"Thank you, Miss Song!" Jiang Zhen was so excited that he couldn't contain himself. "I wonder if the per-acre yield of potatoes is higher than that of rice and wheat. It doesn't matter if it's not. The last thing Guizhou lacks is land. When the time comes, we can all work together to reclaim land and plant more."
Song Wan had only been in this world for about a month and hadn't had time to learn about the rice and wheat yields here. "So, what's the yield per mu of these two crops here?"
Jiang Zhen assumed she was referring to Guizhou Province and replied without question, "On a good day, we can get up to two or three hundred kilograms. But the weather has been getting increasingly erratic over the past two years, so the average yield is only around two hundred kilograms."
"So little?" Song Wan stared. It was not even half of what was in later generations.
"That's right! It would be great if everything was like in the south of the Yangtze River. I heard that the annual yield per mu in the south is 400 to 500 kilograms." Jiang Zhen said with an envious look on his face.
Song Wan said, "Four or five hundred pounds isn't a lot."
Jiang Zhen was surprised. "Four or five hundred kilograms isn't a lot. Could it be that the potato yield is even higher than this?"
"The potato yield per mu is generally around 4,000 to 5,000 kilograms." Song Wan recalled a teaching video she had watched before and added, "The fields in Guizhou aren't as fertile as elsewhere, so the yield shouldn't be that high. But the first year, we should still be able to produce at least 2,000 to 3,000 kilograms."
Now it was Jiang Zhen's turn to be stunned. Four or five thousand kilograms?
He has to do the math carefully. Planting one acre of potatoes is equivalent to planting more than ten acres of wheat and rice.
If all the people in Guizhou planted one acre of potatoes, their stomachs would burst and the people would never go hungry again!
"Can potatoes really yield so much per acre?" Jiang Zhen stared at Song Wan intently. "But how did Miss Song know that?"
Song Wan was speechless. How could she know this but couldn't just say it out loud? This made her at a loss for how to explain it for a moment.
"Awan rescued a foreigner in the northwest before, and it was that person who told Awan about the potatoes." Gu Yanji walked in at the right time to help her out.
"Foreigners?" Jiang Zhen was afraid that they were spies from Daye and the Qiang tribe, and his passionate heart suddenly turned cold.
As if knowing what he was worried about, Gu Yan hurriedly said, "Don't worry, it's not from Daye or the Qiang people. That person came across the ocean to Dai Viet. He was surprised to hear that the people of Dai Viet were starving. He said his country had discovered a food that could yield 4,000 kilograms per mu. It grew underground, so he named it potato."
After hearing this, Jiang Zhen's heart, which had been half cold, rekindled. "So he's from overseas. No wonder Miss Song called it potato from the beginning. So there's such a connection."
Seeing that Gu Yan was anxious to help her explain, Song Wan secretly gave him credit. This team member was very considerate and it became more and more convenient to use him.
As a soldier, Jiang Zhen knew that there are always people better than you and there are always things better than you. Dai Viet did not have a naval force, but that did not mean there were no other countries on the other side of the sea.
Since potatoes can be grown in other unknown countries, they must be able to be grown in Dai Viet and Guizhou.
With the excuse that they were outsiders, Song Wan told Jiang Zhen everything about how to plant, how many seeds were needed per acre of land, and what kind of potatoes were suitable for keeping as seeds. She was so thirsty from talking, but fortunately Gu Yan was there to pass her tea from time to time.
But the tea was so bitter that Song Wan spat out the tea leaves that kept getting into her mouth, thinking that it would be better to drink plain water from now on.
Jiang Zhen was shocked by the popularity of this product. If such a magical object could be planted throughout Dai Viet, the country would surely be prosperous.
Yes, it is a magical thing. It can produce thousands of kilograms of potatoes per mu, which can be used as cooking and as a staple food. If it is not a magical thing, what is it?
"Captain Jiang, you secretly lead our people to dig back everything that can be dug from that mountain, and start in Guizhou. As for the imperial court, keep it a secret for now." Gu Yan said anxiously.
Jiang Zhen nodded, "I understand."
Seeing Jiang Zhen's excitement, Song Wan thought that potato freedom would be achieved next summer.
