Madam, don't do this!

Chapter 420 Married Woman and Widow (5500 words)

The spring breeze at the end of March was still a bit chilly, blowing through the window. The middle-aged man couldn't help but shiver, while the young man seemed to feel nothing and remained calm. When he saw the middle-aged man's appearance, he even curled his lip slightly in disdain.

The people of Ningguo are weak.

They can't even stand such a little breeze.

If they were to experience the truly bone-chilling cold wind, coupled with the goose-feather-like snowflakes that felt like knives on their faces, they would probably be frozen solid.

Inside the guest room were two burly men dressed as guards of a wealthy household, each standing guard at one of the windows. Their faces were somewhat gloomy, and they exuded a fierce, tiger-like aura. They were no ordinary men. There were two guards guarding the guest room door, one inside and one outside, with their hands unconsciously pressed against their waists, where weapons were clearly hidden.

This configuration clearly shows that the young man's identity is extraordinary.

The wine glass made the young man a little uncomfortable. Although the glass wasn't small, he felt that this way of drinking was too awkward and not bold enough. So he simply grabbed the wine pot, aimed at the spout, and tilted his head back...

Tons tons tons tons!

One gulp and it's half a pot.

He casually wiped his sleeve again, his gaze still fixed on the women on the street through the window. He actually quite liked the women of Ningguo; they were all fair-skinned, delicate, and soft-bodied. Holding them in his arms and pressing them down on him was very comfortable and exciting.

The only thing that bothered him was that the women of Ningguo were all too thin and frail, with weak constitutions, unable to withstand any hardship, and could easily lose their lives. Even if they did manage to survive, childbirth was a troublesome affair, and could easily result in the death of both mother and child.

In this respect, the women on his side are better. Although they are not very good-looking and are rather rough around the edges, they can give birth quickly and easily.

The woman below was to his liking; unlike the typical Ningguo women who were slender, she had a full figure, especially her large buttocks.

She looks like she's capable of having sons.

Such a Ningguo woman is absolutely the best of the best. The more he looked at her, the more infatuated he became. His scarlet tongue swept across his lips, and his eyes shone with a greedy light like a wolf.

……

Gao Yang was unaware that he was being watched, and was still thinking about Fang Wanlin's matter.

The two were about the same age, but in terms of seniority, Gao Yang had to call Fang Wanlin "little aunt". They didn't meet often, except for their wedding day and some important holidays when the Fang family gathered together. But that was enough for the other to recognize her.

Therefore, it is truly impossible to return to the governor's mansion.

For a moment, Gao Yang was at a loss and could only quietly follow behind Song Yan.

Granny Gui hung at a distance, glancing casually at the restaurant to the side. She frowned and then looked away, as if she hadn't seen anything.

"Mr. Gao, Mr. Liang, you are both very talented people. Why don't you give me your advice? If I find a high-yield crop now, is it possible to promote it in Ningguo?" Song Yan pondered as he walked, occasionally throwing out some questions to Mr. Gao and Mr. Liang.

These two are also intelligent people.

He knew this was the Marquis testing him.

If the answer satisfies the Marquis, one will rise above others and achieve great success in the future.

If the answer is full of mistakes, then... there will be no more.

Both men pondered intently for a long time before Mr. Gao finally spoke slowly: "May I ask, Lord Marquis, what is the yield per acre of this high-yield crop?"

"Three or four stones, I guess." After thinking for a moment, Song Yan gave an answer.

Song Yan decided to try the pumpkin seeds first, since the seeds of high-yield rice, potatoes, and sweet potatoes were extremely precious. He was worried that if something went wrong, he would be devastated.

Mr. Gao and Mr. Liang both changed their expressions. You must know that these days, the seeds are the most ordinary ones, and there are no chemical fertilizers or anything like that. The yields of rice and wheat are ridiculously low. If one mu (unit of land area) can produce 150 jin (unit of weight), it is considered a bumper harvest, which is just over one shi (unit of volume).

The high-yield crop that the Marquis mentioned can produce three or four shi per mu, which would be four or five hundred jin.
Three times the harvest!

For a moment, Mr. Gao and Mr. Liang were both incredulous. If the person who said this hadn't been Champion Hou, they would have slapped him on the head: What are you dreaming about in broad daylight?

Song Yan is a marquis and cannot be hit, but even though these words were spoken by Song Yan, the two men were still somewhat skeptical, as it was indeed a bit too exaggerated.

