Chapter 41 Taming the Wild Horse "Come up, I'll teach you how to ride a horse."...
A few days later, Steward Li returned, a look of relief on his face. It seemed the Tang family's land was finally ready. He handed over a neatly wrapped document and said with a smile, "Miss Liu, the Tang family's land has been dug up. Now all we need is your signatures, and the land will officially be transferred to your name."
As he spoke, Manager Li pulled two brand-new land contracts from his sleeve, unfolded them, and laid them neatly on the table. "These are contracts drafted by the government. Simply sign them here, and the land deeds will take effect."
Liu Yeshu didn't rush to answer, but simply glanced at his father. His father frowned, clearly still skeptical about the quality of the tillage. He said slowly, "The soil has been turned over, but it was done in a hurry. We need to go back and check on the Tang family's land."
Seeing this, Manager Li could only bow and smile, saying, "Of course. Since this involves next year's harvest, we should be careful and cautious. Go ahead and take a look. If you find anything inappropriate, we can discuss it later."
Liu Yeshu and Liu's father looked at each other, and then went to the newly acquired land together.
From a distance, the ground had indeed been turned over and the soil looked loose, but upon closer inspection, the soil was not evenly distributed. In many places, only the surface had been turned over, and in some places, unloosened soil was even exposed.
Father Liu stood aside, frowning slightly, as if hesitant: "Although the land is a bit rough after turning it, it is still more fertile than our original land. It can be considered a good deal after all."
Liu Yeshu was silent for a moment, then nodded: "Since the land has been changed, let's cultivate it well."
The harvest was good this year, so she saved some seeds. She was worried that there wouldn't be enough seeds, but she didn't expect someone to deliver them to her door.
Not long after, the two returned home. Father Liu put pen to paper on the contract. Manager Li breathed a sigh of relief, his smile growing more genuine. "Congratulations, Uncle Liu! From now on, this piece of land will belong to your Liu family." He paused, not forgetting to add a good word, "If there's another good thing like this in the future, I'll still be thinking of you."
Over the next few days, Father Liu and Younger Brother worked to till the land, apply fertilizer, and cultivate the soil. The autumn sun wasn't too glaring, but a slight chill had already begun to creep in. Younger Brother Liu spread the piled manure evenly across the ground, while Father Liu, with a hoe, carefully mixed the fertilizer into the soil, thoroughly incorporating it into the soil.
Sometimes Qi Yu went to the military camp in the afternoon, and Liu Yeshu would go for a walk in the fields when she had time. This afternoon, she brought some pancakes and prepared to deliver them to the fields.
In the fields, Liu Di was busy sowing sweet clover seeds on the plowed land. The seeds were as fine as powder and scattered on the soft soil like dots of green.
Liu Yeshu stood beside the canal, looking carefully along the winding channel.
The downstream area is not only severely silted, but also has narrow channels and soft soil, making it prone to landslides when rainwater washes over it. This not only affects drainage but can also cause waterlogging, endangering the entire farmland.
Liu Yeshu nodded. She noticed something wrong here without the system's reminder.
"Dad, this canal not only needs to be cleared of silt, but it also needs to be widened and reinforced, especially the downstream section. The soil is soft now, and I'm afraid it will collapse when the spring rains come next year. We can first dig out the silt, then reinforce the canal walls with rocks and mud, so that the water can flow freely."
After hearing this, Liu's father put down his hoe and went to the canal.
"I think the canal mouth upstream also needs to be renovated. It's been eroded by water all year round and has started to collapse. You're right, we need to take advantage of this time to repair the canal and ensure there are no problems next year."
"Dad, we can first clean up the silt and weeds, then find some stones and pile them on both sides of the canal to form a solid slope. Then, mix mud and straw into a paste and fill the cracks in the stones. This will not only make the canal walls more stable, but also prevent the water from eroding too much."
Father Liu thought for a moment, then nodded and said, "Okay, let's do it." He looked at his younger brother Liu who was sowing seeds and called out, "Ling'er, come here."
