old lady in red

Through field hunting, Shi Mei not only dispelled the curiosity of the tribe, but the children also learned certain survival skills in the wild.

Under Jin Shan's guidance, the seven children all learned how to bury a pot for cooking, how to make a fire, and learned about a dozen kinds of edible wild vegetables and fruits.

Now that the children are young, Shi Mei doesn't let the children sleep in the wild. When the children grow up and really master the skills of shooting and hunting, Shi Mei will organize them to camp in the wild.

On the eighteenth day of the winter month, Jia Mei rushed back to Jinling before the water in the canal froze, and brought back a large shipment of foreign goods.

Shi Mei is really happier than New Year's Day.

Jia Mei's ability to handle affairs is very good.

The reason why he bought two thousand catties of sweet potatoes was firstly to prevent the sweet potatoes from becoming moldy and rotten. Second, when Jia Mei went to Haijiang, he found that there were very few people growing sweet potatoes there.

Jia Mei thought that the trial planting might not be successful, so she prepared double copies.

Jia Mei has worked hard on the history and area of ​​sweet potato planting.

"The rich family who first planted sweet potatoes was surnamed Chen. In the last years of the previous dynasty, Xu Jiazu went to sea for trade and brought them back from a certain overseas country.

It is said that this sweet potato can grow to the size of an adult's fist in foreign countries, and the juice is sweet and delicious. Some people eat it raw as a fruit.

After Chen Jiazu brought back sweet potato vine cuttings successfully, he once promoted them in Fujian, hoping that everyone would plant sweet potatoes.

However, at that time, there were constant wars and disasters, and people were only busy fleeing famine, and those who remained only wanted to rely on the sea to eat the sea.

Today, the world is in balance, and the descendants of the Chen family have started to promote the cultivation of sweet potatoes. For some reason, the size of sweet potatoes is getting smaller and smaller, and the yield is very low.

Therefore, the people are not happy, and the government dare not try. "

Shi Mei asked: "Do you know how they planted it?"

Jia Mei said: "Most of them are sweet potato seeds, because the yield is low, they are planted as fodder.

A small number of people do not have sweet potatoes at home, so they will take cuttings.It is not for the sweet potato fruit, but as fodder for raising pigs and cattle.

Because compared with other forages, sweet potato vines are not only thicker, but also can grow repeatedly in other seasons except winter, but the growth rate is very fast. "

Shi Mei knew that this was a cultivation technique for sweet potatoes that the common people had not figured out yet.

She picked up a bargain!

To be honest, Shimei knows very little about sweet potatoes, except that they are cultivated by cuttings and resistant to drought.

Knowing that sweet potatoes are drought-resistant, it was also discussed by classmates, saying that the prosperity of Kangxi and Qianlong was not a great king at all, but sweet potatoes were great!

One thing Qianlong did right was to actively promote the planting of sweet potatoes, a drought-tolerant crop, thus entering an era of population explosion.

Shi Mei, who had been worrying about how to secretly try to grow sweet potatoes, suddenly became enlightened: "Cultivation feed?

This method is good!

Your eldest brother just bought a batch of cows, horses and lambs and is on his way.You immediately buy a small farm for me, it doesn’t need to be very big, just thirty or fifty acres, and you tell the public that I bought this farm to build a racecourse for the children, let them run horses and shoot arrows, and grow grass by the way.

Therefore, the soil does not need to be very good, sandy soil is fine, and hillside depressions are also fine.No matter what else, the only requirement is that the land must be transferred before March next year. "

Jia Mei responded, "That's no problem."

Shi Mei said: "That's it, you are allowed to handle this matter a year ago, and you don't need to worry about other things. I will let people watch, and you will take over after the year."

Jia Mei said, "In addition to sweet potatoes, my nephew also found a business opportunity this time, the business of selling imported products is very profitable.

The nephew thought that the aunt could open another foreign goods store, specializing in buying and selling imported goods.

There were several shops in Jinling originally, and they were all sold together with the earthenware. My nephew also asked why, but it was because the sea was a long way away, and the road was not smooth, and it was expensive and time-consuming to go all the way.

The purchase of goods is less, and there is no profit except for the disk fee.

They buy in large quantities, and they don't have enough capital.

Therefore, it can only be bought and sold in small quantities from large commercial firms elsewhere..."

Only then did Shi Mei remember that Jia Mei had brought back a lot of foreign goods, and asked, "Is it very expensive? Where did you get your money from?"

Jia Mei said: "My aunt gave me 4000 taels of silver, plus silk is very expensive in coastal areas, ten carts of silk sold for [-] taels of silver, double the original price in Jinling.

A total of 5000 taels of silver, except for the 200 taels left by my nephew, I bought the rest.

The principal was a little insufficient, and I owed more than 2000 taels, but it was the letter from the grandma that played a role. The county magistrate Gao of Yixing guaranteed the nephew, and the nephew promised to go to their business to buy goods next year.The nephew brought back a total of [-] silver goods. "

Shi Mei was a little puzzled: "Then how much did you pay for the sweet potatoes?"

