The Family Had Split, Why Should I Care if They Go Broke? - Chapter 33

After going to town so many times, Xu Zhichun had gradually inquired about the magistrate’s character. One must know that, in ancient times, although laws existed, governance was often more about people than strict legal codes. Cases were generally judged with laws as a reference, but the magistrate’s personal opinion played a huge role in the outcome.

For ordinary villagers like them, if they accidentally offended the wrong person, even crying to heaven or earth would bring no help.

Fortunately, the county magistrate of Qingshan, Magistrate Lu, had an excellent reputation. Under his governance, even if it wasn’t as ideal as “no one pocketing what others dropped,” the county’s atmosphere was still very upright and honest.

It was precisely for this reason that Xu Zhichun dared to confidently set up a stall in town to sell never-before-seen foods like konjac tofu, konjac knots, and ice jelly.

Stealing someone’s secret recipe was like murdering their parents. Besides, their business was so small-scale that wealthy households would never lower themselves to it. If they did try to bully and oppress over such a thing, and someone reported it, falling into Magistrate Lu’s hands, they’d only have themselves to blame.

As for other small vendors, even if they felt jealous or envious, they didn’t have the ability—or the guts—to cause real trouble.

After inquiring about the magistrate’s character, Xu Zhichun also sought to learn about the current laws.

Knowing a little about the law is never a disadvantage, no matter the era.

To her surprise, the local government had designated four teahouses—high, medium, and low-class—as legal education centers. Every two days, storytellers would tell four or five legal tales, teaching the people to remember that laws could be relied upon, to act according to them, avoid rash impulses, and always remain lawful.

It was said this was a measure implemented after Magistrate Lu’s arrival. And indeed, these legal stories spread quickly from one to ten, ten to a hundred—becoming surprisingly well-known among the people.

How much entertainment could there really be in this era? Legal tales were still stories, and stories naturally drew people in.

Whoever returned from the teahouse with a story instantly became the most dazzling kid in the village. Just sit under the big tree at the village entrance, call out that you had a tale to tell, and a crowd would immediately gather to listen.

Xu Zhichun felt that Magistrate Lu was truly an interesting man—an official with clever ideas, and a good one at that.

On the right day, she decided she’d also go listen for herself.

And then she would carefully think about how to report the discovery of potatoes and sweet potatoes. Even if she didn’t gain wealth, earning a reputation would still be worthwhile.

But this matter couldn’t be rushed. After all, the potatoes and sweet potatoes were things she had “accidentally obtained” from “traveling merchants.” Everything about them was only what the merchants claimed, and she herself didn’t fully understand yet. She would need months of planting and harvesting practice. It was a bit late for that now, but at the very least, she had to experiment a few more days, cook up a few good dishes with them, and then she’d have a proper reason to make a report.

Xu Zhichun sorted the five different varieties of sweet potatoes—along with the yacon—into categories, then went to feed the chickens and pigs.

Thanks to her generous feedings of grain, fishbone powder, and cornmeal, the chickens and pigs at home were thriving splendidly.

Especially the two pigs—their skin glowed with a healthy pink hue, and their sleek, shiny coats would earn praise from anyone who saw them.

The chicks grew visibly by the day, while the hens’ laying frequency had also increased—they could gather seven or eight eggs a day, far more than she and her brother could eat.

Two of the hens seemed ready to brood, and Xu Zhichun planned to let them hatch chicks. With plenty of feed, raising another thirty or forty was no problem.

She also considered checking in a few days to see if there were ducks for sale. Buying twenty or so to raise would be a good idea.

Ducks grew quickly—within a hundred days, they’d be plump and ready to eat.

Fat ducks were delicious whether stir-fried or stewed—and stewing them with konjac tofu was an absolute delicacy.

That afternoon, the young grandson of Chief Liang ran over, calling for Xu Zhichun to come by. He said his grandfather wanted her. Xu Zhichun immediately guessed the land deed had been finalized. Excited, she rushed over at once.

She thought for a moment, then packed some potatoes and sweet potatoes, along with two large yacons, and carried them in a basket to his home.

When Chief Liang saw the potatoes and sweet potatoes, he found them curious. “Oh! What’s this? Looks like it grows in the soil, but we don’t have these here, do we? Bought them in town?”

