NOVPUB
Chapter 631: Chapter 621 Field Survey (Extra three for the Underwater Search for Snow)
"Comrade Shen, don’t be fooled by this expanse of wasteland, where the grass grows tall; beneath it lies the rich black soil that our Province Z in the Northeast is renowned for. Aside from everything else, the fertility of this black soil is top-notch. Every year, the high yields of our province’s agricultural crops are nationally recognized. And that river over there, do you see it? It’s our famous Huanlin River, the river with the best water quality in our province. Some experts even came to test the water recently and said that its quality is excellent, with a high mineral content - apparently, it meets some standards and requirements," explained Wang, the official, as they drove through the area in a speeding car.
"Oh, where does the water in this river come from?" Shen Yunfang asked, looking over the terrain with great satisfaction, thinking that if she really could develop this land, she wouldn’t have to worry about irrigation water in the future.
"This river originates from a spring on Ala Mountain and is a collection of streams flowing down. During the three-year natural disaster, this river didn’t dry up completely and played a crucial role in saving many lives on both banks. Later on, the state built a large reservoir upstream, just follow this road for about twenty minutes, and you’ll see it. Since then, the fields along the river have never lacked water. Moreover, that reservoir is teeming with wild fish. Every year before the flood season, the reservoir releases water, and many locals just wait for the water to pass by and then go collect the fish that come downstream," said Wang with great enthusiasm.
Shen Yunfang just smiled and didn’t say anything, thinking that this Wang probably hasn’t missed a chance to collect fish himself.
After driving a bit further, the car approached the mountain.
"Although this mountain isn’t named on the map, the locals call it Cricket Mountain. It’s not very tall, with an elevation of four hundred and forty meters and a land area of one hundred and sixty-five acres. In our Z Province, it wouldn’t count as a large mountain - it’s more like a small mound. However, despite its modest height, the vegetation on it is lush, and there’s a military area nearby, which isn’t open to just anyone, so there’s been very little human damage here," Wang spoke as a salesman, focusing on the positives.
Shen Yunfang looked at the mountain that was to become hers. "From this distance, it’s hard to make out anything. Can we stop the car and take a closer look?"
Wang seemed reluctant, as who would want to leave the comfort of the car to go climb a mountain? Although not very high, it was still over four hundred meters, and climbing it was genuinely challenging.
However, he was on a mission, and he didn’t want to return with bad news if Comrade Shen was dissatisfied.
"It’s possible, but even though the mountain isn’t very tall, climbing it now would be a bit untimely," Wang cautioned Shen Yunfang, trying to dissuade her from any impulsive actions.
Shen Yunfang gave Wang a knowing look and smiled. "I don’t want to climb the mountain; I just want to stand at its foot for a closer look."
"Hehe, well, that’s definitely not a problem."
So, Wang directed the driver to park at a spot closest to Cricket Mountain and then led Shen Yunfang, stepping deep and shallow, towards the foot of the mountain.
As they walked, he kept up his commentary, "Although our Cricket Mountain looks small, it’s actually a minor offshoot of the Changbai Mountain range. Do you see it? If you look to the right, that’s where it connects with the Changbai Mountains. I’ve heard that when the soldiers from the military area go for training or patrols, they head that way, and it’s basically a primeval forest deeper in, home to large wild animals. But you don’t have to worry; your area is on the very edge, with nothing much on the mountain besides small creatures like hares and wild pheasants."
Shen Yunfang followed the direction pointed by the official and saw that behind Cricket Mountain lay a vast expanse of rolling hills, very similar to the geographic environment of Gaijiatun. However, this was at the edge of the city, with transportation much more convenient than in Gaijiatun. If it really developed, it could be very promising.
As for the wild animals in those continuous mountains, it would be fine if she didn’t encounter any, but Shen Yunfang would be more than happy if they did appear. She considered her hunting skills to be quite good, and if she really encountered something that didn’t watch where it was going, she was sure it wouldn’t have a chance to return.
"I think there seems to be a forest on the mountain," she said, shielding her eyes with her hand and looking up.
"Hmm, there is indeed a forest, but it’s not very large, and the types of trees inside are quite mixed, with none of them really mature. After you actually lease the mountain, you can decide for yourself how to deal with it." The official from the mountain hadn’t personally inspected it, and he had gleaned this information from documents; whether it was really like that, Shen Yunfang could only verify it by climbing the mountain herself after leasing it.
Shen Yunfang nodded in understanding after listening. Currently, there were no specific laws or regulations about leasing land or mountains. In the past, when someone leased a mountain, all things on the mountain belonged to the lessee, including the trees. If you wanted to cut down trees, you wouldn’t have to apply and wait for approval from the authorities like in later times before you could do the logging.
Shen Yunfang also felt that leasing the mountain at this time was to her advantage, as she guessed she could freely manage the various plants and trees on her mountain.
The two of them roamed around the foot of the mountain for a while. At the persistent urging of the official, they eventually returned to the car, ready to take the road back.
On the return journey, the official asked Shen Yunfang directly without any reservations, "Comrade Shen, you’ve seen the mountain and the land, what do you think? Is there anything you’re not satisfied with?"
"Hmm, I’m quite satisfied with both the land and the mountain," Shen Yunfang honestly expressed her contentment.
She indeed was quite content, both with the size of the land and its location. For her, if she could lease the land, it would be very ideal.
"Heh, I told you, didn’t I? Our province’s agricultural development is doing extremely well. Here, with land leasing, as long as you manage it well, a fortune can be made," the official boasted, somewhat half-heartedly.
He didn’t even believe what he was saying himself. Since the country’s policies changed two years ago, most farmers had indeed started living a life where they had enough to eat through their hard work. But relying solely on the few mu of land owned by each family, they would earn at most four or five hundred yuan a year, and that was in a good year with favorable weather. There were also some quick-witted people who put down their hoes to dabble in small trades in the cities, earning far more than what those dedicated farmers could dig out of the soil. Therefore, in people’s eyes now, farming was just enough to fill the stomach, while doing business was seen as a way to get rich.
"Good land is one thing, but it also requires the support of our provincial policies. Without it, relying solely on my own efforts to get rich would indeed be difficult," Shen Yunfang said with a smile. 𝙣𝙤𝙫𝙥𝙪𝙗.𝒄𝙤𝙢
The official wasn’t really clear about the policy support she mentioned. It was not something he could answer, so he vaguely responded, as she would need to discuss this matter with the Bureau Chief.
