Drive to the Tang Dynasty, where supplies are refreshed daily!

The group chatted and laughed as they entered the vegetable garden.

Apart from Yuchi Jingde, Li Shimin and the others were all familiar with tomatoes.

"Wow, this looks like a lot. How could it produce so many?" Li Shimin approached the tomatoes.

"The yield is higher than expected, and it looks good. Nephew, are these red ones edible? Can we pick them?" Cheng Yaojin asked Xiao Ran.

“Uncle, they’re ripe, you can pick them,” Xiao Ran said. “We’ve already picked quite a few rhinoceros horns before.”

Upon hearing Xiao Ran say that they could pick them, Li Shimin, Qin Qiong, and the others didn't stand on ceremony.

Li Shimin wiped his clothes and said, "I remember this tastes good when eaten raw."

After saying that, Li Shimin took a bite and nodded approvingly, "Yes, yes, that's the taste, that's the sweet and sour flavor. Si Zi Fan Yin liked it very much before."

"Oh my! This one has no seed, it's all flesh!" Cheng Yaojin exclaimed as he looked at the tomato.

“These are seeds, they’re very small.” Xiao Ran picked a small one. “Whether you’re using the big ones for cooking or eating them raw, the small ones are sweeter, I think.”

Xiao Ran handed it to Zhang Anan, "Uncle, you should try some too."

"Alright, thank you, young man!"

Li Shimin didn't waste any; he ate what he had in his hand and then picked the smaller ones.

"It seems that's really the case." Li Shimin nodded. "The smaller ones are sweeter."

"Nephew, can we take this back and plant it?" Qin Qiong asked. "I want to grow some for myself."

"Uncle, it's possible. This is not a simple matter. We've tried it before, and now we're starting to cultivate seedlings. Using seedlings directly is faster."

"The growth cycle of tomatoes is actually very short, so it's not too late to plant them now, there's still time."

"Hahaha! Then I'd better go home and plant some."

Li Shimin held a freshly picked cherry tomato between his fingers, the sweet taste of the flesh still lingering on his tongue, but his gaze had already passed over the fence of the vegetable garden and landed on the distant stretch of field ridges.

The good thing about this fruit is that it is "not picky about people or land".

Just now, Xiao Ran said, "The growth cycle is short, so it's not too late to plant it now," and also said, "It can be used as a vegetable or a fruit." He immediately thought of the farmers in Guanzhong.

Every year after the summer grain harvest, there is always a period of low yield in the fields. If farmers were to plant a few tomato plants along the field ridges or in their vegetable gardens, they could harvest more fruit without much effort.

In ordinary households, there's no need to spend money on sour plums and apricots in the summer; picking a few tomatoes is enough to cut through the greasiness.

In years with abundant rainfall and a low grain harvest, these fruits can still fill our stomachs, which is much better than digging for wild vegetables.

Thinking further ahead, it could also be used for border defense in northern Xinjiang.

Yuchi Jingde had just said that this item was rare, as the soldiers on the border ate dried meat and wheat cakes year-round, and fresh fruits and vegetables were hard to find.

If tomatoes could be planted on the land of the military settlement without requiring meticulous care, the soldiers would have more fresh food to eat in the summer and less illness caused by a lack of fruits and vegetables.

He then recalled Qin Qiong's earlier question, "Can we take it back and plant it?" and the idea of ​​promoting it came to him.

We need to send agricultural officials to Kaolao Village to learn how to grow tomatoes and remember the details.

The instructions on when to start seedling cultivation, how to water them, and how to control pests were compiled into a booklet and distributed to various prefectures and counties.

First, select a few pilot areas in Guanzhong and let the village heads lead the people to plant the crops. Once the people see the results, they will naturally spread the crop to each other without the government's prompting.

At that time, not only the Central Plains, but also the water towns of Jiangnan and the mountainous areas of Sichuan might be able to grow these bright red fruits.

