In fact, Zhang Shou was not considered an expert at all in the field of farming in later generations. However, when he was a child, he went to live in his hometown village for a few months every year. When he had nothing to do, he would go around the fields and enjoy the pastoral scenery.
From my uncle's side, I learned a lot of all kinds of messy knowledge that is useful but not useful.
Therefore, even if he really has to go to the fields, he can do it, such as taking the third and fourth princes to cut wheat last time... But when it comes to theory, especially breeding and hybridization, which few people are involved in these days, he will definitely
He could pretend to be an expert in agriculture. Therefore, he then began his lecture on agricultural knowledge with great sincerity.
"Not only cannot artificial hybridization between local cotton and overseas cotton be allowed, but we must also beware of their natural hybridization. What is natural hybridization? It means that two cotton fields of different types of cotton are too close to each other. Insects that can pollinate, such as bees and butterflies, can naturally produce two different types of cotton.
Different cotton fields are pollinated, resulting in natural hybridization and the degradation of overseas cotton varieties."
"Oh, it's not just natural hybridization that will cause the degradation of varieties. Cotton is a difficult thing to maintain, so before this dynasty, although cotton was introduced from the west, it has been difficult to promote it because it can also naturally
Degeneration. If you keep planting for a long time, if artificial selection is not carried out frequently, then natural selection will prevail, and eventually the cotton will be less and less."
"You ask what is natural selection? Natural selection is like... well, if the trees are more beautiful than the forest, the wind will destroy them. Anyway, for cotton, natural selection means small plants, small peaches, and the boy's cotton is easier to survive. If you don't
Take good care of it and keep selecting big plants, big peaches, and big seeds to plant, and then after two or three generations, the growth will get worse and worse..."
Natural hybridization, selfing, degeneration, purification and rejuvenation, artificial selection are greater than natural selection...
As a result, Zhu Er saw Zhu Ying sneaking out of the house with Ah Liu without hesitation, while Little Peanut only hesitated for a moment and then hurriedly followed. He was also confused after hearing this, but he finally remembered
He thought that he only had the character of a good farmer left. If he just ran away like this, he would be beaten to death by his father when he returned just because he ran away from home and accomplished nothing.
Therefore, he could only bite the bullet and listen carefully, and remember what he didn't understand. The only thing that made him feel mentally balanced was that the old salted fish also had dull eyes after listening, obviously he didn't understand.
The reason why Zhang Shou deliberately talked endlessly was, firstly, to see Zhu Er's patience, and secondly, to see whether Old Xianyu was as he said, a good farmer who had worked hard to cultivate crops - facts proved
, he guessed correctly, this old and wrinkled salted fish may have the corresponding resources and manpower to grow it, and it may have been planted in the land, but the vegetable garden was not done by himself.
At least when it came to growing cotton, Lao Xianyu was definitely not as persistent as he said.
Think about it, this old man runs a salted fish shop on Shuishi Street, and goes out to play chess with others every three days. He looks like a salted fish that deserves to enjoy his old age. He also tends the vegetable garden every day? And he is also trying to think about growing cotton?
Just lie!
Therefore, after a one-sided lecture on the theoretical knowledge of cotton breeding, purification and anti-degradation, Zhang Shou saw the dizzy old salty fish and resigned with a smile. He caught a glimpse of Zhu Er rubbing his temples in relief, and he also
I was too lazy to tease the poor boy, and was just about to ask him what he thought of Lao Xianyu's vegetable garden, when Ah Liu's voice came from outside.
"Why are you back again?"
"Ahem, I suddenly remembered that there is something I haven't said to Dr. Zhang. Brother, could you please inform me?"
"What else are you reporting? Just come in!" Zhang Shou suddenly burst into laughter.
Sure enough, as soon as he spoke, the door was pushed open a crack. Old Xianyu stuck out his head and looked around, then entered the room with a salivated face, and then said with a smile on his face: "I just thought about it."
Get up, the second young master is not an outsider, and Dr. Zhang, you are even less of an outsider. If you are free tomorrow, come and have a look at my vegetable garden and give me some advice?"
Zhu Er immediately looked at him sideways, and then said viciously: "If you take my brother-in-law to your vegetable garden, are you going to cover his eyes with black cloth, and then get rid of his guards, just like a thief?"
"
"How can that be possible..." Old Xianyu laughed, his eyes a little erratic. Of course, a nobleman like Zhu Er couldn't go out alone. There were always guards following him secretly. He used a little trick, and on the way
He dumped the person. However, if it was Zhang Shou who went there, Ah Liu, whom he had not seen clearly until now, might follow him at the door. Would he still want to dump the person?
