Fantasy: Starting out as a gigolo, born a Confucian sage

After Pei Yuan's explanation, Shen Wuming finally understood that this thing was indeed a beef vegetable and a beet.

Neither beef vegetables nor beets are native to China, but are spread from the Western Regions.

Later, after continuous cultivation, multiple subspecies appeared, but the folks did not distinguish them, and they were all called cowhide.

The official name is 虙虙菜 or 荙菜.

It is recorded in the book: The stems and leaves of wolfberry with red stems and leaves can be used as medicine, and it is also known as red wolfberry.

There is also a record: "荙菜" means "虙虙". It is related to sweetness because of its taste.

In other words, whether it is beet or beef beet in later generations, they are actually the same species.

It was only after continuous cultivation that differentiation occurred. It is obvious that what is here is not the cowhide vegetable of later generations, but the sugar beet.

"I see."

Shen Wuming waved his hands and smiled. He originally thought that he could sell the cowhide vegetables as pickles.

But if it's beets, it's even easier.

"What? Is it difficult to do?"

Seeing his expression changing, Cao Zhuyu thought he couldn't solve the problem.

Thinking that he was the one who introduced Pei Yuan, he thought of just coming up with an idea.

"If it really doesn't work, I can just step in and acquire them. This is not impossible."

"There's not much money anyway!"

"Oh?" Shen Wuming was a little surprised, "Then there is a way. Why didn't you do this before?"

Shen Wuming was very surprised by this. After all, the treasures Pei Yuan gave to him were valuable.

More expensive than one of these beets.

Isn’t it a bit more gain than loss?

Pei Yuan smiled bitterly, "That's not to say, it's mainly because there are some taboos in official circles."

"The imperial court conducts autumn inspections every year, using the Ministry of Civil Affairs and the Yushitai to inspect the world, and then rate officials from various places!"

“If officials are allowed to purchase vegetables that are unsaleable like this, the rating would be unfair.”

Shen Wuming didn't understand, "How do you say this?"

"Even if the officials finance the acquisition themselves, it will be a good thing for the people."

"It cannot be done unless it is absolutely necessary." Pei Yuan explained, "Because the rating is related to the promotion of officials."

"If officials use their own acquisitions to solve problems, it may seem tender, but in fact it is extremely ruthless."

After Pei Yuan's explanation, Shen Wuming also understood the reason behind this.

If officials could finance the acquisition, it would be a source of great evil.

First, it blocks the promotion path of officials from poor families. If the disciples from aristocratic families are rich, what about the disciples from poor families?

Secondly, if things continue like this, officials will deliberately allow this kind of slow sales to improve their political performance, while the people will suffer instead.

Officials from a poor family will not bother to solve people's problems in the future, because they know that putting all their efforts into it is not as good as throwing money away from disciples from aristocratic families.

Fourth-level officials use this method to gain superior evaluations. Will they still be able to do this after they are promoted in the future?

The wealth of aristocratic families is also limited. You can do this when you are a county magistrate, but what about when you are a prefect? What about being a governor?

This situation not only failed to train officials' abilities, but also allowed people with unqualified virtues to rise to power.

At that time, it will be the people of a county or a state who will suffer!

Although Pei Yuan came from a wealthy family, his vision was still in place and he could explain the truth clearly in a few words.

"So, if officials finance the purchase, it will actually affect Qiucha's rating!"

Shen Wuming nodded. No wonder Pei Yuan was willing to pay such a high price to invite him over.

"But don't worry, since I have accepted Mr. Pei's sincerity, I will definitely help you solve this problem."

Shen Wuming gave up and didn't plan to say it now, but picked some beets.

"I'll take these dishes back. I need to study them for a while. I should be able to give you a reply tomorrow."

After Shen Wuming said this, he took out a handful of copper coins and said, "Give this money to the farmer for me to buy these vegetables."

…

Back at Shoutinghou Mansion, Shen Wuming took out these dishes and prepared them for experiments. Cao Juyu followed him throughout the process.

Song Nanzhu had been busy for a long time and found it boring, so he simply slipped away to find Chu Youyi.

"Miss Song and Miss Chu are really close sisters!" Cao Zhuyu looked at her back and said with emotion.

Shen Wuming shrugged, "I don't know what happened to her. She had nothing to do all day, so she ran to my house!"

It seemed that he was talking about Song Nanzhu, but Shen Wuming was actually lighting Cao Zhuyu, and this guy was the same.

But Cao Zhuyu didn't seem to hear it, looking at Shen Wuming with crooked eyebrows, "Maybe Mr. Shen has a magical power in him."

"Ziyu feels at ease being around Mr. Shen, so she also likes to come to your place."

"Ahem, cough, cough." Shen Wuming was drinking tea. When he heard Cao Juyu's answer, he almost choked to death.

"No, you'd better speak nicely. If my wife hears this, will I be beaten to death?"

Cao Juyu chuckled.

…

"How is things going? Is there anything the boy can do?"

When Pei Yuan returned home, he immediately went to meet Pei Mao.

Pei Mao was holding a fishing rod and sitting by the lake at home fishing. The old god was there and asked Pei Yuan.

Pei Yuan shook his head, "I don't know either. He just told me that he had a solution and would give me an answer tomorrow."

"But it's not easy for me to ask if the method is not mentioned. I have to give him some time."

"That's true." Pei Mao nodded slightly.

"But uncle, our Pei family has our own means to solve this problem. Do we need to invite him?"

"Not to mention anything else, just the heavy gifts sent out...even with the power of our Pei family, it will take a lot of effort."

Pei Yuan, as a lieutenant general, was well versed in the rules of officialdom.

Although the imperial court explicitly prohibits officials from investing in acquisitions, in fact there are still many secret operations.

For example, Black Gloves and White Gloves, who have been raised secretly, can be bought out.

Even if the officials from the Ministry of Personnel and Yushitai saw it, they would not go into details. This is a tacit understanding among everyone.

Although there was some expense, it was definitely not as good as the gift given to Shen Wuming.

"You are still too young."

Pei Mao shook his head and turned his eyes to the lake, ignoring the splashes, and a smile flashed in his eyes.

"This kid... is like a fish under the lake. Although his head is not exposed, his talent is already splashing in the water."

"Since I've seen it before my eyes, how could I miss this investment opportunity! But the question is, how do we win him over?"

Following Pei Mao's question, Pei Yuan subconsciously answered: "Give money and power."

"That seems too utilitarian. The most important thing is that he doesn't care about these things." Pei Mao sighed.

"And that day at the Mo family gathering, did you notice Shen Wuming's eyes?"

Pei Yuan frowned even deeper, "What do you mean? What's wrong with his eyes?"

"His eyes are very calm." Pei Mao mused, "The problem of dividing cattle was solved at that time, and everyone admired him."

"But his eyes didn't waver at all, and he still looked unconcerned when he offered water control strategies."

"Those honors are in his eyes, just like you have solved a few addition and subtraction courses in the enlightenment class now."

"So it is conceivable that if we want to win over him, we can't rely on money or power, we can only rely on favors."

"Favors?" Pei Yuan nodded, "So you recommended Chu Pingshan as General Guangwu just to give him favors?"

"Yes, but it's not enough." Pei Mao said in a teaching tone, "Do you know how favors come from?"

"It's what you owe me and what I owe you. It's something you owe me every time you go back and forth. If you come back a few times, you'll get used to it."

"I recommended Chu Pingshan because my Pei family showed kindness to him. Now I need him to show kindness to my Pei family so that we owe him."