Chapter 239: Wan Laoer's Experiment with Planting Double Crops
This matter has finally come to an end.
After dinner, Wan Jinshu drove a ox cart to take Old Lady Wan and her group back to the village.
Many families in the village hung white banners, and those who had no money sold their grain to raise money for coffins and bury their family members.
After collecting the tax grain, life became difficult for every household. This year's tax was 10% higher than in previous years. However, because it was the first year for the Wan family to reclaim wasteland, according to regulations, the first three years of reclamation were exempt from tax. So the Wan family did not pay taxes this year. However, the Wan family's harvest was seen by the whole village.
When everyone is poor, if your family is wealthy, it will attract the jealousy of others.
Especially those in the same village, no one wants others to live better than themselves.
However, the Wan family is no longer the same as when they first arrived. Everyone wants to step on them. The village chief supports the Wan family, and Wan Jinshu's family is not easy to mess with. Even if someone is dissatisfied, they dare not vent it openly. At most, they will do some small actions in secret.
A month passed like this, the autumn vegetables had been planted in the fields, and the Wan family's land had been plowed. Wan Laoer was preparing to plant another crop of winter wheat. When they were in the interior of the country, they only planted two crops a year, but people outside the country only planted one crop a year because they felt that the land outside the country was barren and not fertile enough to plant two crops a year.
Wan Laoer wanted to give it a try. His family had saved a lot of fertilizer before. After plowing the land this time, Wan Laoer spread the fermented fertilizer evenly on the ground and waited for the right time to sow wheat seeds.
Since the Wan family's harvest this year was the most eye-catching in the surrounding villages, everyone was paying close attention to the Wan family's land. Seeing that Wan Laoer was only harvesting in the autumn, but was still busy working in the fields every day, Jinniu was the first to run over and ask.
"Brother Jinzhu, what are you doing? The autumn harvest has already passed, why are you still going to the fields every day? Do you want to plant another crop?"
"That's right. When we were in the interior, we planted two crops a year, so I want to give it a try and plant two crops this year."
Jinniu quickly dissuaded him: "Jinzhu, I advise you not to think about it. The land at the border is not as fertile as the land inside the Great Wall. The harvest of two crops a year is very low, almost the same as one. It's better not to bother. In the past, some people didn't believe in it and insisted on learning from the people inside the Great Wall to grow two crops. What was the result? The harvest of two crops was the same as that of one crop. Why bother?"
Wan Lao Er smiled and said, "Village Chief, I know the problem you are talking about, so I increased the amount of fertilizer applied to the land to see if this can guarantee two harvests. If it can, we can find a way to apply fertilizer to the land, and then we will have more food, right?"
"It's easy for you to say, but where can we get so much fertilizer? The fertilizer produced by a family in a year is only enough for us to grow one season's crops."
"Village chief, all ideas are invented by people. I'm just going to give it a try. If it doesn't work, forget it. Anyway, I won't lose anything. At least I can still produce half of the food. Always think positively about everything."
Taurus sighed, waved his hand and left. He also wanted to think positively about everything, but the result of thinking positively for so many years was just wishful thinking. He has become honest now and it is better to be down-to-earth and not think about those unrealistic things.
Wan Laoer was not affected by Jinniu's words. He believed that with his little Fubao around, the border would surely have good weather and good harvests in the future. The rest of the matters on the land would be left to him to figure out. The hurdle that was stuck in the hearts of the people at the border was actually the issue of fertility. As long as there were enough fertilizers at the border, growing two crops of grain a year would no longer be a problem.
Wan Laoer felt an unprecedented motivation in his heart, especially when he was praised by the village chief in front of the elders that day. As a farmer, he had never thought that farming could be recognized by others. At that moment, a sense of honor arose spontaneously. If he could successfully grow two crops of grain, then wouldn't their family's status in the surrounding villages be more stable?