At that time, she would eat French fries, potato pancakes, spicy and sour potato shreds, and the indispensable braised pork and potatoes.
I heard that potatoes can be used to make desserts, but unfortunately she doesn't know how to make them. However, there are so many great chefs in the world, and they should be able to come up with this new way of eating them soon.
But before she could fantasize for long, she heard shocking news: the potatoes she had dug earlier needed to be kept for seeds.
One acre requires three hundred kilograms of seeds, and only a few hundred kilograms can be dug out from the mountains for seeds. There are many fertile fields in Guizhou, so the more of this kind the better.
Thinking of the bags of big potatoes hidden in the cellar, Song Wan felt heartbroken. She had dug them out with so much effort!
But there are too many people here who are not full. In the morning, a thin woman came to buy a pheasant. She heard that her daughter-in-law had just given birth and the hens at home had to be kept to lay eggs for the confinement period and could not be killed. So she wanted to go out and buy a pheasant to make chicken soup for her daughter-in-law to provide some nutrition.
How much oil can pheasant have? The soup made from it is also very clear.
There is also the eldest son with the big beard. He is said to be eighteen years old, but he looks like he is six or seven years younger than Gu Yanji, who is twenty years old. He is too thin.
If all the soldiers in Qian were like Big Beard's son, then this city would sooner or later be occupied by other more powerful troops, which would not be acceptable.
In order to make the team stronger, it seems that she can't keep this potato.
"Let me make a deal first. I'm lending you these potatoes. You have to return them to me when you grow new ones." Song Wan negotiated the terms with him.
Jiang Zhen quickly promised, "Of course I will pay it back."
Seeing Song Wan's reluctance, Gu Yan thought for a moment and said, "Including the five and a half bags we brought back this time, I'll keep the half bag and you can take the rest."
Jiang Zhen would definitely agree, "Okay, I'll listen to you, General."
When Song Wan heard that she could keep half a bag, her mood immediately improved a lot. Gu Yanji was really a caring and thoughtful person in the team who could think of everything.
Jiang Zhen dragged away almost all the potatoes in the house, causing quite a stir. The news that potatoes could yield 1,000 kilograms per mu and could be grown in large quantities soon spread to other people in the family.
"I didn't expect that this thing that looks like a lump of mud can actually produce a thousand kilograms per mu. If it can be quickly popularized, the soldiers on the border will not be short of food all the time." Gu Xun has led soldiers all his life, and the first thing he thought of was the soldiers on the border.
"Not only the soldiers, the people of Dai Viet will not have to go hungry either." Gu Lingfeng has been well-educated now, and his former sickly appearance is no longer visible. After taking off his armor and wearing a blue cotton robe, he looks like a teacher.
Speaking of which, Gu Lingfeng is indeed a teacher at present. Now that his life has stabilized, Gu Chang and Gu Yu's studies can no longer be delayed, and this burden falls on his shoulders.
Especially Gu Yu, he needs to bear greater responsibilities.
"Awan is very good." As a father, Song Zhaoyuan thought for a long time but couldn't say a word of praise. He felt that every word seemed to be missing something.
His daughter's adventure was a blessing to the soldiers and people of Dai Viet.
"If it weren't for niece Wan, we wouldn't be sitting here talking about this now." Ever since the rescue on the road to exile, Song Zhaoping began to admire this niece, who was even more outstanding than her grandfather when he was young.
At this time, Song Wan, who was praised by everyone, was quietly running to the foot of the mountain at the end of the village with a few half-grown children.
"Sister, are there really those bamboo shoots you mentioned here?" Song Yue used a branch to dig at the empty wasteland, but there was not even a piece of wild vegetable.
"Of course there are. There is a bamboo forest here, so there must be winter bamboo shoots." Song Wan said affirmatively.
"Are winter bamboo shoots delicious? Are they better than potatoes?" Song Yue tilted her head and asked naively.
"They are all delicious! When I dig some, I'll ask mom to cook them for us when I get home!" Song Wan remembered that when digging bamboo shoots, you shouldn't look for those that stick out too much. The ones that have just shown the tips are the tenderest and tastiest.
"My aunt's cooking is better than my mother's." Song Rui said honestly.
