Chapter 527 Suggestions
Manbao gave them sincere advice, saying, "Change the wheat seeds. Plant another season of winter wheat after the Double Ninth Festival every year. Although it will be more tiring, the extra season's income is not worth it. Besides, the flour from winter wheat tastes better than that from spring wheat."
"If we grow winter wheat, that means two crops a year, and the soil won't be able to keep up."
"Add more compost and rotate crops, not just two seasons a year, but three seasons in two years," Manbao said. "Our village has tried it, and the soil fertility can keep up."
"There are also plows that can be exchanged," Bai Shanbao added. "The plows we currently use in Luojiang County are much easier to work with. Since you can't afford oxen, why not exchange them for a new plow? At least it will make life a little easier."
Bai Shanbao thought for a moment and asked the farmer, "How do you make compost?"
Seeing them talking about farming so enthusiastically, the people in the quiet room gathered around and started talking at once. Then someone asked the two of them, "Young Master and Young Lady, you look so young, can you actually farm?"
Seeing the doubt on everyone's faces, Bai Shanbao raised his head slightly with pride and said, "Of course. Agriculture and sericulture are all written in books. Besides, we have our own land. After years of farming, we will naturally learn it."
Someone laughed and said, "Young Master, I've been farming for over twenty years. If you count from when I was six or seven, it's been nearly thirty years now. Am I not more skilled than you?"
"However, our farm's yield is higher than yours," Bai Shanbao said. "You don't become better at something the longer you do it. The land is the last thing in the world to lie. On the same piece of land, you will reap as much as you sow and do right."
Manbao nodded repeatedly. "Luojiang County isn't far from here, and the difference between the two places isn't much. Since the new wheat is planted in our county, it can also be harvested in other places. It's naturally feasible for you."
"I've never heard of any new wheat seeds. Where did your wheat seeds come from?" The farmers who gathered around squeezed in and pushed Li Erlang aside.
Li Erlang glanced at Bai Shanbao and Manbao, silently moved a little, and sat next to them.
Manbao was surprised and said, "Huh?" "Didn't you go to the grain store and look? Aren't there any new wheat seeds listed there?"
"The wheat seeds we have at home are enough. Why would we go to the grain store to look for wheat seeds? The wheat seeds there may not be any better than ours, but they are extremely expensive."
"That's right. Seeds are usually three or four times more expensive than grain. If a grain store directly sells wheat as wheat seeds, we won't be able to tell."
"I've never bought wheat seeds from a grain store..."
"I have bought some, but only a couple of bushels. I'll plant some on a plot first to see how much it yields."
Manbao nodded. "That's right. How can you not buy seeds? The seeds outside are very different from the ones we keep at home. We should try more. What if there are seeds that are more suitable for our land?"
Someone who had bought grain seeds said, "But I haven't seen the kind of wheat seeds you mentioned in the grain store."
Manbao and Bai Shanbao looked at each other, both puzzled. "Luojiang County isn't far from here. The grain merchants Wu and his men shipped the wheat seeds from us, so they should be selling them here."
"My dear lady, you said that the new wheat seeds came from your county, but where did the new wheat seeds in your county come from?"
"It comes from my home." Manbao said, "The new wheat seeds were first grown in my home."
When everyone heard this, they couldn't help but hiss and dispersed.
Manbao didn't mind. He shrugged and shook his head, saying, "What a pity."
Li Erlang didn't leave. He sat opposite Manbao with great interest and asked, "Did your family grow the new wheat seeds? But I wonder how you grew them?"
"It was because of the flood in Yizhou that the grain yield decreased that year. Although my family's wheat was also affected, it grew the best in the village. The villagers said it was a blessing from the gods. I think it was because of the change in the environment."
This is the best excuse Manbao came up with after studying, and he feels it is much more reliable than divine favor or something like that.
But apart from these few people, no one in the village accepted her statement.
"That year, the villagers wanted to plant winter wheat, so they exchanged wheat seeds with my family. Then the new wheat seeds were successfully grown. Even our county magistrate bought wheat seeds from us. Now the new wheat seeds can be grown well in Longzhou and Yizhou, so I think it should also be able to grow well in Maozhou."
Mr. Bai and Mrs. Liu both gave the new wheat seeds to their family farms for planting. Their farms were located in various places. After two seasons of planting, they found that although there were differences in yield, it was indeed better than the old wheat seeds.
So this new wheat variety had actually been spread a long time ago. It was not just Wu the grain merchant and Yang Heshu who were buying and reselling it. Outside of Luojiang County, there were many other places that were spreading this new wheat variety in various ways.
Maozhou is not far from Luojiang County, so Manbao and the others naturally thought that there should be new wheat seeds here as well.
Bai Erlang made tea for the gentleman and ran over to join in the fun. He was also in charge of the farm's affairs, so he knew a lot.
Seeing that they were speaking so clearly and clearly knew a lot about farming, Li Erlang couldn't help but ask, "Is the new plow you're talking about a curved plow?"
"Yes, it's called this because it changes from straight to curved. Does Mr. Li Er know?"
"I know. The plowing equipment advertised throughout the Sino-Agricultural Temple this year was presented by Yang Heshu, the magistrate of Luojiang County." Li Erlang asked with a smile, "You seem to be very familiar with Yang Heshu?"
The three teenagers nodded together and said, "It's just so-so."
"Oh? How do you mean?"
Manbao tilted his head and thought for a moment before saying, "We only see each other a few times a year."
Bai Shanbao: "Every time we meet, we have a meal and drink tea."
Bai Erlang: "We just chatted, so I'd say our relationship is just average."
It sounds like they have an average relationship, but considering that the three of them are still young, Yang Heshu can meet them several times a year, have meals with them, and talk to them, so this can be considered a good relationship.
Li Erlang leaned back against the wall, bent one leg, and asked with a smile, "So what do you think of Yang Heshu as an official?"
"good."
"Not bad?" Li Erlang laughed heartily and said happily, "Aren't you afraid your friends will blame you for saying this?"
"Why would he blame us?"
Li Erlang didn't answer, but instead asked, "Yang Heshu comes from an aristocratic family, and aristocratic children are arrogant. Can he adapt to being sent down to a low-ranking county?"
"It's a bit difficult," Manbao said, "fortunately he has money."
Bai Shanbao said, "It's precisely because he's rich that he's in trouble, okay?"
"Having money isn't a good thing, I think Lord Yang is quite happy spending money, and then we are happy too, isn't that a good thing?"
Bai Shanbao said, "It's a good thing, but this trend can't be allowed to continue. There are so many officials in this world, not everyone can do this. He set a precedent, but it's only one example. Who would be willing to use their own money to subsidize the county government?"
The next chapter will be around 9pm
I am so happy. I received a painting from Rongrong as a gift today. Thank you.
(End of this chapter)
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