CHAPTER 151: CHAPTER 151: WHERE IS THE MINISTER OF AGRICULTURE

Last year, when Zhang Hu came to collect the grain tax, the corn yield in Fu’an Village was only about six hundred jin. It was indeed a plentiful harvest, but not particularly astonishing.

Because, generally, the yield of corn was originally only four to five hundred jin.

But little did they know, in the first year, Fu’an Village used the corn seeds bought from the town, and most of the time, Xiaomi took the opportunity when she went to the fields to mistake sorghum for corn, throwing quite a few seeds from her spatial storage.

An acre yielded more than a thousand jin, with corncobs as long as chopsticks.

However, in the first year, there were very few, and only a few households had them.

Mainly because at that time, Xiaomi’s ’Lucky Star’ reputation hadn’t spread, and she was still just a little baby being carried around, unable to ’bless’ the whole village.

Therefore, in the second year, which was last year, only a few families used the seeds specially saved from the first year, and what a bountiful harvest it was!

The first year’s ten or so corns, the seeds peeled off, could only plant about one mu, but this one mu’s yield, was extraordinarily high!

Of course, distributed over every piece of land, the extra yield wasn’t particularly noticeable.

But everyone was astonished when it was time to pay grain tax, they specially set aside that one mu of corn, and then sold it to those in the village who didn’t have corn seeds, or to nearby villages who heard the news and came to buy.

This is the third year of the corn harvest, not only Fu’an Village, but many surrounding villages also had bountiful harvests!

Not just corn, but next year’s wheat and rice are the same!

In the first year of planting wheat, villagers knew Xiaomi was truly a Lucky Star, and before sowing, they specially took ’offerings’ to ask Xiaomi for blessings.

At that time, Xiaomi was almost one year old, and everyone who came secretly placed a bit of hybrid wheat, and last year’s rice seeds were the same.

But because the first batch was limited in quantity, not much could be harvested, and this year’s second batch of wheat wasn’t planted much, and the soon-to-be-harvested rice is the same.

However!

Those seeds, everyone carefully selected them, waiting for the third batch, almost all of which Xiaomi made available, are hybrid wheat and rice!

Thanks to Grandpa Yuan and Grandpa Li, saving the many peasant uncles of another world!

Even if it’s not evident now, Xiaomi believes that, even at a slow pace, sooner or later, these rice and wheat seeds will surely spread to every corner of this world!

However, besides Xiaomi, nobody knows about these things.

At this time, everyone in the yard was astonished by the yield of the corn and sorghum, even Jiang Hu and the distant Erniang, who heard their voices, were no exception.

Because when collecting the grain tax, the constables need to weigh the food, so except for the first year, they stopped weighing it themselves for the next two years, too troublesome.

So, they knew the corn and sorghum yield was high this year, but never imagined it was this high!

Jiang Hu had already tried to estimate high, but this was even higher than his estimation!

"How can there be so much?"

Jiang Hu murmured to himself, reaching out to grab a handful of corn, the kernels were big, somewhat flat, different from the corn before.

The corn planted before was more rounded, much smaller in size, not just the kernels were small, the entire corn was a lot shorter too.

This is also why previous corn yields were low, and this corn’s yield is high.

But these are all corn.

Although they look very different, this is corn, as to why it grew this way...

Jiang Hu looked towards his little Xiaomi.

Xiaomi had already broken free from her mother, came to them, curiously surrounding the big scale, the weight was almost as big as her head, she was always particularly curious when she saw it.

Jiang Hu shook his head, Xiaomi was still small, besides catching bugs, she didn’t spend much time in the fields, what could she possibly know?

Lord Xie swallowed a mouthful of saliva, finally regaining a bit of his senses.

"Jiang Hu, I remember you said before, everyone in Fu’an Spring planted this sorghum this year?"

If that’s true, then this year...

Jiang Hu tried to remain calm: "Yes, not only sorghum, but corn too..."

Lord Xie took a deep breath, they hit it big!

He immediately said, "Quick, quick, why are you still standing there, first separate the portion for the grain tax!"

Then he shoved the ledger into Zhang Hu’s hands and pulled Jiang Hu to a shady spot.

"Brother, over five thousand jin of grain, big family!" This was a sincere compliment, not a bit of falsehood!

Even after paying the tax, there would be over three thousand jin left!

Jiang Hu also calmed himself down: "Sir, are you planning to buy grain?"

Lord Xie didn’t beat around the bush, directly nodding: "That’s right, to be honest, I am the County Agriculture Minister, and two months ago, I started inspecting the entire county, mainly to check on the state of the crops everywhere."

Jiang Hu quickly tried to salute: "So you’re the Agriculture Minister, my apologies."

The Agriculture Ministry, a department specifically managing land and grain.

Jiang Hu was aware of this.

No wonder he’s so keen on agriculture, and so knowledgeable, getting excited upon hearing about the yield.

Apart from those who farm, very few people specifically understand these things.

However, his courtesy was stopped by Lord Xie.

"No need for formalities, Jiang Hu, let me be blunt, in recent years, due to the war, things have been tough everywhere, not to mention our county, where people are struggling."

"I have been visiting for two months, and only Xiangma Town has a slightly better situation. These days, I have been inquiring around, mainly because of your Fu’an Village!"

"I know you want to hold on to this grain, use it as seeds, sell it to nearby villages, so everyone can have a better harvest next year."

"I have the same thought as you, but I want to spread these seeds throughout the entire county! Not just Xiangma Town, do you understand what I mean?"

Worried that Jiang Hu wouldn’t understand, Lord Xie explained it very straightforwardly.

But even so, Jiang Hu hesitated slightly.

Seeing this, Lord Xie got anxious, grabbing Jiang Hu by the wrist: "Jiang Hu, rest assured, I’m not asking for it for free, I’m buying it from you, from all the people of Fu’an Village!"

"The price is just as I mentioned before, one-tenth higher than the Grain Store, definitely not shortchanging you!"

Jiang Hu realized that Lord Xie misunderstood, and quickly wanted to explain.

Who knew that at this moment, Xiaomi, who had been curiously watching the adults divide tax grain, suddenly rushed onto a sack.

"Uncle Xie, if my dad doesn’t want to sell, would you all, with so many people, take it by force?"

Jiang Hu, who initially wanted to explain why he didn’t want to sell, shivered suddenly.

He almost forgot, these aren’t ordinary people, they’re government officials!

If they forcibly wanted to buy, he wouldn’t even have the chance to refuse, let alone if they were harsher and directly framed his family, the entire Jiang family would be doomed.

Jiang Hu was immediately drenched in cold sweat by his own thoughts.

Fortunately, Lord Xie didn’t pay attention to Jiang Hu, but was amused by Xiaomi’s words.

"Don’t worry, Xiaomi, uncle isn’t a bad person, how could I take it by force, this is me negotiating with your dad."