Chapter 322: Department organizing team building?
Sinong Temple has always only grown some common vegetables, fruits and the like.
If Shen Huazheng hadn't said it, Lord Huang wouldn't have known that wolfberries could be cultivated artificially in addition to being picked wild.
So when Shen Huazheng mentioned it just now, he was very interested.
If Shen Zhaonian and Shen Huazheng hadn't persuaded him to have some breakfast first, he would even want to go and see what wolfberries looked like when made into potted plants.
After breakfast, Shen Huazheng took Mr. Huang to see her wolfberry potted plants.
Some of these wolfberries have just grown flowers, while others have already grown fruits.
Chen Huazheng pointed to the potted plants and introduced: "I took the seeds from the wolfberry fruits and then planted them."
When Mr. Huang saw it, his eyes suddenly lit up.
He moved closer to the potted plants and examined them carefully.
The branches of wolfberry are slender, the plant looks flexible, and the leaves are thin and narrow and oval.
It is covered with tough leaf veins and looks full of vitality.
Between the green leaves, there are small and cute lavender flowers.
Although the flowers are not large, they grow in clusters and are dotted among the branches and leaves, appearing particularly fresh and elegant.
If you smell it carefully, there is a faint fragrance, elegant and subtle.
There are a few pots without flowers, but the branches are still slender and flexible, with some tiny barbs, appearing dark purple in the sun.
Unlike the previous potted plants, the leaves in these pots are not decorated with purple flowers, but with green or red fruits.
The wolfberry fruit is small and crystal clear, like little rubies, which are particularly conspicuous among the emerald green leaves, exuding a unique wild beauty.
Shen Huazheng: "After the wolfberry flowers fade, these small oval fruits will grow. They are green at first, and then they will slowly turn red or orange-red as they mature."
In modern times, Shen Huazheng also grows wolfberries.
Besides, she usually uses wolfberry to make soup and soak it in water to drink.
There is another very important reason - the wolfberry fruit looks really good after it grows, it is delicate and small, exuding a wild beauty.
It is also good as an ornamental potted plant.
Mr. Huang nodded, looked at the flowerpot carefully again, and soon found some differences.
"Master Xiao Shen, should we choose a larger pot with a deeper bottom to plant wolfberries?"
The reason I ask this is because I used pots of different sizes to grow spinach, lettuce and peppers before.
Compared to spinach and lettuce, pepper seedlings have more developed root systems and require deeper soil to provide sufficient growing space.
Therefore, the sowing depth of pepper seedlings should be slightly deeper, and they need larger and deeper pots to be planted.
Chen Huazheng nodded: "Yes, wolfberry has a well-developed root system, so you should choose a deeper flower pot. It is best to choose loose soil with good air permeability..."
She began to talk about the various things that need to be paid attention to when growing wolfberries, from collecting seeds to subsequent planting.
Be very careful when taking wolfberry seeds.
If you want to take seeds from dried fruits, you must first soak the wolfberries in clean water and then take the seeds.
If it is fresh fruit, just crush the wolfberry gently.
Make sure the seeds are completely separated from the pulp before removing the seeds.
One thing you must be very careful about at this time is to avoid damaging the seeds.
After crushing, the mixture must be washed. After removing the pulp, peel and other impurities, the seeds can be used for sowing.
Wild wolfberry is a plant that is particularly drought-resistant, cold-resistant and tenaciously growing.
Commonly found on dry hillsides, grasslands and wastelands.
Therefore, wolfberry likes dryness and is not tolerant to waterlogging, so you can water it appropriately.
Keep the soil in the pot moist, avoid excessive water and water accumulation.
Shen Huazheng explained it in great detail, she even emphasized that the seeds can be soaked in warm water for a period of time before being sown.
This will increase the germination rate.
Mr. Huang listened attentively and asked his own questions from time to time, and Shen Huazheng answered them patiently one by one.
This trip to the Shen Mansion was very fruitful for him.
Not only did he exchange vegetable growing experiences with Shen Huazheng, but he also had an extremely sumptuous breakfast.
When I left, I took away a few pots of wolfberries that were growing well.
When he came, Mr. Huang gave the potted vegetables he brought to Shen Huazheng.
Chen Huazheng also picked two pots of wolfberries for him as a return gift.
Lord Huang was sitting in the carriage on the way back home, looking at the pots of vibrant wolfberries, his heart beaming with joy.
This trip was really fruitful, and Shen Huazheng was the right subordinate to choose.
After returning, he had to quickly write down everything Shen Huazheng said, so as not to forget it in a while.
