Chapter 51
Seed improvement isn't something Qingyun can achieve just by talking about it. The company that developed the system hasn't developed such a function yet, so we can only wait for the system to provide feedback to the programmers.
However, Qingyun felt that this place was just like a virtual game world, only hyper-realistic. Data was just something a programmer could handle by typing some code! You set the environment, so why can't you set the seeds? Your dad can even make a mini water purifier.
During this period, pressure was constantly applied to the system, demanding rapid feedback from the other party.
The good news is that we've received feedback, but it only improves the seed survival rate. [You lousy programmer, you just don't want to do it, do you?]
The system really wanted to wipe away the non-existent cold sweat. [Nothing of the sort. Isn't it good to improve your seed survival rate? It was so difficult to get this done.]
"It would be better not to apply," Qingyun thought to herself. "But something is worse than nothing. Since that's the case, I can only cultivate the seedlings myself. But how to cultivate them and what to do next?" She had already thought of a way to do it.
I remember, during the tornado, didn't many houses collapse?
The system seemed to read Qingyun's mind, immediately guessing what she wanted to do: "You want to build a greenhouse."
Qingyun: [Yeah, I just want to build a greenhouse, so what?]
System: [It's impossible to recycle that wood. You yourself have been involved in post-disaster reconstruction work; don't you know that most of it is for reuse? Besides, it wouldn't have survived this long; it would have been burned down long ago.]
After listening to the system's words, Qingyun also felt that it made a lot of sense. However, building a greenhouse was no small matter, and cultivating vegetable seedlings was certainly not so simple either. If the seedlings were cultivated directly in the command mansion and then sold, it would not be a long-term solution. What she wanted was to pass this skill on to everyone.
However, she wasn't stupid. She thought that since crops in China have needed seedlings for thousands of years, it was possible that the villagers didn't know how to do it.
Why not cultivate some seeds ourselves and distribute the rest to the people so they can try it themselves? Moreover, to avoid Song Chaoyun and her group running a deficit, the command headquarters can also subsidize the sale of some of the seedlings they cultivate.
With that thought in mind, there was no need to hesitate any longer. Qingyun immediately went to Song Junwu and explained the matter to her. The matter was settled, and she found a few familiar neighbors and gave them the improved seeds.
Looking more closely at their faces, Qingyun used to think that it was normal for their faces to be sallow when the wind blew because they lived by the desert. But now she realized that it was because they hadn't eaten vegetables to supplement their vitamins for a long time.
Spring has passed and autumn has come, and the vegetable planting has been very successful. Although there have been hardships along the way, we have managed to persevere. Many people have mastered the art of seedling cultivation. One method is for each household to build a small shed. The consumption of wood is very low, as most of the sheds are made by joining together branches from cooking pots. It is not easy to grow vegetables in such an environment. However, now, windbreaks have been erected in the border areas, which have greatly protected against sandstorms. Every day when walking on the street, we are rarely blinded by sand.
The area covered by the wind wall continued to expand, and everything was developing for the better. Qingyun spent her second New Year here, but this year she was not alone. From the twelfth lunar month to the first lunar month, she ate meals from many different families, and her own stove had not been lit for a long time.
Qingyun looked at the potatoes mixed with some brown rice in her bowl and felt a pang of emotion. On the table were some dried vegetables, and the only meat dish was pushed in front of her: a plate of beef stew with eggs. The combination was a bit odd, but it was the best they could offer. She had been invited to dinner by a group of widows from the village; most of their husbands had either starved to death or been sent to the front lines to fight. This was decades ago.
Back then, every family with able-bodied men was borrowed, and when they returned, there might not even be any corpses left. The mountains were high and the emperor was far away, so people starved to death in almost every place. At the worst time, the entire population of Muyun City was less than three hundred. It was truly a time of great suffering. Some people even ate the dead because they were so hungry. Even though several years have passed, the city is still poor.
"Speaking of which, it was Lord Song and Lord Qin who led the troops and quelled the rebellion."
The conversation was started, and everyone who heard it showed a look of relief. However, Qingyun knew who Lord Song was talking about, but he didn't know who Lord Qin was.
"We don't know either, we just know that the surname is Qin. Miss Yun, you're not from the capital, how could you not know?"
Qingyun smiled upon hearing this; she wasn't the original owner of this body, so she certainly wouldn't know.
Seeing this, several women said that if they wanted to understand the name of General Qin, they would have to bring Lord Song along so that they could hear it clearly.
"Do you know that Lord Song is not actually from a powerful family? He is just a young man who joined the army and earned his military rank on his own."
Upon hearing this, another woman quickly asked, "If that's the case, then his surname must have some significance?"
Speaking of this surname, everyone knows that it's taboo to break it. Even servants and maids whose names share the same character as their masters have to change it. The ruler of this land is surnamed Song, so naturally, he wouldn't allow other commoners to share this name. However, it's said that Song Junwu's surname was personally changed by the current emperor, which is truly a great honor. Many in the court speculate that he is actually the emperor's illegitimate son. In that case, Song Junwu has received immense favor. But why was he sent to this remote place to guard it? This place is so unbearable that even birds wouldn't dare to lay their droppings there. For a moment, it's truly hard to understand the emperor's temper.