As he pondered this, Li Shimin couldn't help but look at Xiao Ran, his eyes filled with admiration.

The young man brought not some "novelty," but the "fundamentals" that would allow people to live a good life.

From the tea-frying workshops and glassmaking techniques of the past to the tomatoes of today, everything is labeled with the word "people's livelihood".

Suddenly, I realized that Kaolao Village, more than the imperial court in Chang'an, had a clearer understanding of "what the people need".

It wasn't a fancy imperial edict, but something tangible that could be grown, eaten, and used.

Seeing Li Shimin and the others in the vegetable garden, Li Lizhi, Princess Yuzhang, and the others came in carrying vegetable baskets.

"Grandpa, Uncle," Li Lizhi greeted them.

"Girl, you've come at the perfect time. Pick some more and take them back for your mother to try." Li Shimin pointed to the vegetable basket.

This was actually the purpose of Li Lizhi and her group's visit.

The harvest was given to Li Shimin, Cheng Yaojin, and others to take back.

Cheng Tiehuan walked over to Cheng Yaojin and said, "Grandpa, these smaller ones are sweeter, that's what the young master said."

"Yes, Grandpa, have a taste." Cheng Yaojin took it; he couldn't refuse something given by his own daughter.

Li Lizhi and Princess Yuzhang, standing beside Li Shimin, talked a lot about tomatoes.

Li Shimin also realized that his two daughters hadn't been idle in Kaolao Village; they hadn't missed a single thing to learn or understand.

The purpose of their previous visit was to attend classes, but since there were many learned scholars around, neither Li Lizhi nor Princess Yuzhang needed to attend classes.

But they didn't have a moment to rest either.

There are many things Xiao Ran can do here.

These things are all important.

Upon hearing what Li Lizhi and Princess Yuzhang said, Li Shimin realized that there was no need to find someone to teach him.

Have your two daughters summarize it; they can write it down.

Give it directly to Li Tai and have him print it in bulk. He can then send it along with the seeds to other prefectures and counties.

Li Shimin noticed the chili peppers next to him; many were green, but some were red.

How does it taste?

"It's sweet!" Xiao Ran said first.

Li Lizhi and Princess Yuzhang smiled and remained silent.

Xiao Ran picked one, put it in his mouth and ate it by himself. "It's not as sweet as a tomato, but it has a unique flavor."

Cheng Yaojin also picked one, and Cheng Tiehuan tried to stop him, but it was too late.

Cheng Yaojin didn't think much of it and started eating.

When Cheng Yaojin tasted the chili pepper, he was visibly taken aback for a moment, then nodded, "Hmm, it's quite delicious."

Yuchi Jingde, who was standing next to him, also picked one, with a smile on his face. After taking a bite, his smile disappeared.

He said in a very serious tone, "It tastes good!"

Seeing the three of them eating with relish, Li Shimin also picked one, wiped it, and put it in his mouth.

The next moment, Li Shimin spat out, "Ptooey! What does this taste like?"

Cheng Yaojin and Yuchi Jingde also spat out the chili peppers in their mouths, as neither of them could get used to the taste.

The Tang Dynasty had spicy foods, such as garlic, dogwood, and scallions, but they were different from chili peppers.

The spiciness is definitely incomparable.

"Xiao Ran, you bastard!" Li Shimin, feeling the spiciness, ate a tomato.

Cheng Yaojin and Yuchi Jingde were also eating tomatoes to relieve the spiciness.

"Zhijie, Jingde, you two too!"

"Second Brother, I said it was delicious because I've never eaten it before, I didn't mean to deceive you," Cheng Yaojin quickly explained.

No one dared to say it was sweet, otherwise it would be considered deceiving the emperor.

That is, the one Xiao Ran said was sweet. Xiao Ran was still eating, "This chili pepper is actually quite good, it's very fragrant when stir-fried."

