Chapter 66: Jaw-Dropping

Chapter 66: Jaw-Dropping

Even if they only needed to pay for the saplings, it would still cost seven or eight hundred yuan—a huge sum of money for Deng Changfu and his wife.

Deng Changfu couldn't help but ask, "Uncle Jiu, with such a large investment, how long will it take to make the money back?"

"I bought ring-branched fruit seedlings. If all goes well, they'll bear fruit in the second year of planting."

Deng Shirong set his pipe aside and continued, "Of course, the fruit yield will be small in the second year, but it will increase gradually until it reaches peak production. According to professionals, the lychee variety I chose, Cinnamon Flavor, is one of the best in the world. At peak production, each tree can yield 50 to 100 kilograms of fruit.

Let me do the math for you. In the second year, with a relatively small yield, let's assume each tree produces an average of 5 kilograms of fruit. My 1,000 lychee trees would produce at least 5,000 kilograms of lychees.

The current price of lychees ranges from 20 to 50 cents per pound, depending on the variety. Cinnamon Flavor lychees are among the highest quality, so they can easily sell for 50 cents per pound at retail, and the wholesale price shouldn't be lower than 40 cents.

At 40 cents per pound, 5,000 pounds would bring in 2,000 yuan.

In other words, if nothing unexpected happens, I can fully recover my investment in the second year and even make a small profit. As long as I manage the orchard well, it will bring me a generous income every year.

If you only invest in the seedlings and handle the rest yourselves, you can still make a significant profit in the second year."

Deng Shirong spoke openly about the prospects of lychee farming. After all, he was reborn. With the memories of his past life, even if he didn't go into business himself, he could guide his children at the right time, ensuring his family would never lack money in this life.

Therefore, he saw no need to hide anything about the orchard.

It was better to be transparent and lead the villagers who trusted him to earn more money, improving the village's current state of poverty and backwardness.

First, it would enhance his prestige in the village.

Second, when the villagers had money, he could receive more gifts as thanks for his matchmaking efforts.

His words left Deng Changfu and his wife dumbfounded and speechless for a long time.

The prospects Uncle Jiu described far exceeded their imagination.

If what Uncle Jiu said was true, investing a few hundred yuan to develop an orchard—especially one with a planting area no smaller than Uncle Jiu's—could yield at least over a thousand yuan in the second year?

With such a small yield in the second year, imagine the profits when the trees reached peak production. Could they earn tens of thousands a year?

"Hiss…"

The couple gasped, their hearts racing. They were clearly deeply affected by the idea.

However, Deng Changfu soon thought of a more practical problem: buying 1,000 saplings would cost at least 700 to 800 yuan. Not only could he and his wife not afford it, but even with his parents' help, they still couldn't come up with that much money.

So Deng Changfu said somewhat dejectedly, "It's a pity our family can't even afford the saplings."

Guan Yongying, who still had the dowry money her parents had given her, immediately said, "We don't have that much capital, so we can start small. Even if we only plant two or three hundred lychee trees, the income would still be considerable. Once the family recovers, we can expand."

Deng Shirong smiled and said, "Money isn't a problem at all. If your family really wants to follow me in planting lychee trees, you can just take out a loan from the credit union if you don't have enough. This is the policy support the country gives to farmers, and it's interest-free."

Deng Changfu, an honest man, felt a pang of panic at the word "loan" and hesitated to make a decision.

Guan Yongying, however, was bolder. Knowing Uncle Jiu wouldn't steer them wrong, she nodded and said, "Uncle Jiu, we'll listen to you. We'll go back and discuss the orchard with my parents-in-law. If they agree, we'll apply for a loan from the credit union."

Deng Shirong looked at Deng Changfu and said, "You're not as bold as your wife. I originally planned to wait until the orchard was established before bringing you in. After all, the investment in saplings is significant, and if something went wrong, I'd feel responsible.

But since you've come to me on your own, it's not impossible to start early.

The saplings I bought are from a state-owned farm, and our county is ideal for growing fruit. The risk of something going wrong is low, so honestly, there's not much risk."

Deng Changfu smiled awkwardly. He was a practical man, cautious and never one to spend in advance. Loans were something he'd always avoided and never even considered.

Next, the couple asked Uncle Jiu a few more detailed questions. Once they felt they had a clear understanding, they left excitedly.

On the way home, Guan Yongying reminded her husband, "Uncle Jiu didn't hold back in sharing how to make money with lychee farming. When we get back, you must talk to your parents and convince them to agree to start this orchard. Whether we can live in a beautiful house like Uncle Jiu's and use a clean bathroom depends entirely on this orchard!"

Deng Changfu nodded. "I understand. Uncle Jiu has been very kind to us."

Soon, the couple returned home and found Deng Changfu's father sitting at the door, smoking. Deng Changfu said to Guan Yongying, "Go in and call Mom out."

Guan Yongying nodded and went inside to fetch her mother-in-law.

Deng Yunqiang, puffing on his pipe, saw his eldest son approaching and asked, "What's the matter?"

Deng Changfu nodded. "Yes, something's come up."

Deng Yunqiang stuffed more tobacco into his pipe and asked, "What is it?"

By then, Changfu's mother had been called out by Guan Yongying. She also asked, "What's going on with you two?"

Deng Changfu, seeing his mother, recounted everything Uncle Jiu had told them. Finally, he asked, "Dad, Mom, what do you think? Should we start this orchard?"

There was no doubt that Deng Yunqiang and his wife were also stunned by the figures. Earning over a thousand yuan in the second year of planting lychees? And if everything went well, the income could grow to tens of thousands at peak production.

In the countryside of this era, who could remain calm after hearing such a prospect?

(End of this chapter)