This ant that they had to report the matter to the officials.
In the Great Ming Dynasty, agriculture was highly valued, with the promotion and dissemination of high-yielding crops being a significant contribution.
If the sweet potato were indeed to be popularized, then the Lian Manman family would be the primary contributors. However, without giving it much thought, it was obvious that if the matter were reported up the hierarchy, the credit would certainly not end up with the common people of the Lian Manman family. Moreover, to facilitate a smoother promotion, it would also require the officials who listened to the report to trust the Lian Manman family.
Wang Youheng knew more about the maize than others because Manman had nothing to hide from him, only telling him that it was best not to share their conversations with others.
Given the situation with the maize, the most advantageous approach for the Lian Manman family to promote the sweet potato was still to seek out Shen Liu.
However, Manman did not do so; instead, she ca to him and let him decide on the matter.
Manman was considering his interests.
"Manman, why didn’t you go to the Shen Family with this?" Wang Youheng looked up at Lian Manman and asked softly.
"Brother Youheng, the Shen Family doesn’t know about the sweet potato. I didn’t tell them. The sweet potato was originally sent to Imperial Doctor Wang, and it was Brother Youheng who specifically asked for it to be given to us. Brother Youheng, I don’t really understand issues concerning the Imperial Court or the Governnt Office, but I do know that if the sweet potato matter succeeds, it’ll be a great thing... Brother Youheng, you and Imperial Doctor Wang are different from us. If there’s credit for this matter, I want Brother Youheng to claim it," she said.
Manman spoke quite candidly. Of course, there was another consideration she did not voice. The most powerful and capable person she knew was Shen Liu of the Shen Family. But that was not necessarily the case for Wang Youheng’s family. Who knew what the Wang Family was thinking? She also did not know what would be most beneficial for Youheng. If she rashly told Shen Liu about the matter, it would an drawing Youheng and the Wang Family closer to Shen Liu.
Would this be beneficial for Wang Youheng and the Wang Family, and would they be willing?
Therefore, Manman wanted to leave the decision in Wang Youheng’s hands, not even suggesting the Shen Family as an option.
Upon hearing Manman’s words, Wang Youheng laughed and looked at her with eyes full of warmth.
"Manman..." Wang Youheng called out to Manman, suddenly stopped with a low chuckle, and then continued, "Given maize was first, it might be better to tell the Shen Family about the sweet potato."
"Brother Youheng, you don’t have to consider us. After all, we are just commoners who understand nothing. It was who asked the Shen Family for the maize seeds, and I only then told them about the maize. Sweet potatoes are different, Brother Youheng, you don’t have to worry. Or, we can put this matter aside for a couple of days, Brother Youheng. You can go back to the county and discuss it with your family before deciding," she suggested.
"No need, I can make a decision on this matter now," Wang Youheng said with a smile, "Manman, let’s have lunch here... Wu Lang, Xiao Qi, you all stay and join us for the al."
Just as the crucial part of the discussion was reached, Wang Youheng suddenly suggested they stay for a al.
And when Wang Youheng said to do sothing, he acted imdiately, calling Shopkeeper Wang over and instructing him to arrange for the kitchen to prepare the al.
"Manman, what do you like to eat? Wu Lang, Xiao Qi, you too can pick whatever you like," Wang Youheng said.
"Brother Youheng is treating us to a al?" Manman said with a smile.
"Yes, whatever you like, I’ll have the cook prepare it," Wang Youheng said with a laugh.
Lian Manman, Wu Lang, and Xiao Qi exchanged glances; Youheng had often invited them to dine before, but today, sothing about Wang Youheng felt odd.
"Brother Youheng, invite us for a al sure, but what do we need to pick dishes for? Whatever you usually eat, we’ll have that," Lian Manman said.
"Right," Wu Lang and Xiao Qi both nodded in agreent.
Lian Manman, Wu Lang, and Xiao Qi all refused to select dishes, so Wang Youheng didn’t insist. He simply told Shopkeeper Wang a few dish nas and requested the kitchen to prepare them well.
Xiao Qi, seated on the chair, blinked her big eyes, tilted her head, and thought to herself, "Why are the dishes Brother Youheng ntioned all my sister’s favorites?"
With her hands supporting her chubby cheeks, Xiao Qi glanced at Wang Youheng and then at Lian Manman, secretly thinking that indeed, Brother Youheng liked her sister the most.
After Shopkeeper Wang left, they continued the earlier conversation, and in the end, they agreed that Manman should write a letter to Shen Liu explaining the high yield of sweet potatoes.
"Let’s write it now and send it to Imperial Doctor Shi’s House right away," Manman suggested.
"That sounds good," Wang Youheng nodded, spread out the writing paper, pressed it down with a paperweight, proceeded to grind the ink himself, dipped the brush well in the ink, evenly spread the ink on the inkstone, and then handed it to Manman.
When Manman reached out to take the brush, she accidentally touched Wang Youheng’s hand.
"Brother Youheng, your hand has calluses," Manman observed, looking at Wang Youheng’s hand. Unlike the rough calluses ford by farmstead people accustod to manual labor, Wang Youheng’s calluses were small and sowhat soft and cool to the touch.
"The more you write, the more calluses you get," Wang Youheng said. "Look, Wu Lang has them on his hands too."
Manman then asked Wu Lang to show his hands, and sure enough, he had calluses in the sa spots.
"Wu Lang is very diligent," Wang Youheng comnted, acknowledging that his diligence exceeded that of nearly all his peers.
Xiao Qi also extended her right hand, looking down to find similar calluses but couldn’t locate any.
"I go to school with my brother every day..." Xiao Qi said forlornly.
"You know it yourself, look how your brother studies, and then look at you," Manman scolded with a stern face.
"I will study like my brother," Xiao Qi clenched her little chubby fists and declared with sparkling eyes.
**...***
Here’s one update; I ask for pink support. There will be a second one tonight. (To be continued. If you like this work, you are welco to vote for it at Qidian (qidian) with recomndation tickets and monthly tickets. Your support is my greatest motivation.)
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