Opening a Tavern in the Tang Dynasty

Inside the palace, all the ministers have arrived and are lined up in the court.

Li Shimin sat upright on the dragon throne and spoke solemnly, "My dear ministers, potatoes and sweet potatoes are high-yielding crops. They are already grown in the palace. It's time to promote them to the people. Do you have any good suggestions?"

Lord Zhang looked embarrassed. He stepped out of the group, bowed, and said, "Your Majesty, we have no experience in growing crops like this. What should we do?"

Cheng Yaojin listened from the side and nodded in agreement. "Your Majesty, Lord Zhang is right. We are usually busy with government affairs at court, and we rarely have the opportunity to go to the fields and plant crops ourselves."

"However, if I think about it carefully, there are several ministers in the court, Fang Xuanling, Zhangsun Wuji, Li Ji who are in charge of planting, Your Majesty."

After hearing what Cheng Yaojin said, Li Shimin nodded slightly and looked at Fang Xuanling, Changsun Wuji and Li Ji.

"Lord Fang, Lord Changsun, Lord Li, Lord Cheng has mentioned that you have some knowledge of planting."

"Nowadays, promoting potato and sweet potato cultivation is of vital importance to the people. I will leave this matter to you to take the lead. Do you have the confidence?"

Fang Xuanling hurried out and bowed, "Your Majesty, although I have some understanding of this, I cannot claim to be proficient in it. However, since Your Majesty has issued an order concerning the people's livelihood and the country, I will do my utmost."

"However, I believe that we should first find some suitable areas for trial planting, explore the appropriate cultivation method, and then promote it to the people everywhere. This may ensure safety. I hope Your Majesty will make your decision."

Li Shimin nodded with satisfaction and waved his hand: "Alright, alright, that's it. My dear ministers, each of you should perform your duties and work together to make this a success. I await your good news."

"That's all for today!"

The ministers saluted and left the court in an orderly manner. Each of them had their own tasks to do and prepared to get busy promoting the planting of potatoes and sweet potatoes.

On the second day, Chang'an Avenue was bustling with activity, and people lined up to receive sweet potato vines.

One of the villagers hugged the sweet potato vine tightly, and said with surprise, "I heard that this is a good food. I have never seen it before. If we grow it well, we won't have to worry about going hungry in the future!"

The people nearby also echoed: "Yes, yes, the court has really done a great thing this time."

Changsun Wuji was around to maintain order, while explaining to the people: "Don't worry, everyone. After you take these sweet potato vines back, plant them in fertile and loose soil, and water them appropriately..."

The people listened carefully: "Oh, the sweet potato vine looks like this"

Zuixianlou

Yuyu looked at the empty tavern and asked, "What's going on?"

Xiaoyu shook her head: "Li Hao, go to the crowded area and see what's going on."

Li Hao ran to the crowd and said, "So that's how it is."

He returned to Zuixianlou and told Xiaoyu, "The imperial court has started distributing sweet potato vines, and the people can get them for free. This has attracted everyone."

Xiaoyu nodded. "After all, if this new crop is planted well, we might not have to worry about food in the future. Everyone wants to get it early so they can go home and plant it in the fields, hoping for a good harvest."

Yuyu took a bite of the watermelon and said, "So everyone is rushing to the sweet potato vines now. Who has the heart to come to the tavern to drink and eat?"

Sigh~ Yu Yu and his family stood at the door of the tavern, looking at the empty street.

Xiaoyu looked at the somewhat deserted tavern and said to Cheng Chumo and Qin Huaidao with a smile, "Cheng Chumo, Qin Huaidao, there aren't many people in the tavern right now anyway."

"You guys should go out for a walk with Li Hao. Don't just wait here. It's better to go out and get some fresh air."

After hearing what Xiaoyu said, Cheng Chumo and Qin Huaidao looked at each other and nodded in response, "Okay, Auntie, let's go out for a walk with Li Hao. It's really boring here."

After saying that, Cheng Chumo turned around and prepared to go out with Li Hao to experience this unusually lively street market.

So, the time has come~

A month later, Cheng Chumo, Qin Huaidao and Li Hao became more familiar with each other after hanging out and spending time together.

"Hahaha, give me a drink."

"Gudonggudong"

"Hiccup~"

The sweet potato vines that the people took home and planted carefully, under careful care, now have tender green leaves stretching out and swaying gently in the wind.

Every household looked at the sweet potato vines and said: "The sweet potato vines have grown leaves!"

"Yes, yes, our sweet potato vines are also like this."

The children gathered around the sweet potato vines curiously: "That's great! We don't have to worry about famine in the future."

"Yes, yes, these tender green leaves can be used for cooking, so that my stomach won't growl with hunger anymore."

The elderly people were silently muttering words of gratitude, tears streaming down their wrinkled faces: "Thank you, Emperor. Now the sweet potato leaves are edible, and I think the sweet potatoes will be edible soon."

Smoke rose from the chimneys of every household.

"This is a good thing, it must be cooked well." An old lady said as she stir-fried sweet potato leaves.

"Yeah, if we can eat this, we won't be hungry anymore." The person who was helping to light the fire echoed.

Zuixianlou

Yuyu blinked her big eyes and said, "Let's stir-fry sweet potato leaves too."

Xiaoyu nodded: "That's fine. I'm free anyway, and I haven't eaten sweet potatoes in a while."

Cheng Chumo was a little confused: "Sweet potato leaves? Can they be eaten?"

Li Hao laughed: "Haha, of course it's edible, and it tastes pretty good."

Cheng Chumo and Qin Huaidao exchanged a glance, and Qin Huaidao asked, "Is it the sweet potato vines that the people have been planting recently?"

"Yeah"

They acted immediately and found fresh sweet potato leaves in the vegetable garden of Zuixianlou.

After a while, the fragrant sweet potato leaves were out of the pot, and Xiaoyu came over: "Here they are~"

Yuyu couldn't wait to pick up a piece with chopsticks: "Chew, chew, chew ~ good, the sweet potato leaves have more flavor, not bad"

Royal Palace

Li Shimin stood on the high platform of the imperial garden of the palace, wanting to relieve the fatigue of handling government affairs: "Come, give me a glass of green plum wine."

Suddenly, the attendant beside him came to report: "Now many people are eating sweet potato leaves, and there seems to be hope for the future."

Li Shimin was stunned when he heard this, then he smiled and said, "Hahaha, good. Although I know it is difficult to see the living conditions of the people from here,

"But since the introduction and promotion of sweet potato leaves, they have been able to take root among the people and add a touch of green to the people's food. I am very pleased."

He murmured to himself, his eyes seeming to penetrate the palace walls and look at the bustling world.

"Your Majesty, the plum wine is here."

"Leave it alone"

Zuixianlou over there

Cheng Chumo chewed the delicious food and drank the green plum soup: "I don't know where to go. I'm tired of Chang'an Avenue."

Qin Huaidao looked into the distance and said, "Brother Li, how about we go hunting some other day?"

Li Hao put down his bowl and chopsticks, wiped his mouth, his eyes full of excitement: "Great, I guess there must be a lot of game in the mountains."

As he spoke, he picked up the wine bowl and drank it all in one gulp: "I haven't ridden a horse for a long time. Just thinking about it makes me feel refreshed."