Jia Lian fiddled with the mulberry leaves in his hand and said quietly: "You have to use grafting to improve the variety of mulberry trees." ”

"What is the art of grafting?"

Zhou Rui's family and Liu Laohan asked in unison, obviously they had never heard of it.

Jia Lian said: "Old man, you go and prepare a hand saw, a knife, a pair of scissors, and some fine hemp rope." ”

Although Liu Haohan didn't understand what Jia Lian planned to do, he still agreed to go.

Jia Lian said again: "Sister-in-law Rui, I bother you to call all the tenants who plant mulberry trees here in the surrounding area, and I will let everyone see what the grafting technique is." ”

Zhou Rui's family also responded.

Jia Lian continued to grope in the field, and after about a quarter of an hour, he suddenly stopped in front of a mulberry tree.

Jia Lian said to himself: "It's you, looking at the shape of the leaves, it should be a good mulberry sapling." ”

It didn't take long for Jia Rui's family to lead a group of tenants to the field and said, "Second master, almost everyone in the neighborhood has arrived. ”

Jia Lian nodded and said to everyone: "Fellow villagers, the mulberry saplings you planted are of mixed quality, although they seem to be growing well now, when they are next year, the gap will be obvious." Today, I will demonstrate to you the technique of grafting, grafting the new shoots of high-quality mulberry seedlings onto ordinary mulberry trees. ”

Everyone was suspicious: "Second Master Lian, can you still do this?" It's unheard of. ”

Jia Lian smiled: "You will know when you look at it in a while." Sister-in-law Rui, is Liu Laohan here? ”

Without waiting for Zhou Rui's reply, Liu Laohan was already waving at Jia Lian not far away: "Second master, I'm here." ”

Jia Lian took the firewood knife from Liu Laohan's hand, led everyone to the mulberry tree he chose, and said: "Look at this mulberry tree, its leaves are green and green, stretching and thick, and silkworms can highlight more silk when they eat such mulberry leaves." ”

After that, Jia Lian selected one of the thick branches and buds, cut it five inches down from its tip, and cut it with a knife blade.

Jia Lian showed the cut branch buds to everyone and said, "You can follow the steps I just demonstrated to collect the branches and buds, be sure to pay attention to the length of the branches and the shape of the incision, and I will show you how to graft." ”

The onlookers were stunned, and everyone didn't expect that the noble son of Rongguo Mansion would be so proficient in agricultural affairs.

Everyone followed Jia Lian and came to the other end of the mulberry field, this is a mulberry tree with crooked melons and cracked dates, everyone present can see that even if such a mulberry tree is not hoeed, it will not grow many mulberry leaves.

Jia Lian squatted down, pointed to a place about two feet from the ground, and said to Liu Laohan: "Liu Laohan, you sawed off the mulberry tree from here." ”

Liu Laohan asked puzzledly: "Second master, although this mulberry tree does not grow very well, it can feed some silkworms after all." If it is sawed off from here, I am afraid that I will not be able to feed it. ”

Everyone also agreed, not knowing what kind of medicine was sold in Jia Lian's gourd.

Jia Lian still looked confident, and said: "Liu Laohan, you just have to do what I say, and keep it so that it won't spoil your mulberry tree." ”

When Liu Laohan saw Jia Lian say this, he couldn't continue to argue, so he only sighed, and according to Jia Lian's instructions, he sawed off the mulberry tree.

Jia Lian stroked the incision of the mulberry tree with his hand, and found that it was a little rough, so he said: "Liu Laohan, the incision of the mulberry tree must be kept flat, so that the grafted mulberry seedlings can survive more easily." ”

When Liu Laohan heard this, his face turned red.

He was originally an expert at doing work, and this thing was a piece of cake for him, but just now because he had emotions in his heart, which affected the work in his hands, he lost his hand.

Unexpectedly, Jia Lian actually saw the problem.

Liu Laohan picked up the firewood knife, carefully smoothed the incision, and said, "Second master, do you think this is feasible?" ”

Jia Lian nodded, took the firewood knife from Liu Laohan's hand, cut a three-inch-deep incision down on one side of the incision, and then inserted the pre-prepared branch buds into the incision, and the oblique cut of the branch buds coincided with the mulberry incision.

Jia Lian cut a thin hemp rope and tied it around the mulberry tree a few times, firmly fixing the branches and buds in the incision.

"Alright."

A successful mulberry seedling grafting was thus completed.

Jia Lian clapped his hands, held his waist, and said in his heart: Recently, I have been a little weak, and my back hurts from doing this work. Looks like I'm going to have to get the goji berries together when I get home.

Liu Laohan was surprised and asked, "Second master, is this grafting completed?" ”

Jia Lian replied: "To be on the safe side, each mulberry tree needs to be grafted with two shoots. ”

Liu Laohan rubbed his hands and said, "Second master, can you let the old man try it too?" ”

Jia Lian said with a smile: "Of course you can, not only do you have to learn how to graft, but all farmers who plant mulberry trees must learn the art of grafting, otherwise, let me come alone with so many mulberry trees, wouldn't it be to exhaust me to death." ”

When everyone heard this, they all laughed.

