Jiang Qinyu smiled slightly, "This is what makes sweet potatoes different from other grains. In fact, sweet potatoes are more suitable for sandy loam soil like in the border town, and they are drought-resistant and alkali-resistant. Even if there is a drought and watering is not done in time, you can still get a good harvest."
If water is not replenished in time, the yield of sweet potatoes will definitely be affected. However, compared to the maximum yield of 600 catties per mu of grain in this era, a yield of over 1,000 catties is already quite good.
Moreover, the water problem in Biancheng will be solved gradually, and irrigation will definitely not be a problem. High yields are certain, and because of the soil quality here, it is foreseeable that the yield of sweet potatoes in Biancheng will definitely be higher than that in Dingshui Village.
However, after Jiang Qinyu finished speaking, the group of old farmers all looked at each other in bewilderment.
They weren't questioning the lady, but none of them had ever tried water-based breeding before! What if it didn't succeed...?
One of the bolder ones immediately asked, "Madam, you said it would take root and sprout in about seven days, but what if it doesn't?"
"Whether it will happen or not, you'll know once you try it." Jiang Qinyu wasn't annoyed and smiled good-naturedly, adding, "If you have rice water, the germination will be even faster."
Qin Shen was taken aback. "Rice water? The army mess hall gets a whole vat of that every day!"
"Have the people in the kitchen who wash the rice keep the water they use to wash the rice, and send someone to deliver it here later," Lu Yanzheng said immediately.
Seeing that they still looked uneasy, Jiang Qinyu said, "How about this, everyone go back today and come back in seven days."
She wasn't in a hurry to wait another seven days.
"We'll listen to Madam," Lu Yanzheng said, seeing that no one dared to agree.
Qin Shen quickly interjected, "You can go back, but you have to keep working for these seven days! Farming isn't just about breeding."
Jiang Qinyu nodded and said, "Yes, while the breeding is in progress, you also need to have people turn the soil and make ridges. The soil needs to be turned deeply, at least one foot deep. In addition, you also need to prepare compost, green manure, and the like, so that you can plant them as soon as the sweet potato seedlings come out."
"Qin Shen, you must personally oversee this matter and make those old foxes watch their skin. We let it slide before, but if they dare to misbehave again this time, don't blame me for using military law!" Lu Yanzheng said to Qin Shen with a serious expression.
Qin Shen immediately stood up straight. "Your subordinate obeys!"
Having spent a long time by Lu Yanzheng's side, he knew very well that Lu Yanzheng's expression meant he took things very seriously, and that if he didn't do well, he would really be punished.
"Madam," someone asked timidly, "what are you referring to as compost?"
Jiang Qinyu was stunned for a moment upon hearing this, "You mean composting? Didn't you guys compost before?"
"What is composting?" several people asked in unison.
Jiang Qinyu: "..."
Oh well, I have to teach it all over again.
Good heavens! Why is agriculture in this era so backward?
She also taught me how to compost in Dingshui Village, and how to bring back humus from the mountains and mix it with the soil in the fields in a 1:1 ratio before spreading it on the surface of the fields.
Mixing leaf mold and garden soil in a 1:1 ratio is the simplest way to make nutrient soil, even she, who has never farmed, knows this, but the people here are completely unaware of it.
It's even worse now. No wonder the border town looks like this now; these so-called farmers don't even know this.
At this moment, Jiang Qinyu has to thank her past self for going against her scumbag father and going to the countryside for an internship, where she heard a lot about farming.
There are truly no useless experiences in life; everything you go through becomes nourishment for your life.
...
After finally finishing explaining how to turn the soil, compost, and make nutrient soil, Jiang Qinyu's stomach was already growling with hunger, but the group of old farmers kept asking questions.
"Alright, that's enough for today. You can go back now. Madam will teach you about breeding again in seven days." Lu Yanzheng said quickly when he heard Jiang Qinyu's stomach protesting.
Today, he also had his eyes opened. He never knew that there were so many intricacies to farming. No wonder Dingshui Village can grow high-yield grains. It must be because Jiang Qinyu taught him.
Upon hearing that she could go back, Jiang Qinyu's smile became much more genuine. "If anyone still has any questions, just ask them next time we meet. I will answer them to the best of my ability."
Everyone immediately felt a little embarrassed. They were a group of old farmers, yet they didn't know as much as a young wife. Who would believe that if they told others?
Moreover, General Qin just mentioned that the yield of these sweet potatoes is 5,000 catties per mu, which was taught to be grown by the lady!
"Thank you, Madam!" Everyone clasped their hands and bowed to Jiang Qinyu.
Jiang Qinyu dared not accept so many elderly people's greetings, so she stepped aside and said, "Everyone, there's no need to be so polite. It's getting late, you should go back now."
She was really hungry and all she wanted to do was eat.
Qin Shen dismissed the group of people, and then together with Lu Yanzheng, escorted Jiang Qinyu back to the General's Mansion.
"Thank you for your hard work, Madam." Lu Yanzheng sat by the carriage door while Qin Shen drove.
Jiang Qinyu sounded weak and listless. Thinking that she was going hungry because of him, her tone inevitably carried a hint of grievance, "It's not hard, I'm just a little hungry."
This guy is really something, why doesn't he sit outside? If he were outside, she could secretly take some food out of the system to tide her over.
"Uncle Zhao has probably already prepared the meal, please bear with it a little longer." Hearing this, Lu Yanzheng felt even more apologetic.
He was actually quite curious about what Jiang Qinyu had just asked the old farmers, so he didn't call a halt earlier.
Jiang Qinyu gave a small snort, "I've helped you so much, how are you going to repay me?"
"As you command, Madam." Lu Yanzheng smiled slightly, his gaze towards her filled with a hint of doting affection.
His words made Jiang Qinyu uncomfortable, and she said somewhat awkwardly, "I haven't thought about it yet. I'll come to you when I do."
“Alright, I will await your command, my wife.” Lu Yanzheng blurted out.
After he finished speaking, he was stunned for a moment, then quickly looked away, not daring to look directly at Jiang Qinyu.
Jiang Qinyu was so hungry that her mind was full of food, and she didn't hear what he said.
Lu Yanzheng waited for a while, but Jiang Qinyu's voice didn't come, so he couldn't help but turn his gaze to look at her again.
Then they saw Jiang Qinyu muttering to herself, "Sweet and sour pork ribs, steamed fish, braised prawns..."
Lu Yanzheng had excellent hearing and heard her clearly reciting the names of the dishes, which made him both amused and exasperated.
He had never met a woman like this before. When it came to serious matters, she knew more than anyone else. But once the matter was finished, she was like a completely different person—lively, cheerful, and lovable.
As soon as the carriage arrived at the general's residence, Uncle Chen excitedly came forward to greet it, "General, great news!"
Lu Yanzheng lifted the carriage curtain. "What's there to be happy about?"
"Someone just came to report that there's water in our river!" Uncle Chen was so happy he almost danced with joy.
Lu Yanzheng was slightly taken aback. "Is there really water?"
There was neither rain nor fog, so where did the water come from?
Wait, Jiang Qinyu went to the riverbank yesterday...
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