Meng Huaining was no stranger to spicy food.
He had eaten Mo Family's cold spicy rabbit many times before, and even at home, there would always be a hint of that irresistible spiciness in the meals.
However, this green, spicy ingredient was something he had never seen before.
Mo Chuhan, who usually interacted with him the most, naturally had to explain more.
He took the initiative to clarify for Meng Huaining.
"This is the chili pepper we grow ourselves. Jiudimei said that chili peppers are green when they are just ripe, and in a few days, they will slowly turn red. When dried, they become the chili pepper seasoning in the cold spicy rabbit."
In Meng Huaining's understanding, the chili peppers used by the Mo Family were obtained from foreigners.
He never expected that they would also grow such vegetables in the northwest.
Thinking about the livelihood of the people in the northwest, Meng Huaining couldn't help but speak up.
"Since chili peppers can grow here, the people of Yun City are fortunate."
As soon as he finished speaking, he heard He Zhiran's voice at the door.
"Brother Meng means to promote the cultivation of chili peppers?"
He Zhiran was about to eat when Yuer said that Meng Huaining had come to the main house.
She put down her chopsticks and followed Mo Jiuye to see what was happening.
As soon as she reached the door, she heard someone coveting her chili peppers.
Meng Huaining was a shrewd person, and it was not difficult to judge from He Zhiran's tone that she was not willing to promote the cultivation of chili peppers.
Moreover, he was well aware of the situation in the Mo Family, where Jiuge and Jiusao were always in charge.
Even if he had this idea, he would need their consent. He had indeed spoken out of excitement.
He quickly stood up.
"If Jiusao is unwilling, brother, I will never force it."
It's not that He Zhiran was stingy, although she had wealth that she couldn't spend, in order to use this money openly, she needed a few profitable deals in hand.
Making food with chili peppers was one of them, so she naturally wouldn't want to promote chili peppers too early.
She also knew that Meng Huaining was a good official dedicated to the people, and she was also aware of the hardships of the people in the northwest.
"While these chili peppers are delicious, they can be said to be optional, unlike some other high-yielding grains that can feed the people."
Meng Huaining did want to make the people under his rule prosperous, at least enough to not go hungry.
He also understood the value of these chili peppers. If such a flavorful ingredient was used to make dishes like those of the Mo Family and sold in restaurants, it would definitely bring in a great profit.
The reason he couldn't control himself and spoke out was because he thought of the value of the chili peppers. If the people of Yun City could all grow chili peppers, sell them at a high price when ripe, they would undoubtedly earn a high income.
With money in the hands of the people, wouldn't it be easier to eat a full meal?
But now, the Mo Family relied on these means to make a living. If they spread the cultivation of chili peppers, wouldn't they be cutting off their source of income?
The more Meng Huaining thought about his thoughtless words, the more guilty he felt.
"Brother Nine and Sister-in-law Nine, you don't have to take my words to heart. I just couldn't resist praising the deliciousness of these peppers for a moment." He Zhiran chuckled at his tone.
She was seated at the table with the sisters-in-law, supported by Mo Jiuye.
"I know Brother Meng is a good official dedicated to serving the people. Don't worry, it won't be long before the sweet potatoes and potatoes in the fields ripen.
I've said before, planting sweet potatoes and potatoes is simple, yields are high, and they provide a strong sense of satiety. If you want the people to have enough to eat and wear, planting these is much more cost-effective than peppers.
Not only that, during the autumn harvest season, there's also corn. Dried corn can be ground into corn flour and cornmeal, which is great for making porridge and cakes." He Zhiran wasn't exaggerating at all.
Compared to the rough cornbread and cakes eaten by the poor families of this era, food made from corn is much tastier.
In fact, when the Mo family initially planted those peculiar crops, they were often talked about behind their backs by the villagers, and Meng Huaining had heard some of it.
But knowing the Mo Jiuye couple well, they were not reckless people.
Therefore, after He Zhiran carefully explained the benefits of these crops, Meng Huaining began to look forward to it.
"If Brother Nine and Sister-in-law Nine are really willing to promote such good grains, you will be the benefactors of the people."
You see, the northwest region is barren, and it snows in winter. If the harvest is bad, many people starve to death every year.
The reason why the Mo family has not heard of people starving to death in Yun City is also because of Meng Huaining's arrival.
Last winter, many families had run out of food, and the whole family went out begging.
At that time, Meng Huaining made an important decision to use the limited food stored in the granary to help those who were on the brink of starvation.
At the same time, he also went to the prefecture several times to ask the prefect for help. The prefect was worn down by him and had no choice but to allocate some food from the granary to him.
But this food was far from enough. Meng Huaining also instructed people to work for those wealthy people, hoping they would lend a hand.
After much effort, Yun City welcomed its first winter without anyone starving to death.
But this was by no means a long-term solution. The winter in Yun City, where food and clothing are scarce, will come again. The grain in the granary was all used up last year, which was the most troublesome thing for Meng Huaining.
He was aware that this was something he, as the county magistrate, should worry about, without disturbing the harmony of the Mo family.
Anyway, when Sister-in-law Nine mentioned providing high-yield grains, he finally saw hope.
"Brother Nine, Sister-in-law Nine, on behalf of the people of Yun City, I thank you for your benevolence. As long as we get through this harsh winter smoothly this year, with such crops next year, the people will no longer have to worry about going hungry."
The matter of the Mo family's crops was just a small episode of Meng Huaining's arrival, and once it was settled, the topic shifted.
Of course, this topic naturally shifted to the marriage between Meng Huaining and Mo Hanyue.
Such matters naturally needed to be mentioned by the elders, and Meng Huaining went to discuss the details.
Although the Mo Family provided Mo Hanyue with a courtyard as part of her dowry, Meng Huaining still purchased a residence in Yun City.
The residence was not very large and was located not far from the county yamen.
Meng Huaining had already arranged the bridal chamber there. On the day of the wedding, he would come to Xi Ling Village with a bridal sedan chair to pick up Mo Hanyue and take her to Yun City for the ceremony.
The newlyweds would stay there for two days, and when Mo Hanyue returned home after three days, they would move to Xi Ling Village.
It must be said that Meng Huaining's considerations were quite thoughtful.
He did not want Mo Hanyue to suffer any grievances and did not want others to think that the person she married was unwilling to prepare even a new house, or that the house was given by her family.
