Chapter 16 Chapter 16 Farming Seriously

When the twins woke up, they found that the strange big brother had left.

Nanako asked, "Won't he get lost again if he goes out?"

Gong Zhili helped her tie her hair and said, "I drew a map for him." It was fake, he flew out.

Mimiko was very excited today. She lay on the tatami, playing the reed flute, making intermittent sounds. When Gong Zhili waved at her, she got up and asked, "Are we going to lay the cobblestones in front of the duck shed today?"

Gong Zhili hummed, "We can go while it's cooler, but we'll be back when the sun rises."

Mimiko rubbed her feet on the tatami and couldn't calm down at all. Miya Chiri smiled, quickly tied her hair, and let the excited child go to have breakfast.

Today's breakfast is simple, rice, miso soup and fried eggs. She now feels that it is really necessary to raise more chickens and ducks. Eggs are consumed in large quantities, and sometimes when she doesn't know what dish to cook, she can just make something up.

The child continued to pick up pebbles. She went to the village to find Mr. Suzuki to order sandpaper and wood wax oil, and to pick up the things she had ordered from Mr. Suzuki last time.

Mr. Suzuki's house has been decorated in the style of a convenience store, with snacks and toys hung on the wall in a very fancy way, and even newspapers for sale.

After listening to her order, Suzuki replied, "For building materials like this, you can go to the Yoshida family and ask. Unlike the Kato family, they've been working with wood for a long time, so they always have things like sandpaper and wood wax."

Miya Chiri also heard about the situation of the Kato family from the hostess of the Kato family. Although Mr. Kato Osamu inherited the good craft of bamboo weaving from his grandfather and father, he himself had always wanted to open a bookstore. So after he became rich, he also realized his dream like Mr. Suzuki and wanted to transform his home into a bookstore and cafe. In order to support her husband's dream, Aunt Kato also planned to make desserts and sell them in the store.

Gong Zhili was really worried that they would not have enough to eat soon.

Mrs. Kato was very calm: "We did all the decoration ourselves, and we didn't need to rent any money. We just spent money on some equipment and materials. I just treated it as a way to please him."

Anyway, they still have to go to the fields to work during the busy farming season, so they won't starve to death here no matter what.

Gong Zhili felt that with such a capable hostess at home, there was not much room to worry about.

She followed the villagers' directions and came to Yoshida's house.

The Yoshida family has a small factory in the village that specializes in wood processing.

As expected, people who work in wood processing will never be short of these things. Mr. Yoshida really regards wood processing as his lifelong career. When he heard that she wanted to polish bamboo, he also gave her several other materials she might need.

After learning a lot of tips on processing and preserving wood from Mr. Yoshida, Miya Chiri left with satisfaction. As soon as she reached the wooden plank road, she met the village chief who came to see her.

The village chief was holding a familiar suitcase. Gong Zhili felt that the most unusual thing was that the village chief's family had endless suitcases.

The village chief was delighted to see her. "Master Gong, we've prepared some seeds suitable for sowing now, and we've also bought some picture books suitable for children. What do you think?"

Gong Zhili nodded and said, "Thank you for your help. Please give me the box. I also need to go back and prepare for farming."

The village chief suddenly felt that he had made the right decision in buying the latest model of mulch film: by farming with Lord Gong, he would surely be able to grow food blessed by the gods!

The village chief also went home full of energy to prepare to go to the fields.

After returning home, Gong Zhili opened the box, took out several packets of seeds, took out a children's picture book, quickly browsed through it, and after finding that there was no problem, he placed the book on the box in the living room that served as a temporary "dining table", ensuring that the two children would see the gift as soon as they came back.

In addition to picture books, there are also some household medicines that children can use, as well as thermometers and fever-reducing suppositories. These are probably some of the medicines that were not purchased in the last list.

Gong Zhili felt half relieved.

The most important thing is the bags of seeds. Some of them are branded seeds with intact packaging, while the other part are seeds kept by farmers themselves, with only the name of the seeds on the label. There is even a large bag of soybeans - this thing takes up the largest space in the suitcase.