With a goal in mind, the next step is action. Ignoring the strange looks from others and the sour words spoken behind his back, Wan Laoer continued to work in the fields tending to his dozens of acres of farmland. Old Mrs. Wan also never discouraged her son. She just silently prepared meals at home with Liu and brought them to the fields.
A month passed like this, and finally the day came for Boss Wan to get married.
The Wan family cleaned up the house and took away all the valuables.
As a relative of the Wan family, Zhao naturally had to go as well, but Wan Jinshu stayed behind because he had to look after the food for the two families, so he did not go along to join in the fun.
Wan Laoer drove an ox cart, carrying several members of his own family, as well as Zhao's mother and her two sons, and went to the town to pick up Wan Laosan and others.
Because Boss Wan’s marriage was a big event, the Wan family’s shop was closed for a few days and the whole family went to the county town.
A month has passed since Wanquan went to join the army, and this time the family came to the county town again.
"Mom, you are finally here, please come in, and sister-in-law, please come in too."
Boss Wan was waiting at the door. When he saw Old Lady Wan and Zhao, he quickly let them into the house.
After Mrs. Wan bought the house for Mr. Wan, she left. This is the first time she has come to see the newly decorated house.
Zhao Shi, needless to say, had seen all kinds of houses. She had even been to the imperial palace. For the sake of the occasion, she only praised this small house politely and stopped talking. However, it was different for the other members of the Wan family. It was the first time for them to see such a luxurious house.
"Brother, did you really buy this house so cheaply? My God, this is really luxurious. I have never lived in such a nice house in my life."
Wan Lao Si touched the red-painted pillars in the house with envy. There was a row of houses in the yard. At this time, Wan Lao Da had cleared a piece of vacant land in the yard, and Shen wanted to grow vegetables here.
Because it was already late autumn, the yard was bare and there was nothing in it. Only two osmanthus trees were pleasing to the eye.
"How old are you in this life? Just a lifetime? You will definitely be able to buy a more luxurious house than your brother's in the future."
Boss Wan patted Boss Wan's head, and Boss Wan smiled happily.
They went into the backyard again, and everyone was even more surprised when they saw it.
"Is this the rockery of the rich man's house? It's a pity that there is no running water, which makes it less interesting."
"Water is so precious here. And it's flowing. What are you thinking?"
Wan Laosan said with a smile.
After touring the yard, Boss Wan quickly told everyone about the rooms that had been allocated in advance. The men lived in the front yard and the women lived in the back yard. This was also what Shen had instructed Boss Wan.
Old Mrs. Wan thought it was a good idea. Since they were bringing Zhao and her daughter with them, this arrangement was reasonable. If it were just their family, there wouldn't be so many considerations.
Wan Lao Si entered the room in the front yard and saw that the furniture was all new. He quickly asked Wan Lao Da, "Brother, this furniture looks similar to ours. It's not cheap, is it? I heard that when Mr. Lu sent furniture to our family, he bought the best ones. You bought it in the county town. Isn't it better?"
Boss Wan looked at Boss Wan's money-grubbing look and said with a smile, "These furniture were all bought by Shen, who said they were her dowry. I didn't pay for them."
Wan Lao Si's eyes widened when he heard this: "My goodness, there are so many rooms, all fully furnished. I think the money spent on these furniture is more expensive than your house. Brother, you have married a golden nugget. You will enjoy your good life in the future. It is a science for a man to marry a wife."
Boss Wan was amused by his brother's words, "Be careful not to let your fourth brother's wife hear you and get jealous. She won't let you sleep on her bed when she gets home."
Wan Laosi quickly shrank his neck and dared not speak any more.
Because they were getting married, Shen was not here. It was just the Wan family, and they had dinner at the house in the evening.
"Mom, I have something to tell you."
After dinner, when everyone was chatting, Boss Wan finally spoke.
Everyone looked at Boss Wan, waiting for him to continue.
Boss Wan then said slowly, "Mother, the county magistrate has found a job for me in the county government office as a constable. I may not be able to return to the village in the future and cannot serve you."
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