"Father, Father..."
Han Yi strode into the house, put the bag on his back on the ground, and said with a happy face, "I bought the seeds, and the trading company also gave me a bag of cotton seeds as a gift."
"Cotton seeds?"
Han Wen'an was taken aback. He opened the bag and looked inside, then asked, "Yi'er, why is the merchant guild giving away cotton seeds?"
"father,"
Thinking about what the shop assistant had said, Han Yi explained, "The shop said that if you are willing to grow cotton, the shop will provide cotton seeds for free, but you have to return 100 catties of cotton when it is harvested in the fall."
"There are enough seeds to plant five or six acres of cotton, so I took it upon myself to register my name and collect some seeds."
"Five or six mu of cotton?"
Han Wen'an was somewhat amused and exasperated, saying, "Yi'er, these five or six acres of cotton are enough for the two of us to manage."
"Don't be lazy when it's time to pick cotton!"
"No, Father!"
Han Yi waved his hand and said, "Yi'er has grown up and can help his father with things now!"
Besides, the people from the trading company said that if we're too busy picking cotton, we can hire people to help.
Moreover, the trading company will also pay for the cotton!
"Let's leave it at that for now."
Han Wen'an nodded and then looked at the cotton seeds in the bag.
After thinking for a moment, Han Wen'an said, "Tomorrow, let's start by cultivating cotton seeds. As for sorghum seeds, wheat seeds, and soybean seeds, we can do them a little later, after we've finished cultivating the cotton seeds."
After finishing his meal, Han Wen'an was also pondering why the trading company was providing cotton seeds for free.
Upon closer examination, it may be a disguised way of promoting cotton planting.
This cotton can be used to make quilts and cotton-padded clothes, and it is also an essential item for keeping warm in winter.
In Dongning province, people spend the winter either wearing animal skins or goose feathers, or using tree leaves, or simply staying indoors and not going out.
The only cotton available was purchased by the merchant from places like Jiangnan.
It seems that the Prince's Palace is preparing to produce cotton on its own to reduce its dependence on Jiangnan and other regions!
As for why the Prince's Mansion did this, Han Wen'an didn't know, nor did he think about it.
Han Wen'an had a very fulfilling time during this period.
I've been in Dongning for more than half a year now, having come from Huaibei.
For the past six months or so, whenever there was work available, Han Wen'an worked outside to earn money and support his family.
When there was no work to do, the father and son would also cultivate their own land.
After more than half a year of hard work, the father and son have cultivated about 30 mu of land, with more than 10 mu remaining uncultivated.
Han Wen'an didn't plan to reclaim the remaining ten-odd acres. He searched the mountains and forests and prepared to plant fruit trees on the wasteland.
After all, it would be too much for just the father and son to manage all that land.
Besides cultivating so many fields, the father and son did not rest after winter set in.
The original dugouts have also been renovated.
They even prepared some adobe bricks, planning to save up enough to start building a house.
However, with spring approaching, they didn't have much spare time.
The next morning, the father and son went to their field and began cultivating cotton seedlings.
It wasn't just Han Wen'an and his son Han Yi who were busy in the fields; everyone in the districts and communities, big and small, throughout Dongning Province was also busy.
The people who migrated here before the Lunar New Year finally had their own land after half a year of clearing the land.
To grow their own food on their own land is also their dream!
Even some of the people who arrived later, though they had only cultivated three to five acres of land, began to work diligently.
These fields are also their guarantee that they won't go hungry in the second half of the year!
Not only the common people, but even the farms of the agricultural reclamation teams under the Prince's command were busy.
However, unlike last year, most of the farmland of the agricultural reclamation team is now planted with cotton.
Cotton is also a crop that Li Xin is paying special attention to this year.
It not only keeps you warm, but it can also be used to spin yarn, weave fabric, and make clothes; it has many uses.
This is especially important for Dongning Province right now!
During the farming season, Li Xin also led officials of all ranks to inspect the fields.
When Li Xin arrived at the Third Community of the Twelfth District of Dongning Prefecture, he still caused a stir among the local people.
The people working in the fields all looked up and gazed at the scene.
"What's wrong? What are you all looking at?"
Han Wen'an asked with some doubt.
Han Yi listened carefully and replied, "Father, it sounds like Prince Xin has arrived..."
"King Xin?"
Han Wen'an was stunned for a moment. He looked up at the young man in the distance, who looked just like the Prince Xin he had met before.
However, no one expected that Li Xin, the Prince of Xin, would actually walk to the fields like this.
This is truly a rare find!
Han Wen'an couldn't help but be a little surprised.
As Li Xin walked away, he waved to the villagers in the fields, saying, "Fellow villagers, you've worked hard!"
Seeing Prince Xin, Li Xin, with a beaming smile, the people replied one after another, "It's no trouble at all!"
"Fellow villager, how much land have you reclaimed?"
Upon reaching an old man's place, Li Xin asked.
"Your Highness,"
Upon seeing Prince Xin arrive, the old man immediately tried to kneel down.
Li Xin grabbed the old man and said, "Come, sit down and let's talk."
Seeing Li Xin skillfully sitting down at the edge of the field, the old man felt relieved and said with a simple smile, "Your Highness, I am old and live alone. I can't farm much land anymore."
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