After chatting with Ma Tongyuan and Ma Zhou for a while, the helicopter slowly flew back.
A group of little ones were still shouting excitedly after getting off the plane.
Fang Er didn't blame them; this was the reward they deserved.
After encouraging them again, Fang Er went back to the manor with his hands behind his back.
A group of people had already gathered at the entrance of the house.
Liu Laosi, Ma Laotou, Hua Niang, Li Shun, Wang Wu, Niu Liang, and others were all there.
Before Fang Er could enter, there were only five women inside the courtyard: Chai Yue, Qing'er, Chen Xuelian, Xiao Mi, and Xiao Huan. It wasn't convenient for everyone to go in, so they all waited by the door.
"Let's go talk at the vocational school."
Without even entering his home, Fang Er took everyone to New East.
With so many people, the front hall of the house was too crowded. The conference room at New East was much more spacious.
A crowd of people surged into New East Vocational School, and students on break cast curious glances.
These were all the big shots from the manor!
Suddenly, they saw Fang Er in the crowd and realized that the Duke had returned.
"Students pay their respects to the Duke!"
"Greetings, Duke!"
"May the Duke live long!"
The students voluntarily came forward to salute Fang Er.
Fang Er stopped, looking at the students of the vocational school.
They were all students who had enrolled for less than a year, aged between ten and twenty years old.
Unlike the students in the academy, the academy focused on cultural subjects, with technical skills only fostering interest.
As for technical skills, they mainly taught the crafts of artisans.
Blacksmiths, weavers, chicken farmers, farmers, and so on.
Even Liu Laosi held the title of Professor in the technical department.
In his words, when it came to raising chickens, everyone present was trash!
"Study hard, and I will personally give you a lecture one day!"
After smiling and making a promise to the students, he continued towards the conference room.
In the spacious conference room, after everyone was seated, Fang Er, in the main seat, looked at everyone.
"Speak up, everyone. Tell me about the changes at home since I left, both good and bad."
Everyone began to report their achievements over the past period.
Food is paramount for the people, and Old Maotou was the first to speak.
"Duke, although this year was a bit dry, thanks to the irrigation ditches dug last year, the impact was not significant."
This summer's harvest yielded a total of 2.6 million jin of wheat.
After the wheat harvest, the two thousand mu of land in the manor, plus the three thousand mu granted by the Emperor, were all planted with cotton.
Additionally, seven thousand mu of wasteland were opened around the manor and planted with sweet potatoes.
Surplus cotton seeds, sweet potatoes, pumpkins, and potatoes were taken away by people from the Ministry of Revenue, led by Duke Fang.
Fang Er nodded.
Promoting these items through the Ministry of Revenue was his idea.
The land in Fang Family Manor was limited, and Shenyang's temperature was low, resulting in much lower yields compared to the Central Plains.
These items were bound to be promoted nationwide eventually, so the sooner the promotion, the better.
Only when the common people saw the yield with their own eyes could they diligently cultivate them.
2.6 million jin of wheat would be enough to sow 100,000 mu of land next year, and 80 million jin of seeds could be harvested the year after.
Eighty million jin could be used to sow over 3 million mu of land, enough for the entire Henan province's seed requirement.
After all, Henan was the most suitable place for wheat growth!
After Old Maotou finished, Liu Laosi stood up with a smug look.
"Duke, the chicken farm has been expanded again."
A total of two thousand hens are being raised, and there are now over ten thousand chicks.
The earliest batch can already lay eggs.
As for the pig farm, over five thousand pigs have been collected, and they are all well-fattened.
Moreover, the newly born male piglets have all been castrated as you requested.
The one performing the surgery was Wang Yidao, whom I invited from Baihua Lou in the city. I heard he used to provide services to clean people up.
Fang Er was stunned for a moment.
Baihua Lou?
Wang Yidao?
Isn't this the guy Lai Yifa used to get away with things?
Is he reliable?
Thinking of this, Fang Er couldn't help but ask.
"Hehehehe, Duke, please rest assured, I've been watching from the side."
"Speaking of which, those little piglet testicles are truly tender, and they don't taste gamey at all!"
Fang Er:.......
"With over five thousand pigs giving birth, you have so many pig testicles to eat."
"Damn old man, if you don't get replenished, you'll be stuffed to death sooner or later!"
"Distribute them to the manor later. Don't waste them if you can't finish them."
"Heh, Duke, don't worry, none will be wasted. Didn't you see Old Maotou throw away his cane?"
Liu Laosi revealed his remaining four yellow teeth and smiled brightly.
Fang Er glanced at Old Maotou. Indeed, he hadn't noticed earlier, but now he realized that his cane was really gone.
Good heavens, that thing has this function too?
Did Old Maotou overindulge in his youth, damaging his kidneys, and is now recovering?
His gaze shifted to Hua Niang. Hua Niang had become even more charming than when she first entered Fang Family Manor.
The woman in her thirties, originally gaunt, had now gradually become plump.
The wrinkles on her face were filled in with fat, and coupled with her current position as a workshop supervisor in the tailoring shop, her attire was also very elegant.
When she smiled, she was stunningly beautiful, exuding a mature charm that would be a hit in later generations.
"Duke, the business of the tailoring shop is booming!"
The items made are not enough for the girls to sell.
"As for other things, this servant can't manage them."
Well, I'll have to ask Xuelian about this when I get back. She's in charge of the girls' business.
With such a booming business, I wonder if the money storage room at home is still sufficient.
Next were the others.
Li Shun had built nine more large ships with five teeth during this period, but the engines and steam engines had not yet been installed.
Fang Er thought about it and made the decision to move the shipyard.
"Master Li, go back and notify them to pack up. The shipbuilding yard will be moved to Shenyang in the future."
"One reason is that it's closer to the sea outlet, and the other is convenience for sourcing materials, as Liaodong is full of old forests."
"Moreover, heavy industry is also located there, making it more convenient to produce steam engines."
Li Shun was overjoyed upon hearing this. Since the Duke was moving there, it would be more convenient to seek advice from him in the future due to the proximity.
"Yes, Duke, I will inform them when I get back."
"But what about those ships?"
Fang Er waved his hand. "You don't need to worry about this. These were all decided by the Emperor. I'll handle the handover with the Ministry of War."
After Li Shun, the printing workshop, cement workshop, and glass workshop also reported their respective situations.
In general, all were good news with demand exceeding supply.
The goods produced by the workshops were always snatched up by merchants from all directions the moment they were available.
He glanced at the sky outside and then at his watch; it was already past six in the evening.
"Alright, it's getting late. Today is my first day back. Regardless of the time, we should have some fun."
"Liu Laosi, take some people to catch a few pigs."
"Eat meat! Drink wine!"
No one would refuse meat and wine.
Liu Laosi patted his chest and guaranteed he would be back within two incense sticks' time.
Others also began to prepare.
Especially Hua Niang, who was always indispensable in cooking when such occasions arose.