Jia Mei smiled: "Sweet potatoes cost five or six renminbi a catty, and two thousand catties of sweet potatoes cost my nephew only 15 taels of silver. This is because my nephew asked about the planting method and ate someone's tea, so I deliberately gave it a few dozen more. .Combined with retail sales to make up the whole number, it took 15 taels.

If you buy in large quantities, about 12 taels of silver are enough.

In this way, those who sell sweet potatoes are still grateful to their nephew.

This is also the reason why people are unwilling to grow sweet potatoes. One mu of land can only produce one or two hundred catties, and they have to pay taxes. Not many people are willing to buy this kind of thing.As for the rice planted in Zhongtian, one mu of land can sow two hundred catties of fine rice, which is three or four taels of silver, and it can also shed chaff.Comparing the two, no one wants to grow sweet potatoes. "

Jia Mei's words seem to be narrating the process, but they are actually persuading: sweet potatoes are worthless with low yields, and the profits from planting are not great.

However, he was too embarrassed to question, so he could only tell the truth quietly, let Shi Mei decide what to do.

Shi Mei pretended not to know, and said: "According to what you said just now, the foreign goods need a principal of [-] taels of silver for one trip?"

Jia Mei nodded: "Exactly. The main reason is that my nephew bought a pocket watch, a wall clock, a clock, gold-rimmed glasses with a gold chain, and a magnifying glass with a gold chain. These things are relatively expensive.

Then there is woolen, cashmere is more expensive, almost catching up with our Kesi.

One piece of material costs ten taels of silver, and the width is very narrow, and one piece of material can only cut one robe.

But the profit is also large, such as glass mirrors, plastic combs, plastic toys, candy rouge, etc., are relatively cheap.

Especially clocks are very valuable.

My nephew inquired that a pocket watch worth 50 taels of silver in Haijiang could be sold for 100 taels in Jinling Mansion.

When you arrive in Kyoto, you can sell it for 150 taels and 200 taels.

This is still a silver pocket watch. If it is a gold watch, the price will go up even more.If you don't buy and sell these, the principal will be much less. "

In fact, Shi Mei is not very interested in foreign goods. Foreign goods can make money, but they can't earn honor and status for Rongfu.

Sweet Potato doesn't make money, but it can successfully wipe away the traces of racism on Rongfu's body, and it becomes a certificate of honor for Rongfu to express its loyalty to His Majesty.

It is possible for Rong Mansion to stand upright in the court hall again and swear to all the officials that Rong Guo Mansion is not anyone's party member, he has always been a loyal minister of the Great Moon Dynasty.

Shi Mei then waved her hand and said: "According to the rules of the Rong Mansion, the foreign goods store is a source of income for you to develop. If you make a profit in the future, you will have a share of the dividends. As for the articles of association of the store, you will discuss with Lai Da in detail and formulate the preparations. However, we There are special personnel in charge of the government, each responsible.

If you are in charge of the farm, you cannot intervene in the operation of the store. Do you understand this? "

Jia Mei nodded: "Nephew understands!"

Shi Mei nodded: "Okay, you can do it, but you can't delay the affairs of the farm. Also, whether this matter is successful or not, it can't be spread?"

Jia Mei retreated in response.

On the dinner table that day, a plate of foreign food - sweet potato appeared.

On this day, Shi Meite kept Jia Zhu and let him have a fresh meal.

Egg-sized sweet potatoes are delicious and sweet, but Jia Lian, a foodie who likes sweets, doesn't want to eat a second one after eating one.

Jia Zhu watched Shi Mei eat the second one. Although she didn't like it very much, she ate another one.

Jia Lian smiled and pushed away the second one that Shi Mei handed him: "It's too sweet, my mother said that my grandson should not eat too much sweets, or the teeth will become ugly when he changes his teeth in the future!"

Shi Mei smiled at this little fox, it's too early to change teeth.

Jia Zhu didn't make this excuse when she was five years old.

Shi Mei doesn't like eating sweet potatoes very much, but she thinks that sweet potatoes are a whole grain, and they meet again in a different time and space, so she eats two more.

The size of an egg, not many three.

I didn't expect Jia Lian to be so talkative, he didn't want to suffer at all.

Three years old look old!

This little thing Jia Lian is much more cunning than Jia Zhu.

I don't want to eat, I don't want to offend my grandmother, and I don't want to get the reputation of being a glutton.

Jia Zhu inherited Jia Zheng's pedantic temperament, seeing her grandmother eat three, she still had to reach for sweet potatoes.

Shi Mei said: "Well, this food is sweet and greasy and not easy to digest, if you eat too much, you will feel flatulence, Zhu'er should eat less."

Jia Zhu seemed to be pardoned, busy picking up the fragrant glutinous rice porridge, biting a piece of crispy fish, and drinking a mouthful of porridge, it was delicious.

Jia Mei acted quickly, and within three days, she sent Shi Mei the title deeds of three farms for Shi Mei to choose.

