After all, this seed drill has never been actually used before, so we need to be extra careful the first time we use it.
"Not bad, not bad, that's really fast, much faster than we expected." The Taoist priest said to the crowd as he led the ox ahead.
“It’s pretty fast. A few years ago, when Xiaohan and I were planting soybeans and corn, we had to dig one hole at a time. With this seed drill, it’s much faster. Maybe we can finish planting all seven acres of corn and soybeans by mid-afternoon,” Lu Chuan replied.
"This adjustment went well; the corn was planted very evenly. I deliberately planted it a bit denser, just in case the germination rate wasn't high enough and I'd have to replant," Xu Han said.
"It's alright. If there are too many seedlings, we can just thin them out. It's better than nothing."
"Yes, that's what I think too."
"You rest first, I'll give it a try," Grandpa Zhao said to Lu Chuan eagerly.
"Okay, just make sure you hold on tight and don't let it tilt."
"Okay, okay."
Seeing that everyone had work to do and that she couldn't help much by staying, Xu Han said, "I'll go home and make breakfast first. You can take turns doing this, and rest when you're tired. There's no rush."
"Okay, you can go back and do your thing."
Upon hearing this, Xu Han returned home first. She went to the kitchen to add water to the pot, then put in a few washed sweet potatoes and eggs. She lit a fire in the stove and then turned around and went to the backyard.
After arriving in the backyard, we led the corn to the front yard, put the wheat that had been washed a few days earlier into the millstone, blindfolded the corn, and started grinding the flour.
As usual, Xu Han poured the wheat directly onto the millstone. As the millstone turned, the wheat flowed down into it on its own.
Xu Han only needs to keep an eye on things from time to time; she doesn't need to stay here all the time.
Place a large wooden basin under the millstone to catch the flowing flour. Be sure to clean the millstone regularly to prevent flour from spilling onto the ground.
Grinding flour only once is definitely not enough. The flour produced from the first grinding is very coarse; it's just that the wheat has been crushed, and it hasn't been formed into flour yet.
After grinding for the first time, clean the grinding wheel and then continue grinding for the second time using the same method.
After the second grinding, a small amount of flour will have already been extracted. You can continue grinding a third time, or you can start sifting it during the second grinding.
Keep the fine flour and grind the coarse flour a third time.
By the fourth time, almost all the flour has been extracted, leaving only some coarser materials like wheat bran.
Xu Han usually sets aside the flour that has been sieved the first and second time; these are all white flour.
By the third time, there will be some impurities, and these will be packed away separately.
We can make steamed buns for ourselves or mix them with leftover wheat bran to make steamed buns to feed our dogs.
Xu Han kept an eye on the millstone from time to time, and took advantage of the break to prepare breakfast for the family.
But the chickens, ducks, and geese in the backyard haven't even been fed yet, and they've already started chirping and squawking.
Unfortunately, Xu Han had no choice but to put aside her other tasks and focus on feeding the livestock at home.
After the livestock had eaten, the world finally quieted down.
Xu Han sat down to rest for a while, then brought out breakfast and went to call Lu Chuan and the others back for dinner.
"Is Mu'er awake?" Lu Chuan asked.
"They're not awake yet. Let's ignore them for now and eat first."
"Okay, I'll go wake Mu'er up after we finish eating."
"You cooked so many sweet potatoes today?" Grandpa Zhao said, taking a sweet potato and eating it.
"Yes, I cooked a lot today. We can eat something to tide us over when we get hungry while we're working," Xu Han replied.
"These sweet potatoes are really delicious. Why do they taste sweeter than the previous ones?"
"Haha, maybe it's because not enough water was added when cooking it."
"How much have you planted? The sky is getting increasingly overcast; I reckon it's going to rain soon," Xu Han asked.
"It should take about two hours to plant the corn. At this rate, we can definitely finish planting it today," the Taoist priest said.
"The wind hasn't started blowing yet, so it probably won't rain anytime soon," Grandpa Zhao said.
"The clouds look quite thick, but as long as there's no wind, it shouldn't be a big problem," the Taoist priest said.
"That's good. I haven't finished grinding this flour yet; it'll be ruined if it rains."
"Hahaha, then you'd better stay outside and keep an eye on things. If a sudden rainstorm comes, your whole business will be ruined," the Taoist priest said with a chuckle.
"Don't worry, I've made sure it's dry. I guarantee this side won't get wet," Xu Han said with a smile.
"Did Ze'er cry?"
"It should be. I'll go check." Lu Chuan said and walked into the house.
Seeing this, Xu Han didn't get up and leisurely ate her breakfast.
The child belongs to both of us; we can't rely on just one person to take care of him.
Since Lu Chuan is going, why should I go by myself? Wouldn't it be better to just eat quietly?
"Mommy, I want to eat sweet potatoes too!" Mu'er ran out of the house as soon as she finished dressing.
"Come wash your hands first, Mommy saved some for you." After Xu Han finished speaking, she led her eldest son into the bathroom, and handed him the sweet potato after he washed up.
At this moment, Lu Chuan also came out carrying Ze'er. As soon as Ze'er saw Xu Han, he reached out his hand, but Xu Han quickly dodged away.
"Don't rush, let me finish this bowl of porridge first." Xu Han said as she quickly shoveled the porridge into her bowl.
"You eat slowly first, I'll take him out for a walk and come back in a bit," Lu Chuan said.
"That's fine, let's take him out first."
Ever since Ze'er grew up a bit, Xu Han has hardly ever had a peaceful meal.
He can only have a proper meal if Lu Chuan or someone else carries him out.
Otherwise, during the meal, while everyone else was holding him, Ze'er would insist on being held by Xu Han again.
Moreover, Ze'er is much fatter than Mu'er was when she was little. She's a real chubby little thing, and it's really tiring to hold her.
Therefore, Xu Han would avoid hugging him whenever possible, and would resolutely refuse to hug him unless he was in the car.
After breakfast, Xu Han took care of the children at home while grinding flour.
Lu Chuan and his group continued planting corn and beans.
By lunchtime, all the corn had been planted.
In the afternoon, the group continued sowing, and finally, before dinner, all the wasteland was planted with crops.
This time, a lot of flour was ground, and Xu Han spent a whole day at home grinding it, finally finishing before sunset.
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