☆, Chapter 63: Can this autumn rice really produce grain?
When Zhao Yunjing returned from the fields, he saw a wooden tub for bathing in the main room. Smoke was rising from the tub. At first glance, he thought it was hot steam, but upon closer inspection, he realized it was cold steam.
The eighteen little girls waved their hands excitedly: "Big brother, come quick! Sister Jiaojiao made a huge basin of ice! It's so refreshing! Come quick!"
The children helped Zhao Yunjing sit down next to Zhou Mujiao, who handed him a damp towel: "Wipe your sweat."
A cool breeze hissed and swept over him. Although Zhao Yunjing was still sweating, he felt completely refreshed. He sighed inwardly and asked, "Where did you get the ice?"
"It didn't come from anywhere! Jiaojiao and Shiba made it themselves!" Shiba lowered his voice. "Jiaojiao said we can't let anyone else know, so you can't tell anyone either, okay?"
Ice is worthless in winter, but in summer it is worth a fortune. If Zhou Mujiao makes and sells ice, families with a little extra money will buy it, and the wealthy families in the city will not be stingy at all. They will probably buy it by the basketful. Saltpeter, the raw material for making ice, is free. It is simply a way to make money with no investment and huge profits.
However, since Zhou Mujiao has given her instructions, it means the timing is not yet right.
A common man is innocent, but possessing a treasure is a crime. Before I have enough ability to protect her, it's best not to touch anything that could bring danger.
Zhao Yunjing said, "Let's leave it for today. From now on, you can only use it at night. If it's hot during the day, wash your hands, face, and take a bath more often. Don't let anyone know that we have ice in our house, understand?"
The children nodded and moved closer to the ice basin.
After dinner, when it got dark, Zhou Mujiao made everyone a dessert – shaved ice.
The cool, slightly sweet shaved ice, with a hint of wild fruit tartness if you look closely, leaves you feeling refreshed and satisfied after just one bowl.
Eighteen looked at Zhou Mujiao with bright eyes. She had made up her mind. From today onwards, the most powerful person in her heart would no longer be her eldest brother, but her sister Jiaojiao!
Sister Jiaojiao is really amazing, she's practically omnipotent, just like a goddess!
Xiao Wu also stared at Zhou Mujiao.
Although he was young, he was perceptive from a young age. He knew that his older sister had changed completely after arriving at the Zhao family. She had become brave, optimistic, and very capable. He didn't know if these changes were brought about by Zhao Yunjing, but in any case, he was happy for her.
While Uncle Zhao and Aunt Zhao were happy, they were also a little worried. Ah Jiao knew so much, while their son was still standing still. They were afraid that they would drift further and further apart in the future.
A week after the rice seedlings were planted, they were basically all alive and didn't need to be patched up. A few days later, the rice paddies turned green. Although they looked light green, people passing by couldn't help but stop and take a second look. They would think, "Can this autumn rice really be grown?"
However, when they saw the nearby Chen family's rice paddies, they were no longer so sure. The Chen family's rice seedlings were either dead or fallen over, a pitiful sight. The few that were barely surviving were yellowish and looked like they wouldn't grow big.
Autumn rice isn't so easy to plant. Even if Zhao Yunjing's seedlings look good, what if they turn yellow and die in a few days?
"Let's disperse, everyone. If we disturb the growth of their rice seedlings, we'll be in trouble!"
Everyone burst into laughter; no one thought the Zhao family's rice seedlings would survive.
Zhou Mujiao smiled slightly. If these rice seedlings could still die if someone like her, who possessed metaphysical knowledge, were to be in charge, then that would be a huge joke!
Zhao Yunjing didn't care at all. Every day, after finishing the tasks assigned by Zhou Mujiao, he would plunge into the fields.
He meticulously carried out every step of the process, from weeding and fertilizing to pest control. Under his careful care, the rice seedlings of the Zhao family quickly split into two, sprouted ears, and grew so heavy that they bent the seedlings under the weight. Although no rice grains had yet formed inside, anyone with eyes could see that the Zhao family's autumn rice harvest would definitely not be a complete failure.
