"oh?"
Zhu Di nodded with some satisfaction, "In the past two years, my Ming Dynasty has been busy conquering the Mongols in the Northern Yuan Dynasty, and often needs to recruit a large number of laborers, which will inevitably delay the farming work.
Farmers like my father-in-law can eat well, which is already very good! "
"Thanks to His Highness King Yan and Guo Changshi for this matter!"
Speaking of this, Xu Liangan was filled with gratitude.
"Otherwise, three years ago, His Highness King Yan asked us and other farmers to open up their fields and Guo Changshi helped us borrow grain and farm tools from His Highness King Yan...
Let me wait for these farmers. Each family has more than ten acres of fields, and some families even have thirty or forty acres of fields... Otherwise, I might really go hungry after waiting for two years! "
"Yes, we have also heard about Wanping County! In the entire Beiping Prefecture, among the seven counties and four prefectures, the people of Wanping County have cultivated the most fields...
But you have so much land, how do you cultivate it? "
"What this noble man doesn't know is that there are more than two thousand cattle on the farm of His Royal Highness King Yan.
Every spring plowing time, we, the people of Beiping Prefecture, if we don’t have cattle at home, can rent the cattle from His Highness King Yan’s farm, and the price is not expensive..."
"I see!"
"Moreover, that Guo Changshi is still in charge of the wool workshop and cotton workshop in Prince Yan's mansion!
These two workshops allow the women in Wanping County to make some money in winter.
As for us young men in Wanping County, we can burn cement, mine, collect river sand, break small stones, dig coal, or lay roads...
In short, that Guo Changshi can always help people like me find jobs that can make money to support their families in winter...
Therefore, as long as you are not a lazy person, you can have enough food at home! "
"That Guo Changshi of Prince Yan's Palace is really a good official!"
"Isn't that right...His Royal Highness King Yan is also wise and trusts Guo Changshi very much!"
"Um?"
Suddenly, Zhu Di seemed to see something, and a look of surprise flashed in his eyes. He pointed to a large piece of red pepper spread in a courtyard and asked, "Do you also grow peppers?"
"The noble man also knows chili peppers?"
This time, it was Xu Liangan's turn to look surprised.
Zhu Di said: "Chili peppers are grown at Yanwangfu Farm. They have the most spicy taste and can only be used for cooking!"
Hearing this, Xu Liangan couldn't help but look solemn, then he took a serious look at Zhu Di, Guo An and others, and bowed respectfully.
"It turns out that you are our own people, but I am ignorant, so I ask some nobles to take care of you!"
"One of our own?"
Zhu Di was stunned for a moment, then grinned. It was the first time he heard such interesting remarks.
"Exactly!"
Xu Liangan's attitude became much closer when he spoke, unlike just now, when he had been talking nonsense to Zhu Di.
"Nowadays, most people outside, whether they are businessmen or officials, only know that chili peppers are the most delicious in cooking. They only eat chopped or mashed chili peppers, but they have never seen chili peppers. 's true appearance.
Only the people from Prince Yan's Mansion or our own people in Wanping County know the appearance of chili peppers. "
"..."
Zhu Di couldn't help but glance at Guo An strangely.
Guo An quickly lowered his head, cupped his hands slightly, and explained.
“Whether these peppers are sold to wealthy merchants or to Sichuan, those people will like them and buy them at high prices.
Farmers in Wanping County will grow some peppers. If they don't want to eat them, they can sell them directly to the shops or caravans under Prince Yan's Mansion. They can also make some small money from these peppers. "
"May I ask who this noble person is?"
Xu Liangan's expression changed again, and he saluted Guo An respectfully.
These few people in front of me are not only my own people, but they may even be nobles from Prince Yan's palace.
Because, as for peppers, it seems that only the people in Wanping County are currently planting them, and even in Daxing County next door, there are only a few villages that are planting them.
As for the cultivation and sale of peppers, farmers like them don't know that much.
Zhu Di ignored Xu Liangan's inquiry and continued to ask curiously.
“How much can these peppers cost?”
Guo An thought for a while and said slowly: "It should be a pound of minced chili pepper."
"So expensive?"
Zhu Di's face was startled again.
“Not expensive!”
Guo An shook his head slightly, "Ship these peppers to Korea or Sichuan, and the price will be even higher."
On the side, Xu Liangan's face froze.
At this moment, Zhu Di kept walking forward and did not notice Xu Liangan's expression.
When I looked in front of me, I saw a family cutting red hot peppers into two pieces, pouring out the seeds and setting them aside.
Then put the remaining peppers into a hot pot and stir-fry, then pour them out and mash them in a stone mortar.
Even though they were far away, Zhu Di, Guo An and others could still smell a pungent and spicy smell.
Zhu Di asked curiously again: "My father-in-law, what are you doing?"
"this……"
Xu Liangan couldn't help but hesitate.
Seeing Xu Liangan's suspicion, Guo An explained: "These are the chili peppers that have been speculated and crushed. As for the chili seeds, they are saved so that we can continue to plant chili peppers next year.
Alternatively, these pepper seeds can be sold to farmers in surrounding states and counties.
