After careful care by the ranchers, unfortunately, one of these piglets died, but the others were growing well.

Liao Tingyu, looking at the fat piglets in the pig pen, expressed satisfaction. “Okay, now we don’t need to take care of it. Just leave a few people to raise the pigs.”

The others looked at each other, and then more people were assigned to the task.

Liao Tingyu didn’t keep those people idle for long; he directed them to serve in the sheepfold.

Liao Tingyu pinched his nose and frowned, “Why is it so smelly!”

“Sir, we clean it every day, but the smell is quite strong, especially the sheep from over there are much smellier than ours,” the man serving the sheepfold immediately explained.

“Oh!” Liao Tingyu, somewhat accustomed to the smell, asked the people nearby, “What’s the difference between these sheep and the ones here? Why can’t I see it?”

A few experienced shepherds and some curious onlookers gathered. The wealthy businessmen examined the sheep closely, “There’s not much difference. I heard from other masters that the breeding methods might vary due to different care approaches.”

Liao Tingyu nodded, “Let’s divide the sheep into three parts. We have three sheep pens. The sheep in the first pen should be treated according to their method, the second according to ours, and the third kept for mating.”

Several people nodded, recognizing that cows and horses were more straightforward to distinguish. Liao Tingyu immediately instructed them to select high-quality cattle for breeding.

After two years of hard work, they finally bred a horse suitable for this region.

This horse combined the toughness, endurance, and size of the grassland horses, along with the docility suitable for this area.

Zhao Yuan and others urged Liao Tingyun to report this significant achievement to the court, considering the horse’s importance in potentially altering the war situation.

Liao Tingyu pondered and decided to report this achievement to the higher authorities. Despite his tenure in the region, he lacked political achievements beyond improving the local lives.

But those were matters for the future. In the first year, Liao Tingyu’s pigs had grown.

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“I didn’t expect them to grow so fast after being castrated,” remarked a group of visitors.

“Do you know why? Because once they’re castrated, they focus on growing fat without distractions,” Liao Tingyu explained with a smile.

“Alright, after raising them for so long, it’s time to slaughter and feast. Have you summoned the butcher? Today, I’m going to treat everyone with a pig. You’ve all worked hard this year. I hope that in the coming year, you’ll continue working hard to improve our county,” Liao Tingyu announced.

The pig, adorned with a red cloth, was driven to an open area using bamboo poles.

The chef, sharpening his knife, inspected the meat cut by the butcher. The meat was delicious, particularly the fat, which was white, tender, and very elastic.

“My lord, the quality of this meat looks quite good. I don’t know how it tastes, but I don’t think it smells so fishy now,” praised the chef, patting the piece of meat.

“The food today depends on your skills as a chef,” Liao Tingyu said as the host.

“Don’t worry, sir. I will use all my skills to ensure you have a delightful meal today.”

As plates of hot dishes were brought to the table, everyone inhaled the aroma and sighed, “After eating pork for so many years, I never thought there would be fried pork without that smell.”

“That’s true, and the pork is so glutinous and tender in your mouth. I have to say it’s like eating in an expensive restaurant. The cooking skills are excellent.”

“Actually, the most important thing is this pork is of high quality. I have never used such good pork in all my years.”

After the meal, several businessmen saw an opportunity. Since being exposed by Liao Tingyu, they had been doing their own honest work, yielding little income in the past year.

This pork meal gave them hope, and they wondered if the county magistrate would allow them to pursue the pig business.

They discussed and decided to inquire with the county magistrate when he had time.

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“If you want to venture into the pork business, that’s fine. Originally, I didn’t keep these things from you. If you believe this business is feasible, go ahead,” Liao Tingyu agreed after hearing their proposal.

However, what surprised him was he had initially thought these people were interested in the horse business. He planned to choose one among them to take charge, but no one stepped forward.

Liao Tingyu looked at the group, “Are all of you committed to this pig business? The market is vast, and the consumption capacity is significant. Are you sure? I won’t hide this from you. For regular folks, it’s a straightforward task, no need to complicate it!”

Looking at them, Liao Tingyu continued, “Honestly, after all this time together, I have a good sense of what kind of people you are. Even though I haven’t performed many virtuous deeds, it’s not a major issue. I still hope you’ll consider it carefully.”

“This…” A few hesitated, glancing at each other, finding determination in their eyes.