However, the two of them were unaware that Song Yan was keeping his words to himself.

Pumpkin yields are actually quite high, but they are greatly affected by temperature. In southern regions, it is possible to harvest three to five thousand catties per mu (unit of land area), but in Liaodong, a yield of one thousand catties per mu is thanks to modern scientific planting and chemical fertilizers.

Therefore, Song Yan offered a 50% discount on the weight. Five hundred catties was still a possibility, and even if it didn't reach that, three hundred catties should be no problem.

A long time passed before the two seemed to have digested the information. They both took a deep breath to suppress their agitation: "May I ask, Lord Marquis, is this crop suitable as a staple food?"

Song Yan shook her head: "No."

Pumpkin is a special thing. It is definitely edible and has certain nutritional value, but it cannot be used as a staple food. If you eat pumpkin all the time, you will inevitably become pale and thin and weak. Therefore, it can only be used as a supplement to rice and wheat.

Upon hearing this, Liang Guangzong's expression turned slightly regretful. Although the two did not believe that Song Yan could really find such a high-yield crop, what if it was true? If it could be widely promoted as a staple food, wouldn't all the people in the world be able to eat their fill?

The roads are littered with the bones of the starving dead; such tragedies will never happen again in Ningguo. To ensure that all the people of the world no longer have to suffer from hunger and thirst would truly be an immense act of merit.

They could even be revered as the Sage of Agriculture, standing shoulder to shoulder with Confucius.

Both of them felt a moment of restlessness, and when they heard that this crop could not be used as a staple food, they couldn't help but feel regret... However, it would be good as a supplementary food, at least it would allow the people of Ningguo to have a few more full meals.

Taking a slow breath to calm his agitated heart, Mr. Liang asked, "Are the requirements for land high?"

“It’s not tall, it’s drought-resistant, and it can be planted almost anywhere. The hillside behind the house, the ditch in front of the door, or even around the pigsty—any piece of land can probably be planted there,” Song Yan said with a smile.

Pumpkin is truly one of the easiest crops to grow.

I remember visiting the countryside in my past life. Beside a dry ditch, I saw lush pumpkin leaves that almost covered the entire riverbed. As for how many pumpkins were produced, Song Yan wasn't sure, but judging from how abundant the pumpkin leaves were, there must have been quite a few pumpkins.

"It doesn't require much care. Once it sprouts, it will mostly grow on its own."

There's no need to weed; once the pumpkin leaves grow, there probably won't be many weeds surviving nearby.

"It's also quite simple to eat. You can mix it with rice to make porridge, steam it, or mix it with flour to make steamed cakes." Song Yan pursed his lips. People in this era were not used to stir-frying, so Song Yan didn't say anything. "It's just a little troublesome to preserve, and it won't last very long. But if you slice it and dry it, you can preserve it for a longer period of time."

Gao Xingcai and Liang Guangzong exchanged a glance, both able to see the surprise in each other's eyes. The Marquis had described it in such detail. Could it be that such a divine object truly existed in this world?

With a yield of 500 catties per mu, it wouldn't be an exaggeration to call it divine food, would it?

The two of them also became serious. They did not rush to answer Song Yan's question, but began to carefully consider the obstacles involved... Normally, with such a high-yield crop, what are we waiting for? We should promote it as soon as possible. As long as it is promoted, Ningguo's national strength will surely flourish.

However, with just a little thought, one can discover that there are many difficulties involved.

His facial expression grew increasingly grim, eventually becoming downright gloomy, with barely suppressed anger blazing in his eyes.

"Reporting to the Marquis," Gao Xing took a deep breath, his fingers clenched so tightly that his knuckles turned white, "it's unlikely that this can be fully implemented throughout Ningguo."

"Why?"

"First of all, the land in Ningguo is now basically in the hands of powerful families, landlords, wealthy merchants, and gentry. The vast majority of ordinary people are just their tenants, and there are very few, if any, self-cultivating farmers."

"I don't know about other places, but at least in Liutang County, there are probably less than one or two out of ten self-cultivating farmers."

"For those who control the land, the land is the capital for them to acquire wealth. They control the vast majority of Ningguo's grain and manipulate grain prices by controlling the output and the amount of grain put into the market, thereby making a lot of money for themselves."

"For these people, the more land they have, the better, and the more expensive the grain is, the better."

Song Yan nodded, his eyes showing a hint of approval.

Mr. Liang interjected, "Then it is obvious that for those who control the land, high-yield crops are not in their interest."

