Chapter Twenty: Timely Snowfall Brings Firewood

  Su Tiancheng's heart was still a bit worried, whether next year would be a famine or not, and whether the tenant farmers of the Su family could thoroughly bid farewell to the days of hunger and cold. The key was whether they could successfully transport back sweet potato seeds. If they couldn't transport back sweet potato seeds, the tenant farmers would have to plant spring wheat again, but the yield of this wheat was too low. Before crossing over, Su Tiancheng was born in the south, where almost no one planted wheat, so he wasn't very familiar with wheat planting technology. Even after joining the workforce for many years, his focus was on understanding rice and corn planting. The yield per mu of wheat couldn't compare to that of rice, and it had been like this for hundreds of years, let alone now. Adding to that, Shanxi's climate wasn't as good as the south, resulting in even lower grain yields.

  "I heard that the young master of the Su family's humble abode has been sending grain and salt to the tenant farmers..."

  "I've seen it all, it's true, and there's more to it than that, they even sent seeds..."

  "The young master of the Su family, seemingly a xiucai, has he gone mad from reading too many books?"

  "Hum, I think it's not just being reckless, but the brain is really sick. The old master and madam of the Su family have gone to Taiyuan Prefecture, and this young master has become arrogant and domineering, I don't know what he's up to..."

  The news that Su Tiancheng distributed wheat flour, coarse salt and seeds to the tenants spread throughout the prefectural city, with all sorts of comments emerging, praising and criticizing him in equal measure. Most people said that Su Tiancheng had gone crazy, how could he do such a stupid thing? With several years of poor harvests, which wealthy family wasn't thinking of storing more grain? This young master was actually distributing grain to the tenants.

  It's said that there are also good ones. The tenant suffered a disaster and had no food, couldn't survive, the young master of the Su family was kind-hearted.

  The big households in Pingyang Prefecture were somewhat annoyed, as Su Tiancheng's actions seemed to be a slap in the face. However, the young master of the Su family was a scholar and, no matter what, a student by birthright. Moreover, the Su family's business had largely moved to Taiyuan Prefecture, so if these big households were to confront a scholar who had never done business before, they would not be able to withstand the impact on public opinion.

  Of course, someone has already been sent to deliver a message to Su Huaiwen, implying that the young master of the Su family is causing trouble.

  All the gossip, Su Tiancheng knew it all, but he didn't care at all. These wealthy families were short-sighted and extremely selfish. It wasn't until a year of disaster and famine that they realized why they had acted this way.

  Su Jun was about to set off, and this was the most important thing Su Tiancheng had been considering. For two days, he had been thinking that more than 500 dan of sweet potato seeds, a total of over 100,000 catties, were not easy to transport even if they were brought to Pingyang Prefecture in Shanxi Province. If horse-drawn carts were used, the horses from Xizang could pull 800-1,000 catties, requiring more than 100 carts. In this era, no one would use Mongolian horses to pull seeds. It was best to use ox carts, which could pull over 1,500 catties, and more than 60 carts would be enough. Although the speed was much slower, it was not very conspicuous.

  No matter what, so many ox carts need to be guarded by someone, just like a child holding a gold ingot in his hand walking on the street, without an adult by their side, who knows how many people are eyeing it, and finally snatching the gold ingot away.

  Su Tiancheng was very worried, but he had no way out. Who made him reborn in the Ming Dynasty? Who said that sweet potatoes were only introduced to China during the Wanli period? It was impossible for Pingyang Prefecture to have sweet potato seeds, let alone Pingyang Prefecture, the north did not even have sweet potato seeds yet.

  Danger indeed exists, Su Tiancheng thought more and more, the more he felt that going to buy sweet potato seeds was a highly risky thing.

  It's been over a decade since he returned to Pingyang Prefecture, and Su Tiancheng hasn't left the house except for two trips to the outskirts. He has been staying in the mansion all along, without even thinking of going out for a stroll on the main streets. He needs to gradually adapt to his current life and think about what to do next.

  Su Pingyang rushed in hastily.

  "Young master, there is someone outside who claims to be an old beggar and says that he has a past connection with you."

  Su Tiancheng quickly stood up, and Su Er Tong also opened his eyes wide.