When Song Yao heard this, she was about to pinch her brother's ear, "Song Rui, be careful! Mom hears you saying bad things about her. You won't get any rose cakes anymore!"
Her words instantly woke up Song Rui, and he quickly tried to please her, "Third sister, don't tell mother!"
Now that the two families live together again, Song Yao has become the third sister.
"The rose pastry made by Second Aunt is really delicious." After Song Wan said this, she reached into the large purse she was carrying and took out a piece of freshly baked rose pastry and ate it piece by piece.
Song Rui's eyes widened. "Big sister, why do you have rose cakes? Aren't they all eaten?"
"My second aunt packed it for me this morning and said it was freshly made." Song Wan took out another piece and ate it, finally satisfying her craving.
"Third sister, mother doesn't love us anymore." Song Rui looked depressed. "Now mother only has big sister in her heart."
Song Yao was not very fond of sweet pastries like rose cakes. She thought this was a good idea, as she could give her share of rose cakes to Sister Awan in the future.
Seeing that his third sister didn't help him, Song Rui turned his gaze to his always gentle second sister Song Yuan.
Song Yuan was gentle and kind, smiling silently beside her. "Okay, Rui, your elder sister saved your life. Are you reluctant to give up a few rose cakes?"
Song Rui: "Then if mom makes rose cakes again, can you leave one piece for me? Just one piece will do, and the rest will be given to big sister, so I can eat less."
He really likes to eat this snack.
Song Wan hadn't expected that this young team member was just as addicted to sugar as she was. She felt like she had found a kindred spirit. She patted the boy on the head and said seriously, "What's the point of one piece? You ate it up before you even tasted it. Next time Second Aunt makes it, I'll save two for you."
Song Rui's eyes lit up. "Thank you, big sister!"
Song Yuan smiled. Her cousin was really good at winning the hearts of her younger brothers and sisters. Even she herself fell in love with her without realizing it.
"Okay, it's almost time. Let's dig bamboo shoots quickly before it gets dark." After Song Wan said this, she bent down and went into the woods.
Song Yue, Song Yuan and Song Yao had never done this before, and they were very curious. They followed Song Wan with a small shovel in their hands.
Song Rui was responsible for carrying the bamboo basket.
Bamboo shoots were difficult to dig. Song Wan dug several and they all broke. Fortunately, it didn't affect her eating habits. She put the broken shoots into the basket and said, "Dig a few more and then we'll go back."
"What are you digging?" Gu Yan came hurriedly and was relieved to see that Song Wan and the others were fine.
"Gu Yanji, are you here to dig bamboo shoots too?" Song Wan straightened up, holding a newly unearthed winter bamboo shoot in her hand that was not damaged at all.
This is the most successful one she has dug so far.
"I went to your house but couldn't find you. My aunt told me that you brought some people to the back mountain to dig bamboo shoots." Gu Yan explained hurriedly.
"This is called winter bamboo shoots, and it can be eaten as a vegetable." Song Wan raised the bamboo shoots in her hand and said, "But it seems that no one here knows about it."
"This kind of bamboo can be eaten?" Gu Yan was surprised.
"This is not bamboo, it's bamboo shoots," Song Wan emphasized.
"It will become bamboo when it grows up." Gu Yan hurriedly explained to her, "Look at the bamboos around here. Before they grow up, they look like the ones in your hand."
This was beyond Song Wan's knowledge. She couldn't even get enough to eat in the orphanage, let alone go to school. She was lucky to have someone teach her to read.
All the knowledge she later learned was learned in the base at the end of the world together with other supernatural people who were born at the end of the world.
Song Wan only knew that this kind of pointed thing that was tender and crispy when bitten was called bamboo shoots.
"It's not grown up yet, so it's called a bamboo shoot. Once it grows up and becomes bamboo, it won't be edible." Song Wan thinks that's the case.
"Awan even knows this, that's amazing." Gu Yan thought anxiously, this might be another kind of food from where she grew up, just like potatoes.
However, he still didn't understand one thing. Since there were foods like potatoes where she used to live, why did she give him the illusion that she rarely had enough to eat given her ability?
Song Wan was very happy to be praised. She glanced at the young man behind Gu Yanji and exclaimed, "You brought him here too?"
