Wang Xianghua fell silent, and the other members of the Su family also fell silent.
Su Xiaotian asked again, "Big Dad, Second Dad, how is the pig farm doing?"
"The pig farm is fine for now. Our pigs won't be ready for market until the end of the year, so we don't feel anything yet!"
Su Xiaotian fell silent.
The backlog of eggs was indeed a difficult problem to handle.
Eggs were fragile items. A careless move could break them, making long-distance transportation virtually impossible.
Even if transportation were possible, the risks and costs would be high.
However, selling them locally presented its own difficulties.
Furthermore, eggs could not be stored for long. If left for too long, they would gradually become hollow and spoil.
"I'll think of a way to handle this."
Wang Xianghua said, "You're just a child, you should focus on your studies. You don't need to worry about these things!"
Xiaotian was still young, and these were matters for adults to consider. They shouldn't burden a child with them.
"Exactly, Xiaotian. Worrying too much can stunt a child's growth!"
Su Xiaotian subconsciously considered her own height.
She didn't seem particularly short.
"Big Dad, I'm actually quite tall," Su Xiaotian mumbled.
Wang Xianghua looked at Su Xiaotian's height and then considered her age, realizing that her height was indeed not low.
The group burst into laughter, and the atmosphere instantly improved.
After the laughter subsided, Su Xiaotian said, "I have an idea. We can process the eggs, give them some packaging, which will increase their shelf life and make them easier to transport."
"How can eggs be processed? We can't boil them all into tea eggs. Even if we boil them all into tea eggs, they'll spoil in a few days," Su Lao Er asked, not understanding.
Su Xiaotian smiled and said, "It's similar to tea eggs, but they need to be vacuum-sealed!"
The sales of a certain brand of eggs in later generations were excellent.
And while she was reading these days, she happened to come across a recipe that was very suitable.
"What is vacuum packaging?" Wang Xianghua became interested.
Although she didn't understand what Su Xiaotian was saying, she felt that what Xiaotian said made a lot of sense.
Su Xiaotian said, "It's packaging the boiled eggs in plastic, removing all the air inside. This way, they can be preserved for at least a few months."
Wang Xianghua immediately lost interest. If people wanted boiled eggs, couldn't they just buy a few eggs and boil them themselves? Who would specifically buy pre-boiled eggs?
"Xiaotian, this idea of yours might not work. Let's think of something else!" Wang Xianghua pondered and said, "I'll go and look for other food processing plants in the city to see if we can cooperate."
Su Xiaotian didn't object to Wang Xianghua finding her own solutions, but she also understood that finding a way out was not easy at all.
If they could easily find a sales channel, the aunties and others would have found it long ago, and there would be no need to wait until now.
Su Xiaotian decided that after her second brother and the others returned, she would go to Rongcheng to see if she could find a vacuum packaging machine there. If not, she could also ask her uncle if there were similar machines in Licheng.
Even if there were absolutely none, she could still ask her uncle if they could purchase machines from foreign businesses.
Licheng was a development zone, an area where business with foreign merchants was permitted openly. Having her uncle handle this matter would be ideal.
With her mind made up, Su Xiaotian didn't say much more.
The family rested, and so the narrative continues.
The next morning, Wang Xianghua went to the chicken farm, and Qi Liangying cooked for the two children.
After breakfast, Su Xiaotian went to find Li Mingcai. When she greeted him, Li Mingcai almost didn't recognize her.
When Su Xiaotian returned during the New Year, Li Mingcai happened to be visiting relatives. By the time he returned, Su Xiaotian had already gone back to the capital, which he regretted greatly.
He greatly admired Su Xiaotian's medical skills and hoped to interact with her more when he had the chance.
After a long absence, Su Xiaotian had indeed changed quite a bit, so it was normal for Li Mingcai not to recognize her.
"I'm Su Xiaotian. I've come home for the holidays and came to see you, elder!"
"I thought it was you, but I wasn't sure! Xiaotian, when did you get back? Why didn't your Big Dad mention it? Did your grandparents return with you?"
Su Xiaotian took out a pack of pastries and gave it to Li Mingcai, saying, "My grandparents are in the capital. Only my older brother and I returned. I came to see you, and this is a small token of my appreciation."
A pack of pastries was a rare item in those days. Even though Li Mingcai was a doctor, he was still a local doctor in the countryside and felt this gift was quite valuable.
"Xiaotian, you child, why did you bring me something when you came? If you have time, just tell me how to mix the medicine!" Li Mingcai chuckled, not hiding his intentions at all.
"Okay, I'll give you two commonly used prescriptions later."
Su Xiaotian had many prescriptions, and she had also adjusted quite a few herself. Giving a few to Li Mingcai would be beneficial to the local community.
Li Mingcai became even happier, showering her with compliments.
"Xiaotian, you are the golden phoenix of our Hongxin Brigade. Not to mention our brigade, even in our entire county, there are very few outstanding children like you!"
"The golden phoenix of our brigade has grown up and is becoming more beautiful! I wonder which family will be lucky enough to have her in the future."
As he said this, Li Mingcai perhaps remembered Su Xiaotian's age and felt that his words were inappropriate, so he stopped.
"You're looking at your own child, seeing good in everything!"
The words "your own child" pleased Li Mingcai.
This child knew how to speak, and her few words made him feel so happy!
"You're right, we are family, our own people!"
"I came to buy some medicinal herbs. See if you have them!" Su Xiaotian said, thinking she still had things to do.
"Tell me, and I'll get the medicine for you." Li Mingcai was very straightforward. The old man was still vigorous and worked very quickly.
Su Xiaotian named the herbs, and Li Mingcai quickly gathered them. However, he couldn't figure out what illness these few herbs combined could treat.
He thought about it and then asked.
Su Xiaotian said, "I plan to make some food, and I need these herbs!"
Li Mingcai didn't suspect anything, thinking she was making medicinal cuisine, and he was quite impressed.
Since Su Xiaotian had promised Li Mingcai to provide him with prescriptions, she immediately wrote down two.
Li Mingcai held the prescriptions, his face flushed with excitement.
Su Xiaotian didn't disturb Li Mingcai, who was holding the two pieces of paper as if they were rare treasures. She estimated the price of the herbs and paid fifty cents before turning to go home.
After Li Mingcai carefully read the prescriptions, he realized that Su Xiaotian had already left.
Seeing the fifty cents left on the counter, he said emotionally, "This child, she doesn't take advantage of anything! But if I just give her the prescriptions like this, I can't feel at ease. No, I must give something back to this girl."
Li Mingcai muttered to himself.