The Humble Family's Daughter Has A Spatial Pocket!-Chapter 1068 - 891, The Importance of the Seed

"This is the ranch that Yiyi purchased!"

Xiao Yeyang took Li Xingnian and Li Chenzhi directly to Qingyang Ranch.

As they observed the vast, boundless ranch and the herds of cattle and sheep within, both Li Xingnian and Li Chenzhi showed astonishment in their eyes.

"How much silver did such a huge ranch cost?" Li Chenzhi asked.

Xiao Yeyang smiled and said, "The land in Xiliang is not like the other provinces inland. Yiyi bought this ranch, which is as large as fifty thousand acres, for only over twenty thousand silver."

The eyes of Li Xingnian and Li Chenzhi both brightened, "Really?"

Xiao Yeyang knew they were enticed and shook his head while smiling, "You can’t buy it at that price now. On the way here with me, did you see the other ranches along the way?"

Li Chenzhi nodded, "Those ranches seemed quite barren, not as verdant as Qingyang Ranch."

Xiao Yeyang nodded, "When Yiyi first bought this place, it was just as barren as the other ranches. It changed after planting high-yield grass seeds."

"Now that everyone knows the ranch’s barren condition can be changed, naturally, they will no longer sell the ranches at a low price."

Li Xingnian laughed, "We’re not as lucky as Yiyi. However, being able to buy a piece of the ranch here, to raise some cattle, sheep, camels, and such, when Xiliang develops in the future, we can still recoup our costs."

The three men rode horses through the ranch when suddenly Li Xingnian pointed to the black and white cows in the cowshed and asked, "Yeyang, those cows aren’t from our Daxia, are they?"

Xiao Yeyang nodded with a smile, "They’re also bought by Yiyi. They were brought in from another country in the Western Regions, with a high milk yield, producing up to sixty or seventy jin every day."

Li Xingnian was somewhat tongue-tied, "No wonder they look so robust; they must consume a lot of fodder daily."

Passing through the ranch, the three of them arrived at the dried-up Dan River.

Li Chenzhi remarked, "Ganzhou Guard must be really short on water, even the river has dried up."

Xiao Yeyang shook his head, his expression growing stern as he looked toward Yunlian Mountain, "The source of the Dan River is at the foot of Yunlian Mountain. The reason for the drought is because the people from Xiliao blocked the river’s source."

Without saying more, Xiao Yeyang rode his horse over the stone bridge.

At this moment, all three stone bridges had been repaired, and soon, Xiao Yeyang brought Li Xingnian and Li Chenzhi to the front of the newly-renovated terraced fields.

The terraced fields, layered upon one another like steps, followed the mountain’s shape, extending from the foothills all the way to the top.

At that time, it was already June, and the wheat planted in the terraced fields had started to turn golden. The mountain breeze fluttered through the waves of wheat, creating a sight of impressive beauty.

"In another ten days to half a month, the wheat in the terraced fields can be harvested."

In Xiliang, due to abundant sunlight, it only took about three months for wheat to go from sowing to harvest.

Looking at the thriving wheat, Xiao Yeyang’s face also showed an easy smile.

The chiefs of the five thousand households had already sent people to report on this year’s grain growth, and it was expected that, even though Xiliang’s harvest could not compare with other inland areas, it would still barely be enough to fill the stomachs of military households and the Border Army.

"Is this... the corn planted in the south?"

Li Xingnian pointed to the corn in the terraced fields, expressing his surprise, "There’s such a lack of water here, yet it can be grown!"

Xiao Yeyang laughed, "Speaking of which, this corn seed seems to have been given to Yiyi by my second uncle."

Li Xingnian hurried to the cornfield, closely inspecting the corn, "I didn’t expect this corn to be quite drought-resistant." As he spoke, he broke off an ear of corn.

"This corn is edible now, isn’t it?"

The butler in charge of the terraced fields immediately ran over, bowed to Xiao Yeyang, Li Xingnian, and Li Chenzhi, and quickly said, "It’s ready to eat. The Madam sent sisters from the mansion two days ago to pick two baskets of fresh corn." freewēbnoveℓ.com

Li Xingnian looked at Xiao Yeyang and said, "I heard people in the south say that fresh corn is very tasty; I’ve never had it before."

Xiao Yeyang smiled and said, "It’s indeed not bad. The yellow cakes we had this morning were corn cakes."