She ordered a few items. There were nine varieties in total, among which cabbage, spinach, lettuce, and Chinese cabbage were branded seeds. The villagers had even thoughtfully cut the potatoes into seed blocks and dipped them in wood ash so that she could sow them directly. The onions were obviously bulbs that the villagers had prepared to sow themselves, and their appearance was impeccable. The garlic heads were plump, and each clove looked like it could grow into a strong garlic sprout.

There was also a long object wrapped in cardboard. When she opened it, she found that it contained a large bag of green onion sprouts: indeed, she smelled more than just the smell of onion bulbs.

In any case, potatoes and other crops must be planted as soon as possible.

Looking at these seeds of many varieties but not many in quantity, she suddenly realized: This is the way to offer tribute to the gods! Only choose the good ones, not the excess!

But it's okay, this is just enough for her family to eat. If you just consider the labor force, it's normal for her to only grow this much.

Gong Zhili knew that the four or five terraced fields under the house had been idle for a long time and that the soil had to be turned over before sowing. It seemed that it would not be possible in the morning, so she put the seeds in the reception room (which was really about to become an indoor storage room) to avoid direct sunlight, armed herself, and went out to call the two children.

The twins ran back with the stones and stood in front of her. Miyajiri put his hands on his hips and said, "Today we have a very important task that requires your assistance. Nanako, Mimiko, can you do it?"

When the two children heard this, they answered loudly without even asking, "Yes!"

Gong Zhili squatted down and said, "Now go fill your kettles with water, put on your work gloves, masks, and the aprons I've prepared for you. We'll meet at the terraced field down below."

She plans to plant various common vegetables in the terraced fields directly below the house, and plan the other terraced fields slowly.

The two children put the stones under the corridor and went back excitedly to prepare things. She went to the first floor of the warehouse to find tools and turned the bamboo platform over to continue drying.

She put the sickle and several different hoes into a backpack and carried it on her back. She picked up the large wooden barrel by the well and first came to the terraced field just below the west gate. There were weeds growing on this piece of land, and there were actually a few small trees stubbornly taking root beside the ditch between the two terraces. Because of her previous overflow of strength, the roots of the small trees grew rapidly and emerged from the ground. If they were dug out forcibly, the bricks and stones on the ditch would be affected. Gong Zhili decided to leave them alone. The place where these trees grew would not be a problem, and they would provide shade when the sun came out.

The two children moved quickly: Gong Zhili found that after playing and working for a few days, they had become stronger and ran more steadily and faster than the children in the village - perhaps this was because the food she cooked was delicious.

Gong Zhili cleared his throat. "We're officially starting farming today. First, we need to plow the land before the sun fully rises. I'll turn the soil, and you'll clear the thatch and gravel from the land and move them to the edge of the field. Wear gloves, and call me if you come across any suspicious insects. Don't try to catch them yourself. If you get tired, go get some water or rest under a tree. Do you understand?"

"I understand!" This was the children's answer in unison.

"Lord Gong, can I use a sickle?" This was the question Nanako asked afterwards.

"It's still early for you." This was Gong Zhili's firm rejection of her.

The three of them officially began work. The weeds on the terraced fields grew taller than children, their spikes clumps of last year's gray lint. Gong Zhili first used a long-handled sickle to split the grass waves, sending up a choking cloud of dust as the dead stems snapped. Nanako squatted in the fallen grass, gloved hands pulling at the roots. The milky white roots, like a tangled spiderweb, snapped in half with a single push. "Will this grow again?" she cried, holding up a muddy, broken root. Mimiko was already trotting toward the edge of the field, clutching a pile of gravel. The ochre-red gravel spilled from her apron pocket, scratching intermittent lines in the dirt.

Gong Zhili changed to a narrow-bladed hoe, and the force of the hoe tip digging into the crack made her palms numb. The compacted soil layer broke into pieces, and moss-covered stones were turned out underneath. Mimiko used a piece of iron to scrape the old mud off the stones, and also found half a pottery bowl next to it, with husks and soil stuck to the broken part. "Is this an antique? Can I use it to fill it with water for the kittens?" Nanako came over to blow away the loose soil on it. Gong Zhili didn't even turn her head: "Throw it on the pile of stones. Don't cut your hands. If there are kittens who want to drink water, they will go to the lake to drink fresh water."

