Chapter 66 High-Yielding Crops

  I had been walking in a dark, rugged and somewhat damp passageway all along, and one's mood couldn't help but feel somewhat oppressive. Now it suddenly opens up, with blurry human figures ahead, bustling and extraordinary, yet seemingly isolating the inside and outside into two separate worlds.

  Zhang Lei walked forward alone, and at a fork in the road, two men with red cloth strips wrapped around their heads and bare shoulders, looking dirty and unkempt, walked over. When they saw Zhang Lei, they looked slightly surprised, glanced at him again, and then carried what was in their hands into the darkness.

  In front of him was a huge cave, Zhang Lei walked in and looked at the stalactites on the rock that had been eroded by flowing water, he felt as if he was walking through a beautiful painting - if it weren't for those revelers.

  Zhang Lei carefully avoided those arrogant people who trampled everything in their path and the wine cups that flew in from all directions, as well as the spilled wine that was more than what they drank. He slowly made his way inside, searching for the only person he knew, Zheng Zhihu.

  After a while, he finally saw Zheng Zhihuo, who had just raised his hand to greet him. A chicken leg still dripping with oil was thrown into his palm like an unexpected guest from the sky. The high temperature that could cook eggs made him let out a painful cry. The pirates next to him burst out laughing at this scene.

  Zhang Lei's voice also attracted Zheng Zhihu, who drank the wine in his sea bowl in one gulp, then pushed open the layer upon layer of people in front of him and came to Zhang Lei's face, laughing loudly: "First time seeing such a scene, huh?"

  "Indeed. Everyone is quite... well, open-minded." Zhang Lei forced a smile, paused for a moment, and then found a way to describe it.

  Zheng Zhihu patted his shoulder and said, "It's still a bit chaotic here. Aren't you looking for my big brother? I'll take you there."

  Zhang Lei seemed to clearly hear his scapula making a "ga ga" sound, gritting his teeth in pain, and suddenly felt very resentful about the two unfair treatments he had just received.

  With Zheng Zhihu there, those people all consciously kept a distance from them, and Zhang Lei was no longer subjected to that "inhuman" treatment. After passing through the dense crowd, Zhang Lei finally saw the legendary figure he had been thinking about for hundreds of years, Zheng Zhilong.

  Zheng Zhilong was robust and powerful in appearance, with a resemblance of 70-80% to Zheng Zhihu. At this time, wearing a battle robe, where is the image of the Admiral of the Navy?

  "Brother, this is the strange person I was telling you about. He has been thinking of you for many days now. I deliberately chose today to arrange a meeting between him and you." Zheng Zhihu seemed to have already introduced Zhang Lei to Zheng Zhilong beforehand, so when he brought Zhang over, that's all he said.

  "You're actually so young, probably about the same age as my fourth brother. Your surname is Zhang, right? Mr. Zhang, my younger brother has mentioned you several times, but I didn't expect you to be this young, it's quite unexpected." Zheng Zhilong sat on a tiger skin-covered jade throne

  He wiped all the oil on his hands onto his thighs and said with a smile.

  Upon seeing the real person, Zhang Lei was naturally extremely excited. He clasped his hands together and bowed deeply at a 90-degree angle, saying: "Your humble servant has seen General Ti, sir. You can just call me Little Zhang, I dare not be called 'boss'. Doing some small business, I'm afraid it's also hard to enter your eyes, sir."

  "You seem to understand some measure of things, and I see you've done quite a bit of research on woodworking machinery. You also have an eye for exotic flowers. Let's make a deal... but that can wait. Since you're here, let's drink three big bowls together! As my brother's sworn brother, you're also my brother now, cheers!" Zheng Zhi Long held up a large bowl with a diameter of one foot, filled to the brim, and nodded at Zhang Lei.

  Zhang Lei excitedly took over the wine that someone had helped him pour, his hands slightly raised and held above his head, saying: "Respect to adults." After finishing, he tilted his head back and gulped down a mouthful.

  Zheng Zhihu patted his own chest and laughed: "Big brother, I didn't say wrong, did I? He's not big in stature, but he can drink a lot. Last time, he was knocked down by him. Today, we'll get up together and guarantee to pour him under the table."

  "You still dare to call yourself a big shot? Now you've met your match, haven't you? Admit defeat? Go on, I'll drink first and talk later." Zheng Zhi Long also raised his head and downed the fine wine.

  Wine is the medium for men to communicate, as long as there is good wine, even if it's between mute people, they can talk freely for three days and three nights. As for Zhang Lei, seeing his idol, he naturally wants to exert his own three-inch tongue that never gets tired, making this big shot feel comfortable.

  Although the wine was not strong, drinking too much still made him feel very uncomfortable. Zhang Lei didn't know when he got drunk, but vaguely heard Zheng Zhihu and Zheng Zhilong's happy laughter.

  When he woke up, a man in his twenties was brewing tea beside him. Hearing the noise, he came to Zhang Lei's side and said, "You're awake."

