Henan, Qi County.

After Li Yan led Chen Yongfu with his troops to Guide Mansion to suppress thieves, he transported grain to Kaifeng in batches and sold it to his father Li Chunyu. The 400 stones that Qiulou Town is loading are the last batch, and 1,600 stones have been transported before, and the silver taels have been handed over to Su Jing. When Su Jing saw the nearly 20,000 taels of silver, he was really excited, that was his future.

Fortunately, Li Chunyu's family has been opening a grain and oil store in Kaifeng for three generations, and they still have some family backgrounds, otherwise they really wouldn't be able to get so many silver taels at once. However, this year's grain harvest was already poor, but in the spring, there was a wave of desertion, and the displaced people came and destroyed a lot of wheat, so the grain was even more tight.

Before leaving, Li Yan went to the experimental field in the south to take a look, and there was a potato field that grew much better than the others. I asked Master Ma, who was still here, and Master Ma replied that this piece might have been planted at the right time and could have a bumper harvest. Each experimental field has a detailed record, as long as this piece can be harvested, then it is much easier and more convenient to promote.

Master Ma has lived here for more than half a year, and he has begun to learn to speak official and communicate with each other. He originally wanted to go home earlier, but was forcibly left behind by Li Yan. He has lived here for half a year, and feels that the living conditions here are much better than in their hometown, the fields are flat and fertile, and as long as there is enough water, there will be a good harvest. The key is that Li Yan only collects 30% of the farmers' rent, and the rest does not need to be borne by the farmers, which makes the peasants' surplus grain greatly increased, and he is extremely envious.

"Li Gongzi, can I take my family over as well?" Master Ma asked Li Yan.

Li Yan glanced at Master Ma, shook his head and said, "Not yet." ”

Master Ma immediately asked: "I have done so much to my son, I can't be ungrateful!" ”

Li Yan explained: "I mean, not yet. After all, the potatoes planted near the left side of this white dew (solar terms) have not yet been harvested, and we will not know how they grow until after the harvest. After you have planted the high-yielding potatoes, it is not too late for you to go back and pick up your family members, and there will be no delay in the process. ”

Master Ma nodded with some disappointment.

Li Yan said with a smile: "Master Ma, as long as you can make this potato produce a high yield, I will give you the title of a doctor, and I will give you a fortune every month." ”

Master Ma nodded with a smile and said, "Master Xie." But can you give me some land too? I have three sons, and there is nothing wrong with sending one out to serve as a soldier for my son. "He is just a farmer, and he still looks at the most important field, what is a doctor's degree, in his eyes, there are not ten acres of land.

Li Yan laughed and said, "Yes, if you send a child to be a soldier, I will give you fifty acres of land, close to the water source." ”

Master Ma immediately gave Li Yan his hand, smiled on his face, and kept saying, "Gongzi Xie, Gongzi Xie." ”

Li Yan helped Master Ma up and said, "I'm not ungrateful. Anyone who contributes to us, I will not hesitate to reward. ”

"The little old man has lost his words, he has lost his words, please forgive my son." Master Ma hurriedly made amends.

Li Yan explained: "I am not to blame, this is my principle. As long as you contribute to us, I will not treat you badly. ”

When the other farmers who took care of the experimental field heard this, they all said happily: "Gongzi is benevolent! ”

After Li Yan asked everyone to get up, he took people to Qiulou Village. The food there had already been loaded into the cart, and he set off immediately with his escort.

They set out in the morning and arrived at Kaifeng City in the evening. They had already been in and out of the city a few times in the guise of a caravan, and they had mingled with the soldiers guarding the gates, and after giving them some money, they went in without a hitch.

A caravan of their size simply couldn't attract any attention from Kaifeng City, and caravans of dozens or hundreds of carts were common. Grain trade in Kaifeng is the most common bulk trade, the citizens see that there is so much grain into the city every day, but also know that there is no shortage of grain in the city, although the price of grain is already very high, but the mood is still relatively stable.

Li Yan took the convoy directly to the Chunyu grain and oil store and put the grain here. His soldiers were accommodated by the grain and oil store, and he returned to Li's house.

After he and Li Chunyu greeted him, Li Chunyu said, "This time it's the last batch, right?" ”

Li Yan nodded and said, "Yes, there are four hundred stones." If my father still wanted it, I would have gotten about 500 stone from there. ”

Li Chunyu smiled: "Are you planning to take away all the cash in my hand?" It's enough for our family to have so much grain in our grain store, and any more of it should be eye-catching. ”

Li Yan nodded and said, "Okay, just keep it for emergency use." ”

"I have already sent the food you gave to Huaiqing's hometown. I didn't say that you sent it, for fear that everyone in my family would run to you. It's good that we take the risk ourselves, and don't trap the entire Li family in it. Li Chunyu said with some sadness.

Li Yan comforted: "Don't worry, nothing will happen." ”

Li Chunyu sighed and said, "You gave birth to a grandson for me earlier, even if you have something, our branch can have someone to inherit the incense." ”

Li Yan nodded helplessly and said, "The child knows." ”

But he has a heart in his heart, and this birth is not a matter of one person. Chen didn't talk about it, he stayed in the Buddhist hall every day, and he didn't get close to him at all. Kong's family is chattering, especially after seeing him, he always talks about Yuan Bin, which makes him not interested.

If he takes another concubine, he doesn't have this idea for the time being. After all, he doesn't have a solid foundation yet, so why drag down another person or even a family?

"I heard that you have collected the money and grain of the gentry's family in Qi County?" Li Chunyu asked suddenly.

Li Yan was stunned for a moment and asked, "How do you know?" ”

Li Chunyu taught: "If you receive their grain, they will naturally come to the provincial capital for activities." You have to think clearly, their relationship is intertwined, and there are a lot of manpower and material resources that can be mobilized, and offending them will be a big problem! ”

Li Yan said with a smile: "You can't let them take all the good things, you don't have to pay money and food, and you want me to protect their property." In peacetime, I can't do anything, but now it's not peaceful. If they don't want to pay, let the thieves rob them of nothing, and when a few unlucky ghosts are out, they will turn the corner. ”

"Why do they have to use you? There are many soldiers in the imperial court. Li Chunyu asked again.

Li Yan said confidently: "It's not that the court uses me, but these places are mine." ”

Li Chunyu sighed and said, "You can do it yourself." If anything happens in the future, send someone, and don't come by yourself. ”

Li Yan got up, knelt down for Li Chunyu, and said, "Please take care of your father." After speaking, he kowtowed three times, and then went straight out of Li's house and went back to the inn.

And Li Chunyu stood in place, silently watching Li Yan leave. He wanted to stop Li Yan, but he just raised his hand, and then slowly put it down.