Chapter 103 Nationwide Promotion
Three months is neither a long nor a short time.
For the people of the capital, these three months were the peak of rumors that "the Regent's wife has gone mad." But for the heavily guarded experimental field on the imperial estate, these three months were a time to witness a miracle.
In the golden autumn of October, a refreshing autumn breeze blows.
Inside the royal estate, the once lush green sweet potato vines have now covered the ridges, and the potato leaves have begun to wither and turn yellow—a sign of ripeness.
Today is the day to start digging.
Not only did Shen Jin and Jiang Mianmian come, but even the young emperor Shen Xingchen, Jiang Zhan, and those censors who usually loved to find fault were all "invited" to the scene by Shen Jin's order.
"This is what they call... an auspicious omen?"
A newly appointed advisor looked at the withered vines and rotten leaves covering the ground with disdain. "Is Your Highness joking? This place is overgrown with weeds; where is there any grain?"
"Yes, this is absurd. For a few acres of land, His Majesty has to come in person. It's simply... ridiculous!"
The ministers whispered among themselves, waiting to see Jiang Mianmian make a fool of herself.
Jiang Mianmian, dressed neatly as a peasant woman, held a hoe in her hand and rolled her eyes as she listened to the buzzing of flies.
Laugh, laugh as much as you want.
[Wait until it blinds your titanium alloy eyes!]
"Your Majesty," Jiang Mianmian ignored the ministers and handed a small shovel to Shen Xingchen, "would you like to experience... what it's like to dig for treasure?"
"Yes!" Shen Xingchen excitedly took the shovel. "Auntie, is there really something delicious in here?"
"Absolutely!"
Jiang Mianmian walked to a row of sweet potato fields, took a deep breath, and raised her hoe.
"Start digging!"
With a single stroke of her hoe, she dug away the topsoil.
"Crack".
As the soil was turned over, a bunch of huge, red-skinned sweet potatoes, resembling little fat pigs, suddenly appeared before everyone's eyes!
One, two, three...
Under just one vine, seven or eight sweet potatoes grew! And each one was plump, with the larger ones weighing two or three pounds!
"this……"
The ministers, who had just been laughing, suddenly fell silent, as if they had been choked.
"This place... is all of this?" Jiang Zhan's eyes widened, and his beard trembled.
"Dig! Dig them all!"
At Jiang Mianmian's command, the old farmers, who had been unable to contain themselves, rushed forward and began digging frantically, wielding their hoes.
As each row of soil was turned over, piles of sweet potatoes and potatoes, like mountains of gold, filled the ridges of the fields.
The visual impact was even more stunning than seeing gold scattered all over the ground!
"Quick! Weigh it! Weigh it now!"
Officials from the Ministry of Agriculture hurriedly brought over a large scale.
"This acre... of sweet potatoes... weighs 3,800 jin!"
"This acre... of potatoes... weighs 4,200 jin!"
The official announcing the numbers was so hoarse his voice was cracking. By the end, he knelt on the ground, clutching a large potato, and burst into tears.
"Heavens above! A yield of four thousand catties per mu! This is a miracle! This is a miracle!"
Keep in mind that even the best paddy fields yield only three to four hundred catties per mu. This is more than ten times the yield!
The entire room fell silent.
Everyone was stunned by these terrifying statistics.
Even Shen Jin, who was mentally prepared, couldn't help but catch his breath when he heard the number "four thousand catties".
He looked at Jiang Mianmian standing next to that "mountain of grain".
Her face was covered in mud, and she was carrying a string of sweet potatoes. Her smile was brighter than the autumn sun.
[Hahaha! It's done!]
This is my empire! This is my capital!
[Let's see who dares to call me a spendthrift woman now! I'm a money-making machine!]
Shen Jin walked over and, disregarding the stares of everyone, took out a handkerchief and wiped her sweat.
"princess."
His voice was a little hoarse, "You... have done a great service."
"It's not over yet!"
Jiang Mianmian smiled slyly, "How can you just look at it? You have to eat it! How will you know this thing is not only filling but also delicious if you don't eat it?"
She waved her hand dismissively: "Someone! Get the wok ready! Heat the oil!"
...
Huangzhuang instantly transformed into a large-scale picnic site.
Jiang Mianmian personally took charge and launched her "Potato and Sweet Potato Feast" teaching mode.
"The simplest way to eat this sweet potato is to bake it!"
She tossed a few sweet potatoes into the still-burning embers, saying, "You'll see soon enough what 'honey-sweet' really means!"
There are many ways to cook this potato.
"Slice it into strips, toss it cold! It'll be tangy, spicy, and refreshing!"
"Cut it into chunks and stew it! It'll be tender, flavorful, and delicious!"
"And this..."
She threw the potato strips into the boiling oil.
"Sizzle—"
Golden-brown fries tumble in the oil, releasing an irresistible aroma of fat.
"These are called French fries! Kids love them!"
Soon, plates of delicious-looking dishes were served.
Hot and sour shredded potatoes, braised beef brisket with potatoes, candied sweet potatoes, roasted sweet potatoes, French fries...
The overpowering aroma made even the ministers, who had been maintaining their composure, secretly swallow their saliva.
"Your Majesty, please go first." Shen Jin picked up a piece of candied sweet potato and handed it to Shen Xingchen.
Shen Xingchen was already drooling with desire, and took a bite.
Crispy on the outside and tender on the inside, sweet, and with long strands of sugar attached.
"Mmm! Delicious! So delicious!"
The young emperor's eyes lit up, "They're even better than the pastries from the imperial kitchen! I want more!"
With the emperor taking the lead, the ministers stopped pretending and started grabbing the chopsticks.
"These shredded potatoes... are so crispy and delicious!"
"The potatoes in this stew are amazing! They're even better than the meat! They melt in your mouth!"
"Oh my god, this roasted sweet potato...it's so sweet! It's like honey!"
The remonstrating physician who had just mocked Jiang Mianmian was now eating a roasted sweet potato, his face covered in soot, tears streaming down his face as he ate.
"It smells so good...it smells so good..."
Jiang Mianmian sat to the side, holding a bag of freshly fried fries, dipping them in special ketchup, watching the ancient people enjoying the delicious food, feeling quite smug.
Conquering the world begins with conquering the stomach.
There's nothing a potato feast can't solve!
Shen Jin looked at her, then at the mountain of grain.
He stood up, raised his glass, faced the crowd, and looked solemn:
"My lords."
"Now the divine object has appeared, with an astonishing yield and delicious taste."
"I have decided that, effective immediately, the Ministry of Agriculture will take the lead in promoting these superior varieties of sweet potatoes and potatoes throughout the entire Daqian region!"
"Anyone who is willing to plant will be exempt from taxes for three years! Anyone who makes a contribution to promoting it will be rewarded!"
"I will ensure that from this day forward, the people of Daqian will never suffer from famine again!"
"The Regent is wise! The Queen Consort is long-lived!"
Cheers resounded through the sky.
This day is known in many historical records as "Harvest Day".
The regent's wife, who was holding French fries and smiling like a miser, was later revered as the "Goddess of Abundant Harvests".
Of course, Jiang Mianmian herself prefers another title:
[The Godmother of the Dagan Chain Restaurant Industry].
After all, her fries shops are about to open all over the country!
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