Everyone has heard of and done bartering, and is not opposed to it.
"But Madam Gu, the most important thing right now is definitely to fill our stomachs. People are not in urgent need of fruits and other things. Are there other things in our fields that can fill our stomachs?"
It was obvious that these people were not satisfied with just growing fruits, and Shen Ningsi also knew their concerns.
"Sir, I know what you're worried about. It's nothing more than thinking that you've spent the same amount of effort growing crops but the crops aren't enough to feed the people."
These officials, who were good at hiding their thoughts, nodded in unison.
That's exactly what they thought. Why should the people of Wanning Village be self-sufficient and even get some other food to relieve their greasy feeling by spending the same amount of effort?
But they can't?
"Lord Fan should have told you about the potato yield." Shen Ningsi said in a low voice after looking at everyone's expressions.
"indeed."
They were all military commanders, and unlike Wencheng, they didn't beat around the bush. They said directly, "We heard that potatoes have such a high yield, so we came here anxiously to ask Madam for advice."
"One acre of land can produce thirty dan of potatoes, and even more when the weather conditions are good. This one acre of land can feed nearly a hundred people. If potatoes were planted everywhere, the people of Da Zhao would not be able to eat them all."
"Gentlemen, think about this: when potatoes are everywhere, will they still be valuable? Will people get tired of eating them every day?"
"What does Madam Gu mean?"
"Potatoes will definitely be grown in large quantities, after all, everyone wants to fill their stomachs quickly."
"But if you do the opposite and choose to plant fruits that seem to have no value now, they will become even more scarce. In this world, the scarcer things are, the more valuable they are, right?"
After Shen Ningsi finished speaking, everyone exchanged glances.
She was not in a hurry, just waiting quietly.
As expected, someone spoke up, "Mrs. Gu, could you please let me take a look at this fruit?"
Whether it is delicious and thirst-quenching is also what they care about. If it is really as Shen Ningsi said, easy to grow, rich in water, and very sweet, then it is really a good thing!
Shen Ningsi smiled and said, “You will have to wait for a while. After all, the fruit is not in Wanning Village now.”
"Where is it!" they asked impatiently.
Shen Ningsi looked at the person standing in the corner, "It's Shihe Village, next to Wanning Village."
Most of the officials who came to visit Shen Ningsi and Gu Hong were high-ranking and powerful people.
The village chief of Shihe Village is just an inconspicuous person. He came here this time with the mentality that the adults would eat the meat and he would drink the soup. The food that flowed out from between the fingers of these people was enough for their entire village to eat.
He didn't expect that he would become the focus of attention.
Shen Ningsi looked at the adult and pointed at himself and said, "My village?"
"Exactly."
Shen Ningsi nodded, “The climate in Shihe Village is extremely dry, with strong winds and sandstorms, and even the hours of sunshine are much longer than those in Wanning Village.”
Zhang Feng originally thought that Shen Ningsi was talking nonsense.
After all, this woman has been staying in Wanning Village. How could she know what is in their village?
He had worked in Shihe Village for decades, but had never heard of any fruit with a sweet taste.
However, he did not expect Shen Ningsi to quickly tell him the climate of their village. Only then did Zhang Feng put away his surprise and listened carefully to Shen Ningsi's words.
"Logically, you should be more water-scarce than we are. But from what I've heard, the villagers of Shihe Village often dig up a fruit in the fields that's no bigger than a basin. When you dig it open, you find the white flesh. It tastes sour, but it's enough to quench your thirst."
Zhang Feng immediately saluted Shen Ningsi, "What Madam said is indeed the truth. I wonder what the fruit Madam is talking about has to do with the sweet fruit you just mentioned?"
They already knew that Shen Ningsi could gather a basin of water by digging a piece of ground at night. Could it be that she had some way to make this sour thing taste delicious?
"Madam, whatever preparations you need us to make, we will fully cooperate!"
Before Shen Ningsi could speak, everyone had already expressed their attitude. You know, Shen Ningsi is their lifeline now.
Nowadays, drought is spreading across the country. Except for the capital, people are suffering everywhere. The officials are still eating and drinking well because of their stored grain, but countless people have died.
In fact, those who tried every possible means to find Shen Ningsi through Fan Xing did not just want to keep their official hats, they really had some kindness in their hearts for the people.
Looking around now, only Wanning Village, under the leadership of Shen Ningsi, can grow crops on its own.
"Master Li, you don't need to do anything more. You just need to stop the villagers from digging the fruit from the ground."
Shen Ningsi glanced at Gu Hong. He was obviously a great general who was very powerful in the court, but he had no intention of stealing the limelight when Shen Ningsi was around.
He just stayed quietly beside Shen Ningsi from beginning to end, until the moment this look appeared, Gu Hong clapped his hands and called Sanyazi in.
"Bring over what Madam kept in the jar some time ago."
Sanyazi said nothing and immediately turned and left. Li Feng, who stayed where he was, looked at Shen Ningsi in confusion.
Shen Ningsi explained: "When I first heard that there was this kind of fruit in Shihe Village, I just guessed it was a watermelon. I couldn't be sure, so I asked General Gu to go to Shihe Village to dig a watermelon and bring it back to keep casually."
"It should be almost mature after this period of time."
Shen Ningsi said this easily, but Sanyazi and Gu Hong knew how much effort Shen Ningsi had put into this period of time.
While recuperating, Shen Ningsi also had to guide the villagers in planting potatoes. He didn't have much free time, but he had to stay in the yard from time to time.
Move the jar under the sun and make sure it is always exposed to the sun during the day.
While Shen Ningsi was speaking, the people from the Gu family army had already carried the jar in, and Li Feng was the first to look over.
He had also seen the fruits that the villagers of Shihe Village usually ate. They were only half the size of a washbasin and had only light green lines on them.
But on the jar that Shen Ningsi ordered people to move, there was a round fruit as big as half an arm hanging on it, with dark blue lines mixed with green and even glowing.
"Is this the same thing?"
Li Feng was shocked.
I'm afraid Shen Ningsi was hiding something and didn't tell him what he did to the fruit!
Shen Ningsi did not answer him, but asked someone to cut the fruit.
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