  "Uncle, please invite the old man in quickly. No, I'll personally go to the door to welcome him. Second child, instruct the kitchen to prepare several good dishes, especially two jars of fine wine."

  Su Pingyang was surprised, the old man outside the mansion, wearing tattered clothes, looked like a beggar's attire, such a person came to the gate of the mansion, according to the previous rules, would be given a bowl of rice and sent away, unexpectedly the young master personally went out to greet him.

  Su Tiancheng walked out of the gate and saw an old man standing outside, looking up at the sky with his head raised. He was wearing tattered clothes, but this time there was no smell on him. However, he still looked like a beggar.

  Some people around pointed and whispered, guessing that they thought this beggar was so arrogant to come to the Su family's gate to ask for food.

  "The younger generation welcomes the elder."

  Su Tiancheng walked quickly to the front of the old man, respectfully saluting him. Not only were the people around them shocked, but even Su Pingyang was stunned. "Young master, what's wrong with you? Why are you bowing to a beggar?"

  "Haha, Young Master Su, the old beggar has come to ask for food."

  "The old man smiled and said, 'I've been looking forward to seeing you again, young one.'"

  "In broad daylight and in public, Young Master is showing respect to an old beggar, isn't that humiliating?"

  "Junior has always remembered that when it is cold on an elder's body, I am also cold; and when others are old, I am also young; and when others are young, I am also young. Never dare to forget at any moment."

  "Haha, well said! It seems that Old Beggar has come at the right time today. You're really generous, young master!"

  The old man burst out laughing and walked straight into the mansion gate, with Su Tiancheng following respectfully behind him.

  "Alas, don't mention it. This young master of the Su family is indeed quite interesting. He can be so respectful to a beggar like me. I think this beggar is not simple."

  "I also remembered that the young master of the Su family gave grain, coarse salt and seeds to the tenant farmers. It seems that this young master of the Su family really has a compassionate heart."

  "How strange! I used to see Su Gongzi often before, and he would blush when meeting people, unable to speak, and was also timid. Just now, seeing him, I was greatly surprised - Su Gongzi's temperament has completely changed."

  "Alas, isn't it because of those things he did in the government?"

  "Shh, don't say anything more, it's their family affair, we shouldn't casually discuss it."

  Su Tiancheng invited the old man directly to the side room.

  Su Er Tong had been waiting outside the room and saw the old man, so he immediately went to make tea.

  The vast Su Mansion was very quiet due to the small number of servants.

  "Master Su, I've heard that you gave grain, coarse salt and seeds to the tenant farmers of the Su family. Is this really true? Why is that? The old beggar is very curious and thought of coming to ask."

  The old man didn't stand on ceremony, entered the room, sat down directly, and when he spoke, his face was accompanied by a smile, but in his eyes, not a hint of warmth could be seen.

  "It is true, the Su family has a total of 350 tenant households. This time, I distributed 350 stones of wheat flour, 700 catties of coarse salt, and as for the winter wheat seeds, they were distributed according to the needs of each household. Not only that, before the Spring Festival, I will also distribute grain, refined salt, and meat, which will be maintained until May next year after the winter wheat harvest."

  "Oh, can you tell me why?"

  "The junior thinks that since the tenant has come to Su's house to farm, they naturally need to eat and wear warm clothes. The junior and the tenant are one body, if they can't eat or wear warm clothes, to the point of selling their children or even starving to death, it not only makes Su's family lose face but also increases the burden on the government. Those who know about this matter will say that Su's family is inhumane and unkind, while those who don't know will say that the government doesn't care about the people. The junior absolutely does not want to see such things happen."

  "Heh heh, your thoughts are not bad, but for the past two years, Shanxi has been plagued by disasters and difficulties everywhere. Have you thought about how to deal with this in the long run? What will other wealthy families think of you, what will they say?"

  "I do my own thing and don't care about others' gossip. These days, some people have been talking about it, that kind of attitude of only caring about money but not lives, I dare not agree with. Even if you are rich, but your tenant farmers sell their children and die of starvation, this is absolutely not a righteous act and will surely be punished by heaven. Of course, I also need to think of some ways, if I continue to provide assistance like this, I won't have the ability to do so."

  "Oh, the old beggar also felt strange, just wanted to see if Su Gongzi had any good ideas, as in saving for a moment, but not for a lifetime."