“Sir, please guide us on a clear path,” Xu Jing saluted.

“The path is already clear. You can continue doing what you were doing before, but the source of purchase will change,” Liao Tingyu explained.

They exchanged glances and one asked, “Sir, can we raise these animals ourselves?”

Liao Tingyu nodded, “Anything except horses is fair game.”

This unexpected generosity surprised them. Initially fearing repercussions, they found themselves presented with an opportunity to enter the business. They had presumed that once the ranches were allocated, everything would belong to the county magistrate or be shared with the general. After all, the general had a stake in it.

“The area I marked is now assigned to General Zhao’s army. You can find another suitable location, but you’ll need to register with the Yamen first, and everything will be done according to the rules,” Liao Tingyu instructed.

“Don’t worry, sir. We are highly disciplined.”

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The next day, Liao Tingyu received numerous gifts. The most impressive was a turquoise handle, beautifully shaped and still retaining its vibrant green hue.

Suddenly, it became Liao Tingyu’s new favorite, and Huang Zilan was in an even better mood. “These people really have a good eye; these items are exceptional!”

Liao Tingyu explained, “For them, it’s a straightforward trade. The grassland lacks these items, and what’s valuable here may not be there. They accumulate family property through this exchange. If this line is disrupted, it’s like breaking one of their legs. Moreover, when they trade cattle and sheep with others, they become cautious, waiting until I’m transferred from the position of county magistrate before causing trouble.”

Huang Zilan nodded, “True, your term seems to be ending soon. The higher-ups are coming to investigate the situation here. I wonder if you’ll stay or get promoted.”

Liao Tingyu sighed, “It’s still a long time away. Let’s focus on slaughtering the pig first. I really want to eat pig sausage.” He realized dwelling on these matters was unproductive.

“Since you desire it, we’ll have the chef prepare it. Even if the chef is skilled, I’m curious to know how the food you’re making tastes,” Huang Zilan suggested.

“Alright, alright, I’ll teach him how to make it. I’ll send some to the capital for them to savor.” Liao Tingyu calculated that this pig could yield several hundred kilograms of sausage, sufficient for gifts.

The process of making this dish was intricate, involving various ingredients. It took the chef three days just to prepare one pig. The most challenging part was stuffing it with meat.

After drying, Liao Tingyu tied a few knots to complete the process.

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“Little brother, this tastes really good. It’s salty and a little spicy. It tastes just like smoked bacon.” Liao Shi praised, picking up a large chopstick and savoring the flavor.

The texture of the dish was pleasing, and the more they chewed, the more delicious it became.

“Indeed.” Mother Deng, now eating delicately, seemed to have acquired a refined temperament. Whether it was from frequent interactions with others or another reason, even during meals, she exhibited the grace of a lady.

Liao Ming, less concerned with formality, didn’t hesitate to enjoy. Besides, politeness might lead to missing out. Seeing numerous items intended for his youngest son and many recipients, he planned to have the chef to get some for him.

“Yeah, this dish is quite good, isn’t it? If I couldn’t achieve this taste with the old pigs, I would feel a bit regretful now. Only three pigs were requested by Zhao Yuan, and now there’s only one left. There are still over a dozen people asking for the New Year!” Liao Tingyu expressed with a hint of melancholy.

“It is indeed a bit limited. The latest batch of piglets hasn’t matured yet. If you want to enjoy it, you’ll have to wait for another half a year,” Liao Ming acknowledged.

In reality, it was a bit early to consume this pig. After all, it was only one year old. Normally, it took four to five years to raise pigs, and one-year-old pigs were considered tender.

In their former village, anyone daring to slaughter and consume a pig of this age would face criticism.

The fact they had been enjoying a more luxurious lifestyle since their son became an official was evident. They seemed less connected to their humble village origins.

With numerous accomplishments under their belt, Liao Ming decided to return home. He wanted to repair the ancestral hall and proudly display his son’s achievements.

Hearing his father’s plan, Liao Tingyu sensed that this matter was a heartfelt desire.

To him, the village might be a familiar but distant starting point, but for his father, it held sentimental value as the place of his birth and upbringing—an attachment that couldn’t easily be dismissed.

“Since Father wants to go back, let’s go back. And, by the way, help me donate some money and buy some fields to improve our villagers’ living conditions,” Liao Tingyu suggested.