Chapter 125: Thinking of Starting a Farmhouse Inn

Leveraging Lei Bang’s connections to sell the bamboo rats was the only viable channel Yan Chunhua could think of. However, she was not well-acquainted with him, and she felt utterly at a loss as to how to approach him for such a favor without appearing intrusive.

"As for Mr. Lei, Xiaoxin knows him quite well. Perhaps we should ask her first?"

Second Sister Zhang opened her mouth, wanting to chime in, but seeing the rest of the family busy brainstorming other ways to expand their sales, she swallowed her words.

"Are you thinking of opening a farmhouse restaurant?"

Finding a moment when no one was around, Second Sister pulled her brother, Zhang Debing, aside for a quiet conversation.

"Didn't Xiaoxin mention this when she was here last time? She said our terrain is beautiful, the scenery is pristine, and we have access to authentic, organic ingredients. She mentioned that city folk love that kind of thing. I’ve been thinking about leasing a piece of land and setting up a farmhouse restaurant specializing in wild game."

Second Sister wasn't just idly talking; she had been pondering this for a long time. She kept in frequent touch with Liu Chunyan, and her ideas had far surpassed those of the people around her.

"I don't think this is a reliable plan. Why don't you ask Xiaoxin?"

Second Sister nudged her brother. "You want to ask her about everything. If we want to do it, we should just do it ourselves. Do you expect her to come over, set everything up, and just hand you the keys to open for business?"

"I’m just worried you haven't thought it through. Besides, we’ve never heard of a 'farmhouse restaurant' around here; it’s not like in the provincial capital. If you act on a whim and it fails, you have to consider your husband’s family."

Struck by her brother’s cold water, Second Sister felt disgruntled. She grumbled a few times and retreated into her room, refusing to come out.

"What were you saying to Second Sister? Why is she so upset?"

Zhang Debing did not hide anything from Yan Chunhua and recounted the conversation.

"Actually, Second Sister isn't wrong. I think it’s feasible. We should give it a try. There’s no harm in failing; land leasing is inexpensive right now. We just need to be careful with the location. Also, we should see if we can find someone to design a theme for it."

During her school days, Yan Chunhua had visited farmhouse restaurants during field trips. The ones near her school were in an area where everyone enjoyed gardening, which had evolved into a nursery base. The local farmers learned to cultivate flowers and trees at home, turning their courtyards into exquisite gardens to host city dwellers seeking a connection with nature. It was said that the income was excellent, and during peak seasons, reservations had to be made days in advance.

However, the location of Zhang Village was not ideal. There were no famous scenic spots nearby, and the landscape was unremarkable. Without a unique selling point, why would anyone travel all the way there?

"How about this? Xiaoxin is far away, and it seems she’s gone out of town for further studies, so it’s not realistic for her to rush back. Why don't we invite Sister Liu and Sister Jia to discuss it?"

They also brought in the village head's wife, Yan Chunhua’s godmother, to weigh in. As the women gathered to discuss the plan, they all agreed it was possible, provided they chose the right location—one with convenient transport and beautiful scenery—and hired a cook skilled in preparing wild game. A formal culinary certificate didn't matter; what mattered was the craft to retain customers.

"I think this can work. Have your godfather help find a location; just let him know once you've picked a spot. As for a cook, I remember Old Man Zhou up on the mountain knows how to do it."

Yan Chunhua wasn't familiar with the people on the mountain, but Second Sister knew him well. She frowned, "Uncle Zhou? He still lives up there alone? Have his family members refused to take him in?"

"Take him in? Not a chance," the village head's wife said, slapping her thigh. "Years ago, Old Man Zhou ignored his two sons and insisted on marrying that woman. It caused such a stir that it even led to a brawl in their village."

Old Man Zhou had been a live-in son-in-law. Originally an outsider who had fallen on hard times, he married a girl from the He family in Baipingba, and their two children took her surname. One year, during a massive flood, he went up the mountain to gather firewood while his wife insisted on catching fish by the river. She slipped, fell into the water, and was swept away to the reservoir below. When she was found two or three days later, her body was bloated.

At the time, the children were young—the eldest was seven, and the youngest was three.

The He family still had two elderly parents who, grieving their daughter, displaced all their rage onto Old Man Zhou. The man was beaten until he was bloodied by his father-in-law; if the villagers hadn't intervened, he likely would have been beaten to death.

Since then, Old Man Zhou had moved to the mountain, living in a former forest ranger’s cabin. Later, he went out to work, met a woman, and lived with her without a marriage license, refusing to return home even once. Two years later, the elderly couple passed away. The villagers called him to come back and raise the children, but Old Man Zhou refused, claiming they were not of the Zhou family and none of his concern.

Because of his attitude, the He clan from Baipingba nearly went to his workplace to beat him, only stopped by the village head. In the end, the two brothers were essentially raised by the villagers, each family chipping in. Old Man Zhou eventually parted ways with that woman. A few years ago, his health declined, and he returned, but he didn't seek out his sons. Instead, he found a cave and lived there alone for the past six or seven years.

Because he never interacted with anyone, Yan Chunhua had lived here for so long without even knowing someone lived up the mountain.

"It’s understandable that Old Man Zhou holds a grudge. Those two sons grew up watching their grandfather despise their father. When the old man was chasing him through the village with a stick, the eldest son even handed him the weapon," the village head's wife noted with a sneer. If the roots aren't taught well, how could there be any affection? She wouldn't want to support them either.

"Old Man Zhou worked as a cook when he was away. Back when he was with the He family, he would often go up the mountain to trap wild game, and he was the one who did all the cooking at home. Everyone in Baipingba knows his food is delicious, especially his snake meat, which never had a gamey smell. Oh, and he knows how to brew medicinal liquor; the famous snake wine the He family used to hoard was brewed by him."

Unlike Yan Chunhua, Liu Chunyan had done her homework before coming here. She knew that many mountain regions still followed old customs, where the words of village elders and the village head were sometimes more effective than the law. There were countless ancestral rules, some quite different from the societal norms outside. For instance, the status of a live-in son-in-law was even lower than that of a child bride; bluntly put, he was merely a tool for procreation, expected to work like an ox for his in-laws.

"I think it’s feasible, as long as Uncle Zhou has the skill." Liu Chunyan had visited enough farmhouse restaurants to know that besides the environment, culinary skill was a crucial factor for success.