In the Years When I Was a Father-Chapter 48: Strict Father in Ancient Times (5)

The glow of the chili industry still lingered, and Qi Sheng promptly arranged for seeds to be distributed to the other four counties so that the common people there could also benefit from it.
Since it was not a busy farming season, Qi Sheng had people set up chili processing workshops at the borders of Heiping, Yuping, and Jiaping Counties, as well as at the junction of Taoping, Caiping, and Jiaping Counties.
Chili peppers could be consumed in many ways. Besides selling dried chilies, there were also chili powder and the like—products that were easy to store and transport. Over the next few years, Qi Sheng planned to turn Pingzhou into a “land of chilies.” Before chilies became widespread across Dasheng, Pingzhou people would still be able to get a head start and earn a bit of money collectively.
At the same time, other aspects were not neglected either. Qi Sheng encouraged villagers to raise poultry and livestock. The local government negotiated with major restaurants and inns across counties to prevent them from arbitrarily lowering meat prices.
With countless merchants passing through, restaurants and inns profited significantly. Since they benefited from the booming trade, they had no objections to Qi Sheng’s orders. Even if they couldn’t lower ingredient prices, they could simply add new items to their menus—still a way to make money!
While the people were still relatively free, Qi Sheng launched a new round of road construction. As the saying goes, “If you want to get rich, build roads first.” Only when transportation was convenient could merchant caravans flow in endlessly like spring water.
In October, once the new season of sweet potatoes was harvested, Qi Sheng finally nodded in satisfaction. Next year, they could be distributed to another county for cultivation.
In the blink of an eye, another year had passed. Every household in Caiping County had harvested a good amount of sweet potatoes. At this time, sweet potatoes were still a rare crop, so aside from keeping some for seed, the rest were sold to the government at a good price.
As a new grain crop, the court naturally wanted to expand sweet potato cultivation quickly. The Ministry of Revenue allocated funds to purchase sweet potato seeds from the people and distribute them to major agricultural counties throughout Dasheng.
Now that Pingzhou was generating more tax revenue, Qi Sheng had the funds to implement further projects.
Considering that Pingzhou only had a small natural reservoir, Qi Sheng decided to level riverbeds and expand irrigation channels across the region. This would help with both flood control and drought resistance, reducing the impact of weather.
It was another slack farming season. Except for a few who found work in workshops, many laborers were idle at home. But compared to previous years, they no longer had to worry about having enough to eat.
Still, when the government recruited workers for digging canals and building irrigation systems, many people responded willingly. The people of Pingzhou now had great faith in Qi Sheng and fully supported his policies. Besides, they weren’t fools—Qi Sheng’s policies were genuinely for the benefit of the people, unlike corrupt officials who, upon gaining wealth, either bribed their superiors or pocketed it themselves.
In just two years, numerous new canals had been built across Pingzhou, along with countless newly opened shops. Each county town had regulated street spaces for small vendors. The region bustled with prosperity and excitement.
Half a year ago, Qi Sheng launched a campaign to gather ideas for new sweet potato dishes, offering rewards from ten to one hundred taels of silver for any that were adopted.
The people of Pingzhou all racked their brains for different ideas—especially the women of the households who handled cooking. In their spare time, they constantly thought about how to create a sweet potato dish that would please the governor.
“Wife, do you think Lord Qi would be satisfied with these sweet potato noodles?” Song Laosan asked hesitantly, feeling they might be too ordinary.
His wife, Madam Zhang, also frowned with concern, but thinking about their family situation, she steeled herself and said, “Lord Qi is generous with the common people. Remember a few days ago, Second Master’s family came up with sweet potato slices and still got rewarded with twenty taels. Our noodles went through many steps to make—they’re much more refined than theirs!”
Hearing that, Song Laosan nodded in agreement. His family had many sons, and he was not favored by his parents. Ever since they arranged his marriage, they gave him his share and split the household. All he got was one room and two-tenths of an acre. Usually, he could only grow some food and vegetables for his own family. If it weren’t for his wife’s tofu-making skills, he wouldn’t even know how they would have survived.
Ever since Pingzhou started making money from chilies and sweet potatoes, he had watched as others built big houses and lived in comfort. He couldn’t help but feel jealous, secretly hiding away to cry a few times. He resented his parents’ favoritism toward his older brothers and felt guilty for not giving his wife and child a better life.
Thinking of the hard days they’d endured, Song Laosan stopped hesitating. After all, it was just a trip to the government office. He wasn’t scamming or cheating anyone. The worst that could happen was being thrown out—they wouldn’t beat him for it.
He slung the dried sweet potato noodles over his shoulder and, before dawn, headed for the magistrate’s office in Jiaping County.
When Qi Sheng first announced the reward, some petty rogues tried to fool him with haphazard ideas just to get money. Qi Sheng wasn’t angry—he simply gave each of them twenty strokes with the cane, which quickly discouraged those trying to take advantage of the situation. Now, fewer people came to present ideas, and none had really satisfied Qi Sheng so far. He frowned—if nothing better came up soon, he’d have to secretly arrange something himself.
Just as he was thinking that, a yamen runner came to . Qi Sheng raised his eyebrows. It had been five days since the last idea was presented. Hopefully, this one wouldn’t disappoint.
