The Legend of the Long Room in the Red Mansion

The father and son suddenly returned home at the same time, making the women in the room a little confused. Didn't they say that they were busy in one way or another?How do you say that when you come back, you all come back together?And he was bumped by Cong'er on the second door, and he didn't take his part in the crab feast, so he just sent a box to the study and it was over.Exactly how big Cong'er did wrong, and why Ban'er was so frightened that he was about to cry, Mrs. Xing was curious, but she just looked at Ning Shan in front of her eyes, and she didn't dare to ask.

Grandma Liu had the same idea, and she vaguely felt that it was not the third master in the family who did the wrong thing, but her own grandson.It's just that the old man didn't care about it, and of course she wouldn't be so stupid as to rush out to ask for punishment. It's better to deal with the brat when she gets home.

Fortunately, Leng Shen'er returned to welcome the spring, but the banquet that should be arranged was not missed.The chef has already prepared the dishes, but now it's just a little tighter, just steam the crabs.There are cold dishes, food and wine, as well as tea and snacks in front of you, and you can handle it for a while.

Ban'er didn't dare to eat with her anymore, so Ning Shan asked the younger ones to take him out to play, but Grandma Liu was left behind. Ning Shan only said that she wanted to discuss something with her, and Grandma Liu tensed up nervously Yes, just waiting for Ning Shan's order, with a serious expression on his face.

Ning Shan smiled cordially and successfully relieved Grandma Liu's tension: "Don't be alarmed, this matter is just my idea. Let's discuss it. If it works, I will naturally thank you, old man. If it doesn't work, It's still like this, the two families are still relatives, and there will never be any changes because of this."

After hearing this, Grandma Liu said sincerely: "Just tell me, as long as my wife can do it, there is absolutely no reason to refuse."

Ning Shan poured a glass of wine, and motioned to the maid to bring it to Grandma Liu to let her relax. She also meant to thank her first, and then said with a smile: "You may have heard that last year I went to sea and fought against Qian Xiangguo. thing."

Grandma Liu nodded hastily and said, "Our whole Daxing Dynasty knows about this, and we all know that you are the 'God of War'."

Ning Shan smiled slightly: "It's just a gimmick, no one can really be a god, and I'm just a mortal body. I just won by luck. After the big victory, I won I got two kinds of high-yield grains from the Qianxiang country, called sweet potatoes and corn. After I brought them back, I tried to grow them on my own farm, and the harvest was pretty good. So I thought, can I borrow Plant one type of land in other people's land, try it out, how much difference will the harvest be with different types of land and various planting methods?"

Grandma Liu's eyes widened when she heard "high-yield planting grain". After hearing what Ning Shan meant, she wanted her to use her own land to help with planting. She was very excited and said repeatedly: "Is this true? That's great." Food? Do you still use our family to grow it? My good man, don’t fool me, an old woman.”

Ning Shan said: "How can I fool you, these two things, not only are there seeds on my farm, but also planted some on my father's farm, and I also bought land in the border town of northern Xinjiang, and let people plant it. The field is also used for trial planting, and the harvest is much higher than that of the existing rice and wheat. So I wonder if it is possible for ordinary people to grow one."

This is also a helpless way. He handed over the high-yield grain to the hands of the two emperors early in the morning, but those cunning people in the Huangzhuang were afraid that the promotion of the new grain would break the original market for rouge rice and green rice, so they refused to make any effort. , while planting and destroying, so the harvest results are not as good as the existing ones. Seeing this, the two emperors only thought that this thing could not survive without the Qianxiang Kingdom, and naturally they would not promote new crops to the whole country.

However, the sweet potatoes and corn that Ning Shan sent to the old general Toli in northern Xinjiang had a huge harvest and became part of the military rations of the soldiers.Originally, Old General Li wanted to report to the imperial court, but was stopped by King Dongping, just to stop adding merit to Ning Shan, so he withheld Old General Li's booklet to prevent the promotion of high-yielding grain.