I heard that the branches of wolfberry grow very fast, so he will have to trim them carefully when he returns.
This not only makes the wolfberry more beautiful in shape, but also increases the fruit yield.
*
Time without official duties always passes quickly. Shen Zhaonian felt that he had not rested enough, so he returned to the Ministry of Revenue to work.
Chen Keting has also become busy recently. The six ministries are short of staff and are anxious. Some officials have even started to set their sights on the Hanlin Academy.
Several junior staff members of the Hanlin Academy were borrowed by one department for a few days, then by another department, and were as busy as spinning tops.
Even Mr. Huang doesn't have so much time to go to the Shen Mansion.
Shen Kesi and Shen Keheng were also preparing for the upcoming annual examination of the Imperial College, working much harder than before.
The father and his sons were busy every day, some on duty and some at school.
In the entire Shen family, only Zhou and Shen Huazheng are the most leisurely.
Zhou only needs to take care of the affairs of the Shen Mansion every day. She doesn't have to worry about the shops under her name. At most, she has to check the accounts.
Although Shen Huazheng had to go to the Forestry Bureau from time to time, her work was much easier than that of Shen Zhaonian and others.
That is to listen to the reports from subordinates, or go to the garden to inspect and then come back to write a report.
The rest of the time, she was either drinking tea and chatting with Zhou Ying and Princess Lejia, or discussing business matters.
It’s about making some new dishes and developing new menus.
Occasionally, I would make an appointment with Zhou Ying and Princess Lejia to go shopping and buy the jewelry I like.
Chen Huazheng still prefers a simple and beautiful life, where the years are quiet and peaceful, like mist.
It doesn't need to be grand, just comfortable.
However, Shen Huazheng's peaceful life did not last long.
When the weather got colder, Emperor Jingning specially summoned her to attend the morning court.
Chen Huazheng's official rank was not high. Except for the grand court meetings, he could skip the morning court sessions unless summoned.
But this time, she had to participate.
Chen Huazheng sat in the carriage in a daze, listening to the whistling north wind outside, and suddenly remembered the resentment she had at eight in the morning.
Especially when the whole day is full of classes.
During the morning court session, discussions were also focused on various year-end inventories and officials returning to Beijing to report on their work.
Of course, there are also various plans for the coming year, such as the transfer of officials from various places.
There was another major issue on which the ministers had different opinions, and some even quarreled.
Today, a report was received that the barbarians bordering the southwest region of Daliang were causing trouble, and the two sides were engaging in close combat, and war was about to break out.
Just as the situation was about to get out of control, the barbarian leader appeared at the critical moment and prevented the situation from deteriorating further.
Not only did he personally apologize to the Southwestern Army stationed on the border, he also took away the troublemakers.
What the ministers are arguing about now is whether or not to take this opportunity to make the barbarians give an explanation to Daliang.
One group believed that the barbarian leader had shown enough sincerity by personally appearing to take the troublemakers away and apologizing to the Southwestern Army.
Furthermore, the barbarians bordered Daliang, and there were occasional conflicts and frictions, but wars rarely occurred.
If Daliang's attitude is too tough, it may really cause unnecessary war.
Since this matter has passed, there is no need to worry about it anymore.
It can also show the style of Daliang.
Another faction believed that the barbarians were testing Daliang's bottom line. If the Southwestern Army had not been on high alert, the barbarians would have attacked.
Every year at the end of the year, the barbarians would always harass the border.
This time, Daliang's attitude should be tougher.
This is a good opportunity to intimidate the barbarians.
So that they don't always think about unnecessary things and cause trouble from time to time.
Although it’s not a big deal, it’s still annoying to watch.
If I always let it go, what if they think Daliang is easy to bully and develop evil ambitions? What should I do then?
Shen Huazheng stood at the back, listening to the adults arguing.
She didn't know much about the actual situation at the border, but she felt that what both sides said seemed to make sense.
We just need to analyze each case individually and cannot draw conclusions based on these one-sided statements.
The person who knows the situation of the border and the barbarian tribes best is naturally General Yan, who has been stationed there.
But General Yan hasn't returned to the capital yet, so he can't give his opinion.
Emperor Jingning didn't say anything and just let them argue.
Neither side was willing to give in, and the morning court ended with a quarrel among the adults.
Perhaps Emperor Jingning was annoyed by the noise, so he did not keep any officials after the court was adjourned, but let everyone leave together.
*
As usual, Shen Huazheng walked towards the outside of the palace with Shen Zhaonian and others.
She was listening to their conversation when she suddenly heard someone shouting behind her -
"Master Xiao Shen, Master Xiao Shen!"