"If there is a yield of 500 catties of grain per mu, even if it can only be used as supplementary grain, it is enough to fill the stomachs of the people. You should know that whether it is a powerful family or a gentry and landlord, they mostly buy up large amounts of land from farmers at extremely low prices during years of famine, when most people cannot fill their stomachs and are about to starve to death."

"If everyone can have enough to eat, who would sell their children, their land, or even their bodies to become tenant farmers?"

"Just the fact that it affects these people's expansion of landholdings will be met with resistance from all the powerful families, landlords, wealthy merchants, and gentry. And to promote this crop, a large amount of land is required, which cannot be done by self-cultivating farmers alone without their cooperation."

"Moreover, self-sufficient farmers are also greatly influenced by the local gentry, and may be resistant to this new crop. Even if we are willing to pay subsidies, the gentry will most likely sabotage the planting..."

"I'm afraid that as soon as the seedlings sprout, they will all be pulled up overnight."

At this point, Liang Guangzong's voice was already filled with suppressed emotion. Song Yan's long eyelashes trembled, her expression remained unchanged, but her eyes grew even deeper.

This is the evil of human nature.

For those who control the land, they only care about whether they can continuously obtain wealth. They don't care about the lives of others. As long as it benefits them, what does it matter if thousands or tens of thousands die?

While Mr. Liang took a breather, Gao Xing continued, "Moreover, even though this crop is not a staple food but only a supplementary food, its yield is so large that once it is planted on a large scale, it will inevitably affect the price of staple food."

"This directly affects the interests of those who control land and food production."

"This crop benefits ordinary people, who happen to be the most numerous yet have the least influence; it harms the interests of powerful families, landlords, and gentry, who happen to control the most land, and its promotion cannot bypass them... This is almost an unsolvable dead end."

Song Yan couldn't help but clap his hands and laugh: "Haha, hahaha, not bad, not bad. Although I knew that both of you gentlemen were very talented, your remarks today still left me in awe." As he spoke, Song Yan bowed to the two of them again: "Please forgive my impetuousness, gentlemen."

The previous questions were somewhat intended as a test for the school.

But for such a talented person, this kind of examination is somewhat humiliating.

Liang Guangzong and Gao Xingcai were both startled by Song Yan's actions and hurriedly stepped forward to help him up, repeatedly saying that they dared not accept it.

Song Yan didn't mince words and stood up naturally: "Mr. Gao just said almost, which means... there's still a way to break the deadlock?"

"Have!"

"Why?"

"No one in Ningguo can do that now," Gao Xingcai shook his head.

"What kind of person would be needed to do that?" Song Yan asked, slightly curious.

Gao Xing pursed his lips, his gaze toward Song Yan filled with a hint of madness: "Throughout history, in the thousands of years of the Central Plains, only two people have been able to accomplish such a feat."

"who?"

"Emperor Taizu of the Han Dynasty, Emperor Taizu of the Wu Dynasty."

"Why?" Gao Xing took a deep breath: "Because these two have the momentum of establishing a nation, their prestige is at its peak; and they also hold the military power of the entire country, suppressing the nine provinces."

"When the imperial decree is issued, none under heaven dare to disobey it."

"Even if someone resists, heads will roll."

"As for the Marquis, although he has the decisiveness to kill and the courage to slaughter ten thousand people, and he has troops to govern the four directions, he lacks only the power to command the world."

Upon hearing this, apart from Princess Gaoyang who was deep in thought, even Song Yan couldn't help but raise an eyebrow. Mr. Liang next to him was even more shocked, his gaze subconsciously sweeping around. Only after finding no one around did he breathe a sigh of relief.

Good heavens, is this instigating the Marquis to rebel?
crazy?

If others heard this, would your entire family be spared?

It might even implicate the Marquis.

Song Yan was speechless. Why was he surrounded by a bunch of troublemakers?

Liu Yisheng is like this, Zhang Han is like this, Lei Yi, Wang Chao, and Ma Han seem to have the same idea, and now even the new teacher is rebellious.

No wonder they're capable of rebellion; even after being granted amnesty, they still won't behave.

Song Yan pursed his lips, not angry, but shook his head: "Mr. Gao, please don't talk nonsense. If others hear these words, it might not be good."

After a pause, Song Yan spoke again: "Is it possible to promote this crop only in Pingyang Prefecture?"