Therefore, he was happy to be more generous - besides, just for the professionalism Zhang Shou had just shown, he had to be more generous. Seeing that Zhu Er was scornful of him and Zhang Shou was noncommittal, he apologized and said with a smile: "
The place before was actually not that far from Cangzhou, but when I took the second young master there, I took a detour."
"There is really no way. Cangzhou is an endless place. It is completely plain. There is almost no hill to be found. Moreover, every field is owned by an owner. If I don't think of a way, let alone those who are sneaking around, they will be country urchins.
He can also break in and destroy a good vegetable garden... Sigh, it's not easy to keep a secret these days!"
"Forget it, I happen to be free tomorrow, so I'll go take a look." After Zhang Shou said this, he glanced at the reluctant boss Zhu Er, and then said to him again, "You follow Zhang Chen tomorrow and take those few first."
Find out the situation on every street."
Hmm, it's good that I don't have to deal with this old salted fish anymore! Zhu Er felt relieved immediately, but he thought in his heart, Cangzhou is a huge granary, and there must be many people who are good at farming, and people of Lao Xianyu's level,
It was obviously half a bucket of water. He didn't believe that he couldn't find farmers who were really good at agriculture during the inspection.
He is the second son of Duke Zhao, how could he be frightened by this little problem?
After Old Xianyu left with satisfaction, Zhang Shou turned around and asked Ah Liu to invite Zhu Ying, and said with a smile: "How about we go out of the city for a walk tomorrow?" Before the cheerful Zhu Ying agreed, he was afraid that
She was too hopeful and told the truth right away. Although the sightseeing tour turned into a visit to a vegetable garden, Zhu Ying was not unhappy at all and instead nodded her head.
"Although I'm sure that Ah Liu will go with you, that old salted fish is too slippery, so of course I have to go with you. Bring Zhu Hong and Zhu Yi with you, and the others will stay. I won't be afraid that my eldest brother will not be around when he needs someone.
no one."
Even though he knew that Zhu Ying was not actually a indulgent and self-centered eldest lady, Zhang Shou still felt a little guilty when he saw that she was so concerned about his affairs. He completely forgot that the eldest lady sneaked out this time - although
She got the approval of Mrs. Tai and Jiuniang, forced Zhao Guogong Zhu Jing to agree, and even deceived the emperor's oral instructions, but in his heart it still slipped away.
He thought for a while and then smiled and said: "The Iron Lion in front of Kaiyuan Temple in Cangzhou is very famous. I have been in Cangzhou for many days and haven't seen it... I have been so busy before that I haven't paid attention to these scenic spots. Waiting for these few days
After the busy day is over, I will accompany you for a walk around again."
"Then I will remember it."
Zhu Ying suddenly beamed with joy and said with a smile: "As the old salted fish said, there is a flat plain near Cangzhou, but I heard someone from the county government say before that there is Maliu Mountain to the east of Cangzhou City, which is the only one nearby.
On a small mountain in the mountains, there is a gathering on the 15th of every month. The villagers gather together and it is very lively. This is fine, but I heard that there are many tunnels in the mountain, so I would like to go and see the excitement."
"Oh, there is such an interesting place?" Zhang Shou was truly surprised. His poor understanding of Cangzhou was probably limited to the iron lion and Cangzhou golden candied dates. Apart from that, he had no knowledge of martial arts.
I also have some impressions of Huanghua Port.
Seeing that Zhang Shou seemed to be very interested, Zhu Ying felt encouraged: "I came to Cangzhou for nothing else. Of course I was looking for someone to inquire about the local customs and customs. I asked about all kinds of anecdotes, so I heard about it.
We went to Maliu Mountain. That hill is a bit far away from Cangzhou City, so it’s probably impossible to go back and forth in one day. But there is a temple on the mountain, so we should be able to stay overnight.”
Since Zhu Ying brought it up, Zhang Shou readily agreed without thinking, "Okay, after we solve these things in Cangzhou, we will go to Maliu Mountain to have a good look. Since it is far away, just hire a guide and stay for a few days."
.”
The two of them just said something casually, but they didn't expect that early the next morning, Zhang Chen and Zhu Er took Little Peanut out to help with research. While they were laughing in front of the door, they and Ah Liu came over with their horses.
The old salted fish told the destination of the trip very readily.
"The vegetable garden I took the second son to yesterday was relatively small. In fact, I also built another vegetable garden at the foot of Maliu Mountain a little further away. But that place is relatively far away. Even if you ride a horse, it will take at least half a day to get there.
, including the stay time, this trip will take at least two days. Isn’t it inconvenient for the eldest lady to go there together? "
Zhu Ying did not expect that she only mentioned Maliu Mountain to Zhang Shou yesterday, and today Lao Xianyu actually mentioned such a place. He even seemed to not want her to go with him, and her brows suddenly stood up.
