Reborn as a Landlord-Chapter 773 - 395: Dividing Corn_2

"What are you doing there?"

Shen Liu, leading the White Horse, slowly walked over and asked.

"Sixth Brother, we’re cracking sunflower seeds," Shen Qian said with a smile as he shook the sunflower seed tray in his hand and added, "Qing Feng stole Xiao Qi’s cornbread."

"It’s okay," Xiao Qi hurriedly waved his hand, "We still have cornbread at home, I can get some later if I want to eat."

Xiao Qi was a very smart and empathetic child. He said this because he saw that Shen Liu always looked very strict and didn’t want him to blame Shen Qian or the naughty Fatty Horse.

"Sixth Master, the Fatty Horse really loves cornbread," Lian Manman said with a laugh.

Lian Manman remembered reading history, that in the era of cold weapons, cavalry was almost invincible. But the cost of maintaining a team of cavalry was quite huge since a horse’s food intake was several times that of a person. The fodder for war horses had to be meticulous, and grass alone was not enough; they needed to be fed beans. Some war horses even required black beans.

And corn, whether it was kernels or flour, could be used as top-quality horse fodder.

Lian Manman wanted to remind Shen Liu of this point.

"Oh," Shen Liu uttered, glanced at the frolicking Fatty Green Horse, then at the White Horse by his side, showing a thoughtful expression.

"Sixth Master, I just saw that our horses also quite like the corn stalks," a servant saluted Shen Liu and reported.

Lian Manman nodded secretly, knowing that cornstalks could be used for firewood and other purposes, as well as fodder for horses, cattle, sheep, and other livestock.

Shen Liu thought for a moment, then waved to summon Zhang Qianhu over and whispered a few instructions. Commander Zhang agreed and turned back to the yard. In a short while, he returned, holding two pieces of cornbread.

Shen Liu took the cornbread and patted the White Horse’s head.

The White Horse, so human-like, snorted and moved closer, munching on the cornbread from Shen Liu’s hand. It ate the cornbread so sweetly, almost swallowing it in one bite, no slower than the Fatty Horse Qing Feng, but with much more grace.

For instance, Lian Manman didn’t see the White Horse flaunt its large flat teeth.

Indeed, as the saying goes, "a bird is known by its note, and a man by his talk." The White Horse and the Fatty Horse were probably raised in the same stable, but the difference was so stark. Apart from having different owners, Lian Manman could hardly think of any other reason.

Shen Liu watched the White Horse eat the cornbread, his expression exceptionally gentle. After finishing it, the White Horse pawed at the ground and snorted twice at Shen Liu.

Shen Liu nodded gently and patted the White Horse’s body. The horse then walked away from him, and a servant quickly came over to lead the White Horse away.

"It’s time to go back," Shen Liu called Shen Qian with a wave.

Everyone had no choice but to follow Shen Liu back.

"Sixth Master, about that corn, do you have any plans? Could you leave some for us?" Lian Manman had not had the chance to speak with Shen Liu alone, and now seemed the perfect opportunity, so she quickly stepped forward and spoke to him.

All the corn on the threshing floor had been packed into military grain sacks. If she didn’t ask for some for her family now, there might not be another chance later.

Shen Liu slowed down but did not respond to Lian Manman immediately.

"The corn that can’t be used for seeding, leave it to us, it can also be used as food," Lian Manman added.

"Food? Wasn’t the grain you harvested this year enough?" Shen Liu looked at Lian Manman, "I saw just now in the threshing floor that your house had a bountiful harvest this year."

The crops collected from the fields were all laid out in the threshing floor to dry. Shen Liu had seen all of her family’s yield for the year.

Lian Manman inwardly grumbled, but her words did not follow Shen Liu’s train of thought.

"Sixth Master, how about we keep less of the corn for eating and leave more for seeds?"

Shen Liu glanced at Lian Manman, a hint of amusement in his eyes; he had clearly seen through her little scheme.

"How much do you want?" Shen Liu asked.

"I’ll keep a thousand pounds of seed corn. As for the corn to eat... it depends on how much Sixth Master is willing to spare," she replied, not shy since Shen Liu had asked.

Although she wanted to keep more corn for eating to have more hearty meals throughout the year, the realistic part of Lian Manman’s mind still favored keeping seed corn.

The corn for eating, once consumed this year, would be gone by next year. Seed corn, though inedible now, could be planted the following year and produce more corn.

A thousand pounds of corn could roughly plant five hundred acres. Lian Manman planned to buy more land next year for corn farming. Even so, a thousand pounds of seed would be more than she could use. She was considering the Zhang Qingshan family, Wu Yugui, Wang Youheng, and other close-knit families. And the fellow villagers, who would surely have a share when the time came.

Shen Liu stopped in his tracks.

Lian Manman also paused.

Xiao Qi was somewhat nervous; he knew that Lian Manman was negotiating an important matter with Shen Liu and was eager to hear his response. Fatty Shen, still holding a large sunflower seed tray, stood between Shen Liu and Lian Manman with slightly furrowed brows and a twitching mouth but did not interrupt.

"A thousand pounds of seed corn for you. As for the eating corn, I’ll leave you three hundred pounds..." Shen Liu spoke and stepped into the yard. "That should be enough, right?"

Lian Manman only heard the first part of Shen Liu’s words and was immediately overjoyed.

******...***

First update, seeking votes.

Striving for the second update tonight. (To be continued. If you like this work, please come to Qidian (qidian.com) to cast your recommendation vote and monthly ticket. Your support is my greatest motivation.)