The family is next door to the Jia family's sacrifice field, which is a first-class property.

The family is a small village thirty miles outside the city.

Another one is a piece of semi-sloping land ten miles out of the city, with a river at the foot of the mountain, and the soil in Zhuangzi is not very good.

In a farm of [-] mu, there are only [-] mu of black land, and the rest is gravel land, sandy land, and yellow land.

Shi Mei immediately fell in love with this small farm, which has mountains and water, sand and soil.

What Shimei wants is to turn the sand into a granary, otherwise it will be difficult to impress Emperor Jiahe!

The next day, Shi Mei inspected the farm in person.

Very dilapidated!

Shi Mei was very satisfied, and asked: "The seller won't go back on his word, will he?"

500 taels for a farm is really not expensive.

Jia Mei said: "No, this house is mortgaged to Yaxing. As long as you decide, you can go to the Yamen to transfer the title immediately. As long as you get the red deed, it's useless for him to regret it."

Shi Mei nodded: "This farm is the No. 20 five farms in Rongfu. You should send someone to repair the house immediately, and it will be plowed in the spring."

Jia Mei responded: "Nephew, don't worry, Auntie can rest assured!"

Today is Winter Moon 21.

While inspecting the land, Shi Mei discussed where the tenants of the farm would come from.

Jia Mei proposed to allocate from other Zhuangzi.

However, Shi Mei felt that it would be better for this farm to use outsiders. Originally, those tenants were tied to the clansmen, and the whole farm was like a sieve.

Shi Mei hopes to keep the matter of this farm a secret for at least three years.

As Jia Min said, failure cannot be a joke.

If it is successful, no one can steal the peaches.

Shimei has never planted land before. Her only advantage is that she knows that sweet potatoes are drought-tolerant and have high yields!

However, Shi Mei's eyes darkened as to how to increase the yield of sweet potatoes.

Therefore, she can't guarantee whether the trial planting will be successful in one year.

Shi Mei asked: "I heard that this year there are many refugees who planted their own flags in front of the Confucius Temple?"

Jia Mei nodded: "This year is relatively rare. This year, only a small number of places encountered snow disasters."

Shi Mei nodded: "Go and see, if you harvest all the good crops, you will be resettled in this small village. If you want to sell yourself, you can sell yourself. If you don't want to sell yourself, you can sign a five- to ten-year employment contract. You can bring For family members, those who are sick should be treated first.

However, it must be a good crop handle, it is best to take care of the family and have a sense of responsibility.Also, those without household allowances cannot be accepted. "

In a blink of an eye, it entered the twelfth lunar month.

This year Rongfu is still in the period of filial piety.

However, Jia Zhu and Jia Lian are three out of filial piety in Yuanchun, so this year's New Year's goods will be more than last year's.

This year, there are more able housewives like Mrs. Zhang, and more competitive daughter-in-laws like Mrs. Wang, and the two are vying to show their merits.

Shi Mei was left alone and hid in Rongqing Tang Maodong.

There was a heated kang in the room, there was fumigation on the floor, and a charcoal stove was placed in the corner to heat water and humidify.

The private school was on holiday, and Jia Zhu and Jia Lian all came to Rongqing Hall to study with Jia Min, the aunt.

This day is the twelfth day of the twelfth lunar month.

Jia Min warmed his hands with a cup of black tea, while instructing his two nephews to play chess on the kang table.

Shi Mei leaned on her side, drinking black tea and watching the battle, throwing red dates, walnuts and pine nuts into her mouth.

Girls outside are roasting sweet potatoes and chestnuts on a charcoal stove.

The sweet smell floated in in bursts, lingering around the nostrils of several people.

Others are fine, but Jia Lian swallowed a lot of saliva after being teased.

On the opposite side, Jia Zhu was staring at the chess field as if he had settled down, and was rummaging through the chess record in his mind, not dropping a single piece for a long time.

Jia Lian was greedy for something, and his heart was as anxious as a cat scratching: "Brother, otherwise we'll forget about it, if you keep silent about the chess game, I'll go outside to get some air?"

Shi Mei couldn't stop laughing in her heart, what a breath, the aroma just hooked the glutton in this kid's stomach.

Jia Min also pursed her lips and snickered, but she couldn't spoil the eldest nephew's interest.

Jia Min likes Jia Zhu's concentration in doing things very much.

Therefore, Jia Min put her finger on her mouth and let Jia Lian stop shouting, and waved Jia Lian to get out of the way, and she replaced Jia Lian herself.

Jia Lian jumped up and down happily, but she didn't dare to make a sound, covered her mouth, and ran out with her buttocks twisted: "Sister Hubo, you are really good at crafting..."

Then, before Jia Lian could eat the chestnuts, he ran back screaming, "Grandmother, grandma, my father and second uncle are back, and they have already turned to the corridor!"

When Jia Zhu heard this, her small shoulders trembled, and the chess piece in her hand dropped.

Jia Min pushed Jia Zhu: "What are you doing in a daze, welcome your father!"