"Well, he needs to go out more often." Gu Yan hurriedly used a little strength to pull Qi Fu from behind to the front, "This is your savior."
Qi Fu turned his head away and said nothing.
Since coming here, Song Wan has never seen a rebellious team member, and the one in front of him is the first one.
"Gu Yan hurriedly told me that your name is Qi Fu." Song Wan thought for a moment and said, "In my team, no one can eat for free. Since you live in Gu's house, you have to work."
Qi Wu: "...I can pay the money."
"You are under my care, so your money is naturally mine. So the money cannot be counted. You must work." Song Wan said as a matter of course.
Qi Wu: "Why should my money be yours? You are committing robbery!"
Song Wan used her muddy hands to smear the boy's face in a nasty manner, "What's wrong with being a robber? If I hadn't been a robber once, you would have become the top prostitute in Chunfeng Tower."
Qi Fu was embarrassed and annoyed. “You——”
Song Wan interrupted him, "What are you talking about? Work hard, or I'll cut off your food supply!"
After saying this, she signaled Song Rui to take down the bamboo basket and put it on the back of the awkward boy.
"You're not a three-year-old anymore. You need to learn to be responsible for yourself. Ayu only knew the harm of getting something for nothing at the age of five. And you, as an elder, are still eating for free every day. Aren't you ashamed?"
Qi Wu...it's you who are the one getting something for nothing!
As if she saw through his thoughts, Song Wan pointed out his mistake without giving him face. "I spent money to buy several carts to move the silver, and I also arranged for Song Qi and others to improve the grain cart at home. Besides, moving silver is also physical work. We moved it for more than an hour, how can it not be considered labor?"
Gu Yan hurriedly suppressed her laughter. She knew that only she could control Qi Fu, who still had some awkwardness and slight hatred in his heart.
The late emperor was wrong, but he loved his brother-in-law Qi Fu as if he were his own son.
If you put yourself in Qi Fu's shoes, you will know that he is not a cold-blooded person. He also has deep feelings for the late emperor. However, these feelings were torn into pieces after Queen Qi died of childbirth, so he was in great pain at the time.
Qi Fu wiped the mud off his face with his sleeve, "You are just sophistry!"
Song Wan tilted her head and said, "There are no ghosts in this world, and I am not a ghost."
Qi Wu was completely speechless. He couldn't communicate with this woman.
Gu Yan hurriedly took the opportunity to untie the rope tied around Qi Su's waist. "Now that you're here, live a good life. Ah Wan is right. We don't support freeloaders in our family."
Qi Wu snorted, "You're just going to let me go like this, aren't you afraid that I'll run away?"
Gu Yan smiled anxiously but didn't say anything. Song Wan replied for him, "You can't run away as long as I'm here. Just work hard."
Qi Wu had no choice but to carry the bamboo basket on his back, but he didn't expect it to be so heavy. He was unprepared and stumbled and almost fell.
So he was despised by Song Wan again, "You can't do it, A Rui is a few years younger than you, he can carry it much more steadily than you."
Qi Wu steadied himself, his face flushed red as he said stubbornly, "I can carry it."
Song Wan had no intention of letting him go. She exchanged glances with the others and said, "But everyone saw you stumble."
Gu Yanji was the first to agree, "Yes, I did see it."
Song Rui had always been told by his father that he wasn't as strong as his two cousins from his uncle's family. Now that he finally had someone older than him but not as strong as him, he naturally had to seize the opportunity. "Yes, yes, I saw it too. This bamboo basket is not heavy at all. It's easy for me to carry it."
"Look, everyone says that." Song Wan shrugged. "I advise you not to even think about running away. With your ant-like strength, I don't think you can even get out of this village."
Qi Fu was so angry that he couldn't utter a word. Surprisingly, he actually picked up the bamboo basket obediently and never thought of running away again, as if he wanted to prove to her that he was not weak at all.
Song Wan was very proud of having successfully recruited a new member. Although the new member was not strong enough, he was good-looking and could serve as the face of the team in the future.
With the addition of Gu Yanji and Qi Fu, Song Wan successfully dug two baskets of bamboo shoots. She looked at the two baskets of bamboo shoots and muttered, "Stir-fried bamboo shoots with meat, we can add another dish today."
