Volume 3: Dragon and Snake Movement Chapter 394: Son-in-law and Breeding
Hearing the noise outside, Zhu Er almost rushed out of the house in a rage. When he saw Zhang Chen's smug face, he wanted to punch him. He had finally established a little prestige, but after Zhang Chen's noise, how would those slippery cotton farmers look at him? Would they pretend to obey in secret in the future?
However, when he recognized the man next to Zhang Chen, his resentment immediately turned into cold sweat. Although this man had a smile on his face and looked gentle and harmless, he recognized him. He was one of his father's capable staff members! He was not the kind of person who was good at writing, but the kind of person who was also good at martial arts!
Don't ask him why he knows this, it's really heartbreaking to talk about it... Because when he was a child, it was this person who taught him martial arts and made him get spanked countless times! Apart from his eldest brother, even his father didn't spank him that many times! Because his father was too busy, how could he have time to play with the family stick all day long!
Therefore, even if he had to make a fool of himself in front of Zhang Chen, thinking of the severity of the ruler, he would not be able to escape even if he ran away, so Zhu Er still lowered his head, walked forward obediently, bowed and said: "Hello, sir."
Zhang Chen was stunned. Sir? Isn't Zhang Shou still inside? But he quickly reacted and turned his head to look at the person. Could it be that this plain-looking and somewhat long-winded messenger was actually the teacher of the Duke of Zhao's mansion and had been Zhu Er's teacher?
Wait, but Zhu Er has been studying in the Imperial College since last year. He shouldn’t need a tutor or something like that, right?
Just as Zhang Chen was getting more and more curious, he saw the messenger smiling and reaching out to help Zhu Er up. "I absolutely don't deserve the title of sir. I only taught you some insignificant things. Moreover, I am not very knowledgeable, and I am not good at literature or martial arts. I have no way to teach people. Are you trying to make me feel ashamed to death by calling me sir?"
Zhu Er could only laugh dryly. He was a talent that his father had to rely on, and he was completely different from Zhu Gongquan. He had also gone with him on the Northern Expedition. When the emperor awarded meritorious service, he also gave him an official position and posthumously conferred honors on his parents. If it weren't for the fact that rewarding a Jinshi was too easy to be criticized by the majority of scholars, the emperor might have given him this special treatment out of joy.
Of course, he heard that the other party had no ambition to pursue a career in politics, so he firmly resigned from the position of the Councilor and continued to serve as his father's trusted aide. How dare he say that such a person is not good at both civil and military affairs? He would be beaten to death by his father. When he was studying under this person, he was scolded by his father countless times for being ignorant despite having a famous teacher...
"Sir, what are you talking about? I was just dull and didn't like to learn..." He explained dryly, but he really didn't want to dwell on this topic anymore. He quickly changed the subject and asked with a smile on his face, "Sir, why did you come to Cangzhou? How can my father be without you?"
"Second Young Master, you are joking. Now that Dong Weng has relieved himself of the heavy responsibility of the Northern Expedition and has not yet received a new position, it is time for him to rest and recuperate. How can an idle person like me be indispensable? Therefore, Dong Weng invited me to Cangzhou to see how the Second Young Master is doing, and I am naturally happy to make this trip. I just heard a few words from the Second Young Master outside, and it is indeed different from the past."
Zhu Er was dumbfounded, and then glared at Zhang Chen. You came here a long time ago, but you were eavesdropping outside without saying anything? Seeing Zhang Chen snort with a defiant look on his face, he suddenly remembered that Ah Liu, who was guarding outside just now, did not raise any alarm, so he quickly looked up.
He saw Ah Liu sitting on a big tree beside the house, looking relaxed and at ease. When he saw him coming, he looked at him in confusion, as if he didn't understand why he was looking at him... He couldn't help but sigh in his heart - Brother Liu, Master Liu! Can you at least warn people when they come? Fortunately, I didn't say anything just now, otherwise it would be bad...
Wait, he just said, don't treat the imperial envoy as your second son! Oh my god!
Facing the messenger's half-smile, Zhu Er's face turned pale. He could imagine that if his father had heard this, he would have rushed in and beat him up, but his former master had actually been listening outside for so long! He didn't care about the excitement and was racking his brains to think of how to make up for it, when he heard Zhang Shou's voice.
"Brother Zhu Er, since we have a guest, why don't you invite him in to talk?" Zhang Shou had actually just heard the conversation outside, and now he realized that if he didn't come out, Zhu Er would be so embarrassed that he had to leave the room. Seeing that Zhu Er's face was indeed turning pale and blue, as if he was about to cry, he came out to help, "Won't you introduce this gentleman to me?"
