Chapter 311

“Hehe…Of course I can’t let it go for nothing. The reason the wasteland can’t grow anything was because when the sea water flows back, most salt would subside into the soil. And days and months multiplying, the wasteland turns into saline-alkali land and no plants could grow on it. So I asked the workers to make the ridges in the field, and dug ditches bigger and deeper than ordinary ones, only in case of the flowing back. Salt is heavier than water. So when the salt flows in together with the sea water, it will subside into the ditches and then slowly invade into the earth’s surface. When the sea water flows away, the residual salt will also flow away. By then, I will ask the workers to re-plow the field, and overturned those ridges and fill up those ditches, and then the saltness about one chi of the soil on the surface would greatly decrease. And then I will grow some salt-tolerant plants. Theoretically speaking, there should be no problem.”

Unlike last time, Ling Jingxuan explained it to him explicitly. He still had a lot of favors to ask from him, besides, he didn’t plan to keep it hiding from him.

“That sounds reasonable, but it does require practice. No wonder you were reluctant to explain it.”

After touching his chin and pondering for a moment, Hu Lizhi murmured, decisively beautifying the reason why Ling Jingxuan hid it from him. Ling Jingxuan did not explain much, and exchanging a strange eye contact with Yan Shengrui, he continued, “My lord, if you don’t mind, I do have a favor to ask.”

He had originally planned to ask Shopkeeper Zhang for this favor, or even asked Zeng Shaoqing for this favor after he came, but since Magistrate Hu was so concerned about it, why should he go round the sun to meet the moon?”

“What is it? Tell me about it.”

Hearing that, Magistrate Hu took a sip of his tea, but didn’t agree at once. Ling Jingxuan also didn’t mind. He said with a faint smile, “Here is the thing, my lord. You know, there aren’t many salt tolerant plants. And in the first year, I won’t grow some kind of expensive ones. So, after talking with my whole family, we decided to grow sorghum. But you know, seeds for fifty thousand mu isn’t a small number. So if I personally purchase the seeds, heaven knows when I could collect enough seeds. So I am wondering if you can help. Purchase sorghum seeds through the whole county under the name of the yamen. The market price is three to four cooper coins for one jin. I can offer five. And for those yamen runners who help me, I will also pay them extra money. I won’t let them work for me for nothing. What do you say, my lord?”

Ordinary families seldom grew sorghum, since they knew that it could only be used to make grooms. So even if Lord Hu agreed to do this favor, it was still hard to collect enough he wanted. So, next year, he still had to let Ling Jingpeng to take people to purchase more from the neighboring counties.

“Yeah, I can do you this favor. But, wouldn’t it be a waste if you all grow sorghum?”

Hu Lizhi felt a bit reluctant. If he could really grow things on it, it was like breaking a fly on the wheel if he only grew sorghum.

“Hehe…As you know, my lord, the first year is only for some experience. No one can guarantee that it could grow things out. As far as I know, among the salt tolerant plants, sorghum is the cheapest. Even if it may be a waste of the land, I only want to grow it. And if I succeed, it won’t be late if we grow some other things the year after. We have to take one step a time.”

He could tell him about the saline-alkali soil, but he would only be stupid he told him the real value of sorghum. If someone leaked the news, the price of sorghum seeds would get doubled or tripled, or ever more. By then, he would be the one that suffered.

“Well, you are right, I am too hasty. I am not worried you may laugh at me. Actually I am more anxious than you about it. Those wastelands, no, I mean, saline-alkali lands, if you can really turn it into wealth, it’d be a big blessing to the court and its people. You know, our civilians have lived too bitterly.”

After all, he was a good official who had his name out there, always considering things for the mass. Ling Jingxuan really admired that, and also let Yan Shengrui keep his name in mind secretly.

“Sorry to trouble you then, Lord Hu.”

Having said what he should say, since they still had to go to Xinyuan to buy roast duck for his small bun, and go to Baiyunge to try the wedding dresses and the rings, Ling Jingxuan didn’t plan to keep wasting time here.

“No problem. Tomorrow I will ask them to post a notice. Jingxuan, I will send my best wishes for your wedding first.”

Hu Lizhi was not stupid, of course he noticed that he meant to leave, so he took the initiative to stand up and sent his best wishes. Ling Jingxuan cupped his hands, “Thank you, my lord. If there is nothing else, we are leaving. Tomorrow, we will wait for your arrival.”

“I will definitely be there.”

After saying goodbye to Magistrate Hu and walked out of the yamen, Yan Shengrui and Ling Jingxuan exhaled a long sigh of relief at the same time.

“This Hu Lizhi seems to be a good official.”

Looking back at yamen behind, Yan Shengrui held him with one hand, the other pulling the horse. Ling Jingxuan turned to look at him, smiled and said, “Seen from now, he is indeed a good one. Pity that it’s said he has no connections above, so he has been nestling in the small Qingyang County for five years. Next year, I guess he’ll still stay here.”

No connections above, even if he had a lot of big achievements, he had done those things for those people above, unless he would do something big enough to shock the one in the imperial palace.

“Really?”

Yan Shengrui raised his eyebrow to squint at him, but did not say anything. After leaving the yamen, the two men climbed onto their horses and went straight to Xinyuan Restaurant.