Chapter 279: Harvesting Food (2)

The corn yield that Shen Xiangwan described was indeed shocking, but before they saw it with their own eyes, they were just shocked. Moreover, the corn yield could only be counted after the corn cobs were dried and the corn kernels were plucked off. They would definitely not be able to see it today. After they were almost shocked, Shen Xiangwan stopped talking and directly asked Wu Youfu and his son to take a few strong laborers in the village to dig potatoes first.

"Wow, what a big one."

"This one must be one or two kilograms, right? There are four or five on one seedling, so it must be five or six kilograms, right?"

“How many seedlings can be grown per acre?”

"What on earth is this? Will the yield be higher than corn?"

When Wu Youfu dug out several potatoes bigger than an adult man's fist with a hoe, everyone became agitated again, regardless of the presence of Fu Qiuhua and other officials. Even Zhao Dashan could not help but be stunned. Although he had known for a long time that the Wei family planted a new variety of grain, he never dreamed that such an ordinary seedling would produce four or five fruits weighing at least one or two kilograms. If every seedling was the same, how many fruits would this acre of land produce?
"Mrs. Wei, what is this again?"

After a brief moment of stunned silence, Fu Qiuhua pointed at the potatoes dug out from the ground and asked, his tone and expression unable to conceal his nervousness. His intuition told him that the yield of these lumps of earth-like fruits would definitely be amazing.

"This is a potato. It can be used as a vegetable or a staple food. It is not picky about the soil and can be grown on anything. The yield per mu is 6,000 to 8,000 kilograms."

"real?!"

Shen Xiangwan said it easily, but Fu Qiuhua couldn't help jumping up. Six to eight thousand kilograms, which is dozens of times the current grain output. If it is true, then in a year or two, no one in Chenzhou will go hungry anymore. This is simply divine food.

"Ah."

The potatoes were already being dug, and the specific output would soon be counted. Shen Xiangwan had no intention of explaining in detail, but just smiled and nodded.

"Quick, show me."

Seeing this, Fu Qiuhua no longer cared about being reserved and excitedly jumped into the field again. Judging from the fact that so many potatoes could be dug out from just one seedling, the yield she talked about should not be too exaggerated. How could he not be excited?
"Yes, yes, sir, please take a look."

Hearing this, Wu Youfu hurriedly held the potatoes in both hands and placed them in front of him, his face showing naked excitement. Although he had heard from his wife that the yields of potatoes and sweet potatoes were very high, with the yield per mu reaching five to six thousand kilograms, but actually seeing it was another matter. The shock was completely indescribable.

"Okay, okay, okay, dig, keep digging, I want to know the exact yield per mu."

After taking the potato and looking at it carefully, he weighed it back and forth in his hands. Fu Qiuhua cheered repeatedly, and was so excited that he couldn't express it in words.

"Yes."

He looked at him and then at his wife, and after getting her nod, Wu Youfu turned around and started digging again with his son and several strong laborers.

Facing everyone's gaze, huge potatoes were dug out one by one. Before an acre of land was dug up, a small hill had already been piled up next to it. Fu Qiuhua and the officials from the county government were grinning so hard that their faces were about to break. The heads of the neighborhood and villages from all over the place became more and more excited as they watched, and they could not hide their envy and jealousy on their faces. There were too many of them, more than they had imagined. It was estimated to be several thousand kilograms. It was so delicious.

"Ma'am, sir, the potatoes are all dug."

The sand was dug very quickly, and since they were all strong laborers, an acre of land was dug very quickly. Looking at the mountain of potato lumps, everyone's face turned red with excitement. The only one who didn't react was probably Shen Xiangwan. All the seeds in her space were selected grain varieties, and this yield was already considered low.

"Come here, weigh it immediately."

"Yes."

Fu Qiuhua waved his hand, and the runners who came with him took out sacks and skillfully loaded the potatoes. Not long after, the head of the yamen replied excitedly: "Sir, a good harvest, a great harvest, this acre of potatoes actually yielded 6,200 kilograms."

"Okay, great."

Upon hearing this, Fu Qiuhua was so excited that he almost jumped up. More than 6,000 kilograms! Once the planting is promoted next year, the people will never go hungry again.

"Six thousand two hundred kilograms? Oh my god, this is too scary."