We were worried that the others wouldn't be able to eat spicy food, so we hadn't used it before.

Later, Xiao Ran would cook two for himself, or stir-fry some for his own consumption.

Li Lizhi and the others indeed couldn't finish it.

Xiao Ran didn't find it spicy, but for the others in the Tang Dynasty, it was definitely too spicy.

“Nephew, this spice is a bit too spicy, much spicier than garlic. Is it even considered food?” Yuchi Jingde asked.

"It's a condiment, similar to garlic," Xiao Ran said.

"Why plant so many of these? I doubt anyone else could handle it!" Li Shimin said, holding a tomato and thinking it tasted delicious.

"Uncle, this is actually a good thing too."

Seeing Li Shimin gasping for breath from the spiciness, and then looking at Cheng Yaojin and Yuchi Jingde frowning and spitting out the chili, Xiao Ran smiled and said, "These chilies are too strong to eat raw, and they are indeed too spicy to handle when stir-fried. But chilies are indeed very useful."

Li Shimin also felt that Xiao Ran must have planted so many plants for some other purpose.

It's clear that Xiao Ran has a good appetite.

I can eat two chili peppers and I'm perfectly fine.

If he could only eat it himself, Xiao Ran wouldn't have planted so many.

Li Shimin, holding the tomato in his hand, raised an eyebrow and said, "Then tell me, what's the use of this spicy stuff that makes people feel like they're on fire, besides tricking us into eating it?"

"For example, it can relieve problems such as loss of appetite and indigestion, and is especially suitable for people with poor appetite or weak gastrointestinal motility."

Li Shimin frowned. "Is that all?"

This is not a big problem.

At least that's how Li Shimin saw it.

"This is not all. Uncle, are you feeling hot right now?"

Li Shimin nodded, then said irritably, "It's so spicy, how can it not be hot?"

"It's summer now, but what if it were winter?"

Li Shimin's eyes lit up, and he suddenly realized, "You mean dispelling the cold?"

"Yes, eating something spicy like this will warm you up."

"Even if it's dried, it won't affect the taste. After drying, it can be stored for a long time."

"It's relatively easy to store."

“It does sound like a good thing, we can get more.” Li Shimin was no longer opposed to it and picked another one.

"The spiciness varies; some are very spicy, while others are not."

Li Shimin hesitated for a moment, then took another bite. "This one is clearly not very spicy."

Sun Simiao also came over, and the group quickly greeted him.

Li Shimin, holding a chili pepper, asked, "Sir, what do you think of the chili pepper?"

Sun Simiao nodded. "I also tried it before. When the chili enters the mouth, the pungent aroma goes straight to the nose and mouth, and then the heat spreads to the chest and abdomen, just like drinking warm wine, which is even stronger. This is its most obvious characteristic."

"Its flavor is pungent and its nature is hot, which is consistent with the theory in the Yellow Emperor's Inner Classic that 'pungent flavor is mainly for dispersing and hot nature is mainly for warming and unblocking.' It should be a product that 'is good at unblocking qi and blood and can help with digestion.'"

Li Shimin nodded. Xiao Ran had never heard of these things either, and had not asked Sun Simiao before.

Xiao Ran admired Sun Simiao from the bottom of his heart; he could "see through" everything and understand its habits.

No wonder he's the King of Medicine; no one else has this kind of skill.

Sun Simiao picked up the chili pepper, sniffed it, and continued, "This vegetable is spicy and hot in nature, which can invigorate the spleen and stimulate the appetite."

"If you encounter someone with a weak spleen and stomach, who has poor appetite, abdominal distension, aversion to cold, and loose stools, you can add a small amount to their meals. This may warm and invigorate the spleen yang, promote the production of saliva and gastric juices, help food digestion, and relieve the problem of 'indigestion.' This is consistent with what I often say: 'Nourishing the spleen and stomach is the foundation of acquired constitution.'"

