Being a tour guide for historical celebrities, the motherland is amazed again

Chapter 221 After we finish eating, I will pack some for him to take back
"What does it mean to show affection?" Yin Lihua had never heard of modern Internet slang and was very curious.

"The word 'xiu' means 'display' in later generations. To show your love is to show your love to everyone," Wang Mang explained.

"We are an old married couple, why should we still show our affection?" Yin Lihua lowered her head in embarrassment.

"Brother Wang, don't talk nonsense in front of the women." Liu Xiu rolled his eyes at Wang Mang.

After several months of hard work, the first batch of potatoes was harvested before the Spring Festival.

"Xiu'er, look at these potatoes. How do they compare to the ones you have?" Wang Mang took the two largest potatoes and handed them to Liu Xiu.

"Look at the variety. It's better than what I have here. With this batch of potatoes, I think we can save many victims." Liu Xiu looked at the piles of potatoes and finally showed joy. "Brother Wang, thank you for saving my people."

"Oh, the sun rises from the west, and you still thank me?" Wang Mang looked incredulous and a little flattered.

When Deng Sui learned that there was a bumper potato harvest, she immediately drafted an imperial decree to transport the potatoes to the areas most severely affected by the disaster. At the same time, she set up disaster relief centers near Luoyang to provide assistance to the fleeing victims.

"Sister Deng, there is one more thing you must not forget." Deng Sui was about to convey the order when Su Jiahe suddenly stopped her.

"Sister Su, what's wrong?"

"Sister Deng, transportation is difficult these days. It can take anywhere from a few days to several months for potatoes to be shipped. It's inevitable that they'll sprout along the way. So, we must tell people to remove the sprouted parts before eating potatoes, otherwise they'll be poisoned."

"I didn't know that potatoes shouldn't be eaten after they sprout. Thanks to Sister Su for reminding me."

The next day, more than a dozen teams of carts and horses loaded with potatoes set out from Luoyang to various places. At the same time, a special person shouted along the way, "The potato sprouts must be dug out with the roots, otherwise you will be poisoned if you eat them."

After the first batch of potatoes was distributed, the food crisis finally eased slightly. Countless people were filled with gratitude towards Deng Sui, almost wishing she were a savior. In the court, many ministers who had originally opposed Deng Sui gradually changed their attitudes.

In the blink of an eye, the New Year arrived, and Deng Sui held a banquet in the palace to thank Su Jiahe and others.

"Sister Su, Brother Wang, Miss He, Yingying, you have left your homes and come to the Han Dynasty to help those in need. You are truly benefactors of me, Deng Sui, and the Han Dynasty. I offer a toast to each of you."

As Deng Sui spoke, she raised her full glass and drank it all in one gulp.

"I wish Sister Deng good health, all her wishes come true, and a happy Spring Festival." Yingying also raised her glass and said sweetly.

"Thank you, Xiao Yingying. I wish you become more and more beautiful." Deng Sui touched Yingying's little face.

"Come, may the new year bring a bountiful harvest and a speedy revitalization of the Han Dynasty!"

Su Jiahe filled his own glass with wine and raised it high. Everyone raised their glasses together and clinked them in mid-air.

"Our ancestor Emperor Guangwu is not here. Is he doing well at home?" Deng Sui suddenly thought of Liu Xiu.

"Who told him not to show up?" Wang Mang said, "Don't worry about him. After we finish eating, I'll pack some for him to take back."

After the banquet, Wang Mang returned to his residence carrying the food box.

"Xiu'er, have you eaten? I brought you some delicious food from the palace..."

Before Wang Mang finished speaking, he saw Liu Xiu and Yin Lihua sitting at the table eating, with various delicacies on the table.

"Where did you get it?"

“Brother Wang, this is what I left for them before I left. It’s perfect, we haven’t finished the food we brought yet,” Su Jiahe said. “Brother Wang, Miss Su is so thoughtful. Unlike you, you went to the banquet yourself and left us here,” Liu Xiu said, rolling his eyes at Wang Mang as he ate.

"If you had told me earlier, I wouldn't have bothered to bring it to you. You probably can't finish so much, I'll sit down and eat some more." Wang Mang said as he moved a chair and sat next to the table.

"Hey, you ate in the palace, why are you eating again after coming back? You're so old, be careful not to digest the food."

"We brought these foods with us, why can't I eat them?" Wang Mang was about to pick up the braised chicken wings in front of him, but Liu Xiu suddenly took the plate away.

"Xiu'er, what are you doing?"

"Call Miss Su and the others to come with you. Why are you taking up so much space by yourself?"

"Alright, alright, everyone sit down and have some more food," Yin Lihua said as she stood up. "Your Majesty, you are already over fifty years old. Why do you act like a child and make a fuss when you see my brother?"

"Did you hear that? Your wife is talking about you." Wang Mang made a smug expression towards Liu Xiu.

After the first month of the lunar year, spring plowing began across the country. Deng Sui assembled a group of agricultural experts and established the "Agriculture Bureau," which distributed high-yield seeds and popularized planting techniques throughout the country.

At the same time, Deng Sui drafted an imperial decree to summon Zhang Heng to Beijing to serve as an official and develop the seismometer as soon as possible.

"Sister Deng, wait a moment." Su Jiahe once again stopped Deng Sui who was about to issue an order.

"Sister Su, what's wrong?"

"Sister Deng, actually, that seismometer is of no use in predicting earthquakes," said Su Jiahe.

"Really? Then how did later generations prepare for earthquakes?"

"To be honest, even in my time, people still couldn't guarantee 100% prediction of earthquakes."

"I see," Deng Sui frowned slightly. "But once an earthquake strikes, it can easily kill or injure hundreds or even thousands of people, and cause massive damage to houses and farmland. Is there really no way to avoid it?"

"Sister Deng, we can only inform the places where earthquakes will occur in advance based on the historical records of later generations so that local people can evacuate in time."

"However, the dates and locations of several earthquakes are not clearly recorded. If all the people were to flee for a long time, not only would production be delayed, but there would also be nowhere to accommodate them."

“That’s indeed a problem.”

Su Jiahe lowered his head and thought for a while, and suddenly an idea came to him.

"Sister Deng, there's a country in the future that, because of frequent earthquakes, invented 'hollow bricks' to build houses. These bricks are very light and not likely to collapse, and if they do collapse, they're unlikely to injure anyone. Let's check the books we brought; they should have information on the production process."

"Is there such a magical thing?" Deng Sui's eyes suddenly lit up. "Quick, Miss Su, let's check it out now."

Sure enough, soon after the start of the new year, news of earthquakes in various places reached Luoyang one after another. Fortunately, Deng Sui had already learned about it and made detailed plans for disaster relief, doing her best to minimize the losses.

At the same time, Deng Sui recruited many craftsmen and built water conservancy projects throughout the country. Originally, 41 counties and 315 prefectures would have been affected by floods that year, but thanks to timely measures, the disaster was reduced by more than half.

By July, the whole country had a bumper harvest. With enough food to provide disaster relief, the disaster-stricken areas gradually settled down, and the people were jubilant, beating drums and gongs.

Liu Xiu disguised himself as a farmer and went to the fields with Wang Mang. Looking at the endless golden rice fields, he couldn't help but patted Wang Mang on the shoulder.

"Natural disasters have been constant over the years. If I encountered a year like this, I would probably be at a loss. Brother Wang, thanks to you, the people here can live and work in peace."