"So much?" Xu Hengyi had no concept of grain yields, but he knew that a thousand catties was already a lot. Xie Jiang said three to four thousand catties was the minimum!
Xu Hengyan found it hard to believe. He stared intently at Xie Jiang, wanting confirmation, "Is the yield per mu you mentioned true?"
After all, Xie Jiang looked noble and pampered, not like someone who understood mundane affairs. Xu Hengyan feared she was talking nonsense.
Xie Jiang said calmly, "My family's farm also grew sweet potatoes, so I know about this."
"If what you say is true..." Xu Hengyan was deeply moved. He could no longer contain himself and stood up, bowing deeply to Xie Jiang. "I wonder how many sweet potatoes Young Master Xie has left? Can you sell them all to me... can you sell as many as possible to me?"
"What do you need so many sweet potatoes for? This isn't enough for you to eat... do you want to plant sweet potatoes?"
Xie Jiang spoke casually, then paused as if remembering something.
"Xu Hengyi said you are a county magistrate, most concerned with the people's sustenance. It seems to be true. You are buying sweet potatoes from me for the people under your jurisdiction?"
Xu Hengyan said seriously, "Yes."
It wasn't just that.
If the yield of sweet potatoes was truly as Xie Jiang claimed, and their cultivation was successful in the future, then the people of Dayu would never have to worry about hunger again.
Xie Jiang looked at him, resting her chin on her hand with a half-smile.
Xu Hengyan couldn't quite grasp her attitude. "Does Young Master Xie have any inconveniences?"
Grain was the foundation of a nation and the most important strategic resource. It was understandable for Xie Jiang, being from Lanyong, to have concerns.
She didn't necessarily have to buy more. Xu Hengyan still had half a basket from Xie Jiang's delivery yesterday, and he could plant those first.
However, with Xie Jiang's help, they could save a lot of costs and promote sweet potatoes earlier.
Xie Jiang shook her head and looked at him with a smile. "I just find Young Master Xu... so special. A scion of a noble family should be like Xu Hengyi, unaware of the people's suffering."
When she looked at him, there were stars in her eyes.
Xu Hengyan's heart skipped a beat.
Xu Hengyi couldn't sit still. "What, what do you mean 'like me'?"
He was so angry he wanted to slam the table. "How am I unaware of the people's suffering? Didn't I just save Wu Hongyun and her daughter? I don't mind you praising my second brother, but you can't step on me at the same time."
Xie Jiang turned to look at Xu Hengyi. "Both of you brothers are before my eyes, and the contrast is so obvious. Can I pretend I didn't see it?"
Xu Hengyi was even more indignant. Her gaze towards him was completely different from her gaze towards her second brother. When she looked at him, there were no little stars in her eyes, not a single one!
Seeing that Xu Hengyan was still waiting for her answer, Xie Jiang said, "I'm not sure how many sweet potatoes I can sell you. I didn't come to Dayu for business, and I didn't know anyone would be interested in sweet potatoes. Even if I had known someone was interested, I wouldn't have traveled thousands of miles to sell sweet potatoes. I don't lack that little money and it's not worth the effort. I believe Young Master Xu can understand what I mean."
Xu Hengyan naturally understood.
Grain was related to national economy and people's livelihood, as well as economy and politics.
For a grain with such high yield as sweet potatoes, Lanyong would certainly prohibit its export.
Although Dayu's sea routes were not prosperous, and its navy was just for show, people who crossed the ocean had never ceased, such as Xie Jiang and her family.
If Lanyong had not prohibited the export of sweet potatoes, and had treated them as ordinary for so many years, with every household planting a little for consumption and fun, sweet potatoes could not have appeared in Dayu without anyone noticing.
As for why Xie Jiang could bring sweet potatoes to Dayu, Xu Hengyan guessed it was related to the Xie family's status in Lanyong.
If their Wei Guogong Mansion wanted to smuggle something out, would anyone dare to search their carriages and boats like they were thieves?
It was probably because Xie Jiang liked roasted sweet potatoes or sweet potato products, and they couldn't buy them in Dayu, that the Xie family's servants planted sweet potatoes themselves in Dayu.