Liu An followed Jiang Nuan's instructions to harvest beans, and although he still stumbled along the way, it was much better than before.
However, even so, it still took an hour to grow soybeans that were only about one-tenth of an acre in size.
Jiang Nuan tried several times to take back the sickle and cut the bark herself out of impatience, but Liu An, who was very excited, chased her away each time.
Even after deciding not to serve as Grand Secretary, his concern for the country and its people did not diminish in the slightest.
They were completely immersed in the wonderful dream that the people of the Great Zhou Dynasty could afford oil.
The people of the Great Zhou were skilled at farming, but lacked resources. They had always been physically inferior to the foreign tribes beyond the Great Wall, and their disadvantage on the battlefield was very obvious.
He thought it was fate, something he couldn't change, but unexpectedly, he saw an opportunity today.
Even if he didn't farm, he knew that soybeans could be grown in most parts of the country.
This stuff is excellent feed for warhorses, and all sorts of livestock in the house rely on it. It can also be used to make tofu.
But that's all.
The Great Zhou Dynasty didn't value soybeans at all; they had a strong beany smell and didn't taste good, and the yield was extremely low.
With rice and wheat as prime examples, and millet and sorghum as well, soybeans have few advantages and are easily overlooked.
They especially despise those who hold high positions but are ignorant of basic agricultural knowledge.
Liu An carefully spread out the bean stalks, picked up a hammer, and gently tapped them. What should have been a matter of Xiao Liu walking back and forth a few times took him an entire afternoon, and he wouldn't allow anyone to interfere.
The way they treated it like a precious treasure, as if they wanted to hold it dear, horrified everyone who saw it.
"Take your time. Let me check if the oil pressing equipment is ready. Let's dry the soybeans to remove some moisture before we start pressing the oil."
After saying that, Jiang Nuanyi gracefully left.
The sesame oil had a very strong smell, and the animal oil was too greasy. Jiang Nuan had long wanted to make soybean oil instead.
There were too many illogical things that couldn't be explained before, but now that he has the title of a banished immortal, it's much easier to explain.
I suddenly realized that the biggest advantage of being a banished immortal is the freedom of borrowing power from others.
No more choosing those mature and heavy colors for clothes, and you can dress yourself up beautifully every day. You don't need to explain all sorts of illogical things; someone will proactively find excuses for you. Life couldn't be more comfortable.
Charlatans are great, charlatans are amazing, charlatans' lives are fantastic.
Two days later, Liu An stared intently at the oil tank. "Oil is coming out, Madam! Oil is really coming out!"
It's worth it for him, an old man, to have worked so hard for so long.
As he spoke, he carefully collected the soybean oil in an earthenware jar.
About 30 catties of soybeans can be pressed into more than 7 catties, which is almost enough for an average family to eat for two months, and this is only from one fen of land.
Immediately, Liu An was overjoyed, "Madam, the people can finally eat oil again!"
Liu An was still not poor enough.
Farmers are reluctant to use oil. They only wipe the pan with an oiled cloth when stir-frying. They usually stew or boil vegetables. This little bit of oil is enough for at least half a year, and for some, it can last a year.
"Don't get excited. There are many crops that can be pressed for oil. This is just one of them, and it's more suitable for widespread use. I'll tell you about some others later."
"besides?"
"Peanuts, tea seeds, and rapeseed are all fine. We'll talk about those later. Let the cook stir-fry some greens with soybean oil so we can taste them."
"OK!"
The cook prepared three dishes. Jiang Nuan took a small taste, and the rest went into Liu An's stomach.
"Didn't you just finish a plate of desserts?" Jiang Nuan asked, puzzled.
Is this guy a glutton? His mouth never stops, and he can eat a bowl of rice and three dishes, yet his stomach doesn't seem to change at all.
belch!
Liu An couldn't help but let out a burp, "It's so delicious, I couldn't resist."