Ning Shan couldn't stand the short-sightedness of the two emperors and the virtues of Dongping Wang and his ilk, so she thought about promoting it to the people by herself.In the border towns of northern Xinjiang and along the West Sea, this method was very successful. People heard that it was the high-yielding crops brought back by the "God of War", and they trusted them very much, and they were willing to sow the seeds and carefully care for them.But Ning Shan's name has not been spread to the south after all, not to mention that the south is rich and there is no shortage of food, but there are many more thieves, rapes and tricks for fear of any changes that will hinder their current lives. Therefore, in the south, it is difficult to rely on individuals power to promote success.

Ning Shan thought, simply start from the middle of Beijing, find people in the suburbs of Beijing who are willing to accept the new type of food, plant it first, and then produce results in the future, without publicity, the people will naturally rush to plant it.When she was thinking about how to recruit people who were willing to help promote planting, Grandma Liu came to her door herself.Ning Shan could tell at a glance that an old man like Grandma Liu, who was old and knowledgeable and dared to bring a little grandson to Beijing alone to seek relatives from a wealthy family, probably had some weight in the village, so it was better to entrust it to her. Let her promote planting in their village first.In the future, when the nearby villages see the harvest, they will naturally spread it to ten, ten to hundreds, and sooner or later it will be widely promoted among the people.

But just in case, Ning Shan also gave a guarantee first: "If the harvest of this grain is really not good, making your life difficult next year, I will naturally compensate you. I will ask the accountant to provide 1000 taels of silver to you later. Grandma, any farmer who is willing to grow my new grain can receive a sum of money, enough for them to live on for a year, in case the new grain yield is not high and delays your harvest."

Grandma Liu was so shocked that she recited Buddha's name again and again: "I don't dare, we just give up a few acres of land to grow this new kind of grain, but I dare not ask for so much money."

Ning Shan comforted her and said, "It's not just for you, as long as anyone in your village, or even the surrounding villages, is willing to grow my new type of grain, I will give you a sum of money. How much money do your farmers need every year for food? "

Xichun interrupted abruptly, "I heard from my grandma that it costs 20 taels. Brother, your 1000 taels can buy [-] houses."

Grandma Liu also nodded and said, "It's not much. After all, farmers don't rely entirely on the harvest of grain. We will also grow some other things, and we will also do other work during the slack season. Let me say that it is enough for a family to give ten taels. enough."

Although Ning Shan is not a dandy who doesn't know the sufferings of the people, she doesn't know that a farmer can spend a year with only ten taels of silver, so she was a little stunned for a while.The third-class maids in his family have more monthly schedules than this, let alone the masters.However, this grandma was honest enough, otherwise she would be able to write at least half of it, and maybe more.That's enough for a lifetime!

After admiring Grandma Liu's honesty, Ning Shan felt more at ease and entrusted her with this matter.Grandma Liu is also full of confidence to help Uncle War God complete this errand, so she just wrote a blood letter to show her determination.

The two sides discussed very happily, so they put aside this topic, had a drink together, and wished success.Yingchun has already prepared a banquet, and everyone is seated.Grandma Liu didn't just sit next to Mrs. Xing this time, Ning Shan regarded her as a partner, and her salary was raised to the point where she could sit at the table for a drink together.

Because it was a family banquet, and the cooperation between the two parties was expected to be lively and successful, instead of using the usual single table, two large round tables were set up. Jia She led Ning Shan and Jia Lian to open a table, and Mrs. Xing led Yingchun. , Daiyu and Xichun accompanied Grandma Liu to a table. Sister Feng wanted to set the rules, but Mrs. Xing dismissed her, so she sat down next to Grandma Liu.Ban'er still didn't dare to come back, and Cong'er was also writing hard while eating crabs in the study.

Everyone drank and ate crabs recklessly, and there was no one who was an eyesore at the table. Although Grandma Liu spoke a little rough, it was very interesting, so everyone returned after enjoying themselves.Ning Shan was still in control, but Jia Amnesty and Jia Lian drank a lot, and they were a little drunk. No one at the women's table drank much except Grandma Liu. , shochu, I didn't see any drunkenness, at most, I was a little bit full of food.

After the dinner was over, Mrs. Xing waited on Jia She and went back to bed.Jia Lian naturally left it to Sister Feng to take care of her, and Yingchun took her sisters to take a belated nap.Ning Shan led Grandma Liu to her farm to see the yield of the newly planted grains, and Grandma Liu took the village head to inquire carefully about planting methods, precautions, etc., and so on.

