The Lucky Farmgirl
Chapter 537 - 526: Suggestion

Chapter 537: Chapter 526: Suggestion

Manbao truly wanted to give them advice and said, "Change the wheat variety, and after the Double Ninth Festival every year, plant a season of winter wheat. It will be tiring, but with the extra season of income, it’s worth it. Plus, the flour from winter wheat is tastier than that from spring wheat."

"Growing winter wheat means two seasons a year, the land might not be able to sustain that."

"Just compost more and rotate the crops. It’s not two seasons a year, but three seasons in two years," Manbao said, "Our village has tried it, and the land was able to keep up."

"The plowing tools can also be changed," Bai Shanbao added, "The plows currently used in Luojiang County conserve more energy. Since you can’t afford oxen, why not get a new set of plows? At the very least, it would make things easier for the people."

Bai Shanbao thought for a moment and asked the farmer, "How do you compost your manure?"

Seeing that they were getting excited talking about farming, the others in the quiet room gathered around, all chiming in with their opinions. Then someone asked the two, "Young master and young mistress look so young, can you even farm?"

Seeing doubt on everyone’s face, Bai Shanbao proudly tilted his head and said, "Of course, farming and sericulture are written about in books, and we also have our own land. After farming for years, naturally, we’ve learned."

Someone laughed and said, "Young master, I’ve been farming the land for over twenty years. If I count from when I was six or seven years old, it’s nearly thirty years now. Wouldn’t that mean I know more than you do?"

"However, our farm’s output is higher than yours," Bai Shanbao said, "Working more years doesn’t necessarily mean you can do it better. Land is the most honest thing in this world. On the same plot of land, the more and the more accurate your inputs, the greater your harvest."

Manbao nodded repeatedly, "Luojiang County is not far from here. The conditions shouldn’t differ much. Since the new wheat variety can produce a good harvest in our county, it should naturally be feasible for you too."

"Never heard of any new wheat varieties. Where does your wheat come from?" One of the farmers squeezed in, pushing Li Erlang aside.

Li Erlang glanced at Bai Shanbao and Manbao, quietly moved over, and sat next to them.

However, Manbao was surprised and uttered, "Eh, haven’t you gone to the grain shop to look for it? Don’t they have unlisted new wheat varieties?"

"We have enough seed wheat saved from our crops; why would we go to the grain shop for seeds? The seeds there might not be better than ours, and they’re extremely expensive."

"True, seeds are usually about three to four times more expensive than the grain. If the grain shop sells wheat as seed, we wouldn’t be able to tell the difference anyway."

"I never bought seeds from a grain shop either..."

"I did, but only a scoop or two, just to try planting a small area to test the yield."

Manbao nodded, "Exactly, how can you not buy seeds? The ones available out there are quite different from what you save yourselves. You should try more varieties; what if you find something that suits your own land better?"

The person who had purchased seeds before said, "But I haven’t seen the wheat you’re talking about in the grain shop."

Manbao and Bai Shanbao looked at each other, both a bit puzzled, "Luojiang County is not far from here. Grain Merchant Wu and others transport seeds from our place, so they should be sold here too."

"Young mistress, you say the new wheat variety comes from your county, but where did your county’s new wheat get it from?"

"From my family," Manbao said. "The new wheat variety was first planted by my family."

Upon hearing this, everyone couldn’t help but hiss and disperse.

Manbao didn’t mind and shrugged before shaking her head, "What a pity."

Li Erlang, however, didn’t leave. He sat across from Manbao, eager to know more, "The new wheat variety came from your family? But I wonder how your family managed to produce it?"

"It was because of the floods in Yizhou. That year, the crops in the fields suffered, but the wheat from our family, though affected by the disaster, grew the best in the village. People in the village said it was divine favor, but I think it was environmental changes that induced mutation."

This was the best excuse Manbao had come up with after learning; it felt more plausible than divine favor.

But aside from themselves, no one in the village accepted her explanation.

"That year, people in the village wanted to plant winter wheat, so they exchanged seeds with us, and the new wheat variety was born. Even our county head purchased seeds from us. Now, the new wheat variety grows well in Longzhou and Yizhou, so I think it should work in Maozhou too."

Old Master Bai and Ms. Liu had also planted the new wheat variety on their farms, and as their farms were spread out in different locations, they found after two seasons that, despite some variability in yield, it was indeed better than the old variety.

So actually, the new wheat had already spread, and not just through Grain Merchant Wu and Yang Heshu buying and reselling it for propagation. Outside Luojiang County, many other places were disseminating these new seeds in various ways.

Since Maozhou was not far from Luojiang County, it was natural for Manbao and the others to assume that the new wheat variety would be available here too.

Bai Erlang made tea for the teacher and also went over to join in the excitement; he was involved in their farm’s affairs, so he knew quite a bit too.

Seeing that they were knowledgeable about farming, Li Erlang couldn’t help but ask, "The new plow you’re talking about, is it the curved beam plow?"

"Yes, it’s called that because it’s curved instead of straight. You know about it, Mr. Li Er?"

"I do. It’s the plow advertised by the Ministry of Agriculture this year. I heard it was offered by Lord Yang, the county head of Luojiang," Li Erlang asked with a smile, "You seem to be quite familiar with Yang Heshu?"

The three youngsters nodded together, "Somewhat familiar."

"Oh? How ’somewhat’?"

Manbao tilted her head and thought before saying, "We’ve only met a few times in a year."

Bai Shanbao said, "Whenever we meet, we have meals and drink tea."

Bai Erlang added, "We talk a bit, so that’s why I’d say we’re somewhat acquainted."

It sounded like an average relationship, but considering the three of them were quite young, and Yang Heshu had the chance to meet with them, dine with them, and talk with them a few times a year, it already seemed like a decent relationship.

Li Erlang leaned back against the wall, crossed one leg, and asked with a smile, "So, what do you think of Yang Heshu’s performance as an official?"

"Not bad."

"Not bad?" Li Erlang burst into laughter and said cheerfully, "Aren’t you afraid your friend will blame you for such a comment?"

"Why would he blame us?"

Instead of responding, Li Erlang asked, "Yang Heshu comes from a noble family, and the sons of noble families tend to be arrogant. Can he adapt to being a low-ranking county official?"

"There are some difficulties," Manbao said, "but luckily, he has money."

However, Bai Shanbao disagreed, "It’s precisely because he has money that he faces difficulties."

"Having money is good. I think Lord Yang spends his money happily, and then we’re happy too. Isn’t that a good thing?"

Bai Shanbao said, "It’s good, but such practice should not be prolonged. There are so many officials in this world, not everyone can do this. He set a precedent, but that’s just one case, and only that. Who would willingly use their own money to subsidize the County Governmental Office?"

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