Chapter 50
Yang Jianjun and Yang Jiabo both lived at the farmhouse, though the Yang family’s old house was practically no better than a shack. Yang Jianjun simply locked it up, planning to renovate properly once he had the money. For now, the farmhouse was far more comfortable to live in, but this place was still the home passed down by his parents. Grandma Yang and Grandpa Zhang had always wanted to fix up the house, but Yang Jianjun hadn’t been capable back then. Now that he was able, he would surely turn this place into a warm and cozy home too.
After Wei Jing returned, he often wrote letters and called Yang Jiabo. Every time Yang Jiabo went to pay the phone bill, he noticed the charges getting higher and higher. Thinking about Wei Jing’s side, the cost was probably no less, right? Not that he knew how international calls were billed, he just felt a little guilty.
“Jiajia, there’s a letter for you.” Yang Jianjun walked in from outside, holding an envelope.
Without even looking, Yang Jiabo knew it had to be from Wei Jing. His postage expenses had also risen recently. He had wanted to send Wei Jing something, but there were no courier companies - only the post office, which was not only expensive but also painfully slow. Yang Jiabo now had one more thing to miss - express delivery. So he couldn’t help but complain to Wei Jing about it.
Wei Jing joked that Yang Jiabo could just start his own courier company. Yang Jiabo immediately refused, his ambitions were too small for that.
In the blink of an eye, four years passed, and it was now 2004. The Yang family’s Wuquan Farmhouse was fully completed and had become well-known in the area. The name was chosen by Yang Jiabo, inspired by the small fleeceflower roots and the mountain spring.
The entire farmhouse was surrounded by a flower-covered wall. By May or June, clusters of pink blossoms covered it, creating a stunning sight. The entrance gate was built from bamboo and thatch, natural and unadorned, giving off a rustic charm.
Following the bluestone path into the farmhouse, the first thing visitors saw was a long corridor entwined with green vines, stretching all the way to the mountaintop. Walking through it, dappled light filtered down, lending a poetic, dreamlike atmosphere. At the foot of the mountain, the corridor split into two paths. The right led to a lotus pond pavilion, green willows, and bamboo houses, while the left offered arched bridges over a small stream, white walls, and gray tiles. The mountain stream meandered between the houses and the corridor, bringing a refreshing coolness and enhancing the serene landscape.
The right side was naturally where the Yang family lived, while the other bamboo houses were not yet open to the public. The largest one was shared by Yang Jiabo and Yang Jianjun, surrounded by its own flower wall. Inside, a large open space was reserved for planting orchids, along with some camellias, roses, and jasmine - added by Yang Jianjun when he found the orchids too monotonous, though not in large quantities.
Most of this space, however, was used by Yang Jiabo to grow cordyceps. He no longer sold them to herbal merchants but instead made them into signature dishes for Wuquan Farmhouse - cordyceps stewed chicken, cordyceps stewed duck, and cordyceps-infused liquor.
The other bamboo houses were guest rooms, though not yet open for business - mostly reserved for visiting relatives.
The left side, with its white walls and gray tiles, housed the dining area. Inside, visitors were greeted by an ornamental rock garden with a fishpond, green bamboo, and flowers. Delicate wooden bridges led to different rooms, each varying in size but all featuring upturned eaves, carved beams, and elegant, antique-style doors. Aside from the kitchen and a tea room for guests, there were only ten private dining rooms, all reservation-only.
Now, besides fruit trees, the mountain also had vegetable plots and free-range chickens, ducks, and geese. The farmhouse’s ingredients were mostly self-sufficient. Whether due to being organic or the favorable feng shui, the dishes here tasted far better than outside, especially the fish from the pond, which were exceptionally tender. Yang Jiabo sometimes wondered if the small fleeceflower roots had something to do with it, but then dismissed the thought as overthinking.
Behind the house stood a two-story building for staff. The farmhouse required constant upkeep, and Yang Jianjun couldn’t manage alone, so he hired four people - middle-aged couple and two young men from the mountains looking for work.
When the farmhouse first opened, it had no customers. Who would come to such a remote place with high prices and a reservation requirement?
Yang Jiabo wasn’t in a hurry, he wasn’t short on money. Though he had hired a chef and waitstaff, he didn’t want to overwork himself. Besides, 'fragrant wine fears no deep alley'. From the start, he hadn’t intended the farmhouse to be a mass-market destination - otherwise, why invest so much in creating such a poetic place only to have it overrun? But Yang Jianjun couldn’t sit still, pacing anxiously and losing sleep. No matter how Yang Jiabo reassured him, it didn’t help.
[酒香不怕巷子深 (jiǔ xiāng bù pà xiàng zǐ shēn): lit. Fragrant wine fears no deep alley; fig. Quality will attract customers regardless of location]
The farmhouse’s eventual success was largely thanks to Wei Changdong. Yang Jiabo had invited friends and relatives to the opening, including Wei Changdong. Impressed by the pleasant environment and fresh, delicious food, Wei Changdong later chose the farmhouse as a venue for hosting his own guests - many of whom were well-off elites from various industries.
These guests became repeat customers and brought in new ones. Slowly, Wuquan Farmhouse’s reputation spread, and business picked up. Some guests arrived early to stroll, play cards, or fish, leaving with purchases of poultry, fish, or vegetables. Some even used the farmhouse as a meeting spot for business talks, the tea room was impressive enough to maintain their image.
When the orchard began bearing fruit, Yang Jianjun didn’t even need to find buyers. Yang Jiabo had his second uncle craft beautiful bamboo baskets, and guests happily took them home filled with fruit.
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