The manor's main hall was already bustling. Every table was full, and people were still waiting outside. There weren't enough stoves and barbecue grills for the tourists, so many of them had opted to order food instead.
That made Qin Lin decide they needed to expand the manor, in addition to setting up a project to distribute the crowds. Otherwise, the visitor experience would be terrible.
There were also two tables set up behind the kitchen.
Master Lin was already bringing dish after dish to the tables.
With more employees, the area had been converted into a staff canteen. Naturally, the staff had to take turns eating. There were simply too many tourists. Usually, the managers ate first, then took over the important posts so the other staff could come eat.
Gao Yaoyao and Chen Dabe were especially excited today, practically unable to wait. Qin Lin had given Master Lin a 35-pound wild grass carp to cook as a treat for everyone.
They'd never eaten such an expensive fish before. How could they not look forward to it?
"Linzi, where do you keep getting such big fish?" Qin Ren followed behind him, rubbing his hands together, his eyes shining.
Qin Lin had brought one to his home last time, and he still remembered how delicious it was. Now, looking at the braised grass carp, he could hardly wait.
"Just eat," Qin Lin said, not answering.
Fish this big were indeed extremely rare. For instance, people might find only one or two crucian carp weighing over ten pounds in an entire year.
But thanks to the game, he could get one or two a day.
So he tried to limit how many he brought out. Otherwise, the numbers would be astonishing. There was still a whole school of them in the game's pond.
Other people couldn't get any, but he couldn't eat them all.
He could keep them for himself or serve them to people like Chen Shengfei, who didn't lack money. It would make them feel honored.
Qin Ren didn't hold back. He grabbed a bowl and went straight for the plate of wild grass carp.
"Boss, this fish is so good, I'm going to bite my tongue!" Gao Yaoyao exclaimed as she ate. The fish, with +2 texture and +2 deliciousness, was clearly the best she'd ever tasted.
Master Lin reminded her, "Why are you making such a fuss while you eat? Hurry up and finish so the others can have a turn. It's busy outside."
"Got it." Gao Yaoyao playfully stuck out her tongue.
After lunch, Qin Lin told Chen Dabe, "By the way, after you finish eating, post another notice at the wholesale market. Say that our manor wants to buy fruit and seafood wholesale every day."
The manor already had a steady stream of tourists, making it a reliable outlet. He didn't need to go to the wholesalers himself. They'd be eager to deliver to him at low prices, just like when he'd gone to RT-Mart.
"Okay, Boss!" Chen Dabe replied, hurriedly swallowing a mouthful of fish.
Sure enough, as soon as Chen Dabe posted the notice at the wholesale market, a fruit wholesaler and a seafood wholesaler came by that afternoon.
Qin Lin knew the fruit wholesaler. His name was Lin Chong.
He'd bought fruit from Lin Chong for his old fruit shop.
The seafood wholesaler was a middle-aged man.
"So the manor belongs to you, Manager Qin." Lin Chong beamed when he saw Qin Lin. "Manager Qin, we go way back. You'll keep giving me your business, right?"
"Manager Lin, as long as your prices are right, we'll definitely keep working together." Qin Lin smiled. He'd always had a good impression of Lin Chong.
The middle-aged seafood wholesaler also said, "Hello, Manager Qin. My name is Wang Wei. I can supply all kinds of seafood, and I can offer you a lower price as well as home delivery."
"Manager Wang, let's talk." Qin Lin shook his hand.
He couldn't make much money from the wholesale goods, but he still didn't want to pay more than necessary.
Qin Lin discussed the details with them. He'd worked in fruit and vegetable sales before, so he knew wholesale fruit prices well. He'd also checked seafood prices, so neither man could take advantage of him.
Both offered prices below market rate, and he accepted. In the end, they signed contracts.
Starting the next day, Lin Chong would deliver more than a dozen kinds of fruit to the manor. The quantities would depend on demand. Wang Wei would also deliver farmed fish, crabs, prawns, and other seafood that tourists could easily prepare.
From then on, anyone fishing in the pond would have to rely on luck to catch wild fish.
That evening.
