GBP Chapter 54 Meritorious Service
Chapter 54 Meritorious Service
Spring has arrived, and while tending rice seedlings, Zisu also buried sweet potatoes and potatoes in the ground. She then covered them with a thick layer of straw to protect them from the cold and frost. Finally, she lightly watered them with warm water.
Regarding sweet potatoes and potatoes, in my previous life, they were two cold-resistant crops that Shangguan Zhihua presented to the imperial court during a year of severe drought. If Zisu remembers correctly, there will be another year of severe drought in two years.
Zisu decided to cut off Shangguan Zhihua's path to wealth and status.
There were two very important reasons why Shangguan Zhihua was able to defeat Qian Fengqin and become Xiao Fan's principal wife. First, she invented tofu, gave Xiao Fan dozens of recipes, and recommended chili peppers, a very special seasoning, to him. Second, she discovered the uses of sweet potatoes and potatoes, which Xiao Fan recommended to the imperial court, thus earning her the title of county princess.
In this life, Zisu will proceed with caution, always striving to be ahead, to see what other extraordinary abilities Shangguan Zhihua possesses. Having been reborn, Zisu has once again experienced that magical dream, and she knows very well that Shangguan Zhihua is a time traveler.
Whether it's the tofu, the recipe, or the sweet potatoes and potatoes, they are all actually the fruits of Shangguan Zhihua's theft of the future world. Therefore, Zisu feels no guilt or embarrassment at having taken the lead in "occupying" these fruits.
After the sweet potatoes and potatoes sprouted, Zisu went to the prefect's residence.
Upon arriving at the prefect's residence, she said to the prefect, "Grandpa, I brought two novel crops with me this time. I would like to borrow the kitchen so I can make these two dishes for you to try!"
The prefect smiled kindly and said, "Oh, Zisu is so thoughtful! Very well, please use the kitchen as you wish!" With that, he called over a maid: "This is the daughter of the Protector of the Nation. Take her to the kitchen and follow her orders!"
"Yes, sir." The maidservant replied respectfully, then said very respectfully to Zisu, "Miss, this servant will show you the way!"
Zisu buried a sweet potato and a potato in the stove fire, intending to roast them over the embers, and also made a sweet potato soup. She stir-fried the potatoes with vinegar and then stir-fried one with pork belly.
After tasting it, the prefect couldn't help but praise it highly: "Delicious, extremely tasty! Perilla, where did you get these two crops?"
Zisu: "My uncle brought these to me. When he went to Yixian, I told him that if he saw any unusual seeds, he should bring some back to me!"
The prefect said, "Oh my, Zisu, you're truly remarkable! Could you tell me about these two crops?"
Zisu: "Grand Prefect, both sweet potatoes and potatoes are cold-resistant crops and are not picky about the land. Even on extremely barren slopes, they can be grown and yield high yields. Moreover, potatoes can produce thirty shi (a unit of dry measure) per mu (a unit of land area), and sweet potatoes can produce roughly the same. Furthermore, potatoes are both a staple food and a vegetable. If sweet potatoes and potatoes are promoted nationwide, even in years of severe drought, there will be no need to worry about a complete crop failure!"
The prefect laughed heartily, his face beaming with joy: "If these two crops really do yield such high yields per acre, and are not picky about soil and are drought-resistant, then that would be wonderful! If they were promoted nationwide, it would be a blessing for the people, and also a blessing for Grandpa! Zisu, you are truly a lucky star!"
The prefect decided to implement this method throughout the entire prefecture this spring! If it succeeds and the yield is indeed as high as promised, then he will have accomplished another great feat. A promotion will be just around the corner!
One shi (石) is equal to 120 jin (市斤).