farm lady

Chapter 100 New Grain

"I've never heard of it. Coarse grains don't grow here in autumn. Does Missy want to plant something?" Tianjia asked suspiciously.

Coarse grain crops in this world can only be planted in spring. If they are planted in autumn, the yield will be very small in the next autumn, so no one wants to plant grain in autumn.And the most important thing is that there is a shortage of food. If it is planted in autumn, there may be starvation due to lack of food in winter, or even famine.

In fact, Yi Xue understands that it's not because the crops are planted in autumn, the next year's harvest will decrease, but because the way of growing grain is wrong.People here basically scatter seeds in the ground to grow food, there is no scientific method, and there is no time for watering. Watering is done when the leaves are drooping, and there are no good water conservancy facilities, such as Kao Village. A pipe canal, coupled with the fact that many people depend on the sky for food, has resulted in low food production.

"Well, I want to plant it, because the things I want to plant are very expensive, and I haven't made up my mind yet. By the way, is there a lot of snow here in winter?" Yi Xue frowned, thinking about what to say about the wheat .

"It's very big, miss, it's probably half the height of your legs," Tianjia replied honestly.

Then you can't go wrong, if the snow is shallow, you will have concerns instead.In winter, when the snow is heavy, the wheat can be buried without freezing. If it is too small, it will be troublesome.

"Well, it's getting cold these days, so let's plant winter wheat," Yi Xue said anyway.

"Winter wheat? What is it?", Tianjia was puzzled, he couldn't even accept what the eldest lady made now.He had never heard of wheat as a grain.

"Winter wheat is a kind of grain. It is better than coarse grain. Don't ask me where it comes from. Just do as I tell you, and don't spread it. As long as you know it." Seeing Tianjia, Yixue asked again. asked, hastily gagged his mouth.

"Well, yes, miss," Tianjia agreed, then frowned, as if he had something to say.

"What? Is there anything else?" Yi Xue asked.

"Miss doesn't know that food is in short supply. In the early years, the imperial court decreed that if anyone can find new grain and report it to the imperial court, he will be rewarded heavily. cut," Tianjia said nervously.

"What? There are such regulations?" Yi Xue was taken aback, not expecting to report to the imperial court for approval to grow food.She used to think that those profiteers might be her enemies, but she didn't expect a giant to jump out.

"Miss, this decree has been issued for 20 years. It is estimated that many people have forgotten it. The reason is that so far, no one has discovered any new grains to replace coarse grains," Tianjia explained.

Yi Xue nodded. It seems that this matter is very serious, and it needs to be considered in the long run. Fortunately, it was not planted early, and it was not spread, otherwise it would be a big trouble.

It seems that he needs his help, so he said without interest, "Okay, go down and get busy."

Yi Xue thought for a while, this matter was so important that she had to be cautious, called Qiu Shui, put on a water-colored soft brocade shirt, and walked towards Wang Yin's room.Now the only one who can help her or maybe help herself is Wang Yin. In her intuition, Wang Yin must be able to help herself.

"Is Mr. Wang there?" Yi Xue motioned to Qiu Shui and shouted.Even though it was her own family, Yi Xue didn't dare to be too rude in front of Wang Yin.In her perception, Wang Yin must be a big shot, as for what kind of shot, Yi Xue couldn't figure it out yet.

"Yes, please come in, girl." A faint human voice came from inside.

Yi Xue and Qiu Shui walked in.Wang Yin was still holding the book, then put it down lightly, turned his head, with a little joy, "Miss, what do you want from me?"

Yi Xue smiled, sat down on the stool, folded her legs, leaned forward, and said, "Sir, I made a pot of good tea and gave it to you sir."

As he spoke, he asked Qiushui to brew the tea and distributed it to Wang Yin. Wang Yin was not polite, took a sip, and relished the taste, "good tea"

Yi Xue smiled slightly, and then said, "I don't know if the Three Character Classic can be returned to me, Sanya has urged me three or four times."

Wang Yin smiled awkwardly, and then said, "After a period of time, at most about ten days, I will return it to you. There are still some things I haven't figured out yet."

Yi Xue smiled faintly, knowing that Wang Yin was using an official tone, but she didn't care, "Mr. Wang, the court has heard that it's not peaceful recently."

Wang Yin was stunned for a moment, and then said thoughtfully, "Indeed, I heard that the barbarians in the north are about to send troops again, and this winter will be unstable again."

"There is going to be a war again, and it is the common people who will suffer in the world." Yi Xue looked at Wang Yin with some melancholy. Although she had heard such rumors recently, she did not get the exact letter. Now that Wang Yin said it, Still feel a little sad.

Wang Yin nodded, and straightened his body slightly, "Young lady is right. No matter why you fight, it is the common people who suffer. And you also have a heart to help the world. It is rare to have your heart. But it is all caused by food. woe"

"I heard that the barbarians in the north are short of food, but we in Tang Dynasty are also short of food," Yi Xue said step by step.

