Chapter 411 - Comparison Hurts (1/2)
It was a cloudy summer day with birds singing. The sky was full of rosy clouds like it was dyed with paint. It reflected upon the figures of the busily working laborers, appearing beautifully magnificent.
On the edge of the field was an elegant and handsome figure, who made the slender figure beside him appear even more petite. The two people were Zhu Junyang, who had just returned from transporting wheat kernels to the capital, and Yu Xiaocao, who was supervising the tenant farmers to grow corn on the edge of the field.
“Look! This is the money from the imperial court for the purchase of the seeds. It’s five thousand taels in total. Put it away!” Upon his return to the capital this time, Zhu Junyang had reported the output of Tanggu’s wheat, which shocked the whole imperial court. The emperor and a group of ministers, who were concerned about the people and the country, were also elated when they heard the news.
The high yield of corn was due to the fact that the crop itself was high-yielding and it was coupled with meticulous care. So although the officials were somewhat surprised at the results, they weren’t in complete disbelief as they were now.
After Minister Liu heard that they had planted winter wheat over at Tanggu Town, he also planted some in the experimental fields at the Imperial Plantation in the capital. The best wheat seeds were selected, and a good amount of fertilizers had been used. They also had experienced, old farmers taking care of the crops… Even though they had done their best in all areas, the yield still didn’t exceed four hundred catties per mu.
Minister Liu and his subordinates had also gone to check out the fields at Tanggu Town. The soil wasn’t as fertile as the soil at the Imperial Plantation, and the wheat seeds were delivered over from the capital. They had hired long-term workers to tend the fields… There wasn’t a single aspect in which they were better than that of the Imperial Plantation, but their fields achieved an output of six hundred catties per mu, which was nearly double that of the Imperial Plantation. What exactly was the reason?
It definitely wasn’t due to Royal Prince Yang. Who in the capital didn’t know that Royal Prince Yang had been detained in Prince Jing’s Estate for some unknown reason since he was young? Even if he went out, he would be followed by highly skilled martial artists. Had the emperor not forced him to take the task of growing corn, he might never have the chance to deal with farming in his life. He was the type of person who only knew about cooked rice and steamed buns, but didn’t recognize rice and wheat.
Minister Liu carefully made a conclusion and comparison. The only difference between Tanggu Town and the Imperial Plantation was that the fields in Tanggu were managed by the Yu Family. He had specially inquired the royal prince about the Yu Family’s farmstead, which was not too far from the eight hundred mu of farmlands in Tanggu. They had also reaped a high yield. The nearby plantations all ordered the improved variety seeds from the Yu Family. The price of the wheat kernels had gone up to fifty copper coins per catty.
Minister Liu had specially compared the wheat produced by the Imperial Plantation and the grain transported from Tanggu Town. He noticed that the wheat grains from Tanggu Town’s fields were a size bigger than that of the Imperial Plantation. Moreover, they all looked like a little fatty and appeared very full. He was also surprised to see the wheat ears that Royal Prince Yang brought back. It was about the same length as an adult man’s middle finger, and it was almost twice as long as the ears of wheat produced by the Imperial Plantation. No wonder the output was so much higher.
If they used these wheat kernels as seeds, would they be able to have a big harvest next year? To be able to reach a yield of five hundred catties per mu would also be considered a great improvement ah! There would still be people willing to buy it for a higher price, let alone fifty copper coins per catty!
In order to make a thorough comparison, the emperor had specially ordered people to grind the wheat from the two places into flour. They were made into steamed buns for the officials in court to taste. People should be content and not make unnecessary comparisons. The steamed buns made of the Imperial Plantation’s wheat flour appeared like a humble maidservant compared with the steamed buns made of Tanggu’s wheat flour.
The Imperial Plantation’s steamed buns were fine by themselves. They were just regular steamed buns with a decent taste. However, when compared with Tanggu’s steamed buns, the results were apparent. Tanggu’s steamed buns were white and plump, and they emitted an alluring smell. With a chewy mouthfeel, it had a sweet and delicious taste. Even though it wasn’t some special dish, people wouldn’t be able to stop after eating one.
For the two steamer baskets of steamed buns, the officials only tried a small bite of the Imperial Plantation’s steamed buns, and completely devoured the steamed buns made of Tanggu’s wheat flour. Two military officials had even fought for the last piece of bun, and nearly got into a fist fight.
Zhu Junfan, who sat on the imperial throne, ate half a bun and yearned for more. Since he had transmigrated here, he had always eaten the steamed buns similar to that of the ones made of the Imperial Plantation’s wheat flour. Without a flour bleaching agent, it appeared darker and had a sticky mouthfeel. It didn’t taste as good as the high gluten flour from his previous life. Today, he had finally eaten a delicious steamed bun that was white, soft, and fragrant. It was even tastier than the steamed buns he ate in his previous life.
This must be the credit of his fellow transmigrator friend. How did she improve the wheat into this current version? Or could it be…that she had a blessed spot to plant crops as her transmigration cheat? Wasn’t it like this in all the novels? Transmigrating with a Realm, Farming in a Transmigration Void, Personal Realm: A Hundred Thousand Mu of Fertile Farmland… Zhu Junfan was immersed in his daydream as he sat on his imperial throne, and totally didn’t notice that his officials were about to get into a physical fight due to a steamed bun.
Su Ran noticed that his master’s mind had drifted far away, so he quickly coughed twice to remind him to pay attention to the two military officials. It was too embarrassing. They weren’t beggars in the slum area, so was it really necessary for them to act this way for a steamed bun?
By the time Zhu Junfan returned to senses, the two old generals, who were over a hundred years old together, had already begun to fight. He loudly cleared his throat, and the people around the two old generals hastily pulled them apart. Seeing that the emperor had a displeased expression on his face, the court immediately quieted down. Only the sound of the two old generals’ heavy breathing could be clearly heard.
Zhu Junfan didn’t know if he should laugh or cry, and said, “It seems like my beloved officials favored the improved variety of wheat from Tanggu Town’s plantation. We do too! There’s such a big difference between the grain grown from the same seeds. Wht exactly is the reason?”