and the family’s living expenses?"
"I’ve contracted a mountain forest. We won’t need to run the business anymore, we’ll grow fruit trees, raise chickens, and farm vegetables," Yang Jianjun said cheerfully.
"What? You’re giving up a perfectly good business to farm?" Li Guizhen stared at them as if they were fools.
"Mom, you could find a business partner or hand it over to someone else."
"This family needs someone present every day. Who would partner with me? Do you even consider me part of this family? Such a big decision, and you didn’t discuss it with me!" Li Guizhen’s eyes reddened as she spoke.
Feeling slightly guilty, Yang Jiabo quickly said, "We were afraid you’d disagree. You could ask around and hire a caregiver for Grandma, it’d ease your burden. And since I’ve dropped out of school, I can help more. Honestly, raising chickens and growing fruit trees are more profitable than small businesses. More and more people are setting up food stalls, so we need another way out. If you can’t handle the business, you could transfer it to someone else, charge a fee or not, it’s up to you."
"You make it sound so easy. Caregivers aren’t easy to find. And contracting land and planting trees costs a lot, where will we get the money? Especially since you refused the Zhang family’s compensation, we could’ve used that money now." Li Guizhen began grumbling.
"Don’t worry about the money. I’ll figure it out," Yang Jianjun said.
"Mom, don’t stress over that. If caregivers are hard to find, just offer more pay, don’t be stingy." Yang Jiabo knew Grandma’s condition was worsening, and her temper had grown worse, making it difficult to find help.
"Fine, just don’t complain later that I didn’t do enough. I’ll do what I can." Li Guizhen sighed helplessly. "Oh, someone called for you. She left a number for you to call back."
"Who was it?" Yang Jiabo asked, puzzled.
"I think it was your former teacher," Li Guizhen said uncertainly.
Yang Jiabo dialed the number Li Guizhen had written down. A gentle voice answered, "Hello?"
Recognizing his first homeroom teacher from middle school, Yang Jiabo smiled. "Hello, Teacher Wen. I heard you were looking for me?"
"Yang Jiabo, I heard about your situation from classmates. Would you like to return to school? My husband is the vice principal of a middle school in the neighboring county. If you’re willing to continue your studies, even if the school is modest, I can help arrange it."
"Thank you, Teacher Wen. But with so much going on at home, I can’t leave now, and I’ve lost interest in studying." After some thought, Yang Jiabo politely declined.
"You were a good student, it’s a shame to quit. Don’t dwell on past unpleasantness. Teachers are human too, with emotions and biases. Let bygones be bygones. You can always start fresh." Teacher Wen continued persuading, unwilling to give up.
"There’s always self-study exams. Maybe someday, if I feel like studying again, I’ll get a diploma that way." Yang Jiabo had actually considered this. In his previous life, he had taken such exams.
"You don’t have to decide now. Think it over and let me know." Teacher Wen sighed, saddened by his choice.
"Alright, I’ll consider it carefully. You’re a good teacher, thank you."
Hanging up with a smile, Yang Jiabo reflected. He had faced malice from some people, but also kindness from others. Sometimes he wondered, if he hadn’t switched homeroom teachers, would his life have been different? But life had no "what-ifs."
In the following days, Yang Jianjun hired workers to clear the mountain. Yang Jiabo sought out Yang Qiaohui, asking her to recommend a designer to plan the lotus pond’s surrounding structures.
Yang Qiaohui volunteered eagerly, "Jiajia, you don’t need to look elsewhere, I can draw the designs for you."
Yang Jiabo smiled sheepishly. "Thanks, Auntie. I thought you only worked on road and bridge blueprints."
"Let me visit first to take measurements, then I’ll draft the plans."
"Great, I’ll wait for you then." Yang Jiabo left in high spirits.
Though computers existed, they weren’t yet widespread. Internet access relied on slow dial-up connections. Yang Qiaohui and others drafted designs manually, relying on calculators, unlike the future with its design software and 3D renderings.
With Yang Qiaohui’s help, the orchard’s layout was drawn according to Yang Jiabo’s vision. She also arranged for construction and well-digging teams. Yang Jiabo’s plans were ambitious: a small reservoir at the mountain’s summit, a deep well at the base, and the lotus pond expanded from two to five acres. The old pig farm ruins were demolished, replaced with a quaint farmhouse courtyard - small but elegant, with bridges and streams linking the rooms.
Willows were planted by the lotus pond, cobblestone paths laid, and pavilions built over the water. Nearby, bamboo houses were under construction - designed to resemble the ethereal ones Yang Jiabo had seen in films in his previous life.
The bamboo houses stood a meter off the ground, reached by four or five steps leading to a semi-open platform. Inside, a small living area branched left into a study-bedroom suite and bathroom, and right into a kitchen and guest room. Yang Jiabo preferred modern conveniences but disliked modern aesthetics, so the interiors retained a classical charm.
Behind his bamboo house, a large plot was reserved for planting little fleeceflower and orchids. Nearby stood three or four smaller bamboo houses, each with four ensuite bedrooms for future guests.
Mountain springs trickled down, winding past the bamboo houses into the lotus pond. Yang Jiabo planted qizimei flowers outside his home, once grown, they’d form a natural floral wall.
Yang Jiabo was constantly busy, as was Yang Jianjun. Building fences, buying saplings, and more.
While Yang Jiabo’s dream manor was in full swing, Grandma Yang’s condition suddenly worsened, landing her in the hospital. Yang Jianjun stayed to oversee construction while Yang Jiabo shuttled daily to care for her.
Yang Qiaohui and Yang Meizhen visited when they could. Since Yang Jianjun’s family had inherited the elders’ estate, Grandma’s care fell entirely on them. Her arteriosclerosis and poor cerebral blood flow showed no improvement after a month in the city hospital.
Daily medical bills of hundreds weighed heavily on Li Guizhen. Realizing this wasn’t sustainable, Yang Jiabo discussed with Yang Jianjun and convinced Li Guizhen to transfer Grandma to a military hospital.
Another month passed before she was discharged to recuperate at home. The hefty bills displeased Li Guizhen, until Yang Jianjun claimed Yang Qiaohui had covered all costs, as she had in the past. Li Guizhen’s resentment faded.
But Grandma’s recovery was fleeting, like a final rally before death. Three days home, she passed suddenly. The Yang family held another funeral, and even Yang Jianguo, who had been absent for a long time returned.
Kneeling before the coffin, he wept uncontrollably, whether from genuine remorse or fear of losing his lifeline, no one knew. Grandma’s death saddened everyone. She had always been adamant about being buried traditionally, fearing cremation. To honor her wishes, Yang Jianjun arranged for her to be laid to rest beside Grandpa Zhang, along with her "underworld bankbook."
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