Chapter 9: Preparing to Raise Rice Fish

At this time, in Taohua Village…

In the past few days, after purchasing land, Lin Nuo had just in time for the spring planting season. She had asked the village chief to bring a few people, and they had turned over the soil.

The rice seedlings were also ready, and Lin Nuo walked along the ridge of the fields, looking at the lush, green rice paddies with a sense of indescribable satisfaction. These days, she had been contemplating whether to introduce rice fish, as they could increase the yield, and later, the fish would also be a source of income.

She began to think about the process of raising rice fish. First, it was important to choose the right fish fry.

When selecting rice fish fry, the most crucial factors were the quality and health of the fish. It was necessary to choose lively, disease-free fish with smooth skin and intact scales, avoiding sick or defective fish to ensure the success of the farming operation.

The fish should be introduced into the fields at least one month after planting the rice seedlings, typically around late May. The number of fish to be stocked should not exceed 300 per mu (about 0.165 acres) to avoid overcrowding, which could affect their growth.

Since Taohua Village, located in Lihua County, had no coastal area, Lin Nuo had to go to the river to catch grass carp to raise rice fish.

She thought about it carefully and decided to plan it out.

She then went to the yard and saw Lin Lei practicing writing the names she had taught him a few days ago: Lin Lei, Lin Nuo, Shen Shi, and Gouzi.

The little boy’s earnest expression was quite cute.

Lin Nuo smiled as she walked over to Lin Lei and patted his head.

“Lei’er, if you’re tired, take a break. I bought you the Three Character Classic and Thousand Character Classic. I’ve already asked the village chief to write a letter of recommendation, and tomorrow, I’ll take you to the Confucian school.”

“Really, Sister?” Hearing the news, Lin Lei jumped up from his seat and hugged Lin Nuo’s leg. His eyes sparkled as he blinked up at her.

Lin Nuo couldn’t help but smile at the adorable sight, bending down and giving him a few quick kisses. Lin Lei’s face turned bright red in an instant.

He stammered, “Sister, men and women shouldn’t be too close. Lei’er is already six years old.”

Seeing the serious expression on Lin Lei’s face, Lin Nuo couldn’t help but laugh out loud. This little one was such a funny and earnest little thing.

“Alright, I won’t tease you anymore. You study on your own for now, and I’ll go talk to Sister Shen about something.” Before she left, she cupped Lin Lei’s little face and kissed him a few more times, feeling quite pleased as she saw Lin Lei’s flushed face and his frustrated expression.

The spring planting had just passed, and the busy farming season had temporarily subsided. Lin Nuo planned to visit Sister Shen to discuss whether she and her husband would be willing to go to the river with her to catch fish and select the fish fry.

“Sister, are you home?” Lin Nuo called a few times at the door, and Shen walked out from inside the house.

“Ah, Miss Lin, what’s the matter?” Shen asked, stepping aside to open the door and inviting Lin Nuo inside.

Lin Nuo briefly explained her plan to raise rice fish. Shen looked at her in disbelief.

“Miss Lin, will the fish really survive in the rice paddies? Won’t it affect the seedlings?” she asked, since she had never heard of this before.

“Ah, Sister, trust me, it’s true! Just tell me if you’re willing to go with me. I’ll pay you and your husband 30 wen each for a day’s work, is that alright?” Lin Nuo said earnestly.

“Oh my, Miss Lin really has money!” Shen thought to herself. She knew that her own husband earned only 20 wen a day for hard work.

Shen replied, “I’ll go with your brother to help you catch the fish, but 30 wen is a bit too much. 15 wen per person for a day will be fine, no more than that.”

Lin Nuo knew that Shen was helping her out, but she didn’t really need it, because she had money. Hehe.

“Sister, 30 wen is the minimum. If you don’t want to go, I’ll find someone else. I still need to hire people anyway,” Lin Nuo said with a grin.

“Alright then, we’ll do it your way. Just let us know when, and we’ll go catch the fish. Your brother knows the areas where the fish are abundant.”

Since she was planning to take Lin Lei to the school the next day, Lin Nuo’s fishing plan would be delayed.

After their conversation, Shen smiled and sent Lin Nuo out.

The next morning, Lin Nuo prepared 10 jin of fine rice and 2 jin of meat as a gift to the teacher and took Lin Lei to the school.

By the time they arrived at the school, students were already arriving. Lin Nuo gave the letter of recommendation to the teacher, who was a man in his forties. He had tried for many years to pass the exams without success and had finally opened the school.

The teacher asked Lin Lei a few questions, then had him write his name. He nodded frequently, quite pleased with the boy’s performance.

The tuition fee was two taels of silver for the year, with the students responsible for bringing their own ink and paper, as well as the Three Character Classic and Thousand Character Classic.

After everything was settled, Lin Nuo returned home.

Before leaving, she reminded Lin Lei to study well.