Chen Qing was surprised to find that there was a flat area of land under the back window of his study, about two cents wide, and it was covered with green seedlings. Wait! This is not it.
Chen Qing suddenly recognized it. The seedlings that grew were actually corn. Corn was so easy to identify that he recognized it at a glance.
Chen Qing was indeed filled with joy. He squatted down and looked at these seedlings carefully. He had planted a lot of them in two parts of the land. In autumn, the harvest would be huge.
"Who planted this?" Chen Qing turned around and asked with a smile.
"It's Si Niang and Wu Niang!" Bing'er replied.
Si Niang and Wu Niang are Yu Ying and Yu Lian. When did they know how to farm? Chen Qing was very surprised. They were from Fushi County. They left their hometown and entered the deep house compound when they were young, so they had no chance to farm.
"The fourth lady is here!"
The two little ladies ran over happily and said, "Si Niang, let us help you water the water."
I saw Yu Ying coming over with a bucket of water. Xueer was quick and grabbed the water scoop. She scooped up a scoop of water and poured it on the seedlings. Next to her, Bing'er jumped anxiously, "It's my turn! It's my turn! I want it too."
Water."
She took the water ladle, scooped up half of the water and poured it down with "Wow!", but it didn't reach the seedlings. She pouted and said: "This doesn't count, I have to water it again!"
Yu Ying was a little helpless. The two little guys tried to help every time, but they always ended up being unhelpful.
"Ah Ying, when did you learn to farm?" Chen Qing asked strangely.
"Ah! The official is here, I didn't see it!"
Yu Ying was startled. Chen Qing was blocked by a plum tree and she didn't see it.
She quickly stepped forward and said: "Actually, Aunt Wen planted it, we are only responsible for watering it."
I see, that’s what he said! When will Yu Ying and Yu Lian start farming?
"Is that all you have planted?" Chen Qingxiao asked.
"Madam said to plant a little less, as planting too much will affect the officials."
That's true, there is such a small garden at the back, and it doesn't make much sense if it is full. Two parts of land are just right.
At this moment, there was a sound of "Clang!" from the side. Chen Qing turned around and saw that two young ladies were fighting over watering the water and knocked over the bucket. Water flowed all over the floor and their skirts were also wet. The two were stunned.
, no one said a word.
"You two, hey! You knocked over the bucket again. Come and change your skirt with me. If my mother sees you, I'm going to spank you."
Yu Ying smiled apologetically at Chen Qing. Chen Qing smiled and waved her hand, telling her to hurry up and deal with it. Yu Ying held one hand and took the two away. The two got into trouble, and now they forgot about their father.
Already.
Chen Qing returned to the study. Not long after, his wife Lu Xiu came in with a tea cup and said with a smile: "Are those two little guys quarreling again?"
"It's okay! They took me to see the baby. I didn't know that the corn had already grown."
"I knew they would definitely take you there. The two of them go to see Xiaomiao every day, thinking that they want to take Daddy to see the baby."
Chen Qing took out an ultimatum and asked with a smile: "What does it mean to spend 80,000 yuan to buy a ship?"
"Chao Kun is here. He brings news that a maritime merchant in Quanzhou was shipwrecked at sea. His son no longer wants to be a maritime merchant, so he plans to sell his father's 20 large-scale ships worth ten thousand stones. There are many people who want to take over.
But the Quanzhou government used its official power to forcefully take over and negotiated for four thousand guans per ship. The money may not be paid immediately, but it must be prepared and Chao Kun will take it back."
Chen Qing was overjoyed, "Chao Kun is back from sea?"
"I heard that I went to sea and brought back some specialties. Are they in my husband's palace?"
"I'm going to the official office now!" Chen Qing stood up and said.
"Husband, it's almost noon, let's go in the afternoon!"
Chen Qing was very anxious, he knew that Chao Kun must have brought back what he wanted.
"I'll go take a look first and then eat when I get back."
Lu Xiu stopped trying to persuade him. She knew that her husband was not an impatient person. He was unusual today and there must be something serious. She quickly took her coat and put it on for her husband.
"Husband, will you come back for lunch?"
