Chapter 96: So what if it’s the south wall?
Speaking of the greenhouse in the field, Sang Zhixia couldn't help but smile.
She said, "Today, many people came uninvited to help. We have already built the first large frame of the greenhouse in just one day. We just need to cover it with tarpaulin tomorrow."
"But I tried it carefully, and the oilcloth doesn't let in much light. It's fine if it's sunny, but if it's sunny and the weather is good, I'm afraid someone will have to go through the trouble of lifting the top layer of oilcloth to let in the light."
Plants cannot grow without light sources, and they cannot grow well in a place without light.
However, due to the limitations of the times and technology, oilcloth is the most suitable tarpaulin she can find to replace greenhouse film.
Now, there are still many unsatisfactory flaws, but since we have taken the first step, it is better than standing still.
Xu Yu didn't seem to care after hearing this. "Haven't you already planned to split the tarpaulin covering the roof into several separate pieces? Since it's not a large whole, it won't be difficult to flip the roof over. I'll do it when the time comes."
"I had thought this was your job."
Sang Zhixia said in embarrassment: "And the temperature."
"I thought it was simple at first. I thought I could just put hay on the tarpaulin to keep it warm, just like building a roof. But in fact, putting straw on it makes it even less transparent. This method is simply not feasible."
"Now there is an alternative method, which is to connect the two greenhouses with a passage, just like some people use a kang (earthen bed) to heat the earth. Every day, firewood is burned at one end of the kang, and the heat from the firewood is released into the greenhouse through the passage."
But this would add more than one extra task, and in order to supply the greenhouse with heat continuously for twelve hours a day, a considerable amount of firewood would be needed.
As soon as she put forward her idea, everyone who came to help shook their heads and said it was impossible.
The Northwest is not a good place for farming, and the people are used to relying on the weather for their livelihood.
In the eyes of most people, spending so much energy just to grow some food is useless and not worth it.
What's more, what she said about two seasons a year was pure fantasy in everyone's eyes, and no one believed it at all.
Sang Zhixia had been questioned the entire day, so she couldn't help but look a little depressed when she spoke about it.
Seeing him smoothing her brows with his fingertips, Xu Yu chuckled and said, "What's so difficult about this?"
"If you want to ask for something else, I may not be able to help you, but if you need firewood, then it's very simple."
"Have you forgotten that I'm an expert at chopping wood now? I can get back as much as you need."
The lingering depression in Sang Zhixia's heart was somewhat dispelled by his arrogance, but there was still a lingering haze in her eyes.
She said worriedly, "Aunt Wu and Uncle Zhang asked about you today. I can see that you don't look right. Are you sure you can do it without seeing a doctor?"
Xu Yu didn't expect that after going around for so long, he would still be back to the starting point. He was suddenly startled and said with a smile: "It's really okay."
"It's just that you've been busy outside these two days, and I can't help you at home. Are you not angry?"
Sang Zhixia glanced at him and said, "What's so irritating about this?"
"The important thing is that you get well soon. You won't be needed for anything else."
Xu Yu curled his lips into a smile and tried to pull her hand, but the quilt wrapped around him slid down as soon as he moved his arm, and then...
Sang Zhixia looked at the sturdy arms and mostly exposed chest in front of her eyes, and was stunned: "Xu Yu, when you are alone at home, do you sleep so unrestrainedly?"
Hit the neutral spot, big brother???
Xu Yu pulled the quilt back over himself without changing his expression, and said dryly, "I've been sweating all over and haven't had time to change clothes."
Sang Zhixia mouthed the word "oh" half-believingly, and the next second she stood up decisively and pulled back the hand that was grabbed by Xu Yu.
Looking at the situation, one of the bold guys probably didn't even wear pants.
She felt that if she kept looking she would get stye.
Sang Zhixia, who had a strong sense of self-preservation, ran away with a calm face. Xu Yu subconsciously wanted to hold her back, but as soon as he stretched out his arm, he awkwardly retracted it into the quilt.
never mind.
It seems too early to be so honest...
When Xu Yu put on his clothes and transformed himself into a handsome gentleman again, Sang Zhixia was discussing the greenhouse with the old man face to face.
Sang Zhixia: "At first I wanted to build one to try, but since there are so many people helping out these days, I decided to just build two of the same size and position them side by side."
She used the small wooden stick in her hand to draw on the ground: "One is for testing wheat seeds, and the other is for testing rice seeds. Although it is a bit hard, it is better to do it all by hand instead of going through the same thing twice, which also saves a lot of trouble."
The old man thought about it and felt it was feasible.
"But I heard that rice is mostly grown in the water towns south of the Yangtze River. Can it work here?"
"sure."
Sang Zhixia quickly drew a few directions with a small wooden stick and explained, "I've been to the village's farmland and asked the villagers. Luobei Village doesn't grow rice because it lacks paddy fields. But paddy fields aren't rare. All we need to do is make a small adjustment."
"Grandfather, the land we bought from the village is next to the river, and there are already canals dug. With these ready-made things, we only need to modify and widen it slightly, and release water in time when the rice seedlings need to be planted in the paddy fields, and we can turn the existing dry land into paddy fields."
"I've even checked the exact location. The two plots of land are right next to each other. We've already built the rudiments of a greenhouse on the lower plot today, and the remaining greenhouse will be built on the upper plot."
She thought for a moment, then made a connecting gesture with her hands and explained, "When the time comes, we'll dig a tunnel in the upper field to allow for warm air. The lower field will be closer to the canal and used to grow rice so it can be easily drained. We'll use the ridge above to test wheat seeds directly."
"Let's try it out in the greenhouses on the two plots of land first. Even if we fail, it won't delay our spring plowing this year."
She spoke clearly and logically, but Uncle Xu was very hesitant after listening to her.
"Niece-in-law, are you sure you can do all this fancy stuff?"
He couldn't help but feel uneasy when he thought about what the villagers said. He said hesitantly, "I heard a lot of people muttering today that our family's work is in vain and that we won't get anything out of it. If that's the case, then we might as well give up."
People are proud of their bones and their skin is cheap. Even the most delicate shoulders will get calluses after being rubbed for a period of time.
Uncle Xu has become accustomed to doing hard labor and can adapt to it now, but people's personalities are always different.
He is used to maintaining the status quo and prefers to be cautious.
If what he is doing involves unpredictable risks, he will inevitably back down and have doubts in his heart.
The old man looked thoughtful after hearing this. He looked at Sang Zhixia and said, "Do you think the risk your uncle mentioned is worth taking?"
Sang Zhixia said without hesitation: "It's worth it."
"Only when there are wind and waves can you see the fish. The greater the risk, the greater the potential reward. Even if you make mistakes, the experience and lessons you gain are real. If one doesn't work, try twice. If two doesn't work, try three times. I believe that trial and error prepares for the next success, so I think the current attempts are worth it."
What if there is a wall waiting for us ahead?
How do you know that the wall cannot be broken without using your own hard head to hit it?
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