Although Zhu Yuanzhang loved his people like his own children, he was still very rational. "That's impossible. Even if our Ming Dynasty becomes stronger and richer, we still can't do that. Our Ming Dynasty has enough grain now, but it's not enough to feed everyone in the world."
Old Zhu's words make sense. Even if, hundreds of years later, various high-yield crops emerge and most people are no longer worried about hunger and cold, the level of productivity is still far beyond what the Ming Dynasty can achieve.
Moreover, looking at the world, many people still have concerns about food security, and high-yield crops and the like do not necessarily feed everyone.
The Ming Dynasty is now peaceful and prosperous, and its productivity is constantly recovering and improving, with grain production in grain-producing areas also increasing. Both the area of arable land and the labor force are increasing, which is naturally a good thing. However, the yield per mu (unit of land area) for crops such as rice and wheat is currently very limited.
Wheat yields are less than 100 kilograms per mu (a Chinese unit of area, approximately 0.165 acres), and rice yields are also around 100 kilograms per mu. A yield of over 1,000 kilograms of grain per mu is simply unthinkable and a pipe dream under current productivity levels.
“I understand that principle, but I’m thinking about the people of the Ming Dynasty. If most of them could eat three meals a day,” Zhu Yunying said with a smile, looking at Zhu Yunying. “If we could have enough white rice and white flour buns, and some meat, that would be great.”
Old Zhu paused for a moment, then laughed and said, "If it were really like that, everyone in our Ming Dynasty would be rich. When we were kids, we knew how wealthy Marquis Yihui was, but we wouldn't dare to eat like that."
Remembering something, Zhu Yunying said, "Grandfather, I remember that the Marquis of Yihui and the heir of the Wang family's great-grandmother's family are about the same age. I'm thinking of having them come to Yin'er's side for a couple of years to learn from her."
Old Zhu immediately agreed. He had never forgotten the kindness of Liu Jizu in giving him land to bury his parents, nor had he forgotten the kindness of his godmother Wang in doing everything she could to send him to Huangjue Temple.
At this moment, Xiao Zhu also said, "Then we must treat them as brothers, and repay those who have done great favors for our family."
Old Zhu was even happier, but he still said, "The favors we've done for our godmother and Marquis Yihui are considerable, and we're happy that you're so filial. But you two should both know the principle of moderation."
The principle of repaying a drop of kindness with a spring of gratitude is sound, but the kindness shown to Liu Jizu and Aunt Wang is already considerable. Therefore, while we can continue to bestow some honors and favors upon them, we cannot shower them with excessive pampering.
Seeing Zhu Yunying nod, Old Zhu smiled and said, "That's settled then. Don't think that the people of the Ming Dynasty can have three meals a day and eat meat. Two meals a day, and a bowl of thick porridge when food is scarce, is enough for us."
It's not that Zhu's standards were low, but rather that he truly understood life; he knew that most people actually lived like this.
Two meals a day is the norm. During a bumper harvest, it's okay to splurge on some white rice and steamed buns. You can't eat like that every single day.
Before the new grain is harvested, people don't eat the planted grain. If a family can eat a bowl of relatively thick porridge, that's considered a good life. Ordinary farmers have nothing to complain about if they can live like this.
It's not that Old Zhu's requirements were low, but rather that this is how most people have lived for thousands of years. Only wealthy families can afford to eat three meals a day, including meat and delicacies. Ordinary people would never dare to live like that.
Old Zhu's words made sense. Zhu Yunying truly never imagined that the people of the Ming Dynasty would be able to have meat at every meal; he knew that was impossible.
However, bringing more food to the Ming Dynasty, so that the people no longer felt they couldn't even dream of having three meals a day, could be considered one of Zhu Yunying's pursuits. Even if the food wasn't particularly good, being able to feed as many people as possible could also be considered one of Zhu Yunying's pursuits, and this could be considered a prosperous era.
Old Zhu led his grandsons and great-grandsons in the ancestral hall to offer sacrifices, which was extremely important to him. This was not only because the old-fashioned Zhu believed that this was a way to confirm and emphasize the status of his younger brothers and grandsons, but also because he had achieved something and could report the good news to his ancestors.
Such a sacrifice was indeed a matter of etiquette and status, so it could not be taken lightly. Zhu Yunying's uncles, brothers, and even the younger Zhu's brothers and sisters could only look on with envy. They were not qualified to perform the sacrifice at such an important moment and could only wait outside.
Patting Little Zhu's head, Old Zhu said, "You and your father go out first. There are still many things waiting for you to deal with outside. Let's rest here for a while."
Little Zhu was a little worried and reluctant to leave. "Great-grandfather, let's stay here. Dad can take care of things outside."
Old Zhu shook his head and said softly to Little Zhu, "It's fine for the old emperor who has abdicated not to go out, but it's not good for you, the crown prince, not to go. It doesn't matter whether we go or not, but it's hard to say if you don't go."
Although Xiao Zhu was still reluctant to leave, he had always been quite obedient and knew that he couldn't argue with Lao Zhu about such things. Xiao Zhu's spoiled nature wasn't just about being unruly and willful.
Watching Zhu Yunying leave with little Zhu, Old Zhu suddenly said, "After you're gone, people outside should remember Zhu Yunying. If someone really wants to be enshrined in the Fengxian Hall, it should be Xiong Ying. You should know that, right?"
Zhu Yunying stopped and said with a smile, "Of course I understand. Zhu Yunying is the Emperor Yingshi in the eyes of outsiders. In our family, I am the Ying'er of my grandfather and grandmother. If I hadn't become emperor, I wouldn't want to change my name. I am different from my other brothers."
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