They've all separated, so what does it matter to me if they get poorer and poorer?

Chapter 51 A Trip to the Government Office

"You said you obtained one—no, two—crops that are extremely high-yielding, drought-resistant, adaptable to various soil types, can fill your stomach, and taste exceptionally good?"

After Master Shao finished speaking, adding a series of adjectives before "crops," not only did he himself chuckle, but the yamen runners who were idly standing guard and eavesdropping also couldn't help but chuckle.

It's really unbelievable.

Look at this country girl, she's dressed so cleanly and neatly, and she's quite pretty. She doesn't seem like a stupid or ignorant person at all. So why is she talking so outrageously?

Master Shao was both amused and exasperated. If it weren't for the fact that the master always had many ideas and insisted on holding some kind of public award, he would have already instructed the bailiffs to politely ask the man to leave.

Since Xu Zhichun dared to stand here, she must have already made a plan. She presented the bamboo basket: "Master, I brought some sweet potatoes and potatoes with me. Some are raw and can be used as seed tubers, while others are steamed and can be eaten. May I ask you to try some? If so, may I ask the old master to try some as well? This may sound unbelievable, but I did buy these two things by accident. To be honest, Master, we have tried them and they taste really good. Moreover, in Liangjia Village where I live, every household now grows these sweet potatoes and potatoes. I dare not lie to you, Master."

Master Shao was taken aback and couldn't help but scrutinize Xu Zhichun carefully.

This country woman is somewhat different from ordinary country women. Could what she said be true?

Xu Zhichun smiled and said, "So that the advisor may know that the gray tofu and gray bean shreds sold in the market in the East City are my business."

This time, not only did Master Shao look at him with new eyes, but the yamen runners who had been eavesdropping also widened their eyes in surprise.

"Ah, those gray tofu and gray bean shreds are actually sold by her family!"

Someone gasped in surprise.

Of course, they'd bought all sorts of fresh food like this at home. Stir-fried with meat, stir-fried with vegetables, or served cold—they all tasted really good, especially the gray bean strips. Drizzled with plenty of chili sauce, or stewed until they absorbed all the meat broth, they were incredibly delicious. These days, many families buy them every few days.

Master Shao became more serious and nodded: "So you're the one selling gray tofu and gray bean shreds? You're really lucky."

And they even got such good crops?

So he's someone who can run a small business. No wonder he had the guts to come to the government office.

Master Shao gestured for his attendant to take the basket from Xu Zhichun's hands, squeezed the unremarkable-looking sweet potatoes and potatoes, and tasted the steamed ones.

One is soft and sweet, the other is powdery and sweet with a lingering aftertaste.

Master Shao's expression turned serious as he looked at Xu Zhichun: "Are these sweet potatoes and potatoes really so high-yielding? And they're not picky about the soil and are drought-resistant?"

This time, Xu Zhichun was much more cautious: "Master, that's what the two merchants said. They said these two things are delicious, and we tasted them and they were indeed quite good. So we figured that what they said about the others probably wasn't wrong either. I wouldn't dare to deceive you, Master. Actually, I had a little selfish motive. I originally planned to wait until we had a harvest before reporting to the Master, but I was afraid that someone else might report it first, and I would feel wronged. So I came here now. If the result isn't as the two merchants said, please, Master, help me explain to the Master, and please don't blame me."

Since Xu Zhichun dared to come, he must have already calculated the situation many times in his mind.

Just based on the taste of these sweet potatoes and potatoes, even if the county magistrate didn't believe her right now, he certainly wouldn't punish her. It's perfectly normal for a country woman like her to be afraid of being beaten to it by others and to rush to the yamen to let them know first.

Although the village head ordered that no one in the village should spread the sweet potatoes and potatoes, there are nearly four hundred people in the village. Who can guarantee that there aren't any smart ones among them?

The teahouse's advertising might have reached everyone in the village.

If someone else gets to this before her, Xu Zhichun will be incredibly frustrated.

She could make gray tofu and gray bean shreds, so she had some foresight and preparedness. Master Shao didn't find it strange at all, and smiled upon hearing this: "Your thinking is not wrong. Wait, I'll go and report to the master." "Thank you, Master!"

Xu Zhichun was overjoyed, knowing that the matter was mostly settled.

Before long, Master Shao arrived with a big smile. "You're Madam Xu, right? The master wants to see you. Come with me."

"Thank you, Master!"

"Don't be nervous. The old master is always kind. Just answer his questions truthfully."

"Thank you for the reminder, sir."

"Ah."

Seeing that she was reasonable and measured, Master Shao nodded, quite satisfied.

Xu Zhichun was surprised to find that Magistrate Lu was so young. She only dared to glance at him quickly out of the corner of her eye. He was in his thirties, probably no more than thirty-five, with a handsome appearance and the refined demeanor of a scholar.

Given her current status, she naturally wouldn't be qualified to be treated as an equal by Magistrate Lu. As she knelt down to pay her respects, she thought to herself with a self-deprecating smile: "Let's just consider it as following local customs."

Magistrate Lu looked her over and smiled, "These are red potatoes and sweet potatoes, right? They taste good. I've never tasted them before. Tell me in detail how you managed to buy them. Don't be nervous, stand up and speak."

"Yes, thank you sir."

Xu Zhichun had already prepared the story, and he was telling it very fluently, including a very detailed description of the two "merchants".

There's no way around it; one lie will eventually be covered up with countless more.

She's almost become a proficient worker.

Seeing that Magistrate Lu was listening attentively, Xu Zhichun could only pretend not to know, as he was afraid that he would send people to the provincial capital or surrounding counties to look for him.

After asking the questions, Magistrate Lu said, "These sweet potatoes and potatoes taste really good, and they are indeed something I've never seen before. You generously shared them with your fellow villagers, which is truly righteous and deserves a reward. After the autumn harvest, I will personally inspect the results. If they are indeed high-yielding and drought-resistant, there will be an even greater reward. Go back and take good care of the sweet potatoes and potatoes in your field. If anything unexpected happens, you can come to the yamen to report to me. Master Shao, remember this."

Master Shao bowed slightly and said yes.

Xu Zhichun was relieved. "Thank you for your reward, sir. Please rest assured, I will take good care of the fields when I get back, and I will also urge everyone to take good care of the potatoes and sweet potatoes. I will not disappoint you when the autumn harvest comes."

Magistrate Lu laughed loudly, "Excellent, excellent! Master Shao, please escort Madam Xu out properly."

"Yes, my lord."

Not only did Master Shao personally see Xu Zhichun off, but he also gave her the one hundred taels of silver notes that Magistrate Lu had awarded him.

“Madam Xu has done a good job, and this is what she deserves. If the potatoes and sweet potatoes are indeed high-yielding and drought-resistant during the autumn harvest, there will be an even greater reward. I hope that the two merchants did not deceive Madam Xu, and I hope that Madam Xu is fortunate enough to receive this great reward.”

Waiting for the results today.
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(End of this chapter)