Gao Xingcai's throat moved slightly. He had spoken those words boldly just now, but now he realized that he was covered in cold sweat: "If it's just Pingyang, it might be feasible, but we must keep it a secret in the early stages. The number of seeds, the crop yield, and the effects must not be known to others."

Song Yan nodded, and they arrived at the Zhang residence.

The Huang family, one of the two great families in Pingyang City, has been wiped out.

Although the Zhang family relinquished some of their profits, their current status in Pingyang is even higher than before.

Zhang Ci, that shrewd old man, had obviously given the doorman careful instructions. Seeing that Song Yan didn't even need to announce his arrival, he directly bowed and scraped as he welcomed Song Yan into the guest hall, and even immediately ordered the maid to prepare fragrant tea and fine wine.

Not long after, a series of hurried footsteps were heard. Looking up, one could see Zhang Ci had already arrived at the entrance of the guest hall. The old man had grown another year older after the New Year. Yet his energy remained vigorous, his back straight, and he seemed even younger than before.

Beside Zhang Ci was his granddaughter, Zhang Yan.

Although the little girl was indeed quite beautiful, petite and lovely, and Song Yan understood what the old man meant, he still maintained that he was not a beast.

Zhang Yan looks to be only thirteen years old.

In another time and space, she would definitely be working on a sewing machine, with a minimum of three years of experience.

Upon seeing Song Yan, Zhang Ci's face immediately lit up with a smile: "Your Excellency's presence is an honor. I am deeply sorry for not welcoming you properly. I hope Your Excellency will forgive me."

He then bowed down.

Song Yan didn't dare to be negligent and quickly stepped forward to help him up.

He's over eighty years old.

At this age, he would basically be exempt from legal punishment in the four kingdoms of the Central Plains. That is to say, unless it is treason or rebellion, even if his entire family is executed, this old man will not be implicated.

Receiving such a grand gift from him might shorten one's lifespan.

After the guests and hosts sat down and exchanged a few pleasantries, Song Yan finally spoke: "My trip to the Zhang family this time is partly because I have been away from Dongling for several months, and it is only natural to pay a visit upon my return."

"Your Excellency is too kind. It should be me who comes to pay you a visit," Zhang Ci said with a smile, adding that he dared not accept such an honor.

"The second thing is that I hope Grandpa Zhang can help me find someone to settle down." As he spoke, Song Yan looked at Gao Yang.

With Fang Wanlin at the governor's mansion, Gao Yang had to find another place to settle her.

In the whole of Pingyang, Zhangjia is considered a relatively suitable place.

Zhang Ci was also taken aback. He subconsciously looked at Gao Yang and couldn't help but wonder, how could the governor's mansion, which was a large courtyard with countless rooms, not even be able to accommodate a woman?

Could it be that he's planning to keep a mistress in a gilded cage?
Surely not. Lady Zhang Ci, the wife of the Marquis, has met her; she's not the jealous type.

However, judging from the woman's plump and graceful figure, beautiful appearance, gentle and generous demeanor, and noble air, although her identity is unknown, she must be no ordinary person. Even though I was born and raised in Pingyang, I still know a bit about the affairs of the court. Given the current situation in Ningguo, if this woman is indeed a noble lady, she is probably even more noble than a princess.

Lady Hou may have felt threatened.

Zhang Ciren was a shrewd and experienced man. Although his eyes were dim and cloudy, he was actually very clear-headed.

He knew very well whose coattails he had climbed onto.

This was no big deal for the Zhang family, so they agreed immediately and assured them that Gao Yang would be treated as an honored guest and would not be neglected in the slightest.

Just looking at Gao Yang's voluptuous and graceful figure, her mature charm, and her age of several years older than Song Yan... it's clear that this Marquis still prefers older, more mature women.

It seems that there's really no way to find a suitable match for my granddaughter.

If it's not to your liking, there's nothing you can do; you can't force someone to buy it, can you?

There were previous rumors that the Marquis preferred older women, especially married women, widows, and widows...

Zhang Ci was not very convinced at first. After all, rumors are usually far-fetched. After passing through the mouths of three or five people, the rumors would become completely distorted. Although the woman beside the Marquis was older, she was not a widow, widowed wife, or married woman.
No, there seems to be one named Bu Yu.

But now, looking at Gao Yang's hair piled up, Zhang Ci's mind started to wander again.

Could it be that this Marquis actually has a taste for widows and married women?
What a coincidence! He happens to have a granddaughter whose husband died a while ago!

(End of this chapter)