Chapter 128: Grain Seeds

 Chapter 128: Grain Seeds

After the Chongyang Festival, the days for Daohua returned to the way they were before.

Every day after finishing her lessons and the homework assigned by Teacher Shen, she would go to the old lady’s yard to tend to the flowers and plants with her. 

Recently, Daohua had been reading several ancient books on grafting and was excited about experimenting with grafting flowers, hoping to cultivate some unique plants.

In ancient times, there were not many varieties of flowers and plants suitable for pot cultivation, and due to regional differences, the flowers one would usually encounter were somewhat limited.

The flower shop now sold only common flower varieties, the same as other flower shops, and Daohua thought that if the shop was to stay profitable, it had to offer something irreplaceable.

In the yard, Old Madam Yan looked at Daohua, who was ruthlessly pulling up and throwing away flowers, and felt a little heartbroken. She wanted to stop her, but Daohua insisted that she was improving the flower varieties, leaving the old lady unsure whether to intervene.

“Mother, you’re not going to say anything to Daohua? Even though the flowers in your yard are many, they can’t withstand Daohua’s rough treatment!”

Recently, when everyone came to pay respects, they often saw Daohua covered in mud, pulling up and tossing the plants in the yard. Even though Yan Zhigao didn’t pay much attention to the back yard, he could tell that the eldest daughter was ruining the old lady’s flowers.

One evening, while waiting for dinner in the old lady’s yard, Yan Zhiyuan could no longer hold back and complained to the old lady.

Before she could speak, Yan Zhiqiang, who was usually quiet, explained for Daohua.

“Daohua isn’t ruining the flowers; she’s improving the flower varieties.”

Yan Zhiyuan sneered. “Third brother, I admit that Daohua is good with flowers, but do you really think that a young girl like her can improve flower varieties? Isn’t that a bit too much? It sounds more like nonsense.” 

“I’m not unworldly. These years, I’ve been with eldest brother, and we’ve visited many wealthy households. Families with a deep background have dedicated gardeners to care for their flowers, yet have you ever heard of anyone growing a new flower?”

He continued, turning to look at Yan Zhigao and Madam Li. “Take the most prominent family in Xingzhou, the Zhou family. The old master Zhou is famous for his love of flowers, but even his family grows only well-known varieties.”

He smiled as he glanced at Yan Zhigao and Madam Li.

“Eldest brother, eldest sister-in-law, I know that thanks to the sale of watermelons, our family has had some financial relief this year. But I still think that where we can save, we should save. We can’t be wasteful, right?”

This time, it was Yan Zhiqiang who rebutted him. “Second brother, you’re right, but our Daohua is a skilled hand when it comes to the land. If she says she’s improving the flower varieties, then she is improving them.”

Before Yan Zhiyuan could reply, Yan Zhiqiang looked at Yan Zhigao. “Eldest brother, the autumn harvest on the estate is complete, and I’ve already sent the account books to eldest sister-in-law.”

“There’s no need to say much. Just take the rice fields, for example. Ordinary rice seeds can only yield about four stones per mu, but with the seeds improved by Daohua, we’ll get at least one more stone, and with careful cultivation, it could be two more.”

At first, others didn’t feel much about this, but Yan Zhigao, who was always concerned with the welfare of the people, immediately jumped up in excitement. “Is what you’re saying true? You’re not lying to me?”

If it weren’t for the crowd, he would have rushed over to shake his third brother to see if he was joking.

Yan Zhiqiang said, “Eldest brother, you can compare this year’s accounts with previous years. We bought late this year and missed the spring planting, but you can still go to the fields to see the abundant harvest.”

Yan Zhigao stared at Yan Zhiqiang, and seeing that he was serious with no signs of lying, his heart swelled with excitement.

What is political achievement?

It’s ensuring the people have enough to eat and wear. That is the greatest achievement, and it was his original goal in public office.

Yan Zhigao couldn’t care about the others in the room anymore. He rubbed his hands together and excitedly paced around the room.

Seeing this, everyone looked surprised.

To maintain the dignity of the head of the family, Yan Zhigao usually kept his emotions in check. It was rare for him to openly show such excitement.

“Where’s the account book? Hurry up and bring it to me!”

Yan Zhigao paced for a while, then quickly grabbed Yan Zhiqiang and asked, “Third brother, say something! Where’s the account book?”

Yan Zhiqiang didn’t expect Yan Zhigao to be so excited and was momentarily stunned.

“Third brother, say something! Where’s the account book?” Yan Zhigao urged, growing more impatient, and even began shaking his third brother, acting on his true feelings.

At that moment, Old Madam Yan spoke up, giving her eldest son an annoyed look. “Eldest, let go of your third brother! Don’t you have any decorum as a magistrate?”

Yan Zhigao sheepishly withdrew his hand. “Mother, I’m just too excited!”

Seeing her eldest son’s agitation, Old Madam Yan called for Aunt Sun. “Go, bring me the account book from the inner room.” 

While waiting, Yan Zhiyuan looked at Yan Zhiqiang, still doubtful. “Third brother, I know you like Daohua, but don’t lie to eldest brother just to defend her.”

“Bang!”

Old Madam Yan slammed her teacup down on the table. “Second son, don’t you know that third son never lies?”

Seeing this, Yan Zhigao’s anxiety eased. Since his mother had said so, it seemed that what his third brother had said was true.

“I—”

Yan Zhiyuan was about to defend himself, but at that moment, Aunt Sun walked in with the account book.

Yan Zhigao eagerly took the account book and looked at the youthful handwriting in surprise. “Daohua wrote this account book?”

Old Madam Yan smiled. “Your daughter said that in order to better improve the grain varieties, she needed to understand the harvests clearly. After she learned how to write with Third Uncle, she’s been recording the family’s accounts.”

Yan Zhigao examined the account book carefully. It was thorough, detailing the harvests from the paddy fields, dry fields, and even barren lands and mountains.

The more he looked, the more amazed he became.

The records in this account book were clearer and more detailed than those in a prefectural office.

It even compared the harvests from different types of fields, and different varieties of crops, using clear comparative charts.

“Mother, is this really Daohua’s writing?” Yan Zhigao asked again, his tone filled with disbelief.

Old Madam Yan replied gruffly, “If it’s not hers, could it be mine?”

Yan Zhigao turned to look at Yan Zhiqiang, and Yan Zhiqiang nodded immediately.

Just then, Daohua walked in. Seeing that everyone was silent, she became curious. “What’s going on? Why is everyone so quiet?” She then sat next to her grandmother. “Grandmother, I’m hungry. When are we eating?”

“Daohua, your father is asking you. Did you write this account book?” Yan Zhigao asked, holding up the account book.

Daohua immediately became alert when she saw that it was the family’s harvest record.

She had been wanting to promote her improved grain varieties for some time. In ancient times, the yield of grains was too low, and many people couldn’t even get enough to eat. Having the opportunity to grow grain in her space, she wanted to do her best to make a difference, so her journey to the past wouldn't have been in vain.

“Yes, father. Let me tell you, the grain varieties I’ve improved are excellent. When do you think we can start promoting them in Xingzhou City?”

Her experiences during the escape had left a deep impression on her.

It had truly been a time of famine, with corpses everywhere!

She had thought that since she missed the spring planting this year, the matter of improving the grain would have to wait until next year, but happiness had come so suddenly.

Seeing his eldest daughter’s excitement, Yan Zhigao momentarily lost his train of thought.

(End of Chapter)