Protect Our Clan Leader

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“Besides, families like the Lu Clan of Yingxiu, Xu Clan of Jinsha, and Chen Clan of Donggang also must be helped actively.” Wang Shouzhe said seriously again, “Over the past forty or fifty years, our Wang family has intermarried with them, and we have established deep relationships with each other.”

These three clans are not very powerful, but it’s precisely because of this that they have intermarried with the now-declined Ping’an Wang Family. The relationship with the Lu Clan of Yingxiu is the closest as Wang Shouzhe’s biological mother comes from the Lu clan’s direct line.

Also, currently, Wang Liuling, the legitimate wife of the clan leader of Yingxiu Lu Clan, is from the sixth generation of Wang family and is Wang Shouzhe’s maternal aunt. This makes their relationships extremely intricate and close.

“That’s right, these three families are quite close to us. So, Shouzhe, what are you thinking?” Wang Xiaozhi nodded in agreement. He has two daughters one of whom is married to the Gongsun Clan of Shanyang, and another to Chen Clan of Donggang. His promising son, who passed away at a young age, Wang Dingbang, married the direct descendant of Xu Clan of Jinsha.

“Fourth Grandfather, we need to quickly sort out the causes and impacts of the outbreak of the insect plague. I will send a messenger to notify these six families overnight,” Wang Shouzhe spoke rapidly, “The Yinyu family in Shanyin and the Xu family in Changning have already nurtured an Insect Master within their families. As long as we provide a proper solution, I believe they can handle this crisis on their own. Besides, the primary business of Jinsha Xu Clan and Donggang Chen Clan isn’t farming, after we’ve fulfilled our duty of informing them, it’s enough to minimize their loss.”

After a pause, Wang Shouzhe continued, “Among all, the Lu Clan of Yingxiu and Gongsun Clan of Shanyang appear to be a bigger concern. First, we need to inform them as soon as possible. Furthermore, we must actively lend them our support and express our good intentions to the fullest. This way, even if they suffer massive losses from the plague of insects, their feelings toward us would be gratitude rather than resentment.”

This series of calculations and discussions left Wang Xiaozhi slightly surprised. He never could have imagined that the sudden outbreak of an insect plague could lead to such a complicated situation.

More importantly, Wang Shouzhe was able to arrange everything meticulously in such a short period, taking everything into consideration.

“Shouzhe, it seems I’ve underestimated both you and Luo Jing,” Wang Xiaozhi sighed with a bitter smile, “Your generation is certainly more talented. We, the oldest generation, are truly getting old.”

“Fourth Grandfather, you’re being too modest. If it weren’t for your generation holding down the fort, these junior generations wouldn’t have had the chance to stand firm,” After paying his respects, Wang Shouzhe jokingly added, “Besides those six families, particularly the Liu Clan and Zhao Clan…”

Wang Xiaozhi’s expression turned rigorous, “Don’t worry, Shouzhe. Over the next ten days, we will make sure the information about the insect plague is blocked off from our three estate farms.”

Unexpectedly, Wang Shouzhe smiled slyly, “It is impossible to hide the outbreak of an insect plague, since every family has a farming expert. In less than three days, the entire Changning defense area will be in an uproar. By the way, Fourth Grandfather, didn’t you stockpile some inexpensive Insecticide Powder?”

With the mention of it, a regretful expression filled Wang Xiaozhi’s face: “Yes, the Insecticide Powder bought during the winter season last year were the cheapest in years, and we received a huge discount for our bulk purchase. I was considering that all our three estates would need Insecticide Powder, so after discussing with the elders, we stockpiled a large amount, enough for us to use for three years. Now, we still have goods worth more than 300 Qian Gold left. It’s a huge loss! After this insect plague, how could those insecticides be useful?”

The family is already hard-pressed as it is, and losing another 300 Qian Golds in an instant is enough to send Wang Xiaozhi to his grave out of guilt.

“The Insecticide Powder should still be somewhat effective, right?” Wang Shouzhe pondered for a moment, his mind racing at a million miles per hour.

“That’s not entirely true, dealing with the mature honeybugs is actually more difficult than the bug eggs.” Wang Xiaozhi’s face was very solemn, “I just tried it. I needed to double the dose mixed with wood ash juice to quickly eliminate the honeybugs. And that doesn’t include the subsequent hatching of the honeybugs.”

