Chapter 128

“Hey kid, why is your family starting to plow the fields already? Isn’t it too early?”

“Yeah, we usually plant rice in March or April. If you plow in the first month of the lunar calendar, won’t the soil become compacted by then?”

For those genuinely concerned and inquiring, there were others who responded with sarcasm and mockery.

Fan Qian saw that his brother didn’t need to dig the ground himself in the field, only guiding the plow while the ox and donkey did the work, and a sour taste welled up in his heart.

His words carried a hint of mockery: “Have you lost your mind from studying too much? Who starts plowing this early?”

Furthermore, with oxen and donkeys at home, why the rush? We who rely on hoes to dig aren’t rushing, so what’s your hurry?”

Then, with a voice loud enough for those nearby to hear, he added, “No wonder you keep failing the exams. Maybe your brain needs some incense at the ancestral grave to get lucky!”

Fan Jin was in the field and couldn’t hear what his elder brother was saying behind him, but he could gauge from his expression and knew his brother’s character well. Based on past experience, it wasn’t likely to be anything good.

Having split households and living their own lives, their days gradually improved. Fan Jin didn’t want to engage in meaningless arguments with his brother. He simply replied to those who had asked sincerely earlier, “Do you all remember the round food we found last year in the small woods outside?”

Usually, everyone wouldn’t remember, but that day was the first day we exchanged chicken head rice for rice. Who could forget the white rice?!”

Moreover, several households in the village were still clamoring for refunds that day, so Shuiqing came back with a basket of black things, and some joked that they would plant seed clocks when they were grown.

Immediately, someone asked, “Can we eat that thing?”

“Have you planted it?”

“Is it delicious? What does it taste like?”

Fan Jin didn’t hide anything – living in the same village, it’s impossible to hide. He simply said, “I can’t describe the taste, but my family likes it, so I thought we’d plant more.”

Curious men pursued: “How do you plant it? Do you know how to farm? How big is the harvest?”

Fan Jin shook his head and coyly said, “We’re not experts. We just used the experience of planting in the vegetable garden last year. Since it could be harvested in four months last year, Shuiqing and I figured that if there’s a big flood in the summer, planting now might yield something, but we’re not sure how much.”

He couldn’t say whether it was good or not, nor could he speak to farming experience. Above all, he couldn’t say how much the harvest would be. Otherwise, if they followed his instructions and didn’t meet expectations, what would they do?

“Genius remembers at s23us.com; unnecessarily provoking gossip and criticism.

After saying this, some were willing to try planting it. Even if it didn’t go well, they couldn’t blame them, as everyone was crossing the river by feeling the stones.

Fan Qian sneered, “You’re my brother. Besides studying, what else do you know? Do you understand anything about farming?

If you can’t even understand rice and wheat, why bother with things you’ve never planted? Isn’t that wasting the land?

If you don’t want to plant rice, sell the field to me and stop wasting it!”

Zhang Shunzi, who had been behind the crowd, had already planned to follow Fan Jin’s footsteps and plant this thing herself, and was ready to listen further, but then heard Fan Qian’s sarcastic comments.

She was even more furious than Fan Jin, and retorted loudly, “You, as his elder brother, can’t stand to see your younger brother succeed? Your words are too harsh!

Besides, is this your field? Is it being wasted by others planting what they want?”

Fan Qian blushed with anger when he saw that the person who had spoken was Zhang Shunzi, who was older than him and a woman. He felt it was unseemly to argue with her, and he might not even win the argument!

In an instant, he waved his sleeves in anger and said, “If he says such things, what if the people in the village follow suit and plant it? They work hard for months, and when there’s no harvest, who will take responsibility?!”

Zhang Shunzi sneered, “Whoever wants to plant it should take responsibility! They’re not three-year-old children. If they’re adults, can others force them to plant?

Moreover, what you said is laughable. Even if this thing was discovered in the wild, wouldn’t someone have to work to dig it up? Why should others give it to you for free?

Are they idle or do they find you good-looking, so they must send it to your home for you to plant?”

After saying this, laughter erupted all around!

Ling Ran laughed especially loudly and clapped forcefully.

Fan Jin’s lips also curved upward.

Fan Qian’s face turned red and then white. After a while, he pointed at Aunt Zhang and sarcastically said, “Didn’t you just make some grain and wages last year by following my brother?

Now, regardless of whether their family is doing well or not, you praise them.

Just wait and see, when you’ve worked hard for a few months and gotten nothing, you’ll be crying!”

Aunt Zhang’s family lost their fertile land because Uncle Zhang had gambled it away before he passed. They only had twenty-odd mu of poor land, and with so many mouths to feed, they relied on the small harvest from this land for their yearly food.

If there was no harvest, they would starve to death!

There would be no place to cry then.

Aunt Zhang had firmly decided to follow Shuiqing’s family’s steps now!

Not only did she not take Fan Qian’s sarcasm to heart, but she also stated her attitude clearly: “Don’t worry, it’s better than following you!

I won’t take anything from others for free. Later, I’ll ask Shuiqing how I can exchange or trade for some. If I get some, I’ll plant it. Whether it turns out well or not is my own business, not something you need to worry about.”

Hearing this, many others in the crowd were also moved.

Aunt Zhang’s family had no fields, only a little poor land, but they had a lot of land. If planting other crops didn’t yield good results, they could try this new crop.

Among the crowd, Wang Guifen was the most moved. She quickly turned around to go home and discuss it with her father-in-law.

If, according to Fan Jin, it could be harvested in about four months, it might avoid the summer rainy season, and with over a dozen people in her family, they could at least have something to eat.

The taste didn’t matter, nor did the yield, as long as they could harvest before the summer.

After Wang Guifen left, Fan Qian also left awkwardly.

Seeing that most of those remaining were discussing with Fan Jin, Aunt Zhang turned and went to find Shuiqing.

Shuiqing was at home peeling potatoes.

She was cutting off the sprouted parts of each potato, coating the cut surfaces with plant ash. The extra potato pieces were thrown into a basket to be cooked later.

Looking at the basket almost full of potato pieces, she sighed deeply. They would be eating potatoes for every meal for a while.

Hearing Aunt Zhang’s intention, she immediately pointed to the bamboo basket and excitedly said, “Here, take some home. You can stir-fry, steam, cook, or bake them. Try them and you’ll know the taste!”

No matter how good potatoes were, eating them every meal got tiring.

She didn’t want to eat potatoes every day until she was sick of them.

Aunt Zhang quickly waved her hand, “I’m not here to take them for free! Auntie wants to trade with you. Do you want rice or charcoal?

Helping out works too, if you need people, Xiaocao, Tieniu, and Muniu are all idle now.”