Chapter 167

Although corn yields are not quite as high as those of potatoes, they still far exceed those of wheat and rice. Furthermore, corn has a wider range of uses; beyond being a food source, it can be used for brewing, extracting corn starch, and—most importantly—extracting oil. Dayu has oil, but it is exclusively lard. While later generations have suggested that moderate consumption of lard can be healthy, in this ancient era, lard is not a luxury the common folk can afford. Raising a pig is no easy task, and once you account for the lean meat, skin, bones, and organs, the actual yield of lard is quite low. Part of the seed stock Luo Xueyao brought with her is a high-oil variety of corn, with an oil content that rivals that of soybeans. She plans to purchase a set of oil-pressing machinery, which would allow Luo Qingchuan to open an oil mill, procure high-oil corn, press it, and sell edible oil. The cost of corn oil would be low, making it affordable for the common people.