Shen Huazheng subconsciously stopped and turned around to see that it was Mr. Huang.
The corners of Shen Zhaonian's mouth twitched. Here it comes, this vegetable-growing maniac is here again.
He had seen many people who were addicted to sensual pleasures and gambling, but this was the first time he had seen someone who could become obsessed with growing vegetables.
The last time Shen Zhaonian went to Sinong Temple to borrow someone, this guy grabbed him and wouldn't let him go.
He was dragged to visit the young seedlings that had just grown in the field.
Shen Zhaonian was so scared that he never dared to go to Sinong Temple to borrow people again.
Mr. Huang walked up to Shen Huazheng with a smile.
"Master Xiao Shen, the wolfberries you gave me last time are growing well now. They have produced a lot of fruits. Now I can't take care of the flowers I used to grow. By the way, the spinach I showed you last time..."
When talking about his precious vegetables, Mr. Huang talked incessantly with a smile on his face.
Mr. Huang used to like growing flowers, but now all his attention is focused on growing potted vegetables.
Watching the seedlings grow, bloom and bear fruit day by day, a feeling of joy arises spontaneously.
I no longer care about the flowers I used to grow.
Shen Zhaonian couldn't stand Mr. Huang anymore, and didn't want to listen to him talking about flowers, plants, vegetables, fruits and melons anymore.
As early as when Mr. Huang came over, Shen Zhaonian silently distanced himself a little.
He walked in front with Grand Tutor Zhou and others, while Shen Huazheng and Lord Huang walked behind.
Unlike Shen Zhaonian, Shen Huazheng could fully understand Mr. Huang's feelings.
For her, growing flowers and growing vegetables are two completely different experiences.
Although growing flowers and vegetables also requires energy and effort, from sowing seedlings to transplanting seedlings into pots.
Then I took care of the seedlings like taking care of children, loosening the soil, watering and fertilizing them in the sun.
It is also about watching the seeds sprout, grow lush leaves, and then produce vibrant flowers.
But the delicate flowers will always wither after blooming, just like a helpless cycle of reincarnation.
Flowers can make people happy when they bloom, but can also make people sad when they wither.
But growing vegetables is different. From the moment you sow the seeds, your heart is filled with hope of a harvest.
Eat it right after it’s grown.
Eat whatever you want.
That feeling is really great.
As they were about to reach the palace gate, Lord Huang suddenly remembered that he had not yet told Chen Huazheng about his business.
He coughed lightly and said, "By the way, Mr. Shen, this year we are planning to have a dinner together among the various offices of Sinong Temple. You should come to the Forestry Office to join us."
Chen Huazheng: (o゜▽゜)o☆
Dinner at Sinong Temple? ?
Is this a team building activity of the department???
It’s still a food team building!!
Sinong Temple is actually a very large department, responsible for all matters related to warehousing and agricultural, forestry and garden management.
Its subordinate agencies included Shanglin Office, Taicang Office, Goudun Office, Daoguan Office, Zhucang, Sizhujian, Wenquantangjian, etc.
These institutions are respectively responsible for the cultivation of vegetables, fruits and melons, grain reserves, the supply of charcoal and firewood, the feeding of poultry and livestock, grain processing, the management of the central granary, the maintenance of bamboo forests, the management of hot springs, etc.
In other words, among all the government offices in the imperial court, only the Sinong Temple was full of delicious food.
At least the vegetables, fruits and meats in Sinong Temple are incomparable to anywhere else.
Even the rice might be more fragrant.
I don't know if he realized something, but before Shen Huazheng could answer, Mr. Huang added: "We have all the ingredients we need, and we have everything you want to eat."
This year they have had an exceptionally good harvest of all kinds of crops and their livestock are also doing well.
Emperor Jingning was very pleased and specially gave part of the crops and livestock to the Sino-Agricultural Temple, allowing them to distribute them as they wish.
Mr. Huang came up with this idea after discussing it with several colleagues.
Everyone has worked hard this year, so let's treat our subordinates to a good meal.
Lord Huang has already made a count. After the dinner, there should be some left over from the gifts bestowed by Emperor Jingning. He can then let his colleagues take them back.
Chen Huazheng: ()
How could she let go of such an opportunity?
After so long, it was finally her turn to get some food.
It can also be considered as seeking benefits for subordinates.
"Since this is a dinner party attended by all the government offices of Sinong Temple, the Shanglin Office will naturally go as well."
"Okay, I'll have someone notify you once the specific time and place are decided."
"Thank you, Mr. Huang."
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