Chapter 363 Potato Harvest

"Ah."

This time, Shen Xiangwan agreed very readily, and his brows relaxed.

“What is the disaster situation in other states?”

"Not optimistic."

Speaking of this, Wei Chengyi's eyes darkened a little: "Most areas suffered from disasters last year. The south and Binzhou were undoubtedly the worst hit. This year's drought has affected more than one or two states. According to the news I received, people in many places have begun to flee."

The imperial court did not provide disaster relief last year, and it is estimated that this year will not be much better. Where can the people flee to? A large number of people moving around will only make the whole world more unstable.

"Ugh···"

Shen Xiangwan sighed deeply. The only people they could protect now were the people of Chenzhou. If I remembered correctly, there seemed to be a snowstorm this winter. What the hell, who is the author of this article? Why is the setting so deceptive? And he only deceptively deceives the suffering people. I really want him to travel here and experience the suffering himself.

The next day, Shen Xiangwan did not sleep in, but got up early. After sending the children to school, she went out with Wei Chengyi. The two houses they bought in the county were filled with sweet potatoes. Then they went to the county government office and went to Xinghua Village outside the city with the county magistrate Fu Qiuhua and Yuan Xiu who had been waiting there.

"The county master is here."

In Xinghua Village, the people saw the yamen runners escorting the county magistrate's carriage approaching from afar, and they all knelt down in fear and trepidation: "Greetings, Master!"

"Everyone, please get up. The county is here to see the potato harvest in your village. No need to be polite."

Jumping off the carriage, Fu Qiuhua said kindly.

Shen Xiangwan and his wife, and Yuan Xiu, who were also sitting in the carriage, got off one after another. They had no intention of stealing the show, and followed Fu Qiuhua in silence.

"Master, this way please!"

The village chief, who looked to be in his forties, stood up and came forward, leading them to the fields. At this time, the place was already crowded with villagers. They were all very curious about how high the so-called high-yield grain varieties were.

"Lao Yang."

"Hey!"

The village chief shouted, and a dark, thin man in his forties or fifties with a hunched back came trotting over. The village chief turned around and said, "Master, his name is Yang Shu, and we all call him Old Yang. His family has ten acres of land planted with potatoes."

"Fuck, I'm here to see the county magistrate."

Old Yang was about to kneel down, but Fu Qiuhua quickly said, "No need to be polite. Have you started digging potatoes yet?"

"No, not at all."

Old Yang was very nervous and spoke haltingly. He had received a notice yesterday saying that the master would come to watch them dig potatoes. How could they dare to move before he came?

"Then start digging."

Fu Qiuhua had no intention of delaying at all. Although he had seen the yield of potatoes dug from his wife's field last year, he was still very much looking forward to it. The people might not know, but he knew that the drought outside had already caused a lot of controversy, and the grain merchants in Chenzhou were also ready to move. They were just waiting for the harvest of this season and then transporting the grain outside to sell at a high price. By then, they would be in a dilemma of food shortage. Only when the yield of potatoes and corn planted in Datong County reached the expectation, could they systematically break the crisis of food shortage for the people of Chenzhou.

The growing period of potatoes is two to three months. Now it is mid-to-late May, and the potatoes planted in each village should be mature. As early as three days ago, Fu Qiuhua sent someone to tell the village chief of Xinghua Village that he would come to watch them harvest potatoes today. At his urging, Lao Yang called his family and carried a hoe into the field.

"It's quite big. This one must weigh at least one pound, right?"

"There are four or five on one vine, so it must weigh five or six kilograms. How many seedlings are there in one acre of land?"

"The government didn't lie to us. The potato yield is really high." "Even if we don't plant a second crop, we won't go hungry this year."

When Old Yang dug out several potatoes that were bigger than an adult man's fist with his hoe, the onlookers became agitated. Even the Yang family themselves were stunned. They never dreamed that such an ordinary seedling could produce four fruits weighing at least one or two kilograms. If every seedling was the same, not only would they not lack food this year, they would probably have a lot of surplus.

"Show me quickly."

Even though he had seen it once before, Fu Qiuhua couldn't help but reach out his hand excitedly.

"Yes, sir, please take a look."

Coming back to his senses, Old Yang held the potatoes in front of him with both hands, his dark face showing naked excitement. When the government asked them to grow new crops, he was not happy about it, but he did not expect the harvest to be so big. This year they finally don't have to go hungry anymore.

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

Weighing a few potatoes back and forth, Fu Qiuhua shouted excitedly.

"Yes."

The Yang family members became motivated and raised their hoes. Under the gaze of the whole village, huge potatoes were dug out one by one. Before even an acre of land had been dug, they had already piled up into a small hill. Fu Qiuhua was smiling so brightly, and Yuan Xiu was also excited. The only ones who remained calm were probably Shen Xiangwan and his wife.

Oh my god, isn't this too much?
Looking at the potatoes piled up like small hills, the villagers were all dumbfounded. There were too many of them, more than they had imagined. It was estimated that the yield per mu was at least several thousand kilograms. It was so delicious.

"I'll figure out how to eat potatoes later, and have Fu Qiuhua announce it tomorrow."

Sprouted potatoes are not edible. This point needs to be specially noted. Although the thing is good, if you really get sick from eating it, it will inevitably be a bit unpleasant.

"Ah."

Wei Chengyi tightened his clasped hands with hers and nodded with a smile. It was also the first time for him to see such a bumper harvest, and he felt inexplicably good.

"Sir, we have dug one acre of land."

There were still quite a lot of people in the Yang family, and they dug up an acre of land very quickly. Fu Qiuhua waved his hand and said, "Come here, weigh it immediately!"

"Yes."

The runners who came with him took out sacks and skillfully loaded the potatoes. Not long after, the head of the yamen ran to Fu Qiuhua and replied excitedly: "Sir, it's a great harvest. This acre of potatoes actually weighs 6,000 kilograms."

"Okay, great!"

Hearing this, Fu Qiuhua jumped up excitedly. Six thousand kilograms! With this output, they don't need to worry about those grain merchants transporting the grain outside to sell it at a high price. As long as they wait for another three months, the whole Chenzhou will no longer be short of food.

"Six thousand kilograms? Isn't that too much?"

"Do you think the yield of corn will be the same?"

"The government has long said that the corn yield is only over 1,000 kilograms, but it is much higher than the millet we used to grow."

"I really want to go back and dig up the potatoes my family has grown. I have planted eight acres of potatoes this year."

When the villagers heard about this yield, they all couldn't help but get excited. You know, in the past, the highest yield of grain they grew per mu was only about 300 kilograms, only one twentieth of that of potatoes, and they could only grow one season, and after paying taxes, there was basically not much left. But this year is different. Not only can they grow two seasons of grain, but after paying taxes, they still have a lot left, enough for them to fill their stomachs.

【End of this chapter】

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