7. Bean yields are declining year by year
◎Who is Chen Jingshan, the shopkeeper?◎
It was not until Ye Yunzhao arrived in Dongxiang that he realized that the so-called vegetable fields were the scattered narrow fields in front of and behind every household.
This was a solution that County Magistrate Han came up with a few years ago. The fields in the corners and crevices were not included in the arable land of Lingnan County. This way, the people could have more space to grow vegetables and did not have to pay extra taxes. It was the best of both worlds.
His reason for suggesting that people plant beans was simple: rice and wheat yielded little, and they still had to pay taxes. The extra beans could be cooked into bean rice, which would provide a filling and a welcome relief from hunger.
When Ye Yunzhao arrived, County Magistrate Han was squatting beside a vegetable field with several villagers. They looked anxious and no one knew what they were talking about.
"County Magistrate Han, it's just after the White Dew Festival. How can it be the right time to plant beans?" Ye Yunzhao leaned over and asked.
Upon hearing this, County Magistrate Han stood up, exchanged a few words with her, and explained, "We're not planting beans. We're studying why the bean harvest is so poor this year."
Dong Xiangli, who was standing by, stood up quickly, patted the dirt off his hands, and said, "It's strange! The vegetable fields are plowed deep and the manure is spread on time, but the harvest is getting worse every year."
Ye Yunzhao took the wooden stick from County Magistrate Han and squatted down to dig the soil in the vegetable field.
The vegetable fields are compacted and the soil is the wrong color.
Ye Yunzhao didn't look up and asked, "The soybeans were planted in April and picked in August?"
"That's right." The village head replied.
"Based on past experience, after picking soybeans in August, what do you plan to plant?" Ye Yunzhao asked.
The village head replied in confusion, "It's OK to plant some green peas or some broad beans, so that the villagers won't starve to death in the winter."
"This year's soybeans must be infested with insect pests." Ye Yunzhao put down the small wooden stick and stood up.
"County Magistrate Ye is very powerful, but everyone has been pulling out weeds, catching insects, and spreading wood ash!" The village head replied hurriedly.
Wood ash is ash fertilizer made from burning firewood. It is not only a natural potassium fertilizer, but also can kill insects through the fine dust.
Ye Yunzhao felt that the effect of wood ash was very limited in solving the problem in the vegetable field.
"County Magistrate Han, didn't you go to Yongzhou to learn bean planting techniques before? Don't you know what crop rotation is?" Ye Yunzhao asked with a frown.
"Rotational cropping?" A hint of confusion gathered in County Magistrate Han's eyes.
Could it be that this dynasty hadn't yet implemented the rotation system? Looking at his expression, Ye Yunzhao couldn't help but guess.
"Crop rotation means planting in turns. Divide the vegetables into several major categories and take turns planting them. For example, if you planted soybeans before, you should not plant bean crops next." Ye Yunzhao explained patiently.
"Continuously planting the same crop will reduce soil fertility, which will naturally lead to the emergence of pests and diseases. Think back to when you first planted beans and saw a better harvest than you have now."
After Ye Yunzhao's reminder, County Magistrate Han did realize that the bean harvest has been getting lower and lower in recent years.
The village head slapped his forehead in sudden realization: "Oh, County Magistrate Ye was right!"
"Then...what should we do now?" the village head asked anxiously.
"Planting onions and garlic over cabbage will reduce diseases and pests; planting radish over soybeans will result in a good harvest." This was a rhyme that Ye Yunzhao heard villagers chant in his previous life. Cabbage is cabbage, and radish is radish.
"If we plant radishes, the harvest should be good." Ye Yunzhao added.
"Besides that, you can also plant pumpkins. After the pumpkins are mature, plant some cabbage and lettuce, and finally potatoes and tomatoes. After planting all these, the fertility of the vegetable field will be greatly improved, and there will be fewer diseases and insect pests."
Ye Yunzhao diligently taught the villagers about the vegetables they had. Farming, no matter how good the theory, was useless; specific problems needed to be analyzed.
"What you plant depends on your own wishes," she said casually.