Li Xingnian’s eyes sparkled, "So those were corn cakes. I ate three pieces this morning."

Xiao Yeyang turned to De Fu, "Go and pick another two baskets of fresh corn to take with us when we leave."

De Fu nodded and left. Xiao Yeyang continued to walk the terraced fields with Li Xingnian and Li Chenzhi, ignoring the group of people standing not far away.

Li Xingnian said, "The corn seems to be growing very well here; the yield must be very high."

Xiao Yeyang hummed affirmatively, his voice slightly elevated, "Still, it can’t compare to areas with plenty of rainfall. In the estates near Beijing, corn can yield about 10 bushels per acre. Here, we can probably only expect six or seven bushels."

Hearing this, the group of people nearby stirred for a moment.

In Xiliang, even the best fields couldn’t yield more than about three bushels per acre, and barren land wouldn’t yield any crops at all.

A yield of six or seven bushels of corn per acre was unimaginable for the people of Xiliang, and yet, Xiao Yeyang looked dissatisfied.

The commanders of the Jinwei Guard and the Lanwu Guard who had come together couldn’t hold back any longer and walked over to Xiao Yeyang.

"Lord Xiao!"

Xiao Yeyang raised an eyebrow at the newcomers. He had met Commander Pang Guang before, "Commander Pang," he said, then looked at the man beside Pang Guang with curiosity. Although he knew the man’s identity, he still asked, "And who might this be?"

Before Pang Guang could introduce him, Jiang Wenming of the Jinwei Guard stepped forward with a salute, "Lord Xiao, I am Jiang Wenming of the Jinwei Guard. We have communicated through letters before."

Xiao Yeyang showed recognition and smiled, "So it’s Commander Jiang, a pleasure to meet you. I am grateful for your help previously." The Dong Family’s safe arrival in Ganzhou City was thanks to Jiang Wenming not standing in their way.

Jiang Wenming shook his head with a smile, "It was a small matter, Lord Xiao. Please don’t concern yourself with it."

Pang Guang watched the interaction between the two, feeling a bit bitter. Previously, when refugees gathered in Ganzhou City, Xiao Yeyang had asked him for emergency grain, which he had refused, worried that Xiao Yeyang wouldn’t stay long in Xiliang.

Now the tables had turned, and he was the one asking for help. Xiao Yeyang probably wouldn’t show him much kindness.

Jiang Wenming looked at the cornfields in the terraced fields and said with a smile, "I had heard that Lady Xiao was transforming barren hills into terraced fields. We had never seen such fields and couldn’t help but be curious. Today, Commander Pang and I came to see for ourselves, and we were fortunate to run into Lord Xiao."

Xiao Yeyang replied with a smile, "There are many mountains in Ganzhou Guard, and there’s too little flat farming land, so my wife had no choice but to make use of the slopes."

Jiang Wenming praised the initiative, "Lady Xiao is truly talented. Here in Xiliang, where there’s little rain and much sand, transforming the slopes into terraced fields effectively mitigates and prevents the problems of soil erosion."

Once the slopes were shaped into terraced fields, the gradient of the land decreased, weakening the erosive force of water. Additionally, with field ridges slightly higher than the terrace surface, it ensured that soil and water didn’t easily wash away from the area, thus preserving the soil.

At this, Xiao Yeyang looked at the commander of the Jinwei Guard with surprise. He had only understood these benefits after Yiyi had explained in detail the advantages of remodeling the land into terraced fields. Yet, Commander Jiang had recognized the benefits at a glance.

It seemed that this man had been diligently studying agriculture.

Xiao Yeyang introduced Li Xingnian and Li Chenzhi to Jiang Wenming and Pang Guang, and then he led the group to continue inspecting the terraced fields, reaching the potato planting area.

"After the wheat and corn are harvested, we can then collect the potatoes. Potatoes are the most drought-resistant, with yields reaching up to 15 bushels per acre in other places. Here, we’re probably looking at about ten bushels per acre."

Hearing this, Pang Guang and Jiang Wenming’s hearts quickened.

If Xiao Yeyang was telling the truth, just planting corn and potatoes would ensure that the Guard posts and the Border Army stationed there wouldn’t have to go hungry.

The two men exchanged quick glances, both considering how they might obtain these high-yield crops.