Reborn as a Landlord-Chapter 771 - 394: Scramble for Food_2
Corn yielding nine hundred catties per acre, for the nation and the people, the significance of this is simply immeasurable. ππ«πππ¨ππ―ππ πππ.ππΌπ
Sitting in his chair, Shen Liu watched the excited officials. He leaned back and a smile finally appeared on his face.
Nine hundred catties per acre, even Lian Manmanβs initial estimate was a bit conservative. But he liked it. It was rare to see a young girl handle matters so prudently, always leaving margin for error. Far from being a worry, she was a comfort in every way.
Thinking about the memorial submitted earlier, and then about the new one to be presented next, the one sitting on the golden chair would surely be overjoyed upon seeing it.
The common people of the world being fuller, the nationβs granaries being more repleteβthis was his Shen Familyβs contribution to the country.
Of course, to promote the planting of corn, it had to start from Liaodong Prefecture. The people of Liaodong could eat fuller meals before those from other places, the granaries of Liaodong Prefecture would be more replete, and the soldiers under his command would be better fed. This was his Shen Family, he, Shen Liu, bringing good things to his hometown, to the soldiers he led.
The discovery of cornβs high yield started from the corn given by Empress Shen to her family from abroad. The events that followed seemed as though something in the unseen world was guiding them, enabling him, the Shen Family, to establish such great merit.
Now the world was peaceful, but there were many who could not get enough to eat, not to mention the annual disasters such as flood and drought, and the countless hungry people relying on the stateβs granaries for relief.
This matter was a contribution to the state and could even compare to the merits of the Shen ancestors who followed The Great Ancestor to establish the nation through battles.
Even though Empress Shen had passed away, with this merit, the Shen Familyβs position in the court was secure. Of course, it would not do to highlight the Shen Familyβs merits in the memorials, but it was possible to emphasize the role of Empress Shen, both in her life and... after her death.
Of course, there was also the Lian Family.
Shen Liuβs gaze passed over the crowd and settled on Lian Manman.
If Empress Shen had not passed away suddenly, he wouldnβt have come incognito to Thirty Mile Camp. Then he wouldnβt have met Lian Manman. Without meeting her, the subsequent events wouldnβt have happened, and the corn would have still been just a "scenery" in the Shen Familyβs backyard.
On this matter, the Lian Family had made no small contribution. How should they be rewarded?
Shen Liu was deep in thought when he suddenly felt someone tugging at his sleeve. Looking down, he saw Shen Qian.
"Sixth Brother, Iβm going out to play for a bit," Shen Qian looked up with his chubby face, smiling as he negotiated with Shen Liu.
He had almost forgotten; in this matter, his youngest brother also had a contribution. This chubby kid, identified as the Shen Familyβs lucky star from birth.
"Go ahead, take the people with you and donβt go too far," Shen Liu raised his hand, touched Shen Qianβs head, and spoke kindly.
"Oh," sensing that his Sixth Brotherβs attitude was better than usual, Fatty Shen, invigorated by the fun, yelled in acknowledgment and ran off. He didnβt run straight outside but ran to the back of the crowd and grabbed Lian Manman.
"Manman, letβs go play together, my Sixth Brother agreed," Shen Qian said excitedly, barely keeping his feet on the ground.
Lian Manman thought for a moment and agreed. She knew that what was to come was likely to be these officials outdoing each other in singing praises. If there was serious business, both Lian Shouxin and Wu Lang were there, and that was enough.
Before she left, Lian Manman subconsciously turned her head to look at Shen Liu.
Coincidentally, Shen Liu was also looking at her.
Their eyes met and then quickly parted.
Lian Manman, leading Shen Qian, came out of the shop, went to the backyard, and had the servant bring a stool and scissors.
"What are we playing, Manman?" Shen Qian tugged at Lian Manmanβs hand, swaying it as he asked.
"Weβre going to cut sunflowers. The sunflowers we planted together are ripe. Weβll cut a few down and Iβll bring them back for you to eat," Manman told him, leading Shen Qian outside the yard.
"Ah, the sunflowers we planted together," Shen Qian repeated Lian Manmanβs words, emphasizing "we."
Hand in hand, Lian Manman couldnβt help but squeeze Shen Qianβs hand, which was fat and although not as pinchable as a cheek, was still very pleasant to hold.
The little fattyβs face reddened slightly, and his pace slowed down.
Unaware, Lian Manman kept walking forward.
The little fatty hung his head, chuckled twice, and then looked up again with a beaming face. He quickened his pace to catch up with Lian Manman.
Their hands, clasped together, remained inseparable throughout.
Upon reaching the sunflower patch, Lian Manman picked the largest, tallest ones and directed Shen Qianβs servant to climb up the stool and snip them down. After clipping a head of sunflower seeds, she brushed off the dry flowers on the surface and showed the seeds to Shen Qian.
Shen Qian, used to eating roasted sunflower seeds meticulously peeled for him by the servants, found Lian Manmanβs actions intriguing.
"These taste even better roasted, but eating them like this, though less oily, is also not bad," Manman informed Shen Qian, and she commanded the servants to clip a few more heads of sunflower seeds so Shen Qian could take them back to eat or play with.
"Sister, Brother Xiao Jiu," Xiao Qi ran out from the yard at that moment.
After all, he was also a child, tired of the excitement inside after a while. Seeing Lian Manman and Shen Qian go out to play, he took the chance and followed suit.
Approaching Lian Manman, Xiao Qi revealed a corn cake with a beaming smile from within his sleeve.
Behind them, two servants slowly approached, leading two horses. One of the horses, a plump blue one, clopped over, snorted with its fleshy nose, and grinned, showing a row of shiny white teeth.
"Ah?"
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Delivering the second update, seeking your hearts of pink. (To be continued. If you enjoy this work, you are welcome to vote for it with recommendation tickets and monthly tickets at Qidian [qidian.com]. Your support is my greatest motivation.)