"Okay, okay, we won't have to worry about going hungry anymore." "Sir, can we grow potatoes next year? Where can we buy the seeds?"

"grown ups···"

Hearing this yield, everyone became even more excited, some people couldn't help wiping away tears, and asked to plant potatoes next year. Due to geographical reasons, not only was only one crop grown in Chenzhou, the land was also generally not very fertile. The highest yield per mu was no more than two or three hundred kilograms, and most of the time it was more than one hundred kilograms. After paying taxes to the court, there was basically not much left. As a result, their lives had always been very difficult, with people starving to death every year. Now that they had potatoes, no matter whether they tasted good or not, at least they didn't have to worry about going hungry anymore.

"Don't worry, there is still a high-yield crop that has not been dug up yet."

After the excitement, Fu Qiuhua looked at Shen Xiangwan and Yuan Xiu, then spoke loudly while standing on the ridge.

Although everyone was very anxious and wanted to know how to obtain potato seeds and how to plant them, they had to hold back after hearing what he said. Shen Xiangwan gave Wu Youfu a look, and the latter understood and immediately took his son and several strong laborers in the village to start digging.

"What is this? It's not quite the same as a potato, but it's not smaller than a potato, and there are a lot of them."

“Isn’t its yield inferior to that of potatoes?”

"There are so many. I really want to go and dig them myself."

"Immortal food, this must be the immortal food given to us by God."

Seeing the sweet potatoes gradually piled up into a small hill, everyone started talking in shock again. Perhaps because of the shock of the potatoes, Fu Qiuhua did not lose his composure this time. Instead, he whispered to Shen Xiangwan. Mainly, he asked questions and Shen Xiangwan answered. While Wu Youfu and the others were digging, he learned almost everything he should and should not know.

"Sir, this acre of sweet potatoes weighs seven thousand kilograms!"

"what?!"

When the yamen runners counted the sweet potato production, everyone exclaimed uncontrollably. Even though they were mentally prepared, Fu Qiuhua still swallowed in shock. There were too many, so many that it was hard to imagine. If he hadn't seen it with his own eyes, he would not believe it even if he was beaten to death.

"Everyone listen to me."

Before everyone else could explode, Fu Qiuhua stepped out again. After making sure everyone's attention was focused on him, he continued, "I believe everyone has seen that the yields of potatoes and sweet potatoes are very high. Although the yields of corn cannot be counted now, they are not low. I just learned from Madam Wei that the growth cycles of sweet potatoes and corn are both about three months, while potatoes only need more than two months. We can cooperate and plant two consecutive seasons next year."

"Of course, I also know that although everyone has a lot of land, it is relatively thin. I am worried that planting two crops will affect the harvest next year. I have also asked about this. Madam Wei and her team have come up with many methods to fertilize the land. When I go back, I will have someone sort them out and send them to each village one by one. I hope that all the headmen and village heads can work with me to lead the people to prepare for large-scale planting of high-yield grains next year."

"Regarding the issue of seeds, Madam Wei is kind-hearted and is willing to provide them for free in the early stage. You only need to go to the county government office to collect them. However, after you harvest, the seeds you received for free need to be returned to the Wei family. If everyone has no objection, this is settled."

After this incident, Fu Qiuhua respected their lady from the bottom of his heart. The promotion of new grain varieties is often very difficult. No matter how good their words are, people will not buy it until they see it with their own eyes. But look now, they are already scrambling to plant potatoes and sweet potatoes.

"Really?"

Everyone was in disbelief. In the early stage, the Wei family was willing to provide grain seeds for free? They thought that they would have to pay a heavy price to get the seeds. Moreover, the government would help them solve the problem of too thin land. This was simply a godsend.

"Of course I really do. I guarantee it with my official hat."

Fu Qiuhua nodded with a smile on her face and promised.

"Thank you, sir, and thank you, Madam Wei!"

"Thank you, sir, and thank you, Madam Wei!"

Upon hearing this, no one knew who took the lead, but the heads of the villages and neighborhoods all knelt down and thanked them in unison. Fu Qiuhua turned around and exchanged glances with Shen Xiangwan and Yuan Xiu, and the three of them laughed at the same time. In this way, at least Datong County can make full preparations for large-scale planting of potatoes, sweet potatoes and corn next year.

【End of this chapter】

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