Farming and reading lady

Li Dong was definitely a capable person. When County Magistrate Yan and his party were brought to him, he did not sit in the reception room and talk with them on paper as usual, but directly led them to visit the workshops. Of course, they could not see the core things. He explained as they walked, so that County Magistrate Yan and Master Sun could have a clear idea.

"This sweet potato can actually be used to make sugar?" Yan Lida was really surprised. He only heard that the sweet potatoes grown by the soldiers in the northern border were all given here except for food, but he didn't know that this thing could also be used to make sugar. What is sugar? It is something that the rich scramble to eat, and the poor can't afford it.

Li Dong asked someone to bring some sweet potato candies and handed them to them: "This is the candy made in our workshop. You two adults can have a taste."

The sweetness slid down the throat, softer and more fragrant than the sugar on the market. Both of them relaxed their brows unconsciously. What a good thing!

"I wonder how much this candy costs?" County Magistrate Yan is most concerned about people's livelihood. If this candy is still only popular among the upper class, he would feel very sad.

Li Dong smiled: "My county lady said that what is taken from the people should be returned to the people, which is more meaningful. So although my candy will be divided into different grades, there will definitely be one grade that will be sold to ordinary people."

"That's great. Your county lady is so righteous." Yan Lida was really happy, and then... "Who is your county lady?"

I haven't heard of the emperor conferring a title of county lady recently? Who is it?

Li Dong was also stunned: "My county master is the head of the Gu family."

This should be known, right?

"Master Gu?" County Magistrate Yan searched quickly in his mind, and then the lines in his mind slowly connected, and then he spoke in a synchronous manner: "One year, because of the master's wife, the emperor conferred the title of Xiangjun on an unknown little girl. The little girl's surname was Gu. Later, it was revealed that the little girl was the young master of the Gu family. Later, the little girl's brother passed the imperial examination and became the top scholar. Later, it was revealed that the rice yield increase method and the sweet potato cultivation method were actually created by the two siblings. In addition, the little girl presented the night-shining pearl on behalf of her master, and her identity as an immortal disciple was exposed. The emperor then conferred her the title of County Master."

The head of the Gu family is the county lady! This is a real blow! County Magistrate Yan and the master wanted to cry but had no tears. He was a small county magistrate of the seventh rank (he was a lowly official with no rank) and he did not even salute the county lady of the second rank. He sat there calmly waiting for her to salute him. Woo woo woo... They made a mistake, a big mistake.

Lidong was speechless listening to this, but also felt like laughing. These two people who were slow to realize things were lucky enough to be able to work in the officialdom.

The atmosphere suddenly became awkward. County Magistrate Yan wiped his face and said seriously, "Please tell Manager Tong that your humble servant Yan Lida wants to see the county lady."

Correct mistakes as soon as they are made. It is a great help to admit mistakes and improve upon them. I hope the county lady will be magnanimous and not hold it against them.

"Okay." Li Dong agreed readily. His daughter was not one to care about such things. He told the boy to pass on the message while continuing to explain the situation to the two of them. He also gave them a dose of super booster: "The emperor owns 60% of our sugar workshop. If the supply is sufficient and the production cost is reduced, our sugar can be sold to more people."

Of course, they can earn more, and then they can go abroad and earn more money. He didn't say this out loud, but people who heard it could naturally think of it.

But whoever makes money doesn’t make money. Moreover, most of it goes into the emperor’s pocket and will become needed by more people.

The two nodded as they listened. The master was still very pragmatic. He asked, "Then I wonder if your city can provide the early sweet potato seedlings? Of course, we can buy them with money."

It's impossible that they take all the advantages and are not even willing to pay for the seedlings, right?

Li Dong smiled and said, "That's easy to say. I have two plans here. You adults, listen to them first. If we cultivate from scratch, it will take a long time, and the seedlings we cultivate will probably be of varying quality. So we only sell the cultivated seedlings. One is that you pay for the seedlings directly, and we pay for the goods at the same time, which is fair and reasonable; the other is that we grow the seedlings first, and after the harvest, we will use one third of the yield per plant to offset it. You can consider it, and if you have other plans, you can also bring them up for discussion."

"Manager Tong, tell me the truth, is the sweet potato yield per mu really over a thousand kilograms?" County Magistrate Yan had a serious expression. He didn't want his good intentions to do something bad. Every grain of food was precious to the people.

When Li Dong mentioned this, his back straightened up even more. He said with great pride: "A yield of over a thousand per mu is rare. The Northern Frontier Army uses the seedlings cultivated by our county master. According to statistics from the two seasons of sweet potato harvest, the yield per mu has exceeded 2,000 kilograms."

"Manager Tong is not exaggerating?" Yan Lida and Sun Jingyan both felt that it was a fairy tale.

Li Dong was not angry when he heard this. He smiled and said, "Whether it is true or not, you can go to the Northern Frontier Army to check it out."

You should know that when General Yang, a tough man, learned the results of the harvest, he was so excited that he burst into tears and shouted, "I don't have to go hungry anymore."

The soldiers even held the raw potatoes and ate them while crying. The scene of them crying with joy moved the spectators deeply.

Seeing Lidong's certainty, the two were extremely excited. If this was true, it would be a complete change for their border.

When they returned to the living room, Gu Xixian, Gu Teng, Gu Xu, and Gu Liepo were all waiting in the hall. This time, the two of them bowed to Gu Xixian without saying anything: "I greet the county lady. I hope the county lady will forgive our disrespect last time."

Gu Xixian was obviously stunned for a moment, then he smiled and said, "It's just a trivial matter, sir, don't take it to heart, please take a seat."

"Etiquette cannot be abolished. Thank you, County Lady, for your magnanimity." The two of them bowed respectfully again before sitting down at the side.

County Magistrate Yan's words made Gu Teng and the others pause. They seemed to have forgotten that Gu Xixian was not only their junior and the head of the family, but also the county lord personally appointed by the emperor. As County Magistrate Yan said, etiquette cannot be abolished, and they should also get things in order.

"Are you here today to discuss the sweet potato planting?" Gu Xixian had a good impression of these two people. The fact that they came here today showed that they cared about the people.

County Magistrate Yan and Master Sun nodded in unison: "The county lady's righteousness is a blessing to Changying County."

Other counties... I'm sorry, his power is too small, so he dare not boast that Haikou can form a united front.

"Your Excellency is too kind. I have only done what I can." Gu Xixian did not put on airs. She would naturally put on airs towards those who looked down on her, but she would just be open and honest with those she approved of.

"If everyone does what the county lady does, the people will all have enough food and clothing, and there will be no beggars in the world." This is Yan Lida's heartfelt thought.

Gu Xixian smiled and said, "I wonder what your Excellency is planning? Will you try planting a small amount first? Or will you spread it over a large area?"