Brother Liu came running over, a rake in his hand, his face full of confusion: "Dad, what's wrong?"
Liu Yeshu smiled and said softly, "Brother, we need to repair this canal. Go find some hoes and shovels. Let's clean up the silt first and then pile up stones."
After an afternoon of hard work, the silt and weeds at the bottom of the canal were finally cleared, revealing the hard soil and rocks. Liu Yeshu went to the edge of the field to get some straw, cut it into thin pieces, and stirred it into the mud. Then, she grabbed a handful and carefully smeared the mud into the gaps between the rocks.
Seeing this, Liu Di followed suit and learned to apply the mud with his hands, and was so busy that he was sweating profusely.
"Sister, after doing this, can the canal walls really withstand next year's flood?"
Liu Yeshu smiled and wiped the sweat from his forehead. "Don't worry, the canal walls are thick, and with this mud filling the gaps, we won't be afraid of any water erosion. When the rainy season comes, the water in the canal will flow smoothly, and the fields will naturally be safe."
By sunset, the canal repair was finally complete. Liu Yeshu looked up at the horizon. The afterglow of the setting sun was shining on the fields. The stones on both sides of the canal gleamed in the sunlight. The canal walls were neat and solid, and the mud had gradually dried.
On the way home, the system suddenly emitted a soft light, and a prompt sound immediately appeared in Liu Yeshu's mind.
[Congratulations to the host for successfully completing the Autumn Harvest mission. You will be awarded 1,000 points, a double points card, and agricultural machinery blueprints!]
Liu Yeshu opened the system interface and found a beautiful blueprint slowly unfolding, depicting the structure of a simple agricultural machine. She examined it carefully. The blueprint meticulously explained how to create a highly efficient farming tool using simple wood and iron tools. This machine could greatly improve the efficiency of tilling and irrigation, reducing the burden of manual labor.
She thought, "Ling'er's birthday is coming soon, I'll give him this then."
Just as she closed the blueprint, her eyes fell on the "Double Points Card." The card shone with a vibrant light, appearing exceptionally precious. Liu Yeshu gently touched it, thinking to herself, "This double points card is a great asset. The land at the General's Mansion needs tidying up soon. If I get the servants to help with the work, my points will surely increase quickly. The extra points will nurture more seeds—killing three birds with one stone."
It was a beautiful time of the year with clear and crisp autumn weather. The sunset glow in the sky gradually dissipated. Liu Yeshu stood in the yard with a distant look in her eyes.
The next day, Liu Yeshu returned to the general's mansion and was explaining daily affairs to the servants when a servant suddenly came forward and announced, "Butler Liu, the horse trainer is here."
"Horse trainer?"
"Exactly. The General arranged it."
She recalled Qi Yu's words before he left for the battle, and secretly sighed, "General Qi really keeps his word."
Leading the trainer to the backyard, they spotted the Arabian horse standing within the fence from a distance. Its piercing eyes revealed a wild and unruly aura, as if ready to leap out at any moment. Its ears twitched slightly at the sight of someone approaching, its body tensed, and its gaze alert.
"This Ferghana horse has never been tamed since it was brought to the palace."
The trainer took one look at the horse and his eyes lit up. "Wow, what a rare and fine colt!" Then, after a moment's contemplation, he murmured, "This horse still has a fierce nature. I need to find a spacious area so I can train it carefully."
Liu Yeshu nodded, ordered the horses to be brought, and led the horse trainer and his party to an open wasteland outside the mansion. It was quiet and deserted, with only the sound of the wind blowing through the grass, a peaceful and vast space.
"Miss Liu, please wait and watch from the side. If there is any unusual movement, I will control the horse in time." The horse trainer said respectfully.
Liu Yeshu stood at the sidelines, his gaze fixed on the Ferghana horse. The trainer, reins in hand, cautiously approached the horse, his movements slow and focused. However, just as the reins were about to be put on the horse's head, the Ferghana horse suddenly neighed, raised its front hooves high, and soared into the air like lightning. The trainer was caught off guard and stumbled backwards from the horse's powerful force.
