Chapter 15

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"Besides, the Yingxiu Lu family, the Jinsha Xu family, and the Donggang Chen family are also families that need active support." Wang Shouzhe said with a serious expression, "In the past forty to fifty years, our Wang family has intermarried with them, establishing deep ties."

These three families are not particularly powerful. But precisely because of this, they have engaged in direct-line marriages with the now-declined Ping'an Wang family. Among them, the relationship with the Yingxiu Lu family is the closest, as Wang Shouzhe's birth mother was from the main line of the Lu family.

At the same time, the current matriarch of the Yingxiu Lu family, Wang Liuling, is the sixth-generation eldest daughter of the Wang family and also Wang Shouzhe's aunt, making their relationship quite complex and close.

"That's right. Now these three families are very close to our Wang family, so, Shouzhe, what do you think?" Wang Xiaozhi nodded in agreement. His two daughters, one married into the Shanyang Gongsun family, and the other into the Donggang Chen family. His son, Wang Dingbang, who died young, had married into the main line of the Jinsha Xu family.

"Grandfather, you need to quickly compile the reasons and dangers of this insect disaster. I will send family guards to notify these six families overnight," Wang Shouzhe said rapidly. "Among them, the Shanyin Liu family and the Changning Xu family have already cultivated spirit insect masters. As long as we provide them with methods, I believe they can handle this crisis on their own. Additionally, the main business of the Jinsha Xu family and the Donggang Chen family is not in agriculture, so after fulfilling our duty to notify them, we can minimize their losses."

After a pause, Wang Shouzhe continued, "The more troublesome ones are the Yingxiu Lu family and the Shanyang Gongsun family. First, we need to notify them as soon as possible. Additionally, we need to actively support them and show our utmost sincerity. This way, even if they suffer significant losses in the insect disaster, they will only be grateful to us, not resentful."

This calculation and speech left Wang Xiaozhi stunned. He never expected that the sudden outbreak of an insect disaster would involve such a complex situation.

More importantly, Wang Shouzhe had managed to arrange everything so meticulously in such a short time, considering all aspects.

"Shouzhe, it was Grandfather who underestimated you and Luo Jing," Wang Xiaozhi said with a bitter smile, "Your generation of young people is indeed more capable. We of the Xiao generation are truly old."

"Grandfather, if it weren't for your generation safeguarding the family's legacy, where would we, the younger generation, stand?" Wang Shouzhe humbly replied, then added with a cold laugh, "Besides these six families, especially the Liu and Zhao families..."

Wang Xiaozhi's expression became serious: "Shouzhe, rest assured. In the next ten days, our Wang family's three major farms will be completely sealed off from information."

Unexpectedly, Wang Shouzhe smiled with narrowed eyes: "The insect disaster cannot be hidden. Every family has agricultural experts. Within three days, the entire Changning Wei region will be in turmoil. By the way, didn't you stockpile a batch of insecticide at a low price, Grandfather?"

Mentioning this, Wang Xiaozhi's face was filled with regret: "Yes, last winter's insecticide was at the lowest price in years, and there were discounts for large quantities. I thought our three major farms couldn't do without insecticide, so after consulting with several elders, I stockpiled a large batch, enough for three years. Now, there's still over 300 gold worth of stock. What a loss, what a loss. After this insect disaster, how could that insecticide be useful?"

The family is already so financially strained that a loss of over 300 gold would make Wang Xiaozhi feel guilty to the grave.

"Has the insecticide completely lost its effectiveness?" Wang Shouzhe pondered for a moment, his mind racing.

"Not entirely, but it's more difficult to deal with adult honey insects than insect eggs," Wang Xiaozhi's face was very serious, "I just tried it. It takes double the dose mixed with wood ash solution to quickly eliminate honey insects, and it doesn't include the subsequent hatching of honey insects."

Then, Wang Shouzhe started firing questions like a machine gun.

Wang Xiaozhi, who had been intimidated earlier, now dared not underestimate Wang Shouzhe and patiently answered each question. He was now 75 years old, having started farming with his father at the age of 15, giving him 60 years of rich experience.

"In normal years, the yield of winter wheat per acre is about 15 large copper coins," Wang Shouzhe quickly organized the data, "After deducting taxes, tenant farmer commissions, farming tools, oxen, seeds, and insecticide, the cost of insecticide is about 1 large copper coin, leaving a gross profit of 8 large copper coins per acre. If this insect disaster is not properly controlled, with a 50% reduction in yield, the farm will enter a slightly loss-making phase, with greater reductions leading to greater losses..."

"If we do nothing, the reduction could be about 70%," Wang Xiaozhi's body trembled, understanding Wang Shouzhe's meaning, "If we increase the investment in insecticide by 2 large copper coins during the insect disaster, we can control the damage to a 20% reduction compared to normal years."

"The Great Qian Empire currently implements a unified grain reserve system. Any noble family or merchant who dares to manipulate grain prices during good or bad years will be severely punished," Wang Shouzhe continued to organize various conditions, "Therefore, on the basis of a 70% reduction, every 10% reduction in loss is worth 1 large copper coin and 50 cents, and a 50% reduction is worth 7 large copper coins and 50 cents. So, the question is, if there are no spirit insect masters to control honey insects, is it worth investing 2 large copper coins in insecticide?"

"Worth it!" Wang Xiaozhi immediately nodded rapidly upon hearing Wang Shouzhe's analysis, "Even 4 large copper coins would be worth it." His eyes lit up with excitement, "From what you're saying, the 300 gold worth of insecticide we stockpiled not only won't be a loss, but it could be worth 600 gold? Excellent, excellent. Those people who mocked me for stockpiling insecticide..."

"It's worth at least 600 gold. Our family has Wu Mei Luo Jing, an initial-level spirit insect master who specializes in honey insects, so we don't need to use the insecticide. But compared to the entire Changning Wei region, spirit insect masters are like a drop in the bucket. Most families will still rely on insecticide to survive the disaster." Wang Shouzhe smiled faintly, "Congratulations, Grandfather, you've made a significant profit for the family."

"Ha ha ha, that's great." Wang Xiaozhi's face turned rosy with joy, "Luo Jing is truly a treasure. She is worthy of being my granddaughter."

Wang Shouzhe's lips twitched. This old man really has a thick skin. He was so sexist earlier, always saying that granddaughters were a financial burden. Now, Luo Jing is a treasure.

But to be fair, Luo Jing, the future spirit insect master, is indeed a treasure. Even if the insecticide continues to be effective in the future, she can save the family 100 to 200 gold in expensive "pesticides" each year, and the savings are pure profit.

"However, all of this is thanks to your good fortune, Shouzhe." Wang Xiaozhi's smile couldn't be wider, "Grandfather now understands your words. Sometimes, bad things can turn into good things. Shouzhe, you are a fortunate person. After you become the clan leader, our Wang family will surely thrive."

Although superstition is not to be encouraged, Wang Shouzhe quite appreciated Wang Xiaozhi's belief in it.

Moreover, with his forward-thinking mind, if he didn't seize some business opportunities in this insect disaster, he would be failing as a穿越者 (time traveler). The grain prices are strictly controlled by the Great Qian government, but the government does not prohibit the manipulation of insecticide prices.

A plan was gradually taking shape in his mind.

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