General Qin was born at the same time as Lord Song. However, General Qin came from a wealthy family. His grandfather had rendered meritorious service in supporting the emperor, but unfortunately his father died on the battlefield. This led to a young man being pulled out to fight. The two were colleagues and close friends, and there are many stories about them.
Unexpectedly, Song Junwu was so powerful. Qingyun gasped in surprise after hearing this, as if to say, "So this is how amazing he is."
“But Miss Yun, you don’t need to be so self-deprecating.” The woman beside her looked at Qingyun’s face with a smile, as if she understood. “Your merits are no less than those of Lord Song. There are many stories about you circulating in the streets. You are quite famous here. Perhaps the news has even reached the ears of the Emperor. You will be exonerated soon.”
The speaker may have spoken carelessly, but those who listened did not think so. Some couldn't help but worry that if Qingyun were truly granted a general amnesty, he would definitely leave, and what would become of them?
Qingyun was unaware of these people's ulterior motives. She was immersed in her own world, speculating from their conversation whether Song Junwu might have some hidden identity, such as being a prince. After all, he seemed to get along well with Song Chaoyun and didn't seem afraid of her at all. Could it really be true?
She was lost in thought when the extra food in her bowl brought her back to reality. Several women were piling food onto her plate, saying they really wanted to thank her. They said they had finally had a good New Year this year; at least everyone had enough to eat and no one was starving. Last year at this time, someone even died from eating potato leaves. This year, everyone's table was overflowing with food.
They would never have dared to imagine this before, and they are truly grateful to Qingyun.
After the New Year, Qingyun didn't have time to linger. She had new things to do. Everyone was starting to plant sweet potatoes at this time, but this year she wanted to plant something different: cotton.
The idea came about because some people were still dressed lightly last winter and managed to survive until spring. Now that food was partly secured, it was natural to keep up with the times when it came to clothing. However, as soon as she discussed this with Song Junwu, she was met with opposition.
It wasn't that he didn't believe in Qingyun's abilities; it was just that after only a few days of being able to eat his fill, asking people to plant cotton again was something no one would agree to, no matter what.
"I'm not telling everyone to switch to growing cotton; what I mean is, to clear out a new piece of land."
Upon hearing this, Song Junwu looked at her and said, "Most of the mountains here are made of rock, or sandy land. How can we plant anything?" The practical problems are there, and they have to be solved eventually.
Even if there is land, it is mostly controlled by the powerful and wealthy, and no one will release it. If Qingyun wants to learn from the reform and opening up, where every household is allocated land according to the number of people, it is impossible in this era. It is equivalent to challenging the imperial power and feudalism.
However, if only a small amount of land is allocated for cultivation, it is simply not enough to support the clothing needs of the local people.
"I don't need to tell you about the benefits of cotton. The clothes made from it are better than what we wear now, not to mention they can keep us warm in winter," Qingyun suddenly said. She already had an idea in her mind. Since it was a feudal society, they should make good use of the imperial power.
You can sell cotton seeds directly to merchants or wealthy farmers with estates. It doesn't matter who you sell to, as long as they have land to support cotton farming. If the crops don't grow well, the landowner will provide supplementary grain so people won't starve.
Originally, they wanted to put pressure on Song Chaoyun, but then they considered that her power might not be that great. After Song Junwu's reminder, they realized that cotton was like salt in this world—a very profitable commodity. Just releasing the news would likely attract a rush of people eager to buy it.
A tattered cotton-padded coat can cover an ordinary person's food expenses for half a year.
“Everyone has the seeds, what’s lacking is the skill to plant them,” Song Junwu said from the side.
"Wrong!" Qingyun immediately retorted. "It's not just the technology we lack; the seeds are also crucial. Your seeds have low yields and can't withstand any disease or disaster. My seeds are definitely better than yours!"
She kept thinking to herself, even though she wasn't very confident about it, but what did she have? A cheat code! A system!
Qingyun was lost in thought and didn't notice the man sitting in the chair leaning back, repeatedly pondering the words she had said: "You?"
However, even modern farmers may encounter various difficulties in planting. With advanced irrigation technology, greenhouses, and pesticides, bottlenecks still arise, let alone in the more backward ancient world of Qingyun. It's hard to say whether there will be a yield within a year.
Moreover, capitalists won't invest money recklessly until they see significant results, but she can't wait. She needs cotton to supply the people of Muyun City by the end of the year, so the problem comes back to the nature of relying on imperial power to exert pressure.
“Perhaps we don’t need to rely on Song Chaoyun. I know someone who can help you solve the urgent problems of the people of Muyun City first,” Song Junwu suddenly said after hearing about the Qingyun Plan.
Qingyun: "Who?"
Song Junwu chuckled lightly, "You know her better than I do." The next second, he continued, "Liu Ruo."
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