In recent years, there are not many peppers in Beiping Prefecture, and there is also a shortage of pepper seeds. The pepper seeds can also be sold at a very high price!
Even a pound of chili seeds can be sold for four to five dollars. "
"I see!"
Zhu Di's face was filled with relief.
But at this moment, the doubts in Xu Liangan's eyes were even more intense.
The two people in front of me are too weird. One seems to know everything, but they don't know much.
And the one who has never shown up clearly understands everything. He seems to be a steward of Prince Yan's palace?
Um?
Thinking of something, Xu Liangan's eyes couldn't help but widen.
On the side, Zhu Di continued to walk.
We walked all the way to the best house, which seemed to be the home of the village chief, Xu Liangan. The four spacious houses seemed to have been recently renovated.
There are also some newly added furniture in the house.
Even the wooden stools seemed new.
Zhu Di nodded slightly, "My father-in-law, are all your houses and furniture newly purchased?"
"This noble man has such good eyesight!"
Xu Liang'an quickly replied, "A month ago, the little old man just told his second son in the family about a wife. After half a month, when the family's fields are not busy, he can marry her."
Zhu Di's eyes lit up, "Congratulations, father-in-law, good things are coming for the family, maybe we can have a baby next year."
Xu Liang'an grinned, "Hey, thank you for your blessing, sir. All this is thanks to His Highness King Yan and Guo Changshi."
"oh?"
Zhu Di looked curious again, "What does your son marrying a wife have to do with King Yan and that Guo Changshi?"
Xu Liang'an said: "This noble man doesn't know something. Three or four years ago, we farmers were so poor that we didn't even have enough to eat, let alone marry a wife.
This year, the second youngest son in the villain's family can marry a wife. The villain's family has more fields and can feed so many people.
Moreover, our Wanping County has received the most care from Guo Changshi. We, the people of Wanping County, are the quickest to know about many things that make money. Our Wanping County is also the richest county in Beiping Prefecture...
Therefore, many women from other counties are rushing to marry into Wanping County..."
"I see!"
Zhu Di nodded slightly and did not look at Guo An.
"So, my father-in-law is living a relatively prosperous life now."
Seeing that Zhu Di didn't even visit Guo An, Xu Liangan felt a flash of disappointment, but he continued: "The lives of farmers like this villain are indeed much richer than before.
The daughter-in-law of the eldest son in the little family was also married last year. "
"With two wives in a row, my father-in-law's family is not only rich!"
Zhu Di glanced at Xu Liang'an in surprise and asked, "The grain store under Prince Yan's Mansion collected grain a few days ago. I wonder how much grain my father-in-law sold!"
Xu Liangan sighed softly, "It makes the noble man laugh. The young man's family has a large population, and he will marry another daughter-in-law this year, so he only sold more than three hundred kilograms of grain this time."
Zhu Di was surprised again and asked: "After selling so much, do you have enough food in your family to eat?"
Xu Liangan said quickly: "Thank you, noble man. I have just enough food at home. If you don't have enough food, you can buy some more."
Anyway, after the autumn harvest, there isn't much going on in the fields. The little old man and the whole family can do some work for Prince Yan's Mansion and earn some money! "
"That's good."
Zhu Di nodded with satisfaction.
"My noble man, please sit down and take a rest."
"good!"
Zhu Di didn't show any politeness, and sat on the stool nearby regardless of whether it was dirty or not.
As for Guo An, although he also sat down, he did not take off his hat.
Afterwards, Zhu Di chatted with Xu Liang'an for a while. After learning that the conditions of the farmers in the entire village were similar to Xu Liang'an, Zhu Di said goodbye with satisfaction.
After Zhu Di and others were sent out of the village, no one could be seen.
Xu Liang'an's mother-in-law and son couldn't help complaining.
"Dad, although these nobles are from Beiping City, but I don't know their identities, why do you tell everyone about everything?"
"Yes, his father, the village chief and the others have told us many times not to talk about our family situation to these outsiders!"
"Dad, you used to call us every day and not say anything to outsiders, but today you reveal everything to the public. You wish you could tell them how much money our family has..."
"Okay, you know nothing!"
Xu Liangan said directly, "Didn't you see that the noble man wearing the curtain hat already knew the situation of farmers in Wanping County like us, even how much the peppers cost and where they were sold...
That person must be the steward of the caravans under Prince Yan's Mansion.
And the one big and one young are all wearing gorgeous clothes. Do you know what those clothes are? "
"That's right, Dad, what are these nobles wearing? I have never seen such beautiful clothes. Even the clothes worn by Yuan Li and others are not that beautiful!"
"Silk, those are silk costumes. Even those wealthy businessmen can't wear them. But Yuan Li and the others can wear them, but they can't afford them..."
"Who are these?"
"They must be some nobles from Prince Yan's palace!"
"A nobleman from Prince Yan's palace?"
"Otherwise, how could they know so clearly? Besides, we wouldn't tell them so much..."
"Dad, do you want to tell the mayor about this?"
"Yes, boss, hurry up and tell the chief about this!"
"Yes, dad..."
And this will.
Guo An, Zhu Di and others had already boarded the carriage and continued to the next village.
…
(End of chapter)