  Zhang Lei supported his still somewhat dizzy head and smiled self-deprecatingly: "Good wine indeed intoxicates people, what time is it now?"

  The young man replied, "You've been asleep for over a day. After you got drunk, my brother had someone carry you to my room to rest. It's too noisy outside, and this study is relatively quiet."

  Zhang Lei looked around and indeed saw several bookshelves, which made the cold and icy cave seem somewhat lively. He struggled to get up and said, "I haven't asked yet..."

  "My name is Zheng Zhibao, courtesy name Wen, nickname Meng Er, alias Ruo Tang. I am the youngest of five brothers."

  "Sorry, sorry." It was actually Zheng Zhilong's brother, which startled Zhang Lei and he quickly stood up. He had just spoken a sentence when he suddenly felt dizzy and fell back onto the bed. With an apologetic expression on his face, he said: "I've made you laugh."

  Zheng Zhibao went to get boiling water while saying, "I really don't understand you guys. If you can't drink anymore, then just drink a little less. It's better for your body that way. Come on, drink this ginger tea, it'll help with the hangover."

  "Thank you." Zhang Lei suddenly looked at Zheng Zhibao with new eyes, having taken Zheng Zhilong and Zheng Zhitian as examples, he had thought that all five brothers were like this, but unexpectedly Zheng Zhibao turned out to be a scholar.

  After about half a time, Zhang Lei finally came back to himself. At this moment, Zheng Zhilong and Zheng Zhitian walked in, and when Zheng Zhitian saw Zhang Lei, he laughed and said: "Haha, you little devil, you've finally been drunk under the table by us."

  "Two seniors, Zhang has made a fool of himself."

  Zheng Zilong said, "What's the point of being polite or not? Those words are just for fun and to get drunk. Yesterday I mentioned that I wanted to bring something for you to see, if it's convenient for you now, then follow me."

  "Of course," Zhang Lei said.

  From Zheng Zhibao's study, it was still a relatively long corridor, quite far from the large cave where they had a wild party last night. No wonder it was said to be a quiet place. The hall had been cleaned up and looked completely different from the messy scene of last night. The crowd that had been partying seemed to have vanished suddenly, and on the way here, Zhang Lei only saw a few people.

  They didn't go far before Zhang Lei and the others arrived at a cave that was slightly smaller than Zheng Zhibao's study earlier. Zhang Lei could tell that this was where they stored their goods, as he saw the things he had delivered.

  Zheng Zilong ordered Zheng Zihu to bring over several sacks, then one by one he untied them and said: "Look at what this is?"

  "Potato?" Zhang Lei looked at this pale yellow skin wrapped egg-sized thing and exclaimed in surprise.

  Zheng Zilong smiled and said: "It seems that what they said is true, you really know. This was brought back when I went out to sea, the yield is very high."

  Zhang Lei nodded and said, "It's very high yield, and it's easy to plant and manage. Once promoted, it can solve the problem of food for many people. But since you know why, why don't you offer it to the imperial court instead of selling it to me?"

  "This is no longer your concern. Take a look at this instead." Zhang Lei's questioning seemed to be too much, Zheng Zilong appeared somewhat displeased and changed the subject. Zhang Lei suddenly realized he shouldn't have asked and quickly went to take a look at the second thing.

  The second thing is roughly the same shape as a potato, but its skin is yellowish-brown in color and much larger in size. Some places even grow roots, Zhang Lei of course knows what it is, sweet potatoes, a good thing he has liked to eat since childhood.

  "If these crops are promoted, they will benefit many ordinary people. By then, it will be a great merit for adults." Zhang Lei said.

  Zheng Zilong laughed happily and said, "Let's take a look at this again."

  Golden grains shaped like teeth, roughly the same size, surround a stick in circles, what is this if not corn?

  At this point, Zhang Lei knew that it was not necessary to continue talking about these things. These were the best of the best, and compared to them, tobacco leaves were simply the dregs of the dregs, not worth mentioning.

  He cupped his hands and bowed to Zheng Zhi Long, saying: "I don't know what price the master has set? If it's within my means, I'll buy them all."

  "A couple of silver coins will do." Zheng Zilong stretched out his index finger and said.

  "What?" Zhang Lei thought he had misheard and repeated.

  Zheng Zhi Long burst out laughing and said, "I'm talking about one or two silver coins, didn't you hear? Alas, spread it far and wide, if it can make the whole nation's people full, that would be my lifelong wish."

  It wasn't apparent, but beneath his rough exterior, he also had such a patriotic and people-loving sentiment. Zhang Lei couldn't help but admire him greatly, saying: "I will definitely do my best to do this job well."

  Zheng Zilong nodded and said: "Alright, I also have things to do. You go back now, take this thing with you. If there's a chance in the future, I hope we can meet again."

  Zhang Lei said: "The sea is a treasure, and it's also where I made my vow. Later on, I will definitely set foot on this path again, and at that time, I and the adults will certainly have another chance to meet."

  "I hope so, go back."