Then, Wang Shouzhe began to fire off questions like a machine gun.

Wang Xiaozhi had been awed before, so he didn’t dare to underestimate Wang Shouzhe again. He patiently answered all the questions. He was now seventy-five, had been turning his hand to farming since the age of fifteen under his father’s guidance, with sixty years of experience, he was unquestionably seasoned.

“So it seems, under ordinary weather conditions, the value of wheat yields per acre in winter is about 15 Copper Coins.” Wang Shouzhe sorted out the data quickly, “After deducting taxes, tenant farmer wages, farming tools, cattle, seeds and Insecticide Powder etc. the amortization of Insecticide Powder is around 1 Copper Coin, leaving a total of 8 Copper Coins gross profit per acre. If this bug disaster is not handled properly and production reduced by fifty percent, the farm would suffer a slight loss. The more the reduction, the greater the loss…”

“If we do nothing, I’m afraid the production will fall by about seventy percent.” Wang Xiaozhi shook, and he seemed to understand what Wang Shouzhe meant, roughly estimated, “During the outbreak of the bug disaster, if we increase the use of Insecticide Powder by 2 Copper Coins, we can keep the disaster within twenty percent less than usual.”

“Currently, Da Qian implements a unified grain reserve system, and any family or businesses caught manipulating the grain price in good or bad harvest years, would be committing a serious offense.” Wang Shouzhe continued to gather the ints, “Therefore, on the basis of a seventy-percent reduction, each one-percent reduction in loss would be worth 1 Copper Coin 50 shillings. Reducing the loss by half would be worth 7 Copper Coins 50 shillings. So the question is, if there are no Insect Masters to deal with the honeybugs, is it worth putting 2 Copper Coins into the Insecticide Powder!?”

“Worth it!” As soon as Wang Xioazhi heard Wang Shouzhe’s analysis, he immediately nodded quickly, “Even if it costs 4 Copper Coins, I would do it.” At the same time, his eyes lit up, excitedly, “From what you’re saying Shouzhe, does that mean the three hundred Qian Gold’s worth of Insecticide Powder we have stored is not only not a loss but could be worth six hundred Qian Gold? Good, good, good, I was derided for stockpiling Insecticide Powder by those guys.”

“At least worth six hundred Qian Gold. Our family houses Luo Jing, the Insect Master specialized in handling honeybugs, those Insecticide Powders are really superfluous. But compared with the entire Changning defense region, Insect Masters are just a drop in the bucket, and most families will still have to rely on Insecticide Powder to resist the disaster.” Wang Shouzhe’s expression was calm, “Congratulations dear fourth grandpa, you’ve made a big profit for our family.”

“Hahaha, awesome.” Wang Xiaozhi’s face turned ruddy with laughter, “My Luo Jing is really a treasure. She is truly worthy of being my Wang Xiaozhi’s granddaughter.”

The corner of Wang Shouzhe’s mouth twitched, this fourth grandpa really had a thick face. Just a moment ago he was valuing boys over girls and constantly saying that girls were a burden. But now, Luo Jing became a treasure.

However, when it comes to Luo Jing, the future Insect Master is really a treasure. Even if the Insecticide Powder continues to be effective in the future, she could save the family a whopping hundred or two hundred Qian Gold’s “pesticide fee” per year. Moreover, the money saved is all pure profit.

“However, all of this is thanks to your blessing, Shouzhe.” Wang Xiaozhi was grinning from ear to ear, “The fourth grandpa understands your words, sometimes bad things can turn into good things. Shouzhe, you are a fortunate person, when you become the clan leader, our Wang family will surely get better and better.”

Even though superstition should not be encouraged, Wang Shouzhe still quite appreciated Wang Xioazhi’s faith in him.

Moreover, with his advanced thinking, if he couldn’t seize some business opportunities in this bug disaster, it would be a waste to be a transmigrator. The grain prices were under strong control by the Daqian Officials to prevent speculation, but the Daqian Officials haven’t forbidden the speculation of Insecticide Powder, have they?

A plan was gradually taking shape in his mind.

…