Chapter 151: Planting
Editor: Atlas Studios
Shu Wanniang replied with a slight smile, “I’m not too sure either. It’s just that when I was young, I heard from the steward that my ancestors had actually been secretly trying to plant this thing because Emperor Shizong said that this thing was a treasure. In addition, it indeed has a gorgeous golden-yellow appearance. But they didn’t succeed even after trying for many years. Later on, although the yield per acre was higher than wheat, because it wasn’t delicious, they didn’t feel that it was worth it. In addition, the second-generation corn really differed too greatly from the first-generation corn. It’s much smaller in size. After a few generations, the corn couldn’t be used as seeds anymore.”
“Mother, how exactly do you grow corn?”
Shu Wanniang shook her head in confusion. “I only vaguely heard about these things from the housekeeper’s wife. I’ve never seen it before, so how would I know? But it should be similar to planting wheat and rice.”
It was indeed similar to wheat and rice. Mu Yangling stood at the edge of the field and looked at Zhuang Dawei stiffly as he gave instructions on growing corn, and important matters to pay attention to.
Great-aunt listened very seriously. She touched the corn kernels and said, “It’s about the same as planting wheat since you sprinkle it like this. It’s just thinner.”
Zhuang Dawei nodded repeatedly. “It’s just that it’s a little thinner.”
Unable to stand it anymore, Mu Yangling went forward and snatched the corn seeds. “Corn isn’t planted like this.”
She did not know how to grow wheat and rice, for she had only seen the corresponding TV shows on the agricultural channel in her previous life. However,she did know how to grow corn. Because she hated it, she had even run to the fields to see how this annoying corn was grown. Although she had only seen it before and it was very long ago, those memories were rather clear when she tried to recall them.
The corn was spaced wide apart, about a foot away from each other. If it was really scattered like wheat as Zhuang Dawei had said, it would be strange if the corn could grow well.
Mu Yangling somewhat understood why the corn here was low-yielding and the corn kernels were getting worse generation by generation.
“Do you all grow corn like this?” Mu Yangling asked Zhuang Dawei.
Zhuang Dawei looked at her blankly. “Isn’t this how all grains are planted?”
“That’s right, Ah Ling. Since you’ve never planted corn before, you’d better listen to Brother Zhuang. Having planted corn for several years, surely he’s more knowledgeable in this area than you?”
“Great-aunt, you can’t plant corn like this.” Mu Yangling couldn’t explain it for a moment, so she could only say, “Anyway, you have to listen to me this time.”
Qi Haoran stood on Mu Yangling’s side. “Since you guys haven’t managed to produce a high yield of corn after so many years, let’s listen to Ah Ling.”
Fan Zijin also stood on Mu Yangling’s side. “I think Miss Mu seems to be very familiar with corn. Let’s listen to Miss Mu.”
When Mu Yangling heard the hidden meaning in Fan Zijin’s words, she snorted and said, “My luck is soaring. God sent me a dream and said that the Divine Farmer reincarnated. Not only do I know how to plant corn, but I also know how to plant other things.”
Qi Haoran looked at her suspiciously. “Then why don’t you even know how to plant wheat and rice?”
Choking, Mu Yangling said, “That’s because I lost my memory. Because God passed on so many abilities to me at once, I failed to capture everything in my memory all at once. I’ll slowly recall it in the future.”
Other than the starry-eyed Xiuhong, Xiulan and Little Bowen, who were looking at her with reverence, everyone else thought that she was talking nonsense.
Great-aunt reprimanded her. “How can you speak so casually of ghosts and gods? Hurry up and hit your mouth.”
Mu Yangling chuckled, completely unconcerned.
She distributed the seeds into small bags and said, “There’s no fertilizer now, so we can only plant them without. In spite of that, we have to standardize our method. If we really plant them like you do, these two bags of seeds won’t be enough to plant ten acres of land. How about this? Plant two seeds every two feet, step on them gently with your feet, and then cover the seeds with soil.”
After Mu Yangling demonstrated it once, Great-aunt and Zhuang Dawei found it unacceptable. “Only two seeds every two feet? What can grow out of this?”