"What's the inconvenience? Why, you look down on me and think I've never been in the country?"
"Ahem, how can I dare to question the eldest lady?" Old Xianyu quickly called out to Chong Tianqu, "I really think about you, the eldest lady. If nothing else, in this country place, it doesn't matter whether it's a bed outside or a pillow.
, plus all kinds of utensils, you can get whatever you want, plus the weather is hot, and all kinds of bugs are emerging in endless streams in the countryside..."
Before he could finish his words, Zhang Shou said slowly: "I think it was almost midsummer, and Yingying lived in my small village for more than two months, walking in the mud all day long without complaining.
.Stop being so nagging, she won’t give in. She’s not one of those squeamish girls,”
Old Xianyu couldn't help it. Hehe. Aren't you squeamish? How is that possible? He believed that Zhu Ying wouldn't scream when she saw poisonous snakes and insects, but just going to the toilet would definitely be a pain for such a young lady.
No!
But the next moment, he shut up, because he soon saw that Zhu Hong drove a carriage out, followed by Zhu Yi on horseback. When he got close, Zhu Yi rode up to meet him, and then said with a smile:
"The car barriers, tents and various equipment are all ready. If you can't come back that day, it doesn't matter if you sleep outside for a day or two."
If you have money, you can really do whatever you want! Old Xianyu could only tell himself this in his heart, and then he had to accept the fact that such a wealthy lady was accompanying him.
As for Zhang Shou, he had no intention of getting into the carriage on this hot day, but after getting on the horse, he couldn't help but asked Zhu Ying: "I don't think I have seen this carriage before...it's not the one you usually get when you go out and occasionally take a carriage."
One car, right?”
"Ah Shou, you have a really good memory!" Zhu Ying smiled and then said nonchalantly, "The car I usually ride in is too small. This is a specially modified car. Both my grandmother and mother know that I like to run around.
So I installed a lot of equipment in the car. I chased you all the way to Cangzhou, and I didn't have time to stay in any inn, so I just slept in the carriage."
"From beds, dressing tables, clothes hangers, toilet buckets... we have everything."
An ancient version of a RV... It's really a great tool when going camping. If you have money, you can really do whatever you want! This car alone is probably more valuable than the furniture in many people's homes, right? Zhang Shou felt exactly the same as Lao Xianyu.
idea.
When they set off, Zhang Shou didn't see Zhu Tingfang. He didn't know whether Zhu Ying had tacitly allowed Zhu Ying to go out with him, or whether he couldn't get Zhu Ying to go out with him because he didn't allow it, so he simply didn't even show his face.
However, with Zhu Hong and Zhu Yi following them, as well as Ah Liu, they probably weren't too worried about the presence of other traitors and bandits on the border of Cangzhou.
In Zhang Shou's opinion, Cangzhou, which is a flat plain, does not have that kind of geographical conditions... There are wetlands such as Baiyangdian, Wuguandian, and Deshengdian in the north and northwest, but what they are going to now is the east, and these water ponds
It didn't matter at all, unless the water bandits came ashore... However, he soon discovered that his geographical knowledge was not comprehensive.
Old Xianyu, an old sea traveler, led the way on horseback. After leaving the city, everyone walked southeast along the official road. But gradually, the main road turned into a small road, and the small road gradually turned into a roadless one. This place is far away from the bustling area near the canal.
It's not the place where the post road is located. Apart from the farmland, there is actually a river. Apart from the farmland, there are also reeds on both sides of the bank. It is a scenery of water.
Lao Xianyu also explained with a smile: "Although sea transportation is convenient, there is a corresponding risk of overturning. Therefore, after using the Yuan Dynasty as the capital at the beginning of the founding of the country, we still dredged the canal. When we arrived in Cangzhou, because the canal
When it intersects with the big river (Yellow River), another river must be opened to prevent flood discharge when the river floods in summer, so a floating river like this was opened.”
"This floating river is very beneficial to the east of Cangzhou. Firstly, it makes the canal less likely to flood. Secondly, it also diverts water to irrigate countless fields in the southeast of Cangzhou. The reason why our Cangzhou is considered wealthy in Beizhili is because of this
Water...but it has advantages and disadvantages. In the early years when Emperor Ruizhong was fighting for the throne and the world was not at peace, the water bandits on the floating river even fought with the canal gangs on the canal!"
Zhang Shou couldn't help but frown slightly when he heard the word "water bandit". But at this moment, he heard Ah Liu's voice beside him: "Master, there is a boat coming on the water!"