In the blink of an eye, it was early March, and the busy season of spring had begun. Between the Qingming Festival and Guyu (Grain Rain), all the crops meant to be sown—such as peanuts, sesame, and sweet potatoes—needed to be put into the ground. Vegetable seeds also needed planting: chili peppers, pumpkins, eggplants, and cucumbers.

Since the wife, Huang Shi, had two children to look after, her entire focus was absorbed by the elder and younger Xiong. Er Niu, meanwhile, was preoccupied daily with checking on the wheat in the fields and the progress of his own planted crops. Although these tasks technically fell to the long-term laborer, Er Niu couldn't rest easy unless he oversaw them himself. Consequently, all household affairs were managed by Lin He.

However, Lin He found this rhythm of life surprisingly fulfilling. Though busy, it didn't feel arduous; perhaps because no one dictated the schedule or imposed deadlines. She worked when she felt like it, and when she didn't, she would take Chen'er out to the courtyard to practice embroidery. Life felt rather relaxed.

That ease, however, didn't last long. Lin He suddenly remembered something: that hillside she often visited. A long time ago, she had intended to buy that patch of land, but at the time, she lacked the funds and had to set the idea aside. It was only a few days ago, while gathering flowers on the hill, that the thought resurfaced.

It was spring now, and the mountain flowers bloomed with stunning vibrancy, reigniting in Lin He an intense desire to finally purchase that entire hill. Now, she finally had money; she no longer needed to haggle over every copper coin. Since Uncle Wen listed the other three shops last month, coupled with the dividends from her existing ventures and the two "Hecai Doll" shares, Lin He was netting nearly two thousand taels in monthly dividends. While not an astronomical sum, it was certainly enough to fund several projects.

Lin He had already formulated a plan. The family fish pond was no longer a major concern; they could raise enough fish for their own consumption, and any surplus would bring in a small income, but nothing substantial. It would be far better to acquire the barren mountain. The slopes were already home to numerous fruit trees, and she could introduce new varieties later.

When the fruit matured, she could produce jams and preserved fruits for sale. Furthermore, Da Bao had spent several years working in the town's Hecai Doll shop; it was time for him to gain experience managing his own affairs. The relationship with Uncle Wen's side was stable now; opening a small shop in town seemed feasible, and Uncle Wen would surely assist with the networking aspects.

At this time, commercially produced jams were rare, and preserved fruits even scarcer. Opening a shop to sell specialty snacks and edibles seemed promising. Crucially, Da Bao himself was eager to venture into commerce. Staying on as a mere shop assistant at the Hecai Doll location wasn't a long-term solution. True business acumen required owning one's establishment. While the family’s current resources didn't support a large storefront, a small shop was entirely within reach.

Once her plan crystallized, Lin He shared her ideas with Er Niu that afternoon. Er Niu was highly supportive, noting that they had spare manpower. The fish pond required minimal supervision, and both Da Sheng and Da Jiang could be assigned to help on the mountain.

Er Niu added that if they bought the hill, they should build a larger chicken coop at the base. The mountain offered natural feed—insects and leaves. They could let the chickens roam freely on the slope during the day. While the first year might yield no profit, by the second year, the chickens themselves, and their eggs, could generate income.

Lin He didn't care much about the exact profit margin, but seeing her father so animated—having spent his life farming, he was naturally thrilled by the prospect—she agreed wholeheartedly. It wouldn't require much capital, so letting her father tinker with it might just yield a small revenue stream after all.

Seeing Lin He’s approval, Er Niu’s enthusiasm surged. He declared he would visit the Clan Elder the very next day to inquire about the sale of the mountain. However, when Er Niu returned the following day, he reported that although the mountain was located within the Lin Family Village boundaries, the purchase required processing through the town's magistrate office.

Mentioning the magistrate office made Er Niu nervous; he had never dealt with government officials in his entire life. Lin He, however, remained unconcerned. While purchasing land from the government involved more paperwork, the mountain was essentially unclaimed. If they initiated the purchase, the officials would profit from the transaction and likely wouldn't create obstacles.

Lin He prepared gifts for Er Niu to take to the Clan Elder, asking the Elder to accompany them to the magistrate office to finalize the purchase. While she could technically go herself, her unfamiliarity with officialdom made the Elder's guidance preferable, as someone familiar with the procedures would manage things more smoothly.

At worst, it would cost a bit more money. A red envelope for the Clan Elder would suffice. Er Niu agreed; he was certain the Elder, upon receiving the gratuity, would cooperate, provided Er Niu remained attentive during the official proceedings.

That afternoon, Er Niu took the ox cart to the Clan Elder's home. The Elder listened to Er Niu’s plan and accepted a generous amount of gifts and money. He readily agreed to accompany Er Niu to the town magistrate office. The Elder had initially been somewhat displeased with Er Niu over a previous matter regarding a donation for the ancestral hall. However, a few weeks prior, Er Niu had visited the Elder to discuss his fish farming techniques, explaining them clearly and even suggesting the Elder share the method with the other villagers. Any lingering resentment had vanished. Er Niu had selflessly offered the means for the entire village to prosper, which reflected well on the Elder's leadership. Thus, when Er Niu sought help, the Elder offered no resistance.

With the Clan Elder's assistance, dealing with the magistrate office proceeded smoothly, albeit at a considerable expense. Even delivering a simple message at the office required a runner's fee. The Elder and Er Niu had already agreed that greasing palms with silver would be necessary. Er Niu was not stingy, and the matter was quickly settled.

The mountain encompassed over a hundred mu of land. Including all the necessary disbursements, the total cost approached four hundred taels of silver. Er Niu felt it was steep, but Lin He had stipulated back home that as long as it was cheaper than prime farmland, they should buy it.

Returning home, two men from the magistrate office arrived, accompanied by the Clan Elder, to officially delineate the boundaries of the mountain plot. Lin He gazed at the land, realizing this hill would soon belong to her. Her dream had materialized. If she had owned such a vast tract of land in her previous life, she would have been incredibly wealthy. But owning this small mountain now simply made her comfortably affluent in this era.

Acquiring the land at this particular time was perfect. Spring was the ideal season for planting fruit trees and raising chickens. Fruit trees wouldn't yield a harvest for several years, but Lin He wasn't expecting immediate returns. Her plan was to organize the workforce to properly clear weeds and perform necessary grafting. If any fruit appeared by autumn, they would harvest it; if not, it didn't matter. As for raising poultry, buying chicks now was precisely the right timing, ensuring a yield of both mature chickens and plentiful eggs by the following year.