Song Wan walked in front, and except for Gu Yanji who walked side by side with her, everyone else lagged behind half a step.
We met many people from the village along the way. Their village is in the east, so it is called Dadong Village.
A woman saw Song Wan and her group coming out of the bamboo forest. There seemed to be more green and black things in the bamboo basket. They didn't look like wild vegetables, but more like young bamboos. So she bravely asked, "Miss Song, what are you doing digging up these young bamboos?"
"These unripe bamboos are called bamboo shoots and they are edible." Song Wan did not hide it from them. The bamboo forest was so big that the two families alone could not eat all of them. Moreover, she remembered that bamboo shoots mature quickly and they were not tasty when they were old.
"Are these small bamboos really edible?" The woman came out to try her luck and see if there were any wild vegetables to pick. There were almost no edible vegetables in Guizhou in winter, and she couldn't just eat grains for every meal, so she could only come out to find some wild vegetables, mix them with coarse grains and make some porridge to last until the next year's harvest.
"Yes, the ones that have just sprouted are edible, but the ones that have grown a long way are not edible." Song Wan gestured to her.
The woman was the one who had come to buy pheasant to nourish her daughter-in-law. Perhaps because she looked too thin, Song Wan gave her some leftovers in the end.
The woman didn't say anything at the time, but she kept it in mind. Since the kind-hearted person said it was edible, then it must be edible.
"Then I'll dig some too, but how do you cook it?" the woman asked in a low voice.
"It tastes best when stir-fried with meat." Song Wan thought for a moment and said, "Pickled vegetables will also work."
When the woman heard that the recipe was simple, her smile became even wider. She didn't have any meat, but the jar of pickles at home was still full.
"Then I won't delay Miss Song's return. I thank you on behalf of the villagers."
The bamboo forest is so big that it is impossible for the woman to eat it all by herself. Everyone in the village is in trouble, so if each family digs some, it will at least add something to their stomachs.
Song Wan scratched his head. "That bamboo forest isn't mine. I should thank the person who planted it."
The woman felt that Miss Song was really beautiful and kind-hearted.
Song Wan, who is both beautiful and kind-hearted, once again won everyone's praise after adding a new dish to the family dinner table.
Mrs. Wei's belly is now more than four months old and she likes sour food. Tonight's stir-fried bamboo shoots with sauerkraut is very much to her liking.
Qi gave Song Wan a bowl full of stir-fried bamboo shoots and meat, "Eat more."
Song Wan was chewing on a rabbit leg in her hand. One side of her cheek was swollen and her words became unclear. "Thank you, mother."
Song Zhaoyuan put down his chopsticks and took advantage of the break to talk to his daughter, "In the evening, Jiang Hu sent someone to talk about potatoes. He said he would try planting one acre of potatoes in our village. This place is close to the city, and with both of our families here, it would be convenient for us to take care of them."
"That's all fine. I have no objection." Song Wan swallowed the food in her mouth. As long as she remembered to return her share, it would be fine.
Song Zhaoyuan...
After Song Wan finished gnawing on a leg, she picked up a handkerchief beside her and wiped her mouth. Then she said, "Dad, planting potatoes is not my responsibility. Just tell Big Beard to follow the steps I tell him to do, and he will definitely succeed."
Song Zhaoyuan: "What is Awan going to do?"
Song Wan finished her meal, put down her handkerchief, and replied, "Song Qi and the others are too weak. I plan to develop a plan to strengthen their bodies. Otherwise, I will have to protect them in the future."
Song Qi and his companions who were eating at the table nearby, especially Song Qi, almost spit out the food in his mouth.
They were disliked by the eldest lady.
Song Zhaoyuan twitched his lips, as if he wanted to say something in defense of Song Qi and the others, but when he opened his mouth, he found that he couldn't say anything.
The secret guards he gave to his daughter are indeed not as powerful as his daughter now.
The author has something to say:
A few days ago, the epidemic was serious where the author was, and the community was closed. They distributed free supplies, including winter bamboo shoots, which were super tender. I tried to stir-fry the pickled cabbage in the instant noodles with some meat and winter bamboo shoots with soy sauce. It was quite delicious with rice, hahaha~
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