Without waiting for Zhu Er to answer, the messenger took two steps forward, bowed and said with a smile: "How dare I introduce you? I am Nangong Yi, and I am honored to meet you, my son-in-law."
Zhang Shou didn't know what to say to the polite words he had prepared when his master called him "son-in-law". He reluctantly bowed in return, especially when he heard the uncontrollable laughter coming from the room behind him. He knew without thinking that the cotton farmers must be peeping and eavesdropping, so he could only cough and say, "Since Mr. Nangong is here, come in with Zhang Chen."
Zhang Chen was glared at by Zhang Shou for no reason, and he was immediately very upset. How could he know that this plain-looking messenger who seemed to be just running errands was actually the confidant of Zhao Guogong Zhu Jing and had once been Zhu Er's teacher? His father also sent someone to ask about his recent situation, but he sent ordinary people. Who would send their confidants and aides here for no reason!
Duke of Zhao Zhu Jing is really a weirdo!
Zhang Chen didn't think about it at all. His two sons and a future son-in-law were all in Cangzhou. Even his daughter was in Cangzhou before. Let alone sending a trusted aide to take a look, it wouldn't be too much even if he came in person. Compared with his father, Duke Qin Zhang Chuan, who had been letting him go since he was a child and was very irresponsible, Zhu Jing had always been a very responsible father.
As for the fact that his son Zhu Er was not well educated… after all, he was just mediocre and not a troublemaker, which was rare among the dignitaries in the capital - take Jiang Ge Lao's grandson who was a traitor. Riding a horse on the street and injuring pedestrians was just a small matter. The grandson's wife, who had just got married, became a mother as soon as she entered the house, and her husband stole the son of his concubine. That was a real traitor.
After Zhang Chen followed Nangong Yi into the room, he saw several people busy trying to find a place for them to sit. Seeing that there were only two dark stools, he simply said modestly, "Let Mr. Nangong sit. He just came from the capital to Cangzhou and hasn't had time to rest yet. Zhu Er and I will stand and listen."
When Zhu Er saw Zhang Chen forcibly approaching and forcing Nangong Yi to sit down, and then pulling himself to stand behind Zhang Shou, he immediately became furious and glared at him fiercely. But when he heard Zhang Shou start talking again, he dared not be distracted.
After all, Zhang Chen didn't care about the cotton farmers. It didn't matter if he missed a word or two. He was in charge of this. If something went wrong, it would be his responsibility! This was the first time in his life that he had to do something on his own. He must not give up halfway, otherwise he would have "run away from home" in vain!
Although Nangong Yi, whose purpose was unclear, and Zhang Chen, who was obviously here to watch the fun, were invited in, Zhang Shou did not care about their presence when he continued the previous topic.
"Since you have taken on the task of trial planting overseas cotton varieties, I have to give you a few more instructions. There is actually not much difference between overseas cotton varieties and our current cotton varieties in terms of planting methods, but there are a few things you need to pay special attention to."
Seeing the loudmouthed Old Zhou nodding his head, Zhang Shou sorted out the knowledge he knew, and regardless of whether it was just theoretical talk, he continued to talk: "Although I have never grown cotton before, I have considered introducing new varieties, so I went to inquire about it and did some research. The same kind of cotton, planted in different areas at the same time, may have very different harvest results."
"And this same area does not refer to, for example, the capital and Cangzhou. This change will also occur between different areas of Cangzhou. Therefore, the seven or eight acres of trial planting I mentioned before are not seven or eight acres in a row, but scattered in three places in the eastern suburbs of Cangzhou. Therefore, I will provide you with two mules for you to travel back and forth between the two sides."
Zhang Shou had considered carefully why he chose a mule instead of a horse. Compared to horses, which have high feeding requirements and relatively single uses, healthy mules are obviously more useful to farmers than horses. Sure enough, as soon as he said this, the loud-voiced Old Zhou, who had just looked embarrassed, immediately showed an expression of surprise and joy.
As for the others, they were either annoyed or frustrated, as if they all regretted missing such a great opportunity to get two mules for free. You know, such a means of transportation is extremely valuable for a farmer! But the next moment, after hearing Zhang Shou's next words, they all had a glimmer of hope.
"Mr. Zhou is doing a trial planting for me, but you can also try planting it in your own fields. I will provide some seeds."