"As expected, it's fierce!" The trainer's face paled slightly, sweat already beading on his forehead. Summoning his courage once more, he gently swung the reins and tentatively approached the horse. However, the Ferghana horse, as if sensing a threat, jerked its head to the side, roared, and quickly turned, attempting to flee.
At this moment, the sound of powerful horse hooves could be heard in the distance. Liu Yeshu looked up and saw a familiar figure riding towards him. It was Qi Yu.
When the Arabian horse heard the sound of horse hooves, it became even more excited, neighing frequently and struggling to escape from its restraints.
Qi Yu dismounted, but did not go forward immediately. Instead, he stood aside and calmly observed the horse's every move.
Seeing the horse trainer's repeated failures, Qi Yu's eyes lit up with strong interest: "Let me try."
Everyone stepped aside, with a bit of awe and anticipation in their eyes.
Qi Yu slowly approached the horse, his steps as steady as a mountain, his gaze as sharp as a sword. He didn't rush to approach, but instead stood directly in front of the horse, staring directly at it. The Ferghana horse pawed its hooves warily, but didn't immediately attack. Instead, it seemed to observe this newly emerged formidable force.
He slowly raised his hand, the reins slithering through his palm like a snake, finally securing them securely around the horse's neck. The Arabian horse struggled violently, neighing to the sky as it struggled to break free from its sudden restraints. Qi Yu remained unfazed, his hands firmly gripping the reins. His arms, as strong as steel, held the horse firmly in his grasp. The horse's hooves kicked wildly, its body twisting, but Qi Yu remained motionless. No matter how hard it struggled, it couldn't break free.
Liu Yeshu watched with trepidation as the Ferghana horse leaped back and forth across the field, like a warrior in a hurricane, refusing to yield easily. However, Qi Yu did not use brute force to control it. Instead, he used the horse's movements to constantly adjust the reins, skillfully guiding its direction.
Under his control, the horse's pace gradually slowed, and its neighing gradually faded. Qi Yu, realizing the opportunity had arrived, leaped onto the horse's back, clamped his legs against the horse's belly, and settled firmly into the saddle. The horse leaped again, trying to throw him off, but Qi Yu remained steady as a rock, his hands firmly gripping the reins, calmly controlling the horse's pace.
The atmosphere in the arena gradually grew tense and quiet. The horse's violent struggles gradually ceased, only occasionally paddling its hooves restlessly. Qi Yu leaned over and gently patted the horse's neck, whispering something inaudible. The Ferghana horse seemed to understand Qi Yu's whisper, its breathing gradually steadying, its head lowering, a docile aura finally revealed. Qi Yu gently squeezed the horse's belly, and the horse obediently circled the arena, completely devoid of its earlier frenzy.
The horse trainer stepped forward, his eyes filled with admiration, and said with a bow, "Congratulations, General, on the arrival of this fine horse! Your horse training skills are truly extraordinary!"
Qi Yu smiled faintly and looked at Liu Yeshu: "From now on, it will be handed over to you."
The horse trainer was surprised when he heard this. He couldn't help but look at Liu Yeshu again. This slender woman with delicate features was actually the owner of this horse?
After a moment's thought, he clasped his fists and said respectfully, "It is my fault that I did not recognize a great person. In this case, if Miss Liu has any questions about horse training, I am willing to serve you at any time." Then he took his leave.
Seeing the trainer's hesitation, Liu Yeshu smiled slightly, her eyes firm, "Thank you for your trust, General. Although this horse may be aggressive, I will do my best to take good care of it."
"Just looking after it?"
Qi Yu sat steadily on the back of the Ferghana horse, gently holding the reins with both hands, with a calm expression. When he looked at Liu Yeshu, there was a determination between his brows that could not be refused.
"Come up, I'll teach you how to ride."
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