Protect Our Clan Leader

Chapter 724: Chapter 93: Shou Zhe’s Cunning Plan to Secure Qing’an (Monthly Pass Requested) _5

“What does the Family Head mean?” Old An asked with a crease of his brow, in a low voice.

“Hmph, if those prominent families refuse to accept the price increase, then we, the Zuoqiu Clan, will sell our Jade Finger Wheat and Five-flavor Rice seeds in Longzuo County, thereby stifling the sale of the Changning Wang Clan’s grain.” Zuoqiu Guanyu explained his strategy, “Right now, our Zuoqiu Clan is at a critical point of transformation. It’s time to change some conservative strategies. Starting from next year, we need to expand the scale and output of our grain farms, we can no longer limit ourselves to the small Qing’an County.”

“But, Family Head…” Old An expressed with a touch of worry, “Increasing the scale of our grain farm means, firstly, we need to cultivate more premium farmland, and secondly, we need to train more agricultural master scholars. To preserve our technological secrets in the past, all the agricultural master scholars trained within our clan were core members of the Zuoqiu Clan… They are all very loyal…”

“The target for selection and training of agricultural master scholars can be extended to loyal peripheral members, and management can be reinforced,” said Zuoqiu Guanyu with confidence. “As for premium farmland, we can buy out the farms owned by the various families at premium rates. All in all, for the advancement of the Zuoqiu Clan, this expansion is inevitable.”

“As you command, Family Head.” A brief flash of concern passed through Old An’s eyes.

But since the Family Head had made such a decision, he must have gained the approval of the Elder Council.

At this point, a steward like him no longer had any control over the matter.

The command of the Zuoqiu Clan Head quickly spread throughout Qing’an County, and all the grain warehouses in various places began to faithfully carry out the family head’s orders.

However, the development of events differed entirely from what Zuoqiu Guanyu anticipated.

Although the Wang Clan had been selling their Royal Clan No.19 Variety and Royal Clan No.23 Wheat Variety to the outside world, the wheat varieties they were cultivating were actually much more advanced.

This time, the wheat breeds put forth by the Wang Clan were all mature types cultivated over many years. They could adapt to a variety of regional environments, and also catered to the different needs of various clans.

And due to the Wang Clan’s early planning, many medium and small clans in Qing’an had already tasted the sweetness of the Wang Clan’s high-yielding grain and secretly purchased the Wang Clan’s wheat varieties.

There were still quite a few clans that, although secretly aware of the Wang Clan’s high-yielding grain, due to their long-standing cooperation with the Zuoqiu Clan, did not dare to rashly order from the Wang Clan and continued to choose the Zuoqiu Clan’s wheat varieties.

However, once the Zuoqiu Clan raised the price of their wheat varieties, the clans that were still watching instantly became discontented.

The grain from the Zuoqiu Clan was initially not cheap. With this price increase, the profits that their family could make would be drastically compressed. The profit they would take in might only be slightly more than if they bought the common grain being sold by the Sacred Land’s Academic Palace.

At that moment, quite a few clans angrily canceled their preordered wheat from the Zuoqiu Clan, and secretly purchased the Wang Clan’s high-yielding wheat varieties.

And with this trend in mind, even those clans that had previously firmly stood with the Zuoqiu Clan couldn’t sit still anymore.

With all the other clans growing Wang’s high-yielding grain and earning big money, their own clan was still growing Zuoqiu’s grain. What if they weakened and couldn’t sell their grain due to lost competitiveness?

Unknowingly, the number of clans purchasing the Wang Clan’s wheat varieties began to grow, and soon engulfed the whole of the Qing’an County.

…

Over a month later.

Zuoqiu Guanyu had completed his emulation of the Pointing at the Mountains and Rivers Painting, brewed a pot of tea, and sat back to admire his artwork with delight.

Being one of the family’s Celestial beings from the Heavenly Human Realm and also being the Family Head, it was natural for him to have expectations for the future. This painting was a depiction of his ambitions and aspirations.

“Family Head, Family Head! Something bad has happened.”

Old An rushed into the study to report, his face full of panic. “All the grain warehouses around have sent messages. Many clans are refusing to buy our high-priced wheat. Storage can’t be emptied, and the Five-flavor Rice seeds can’t get into the warehouse.”

“What?” Zuoqiu Guanyu frowned slightly, “That’s not possible, although there should indeed be some clans resisting stubbornly. But now it’s almost past the optimum planting period for winter wheat, have those clans gone mad? Have they all switched to common grain?”

“It’s not like that.” Old An said, his face pale, “Previously, when part of the clans refused to buy, I sent someone to investigate. Now, the situation has been clarified. There are several new wheat varieties in the market, like No.27, No.43, and No.59 wheat! Each has its own advantages, but the rumor has it that every variety yields at least 30% more than our Jade Finger Wheat!”

“Thirty percent more? At least…” Zuoqiu Guanyu jumped up from his seat, hardly believing what he heard, “How is this possible?”

Suddenly, a thought flashed through his mind.

He had a sudden pit in his stomach: “Wait, why does the name of the wheat variety sound so familiar?”

A premonition of misfortune began to rise at the back of Zuoqiu Guanyu’s head, sending chills down his spine.

…