"Now that you mention that, I remember something." County Magistrate Han slapped his thigh. "I've been so busy looking for a carpenter to make a plow these days that I almost forgot to go to the state to get the vegetable seeds."
Seeing him waving his hands at the head of the village, Ye Yunzhao said, "Alright, alright. It's just past the White Dew Festival. There's still time. Let's talk about it after we get the vegetable seeds back."
After saying that, he pulled Ye Yunzhao's sleeve and walked aside.
"Do you have anything else to do today?" County Magistrate Han looked up at the sky, estimated the time, and asked.
Ye Yunzhao shook his head and asked, "But what's the matter?"
"I'll explain the details to you later. First, go south along Dongxiang Road. When you reach the fork in the road, wait for me."
County Magistrate Han did not give her the opportunity to refuse his plan. He spoke briefly and concisely, then turned around and ran towards the village, grabbing the hem of his clothes.
Ye Yunzhao could only obey.
However, just as she reached the fork in the road, she heard the panting voice of County Magistrate Han behind her.
"County Magistrate Ye, come here." He handed her a rein.
Ye Yunzhao glanced sideways and saw two little donkeys with long ears and gray-white hair standing beside County Magistrate Han. Two large bamboo baskets were tied to the sides of the little donkeys, and a piece of rag mat that didn't look very thick was spread on their backs.
At this time, the reins of one donkey were in the hands of County Magistrate Han, and the other rein was in the hands of Ye Yunzhao.
"County Magistrate Han, what are you doing..." Ye Yunzhao asked suspiciously.
County Magistrate Han placed his hands on the cloth cushion, pushed hard, and sat astride the donkey.
He shook out his old official uniform and said to Ye Yunzhao, "Get on the donkey, let's go to the provincial government office."
Ye Yunzhao had never ridden a donkey before. She looked at the small animal in front of her with cute long ears, trying to figure out whether it could carry her along the mountain road.
Han Xiancheng saw her worry and explained, "Don't underestimate the donkey's size. It's more than enough to carry us."
He glanced at the sun again and urged, "It's already three quarters past noon! Hurry up and don't miss the time."
Because the two donkeys were not equipped with stirrups, Ye Yunzhao had to follow Han Xiancheng's example and sit on the donkey in a rather awkward manner.
The two of them rode two little donkeys and walked up the mountain.
"County Magistrate Han, are we going to the state to get vegetable seeds?" Ye Yunzhao asked.
"Not bad," said County Magistrate Han, patting the bamboo basket behind him. "See this bamboo basket? It's used to store vegetable seeds."
"Actually, it's not just to get the vegetable seeds. I've been thinking about it these past few days. You've been in office for over a month now. This time you're going with me, first to get the vegetable seeds, and second to collect this month's salary."
"Salary?" Ye Yunzhao exclaimed in surprise.
Isn't this just salary? Ye Yunzhao didn't expect that Da Qi would actually pay wages on a monthly basis. This way, it could solve many problems in subsequent construction.
Han Xiancheng heard the joy in her tone and said at the right time: "Don't be too happy too soon. You are a new official, so you can only receive your salary in the first month. According to the rules, you will receive your salary three times a year."
She knew it was impossible to get paid on time every month. Ye Yunzhao lowered his head and asked, "When were the three times I received my salary?"
"The first time is around Qingming Festival, when I go to the county government office to get bean seeds and collect the previous few months' salary along the way. The second time is now, at the latest by Frost's Descent, when I bring back my salary when I get vegetable seeds. The last time is at the end of the year, when ordinary people celebrate New Year, and we have to celebrate it too."
"Anyway, I always pick it up on the way." Ye Yunzhao said.
"That's right. Ordinary officials are not allowed to leave their official locations at will." County Magistrate Han nodded and said.
"There are so many vegetable seeds? They actually require four large bamboo baskets..." Ye Yunzhao turned his head to look at the large bamboo baskets and asked curiously.
"How can there be so many? These vegetable seeds are first come, first served." Han Xiancheng sighed at this point, "We are late this year."
