"They’re all there," Ye Jiu replied. "Originally, I planned to process all the sweet potatoes into vermicelli because the County Official said it was a matter of great benefit to both the country and its people. But now, nothing has been done. It’s just that the weather is too cold, and I was worried that they would be damaged by the frost if kept outside. So, I had people dig a cellar in the ground and piled them all inside."
"What is vermicelli?" Prince Jing asked, puzzled.
Ye Jiu explained, "Vermicelli is a kind of food made from processed sweet potatoes. I’ve already had some prepared in the manor for His Highness to taste later."
Prince Jing nodded, "Then tell me the specific yield of the sweet potatoes, along with the planting and harvesting times, and include some notes on things to look out for. Whether the seedlings are easy to grow or not, someone will re-weigh everything later. If the yield per mu is indeed as high as you say, then your family will have made a great contribution."
"Yes." Ye Jiu turned his head and looked at Ye Changsheng, who had already come to his side, and said, "Changsheng, you explain."
"Alright." Ye Changsheng nodded and then started to introduce, "Sweet potatoes are planted using seedlings. The planting is done in April or May, and the harvest is from September to October. Sweet potatoes are drought-resistant..."
While Ye Changsheng made his introduction, someone behind Prince Jing had already started taking notes, stopping only after Ye Changsheng finished. The person occasionally asked Ye Changsheng some questions, to which Ye Changsheng answered one by one with clear and easy-to-understand statements, making it simple for anyone to comprehend.
Prince Jing watched Ye Changsheng, who was said to be Jiujiu’s nephew. However, he didn’t seem much like a member of the Ye Family.
This unlikeness wasn’t about his appearance. Based on investigations, although the sons of the Ye Family were not ugly, they were quite ordinary looking.
Yet, Ye Changsheng, because of his long-term frailty, had a somewhat slim figure and showed no signs of being a peasant.
Moreover, his handsome features and slightly cold expression, coupled with the moon-white robe, gave him somewhat of a scholarly air. It was a shame that he didn’t come from a rich family.
It was said that the young man had become a Child Scholar at the age of fourteen. That might not be remarkable in the capital city, but in this small town, it was quite exceptional, indeed a sign of talent.
"Try the imperial examinations next year," Prince Jing said to Ye Changsheng.
Of course, having said that, he wasn’t planning to give Ye Changsheng any special advantage. He was merely giving a hint, so the young man wouldn’t miss out, wasting his best years on trivial matters.
Ye Changsheng was momentarily astonished, then he glanced at Ye Jiu and, seeing Ye Jiu showed no sign of objection, he nodded, "Yes."
After that, Prince Jing no longer focused on Ye Changsheng, but the County Official began to take an interest.
Favorable in the sight of Prince Jing, this young man had a promising future.
It was important to form a relationship with talented people before they soared too high to recognize you, a minor figure, once they do take off!
It must be said, the County Official was not a bad man, but he certainly knew how to maneuver politically.
Subsequently, everyone from the manor was mobilized to move the sweet potatoes out of the cellar. Then, the people brought by Prince Jing, along with the yamen runners behind him, began the task of weighing the harvest.
An entire hundred mu of sweet potatoes, almost a million catties in weight, formed a mountain-like pile when they were all taken out.
Busy from morning until noon, Ye Jiu, seeing that not even half of the task was completed, deeply sighed, wondering how these people could be so unfazed by the bother.