"Eat it yourself, don't wait for me."
Chen Qing put on his coat and hurried to his official room. He originally wanted to take a day off today, but due to special circumstances, he gave up the rest.
Chen Qing soon arrived at the official residence. Everyone stood up and saluted him. Chen Qing waved to Chao Qing and entered the official room. Chao Qing followed.
"Please give me your orders, Your Highness!"
"Is your brother Chao Kun coming to Jingzhao?"
Chao Qing nodded, "He came to Jingzhao ten days ago. Today he heard that His Highness was resting, so he didn't come."
"Where are the things he brought me? I mean Nanyang specialties."
Chao Qing hurriedly shouted at the door: "Yang Dazhi, you guys, please carry over the three big boxes in the east wing."
Everyone worked together to carry several large boxes.
Everyone moved the big box, and the lid of the box was opened. Chen Qing saw a dozen large durians at a glance. They seemed to be ripe. Chen Qing smiled and said to Wei Ji: "This stuff smells bad, but tastes sweet. Take it."
Give a few to everyone to try, put them on small plates, and tell them to hold their noses while eating."
Wei Ji picked up three of them and carried them out. Next to them were some jackfruits, all of which were tropical fruits. Chen Qing opened another box and found a box of small red fruits inside. He was surprised and delighted at the same time. This was an oil palm fruit!
The king of oils can not only be used, but can also be used to make soap, scented soap, and even candles. However, he doesn't know how to make it specifically, so he can let the craftsmen study it.
Chen Qing opened other boxes, which basically contained various tropical fruits, such as bananas, mangoes, coconuts, dragon fruits, etc. They were probably bought when they were still very young, and now they are a bit overripe.
With the last box left, Chen Qing opened the lid and was stunned. What he saw was a big yellow pumpkin. This really made him overjoyed!
At this time, Chao Qing reported at the door: "Your Highness, Chao Kun is here!"
"Let him in quickly!"
Chen Qing picked up the big pumpkin and put it on the desk. The more he looked at it, the more he liked it. The key is that the variety of pumpkin is very good, large in size, golden in color, and it is an old pumpkin. It can be grown in front of and behind the house, and the yield is large. Find a place to dry it.
If stored in a special place, it can be stored for at least more than a year. In times of disaster, this is life-saving food!
With corn and now pumpkins, even if there are no sweet potatoes or potatoes for the time being, he is not worried anymore.
At this time, Chao Kun walked in quickly, bowed and said: "See your highness!"
Chen Qing nodded and said with a smile: "Thank you for your hard work going to Nanyang!"
"Ashamed of your humble position and finding too little?"
“It’s already pretty good!”
Chen Qing pointed at the pumpkin and asked, "Where did you find this pumpkin?"
"I don't know this is called pumpkin!"
"This is the name I gave it. The melon that grows in the south is called pumpkin."
Chao Kun said quickly: "The humble job was bought from the Nanyang natives. They live on a very distant island. Pumpkins are their food. It is said that they got it from a more distant place, but they can't tell clearly!"
Chen Qing nodded. Some of the natives on the island should have been to America and brought back pumpkins native to America. I wonder what else they brought back?
Chen Qing said to Chao Kun: "This pumpkin is very important. It is of great significance to solve the famine. Next time you go to Nanyang, follow the clues of this pumpkin to see if you can find other crops?"
"I understand the humble position!"
"What else did you find?"
"Beizhong also found some rice seeds, which are said to be able to produce three crops a year, but they need to be planted in the tropics. Beizhong did not bring them, but planted them in Quanzhou to see what the effect is."
"good!"
Chen Qing praised: "What else?"
"There were also a few buckets of milk-like sap flowing out from the trees. I wanted to bring it, but it solidified into a hard lump on the way. It's a pity."
Chen Qing immediately understood that it was rubber juice. It solidified after being at sea for a long time. It should be taken out and steamed, like steamed buns, and it would turn into latex, which is the best material for pillows and mattresses.
.
Chen Qing nodded, "As for agricultural products, I will explain it to you in detail later. First, tell me, what happened to the twenty old sea ships?"