"First come, first served? Not distributed according to the household register?" Ye Yunzhao was a little surprised when he heard this, but he understood why he was in such a hurry to go to the provincial government office.
Ye Yunzhao was a newly appointed official and did not understand the twists and turns involved. County Magistrate Han understood this very well and explained it carefully.
"The vegetable seeds vary from year to year. For example, the year before last, the envoys came as tribute and presented a large amount of plant seeds. Last year's excess seeds were distributed to various places, and those who arrived early had a chance to receive some."
"But our county didn't get that kind of seeds, and I heard the harvest was average." County Magistrate Han said with a dry laugh.
Ye Yunzhao didn't expect there was such a rule, but if he couldn't get suitable seeds every year, wouldn't it be a waste?
Han County Magistrate didn't notice her frown and said slowly, "There aren't many vegetable seeds. This bamboo basket is used to hold my salary."
Upon hearing this, Ye Yunzhao's eyes suddenly widened. He pointed at four bamboo baskets as big as water tanks at home with a look of surprise and asked in shock: "Four bamboo baskets of silver and money?"
"You're dreaming." County Magistrate Han curled his lips.
"What is a salary?" County Magistrate Han asked himself, answering himself. "Salary is salary, which is what you call money. Salary is rice. However, the county government's branch warehouse sometimes gives out rice, and sometimes they also give out other things, such as cloth, salt, tea, pepper, etc."
"How many people in the world take the imperial examinations for this salary? How could you not know?" County Magistrate Han suddenly asked.
Ye Yunzhao was stunned. Although she was also a "cadre" in her previous life just like she is now, she really didn't understand many of the ancient rules.
She was too careless just now. Any flaw might make people think that she was possessed by a mountain monster, and by then, it would be too late to save her.
Ye Yunzhao said casually, "It must be that I fell into the ditch last time and hit my head. Forget about the salary. Even if you ask me to talk to you about the policy papers I wrote, I can hardly remember them."
Ye Yunzhao was afraid that he would become suspicious, so he quickly changed the subject: "So we just bring them back like this? There are no bandits in this mountain?"
"This is a long story." County Magistrate Han patted the donkey and sped up a bit. Ye Yunzhao quickly followed suit.
"Look." County Magistrate Han pointed to the mountain beside him.
Ye Yunzhao looked in the direction he pointed. The endless green hills stood tall there, and the houses of Lingnan County looked as small as leaves from afar.
Looking down from this high place, I feel that Lingnan County is more like being in a valley, surrounded by mountains, which makes people feel a bit "the higher you go, the colder it gets".
"Lingnan County is surrounded by steep mountains, and there is only one mountain road leading directly to Yuezhou. There is no place to set up camp on the mountain. There are bandits outside Yuezhou City, but they will not steal our things." said Han County Magistrate.
Ye Yunzhao was a little surprised when he heard this. Could it be that the seemingly ordinary County Magistrate Han in front of him actually had some good skills?
She asked curiously, "Why is that?"
"There's a very famous restaurant in Yuezhou called Ruyilou. It's owned by a pair of brothers named Chen. The younger one is more refined and has considerable skill in running the restaurant; the older one served in the army for several years and is quite courageous. I heard the army wanted to promote him to deputy general, but his mother became seriously ill, so he returned home early last year. Now, their restaurant business is booming."
County Magistrate Han spoke of this matter with familiarity, and said with a smile, "These two brothers are from Lingnan County, Yuezhou. Do you know the restaurant next to Hu Er's blacksmith shop?"
Ye Yunzhao tried hard to review her memories in her mind, but she had only glanced over them briefly at the time and did not have a deep impression of them, only vaguely remembering them.
"That's the shop at Ruyi Tower," said County Magistrate Han. "Before joining the army, Chen Da wiped out an entire village single-handedly. Because we're from the same place, the bandits are quite polite to us now."
County Magistrate Han's talk was lively and interesting, and Ye Yunzhao listened attentively. Before he knew it, he had ridden his donkey over the mountain. Not long after, he saw a magnificent city wall standing in the distance.
【Author’s words】
Guess who is the male lead, the older brother or the younger brother?
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