But Zhang Shou immediately poured cold water on everyone: "However, the number of seeds is limited, and you'd better not take chances and mix these overseas cotton seeds with your own seeds. Peanut's uncle was eager to achieve success, and the result of hybridization was getting worse and worse. Not only were the cotton bolls light and the cotton yield was low, but even the yield of the original cotton field was sharply reduced."
"Because cotton is different from other crops, the result of hybridization is that the varieties will degenerate. Not only will the overseas cotton varieties degenerate, but your own varieties will also degenerate. Therefore, for the time being, you must be very careful to plant it in a place where there are no other cotton fields around, so as to avoid insects accidentally mixing up the two plots of land during pollination..."
Zhang Shou tried his best to use simple language to explain the concepts of variety purification and degeneration, and the self-pollination and hybridization during insect pollination to a group of cotton farmers who had been farming for decades. Seeing that some people scratched their heads and didn't understand, some nodded thoughtfully, and some just smiled foolishly... he coughed lightly.
"Anyway, I will write a corresponding explanation. If you want to try planting, you can take it with you when you come to get the seeds. But those who can't read should think twice before doing so, because after the trial planting, I need to record the lint percentage, that is, the ratio of lint per unit weight of seed cotton, as well as the weight of seed cotton in a single boll and other indicators, so that I can check..."
Although the loudmouthed Old Zhou felt overwhelmed, when he thought of his literate son, he still grinned and glanced at his companions with pride.
Still want to snatch it from me? Go back and teach your children and grandchildren to read and write first!
However, some people still refused to give up. One cotton farmer thought about it again and again, and finally made up his mind. He suddenly asked, "Dr. Zhang, if our trial planting yields results, will there be any reward?"
"Of course. Provide a true and detailed trial planting report, and if you harvest the crops under supervision that year, all the harvests will belong to you. I will send people to gin the seeds from these cotton fields, and the purchase price will be increased by 30%. If you cultivate high-quality cotton seeds, and they are proven to be effective in the second year of trial planting, I will petition the court to reward good farmers and recommend one of their children to attend public school, and all expenses will be waived."
As soon as these words came out, the cotton farmers who were just worried suddenly became agitated and jumped up. However, Zhang Shou's next words made their eyes widen even more.
"If you have people who can read and write but have no talent for the imperial examinations, but have a quick mind and have at least farmed, or are willing to study farming, you might as well recommend them to me. The seeds that came from overseas this time are not just cotton, many of them are very valuable. But some are easy to grow, and some are difficult to grow, so we need people who are smart, can read and farm to work together."
"If they can all be successfully cultivated, talents like them will at least receive fame and fortune, not to mention rewards from the imperial court."
Nangong Yi sat quietly beside him, watching Zhang Shou spouting out terms he had never heard of before, such as purification and rejuvenation, and seeing him patiently and carefully explaining to a few cotton farmers, and hearing him promise fame and fortune, he suddenly felt that he had only seen a glimpse of this young man who he had seen from afar in the past and who seemed to be a perfect match for the young lady in terms of appearance and demeanor.
Not only him, but even Zhao Guogong Zhu Jing, who had already taken a fancy to Zhang Shou's wife and grandma, probably never saw Zhang Shou clearly. However, the eldest daughter Zhu Ying was probably not only obsessed with his face, but also liked his personality and behavior, which were completely different from any noble son in the capital.
It seems that Zhang Shou always sees things differently from other people!
Nangong Yi was looking at Zhang Shou, but he didn't notice that Zhang Chen behind him was distractedly looking at him. When Zhang Chen found that Zhu Er was mumbling something, clearly memorizing what Zhang Shou said, he couldn't help but whispered sarcastically: "Do you need it? Didn't you hear the young master say that he would compile a related article later? You will have enough time to memorize it then, why are you in a hurry now?"
"What do you care about me?" Zhu Er rolled his eyes at Zhang Chen in annoyance, then snorted, "The sooner you recite it, the sooner you can fool people!"
Zhang Chen was speechless for a moment, but then he heard Zhu Er whisper, "Speaking of which, if the efficiency of textile production is improved and the cotton output is also increased, do you think the cotton gin must also be more efficient?"
"Huh?" Zhang Chen exclaimed in surprise, then laughed, "That's right, what, do you have the brains to improve the cotton gin?" Why didn't he think of it? Tomorrow he will give out rewards to the craftsmen he hired. A big reward will surely attract brave men. If there is a good result, Zhang Shou will definitely praise him greatly, and Zhu Er will beat his chest and stamp his feet!
