The salted fish couple is fleeing famine

Chapter 350 Lao Shantan
The sharp-eyed Qin Ke pointed to the opposite side and shouted: "Hey, hey, look at this guy, he can crawl as fast as a monkey!"

Pepper likes to climb on tall shrubs, and slaves on plantations have to build bamboo ladders to climb the trees when picking.

Clusters of green berries, a slave with quick hands can pick up to fifty kilograms in a day during the pepper harvest season.

It's a pity that they came at the wrong season.

It's not yet the first lunar month, so there are very few ripe berries that are out of bloom.

To demonstrate to the distinguished guests, slaves from the entire plantation were mobilized.

After searching hundreds of acres of plantations, I managed to collect just over three kilograms.

The picked berries were placed directly on the ground covered with blankets by the slaves, and they were stepped on with their feet.

The meridians of the berry need to be separated from the berry.

After the green berries are soaked, the green shell is removed, and dried, they become white pepper with a slightly less spicy taste.

Those with green shells, soaked in water at high temperature and then dried in the sun for three to five days, are black peppercorns!

Shelled black pepper has a much spicier pepper flavor than white pepper, and locals prefer the stronger flavor.

Same species, just different treatment methods.

Really, I gained a lot of knowledge!
After carefully observing their growth environment, it is not difficult to conclude that peppers like light, high temperature and moisture, and are suitable for planting in well-drained sandy soil.

Feisal's face dropped and he continued to translate for Heiwa and the others:
"In addition to sowing pepper with seeds, you can also plant it by cutting its vines. The slaves said that it is easy to grow and it will bear fruit in three to five years. The pepper vines in this plantation have been growing for more than ten years."

"Faisal, why are you so unhappy?" The teenagers asked as no adults could keep their composure.

"Hey, our big food empire can't grow peppers that are so easy to grow. Otherwise, why would we need to travel so far!"

"Imperial merchants can buy more plantations in Tianzhu. The most suitable and best-quality pepper must be grown by Tianzhu people!"

"That's true. Let me tell you, slaves in Tianzhu are also very cheap. Our largest food merchant family has three thousand slaves in the plantation alone."

Hei Wa and the others only stayed in the pepper plantation for two days.

The growth cycle of pepper sowing, as well as matters needing attention during planting, were recorded.

Faisal's translation work was not in vain, at least it made Heiwa think about the Tianzhu slave he mentioned.

Just after returning to the inn, Master Cui brought several shipwrights and excitedly dragged Shangguan Imperial Physician to report the situation to them.

"Uncle, Lord Commander-in-Chief, Lord Shangshu, we have discovered something good!"

"Come on, come on, sit down and talk slowly!"

Huang Shangshu smiled, Tianzhu has a lot of good things, they can hardly get enough of them.

"Guys, look at this!"

The two men uncovered a statue of Sakyamuni Buddha, which was covered with cloth and was about nine inches tall.

Carefully put the Buddha statue on the table.

This statue of Sakyamuni can be seen to be carved from a single piece of wood.

The Buddha is an upright statue, with a conch-like hair on his head, a raised bun, and beaded buns on the front. His face is round and square.

His eyes are like unopened lotus buds, looking down at all living beings. The corners of the mouth are upturned, the face is smiling, and the expression is kind and gentle.

Shakyamuni Buddha's compassion for all living beings comes to you.

The charm is there and the details are quite in place.

The Buddha's fingernails and the robe on his body have vivid lines and layers, which are very lifelike.

"Well, with such a mellow, soft and long-lasting aroma, it must be the best old sandalwood."

Before Huang Shangshu took a closer look at the statue, he was delighted with the material of the statue and gave it high marks.

"Master Shangshu, this is your nose!"

Hearing Master Cui's words, everyone carefully felt the aroma brought by this Buddha statue.

Hei Wa smelled it carefully: "Why do I think this is a relatively light milky flavor? This kind of flavor is just like milk, very smooth, soft, thick, and also has a sweet taste."

Master Cui praised him:
"Compared with the sandalwood from the Emerald Islands, the old sandalwood here in Tianzhu is yellower in color, full of oil, and has a more lasting fragrance. The milky fragrance is also one of their characteristics."

Gao Huaiyu couldn't figure out why:
"Aren't they all the same wood? Old sandalwood, old sandalwood, just older. We cut them at will on Emerald Island, why don't we spend money to buy them in Tianzhu?"

"Master General, the top-grade old sandalwood refers to an old tree that is more than sixty years old. After being cut down, it must be placed for at least twenty or thirty years. How can the indigenous people on Emerald Island know how to grow old trees? How to preserve sandalwood?”

Master Cui talked about his professional field non-stop, wishing he could tell all the eighteen wonderful things about Lao Shantan.

"Well, old sandalwood incense has many health-preserving effects such as refreshing the mind, soothing the mood, improving sleep, etc."

Shangguan Imperial Physician added slowly. During these days, he had been fascinated by discussions with the doctors from the Dashi Empire.

His trauma medical skills have improved a lot now. Since Master Cui wants to make a contribution, he will go along with the situation and grant a favor.

Moreover, Tianzhu's old sandalwood was indeed of good quality, so he couldn't help but buy a lot.

"The knife skills are excellent and the charm is beautiful!" Hei Wa also feels that such handicrafts, even if they are made of ordinary wood, are worth collecting and carrying.

"Uncle, you have good eyesight! The master sculptor of this Tathagata Buddha is also a senior monk in the temple! In addition to Buddha statues, they also have Buddhist beads, elephant ornaments, etc."

Master Cui, you are so dedicated to Amway, but those who don’t know it think you are bringing goods for yourself!

"Eminent monk? Haven't all the people in Tianzhu converted to the Dashi Cult?"

Today's General Gao is a bad guy. He can get it for free, but now he has to spend money to buy it, which is not good.

"There are still devout Buddhists. Most of the sandalwood most commonly used by locals in Tianzhu is made in temples."

"The sandalwood used for burning incense is loved by the nobles and literati of our Great Xia Dynasty! Even the doctor Shangguan said it is useful for calming down and concentrating!"

Huang Shangshu couldn't bear to dampen Master Cui's enthusiasm and tried to prove the value of sandalwood and it was worth buying.

"Isn't there some palace embroidery? Silk is so popular, how can the embroidery market be inferior to silk? For these handicrafts carved by old sandalwood, let's choose the best quality ones! General, let's first use the old sandalwood from Tianzhu in Da Open the market in the summer."

Hei Wa also expressed his position. Today, the old sandalwood wood from Tianzhu has not been sold at a sky-high price, and the craftsmanship of the eminent monks in the temple is indeed good.

When I bring it back to Daxia, I don’t know how my value will soar!
Gao Huaiyu suddenly realized: "It's good to have a market, it's wonderful to have a market! If the sales are good, I will go to Emerald Island next time to cut down a thousand trees, and the old sandalwood trees that are more than 60 years old will be returned to Daxia! Why don't I just let them go?" Thirty years, we can afford it!”

Everyone was stunned: Sir General, it doesn’t have to be like this. You are used to doing business without capital. When can you change this habit?

(End of this chapter)