The rotten grass roots were the most stubborn, like barbed wire tangled in the soil. Gong Zhili bent over with a mattock, prying at them, while Nanako knelt by the pit, picking up the broken roots. They spun onto the ridge, carrying wet mud with them. Mimiko caught them with her apron, and the broken dirt tumbled from the hem of her skirt into her shoes. By the time the sun had moved below the treetops, they had cleared the ridges of gravel. Gong Zhili, after turning the last hoe, breathed a sigh of relief.

The newly turned terraced fields smelt of earth, and the rubble walls of the furrows gleamed with fragments of light. When Nanako tossed the last handful of thatch roots onto the pile of stones, she startled a bird that had come to pick at insects. The fluttering of its wings mingled with the muffled thud of Mimiko stamping her feet and shaking off the mud on her shoes.

Gong Zhili was hoeing the ground happily. This kind of mechanical labor could be addictive, but she didn't expect that the two children would run with her throughout the whole process. She even asked them if they were tired in the middle of the process, and touched their foreheads, and found that the two children were not lying.

She unexpectedly thought of the "spellcaster" mentioned by Gojo Satoru, and once again became determined to let her children receive relevant education. She couldn't let her children's talents in certain areas be wasted!

"Let's wait until the sun is about to set before sowing. I'll get some reeds to cover the ground." Then it's time to water the soil. This will not wash away the new soil, but will also keep the soil moisturized and cool before sowing in the evening.

After making sure the water was thoroughly poured, she hurried home to cook.

If he really started to farm seriously, it would be wrong to prepare meals in such a hurry. At this time, Gong Zhili suddenly looked forward to Gojo Satoru bringing labor, no, new friends to the village to help.

Gong Zhili tied the ponytail she had tied in the morning into a bun and went to the kitchen. She lit the fire in the stone stove and then cracked the wild duck eggs into a bowl for later use.

The fish head was frozen in the refrigerator from yesterday, left uneaten. She remembered it while turning the soil and quickly called Cai Caizi to thaw it out, making it perfect for cooking. She pressed a bunch of wild onions onto the chopping board, moving the blade against the whites as she moved quickly, slicing them into sections. Next came the ginger slices and Sichuan peppercorns, which she placed on a plate with the onion sections.

The taro is buried in the dark fire on the side of the stove, and the skin is baked to form cracks. If you are tired of eating taro cakes, roasted taro is another delicious delicacy.

Gong Zhili poured a spoonful of cold oil into the iron wok. When the fish head slid in, the splashes of oil scalded the stove wall, turning it white. When the wild onion slices were fried to a crisp, she shoved ginger slices and Sichuan peppercorns into the wok. Gong Zhili poured well water into the pot, and steam rose up, blurring her vision. She took out the taro and rolled it twice on the stovetop. A sweet, greasy white vapor emerged from the cracked skin. She picked up a few with tongs and dipped them in cold water. The peeling motion was smooth and relaxing.

As wild duck eggs on the other stove fry into full moon shapes, Gong Zhili tosses cleaned pine mushrooms into the fish broth, letting them float in the pot. After a while, Gong Zhili skims off the foam and runs the edge of a spoon across the bottom of the pot, catching some charred scallions stuck to the bottom. Finally, he drops a piece of taro into the broth, the splashing liquid creating a brown ring on the stovetop. Seasonings are added, chopped green onions are sprinkled on, and the dish is ready. Gong Zhili dusts off the remaining roasted taro and places it on a plate. He then selects several other plates and prepares different sauces, including pure white sugar for dipping. It's safe to say that the three palates are well catered for.

After finishing lunch, Gong Zhili knew that the next meal would be difficult to prepare. After the two children went to sleep, she took out some soybeans, which were all good, plump and round. She took out a handful and soaked them in warm water, preparing to sprout some bean sprouts to improve the meal. Then she fetched water with a bucket and went to the other side of the west door - there was a large stone mill under the stairs leading to the second floor, and she planned to use this stone mill as well.

After washing the millstone with a short broom and clean water, she put on her backpack and went into the mountains again.

She always looks for mushrooms when she goes to the mountains, and this time was no exception. She easily found a large patch of matsutake mushrooms. While she was putting the matsutake mushrooms into her backpack, she thought: Speaking of which, a few days ago I asked the villagers not to go into the mountains for the time being. In the past few days, except for the snake, she has not been attacked by other wild animals. But this may be because she resonated with the power of the earth, and the animals were affected or deterred and stayed away from her, but it is not certain that the villagers will go into the mountains.

