Chapter 475: Chapter 247 The Choice of Buying Land_1
Zhang Qingshan suggested that Lian Shouxin buy an ox-drawn cart. After the family gathered to discuss it, they unanimously agreed: they indeed needed to buy a large cart.
There were several types of carts used by the tenant farmers. The simplest and cheapest was the single-wheeled handcart, which Lian Manman’s family was currently using to build their house, transporting sand and some miscellaneous items for short distances. The most commonly used type among the tenant farmers, however, was the two-wheeled wooden cart.
These carts varied in size and load capacity. The smallest of which was the flatbed cart owned by the Lian Family Main House, which was pushed and pulled by hand. Aside from that, all larger carts, generally called big carts, were animal-drawn.
The ox-drawn big cart that Zhang Qingshan suggested Lian Shouxin purchase was of the smaller variety within the big carts, only slightly larger and taller than a flatbed cart. It was suitable for a single ox to pull, yet its load capacity was much larger than that of the flatbed cart. This was due to the characteristics of oxen, which typically moved slowly, had great strength, and good stamina.
Larger than the ox-drawn carts were those like Zhang Qingshan’s and Wang Shiliu’s family used, pulled by two mules or horses. These carts were faster and had a greater load capacity, suitable for carrying goods as well as passengers, typically used for long-distance travel.
Beyond that, there were even larger carts, usually pulled by three or four, or more mules or horses, similar to the "three-horse" or "four-horse" carts mentioned in books. These carts usually had the strongest mule or horse leading, followed by a pair or even more mules or horses. Naturally, these big carts were faster and had a greater load capacity, making a statement on the roads. Manman once saw such a horse-drawn carriage on the main road, with five uniformly maroon, tall-headed large horses; not just other travelers, but even Manman herself was drooling at the sight.
Manman had once made a comparison in private. If the flatbed cart was equivalent to the electric scooters from her previous life, then an ox cart would be akin to a domestic sedan, while a cart pulled by two mules would be on par with a BMW, and the one that made Manman drool would be comparable to a Ferrari-class sports car.
Straight away, by purchasing an ox cart, Manman felt that her family had truly joined the ranks of those with vehicles.
Since they had decided to buy, it was best to do so with someone as experienced as Zhang Qingshan present. Thus, after deciding to purchase the cart, the family went to town. Qingyang Town had a shop that specialized in selling flatbed carts, big carts, and various accessories. Zhang Qingshan helped choose one, along with harnesses and other gear, and even tested the ox with the cart. Once he was satisfied there were no issues, they bought it.
A cart, along with half a set of necessary spare parts, cost a total of four taels of silver.
In the end, the family rode back to Thirty Mile Camp in the little ox cart. An ox-drawn cart was relatively easy to control, and on the way back, Lian Shouxin learned how to drive it first, followed by Lian Manman.
Manman chuckled to herself, thinking how different it was from learning to drive in her former life. Here, the cheaper the vehicle, the easier it was to drive. Look, she got her "driver’s license" in less than a quarter of an hour. Of course, this license wasn’t on paper, but a verbal approval from Zhang Qingshan. But certainly, the old master’s approval was much more reliable than any official document, wasn’t it?
Even though Zhang Qingshan’s approval might be influenced by personal feelings, it was enough to make Manman happy for a while. From now on, when she went to market to shop, she could drive the little ox cart back and forth.
After helping them buy the cart, Zhang Qingshan left the next day in Wang Shiliu’s vehicle heading for the large market at Back Mountain Village. Zhang Qingshan was not a man with idle time; his large family also had many things to attend to.
Just after lunch that day, as Manman sat on the Kang bed inside the snack shop calculating the day’s financial accounts, Wu Yugui arrived with his son Wu Jiaxing.
Lady Zhang hurriedly called for Lian Shouxin to come back from the construction site.
"Do you have news about purchasing land?" Lian Shouxin asked.
"Yes." Wu Yugui nodded.
Since last year, when Manman made a good sum of money from selling grape wine, she had informed Wu Yugui that she wanted to buy land. Wu Yugui had been keeping an eye out for them, looking to help them purchase some good land nearby.
"There are two pieces of land not far from you, which just came into my hands. I came to you right away." Wu Yugui took out a folded paper from his sleeve, unfolding it and explaining to Lian Shouxin while glancing at it.