The villagers couldn't sit still any longer. Every day, they "helped" the Zhao family inspect their fields eighteen times. At first, they hoped that the ears of grain would turn yellow and die quickly. Later, as they watched the thin millet grains become firmer day by day, everyone hoped that nothing would go wrong with the Zhao family's millet.
If the Zhao family's autumn rice planting is successful, they can follow suit next year. An extra harvest of rice per year, even if it's just an extra hundred catties, is better than nothing.
Moreover, the millet looks golden yellow and so dense; it looks like a bountiful harvest!
Before they knew it, it was time to harvest the rice. The Zhao family got up early, planning to take advantage of the good weather these next few days to harvest and dry all the rice. Worried that they wouldn't be able to finish harvesting in a day or two, Zhou Mujiao gave the embroidery workshop a day off so that the embroiderers could go and help.
When I got to the edge of the field, I realized that my worries were unnecessary.
Dozens of villagers stood by the field, each carrying their own sickle, saying they would help them harvest the rice!
Of course, they certainly didn't do it for free; they had ulterior motives.
Zhao Yunjing turned to look at Zhou Mujiao, and everyone else followed suit.
Zhou Mujiao looked around, her face serious, but she didn't say anything.
The villagers were getting impatient, and the village head couldn't help but speak up: "Liu Ya, say something if you're not going to do this or not. The Zhou family has wronged you, but the rest of us in the village haven't bullied you!"
The other villagers didn't bully her, but their indifference and standing by were no different from bullying her directly.
However, those things are in the past, and Zhou Mujiao doesn't want to bring them up again. Besides, no matter where you are, it's hard to get rich by eating alone. Only when the people around you are about the same level as you will you not become the one who sticks out.
This is not an era where those with ability should stand out and strive for excellence. The emergence of any groundbreaking thing, while bringing opportunities, is also accompanied by enormous personal dangers.
Zhou Mujiao said, "We are extremely grateful that everyone is willing to help with the harvest. In return, after we finish harvesting our rice, we will give everyone rice seeds. Yun Jing will also provide guidance to everyone during the planting season next year. We are all fellow villagers, and there is no reason for us to eat our fill while everyone else goes hungry!"
With Zhou Mujiao's words, everyone felt relieved, and the Zhao family's ten or so acres of rice were harvested in just one day.
It wasn't obvious when the grains were still growing in the field, but now that the millet is piled up in front of the Zhao family's house, a tall pile of grains, each one plump and full, it's very visually striking and impressive.
The villagers had never seen so much millet before.
Chen Lizheng broke off a few grains, ate them, nodded, and beckoned a few people over to weigh the small pile of millet next to him.
That's the yield of one acre of land.
Soon, the production results came out.
Chen Lizheng, a forty-year-old man, had never lost his composure like this before. He trembled for a long time before finally saying the yield: "Three, three shi (dan)."
One stone weighs one hundred catties, so three stones weigh three hundred catties!
Everyone was stunned: "Village head, look closely, is there really a San Shi?!"
"I'm not so old and blind that I can't see the scales," Chen Lizheng said, his eyes fixed on Zhou Mujiao. "You said you'd have Yun Jing teach everyone the methods next year when we're planting?"
"Of course. Now, everyone come and get your rice seeds."
After distributing the rice seeds, Zhou Mujiao gave each of the people who came to help today fifty catties of rice as a reward. Everyone was surprised, delighted, and also felt ashamed.
"Yun Jing, Liu Ya, we were wrong before, we're so sorry!"
When talking about the past, Shiba cried. She used to love going down the mountain to play, but every time she went down the mountain, she and her siblings would be bullied by the village children, and the adults in the village would point at them and laugh at them. But now, those people say they know they were wrong!
Xiao Wu wiped away her tears: "Why are you crying? We have more food than we can eat. We'll never go hungry again. You should be happy and laughing."
At eighteen, tears turned to laughter.
On the day the millet was dried and stored, a new batch of clothing from the embroidery workshop was delivered to the garment workshop.
Sister Liu unpacked the box and inspected the goods, and was stunned as soon as she took them out.
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