Gong Zhili decided to throw this question to the village chief and let them decide for themselves. After all, they were the ones who had lived here longer.

Today she did not go deep into the water, but moved sideways. She knew there would be a stream further west.

The sound of the stream was like the clattering of shards of glass. Gong Zhili squatted on a mossy rock, scrubbing the mud from his fingers. The reflection of the beech trees on the opposite bank shone on the water, disrupting the fleeting image of a mountain bird but revealing the rockfish hiding in the cracks of the rocks—a flash of silver scales, a tail fin brushing the brown algae on the pebbles.

She found August Explosion following a vine. The cracked, pale purple pods dangled from the rotten wood, like a purse slashed open by someone. She pinched the stem and gently twisted it, and the translucent flesh, wrapped in black seeds, fell into her palm. A sweet aroma mingled with the dampness of the rotten wood washed over her. Wild chestnuts huddled beneath fallen leaves, their prickly shells crushed by deer hooves, revealing small, astringent-skinned fruits. She crushed two with her heel. The flesh was even more golden than the last find, and it looked like it needed only a simple roast over a charcoal fire to be eaten.

Myoga buds lurked behind the ferns, their purple buds clumped with dew. When the tender stems were pinched, a gingery juice burst forth. Miyajima wasn't sure she could cook this dish well; some people simply disliked the unique flavor of myoga, but now was not the time to be picky, so she accepted them all. The butterbur stems were an unexpected bonus. They should have sprouted in spring, but perhaps because of the warmth in the valley, three-finger-long green stalks had emerged from the rotten leaves. She plucked every stem she could see, wrapped them in leaves, tied them with thin vines, and placed them in her backpack, which already held several bundles of such wild vegetables, including a large bundle of perilla leaves.

Rockfish are the most cunning, always darting past her legs when she bends. Gong Zhili took off her mask and immersed it in the backwater. Two wild chestnuts clung to the bottom, dangling from the edge of the mask string. When the fish's shadows slipped into the shadows of the cloth folds, she yanked them up—a successful catch of three silverfish. It was a close call; the mask string barely managed to bear the weight.

The mountains in autumn never disappoint.

She went down the mountain with a smile, returned home, and processed the harvested ingredients one by one.

The rockfish was marinated with perilla, ginger paste, peppercorns and coarse salt and put in the refrigerator. The children who woke up took the initiative to deal with pine mushrooms - they can be said to be experts in dealing with fungi now. Gong Zhili washed the wild vegetables and fed them fried August fried fruit. The children obviously liked this sweet fruit very much.

As the sun dipped below the mountain ridge, a chill swept the wind. Gong Zhili stood in the terraced furrows, seeds in hand. He buried potato chunks, soaked in well water, in palm-deep holes. Onions, peeled and dried, sat plump and slender in shallow holes, their tops barely touching the soil. The roots of the scallion seedlings were still clung to the mud the villagers had brought with them when they dug them up that morning. As he planted them, Gong Zhili pressed the soil around the root collars with his fingers. The garlic cloves were planted last, their tips facing the western hillside, the soil barely covering the tips.

It was easy for her to grow this much by herself. There was more than enough land left in the terraced fields. She would sow all the seeds tomorrow - she really missed the cabbage she had eaten on the first day, but unfortunately there were not many cabbages in stock and they had been eaten up long ago.

Lettuce, bok choy, cabbage...anything is fine!

Finally, after watering the roots to take hold, she thought about it and decided to cover the ground with reed stalks.

When the reeds were laid out, the first cry of a night owl was heard in the woods, and she groped in the dark to prepare to go home.

Nanako and Mimiko turned on the light at the west door, and she returned to the front door with her muddy shoes. She took off her shoes and changed into the reed slippers she had taken the time to weave in the past two days: at least this way the tatami at home would not be covered with mud, and the two children finally cared about the cleanliness of the house.

The author has something to say:

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Condition is something that is really intangible. For example, I felt uncomfortable everywhere a few nights ago, but today I suddenly feel better (maybe because tomorrow is Friday, hahahahahaha)