Jia Lian personally instructed Liu Laohan to test the grafting technique again, and the effect seemed to be good, but there were some details that were not good enough.

However, as long as you practice more, I believe that it is not a big problem. Without him, only familiar hands.

After Jia Lian returned to Jiafu, he remembered this matter again, and it was urgent to let farmers master the art of grafting.

Once the best grafting time is missed, the grafted mulberry seedlings will not be easy to survive.

After thinking about it, Jia Lian decided to publish an issue of the magazine, which elaborated on the key points of grafting so that the tenants could learn it.

Jia Lian has already thought of the name of the magazine, and it is called "Xingnong Technique".

Jia Lian took into account that the cultural level of the tenants was relatively low, and there were few people who could read and write, so "The Art of Xingnong" mainly used the form of pictures, showing the key points of each step through pictures.

This kind of foolish teaching of key points, even people who are illiterate in big characters, only need to practice repeatedly according to the instructions of "Xingnong Essentials", and they can quickly master the art of grafting.

In order to test the effect, Jia Lian asked Sister Feng and Ping'er, who had never worked in the fields, to also try it.

Ping'er was ingenious and quickly mastered the essence of grafting.

However, what made Jia Lian feel tragic was that Wang Xifeng tried several times, but failed once.

It seems that it takes talent to do anything!

Jia Lian handed over the compiled "Xingnong Technique" to Zhou Rui's family to take it to Fu Zi for printing, and Zhou Rui's family praised it again and again: "The second master is really omnipotent, I look at this picture as if it were real, even a stupid person should learn it." ”

Jia Lian smiled and said: "Sister-in-law Rui, you go and get busy first, if your second grandmother hears it, I'm afraid that it will make trouble again." ”

Zhou Rui's family didn't know what she was wrong with, but she didn't want to touch Sister Feng's moldy head, so she said "yes" and went out.

The first issue of "Xingnong Essentials" was printed in 300 copies, and Jia Lian ordered Zhou Rui's family to distribute them to tenants who planted mulberry trees.

A few days later, Zhou Rui's family came back and forth.

Jia Lian asked, "Sister-in-law Rui, has the "Xingnong Technique" been distributed?" ”

Zhou Ruijia said with a smile: "I sent it all yesterday, I'm afraid it's not enough." ”

Jia Lian wondered: "How is it possible? I have calculated that there are only more than 260 peasant households renting our fields, one for each household, and there should be more than enough, so why is it not enough? ”

Zhou Ruijia said: "The second master doesn't know, since the fields in our house have been planted with mulberry trees, many landlords and farmers in Jinling have followed suit and planted mulberry saplings in their own fields. Now I heard that the second master sent the "Xingnong Technique" to the farmers, and they all rushed to ask for it, and some landlords even paid ten taels of silver to buy it. ”

Jia Lian's eyes lit up and said, "A copy of "Xingnong Essentials" sells for ten taels, which is also a profitable business." ”

Thinking that the "Xingnong Essentials" distributed to farmers were all free of charge, Jia Lianyin asked: "Is it true that someone has sold the "Xingnong Essentials" printed by us for money?" ”

Zhou Ruijia showed a trace of unnatural expression and said with a smile: "I'm afraid there is." ”

Seeing this, Jia Lian already understood seven or eight points in his heart, and Zhou Rui's family must have also participated in the resale of "Xingnong Technique".

These minions in Jiafu are all big moths, and as long as they have the slightest opportunity, they don't forget to put money in their money bags.

There was Laiwang's family before, and now there is Zhou Rui's family.

Jia Lian knew very well that if this trend was allowed to continue, the situation in Jiafu would be difficult to reverse.

Although he already knew the problem in his heart, Jia Lian was still silent on the surface, and said: "I know, I have my own plans for this matter, sister-in-law Rui, you should get busy first." ”

Zhou Ruijia said tentatively: "Second master, see if you can print more out, this is also a good deed for the benefit of the people......"

Jia Lian saw that Zhou Rui's family was still not giving up, so he said with a cold face: "Sister-in-law Rui, what I said is not clear enough?" You don't need to ask about it. ”

Zhou Ruijia said in a low voice: "It's me who is too talkative." ”

After Zhou Rui's family left, Jia Lian thought about it, and now there are too few people who can do things in Jia Mansion, and there is no one who can be trusted.

Even if Wang Xifeng, the person next to his pillow, the first thing he thinks of when he encounters something makes his pockets bulge, all of them are like this, can Jia Fu'an not decay?

If you want to do things, you need to have someone you can trust, and it seems that you should pay more attention to it in the future.

…………

On this day, Jia Lian brought the first silk spun by Jia Ji Silk into the palace and met Concubine Yuan.

A few days ago, the family members of Jiafu entered the palace to celebrate their birthday, and Jia Lian, as a male guest, was inconvenient to go together.

