Chapter 1416 – Earthquake in the Live Stream (Part 8)
“Clue?” Jiang Pengji curled her lip, “Of course I have clues, but there’s no concrete plan yet.”
Huang Song was slightly surprised. He knew Jiang Pengji’s character; she was straightforward, spoke her mind, and wouldn’t fake anything on such matters. If she said she had a clue to solve the issue of inadequate soil fertility, then it was likely true.
Before Huang Song could ask further, Jiang Pengji found a cushion and sat down, her brow furrowed.
“I visited several experienced farmers and noticed their expertise can all be found in farming books,” Jiang Pengji said, “In other words, the ‘valuable’ experience they’ve accumulated over a lifetime of farming actually doesn’t hold much real value. Aside from these old farmers, the other farmers have no method whatsoever, resulting in inconsistent harvests…”
Huang Song listened intently, while Feng Jue next to him wore a thoughtful expression, momentarily neglecting the indescribable aura surrounding Jiang Pengji.
“What’s so strange about that?”
Jiang Pengji shot him a glare and replied, “The problem here is serious! If everyone farmed like the old farmers, the yield would naturally be better. The old farmers’ practices are gleaned from a lifetime of experience, yet their methods aren’t a secret in farming books. What does this mean? It means agricultural promotion isn’t sufficient. I should establish an office specifically focused on farming!”
Huang Song didn’t quite understand the term “promotion”, but could guess its meaning from the context.
“Establish such an office? What for? To teach people how to farm?”
As he spoke, a hint of disdain and confusion colored his words.
In people’s traditional view, the government was either literary or martial; where does farming fit into that? It’s the farmer’s job, and how could scholars go teach farmers? Even in households that emphasized both learning and farming, the goal was studying, not farming!
Jiang Pengji chewed on some snacks and said, “Who said only skilled farmers have the right to teach others how to farm? As long as someone can write and is capable of organizing the experiences in farming books along with old farmers’ insights, then disseminate that information widely for more farmers to learn, wouldn’t that yield results? Everyone wouldn’t have to waste a lifetime in the fields to accumulate that little experience. With specific guidance, the harvest will naturally increase. Bogo, don’t you think that makes sense?”
Huang Song naturally had no rebuttal. Jiang Pengji was making sense, but—
“It makes sense, but how does this relate to the issue of insufficient soil fertility? Are you saying that establishing this special farming office will solve the problem?” Generally, Huang Song shouldn’t have interfered with these matters, considering his status was taboo, but in his moment of carelessness, he’d already spoken up. Once he realized, he could only maintain a normal demeanor and endure.
Jiang Pengji shot back, “Naturally, it’s closely related! That’s why you’re not a cultured person; you don’t even know about farming.”
Huang Song: “…”
Speechless, he didn’t know where to start venting.
Is there really a necessary logical relationship between them?
Jiang Pengji frowned further, “You still don’t believe me?”
Huang Song replied, “Since you put it that way, I really don’t believe you.”
Though he wasn’t exceptionally knowledgeable, he had come from a distinguished scholarly background, and his cultural level was beyond question.
How could this “peasant” in a coarse, barefoot manner ridicule him as not being cultured?
Huang Song’s rebuttal drew cheers from five million stowaway non-money viewers in the live stream.
【Poor Dao sees your chrysanthemum is toxic】: Come on, take a guess, how long will the host take to slap Huang Xiaosong’s face?
【Stowaway Non-Money】: Rapid face-slap!
【Cherry Mouth】: Light-speed face-slap!
【Willow Slender Waist】: I bet on light-speed face-slap, the host’s face-slap always comes fresh and never stale!
With five million stowaway non-money viewers rallying behind her, Jiang Pengji naturally wouldn’t let them down; the fresh face-slap was swiftly served.
Jiang Pengji asked, “You claim to be cultured. Do you know there’s a line in the Book of Songs that says, ‘The bitter herb decays, while millet flourishes’?”
Huang Song thought for a moment and nodded, “Of course I know.”
“Doesn’t this mean that decaying weeds can enrich good farmland?” Jiang Pengji quipped, “Xunzi also said ‘Covering the land, cutting weeds, growing grains, and fertilizing are common tasks for farmers’, doesn’t that say that manure can enhance soil fertility? The ‘Book of Famine’ also discussed the merits of compost and stable manure in detail. Clearly, there are methods to increase fertility; it’s just that common people don’t know how to apply them. You say you’re cultured; don’t tell me you don’t even know these things?”
Huang Song was at a loss for words, unsure of how to respond.
He was indeed cultured, but which cultured person would specifically focus on these issues?
Being slapped in the face so swiftly by Jiang Pengji left Huang Song dumbfounded, and Feng Jue barely held back his disgust.
Noticing Feng Jue’s speechless expression, Jiang Pengji scoffed, “Do you think Feng Family’s Third Young Master is above dealing with manure? If we don’t use manure to enhance soil fertility, farmland will soon be depleted. Without these methods, how can farmland produce enough to feed millions?”
Feng Jue lowered his gaze, unwilling to engage further with Jiang Pengji.
Jiang Pengji continued, “This information is all found in books, though not in extensive detail, and the specifics need to be experimented on. In recent days, after visiting several old farmers, I found that their grain production was higher than others,’ and their resting periods were shorter, yet the soil was not inherently fertile. The results certainly arise from more than just careful attention; there must be other reasons.”
Huang Song nodded thoughtfully, listening while contemplating.
Jiang Pengji had talked herself dry and poured herself a glass of water to quench her thirst.
“Based on what you say, this does indeed hold significance.”
Testing various types of farming methods and fertilizers, and then promoting the findings to the common people, would surely save them a lot of trouble.
Jiang Pengji declared, “I want to establish more public toilets.”
Huang Song, perplexed, exclaimed, “What?”
“Public toilets? What’s that?”
“A place for using the restroom and changing. When common people work outside, they occasionally need to relieve themselves and end up in the dirt. Don’t you think that’s too filthy? Men have it easier, but for women, it’s quite inconvenient.” Jiang Pengji frowned, as if she did not see this as a filthy matter, “If public toilets were built for common people’s use, it would not only make it more convenient but also ensure street cleanliness while accumulating compost. Similarly, I believe we could also set aside areas to raise pigs and sheep, both for meat trade and to utilize their manure to enrich the land. Additionally, from my observations, peanuts from the southern lands are also remarkable, as one household that grew them yielded higher than others…”
Apart from peanuts, many beans also have the clever usage of nitrogen fixation.
Jiang Pengji had a rough plan in her mind, but concrete implementation still needed some guidelines.