“You really are an old farming hand—nothing can escape your eyes.”

Xu Zhichun couldn’t help but laugh, giving him a thumbs-up in praise.

Chief Liang quickly said, “Looks like something that could fill the belly. But since you paid for it, best keep it for yourself. No need to waste it on me.”

“I bought plenty,” Xu Zhichun said, using the traveling merchants as cover, and briefly explained to Chief Liang.

Chief Liang said, “Don’t tell me you got scammed? More than one tael of silver—over a whole tael!”

He was heartbroken and didn’t know what else to say. Even if she could make money now, she shouldn’t squander it like this. In the end, she was still young—too impulsive and not steady enough.

Xu Zhichun found it amusing. She thought to herself, As expected of father and son—Chief Uncle and Third-brother Liang say exactly the same things.

“Chief Uncle, those two merchants didn’t look deceitful. Anyway, we tried the sweet potatoes raw—they really taste good. And this fruit-tuber tastes even better, we all love it. Come, Xiaodong, take it to your sister, wash it clean, divide it up, and give your grandpa a slice too.”

The child, upon hearing it was edible, didn’t care how strange it looked. He happily answered, “Okay!” and ran off.

“Wow! So sweet!”

“It’s sweet and crisp—delicious!”

The siblings exclaimed in delight and hurried to bring some for their grandfather to taste.

“Grandpa, try it! It’s really good!”

Chief Liang didn’t think much of it, but to give his grandchildren face, he took a bite—and froze in surprise.

This—

Xu Zhichun’s lips curved in satisfaction, she was secretly pleased.

See? It really was delicious—it wasn’t just to humor the kids.

“What did you say this was called?”

“This one’s a fruit-tuber. We tried it raw—it tastes the best that way. The other sweet potatoes also taste fine raw, but they’re not as crisp, tender, or juicy. Probably better cooked.”

Chief Liang was quick to adapt. He finished the piece in just a couple of bites, shooed his two grandchildren outside, and nodded. “You’ve got good luck. This really is good stuff.”

Never mind the sweet potatoes or potatoes—this fruit-tuber alone was impressive.

But from the looks of it, the fruit-tuber couldn’t really fill one’s stomach—it was more of a snack.

Still, that was fine too.

With a chuckle, Chief Liang said, “It’s a fine thing. Let our family grow some too. We’ll buy from you—say, a hundred catties or so. What price are you asking?”

Xu Zhichun was stunned.

A h-hundred catties?

She had never intended to sell that much to a single household.

It wasn’t that she was stingy—she simply didn’t have enough.

Something this good—other villagers were bound to want some too. Even if she tried to cover it up, she couldn’t just endlessly pull supplies out of the harbor warehouse.

Xu Zhichun forced a strained smile. “Chief Uncle, about this… my family needs to use our own land to plant them, so I can’t sell you that much. I don’t know if other families will want some too, but if they do, I’ll have to share. How about this—those merchants said once the sweet potato vines grow, you can plant from the cuttings. So why don’t you just take ten catties of sweet potatoes, and I’ll give you ten catties of potatoes too? One wen per catty—the same price I paid the merchants. I won’t profit from anyone.”

Setting the price at one wen per catty was actually too cheap. But there was no helping it. She couldn’t give them away for free—if she did, whether people liked them or not, every household would come asking. Then how could she decide who to give to and who not?

But she also couldn’t set the price too high—if it was expensive, the villagers surely wouldn’t buy.

If only her family planted them and no one else had any, who could say if someone might sneak in to steal from her fields? It would be impossible to guard against, and it might sour relations with the neighbors.

Xu Zhichun didn’t plan to please everyone, but she also didn’t want unnecessary quarrels.

Chief Liang was taken aback.

He had only offered to take a hundred catties of each out of goodwill, worried that Xu Zhichun might be stuck with so many sweet potatoes and potatoes she couldn’t sell. After all, his family had already earned a good deal thanks to her—spending some silver to help her out was no problem.

But she was actually unwilling to sell that much!

Chief Liang fell into thought: Could it be, those two merchants really weren’t lying? Maybe her judgment wasn’t bad after all, maybe this really is something valuable?

And truth be told, human nature is the same everywhere—Xu Zhichun’s act of holding back only made Chief Liang want it all the more.