The two of them traveled through the Tang Dynasty to open a supermarket, and the little Sizi was sup

Chapter 118 High-Yield Grain!

"Young master, why is this pork so different from that of the Tang Dynasty?" Li Lizhi thought of this question and decided to ask.

Empress Zhangsun also wanted to know.

Xiao Ran put down his chopsticks and explained with a smile, "There are several reasons. First, the breed of pigs has changed. Nowadays, pigs have undergone countless rounds of selective breeding, resulting in faster growth and better meat quality."

"Furthermore, these pigs were castrated when they were young, which reduces the unpleasant smell and makes the meat more delicious."

"Finally, there's the breeding method. Now we use scientifically formulated feed, which provides balanced nutrition, so the taste and texture of our pork are quite different from that of pigs from Datang."

Li Lizhi was overjoyed upon hearing this, because it was entirely possible to raise them in the Tang Dynasty.

If the breeds are different, then we'll buy the new breed of pigs from the other side.

Castration is something you can learn; it's not difficult.

The breeding methods, as exemplified by Xiao Ran, are something that can be learned.

"So, in that case, we can raise them on a large scale in the Tang Dynasty, and the Tang Dynasty can also enjoy such delicious pork?" Princess Yuzhang realized.

Xiao Ran served the two little princesses braised pork and tomatoes before saying, "There are both advantages and disadvantages to the large-scale raising of pork in the Tang Dynasty."

"In terms of meat yield, pigs usually have a higher meat yield than sheep, and an adult pig produces a relatively large amount of meat."

"However, in terms of breeding costs, although pigs are omnivorous, in the Tang Dynasty, with the current low grain production, feeding pigs with grain is indeed not cheap."

"Sheep are more tolerant of roughage and can mainly eat wild grasses, so they consume less grain."

"Furthermore, pig farming requires relatively fixed pens and must maintain certain hygiene conditions, which also requires a certain investment of manpower and resources."

"Therefore, given that many people are still struggling to get enough to eat, large-scale pig farming may compete with people for food, which is not appropriate."

"However, if we can first promote some high-yield grain crops to increase grain production, and then appropriately develop the pig farming industry, it might be a good choice."

Xiao Ran didn't know anything about it before, but recently, because of the appearance of the little princess, Xiao Ran has also started to learn about the Tang Dynasty.

After all, we need to deal with the Tang Dynasty; it wouldn't be right if we didn't understand it.

During the Tang Dynasty, the yield per mu of grain varied depending on factors such as region, soil fertility, and planting techniques.

Generally speaking, the yield of grain crops such as millet and wheat in the north of the Tang Dynasty was about 1 to 2 shi per mu, while the yield of rice in the south was relatively higher, about 2 to 3 shi per mu.

One shi (石) is roughly 120 jin (斤), which is frighteningly low compared to the yields of potatoes and corn in the 21st century.

No wonder many people still can't get enough to eat. Even in peacetime, when there is no war, most ordinary people can barely make ends meet.

Li Lizhi grasped the key information: "High-yield grain, does the young master have some high-yield grain on his side?"

"Yes, it's much higher than that of the Tang Dynasty."

Even Empress Changsun was taken aback when she heard Xiao Ran mention the high grain yield.

Empress Zhangsun knew all too well what high grain yields meant to the Tang Dynasty.

"Young master, how is the yield?"

Xiao Ran pondered for a moment and converted the production figures into terms that Li Lizhi, Empress Zhangsun, and the others could understand.

"For example, rice, the yield in our area is about ten shi per mu," Xiao Ran said casually.

To Empress Zhangsun and Li Lizhi, it was like a thunderclap.

The group knew about the yield per mu in the Tang Dynasty, and they were indeed shocked to hear that the yield was ten shi per mu.

"Ten bushels?" Li Lizhi looked as if she had seen a ghost. "Young master, did I hear that right?"

"Chang Le, you heard me right, it's ten shi (a unit of dry measure)."

Li Lizhi continued, "Young master, is the stone you mentioned the same as the one from the Tang Dynasty?"

“The units of weight are different in later generations, but I know how much one shi is in the Tang Dynasty, so I converted it.” “Ten shi is too frightening!” Princess Yuzhang was also extremely shocked.

Empress Zhangsun pondered this matter.

This is much more meaningful than getting some electric fan and tea leaves from Xiao Ran.

This was a momentous event that would benefit countless people; for the people of the Tang Dynasty, it was an opportunity to have enough to eat.

Empress Zhangsun was also very excited.

The two little princesses didn't care about any of this; they were oblivious to everything else and focused on eating.

"It's not just rice, there's plenty more later." Xiao Ran picked up a piece of corn from the pork rib soup. "What does Chang Le think of this?"

"It's sweet and quite delicious."

"This is corn, which is also a staple food. The yield of corn is about seven or eight shi per mu. The corn stalks can be used as fodder to feed cattle and sheep."

The water in Princess Yuzhang's bowl was just right. She tasted it and found it sweet and quite delicious.

Empress Zhangsun and the others all shared the same idea: to bring these things to the Tang Dynasty for cultivation.

"And sweet potatoes, the yield is even more astonishing, about fifteen shi per mu."

Xiao Ran once again made a startling statement.

"Fifteen bushels?" Li Lizhi's voice rose several decibels, she was truly frightened.

"Sweet potatoes are so sweet~ They're delicious~" This triggered the little princess's keywords, and she said it.

"That little soft and sticky piece in the sweet potato porridge must be sweet potato!" Li Lizhi remembered.

"Yes, sweet potatoes are vine plants that bear fruit underground. Each sweet potato plant can produce a bunch of sweet potatoes, and the large ones can weigh several kilograms each. Unfortunately, it's not very convenient to store them. Also, they can't be used as a staple food."

"Whether this yield can be used as a staple food is completely unimportant!" Li Lizhi was so excited that she forgot to eat.

Empress Zhangsun wholeheartedly agreed with this point.

"How happy my father will be to know!" Princess Yuzhang said with a smile.

A production volume of fifteen shi (a unit of dry measure) was something the people of the Tang Dynasty could never have dreamed of.

That is to say, they knew that Xiao Ran came from more than a thousand years in the future, where there were many things that the Tang Dynasty could not imagine. Otherwise, Empress Zhangsun and the others would not have believed it.

Now that I understand Xiao Ran, I think it's impossible for him to talk nonsense.

"There are also potatoes, which can yield around ten shi per mu. Potatoes grow in the soil and the plants are not big, but they can produce a lot of potatoes. Moreover, potatoes do not have high requirements for the soil. Even in relatively barren land, they can still have a good harvest."

"This is terrifying, how can the yield be so high?" Li Lizhi had previously thought that the high yield Xiao Ran mentioned was at most around five shi (a unit of dry measure).

"The yield of tomatoes per mu can exceed 100 shi!" Xiao Ran dropped this bombshell again.

A sudden silence fell, and Empress Zhangsun and the others were so shocked that they couldn't speak.

"Bai Shi?" Li Lizhi's voice changed.

"Yes, tomatoes are very productive. This vegetable is very popular, and through generations of improvement, the yield is amazing."

Princess Yuzhang swallowed hard. "Young master, can these be grown in the Tang Dynasty?"

This is the key.

"Of course it is possible, but the output may be slightly lower."

Xiao Ran picked up a tissue and wiped the little princess's face. "After all, the Tang Dynasty didn't have fertilizers, so the impact should be quite significant."

(End of this chapter)