Chapter 279 Harvesting Food (2)
The corn yield that Shen Xiangwan mentioned was indeed shocking, but before they saw it with their own eyes, they were just shocked. Moreover, the corn yield could only be counted after the corn cobs were dried and the corn kernels were plucked off. They definitely wouldn't be able to see it today. After they were almost shocked, Shen Xiangwan stopped talking and directly asked Wu Youfu and his son to take a few strong laborers from the village to dig potatoes first.
"Wow, what a big one."
"This one must be one or two pounds, right? There are four or five on one seedling, so it must be five or six pounds, right?"
“How many seedlings can be grown per acre?”
"What on earth is this? It won't yield more than corn, will it?"
When Wu Youfu dug out several potatoes bigger than an adult man's fist with a hoe, everyone became agitated again, ignoring the presence of officials such as Fu Qiuhua. Even Zhao Dashan couldn't help but be stunned. Although he had known for a long time that the Wei family planted a new variety of crops in their fields, he never dreamed that such an ordinary seedling would produce four or five fruits weighing at least one or two kilograms. If every seedling was the same, how many fruits would this acre of land produce?
"Mrs. Wei, what is this again?"
After a brief moment of shock, Fu Qiuhua pointed at the potatoes dug out from the ground and asked, his tone and expression showing nervousness. His intuition told him that the yield of these lumpy-looking fruits would definitely be astonishing.
"This is a potato. It can be used in vegetables or as a staple food. It's not picky about the soil and can be grown in any area. The yield per mu is 6,000 to 8,000 kilograms."
"real?!"
Shen Xiangwan said it easily, but Fu Qiuhua couldn't help jumping up. Six to eight thousand kilograms, which is dozens of times the current grain output. If it is true, then in a year or two, no one in Chenzhou will go hungry anymore. This is simply divine food.
"Um."
The potatoes were already being dug, and the specific yield would soon be calculated. Shen Xiangwan had no intention of explaining in detail, but simply smiled and nodded.
"Quick, let me see."
Seeing this, Fu Qiuhua no longer cared about being reserved and excitedly jumped into the field again. Judging from the fact that so many potatoes could be dug out from a single seedling, the yield she mentioned should not be exaggerated. How could he not be excited?
"Yes, yes, Master, please take a look."
Hearing this, Wu Youfu hurriedly held the potatoes in both hands and placed them in front of him, his face showing naked excitement. Although he had heard from his wife that the yield of potatoes and sweet potatoes was very high, with an output of five to six thousand kilograms per mu, it was another matter to actually see it. The shock was beyond words.
"Okay, okay, okay, dig, keep digging. I want to know the exact yield per mu."
He took the potato, looked at it carefully, and weighed it back and forth with his hands. Fu Qiuhua cheered repeatedly, and was so excited that he couldn't express it in words.
"yes."
He looked at him and then at his wife, and after getting her nod, Wu Youfu turned around and started digging again with his son and several strong laborers.
Facing the gazes of everyone, huge potatoes were dug out one by one. Before an acre of land was dug out, a small hill had already been piled up next to it. Fu Qiuhua and the officials from the county government were grinning from ear to ear. The heads of the detachment and village heads from all over the place became more and more excited as they watched, and could not hide their envy and jealousy on their faces. There were too many of them, more than they could have imagined. It was estimated to be several thousand kilograms. It was so delicious.
"Ma'am, sir, the potatoes are finished."
The sand was dug very quickly, and since they were all strong laborers, an acre of land was dug quickly. Looking at the mountain of potato lumps, everyone's face turned red with excitement. The only one who didn't react was probably Shen Xiangwan. All the seeds in her space were selected grain varieties, and this yield was already low.
"Come here, weigh it immediately."
"yes."
Fu Qiuhua waved his hand, and the yamen runners who had come with him took out sacks and skillfully loaded them with potatoes. Not long after, the yamen head excitedly replied, "Sir, a good harvest, a great harvest! This acre of potatoes actually yields 6,200 kilograms."
"Okay, great."
Upon hearing this, Fu Qiuhua was so excited that he almost jumped up. More than 6,000 kilograms! Once the planting is promoted next year, the people will never go hungry again.
"Six thousand two hundred kilograms? Oh my god, this is too scary."
"Okay, okay, from now on we won't have to worry about being hungry anymore."
