Chapter 120: Promoting Greenhouse Methods
Tu Subo noticed something unusual about Gu Yuexuan's expression, so he walked over to her, squatted down, and asked softly, "Xuanxuan?"
Gu Yuexuan loosened her grip with a heavy heart, letting the seemingly bulging grains slip through her fingers back into the bag. She sighed and said, "It's still not to my liking."
They have been turning the soil and applying fertilizer to the land they purchased from the village these days, taking advantage of the sunny weather. At this rate, they will be able to breed and sow seeds next year.
It was the time for farming, but the family did not have any grain seeds in stock, so choosing and purchasing suitable grain seeds became an urgent matter.
Gu Yuexuan visited several grain stores in succession, but her expression became increasingly heavy when faced with the grains displayed by the stores.
Tu Subo did not notice the difference. He stared at it for a long time but did not dare to express his opinion easily.
Gu Yuexuan politely declined the waiter's enthusiastic recommendation with a slight embarrassment. She gently beckoned Tu Subo closer and explained in a low voice, "These seeds are not suitable. The seedlings that grow after sowing will definitely not show any improvement."
Soil fertility, seed quality, and careful care during sowing are all key factors in determining yield.
If the seeds themselves are not good, no matter how much effort is put into cultivating, only weak seedlings can be produced. How can such weak seedlings produce abundant fruits?
Tu Subo gradually understood her concerns and after a moment's silence, he suggested, "Then should we continue our search?"
"I'm afraid it will be hard to find a suitable one even if I look for one again."
Gu Yuexuan's eyes dimmed, and she sighed and said, "We just visited the most famous grain stores in the county, and these stores all offer seeds of such quality. It is unimaginable to find seeds from other places."
She even suspected that the quality of the seeds preserved by the villagers was roughly the same, far from meeting her standards.
Tu Subo frowned and fell into deep thought.
Just as he was thinking about countermeasures, Gu Yuexuan suddenly stopped, a glint in her eyes: "How about we try to build a greenhouse?"
"greenhouse?"
"Yes, the greenhouse."
Gu Yuexuan quickly sketched out a rough plan in her mind and said thoughtfully, "The temperature outside is cold, which is not conducive to sowing. But if we can build a greenhouse that can isolate the cold, then we can get rid of the restrictions of winter."
Although greenhouse cultivation is extremely common in modern agriculture, it was undoubtedly a difficult problem to overcome in ancient times when productivity and materials were extremely scarce.
However, she can do what others cannot.
Since the seeds did not satisfy her, she decided to cultivate them herself.
Although building a temporary stove cannot solve the hunger problem immediately, and the action now is too late to catch up with this year's spring plowing, the future is still long after all, and she is not pursuing immediate interests.
Gu Yuexuan's plan gradually took shape in her mind, and she immediately made up her mind: "Let's go buy some oilcloth!"
When it comes to farming, the Tu Su family almost completely obeys Gu Yuexuan's arrangements. They do whatever she says.
Tu Subo followed her closely with the silver he earned from selling sorghum wine. It was not until nightfall that they returned home with a full load of items of various sizes.
When they stepped into the house, night had fallen and the surroundings were immersed in silence.
Xi Lanfang put her anxious heart back into her stomach and busied herself preparing dinner which she had not yet started.
Inside the house, the old grandfather had obviously been waiting for a long time. He came out when he heard the noise. When he saw the two people return safely, his tense face finally relaxed and revealed a relieved smile.
"Why did you come back so late today? Did you encounter any setbacks while selling the wine?"
Before Gu Yuexuan could even take off her cloak, she saw Tu Subo carrying huge rolls of oilcloth into the yard. Before she could even take a sip of water, she couldn't wait to say, "Grandfather, I have an idea. I want to build a greenhouse in the fields."
A hint of confusion crossed the old grandfather's face, an expression she seemed to have seen before: "Greenhouse?"
"What on earth is this?" Gu Yuexuan had already thought of her own plan on the way home. Facing her grandfather's doubts, she patiently explained them one by one.
This was the first time my grandfather had heard of this idea, but after a moment's reflection, he decided it might be a viable solution. Since the severe cold and ice made farming difficult, wouldn't it be a good idea to find a way to block the cold?
As long as the greenhouse idea can be realized, wouldn’t the biggest problem be solved?
Seeing the anticipation in her grandfather's eyes, Gu Yuexuan pressed the issue, saying, "Fangling has a long winter, and the growing cycle of crops is limited to one season. In the warm south, whether you grow wheat or rice, you can harvest twice a year."
"The same amount of land yields double the harvest, mainly because the winters in the south are not as cold. While it's difficult to change the weather and human effort, there are still some solutions."
"I've seen the idea of a greenhouse in a book before. Although the first attempt may require more effort, the results may not be obvious at first."
Farming is not something that can be accomplished overnight; it requires time to settle and test.
The old grandfather stood high up, his gaze far ahead. After a moment of contemplation, he said, "If it's true, as you say, that we can use the power of greenhouses to increase our annual grain harvest to two, can this method be promoted among the people of Fangling?"
Gu Yuexuan was slightly stunned.
"If the experiment is successful, then of course it can be."
She never thought of keeping such technology to herself, as it should benefit more people.
"Then give it a try!"
The old grandfather's voice was hoarse but firm, the passion surging in his heart threatening to burst from his chest. "Fangling is a vast, bitterly cold region, and insufficient grain production has always been the root cause of famine. Whenever disaster strikes, if relief grain cannot be dispatched from the south, countless lives die from starvation and cold every year. Ultimately, it's all because the harvest is too small."
"If this strategy is implemented, it will be a great boon to the common people, whether they are small families or large ones. It will be a great cause that will save the people from dire straits."
When Gu Yuexuan first came up with this idea, she simply felt sorry for the honor of being a doctor of agronomy because she had worked hard in the fields for a year but had little harvest.
As soon as the grandfather's words came out, they immediately elevated the topic to a lofty level that ordinary people could hardly reach.
She felt a surge of guilt, thinking she had forgotten the original purpose of studying agronomy. She took a deep breath and said firmly, "Then I will start preparations tomorrow and strive to develop a comprehensive plan as soon as possible."
"Tomorrow, I will go with you."
The old grandfather couldn't contain his excitement. He stood up and continued, "Where's the stationery you bought? Take out a stack of paper. I want to record our practice in detail. If it is successful, we will compile these experiences into a book so that they can be widely promoted among the people in the future."
Gu Yuexuan quickly signaled Tu Subo to get paper and pen. Looking at the old grandfather who was in good spirits despite his gray hair, the corners of her mouth couldn't help but rise slightly, revealing a relieved smile.
The Tu Su family has stood in the court for a hundred years, and it is not just a name.
It is no coincidence that the old grandfather was able to raise a descendant like Tu Subo.
Continue read on readnovelmtl.com
