Chapter 1131: Seeds
Editor: Henyee Translations
Shao Yunduan understood his wife’s intention. They should keep the potato discovery low-key and avoid raising people’s expectations too much to avoid potential misunderstandings.
They decided to save the harvested potatoes for seeds and only occasionally stir-fried one to satisfy their craving. In reality, Qiao Xuan had much more in her s.p.a.ce, twice the quant.i.ty outside. She began planting them again and planned to bring some back for her family.
While visiting the floral fields and orchards, Qiao Xuan generously gifted Ms. Fang and others 15KG of potatoes. She explained that they were excellent for planting next year and emphasized their versatility, as they could be used as both a dish and a rice subst.i.tute. The simplest cooking methods were roasting in the stove or steaming in a pot. In times of famine, they could be life-saving.
Moreover, potatoes were highly durable and could be stored for a long time. However, she cautioned that the storage area should be dry to prevent them from germinating, as green sprouts on potatoes could be poisonous and should not be consumed.
Qiao Xuan’s ability to provide such a substantial quant.i.ty of potatoes made her una.s.suming to Lixia and Liqiu, so she wasn’t worried about raising suspicions. After spending a day in the dormitory, she casually sent the two girls away, and upon their return, they “accidentally” discovered the two bags of potatoes their mistress had brought.
The two girls did not suspect that their lady was lying. They were just impressed by their lady’s luck.
After all, there was no need to deceive them, so Qiao Xuan confidently brought out the potatoes in front of Ms. Fang and the others, and they found it to be entirely reasonable.
Ms. Fang trusted Qiao Xuan’s words, just as she did with the ca.s.savas. She carefully stored the potatoes and decided to plant half of them in the yard and the other half in the ca.s.sava field.
The undeniable evidence of the potatoes’ potential came during dinner when Qiao Xuan prepared several dishes using potatoes, in addition to her other signature dishes.
She served sour and spicy shredded potatoes, braised pork ribs with potatoes, and shredded potato pancakes. Qiao Xuan urged Ms. Fang and the others to taste them, eager to showcase the delicious possibilities of this newfound crop.
The first section of the family of the Shao Family had always believed in her cooking skills, and they had been waiting for that to happen.
When the potato dishes were eaten, they all ignited the taste buds. They were either sour, spicy, crispy, soft, powdery, glutinous, or crispy and delicious. Everyone praised them.
“The potatoes are so tasty!”
“Fifth Sister-in-law is right. We are going to plant them well next year!”
“Potatoes can be used to make food and fill the stomach. They are so good!”
“Yes, yes, it is a good thing!”
Qiao Xuan was delighted to see their positive response. She beamed and said, “Indeed, they are easy to plant. We can simply plant them and remove the weeds. We don’t need elaborate setups, but we should set aside some for the villagers next year.”
Ms. Fang agreed, saying, “Absolutely! In times of hardship, having potatoes can be a lifesaver.”
The potatoes needed to be preserved for seeds, so after the meal, Ms. Fang refrained from using any more and decided to save them for the spring planting season.
On the following day, Qiao Xuan, accompanied by Yang Xiaoni and Shao Sanlang, visited the Zhang Village. She thoroughly inspected the tea field and the creeping fig field, utilizing her superpower to ensure everything was in good condition. Her satisfaction with the well-behaved tenants and the families they bought put her at ease.