Chapter Seventy-Five: A Hot Seller

Regrettably, no one paid any heed to Mo Dun’s lofty words; everyone’s focus remained on the wheat seeds mixed with the medicinal solution. Li Shimin examined the pesticide-coated seeds carefully, sniffed the pungent odor, and couldn’t help but furrow his brow. “Are you certain the grain grown from these can be eaten?” he asked.

Li Shimin fixed Mo Dun with a sharp gaze. If this fellow dared to grow poisonous crops and harm the people, he would rather eradicate him at once to prevent future trouble.

Mo Dun hurriedly explained, “Your Majesty, rest assured. This solution was personally formulated by a descendant of Hua Tuo. Its toxicity is low—unless someone drinks it directly, it’s not lethal. Though it seems a lot, once spread over these seeds and sown across fifty mu of land, the average toxicity is negligible. After several months of growth and a few heavy rains, it will have completely dissipated. There’s no possibility of poisoning.”

Mo Dun found that having a descendant of the divine physician Hua Tuo around was truly convenient—a perfect shield at critical moments.

The logic was sound, and everyone understood his meaning. With Hua Tuo’s descendant involved, there seemed little cause for concern, yet caution remained necessary.

Understanding their worries, Mo Dun continued, “When this crop is harvested, the grain won’t be distributed at once. It will first be used to feed chickens, ducks, and geese. Only when we’re certain it’s harmless will it be supplied for the village’s consumption.”

Li Shimin finally relaxed. If indeed the grain was non-toxic, it would be a tremendous blessing for the people of Great Tang.

Beside the test field stood the display for Mo Family Village’s agricultural tools and the sales area for chickens, ducks, and geese.

Here, the curved-beam plow was the undisputed star. In this era, land was the most valuable wealth. Most visitors to the test field were land-owning farmers. Seeing the stark difference between the old plows and the curved-beam plow, any lingering doubts were instantly dispelled.

“I’ll take a curved-beam plow and a six-toothed seed drill!” called a lean man, money pouch slung over his shoulder, pointing at the two implements as he addressed a Mo Family youth.

“Certainly, esteemed guest. Today is the opening of our Mo Technology Exhibition, and we’re running a grand promotion. Buy two or more and save one hundred coins—your total is five hundred coins,” the youth replied skillfully, accepting the payment and handing it to Li Yi, who was in charge of finances.

This was an important day for Mo Family Village, and Li Yi, not entirely trusting others, had come personally to oversee matters. He counted the money, nodded affirmatively, and Mr. Li swiftly stamped and signed a receipt.

“Take this receipt to the exhibition stand to collect your goods,” Li Yi said, handing the slip to the lean man.

“With just this, I can pick up my purchase?” the man asked, a little doubtful. In this era, transactions were always hand-to-hand; this system of collecting goods with a receipt was a modern novelty.

“Of course. See, everyone else is doing the same, and we’re right here—we’re not going anywhere,” Li Yi explained patiently.

Looking around, the man saw that many others were indeed collecting goods with receipts, each leaving with a beaming smile and their new equipment. His worries vanished.

“Keep this receipt safe. With it, you’re guaranteed an exchange within seven days and free repairs for three years,” Mr. Li reminded him.

Overjoyed, the man marveled at the excellent after-sales service and hurried to the stand to collect his goods.

Sure enough, the Mo Family youth at the stand stamped the receipt again, tore off a small portion as a voucher, returned the rest, and arranged for the curved-beam plow and seed drill to be carried out for the man.

“This is quite a good system!” Li Shimin, having watched the entire process, nodded in approval.

Each Mo Family youth had a distinct role, yet they cooperated seamlessly, saving both manpower and resources. With payment and collection handled separately and everything done by receipt, financial disputes were avoided.

Li Shimin’s mind raced. For centuries, the greatest headache for emperors had been officials’ corruption. If such a system were applied to the court, it might greatly reduce the opportunities for embezzlement.

“With limited manpower, Mo Family Village uses this method to save labor—otherwise, we’d be overwhelmed today,” said Mo Dun.

“It seems the curved-beam plow and new seed drill are truly popular!” observed Qin Qiong, watching as more and more delighted villagers left with their new tools.

“Those buying one or two are mostly villagers who own oxen. Besides farming their own land, they are often hired to plow for others. For only five hundred coins, the curved-beam plow and seed drill are a bargain—with these tools, they’ll attract more work and likely earn back their investment this very year!” Su Lingnong added. He often investigated rural life around Chang’an and was well aware of how rare oxen-owning households were. After all, tilling the land isn’t something that manpower alone can accomplish.

“And what about him?” Li Shimin pointed to a destitute-looking old farmer, ragged and downcast, who had just directed the Mo Family youths to bring out ten curved-beam plows at once.

Su Lingnong, upon seeing him, couldn’t help but laugh. “Don’t be fooled, Your Majesty. That’s the head of the Zhao family, the greatest landlord in Wannian County, with a thousand mu of good land. He’s notoriously frugal, rarely buying new clothes, yet today even he has loosened his purse strings.”

Li Shimin was equally amused; who would have expected the owner of a thousand mu to look so impoverished?

“Oh, so even the miser is generous for once!” Su Lingnong joked, clearly familiar with the Zhao patriarch.

The old Zhao grinned, showing white teeth. “The Grand Minister of Agriculture jests. I’m simply prudent with my spending. But this curved-beam plow is a fine thing—my fields will be tilled in half the usual time, and I’ll save even more money.”

“So in the end, it’s all about saving money; that’s what motivates you,” Su Lingnong teased.

The Zhao patriarch laughed, unashamed, and proudly patted the large crate behind him. From within came a chorus of cheerful peeping.

“Next time you come to Zhao Village, Grand Minister, I’ll slaughter a fat chicken for you! Never let it be said I’m stingy again!” he declared heartily.

Su Lingnong looked down and saw, indeed, at least two hundred chicks packed densely inside.

“Well done! With so many, you—old miser—truly have an eye for opportunity. No wonder you’re wealthy!” Su Lingnong replied.

“All I know is how to farm and raise chickens,” the Zhao patriarch replied with humble pride.

Many were like Zhao; nearly every villager buying a curved-beam plow also took home a few or even dozens of chicks, ducklings, or goslings—some, like Zhao, even several hundred at a time.

Li Shimin watched the bustling scene with satisfaction. He could well imagine that in a few months, every household in Chang’an would be teeming with poultry. Such days seemed to herald the coming prosperity of Great Tang—and the one who had brought all this about was the slender young master before him.

“Perhaps the Mo Family will play a great role yet,” Li Shimin mused quietly to himself.