Grandpa Su was lost in thought.
As his granddaughter, Su Xiaotian quickly understood Grandpa Su's intentions.
Grandpa Su wanted to do something for the people in his hometown.
However, although their family's conditions were decent now, it was only enough for their own household.
If their Su family were to lift the entire village, or even the whole of Sangyu, by themselves, it would be impossible.
Therefore, they had to take an unconventional approach.
Su Xiaotian quickly made up her mind.
After finishing their meal, Dong Yuanzhong and the others chatted for a while before leaving.
As they were leaving, Fan Shufang arranged to pick up Su Xiaotian on the afternoon of the sixth day.
Su Xiaotian thought that after going to Spring City, she must find suitable individuals to bring back.
She had originally planned to buy just two or three pots and earn a little money.
But now, it seemed she had to go big.
It didn't need to be a lot, just over ten pots.
Once these Clivias made money, all the funds would be invested in Sangyu County, especially in Nanling Village.
This money would serve as seed capital to increase Nanling Village's endogenous momentum, gradually changing the villagers' current situation and allowing them to live better lives.
As Su Xiaotian had guessed, Grandpa Su was indeed thinking of contributing to his hometown.
That evening, the Su family held a family meeting.
Eldest Brother Su and his wife, as well as Shou Wen Su and his wife, were not present, but everyone else was. Grandpa Su shared his thoughts.
The main topic of the meeting was to seek the opinions of his descendants on whether they wanted to return to build their hometown in the future.
If they were to return to build their hometown, when would be the most suitable time.
This question was a profound one, and the family meeting did not reach a consensus.
However, one point everyone agreed on was that they should not forget their roots and should always do something for their hometown.
"Grandpa, Grandma, although we have some money now, this amount of money, if invested, will not have much effect," Su Xiaotian stated her thoughts.
"Xiaotian is right. The family's factories have just started to turn a profit, and the available liquid funds are limited," Chen Zi'an strongly agreed with Su Xiaotian's words.
"I have some money on hand, but it's not enough!" Su Xiaosi expressed that he could contribute some money, but it would ultimately be like a drop in the ocean.
His grandfather's wish was for the villagers to live good lives, which was not something a small amount of money could solve.
"Actually, I think there is a foundation for our hometown to develop," Qi Liangying suddenly spoke, saying something different from everyone else's thoughts.
"Second daughter-in-law, tell us your thoughts?" Grandpa Su clearly didn't expect it, and Qi Liangying, who had always been perceived as lacking foresight, was the one supporting it.
"Our production brigade used to have a farm. If that farm had been managed properly back then, perhaps everyone's lives would be much better now."
Qi Liangying shared her thoughts. When that farm was abandoned, Qi Liangying had felt bad.
"But back then, eggs and such were hard to sell, and the county's egg cake factory was almost failing," Grandma Su felt that her second daughter-in-law's thinking was too simplistic.
"Mom, I heard that the egg cake factory can no longer sustain itself and will likely go bankrupt soon."
When Qi Liangying spoke of the egg cake factory's bankruptcy, she felt a mix of emotions.
When she first left, if she had heard that the egg cake factory was going bankrupt, she would have been overjoyed.
But now, thinking of so many people who would lose their jobs due to the factory's bankruptcy, and might even have trouble eating, she felt a sense of pity.
"Second Aunt, are you suggesting that if this factory can be revived, the breeding industry can also be developed?" Su Xiaotian asked.
Qi Liangying shook her head.
"The farm failed, and the egg cake factory also failed. The fundamental reason was not an ample supply of eggs, or meat, or that people disliked egg cakes, but rather poor management."
She felt that her own small shop was doing very well.
After this period of training, she was different from before.
The Su elders exchanged glances. Their daughter-in-law's words were not wrong, but what was the point of saying them if they led nowhere?
Qi Liangying smiled and said, "I am uneducated and don't understand the situation very well. I just feel that to live a good life, one must rely on their own efforts."
"Our family can help, but if we take on everything, it might end up being thankless and even lead to resentment."
Su Xiaotian never expected Qi Liangying to say something so insightful.
In her previous life, she had seen countless such examples. If one took on everything, the result would certainly not be gratitude, but resentment.
Only after people improve their lives through their own efforts can they truly cherish them.
Gaining without working for it has never been the right way.
"Second Aunt, you are absolutely right. We indeed cannot take on everything and expect to lead the villagers to a better life. Instead, we should guide them to achieve a better life through their own efforts."
"How can that be so easy? We can't teach everyone to open restaurants!" Grandpa Su shook his head.
The villagers' difficult lives were due to their lack of skills and education.
"Grandpa, it's possible. It doesn't matter if they don't have skills; we can find ways to teach them skills."
"Then we'll have to hire teachers for them," Grandma Su said with a gentle smile.
"What if they don't want to learn? We can't force them to learn, can we?" Second Uncle Su said after some hesitation.
Besides, what if people suspected their Su family of having ulterior motives?
"That's not a problem. We can always find a way. However, our family members are all away now, so we need to find someone there to be responsible for this matter."
Su Xiaotian was troubled by this.
No matter what undertaking, it would not work without someone in charge. This matter was unlike the factories, where reliable people could be hired to solve it.
Village affairs must be managed by the villagers themselves to be implemented effectively.
"That's easy. When I go back, I'll tell the village party secretary, and it will definitely work."
Second Uncle Su spoke directly, offering to find a candidate.
Su Changjiu was currently the village party secretary of Nanling Village. Second Uncle Su felt that this candidate should be Su Changjiu.
"Second Uncle's words are good. Since it's a village matter, let's find Changjiu," Grandpa Su stroked his beard and nodded.
"Through Uncle Changjiu, we can start in Nanling Village first, and then expand to other villages," Su Xiaotian said with a smile.
"I think we shouldn't look for other things. Let's just have the women in the village do needlework. The hair accessories and headbands that Jianhong and the others make can be done by the women in the village," Liang Xiu suddenly thought of this and found it very feasible.
Although it wouldn't earn much, it was better than nothing and wouldn't interfere with other work. She thought the villagers would readily accept it.
"Mom, your idea is good."
"Xiaotian, do you think there are so many people who need headbands and hair accessories?" Grandma Su said with concern.
When only Li Jianhong and a few others were making them, Grandma Su didn't think it was a lot. But if all the women in Nanling Village started making them, what if they couldn't sell them?
Wouldn't that be a loss?
They must not let the villagers lose money before they could earn any.