The okra in the game had ripened again. Qin Lin sent this batch to RT-Mart and brought ten pounds of Quality 2 okra to President Chu, thanking him for the advertising time in the outdoor video. He also let him know that he wouldn't be bringing any more okra after this.
After all, RT-Mart only paid six yuan per pound, while he could sell it for fifteen yuan per pound at the manor. If he could sell it all there, there was no reason to keep supplying RT-Mart.
"Manager Qin, looks like I'll have to come to your manor if I want this special-quality okra from now on." President Chu cradled the ten pounds of Quality 2 okra like a treasure.
Qin Lin smiled. "You're welcome anytime, President Chu."
After leaving RT-Mart, Qin Lin went straight to the seed shop. If he wasn't delivering to RT-Mart anymore, the okra he grew would naturally go to the manor.
But aside from the six plots he kept growing produce in to sell in the game for coins, the other twenty-four Level 1 plots could yield more than three thousand pounds of okra a day. No matter how popular it was, the manor didn't need that much.
So he planned to grow something else.
Yams, for example. They were selling for no less than okra these days, at five yuan per pound.
There was also broccoli. Its harvest season ran from March to July, so it was now an out-of-season vegetable. Market prices had started climbing over the past couple of days, and it was only a little cheaper than okra.
He planned to set aside some plots just for broccoli and yams, then sell them at the manor for fifteen yuan per pound, just like the okra.
The manor was still bustling when he returned. By the time it got dark, the day's visitor count had reached more than six hundred.
That was an astonishing number for a manor. It showed just how powerful online promotion could be. Naturally, the Bougainvillea Sea he'd created had the game's bonus effects, which was the main reason for its success.
That night.
Qin Lin returned home. As soon as Lin Fen saw him, she asked with concern, "Xiao Lin, how's the manor been doing these past couple of days?"
Qin Lin smiled. "Mom, business is really good now. Don't worry."
Lin Fen suddenly suggested, "Xiao Lin, how about I go help out at your manor? I've been eating the crucian carp you bring home, and my health has improved a lot."
Qin Lin frowned. "Mom, the manor has staff. Why would you need to help?"
"Xiao Lin, I'm bored staying cooped up at home all day," Lin Fen said stubbornly. Now that her health had improved, she didn't want to stay home all the time.
Unless her son gave her a grandchild to look after!
Seeing his mother's stubborn expression, Qin Lin felt helpless. He couldn't win against her. He knew she couldn't sit still, and if he refused, she might go to the manor on her own the next day. If he stopped her from going, she might end up in a bad mood.
Qin Lin could only placate his mother for now. What a headache.
The next morning.
Qin Lin immediately looked at the light screen in his mind.
The okra, yams, and broccoli had all ripened.
He controlled the game character to harvest them and plant new seeds, then entered the game and checked the harvest information in the storeroom:
Quality 1 okra: 900 pounds. Quality 2 okra: 4 pounds.
Quality 1 yams: 420 pounds. Quality 2 yams: 2 pounds.
Quality 1 broccoli: 380 pounds. Quality 2 broccoli: 2 pounds.
Qin Lin looked at the notes for the yams and broccoli.
[Yam: Quality 1]
[This is a special crop with dietary benefits. Improve physique +1, Strengthen spleen and benefit stomach +1, Nourish kidney and benefit essence +1.]
[Yam: Quality 2]
[This is a special crop with powerful dietary benefits. Improve physique +2, Strengthen spleen and benefit stomach +2, Nourish kidney and benefit essence +2.]
[Broccoli: Quality 1]
[This is a special crop with dietary benefits. Clear blood vessels +1, Combat diabetes +1, Promote bowel movement +1, Nourish kidney and benefit essence +1.]
[Broccoli: Quality 2]
[This is a special crop with powerful dietary benefits. Clear blood vessels +2, Combat diabetes +2, Promote bowel movement +2, Nourish kidney and benefit essence +2.]
"????" Qin Lin had chosen these two vegetables based on their market prices, but looking at the notes, something felt off.
Nourish the kidneys and benefit essence?
Nourish the kidneys and benefit essence?
Why did they both have effects like that?
There had to be a reason these two vegetables were so expensive.
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