The steward and the village chief of Zhongshou Village took Gao Zhijun, Huo Jinqian, Hongyue and Qinglong for a stroll around the village.
There are many houses built in the village, one of which is relatively large and magnificent because it is made of blue bricks and tiles.
This should be where the steward lives, and where the second princess rests when she comes here occasionally.
"Master, please come inside and rest for a while. I'll have someone prepare some pastries."
The steward brought Gao Zhijun into the main hall and asked someone to bring tea.
"Send the remaining villagers over here. I want to give them a lecture."
Gao Zhijun said to the steward.
"Yes, Master!"
After the steward finished speaking, he went out and called the villagers in.
When the villagers nervously came to the main hall, Gao Zhijun spoke.
"If you voluntarily stay, then work here with peace of mind. I won't treat you unfairly. Aside from the indentures you have left with me, you are free. As long as you work diligently, don't cheat, don't bully others, and don't commit crimes, I will give you one or two taels of silver every month to save. After fifteen years, I will set you free and return your indentures. If you do something bad and betray me, I will send you to prison. In serious cases, I will make you live a life worse than death."
Gao Zhijun lectured the villagers.
She could kindly give them freedom, provided they remained loyal.
"Thank you, Princess. We will never betray our master."
The villagers knelt down in gratitude and made a promise.
They were happy. They earned one tael of silver per month, twelve taels per year. With two or three working people in their family, they could earn thirty-six taels per year. After fifteen years, they would have five hundred and forty taels. With their indentures back, they could buy houses or shops and become their own bosses.
The villagers are all good at calculating, and they all fantasize that fifteen years later, they will be living in blue brick and tile houses, running small businesses, and living a prosperous life.
"I hope you'll keep your word and get out to work!"
Gao Zhijun asked the villagers to go out to work, and after resting, she followed the manager to the fields.
There are endless fields with sweet potatoes, cassava and rice planted in them.
Coming to the ridge of the rice field, I looked at the wilted seedlings and their yellow leaves. They were indeed growing poorly.
At this quality, even the harvest will be halved.
"Princess, look, these grain seeds were taken from the Ministry of Revenue. They are no different from the previous ones. They are not growing well."
The steward said to Gao Zhijun while looking at the seedlings growing on the ground.
Gao Zhijun and Huo Jinqian squatted down and squeezed the soil with their hands.
Sand? Why is this sandy?
I smelled the soil and it was alkaline sand. No wonder you can't grow crops there.
Huo Jinqian grew up in the countryside. He smelled the soil and knew it was not suitable for growing crops.
Gao Zhijun quickly went to check the planting conditions of the sweet potatoes, which were similar to those of the rice seedlings, both growing very poorly.
The soil for sweet potatoes is the same as that for rice seedlings, both are alkaline sandy.
How could there be alkaline sand here? Shouldn't it be in the northwest? There shouldn't be a water shortage here, so why is there alkaline soil? Gao Zhijun was puzzled. She thought it might be because she was not well-educated and had little talent.
For whatever reason, this place is not suitable for growing rice and sweet potatoes, but only for growing sorghum, barley, corn and cotton.
"I already know the reason. After this season's rice planting, I will not plant rice again. Then I will instruct you to plant other crops instead."
Since it is not suitable to grow rice and sweet potatoes, we must stop the loss in time and switch to growing sorghum.
"Yes, Princess!"
The steward said respectfully.
The village chief of Zhongshou Village looked a little unhappy. If they didn't grow rice, what would they eat?
"Qinglong, come with me up the mountain to take a look."
"Jinqian and Hongyue will stay here and wait for us to come down the mountain. Let's go back together."
"Yes, Princess!"
"Zhijun, I want to accompany you into the mountains!"
"Princess, I want to accompany you into the mountains."
Qinglong, Huo Jinqian, and Hongyue said in unison.
Huo Jinqian and Hongyue were worried about Gao Zhijun, so they wanted to stay with her.
"Be good, you don't know martial arts, so you will be a burden if you follow us."
Gao Zhijun objected.
She would not take them into the mountains. There were dangers everywhere in the mountains, and there were ferocious wild beasts roaming around. If they were not careful, they would become food of the wild beasts.
"It is precisely because there is danger that I want to accompany you. When danger comes, I can stand in front of you."
Huo Jinqian said seriously.
Are you standing in front of me and causing trouble for the young lady? Qinglong said with contempt in his heart.
Sometimes, he really couldn't understand Huo Jinqian. He had no ability to protect himself, but he insisted on following him. He had no self-awareness.
At this time, Canglang just happened to drive over in a carriage and reported the situation in Jingzhao Prefecture to Gao Zhijun, and then followed Gao Zhijun and Qinglong into the mountains.
Huo Jinqian gave up going into the mountains only after he saw a wolf following him.
The steward told Gao Zhijun that this mountain was called Bailu Peak.
The three of them entered Bailu Peak, where there were thickets of grass and trees, some of which were as tall as a person.
Canglang led the way with a dagger in his hand, Qinglong stayed behind, and Gao Zhijun walked in the middle, searching for any herbs.
After walking for a while, Gao Zhijun dug up a lot of herbs, including wolfberry, astragalus, licorice, and bupleurum. The quality of these herbs was better than what she had dug before, and the quantity was large.
"Princess, there seems to be the sound of running water ahead."
Canglang listened attentively, and seemed to hear the sound of gurgling water in front of him.
"Let's go over there and just drink."
After walking on a mountain road, I feel a little thirsty and just want to drink some water.
Whatever you want will come true, and when you fall asleep, a pillow will be given to you.
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