It has been more than half a month since the two last met.

When Yuan Chun saw Jia Lian, he said with a little resentment: "Brother Lian, why don't you come over to talk these days?" Think it's because there are a lot of things at home and you can't be separated? ”

Jia Lian smiled awkwardly: "Since the last time I beat my mother...... Wrong...... I went back from Sister Yuan.,I've been busy with the affairs of the house.。 When I was free today, I sent a good silk to Sister Yuan, and talked to Sister Yuan by the way. ”

Concubine Yuan said: "I just sent a congratulatory gift a few days ago, and now what kind of silk is I giving?" Brother Lian, didn't you forget what I said? ”

Jia Lian smiled: "What Sister Yuan said, how could I forget?" After going back last time, I opened a silk shop, planting mulberry and silkworms by myself, drawing silk and weaving cloth. ”

When Concubine Yuan heard this, she got up and looked at the silk brought by Jia Lian, gently stroked the delicate and vivid patterns with her hand, and said in surprise: "This silk is spun at home?" It looks like it's no different from Jiang Ning's tribute. ”

Jia Lian said: "Sister Yuan likes it." ”

Concubine Yuan showed joy on her face and said, "Brother Lian has a heart, and Yuan Chun has taken it." Every year, the palace will send people to Jiangning to purchase a large amount of silk, the distance is long, time-consuming and laborious, in my opinion, it is better to purchase it from Brother Lian cheaper and more convenient. ”

Jia Lian smiled and said, "I came to ask Sister Yuan for this." At the moment, our family is very estranged from the Internal Affairs Bureau, and I asked again and again, but I couldn't find anyone who could speak, so I came to ask Sister Yuan to help me deliver a message to the Internal Affairs Office. ”

Yuan Chun thought for a moment, the harem should not be involved in politics, but most of the silk purchased was for the harem, and it was reasonable for her to make some suggestions to the Internal Affairs Office as a noble concubine.

She understands that whether she can take over the business in the palace is very important to the current Jia Mansion.

Yuan Chunyin said: "Brother Lian is right. In a few days, you will send some silk into the palace, and I will give a little to the other sisters in the palace, who have received favors, and I can also talk to the Ministry of Internal Affairs. ”

Jia Lian didn't expect Yuan Chun to agree so simply, and said with a smile: "Then there is Sister Lao Yuan, I'll go back and prepare." ”

Yuan Chun said: "Why, after begging people, I don't want to be here for a moment?" ”

Jia Lian didn't know where Yuan Chun's words began, but after all, she was a noble concubine, so she had to laugh and say: "What Sister Yuan said, as long as Sister Yuan is willing, I am willing to live here." ”

The speaker is unintentional, the listener is intentional, Jia Lian's words sounded to Yuan Chun, and there was another layer of meaning, so he said: "Hugh is talking nonsense!" This is the Imperial Palace! ”

Yuan Chun said that, but his face turned red.

Jia Lian knew that the joke was too much, and hurriedly said: "In a few days, the new school at home will be opened, and Sister Yuan can go back to take a look if she is free." ”

Although Yuan Chun is a mother, he is only twenty-one or twelve years old, and there are still some children who are emotional, thinking that the opening of the school must be a very lively thing, so he is a little moved.

It's just that, according to the rules of the palace, the harem concubines are not allowed to leave the palace at will.

Yuan Chun was a little sad and said: "I want to go home and see, but I am within the high walls of the deep palace, and I often can't help myself." ”

Jia Lian leaned into Yuan Chun's ear and said softly: "If Sister Yuan really wants to go back, I have a way." ”

Yuan Chun asked, "Brother Lian might as well talk about it." ”

Jia Lian said: "Sister Yuan picked a day when His Majesty was away, wore the clothes of a eunuch, quietly went out of the palace with me, played for a while, and then came back quietly, presumably no one can know." ”

Jia Lian's bold plan made Yuan Chun feel extremely excited, but also a little scared, and said, "Brother Lian, can this method work?" ”

Jia Lian was confident and said, "Sister Yuan, don't worry, I am here in trouble, and there will be no chaos." ”

Yuan Chun asked again: "Even if I follow Brother Lian out of the palace, there are hundreds of people up and down the family, what if the news leaks?" ”

Yuan Chun's worries are not unreasonable, maybe this Zijia Mansion still has the eyes and ears of the Zhongshun Palace.

Jia Lian thought for a moment, calculated in his heart, and said: "Sister Yuan will wear a scarf to cover her face when the time comes, and try to talk as little as possible." I only said that my sister is the little master from the palace, because I don't like the boring life in the palace, I secretly came out to play with the sisters in the house for a while, so that everyone doesn't talk a lot. ”

Yuan Chun said with a smile: "Brother Lian's method looks pretty good. ”

It's just because Yuan Chun has been in the palace for many years, and he and his brothers and sisters in the family have only met once when they last saved their relatives.

Even his biological parents only meet once or twice a year and say a few words.

If you dress up in disguise, you won't be recognized.