The pork butcher is smoother than a pig butcher!

Chapter 229 Haloxylon ammodendron (Part 1)
Gan Minglan didn't care what kind of father-son conversation would take place at the General's Mansion.

After obtaining permission for the Xilu Ranch, she has been pondering the details of the designated 10,000-mu ranch these past few days.

She had been thinking too simply before.

They thought that planting dog rice grass and various herbs in the designated pasture would be enough.

Yesterday's sandstorm dealt her a heavy blow.

This area is a semi-desert region, and the already sparse grasslands were visibly buried alive by a sandstorm.

Beneath those thick layers of sand, the grass that hasn't yet grown will never have a chance to sprout.

In other words, the prerequisite for her to create 10,000 mu of grassland is to first erect a barrier against wind and sand for the grassland.

Ultimately, we need to plant trees!

Thinking about this, Gan Minglan couldn't help but ponder: was the purpose of God arranging this time travel for her to come here to control desertification and plant trees?

Tsk tsk, with her current state of nearing the peak of her wood-type abilities, she's really perfect for this job.

She could easily have hundreds of acres of shrubland grow overnight.

Given enough time, turning the desert into an oasis is not a dream!
But things really can't be done that way!
That night, inside the refugee camp.

More than a hundred young men who had signed ten-year contracts with Gan Minglan were all working hard to help their new master promote the business.
"Great news! Fantastic news! There's a job that anyone, young or old, can do. Would you like to come?"

"What?! Such a great thing is happening to us!"

The refugees couldn't believe such a windfall; they had stumbled into countless pitfalls along the way.

The child who had just been delivering the message shouted loudly:

"You may not trust others, but this time the people hired are from our master! Who in the border town doesn't know the story of the Jade-Faced Rakshasa and the Gratitude Rat setting up a trap for the Tatars?"

When the legendary figures of the border town were mentioned, the refugees finally began to believe it to some extent.

However, I still have many questions in my mind:
"Aren't Captain Gan and his wife both military households now? Where do they get so much work to do at home? Besides, when did Captain Gan become your master?"

"Of course they hired us because we work hard!"

“Our host family planned to build a 10,000-mu ranch on the western foothills of Junma Mountain, but the old yellow wind blew and buried all the pasture! So the host family said that they would plant a large area of ​​trees on the edge of the northwest desert where the old yellow wind blows to block the sandstorm!”

The refugees looked at each other in disbelief. Could Old Huang really cure things like this?

That sounds like a good idea!
His mind raced.

Someone else asked, "Even if planting trees can block the wind and sand, there aren't even any ponds in the desert. What kind of trees can survive? Isn't that just a waste of time?"

Little Radish Head got anxious:

"Hey, don't talk nonsense if you don't know! The master asked us to plant the kind of saxaul tree that grows in the desert from a young age! I heard that this kind of saxaul tree grows very fast, with a crown like a big umbrella, and the tallest can grow up to three zhang tall, and its roots are even longer than the tree itself!"

The elderly refugees all understood the principle of deep roots and lush foliage.

"So that's how it is! These saxaul trees really do grow in the desert! I heard from the old soldier next door that there is some water in the desert! If you're lucky, you can dig down eight or nine feet and find water."

The little radish head, who was promoting the message, continued:
"Our master won't let you work for nothing. As long as you plant ten saxaul trees according to her requirements, you can receive one copper coin! You'll be paid on the same day you plant them!"

Ten trees can be exchanged for a copper coin?
That's a lot, really a lot!
Especially a daily wage, that's incredibly rare. Little Radish Head kept chattering away.

“Planting trees in sandy soil is much easier than in dry land. The owner has already prepared the saxaul seedlings! Moreover, the Gratitude Rat will lead its kind to help everyone dig the planting pits in advance. All you need to do is put the tree roots into the pits and cover them with sand!”

The refugees were ecstatic:
"My goodness! It really is a grateful mouse, it can even help people with chores! It makes me want to keep one as a pet."

"Hahaha, Uncle Feng, it's no use trying to be naive! Such intelligent rats are not something we refugees can even dream of."

"No more nonsense, no more nonsense. My family doesn't have any grateful rats, but we have two obedient and hardworking grandsons. This job is perfect for the three of us to do together!"

"Oh, money isn't important. We all come from poor backgrounds, and we just can't stay idle. We feel uneasy if we don't work for a day!"

"Heavens! Captain Gan is so kind to us refugees!"

The little radishes held their heads high and chests out:

"We'll be checking each and every one of them! If anyone tries to cheat, they won't be working the next day!"

"Hmph, you should cherish your good fortune! If this news gets out, who knows how many border troops and their families will be scrambling to do it!"

The refugees all waved their hands in unison:
"No way! Who would complain about having too many copper coins? It's just planting saxaul trees, right? I can plant three hundred a day with my kids!"

"Yes, yes, we're not stupid! I've heard that life is tough in the border army camps too. Nobody gets their food from thin air. We can't keep waiting for them to give us handouts!"

"That's right! There's no such thing as a free lunch! We just hope that Captain Gan's grove will stay there for a while! As long as she doesn't delay paying wages, we're always ready to help out whenever there's work to be done."

Most refugees were overjoyed at the prospect of having work to do.

A small number of people who have recently been cramming on information about the border region still have some concerns.

Unable to resist, I voiced my concerns:

"As far as I know, the land on the western slope of Junma Mountain belongs to the Southern Tatar tribe. Is it okay to plant trees and build pastures on their land? What if they find out? Will it cause a war?"

The little rascals, at that age when they knew nothing of the world, stared wide-eyed:

"The Tatar army of 200,000 men came recently and they didn't get away with it. Since our master dares to ask you to work, we naturally have the ability to protect you!"

The refugees arrived late and had never witnessed the Jade-Faced Rakshasa's abilities on the battlefield, so they naturally took her legendary skills in killing enemies as mere hearsay.

But poverty is a sharp blade hanging over their heads.

The old are old, and the young are young.

The border army camp provides one flatbread a day.

This only barely keeps them alive and prevents them from going hungry.

If you want to live a good life, you have to rely on yourself.

Not all elderly people want their grandchildren to be sold into servitude to wealthy families.

They still longed to return to their hometown in glory when the war within the Great Wall ended.

That evening, five thousand refugees signed up.

(End of this chapter)