It smells delicious, but it's not greasy at all. It's refreshing and makes you want to eat more, especially to his taste.
"As long as you're not afraid of ruining your health."
“Don’t worry,” Liu An wiped his mouth and stood up. “Madam, you continue with your work. I will seal the soybean oil and send it to His Majesty.”
"Give it to His Majesty?" Jiang Nuan questioned. "Why?"
She went through all that trouble to get such a small amount of oil, not even enough for herself, yet she had to send it to Ji Xuan.
I'm not reconciled!
"Don't worry, Madam, I will definitely try my best to earn credit for you."
Liu An, caught up in his excitement, didn't notice Jiang Nuan's mood and happily waved goodbye as he left.
Jiang Nuan: ...
So all that effort she put into making soybean oil went to Ji Xuan for a bargain price.
Perhaps, I shouldn't have asked Liu An to do this in the first place.
Never mind, she'll just squeeze some more for herself.
Liu An was extremely experienced in his work. He made sure everything was in order before sending someone with a purse containing soybeans and five catties of jarred soybean oil, along with a memorial of nearly ten thousand words.
Meanwhile, Qi Yong was still on his way.
"Be careful, everyone. The contents of the box are a gift from His Majesty to the Lady Protector of the Nation. They are extremely valuable. If anything goes wrong with them, I will take your lives."
"Father-in-law, there's a post station ahead. Shall we rest here?"
In May, the midday sun blazes so brightly that it turns people's skin red, and nobody wants to travel under its intense heat.
Qi Yong sat in the carriage. The ice had melted into water, and he was starting to feel hot. After thinking for a moment, he nodded in agreement, "Let's rest at the post station for an hour before setting off."
It's just a formality anyway, why make things difficult for yourself?
The post station in Yu Nan Prefecture was clean and spacious. Just as Qi Yong was about to take a nap, he heard a commotion outside.
"What's going on?" He frowned. "Xiao Yuanzi, go out and take a look."
"Quick, pour a bucket of water and bring a bowl of mung bean soup, this young man has heatstroke."
"Carry the man to the shade of a tree," Yuan Yuan ordered in a deep voice after seeing the man's attire. "Take out everything from his arms before splashing water on him. This is a brother from the Xunzi Camp; don't let your good intentions backfire."
"I understand!"
After saying that, Yuanyuan was about to leave when she suddenly heard a sound.
"Is it Eunuch Yuan, who serves Eunuch Qi?"
"Oh, you know Zajia?" Xiao Yuanzi asked curiously.
He was Qi Yong's confidant and Ji Xuan's personal eunuch, but he only served in the imperial study and was rarely recognized.
"I have had the privilege of meeting you a few times."
Upon hearing this, Yuanyuan immediately understood, "Let's talk about it in the room, it's not convenient here."
I thought he was just an ordinary messenger, but I didn't expect him to be a secret guard.
Yuanyuan took the person back and briefly explained the situation to Qi Yong.
"From the Xunzi Camp, the one who serves Elder Liu?"
"right."
"Is Old Man Liu crazy?" Qi Yong looked at the disheveled messenger and clicked his tongue twice. "Does submitting a resignation require an urgent dispatch?"
"The letter of resignation has nothing to do with me. It has already been sent to the capital. I have other important matters to attend to, but unfortunately my health is failing. I hope that Eunuch Qi will send someone else to deliver the letter."
Upon hearing this, Qi Yong became serious. "Could it be related to the Lady Protector of the Nation?"
The person asking the question didn't speak, but lowered their head in acquiescence.
These people obeyed the Emperor directly and occasionally followed Qi Yong's orders, but they still couldn't say what they shouldn't say.
"Go and rest first," Qi Yong waved his hand, "I will arrange for someone to deliver it over, and bring the things over."
"Your subordinate takes his leave."
The messenger was also helpless; the person he was supposed to meet was at the next stop, but unfortunately, he himself was not up to the task.
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