If you traveled back to ancient times, while others ate Guanyin clay, you would actually have giant

"Thank you, Your Highness."

"You're welcome. I believe you're innocent, but I can't overstep the laws of the Great Dragon. I hope you can understand."

"understand."

The Crown Prince's appearance saved Zhou Wu from disaster, and he believed that since the Crown Prince had intervened, the judge who woke up next would definitely handle the case impartially, and all he had to do was fully cooperate.

Sure enough, a new official took over the case the next day. Since the case itself was simple, Zhou Wu was released without charge that afternoon. As for the original magistrate, he was imprisoned and placed under investigation. However, Zhou Wu had already embarked on his journey home.

After this incident, Zhou Wu no longer had a good impression of the capital. He still didn't know who was framing him, but he had made up his mind to try to come to the capital less often in the future.

------

Winter passes and spring comes.

The snow has completely melted, and Niujia Village is slowly beginning to show new greenery. Although it is not yet time for sowing, Niujia Village has already started turning over the land because Zhou Wu purchased a large number of oxen. The addition of oxen has freed up more manpower, so land reclamation has become the top priority for Niujia Village. After all, no one in any era would complain about having too much arable land.

The fishing at the dock resumed, and the fishermen went out to sea to fill the empty warehouses. Deng Yuanliang also took his trading ships out to sea to conduct business.

Everything seemed to be on the right track in Niujia Village, but news of war came from the north.

. . . . .

"Alas, the Tartars in the north are up to no good again. I heard they've gathered 100,000 cavalry to march south and prepare to fight against our Great Dragon."

Grandpa Niu had just returned from a meeting at the county government office. The higher-ups had conducted political and ideological education for all the villages and conveyed the message that this year's grain production must be done well.

In fact, Zhou Wu understood that no matter what the final outcome of this war was, the imperial court's grain collection in the middle and end of the year would only increase, not decrease, so it was like giving everyone a heads-up.

Fortunately, this war is happening in the north, which is far from the southwest where Zhou Wu is located. I only need to worry about the grain collection in the middle and end of the year. However, according to past practices, when there is a large-scale war, the grain collection will increase by at least 30%, or even more.

"Scholar, have you decided whether to plant rice or millet this year?"

In the southwest, the main grains grown are rice and millet. The yields of the two grains are about the same, but the taste of rice is far superior to that of millet. Although the taste of millet is not as good as that of rice, millet has a major advantage: it is drought-resistant and easy to grow.

Therefore, in order to ensure their income, villagers would generally choose to plant millet rather than rice, which has a better taste.

"Sorghum must be planted, but rice cannot be abandoned either."

Only Zhou Wu knew that rice would become the mainstream diet of the people in the Central Plains in the future. It wasn't just because of its good taste; rice was also the most nutritious of the major grains in the Great Dragon Kingdom. Moreover, in later generations, the yield of improved rice far exceeded that of other grains.

"it is good."

"By the way, Hussein gave us some corn seeds last year, let's plant them this year too. Find some experienced farmers, I'll calculate their wages."

"okay."

Grandpa Niu also knew about the corn seeds, but he never believed that there was a grain yield of twelve shi per mu in the world. However, since Zhou Wu had said so, it wouldn't be difficult to find a few old men to help plant them in their spare time.

This year's spring planting plan has been made, but plans often can't keep up with changes.

. . . . .

"My dear Wu, I've missed you so much!"

Hu Sai was the first foreigner Zhou Wu met in this world. When Zhou Wu rescued Hu Sai's companion, he made a gentleman's agreement with Hu Sai that Hu Sai would conduct all his trade with Da Long in Niujia Village and that Hu Sai would bring him potatoes from his country.

A lot happened to Zhou Wu that year, so he almost forgot about Hu Sai, but then Hu Sai came.

"Wow, Wu, Niujia Village has changed so much that I almost don't recognize it anymore. I can't believe how much it has changed in just one year."

Hu Sai's arrival showed that the other party was keeping his promise, so Zhou Wu naturally gave his friend a warm welcome.

"My friend, you've brought potatoes."

"Of course, how could I forget what you specifically told me to do?"

Hu Sai pulled a fist-sized potato directly from the carriage behind him, which immediately captivated Zhou Wu. It was as if the potato was a brick, a lump of gold, or a beautiful woman, making Zhou Wu unable to resist.

Zhou Wu immediately pulled Hu Sai aside and wanted to drink three hundred cups with him, but Hu Sai asked to eat the seafood from last time. He had been craving it for a year. Ever since he ate seafood at Zhou Wu's place last year, Hu Sai had fallen in love with it. Although he had his chef make this strange creature in other people's eyes after returning to China, the taste was no match for Zhou Wu's.

"Eat as much as you want, as much as you want."

When friends come, we offer them fine wine and food; when enemies come, we have guns and cannons. This is the policy that Zhou Wu has always followed.

"By the way, Wu, someone asked me to bring you something."

While eating, Hu Sai handed something to Zhou Wu—a small box. When Zhou Wu opened it, he found a sapphire the size of a pigeon's egg inside.

"This is?"

Zhou Wu was puzzled. Apart from Hu Sai, he didn't know any other foreigners. Who would give him such an expensive gift?

“Wu, this is a sapphire, but it also has another name, the Heart of the Ocean. It was given to you by my sister. She knows that you often travel between the seas and hopes that the Heart of the Ocean will protect you.”

"No, it's too valuable. Please return it to her for me."

Upon hearing Hu Sai mention his younger sister, Zhou Wu immediately pictured the adorable little girl in his mind.

"Wu, please don't make things difficult for me. If I dare to take this thing back, she will definitely kill me."

Speaking of his younger sister, Hu Sai recalled all the pranks she had played on him, and was immediately terrified.

"Then I'll accept it. Please thank her for me. By the way, what's your sister's name?"

Since he couldn't postpone it, Zhou Wu decided to accept it anyway. He could simply prepare an expensive return gift so that he wouldn't be considered to have taken advantage of the situation.

"Haha, it's really ungentlemanly of you to only ask my name now. My sister's name is Elizabeth Anne."

Zhou Wu insisted on keeping Hu Sai for a few more days, which gave Hu Sai's people the opportunity to have the people of Niujia Village plant potatoes. Since potatoes had never appeared in the Great Dragon Kingdom before, although Zhou Wu had planted them in his previous life, many of his memories were hazy. Since there was a ready-made teacher, why not make the most of it?

He himself was preparing a return gift for Elizabeth Anne.