Lin Pei had just sent out the letter when his subordinates who had stayed in Shuxia Village to handle the aftermath returned and told him about the matter of the regenerated rice.
This is no less important than breeding!
The Li family is so clever one minute and so muddle-headed the next; why didn't they mention such an important matter together?
They quickly summoned Li Xuming to the government office and inquired in detail about the matter of the regenerated rice.
"Xu Ming, Xu Ming, you're so foolish."
"Sir, this is a newly started project on regenerated rice; it's hard to say whether it will succeed."
Li Xuming felt wronged. "You were there when the rice was being harvested. Why didn't you ask then? Besides, whether it would even work out was still uncertain!"
Lin Pei was also a little guilty. He hadn't thought about it at all. Although he found it strange, he was in a hurry to know the output, so he just let it go.
"Alright, I'll report this as well. Even if it doesn't work out, it's still an innovative move."
Since your Li family is already doing it anyway, what's wrong with submitting it all at once in advance?
"Isn't this a perfect opportunity to get the Emperor's attention to what happens next? Even if it fails, it shows courage in exploring new avenues; if it succeeds, wouldn't everyone be happy?"
"It's entirely up to you, sir!"
Lin Pei wasn't one to procrastinate. After complaining about the Li family, he immediately wrote another letter, quickly submitting the report on the regenerated rice as well.
Not only that, Lin Pei sent people to summon all the village chiefs of Shaoguan County to the government office and told them about the breeding and ratooning rice in Lijia Village.
They even organized a group of people to go and watch other families in Lijia Village who had learned breeding harvesting grain.
This caused a huge stir, and all the village chiefs were overjoyed.
There's no one who doesn't want to learn this technology. Not to mention anything else, the technology for regenerated rice will be usable this year.
When it's time to harvest the crops, they will use the method of ratooning rice to cut them, and they might be able to harvest another crop.
This concerns how much rice one's family can eat; who would be foolish enough not to learn it?
The whole of Shaoguan County was in an uproar. This meant another season of harvest. What people could refuse that?
In the fields and villages.
"Could the Li family be living bodhisattvas?!"
"Is this ratooning rice really usable?"
"Whether it's usable or not, the Li family and the people of Shuxia Village have already used it. We'll just have to watch from behind. It won't hurt to learn it, but it would be a huge loss if we didn't!"
"That's right, that's right, it really comes down to you, brother!"
"Of course! I've been eating like this for decades, how could I not understand?"
“….”
In a farmer's home, the family sits together eating dinner.
"Father, is this method of regenerating rice really usable?"
"You've been doing this for decades, you're the expert when it comes to farming in our village, what do you say about this method..."
"The magistrate told us to learn, so we learned. We've never actually planted anything, whether it's useful or not. But we have seen green leaves growing from the stubble of harvested crops."
"So it did work after all!"
"It should work, anyway, the Li family planted it first, and now it's all good. Having learned this method of breeding and transplanting rice, we can harvest another crop of rice next year."
The old man grinned so hard his gums were showing; for ordinary people, food is the most important thing.
Everyone else couldn't help but laugh when they thought about it. If it were true, they could eat rice a couple more times in the future.
Discussions were rife throughout Shaoguan County, but Shuxia Village, the epicenter of the storm, remained relatively calm.
It's possible that the people of Shuxia Village knew about breeding early on, and they were among the first to know about and implement this regenerated rice.
Compared to people from other places, they seem indifferent.
The officials from the prefectural city misunderstood the attitude of the villagers under the tree.
No wonder this village has breeding and ratooning rice technology; it's truly special.
"People from the prefectural city have arrived!"
When the officials entered Shuxia Village, they explained their purpose: they were sent by the prefect to find the Li family. The villagers quickly led them to the Li family's house.
Many villagers came out to watch the excitement. The prefect had sent them! The prefect was an official even more powerful than the county magistrate!
"Master! The Prefect has sent someone!"
Upon receiving the news from the villagers, Li Xuming hurriedly ran out to greet them. Even a fourth-rank official had to be treated with respect, regardless of the visitor's position.
"Who in the Li family is in charge? Step forward and answer!"
The leader was a Confucian scholar who was not wearing official robes. He loudly asked the Li family members who came to greet him that he was a staff member of the prefect and did not hold any official position.
“My lord, I am Li Xuming, and I may speak on behalf of Li Shi.”
"The prefect has ordered the Li family to send someone to the prefectural city to explain the breeding, transplanting, and ratooning techniques to the county magistrates. This is a matter of great importance, so the Li family must make arrangements as soon as possible. They must return to the prefectural city with us tomorrow."
"Yes, sir. You must be tired from your journey. Please come with me to the Li family for the night. I will arrange the selection as soon as possible."
Li Xuming was very respectful, and Meng Hui was also pleased. Having come all this way, he naturally had to accept it.
"Lead the way."
"Yes, sirs, please follow me."
…
Li Xuming, Meng Hui, and others arranged accommodations and invited Li Qingyao and Li Xushi to accompany them before gathering the Li family together for a meeting.
"Everyone knows that the prefect sent someone to invite our family to teach rice breeding and ratooning techniques in the other counties?"
"yes."
There's no one who doesn't know; the family has been talking about it for quite a while now.
This was a good opportunity to show off in front of the prefect, so Li Xuming didn't hesitate and immediately called out to Li Xuhai.
"Xu Hai, you'll have to handle this."
"How am I supposed to teach him? He's the prefect."
Li Xuhai was somewhat timid. This was the prefect, and he had never seen such a high-ranking official before, who was also instructing a group of county magistrates.
“Teach us the same way you usually teach the villagers. What’s there to be afraid of? Xu Hai, who in our family is more qualified than you?”
"That's right, Hai-ge, what are you afraid of!"
"Take Qingyun with you; he'll be there to help you."
"This won't do. What will happen to the land at home if I leave?"
The brothers all cheered for Li Xuhai. The brothers from the fifth branch were hesitant to speak up for their eldest brother, but their faces showed obvious excitement.
However, Li Xuhai still hesitated. Now is the critical time for ratooning rice. If he leaves, he doesn't know how many days it will take to return, and the work in the fields will be delayed.
"Go ahead and do it. I, this old woman, will keep watch."
Pan Jinhua came out, which was a good thing. There was still no news from the imperial court, but the prefect was willing to let the counties under his jurisdiction go to learn. Putting everything else aside, this prefect was obviously farsighted.
Regardless, this method should be taught.
Pan Jinhua wanted to live a good life, but she was also willing to help the people of this era if she could.
After hearing Pan Jinhua's words, Li Xuhai no longer refused.
"With my aunt looking after me, I'll feel at ease. I'm willing to go!"
"That would be great, you'd better do your best."
"Yes, Auntie. We will certainly not bring shame upon the Li family!"
Once the choice was made, Li Xuhai immediately went back to pack his luggage, and his wife, Cheng, was overjoyed.
It's unbelievable that someone from such a place could still show off in front of the prefect. I heard that the county magistrate even reported it to the emperor. Her family is about to become rich!
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