Chapter 178: Seeking to Buy Seeds

Seeing the queue growing longer and longer, Lu Hao hurriedly went to line up.

Lu Hao did not know what exactly was being sold here, for so many people to be waiting.

So he asked a Capital local in front: "What is being bought here? So many people are buying it; I saw people lining up as early as the Zi hour yesterday."

The big brother in front had a good temper and said to him: "We are here to snatch up seeds. These are seeds the Crown Princess exchanged with the Huoshang. They are very rare, so we all thought we would plant some."

Lu Hao was puzzled: "What kind of seeds, to have people lining up so early every day?"

The big brother asked happily: "Have you not eaten the food made at the Ruyi Inn next door yet?"

Lu Hao shook his head, "I only arrived in the Capital yesterday."

The big brother then said: "You can go to the Ruyi Restaurant next door to eat something; it is all made with the new crops, and the taste is superb."

Lu Hao glanced at the shop next door, which was not very large; was the food here really that good?

Just as he was thinking, an exclamation came from the front: "My god! The new seeds are actually available today!"

The big brother in front of Lu Hao slapped his thigh: "If I had known they were being stocked today, I should have come earlier."

Lu Hao looked at the long line in front, then looked behind; it was also a long line.

He did not know if he would be able to snatch any.

They soon moved forward a few steps.

This time, the new seeds were sold in sets; a small Pouch contained various types of seeds, over ten kinds in total, all packed inside a large Pouch.

The Pouch also contained an Instruction Manual; if one wanted to buy, they just took a bag and left, and they were selling fast.

It was finally Lu Hao's turn, only to be told the seeds were sold out.

Xiao Shi hurriedly said: "There are still some small bags of Chili Pepper Seed left, which can be used to make Hot and Sour Shredded Potatoes, Boiled Pork Slices, spicy rabbit heads, Mapo Tofu..."

By the time it reached Lu Hao, it was already the last bag of Chili Pepper Seed.

Fortunately, he managed to snatch one bag, so the trip was not in vain.

It was still early, and everyone was eating breakfast. Seeing that the Ruyi Restaurant next door had just opened and there were not many customers inside, Lu Hao went in to taste the food.

He ordered a few dishes, and before long, the fragrance of the food wafted over.

Lu Hao swallowed his saliva, waiting for them to serve the dishes.

Hot and Sour Shredded Potatoes, Boiled Pork Slices, cold tossed preserved eggs, Cold Tossed Cucumber, four dishes in total.

Plus a bowl of millet and pumpkin porridge.

Lu Hao took a bite of the Hot and Sour Shredded Potatoes; as soon as it entered his mouth, his eyes lit up. He then had a piece of Boiled Pork Slices; the spiciness was so intense it almost brought tears to his eyes.

But he still wanted to eat more!

The Cold Tossed Cucumber could cleanse the palate, and the light sweetness of the millet and pumpkin porridge was also truly excellent.

Lu Hao had tried the new products and was somewhat unable to forget them.

This was a taste he had never eaten before.

After eating, Lu Hao went to the Grocery Store next door to try his luck.

Although the seeds were completely sold out, he bought a small booklet that contained the preparation methods for various dishes.

Lu Hao left the Capital feeling satisfied, preparing to go to Yangzhou.

At this time, Zhao Dai and the others in Yangzhou had been mocked for several days, but they were too lazy to argue with those people.

The most important thing for them now was to make the Fertilizer.

Zhao Quan would come to Zhao Dai's courtyard from time to time to mock him twice: "Such a foul smell, your hobby really has a heavy taste."

Zhao Dai rolled his eyes and continued to tend to his seedlings.

It was also at this time that a maid came to report: "Eldest Young Master, Master Lu has arrived, saying he wants to see you."

Zhao Dai was slightly surprised; the Lu family was much more powerful than the Zhao family.

Master Lu had actually come to see him in person?

Zhao Dai smoothed his clothes and prepared to meet Master Lu.

Zhao Quan said with some disgust: "Stinking of excrement, and he's actually going to see someone like that."

Zhao Dai: "That is still better than your mouth stinking of excrement."

After saying this, he went to the front hall.

Zhao Quan followed behind; he wanted to see Zhao Dai make a fool of himself.

Who knew that as soon as Lu Hao saw Zhao Dai, he asked: "Do you still have those new crop seeds on hand?"

Zhao Dai was somewhat surprised in his heart, but it did not show on his face.

Zhao Dai did things carefully, unlike the other three who planted all the seeds directly; he had kept some for himself, so that if the planting failed, the seeds would not be gone.

After all, it was his first time planting, so it was inevitable there would be oversights.

Zhao Dai said: "Master Lu, I truly do not have any seeds on hand, but after those crops grow, may I send you some seeds then?"

Master Lu sighed: "Have you four unified your stories? Why do you all say you have none?"

The four families were all in business and were not short of that bit of money, so Zhao Dai had no intention of selling them at all.

Zhao Quan, who had followed along, was somewhat incredulous, "Master Lu, you are talking about these seeds? My brother and the others weren't cheated?"

Lu Hao glanced at him indifferently, too lazy to pay him any mind.

He knew the four had seeds because his own nephews and nieces had spoken of it as a joke, their tone full of contempt.

Unable to get the seeds, Master Lu sighed, "Then in the future, if you cultivate seeds, remember to save a portion for me."

Zhao Dai smiled and saw him off.

It was also because of this incident today that everyone stopped mocking them.

They even begged them for some seeds.

After all, if even Master Lu wanted them, they must be good things.

However, Zhao Dai and the other three would not budge at all.

Let them mock.

The Capital.

The weather has been getting hotter these past few days, and the ministers have once again proposed going to the imperial villa.

Yan Ze sat on the Dragon Throne, while a palace maid at his side fanned him with a Seven-Wheel Fan; a basin of ice was placed in front of the Seven-Wheel Fan, making it very cool.

The weather was too hot, so Yan Ze had someone bring over a chair and let Yan Ning sit beside him.

In this way, both father and daughter could enjoy the breeze.

It was just the ministers who suffered.

The Minister of Revenue said, "Your Majesty, the national treasury can truly afford the silver to repair the imperial villa."

Yan Ze said, "Repairing the imperial villa will take ten days or so, and the journey there will take several more; by the time we arrive at the imperial villa, the weather will have long since cooled down."

Yan Ning added, "If you truly cannot stand it, why don't we all wear short sleeves and shorts? It is very cool."

"There is no need to be so rigid in life; these official robes are thick and hot."

The Minister of Revenue was just about to say something.

Yan Ning spoke first, "Furthermore, if these thirty thousand taels of silver were used to build roads in Lingnan, it would be good for the common people."

The Minister of Revenue had nothing more to say.

At this moment, the Minister of Works asked, "This Seven-Wheel Fan looks quite good; could we have Lord Yun make some to sell?"

Yan Ning said, "You should go discuss it with him; I cannot make that decision."

It was likely that Yun Shu could not be bothered to make Seven-Wheel Fans; the Seven-Wheel Fans for him and his father were already finished, and the Seven-Wheel Fans for the palace were also finished, so Yun Shu truly did not want to make any more Seven-Wheel Fans.

For the past few days, he had been researching the Cannon.

Yan Ning and Yan Ze were not intentionally letting the ministers suffer in the heat; they just felt it was unnecessary, and a trip to the imperial villa would last over a month, while Yan Ning still had to look after a few shops in the Capital.

After the morning court session, Yan Ning returned to the Eastern Palace, where Yun Shu was waiting for her.

Yan Ning then asked, "What have you been pondering lately? Is there anything we can make use of?"