“Corn, of course. Listen to me.” Mu Yangling insisted, “That’s what God told me. This is exactly how corn should be planted.”
Trusting his daughter, Mu Shi took the seeds from her hand first. This was because unlike the wheat that had to be continuously scattered and only two seeds needed to be placed each time, he actually succeeded at the very first try.
Then, it was Xiuhong and Little Bowen’s turn. Because they trusted Mu Yangling endlessly, Xiulan naturally followed her sister and eagerly used her clothes to carry some seeds.
It was Qi Haoran’s first time farming, so he curiously picked up some seeds as he walked beside Mu Yangling. Only Fan Zijin continued to stand there. Although he trusted Mu Yangling, it did not mean that he wanted to go to the fields personally. He turned around and returned to the military camp to drag a few of his subordinates over. Every one of them had lost an arm. Despite this, it did not hinder their movements.
They hung the cloth bag around their neck and planted the seeds with one hand. Then, they covered the seeds with the soil using their feet and finally caught up to Mu Shi.
Seeing this, Zhuang Dawei and Great-aunt sighed and could only go and help.
Qi Haoran saw that they were progressing at a pretty good speed. But since it was more than 20 acres of land after all, it was not easy to finish planting so quickly. He threw down the seeds and ran to Mu Yangling, who was pulling a plow. “Why don’t I go back to the camp and order more men to come over?”
“It’s useless even if you do so. I have to pull a plow in front in any case.”
Seeing how easily she pulled the iron plow, Qi Haoran’s hand itched. “Let me try.”
Fan Zijin frowned. “Why do you like to do this too? If your soldiers find out, it will damage your prestige.”
Qi Haoran pursed his lips and said, “I’m close to my men. Besides, I have a share in this land.”
Mu Yangling stopped in her tracks and looked at him with Fan Zijin.
Qi Haoran shouted, “Why? Are you planning to pocket all the profits by yourself? Zijin and I bought these seeds together.”
Coming back to his senses, Fan Zijin hurriedly said, “Yes, Haoran and I bought these seeds together. No matter what, we have a share.”
Mu Yangling pursed her lips and continued to pull the plow. Naturally, she did not believe that they would take a fancy to the small amount of profits from farming her land. This was just an excuse for them to mess with her crops from time to time.
Thinking that she still needed their reputation to hold sway over the villagers in the business of raising rabbits, she didn’t take heart. Waving her hand, she said, “Alright, there’s a share for you both. Hurry up and find men to help out.” Mu Yangling looked at the disabled soldiers and said, “Find people like them.”
Fan Zijin looked at Mu Yangling. “You’re so kind.”
Mu Yangling said calmly, “They only became like this because they were protecting the country. Since the country’s already made them bleed and cry, there’s no need to put them in further torment.”
Fan Zijin snorted nonchalantly.
However, Qi Haoran’s face darkened. With clenched fists, he said, “One day, I won’t let them cry after bleeding, and I won’t allow anyone to put them in further torment.”
As the Xingzhou Prefecture was at the border, there would be constant wars of various scales every year. If there were wars, there would be casualties. If a soldier died in service of his country, the army would give their families compensation. Although the Imperial Court gave them little, Qi Xiuyuan would make up for it.
However, Qi Xiuyuan could only let those who had to retire due to injuries or disabilities take some money back to their hometown.
That paltry sum was only enough for their travel expenses. Those soldiers went out healthy and returned home disabled. It wasn’t so bad for those whose parents were still alive, for they would at least still be fed. Those whose parents had passed away and had to rely on their brothers were inevitably bullied. Even if they lived with their parents, as time passed, there would be resentment. Therefore, the disabled veterans who returned to their hometown either became lonely for the rest of their lives or left home again and wandered alone. Most of them became beggars, and some even committed suicide because they could not stand the humiliation.
Therefore, the soldiers who entered the battlefield either risked their lives to protect themselves or risked their lives to fight. After being injured, they fought the enemy as if they had a death wish.
They were willing to die to earn a pension for their family, but they were not willing to live so aggrievedly.