"Sir, can we plant potatoes next year? Where can we buy the seeds?"
"grown ups···"
Hearing this yield, everyone became even more excited. Some people couldn't help but wipe away their tears and requested to plant potatoes next year. Due to geographical reasons, not only was only one crop grown in Chenzhou, but the land was generally not very fertile. The highest yield per mu was only two or three hundred kilograms, and most of the time it was more than one hundred kilograms. After paying taxes to the court, there was basically not much left. Therefore, their lives had always been difficult, and people starved to death every year. Now that they had potatoes, no matter whether they tasted good or not, at least they no longer had to worry about going hungry.
"Don't worry, there's still a high-yield crop that we haven't dug up yet."
After the excitement, Fu Qiuhua looked at Shen Xiangwan and Yuan Xiu, and spoke loudly while standing on the dirt ridge.
Although everyone was very anxious and wanted to know how to obtain potato seeds and how to plant them, they had to hold back after hearing what he said. Shen Xiangwan gave Wu Youfu a look when he saw this. The latter understood and quickly took his son and several strong laborers from the village to start digging.
"What is this? It's not quite the same as a potato, but it's no smaller than a potato, and there are a lot of them."
"Isn't its yield inferior to that of potatoes?"
"There are so many. I really want to go and dig them up myself."
"Immortal food, this must be the immortal food given to us by God."
Seeing that the sweet potatoes had gradually piled up into a small hill, everyone started talking in shock again. Perhaps because they were already shocked by the potatoes, Fu Qiuhua did not lose his composure this time. Instead, he whispered to Shen Xiangwan. It was mainly him asking questions and Shen Xiangwan answering. While Wu Youfu and the others were digging, he learned almost everything he should and shouldn't know.
"Sir, this acre of sweet potatoes weighs seven thousand kilograms!"
"What?!"
When the yamen runners counted the sweet potato production, everyone exclaimed uncontrollably. Even though they were mentally prepared, Fu Qiuhua still swallowed in shock. There were too many, so many that it was hard to imagine. If he hadn't seen it with his own eyes, he wouldn't believe it even if he was beaten to death.
"Everyone, listen to me."
Before everyone erupted, Fu Qiuhua stepped forward again. After making sure everyone's attention was focused on him, he continued, "I believe everyone has seen that the yields of potatoes and sweet potatoes are very high. Although corn production is difficult to quantify right now, it's also quite high. I just checked with Madam Wei. The growing cycle of sweet potatoes and corn is about three months, while potatoes only takes a little over two months. We can definitely plant two crops in a row next year."
"Of course, I understand that although everyone has a lot of land, it's relatively thin. I'm worried that planting two crops will affect the harvest next year. I've asked about this. Madam Wei and her colleagues have come up with many methods for fertilizing the land. I'll have them compiled after I return and distribute them to each village. I hope the neighborhood and village heads will join me in leading the people in preparing for large-scale planting of high-yield crops next year."
"Regarding the issue of seeds, Madam Wei is kind-hearted and is willing to provide them for free in the early stages. You only need to go to the county government office to collect them. However, after you harvest, the seeds you received for free must be returned to the Wei family. If everyone has no objection, then this is settled."
After this incident, Fu Qiuhua respected their wife from the bottom of his heart. The promotion of new grain varieties is often very difficult. No matter how good their words are, people will not buy it until they see it with their own eyes. But look at them now, they are already scrambling to plant potatoes and sweet potatoes.
"real?"
Everyone was in disbelief. The Wei family had actually been willing to provide grain seeds for free earlier? They had thought they would have to pay a lot to get the seeds. Furthermore, the government was also going to help them solve the problem of too little land. This was simply a godsend.
"Of course I do. I guarantee it with my official hat."
Fu Qiuhua nodded with a smile on his face and promised.
"Thank you, sir, and thank you, Madam Wei!"
"Thank you, sir, and thank you, Madam Wei!"
Upon hearing this, no one knew who took the lead, but the heads of the villages and neighborhoods all knelt down and thanked them in unison. Fu Qiuhua turned around and exchanged glances with Shen Xiangwan and Yuan Xiu, and the three of them laughed at the same time. In this way, at least Datong County can make full preparations for large-scale planting of potatoes, sweet potatoes and corn next year.
[End of this chapter]
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