In the evening, everyone gathered for a table again, and ate separately according to the old regulations of the Hou Mansion. Cong'er was not grounded, and after the punishment, he led Ban'er to sit at the table with him.However, both of them were a little cautious, they didn't dare to eat and drink wantonly, and they didn't dare to play around.After eating, Sister Feng led Grandma Liu around again, and then they all went back to their rooms to rest.

Grandma Duliu came to see Sister Feng first with her board, and said, "I must go home early tomorrow morning. I stayed for two or three days. Although there are not many days, I have never seen, eaten or heard of things in the past and present. I have experienced it, I have experienced it, it is rare that the master is so kind, the uncle is so kind, the aunts and the ladies, and even the girls in each room, are so compassionate and take care of me. And the uncle also entrusted the important task of growing new grain Give it to me, give me back so much money, and let me settle down others. It is decent and majestic. I have no other rewards after I go back this time. I can only ask some high incense to recite Buddha to you every day and bless you with a long life. My heart is gone."

Sister Feng said with a smile: "However, the most rare thing about these small things is that our uncle values ​​you and entrusts you with such a heavy responsibility, and we should take it to heart. The people next to us are just joining in the fun, so let's forget it. But There is one thing that I also want to discuss with you."

Grandma Liu hurriedly said: "My aunt has something to say, just tell me."

Sister Feng asked someone to bring her daughter up and show it to Grandma Liu, saying, "My eldest sister is often sick, and I don't know why."

Grandma Liu said: "This is also a common thing. Most of the children raised by rich and noble families like you are too delicate, so naturally you can't bear some grievances, and her small family is too noble, and you can't bear it. Just hurt him less."

Sister Feng smiled and said, "That makes sense. I think of it, she doesn't have a name yet, so you can give her a name. One is to borrow your life, and the other is that you are the farmer's family. You are not afraid of being upset. After all, you are poorer." , you name the poor man, I’m afraid it won’t hold him back.”

Grandma Liu was overjoyed, she felt very respectable, and asked with a smile: "I wonder when my aunt raised my sister?"

Sister Feng frowned slightly, and said: "It's just a bad birthday, but it happens to be the seventh day of the seventh month."

But Grandma Liu clapped her hands and said with a smile: "That's just right, let's call her Qiaojieer. This is called the method of 'fighting poison with poison, and fighting fire with fire'. My aunt must be named after me, and he will live a long life. In the future When you grow up, you start a family and start a business, or if something goes wrong for a while, it is bound to be auspicious in adversity, and auspicious in adversity, but it comes from the word 'qiao'."

After hearing this, Sister Feng was very happy, thanked her quickly, and said with a smile, "I just wish that she has agreed to your words." Afterwards, she gave Grandma Liu a lot of daily necessities, including Ning Shan. The 1000 taels allocated by the accountant were exchanged for scattered pieces and handed over to Grandma Liu.Grandma Liu would definitely not want this money. She saw with her own eyes the mountains of new grain piled up on the village, and even tasted it with her own mouth. We must do this important thing well, even if we don't hesitate to pay for it.

Sister Feng argued with her for a long time, but in the end she couldn't let Grandma Liu accept the 1000 taels, so she said: "Then make a compromise, you always take 500 taels. You can't refuse any more! If you don't want it, the other people I want more. Besides, no one in this house would dare to disobey our uncle's orders. I made an exception for you today, so I have to keep the money for my sake. "

Grandma Liu saw that Sister Feng's words had come to this point, and knew that it would be difficult for her aunt to refuse, so she said, "thanks to the greatness of my uncle, who is willing to use me, an old fellow, even if I pay for my old bones, I will do well. Let as many people as possible switch to this new grain. My aunt said that I don’t charge money, and you are not easy to deal with, so I will be cheeky and take 300 taels back.”

Sister Feng didn't want to waste any more words, she did what she had to say and do anyway, Grandma Liu definitely didn't want it, and Ning Shan couldn't blame her.He asked Ping'er to prepare half a kang for him, and he loaded two cars into the car.In the early morning of the next day, I sent a servant to personally escort them, and brought a large cart of two kinds of new grains. Grandma Liu, grandparents and grandchildren came and returned with four carts.