Li Yan stood on the edge of the field and called out to Old Man Li who was plowing the land.
When Mr. Li heard his granddaughter calling him, he quickly handed over the work in his hands to someone else and walked over to Li Yan's side. "I'm busy right now, but what's going on?"
Li Yan first went forward to help Old Man Li with a back rub, then said with a smile, "You've worked hard these days, let me give you a back rub! I came here to ask if we can finish plowing the land today."
Old Master Li thought his granddaughter was asking this because she was anxious to return the cow to Young Master Qin. "It's almost there, almost there. The land will be plowed in less than a day! I can return the cow to you tomorrow!"
Li Yan quickly waved her hands: "Master, I'm not asking about the cows. I want to borrow a few of your men to help me cultivate the land. I want to plant potatoes today!"
Old Master Li repeated in confusion, "What to plant? I've never heard of it!"
Li Yan continued to lie, "Master, these potatoes, like sweet potatoes, are high-yield crops. I brought them back from the south. When I took the sweet potatoes from the cellar the other day, I saw they had sprouted. They should be ready to be planted now!"
Mr. Li asked in surprise, "This thing called potato also produces over a thousand kilograms per mu?"
"Of course not! If you don't believe me, I'll plant some on inferior land this year and show you how to do it. When the harvest comes, I guarantee you'll be grinning from ear to ear!"
"You little devil, you just like to make fun of your grandfather. Okay, I'll let Xiu'er and the two daughters-in-law of the Guo family help you. Don't delay my work!" After saying that, he hurried to the fields.
Li Yan saw her grandfather standing in the field and talking to a few people. After a while, the three of them walked towards where Li Yan was.
The eldest daughter-in-law of the Guo family said, "Miss, just tell us what you want us to do!"
"Aunts, follow me first!" After that, he led the three people to the land that had just been turned over by his family: "Aunts, please help loosen this piece of land first, and then dig such a wide and long trench!"
As Li Yan spoke, she gestured to the others, all of whom were veterans of farming. When Li Yan said this, the others understood: "Don't worry, girls. We can do this job!"
"Okay, then you guys go ahead and do your work, I'll go get the seeds!" After saying that, he took Xiu'er home.
There are not many potatoes in the cellar, about four or five hundred kilograms, which is enough to cover more than one acre of land.
Li Yan returned home, first harnessed the donkey cart, then took a few bamboo baskets and took Xiu'er down to the cellar.
The two men ran several times and moved all the potatoes in the cellar onto the donkey cart.
"Wait for me, I'll go to the kitchen and get a knife!" Li Yan went straight to the kitchen, took a wooden board and a knife, and found a wooden basin. She scooped some wood ash from under the stove and brought it with her, preparing to use it when planting potatoes later!
When Li Yan pulled the donkey cart to the field, Madam Liu and Old Man Li also came to help dig ditches.
Seeing Grandpa was there, Li Yan couldn't help but ask, "Grandpa, weren't you plowing the fields just now?"
Old Master Li pointed at Guo Dalang who was busy plowing the field. "Dalang just happened to be here, and he insisted on letting me take a break. I couldn't win over him, so I came over here to lend a hand. It's a good opportunity to see how this thing is planted!"
With more people involved, the ditch could be dug much faster. In just a short while, they had dug out half an acre of land.
Seeing the four people's fast progress, Li Yan did not hesitate. She first worked together with Xiu'er to move the potatoes off the donkey cart, and then began to cut the potatoes.
Li Yan cut a potato in half and then dipped one side of the cut surface in wood ash.
Xiu'er, who was standing by, stared at Li Yan's actions curiously and asked in surprise, "Sister Erya, why did you stain this thing with ash?"
"The purpose of doing this is to prevent the cut surface of the potato seeds from being infected, so that they won't rot easily after being planted!" Li Yan said as she moved.
Xiu'er nodded, not quite understanding: "Then give me the cut potatoes and I'll help you!"
The two of them cooperated well, and soon the empty basket they brought was filled with chopped potatoes!
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