"Sir, we have found tea trees on several surrounding mountains. Some are big, some are small. The people nearby probably don't know what they are, so no one has touched these trees." The guard sent by Pei Che to investigate came back and reported.
Pei Che nodded to show that he understood the situation. It was normal for the people not to know the tea tree. First of all, tea was not something that ordinary people could drink. People who could afford to drink tea would not go to the mountains. Even if they went there, not everyone knew what the tea tree looked like.
Over the years, the imperial court has always strictly controlled the export of salt, iron and tea. However, the conditions for sales in the mainland are more relaxed. Salt is the foundation of people's livelihood. Only salt merchants who have obtained the imperial court's salt trading license are not allowed to sell private salt. Once discovered, it is a capital crime. As for ironware, as long as it is not outflowed on a large scale, it generally will not attract the attention of the government. They only occasionally go to the blacksmith shop to check the sales registration book. As for tea, the imperial court does not care. Whether it is government-owned or privately owned, as long as the tax is paid enough and it is guaranteed that it will not flow into foreign countries, it will be fine.
However, although there are few restrictions on tea trading, not many people actually engage in this business. In the beginning, some people contracted tea gardens with enthusiasm, but ended up losing everything. There are too many factors affecting tea, and most people really don't dare to touch it.
But Pei Che had no such concerns. As the governor, the surrounding mountains were all owned by the court. He did not need to pay for the contract. Even if he really lost money in the end, at most he would lose some time and energy. If it succeeded, the people of Cangzhou would have an additional skill to make a living. In general, this matter has more advantages than disadvantages.
Jiang Miao, who learned of Pei Che's determination, put aside his worries. The worst that could happen was a small loss. They were both so young, so why would they worry about not being able to make it back in the future
Jiang Miao's attitude gave Pei Che great encouragement. After confirming that the mountains near Cangzhou were suitable for growing tea trees, he began to organize people to reclaim the mountains.
These people are from Cangzhou, and they are here to perform corvée labor. In previous years, corvée labor in Cangzhou was either to clear the river, to reinforce the city wall, or to repair the official road somewhere, and most of them were far from home. This year, they were in a good mood after hearing that they could reclaim the mountain land near the village. If you are close to home, you don't have to worry about food and clothing, and you don't have to worry about others bullying you.
Soon, the counties under Cangzhou began to take action. They organized people to open up land on the nearby mountains. Soon, the mountains surrounding the mountains gradually took shape.
Some people were puzzled: "What is the prefect thinking? Even if the land on the mountain is reclaimed, what will happen? Can we grow rice or other crops on it?"
"I don't think it's possible, but it's not our turn to worry about it. He will have to clean up the mess in the end anyway."
There were many similar discussions, and even if Pei Che did not take the initiative to inquire, they would still reach his ears. Although everyone was not optimistic, Pei Che was still very excited. In recent days, he always took people to inspect several surrounding counties to see how the mountain reclamation there was going.
Just when Cangzhou was engaged in reclamation in full swing, many people in Liang Jing received Cangzhou specialties sent by Jiang Miao.
When Jiang's shop received two large wine jars, they thought Jiang Miao was hinting that they could start the wine business. Soon, Tang Lin found the note on the top of the wine jar.
"The boss said that this thing is called canned bayberry and needs to be eaten as soon as possible once it is opened. He also told us not to eat it if we smell a strange smell after opening it."
"Canned bayberry?" Li Ping murmured. He knew bayberry. Although he had never eaten it, he knew it was a kind of fruit. But what exactly was canned bayberry
“If you want to know, just open it and take a look.” Tang Lin was eager to try. He went to the kitchen and got out a small knife. He pried the cork on the jar with force. There was a "pop" sound, and the air inside rushed out. People around him could smell a sour and sweet smell, which made them drool.
Li Ping took a wooden spoon and put it into the jar to stir it, then scooped a spoonful of the soup. In the red soup, there were several large and round fruits, which were also bright red and looked very beautiful. They should be the bayberries mentioned in Jiang Miao's note.
"This thing shouldn't be bad, right?" Tang Lin couldn't wait to try it. He sniffed the smell inside and found that there was no strange smell except the tempting sweet and sour taste.
"This thing is not bad yet, you can eat it." After saying that, he poured the soup and bayberry in the spoon into a small bowl, then put the spoon in again and scooped another spoonful, filling the small bowl before stopping.
"Xiaoyu, come and try it!" Li Ping called Jiang Yu over. The young couple huddled together, taking turns to eat, and they ate the sour and sweet canned bayberry until it tasted sweeter than honey.
Tang Lin was alone, so he was inevitably stimulated by the two men. He turned his grief and anger into appetite, and took a big mouthful of his bowl of canned bayberry. The soup was sour and sweet, but the bayberry inside was only sweet, but this sweetness was not greasy at all. Even people who don't like sweet food on weekdays can't help but eat another one after tasting it.
The shop assistants shared one jar and carefully put the other jar away, deciding to open it and eat it later.
Unlike their cautiousness, the people in Feng Mansion opened all three jars immediately after receiving them. Their family was prosperous, and even if they opened all three jars, it would only be enough for one bowl per person.
Old Master Feng held the can of bayberry with a nostalgic look in his eyes, thinking back to when he was just an ordinary scholar in a small town in the south before he went to Beijing to take the imperial examination. At that time, there was a bayberry tree in front of his house. The fruits on the tree were small and sour, not as delicious as the ones in his hand, but they were a rare snack in his memory.
Others ate canned food with either surprise or nostalgia, but Mrs. Pei refused to even open it. She stared at the wine jar in front of her, as if she could see Pei Che through it.
"Miss, this is a gift from the young master. Don't you really want to open it and have a taste?" Grandma Gao advised.
"Hmph, how can this be his intention? The handwriting on it is clearly his wife's. I think he has forgotten that I am his grandmother!" Old Madam Pei was angry and a little aggrieved.
Grandma Gao said, "Miss, it was you who didn't let the young master write to you. How come he has forgotten you now?" They have been master and servant for many years, and their relationship has long been sublimated. Her young lady can live without anyone except her, so Grandma Gao is not afraid of her at all.
Madam Pei was speechless: "… Why is he usually so obedient? I just said it casually this time, but he was really angry?"
Grandma Gao laughed secretly: After all the trouble she had caused before, now it became just a casual remark from her mouth. Her young lady must be very regretful and is starting to find a way out for herself.
"Well, actually, it's not like the young master didn't write back. It's just that you instructed me not to tell you anything about him."
“… Hurry and bring it here!”
After seeing her young lady's embarrassed and angry look for the last time, Nanny Gao turned back to her room and took the two letters sent by Pei Che.
Madam Pei snatched the letter and couldn't wait to open it and read it. She didn't have the slightest intention of blaming Pei Che.
(End of this chapter)