In the front hall, he saw a plainly dressed man in patched, rough clothes kneeling nervously since entering, not daring to look up. Qi Sheng sighed and softened his tone, saying, “Get up and speak. I’m not going to eat you.”
Song Laosan trembled as he rose to his feet, not daring to lift his head. He clutched the basket tightly in his hands, waiting for Qi Sheng to question him.
To help him relax, Qi Sheng began chatting about everyday life: “How many children do you have? Have you arranged for them to attend school yet?”
Song Laosan answered truthfully, “R-Replying to Your Excellency, this humble one has three sons, but… but they’re still young and haven’t been sent to study.”
His eldest was already six—old enough to start school. Unfortunately, their family was poor. Just feeding everyone was a struggle, let alone affording education for the children.
Qi Sheng frowned. He had assumed that by now, most families were living better lives. Yet here was one clearly still in hardship.
He asked further, “How much land does your family own? What do you do besides farming to make a living?”
Nervously, Song Laosan continued stammering, “Replying to Your Excellency, my family has two mu of land. I usually take on short-term labor wherever I can. My wife sells tofu in town.”
So they had little land. But with more merchants coming and going lately, tofu sales should be good, and there were many work opportunities. Why, then, did they still live in poverty?
Though Qi Sheng didn’t want to make things difficult, he couldn’t help but ask, “With that, you should have a decent monthly income. Why do you still seem so poor?”
Song Laosan was so frightened he knelt down again, assuming the magistrate was displeased that his family was dragging down Pingzhou’s progress. He hurriedly explained, “Replying to Your Excellency, my wife had a premature birth with our third son due to overwork. Though both mother and child survived, they’ve been frail and sickly these past two years. Most of our earnings go toward medicine.”
He spoke all in one breath, trembling as he waited for Qi Sheng’s response. As he knelt, he sighed internally, blaming fate for dragging them back into hardship just as things were starting to improve. He also worried the magistrate might drive him out—he should’ve forced himself to wear newer clothes before coming.
Qi Sheng finally understood and felt relieved. As he suspected, it wasn’t laziness or carelessness, just unfortunate circumstances. Aside from some idle drifters, honest folk like this shouldn’t be suffering under his governance.
He motioned for Song Laosan to stand again before asking, “So, what new method or idea do you have for cooking sweet potatoes?”
Qi Sheng had already made up his mind. As long as the idea wasn’t deliberately shoddy, he would give a generous reward. Just daring to step into the government office showed the man’s desperation to earn some silver. Someone like this wouldn’t have come unless he had real hopes.
Seeing that Qi Sheng wasn’t blaming him, Song Laosan finally relaxed a little. The rumors were true—this magistrate was kind and approachable. The earlier questioning must’ve just been concern for their livelihood.
He reached into his basket, pulled out a handful of sweet potato noodles wrapped in a clean cloth, and quickly responded, “Replying to Your Excellency, this is something my wife created after many trials—sweet potato noodles. After soaking in hot water, it’s boiled and mixed with chili, scallions, and garlic. It’s even tastier than regular noodles!”
Qi Sheng was surprised. Someone really had figured out how to make vermicelli from sweet potatoes? He stepped forward without caring about formality, took the noodles, and examined them with pleasant surprise. He immediately called for a servant, “Take these and soak them in hot water. Prepare two bowls as he described.”
As the servant left, Qi Sheng asked for the detailed preparation process. He nodded in satisfaction. Though the method still needed refinement, it was already impressive enough to deserve a reward.
Once he tasted the cooked vermicelli, Qi Sheng praised it enthusiastically, “Excellent, excellent! This is the best idea we’ve had so far. Someone, bring five hundred taels of silver!”
Song Laosan’s eyes widened in disbelief, staring at Qi Sheng in shock.
“This idea is great. From now on, all sweet potato vermicelli workshops in Pingzhou will owe their origins to your household. These five hundred taels are just a small token of appreciation. If you ever run into difficulties, feel free to come to the magistrate’s office for help.”
By now, Song Laosan was completely stunned, unsure of what Qi Sheng had even said. He followed the attendant out of the magistrate’s residence in a daze.
It wasn’t until the attendant turned back that Song Laosan finally snapped out of it. Excited and flustered, he didn’t know what to do with himself. After calming down a little, he hurried home in high spirits.
Unaware of Song Laosan’s joy, Qi Sheng quickly documented the vermicelli-making process and summoned several reputable merchants.
“This sweet potato vermicelli was invented by a farmer. I’ve tested it myself. It’s easy to preserve, transport, and cook—convenient both for families and for merchants on the road. What do you all think?”
The merchants, always sharp-eyed, immediately saw the business potential once they understood the vermicelli’s advantages and tasted it.
Qi Sheng’s idea for a vermicelli workshop stemmed from the fact that once chili and sweet potatoes became widespread, Pingzhou’s advantage would diminish. Without other innovations, trade traffic would naturally decline in a few years. After all, Pingzhou was remote by nature.
Now, with a unique processing technique, they could still draw in merchants and create more job opportunities for the locals.
Without Qi Sheng needing to say more, the vermicelli workshops were set in motion.
As merchants value speed, in just a few days, various-scale vermicelli workshops sprang up across Pingzhou. The hiring and material purchasing created a lively scene. Qi Sheng also sent another five hundred taels of silver to Song Laosan’s family as an advance on future profits from the vermicelli business.