"Although its pungent and hot properties are strong, they can penetrate to the surface of the skin."

"If someone suffers from wind-cold obstruction, with soreness in the shoulders, neck, waist, and legs that worsens with cold, they can mash this vegetable and apply it externally. Its heat will dispel local cold, clear obstructed qi and blood, and relieve the pain of muscle stiffness."

Although it is not as warming as angelica or cinnamon, it has the effect of "quickly clearing".

"However, it should be remembered that this vegetable is hot in nature and not suitable for everyone."

"If one's constitution is prone to dryness, and one often experiences dry mouth, sore throat, or swelling, consuming this food will only exacerbate the heat and dryness, potentially worsening the symptoms of 'internal heat'."

"If you have gastrointestinal heat symptoms, such as stomach pain and burning sensation, bloody stools and hemorrhoids, eating this will further damage your gastrointestinal mucosa, so you should avoid it."

Even for those who are suitable, the dosage should not be excessive. It is necessary to "try a small amount and observe the body's reaction" in order to follow the principle that "using medicine is like using troops, and excess will cause harm".

Xiao Ran didn't understand some of it, but he thought it was very impressive.

Li Shimin looked at the chili pepper in his hand. "Thank you for your explanation, sir."

"This product is definitely worth promoting!"

Qin Qiong had previously seen Li Shimin and the others' reactions and didn't want to eat it, but after hearing Sun Simiao's words, he couldn't help but pick one and try it.

"Xiao Ran, when you're cooking later, add some of the vegetables so I can try them too," Li Shimin said.

"Row!"

Li Shimin discovered that the taste seemed quite unique.

At lunchtime, several children returned.

Yan Yao and Di Renjie and Li Shimin had never met before, so Li Lizhi introduced them.

Li Lizhi specifically mentioned Di Renjie.

"Although this child is young, he is more mature and composed than other children his age."

“In the past, when I went to the school to see Sizi, the teacher taught him to recognize the three characters ‘Heaven, Earth, and Man’. When the teacher asked him ‘What is Heaven?’, although he could not give a very profound answer, he could answer every question with truth, unlike the nonsense of ordinary children.”

"And that day in the vegetable garden, Sizi insisted on picking unripe green tomatoes, and Yao Niang and the others joined in the commotion."

“Di Renjie didn’t. Instead, he persuaded the others to stay calm. He’s so young, yet he understands these things. He’s not naughty at all.”

Li Lizhi's tone was full of praise, "The other day, Mr. Yu tested him on the characters he had learned. He is quite young, but he recognized them all. The teacher praised him for his 'good memory and steady mind,' saying that he is so reliable at such a young age. If he is taught well in the future, he will definitely be successful."

"The young master pays more attention to him, not out of any unwarranted favoritism."

“A few days ago, the young man taught the children to identify seeds and gave each of them some tomato seeds to try planting in the soil.”

"The other children played for half a day and then forgot to water the plants, but Di Renjie went to the vegetable garden every morning and evening to check on them and asked, 'Why haven't the seeds sprouted yet?'"

“He is concerned about things and is willing to think them through. He is never ambiguous in what he teaches. Such a character is truly rare.”

At first, Li Lizhi didn't understand why Xiao Ran was being treated specially, but she gradually observed and realized that Di Renjie was no ordinary person.

Li Shimin nodded. "I've never met Xiao Ran before, so why was he able to do this so well from the start?"

Li Shimin's angle was indeed tricky; Li Lizhi was stunned, as she hadn't thought of it before.

"I haven't thought about that," Li Lizhi said truthfully.

“Young master, he is not a person from the Tang Dynasty!” Li Lizhi was very certain of this.

At first, I just felt that Xiao Ran's appearance and clothing were different from others.

But gradually, you'll find that clothing and appearance are the most superficial things.

Her inner self was also vastly different from others; this was someone Li Lizhi had never met before! (End of Chapter)