"Indeed, the north is remote, and the barbarians are not good at planting, so they rob food everywhere. Although our Tang Empire has a large territory, we are still short of food. The yield of coarse grain is not high, and it tastes slow to digest. So the Taizu made a decree back then, if If someone finds new grains to replace coarse grains, he will be awarded a second-rank official title and rewarded with ten thousand taels of gold.

"So, if someone finds out, the imperial court must be responsible for the planting?" Yi Xue asked.

"No, as long as the final planting results are accepted by the court and can replace coarse grains, it will be recognized, and the sales must be under the unified control of the government," Wang Yin explained.

"If this is the case, the imperial court controls the food in its own hands, and the government and businessmen collude, and the common people can't afford it," Yi Xue asked.

Wang Yin glanced at Yi Xue appreciatively, "Miss sees far and wide, but I haven't found any new food yet, so don't worry about it."

"Sir, you were sent by the imperial court?" Yi Xue asked with a smile.

Wang Yin's expression tightened, and then he smiled, muttering in his heart, he didn't seem to show any flaws, this girl is indeed extremely intelligent, "Why do you ask such a question?"

Yi Xue chuckled, "Mister, why hide it? With such knowledge, but no longer an official in the court, it makes people suspicious."

"That's because the imperial court is also in deep water, so I want to swim ashore," Wang Yin said with a smile.

"But sir, I still send the letter. Although I don't know who to send it to, the way of sealing it is worth considering," Yi Xue said with a smile.

Wang Yin looked at Yi Xue in horror, knowing that he could not escape Yi Xue's eyes when he sent letters every ten days, but he did not expect that she would even notice such details.

There are three types of letters from the imperial court, top secret, secret, and secret. Top secret is generally an expedited secret letter to the emperor, secret is a secret letter to princes and ministers, and secret is a general letter.

"How did the girl know?" Wang Yin asked interestedly, he was becoming more and more ignorant of Yi Xue.

Yi Xue smiled faintly, "I won't talk about it at this time, Mr. Provincial is uneasy."

"Then I would like to thank the girl for keeping the secret for me." Wang Yin nodded, this girl's heart is really strong, she can't stop.

"In this way, the master can help the little girl," Yi Xue said with a smile.

Wang Yin asked curiously, "I don't know what the girl wants from me?"

"Food is new food." Yi Xue exploded a bomb.

"What?" Wang Yin stood up suddenly, stared at Yi Xue closely, and asked in shock, "You mean new food?"

He couldn't believe that the little girl in front of him actually said such shocking words, he even wondered if he heard it wrong just now.

"Yes, it's new grain, but it hasn't been planted yet, so I'm going to try planting it this year, and I'll see the results next year," said Yi Xue.

"That means you don't have any evidence that this kind of grain can replace coarse grain?" Wang Yin asked with a frown.

"Yes, but this kind of grain is a hundred times more delicious than coarse grain," Yi Xue answered affirmatively.

Wang Yin pondered, stood up slowly, took a deep breath, and then said, "Miss, can you prove it to me? I want to see something, make sure"

Yi Xue nodded, "Of course it's possible. I come to see you, sir, and I trust you very much. Sir, please come with me."

Yi Xue avoided everyone, and took Wang Yin into the cellar. The cellar was very dry, and there were several sacks of wheat seeds inside.Neat yards aside.Yi Xue got it back from Kao Mountain and kept it here.

Wang Yin looked at the wheat, which was golden in color and smaller than coarse grains. Putting it in front of his nose, it had a faint fragrance.Put a few in your mouth, chew a bit, a fragrant sweetness.

"That's right, it tastes good, but it doesn't have the chewiness of whole grains," Wang Yin said regretfully.

"Sir, you are wrong about this, this food is not eaten like this," Yi Xue said with a smile.She knows that there are two ways to eat coarse grains, one is fried and the other is boiled. It is said that someone tried to innovate noodles, but found that the flour content in it was very low, and the price of the final flour was too high. Even those big families can't afford it.Therefore, coarse grain flour cannot be promoted anymore. Except for a few supplying princes and nobles, ordinary people dare not eat it.

"Is there any other way to eat?" Wang Yin asked hastily.

Yi Xue nodded, and said with a smile, "Mr. Wang, then I'll grind out a part and let you taste it, and you'll know."

Wang Yin was pleasantly surprised, but then said, "This matter must be kept extremely secret. If it is leaked, you will be beheaded."

Yi Xue looked at Wang Yin, and then said with a smile, "Sir, what you said is true, but you need your help in this matter. I'm afraid that the officials will come to your door. I'm a weak woman, so I'm afraid." Yi Xue hesitated to speak.

(End of this chapter)