No matter if you are a human or an immortal, you can still farm for me after traveling through time!

It was a rare day when Ji Qingyue could follow the Li family's schedule and get up before dawn. He opened the straw curtain. Today was the second day after the snow stopped. The snow on the ground had melted and was gone, but the wind was still blowing. He felt that the temperature in the early morning might hover around zero. After the sun rose, the temperature during the day could reach more than ten degrees. It was a bit cool but very comfortable, but it was extremely cold at night.

The bedding and thick clothes that Li Erlang brought him were enough to help him survive the cold night. At night, he wore his clothes and wrapped himself in a quilt tightly, and slept by the bonfire so that he would not be too cold to sleep.

Ji Qingyue felt the temperature today, which seemed to be similar to yesterday.

He walked to the "backyard" - let's call the place behind the thatched cottage the backyard. Many green sprouts finally appeared in the vegetable field. It had been five days since he sowed the seeds. Compared with the first time sowing, this time The germination time was ridiculously long. Ji Qingyue thought that these seeds had died, but he didn't expect that they had only sprouted now.

In this season and temperature, it would be a miracle that germination could occur without a greenhouse, but this speed is the normal growth speed of ordinary plants in summer.

The green buds broke through the obstruction of the soil and the pine needles covering them, and finally saw the sky.

The magical land is indeed full of magic. It can also stimulate the growth of plants at zero temperatures. In this way, there is no need to consider building a greenhouse now, and you can eat green leafy vegetables in winter.

It’s really gratifying!

three days ago.

Because the iron tools were not yet available, Ji Qingyue picked up his wooden shovel again, inserted it into the gap in the fence and gently lifted it, moving the wooden fence that was not very strong.

There are more seeds, and the vegetable field must be expanded accordingly.

Ji Qingyue held a wooden shovel and carved out another piece of land that was about the same size as the thatched cottage as his wheat experimental site, and then divided a new open space into the vegetable plot.

Li Erlang once told him that when planting wheat, you need to prepare the land first, break the soil into fine pieces and level it, and mark the furrows half a foot apart. Hold a handful of wheat seeds in your hand and gently expose a gap so that the wheat can leak through. As long as the width is enough, sprinkle the wheat into the furrow and cover it with a thin layer of soil. There is no need to water immediately after covering the soil. During this period, be careful not to allow water to accumulate in the ground. Check the growth of the wheat after six or seven days after sowing. If it is too dry, water the head to promote the germination of the wheat seeds.

When he was a child, he attended a summer camp, and there was a project to watch wheat harvesting and planting. He saw that farmers took a few more steps before sowing - seed dressing or seed soaking. Nowadays, there are no pesticides and chemicals, so seed dressing is impossible. Seed soaking is a necessary means to screen out high-quality seeds. The wheat seeds are soaked in water and the density difference is used to pick out unqualified hollow and stunted seeds.

It is beneficial to do this step. From the beginning, most of the wheat with genetic problems can be eliminated from pollination to other good wheat. After continuous screening, generations of high-quality wheat can be grown.

Ji Qingyue took out the small bag of wheat seeds given by Li Erlang, which weighed one to twenty kilograms.

But what he didn't expect was that there were so many unqualified seeds inside.

He poured part of the wheat seeds into a universal clay pot and soaked it in water. Unexpectedly, there were so many wheat seeds floating on the water. He took out these floating seeds and discarded them, leaving the full seeds safe and sound. The ground sinks to the bottom of the pot and is soaked overnight before sowing the next day.

The land after the snow had more or less absorbed water. The soil quality here was the same as what he encountered when digging paddy fields. The upper layer was sandy soil, and after digging thirty to forty centimeters deep, there was clayey soil. Ji Qingyue only lightly plowed the sandy soil above, and according to his memory and what Li Erlang said, he would dig furrows before sowing tomorrow.

Unlike wheat, rice is not suitable for sowing in cold weather and will not germinate at all. Ji Qingyue looked at the situation in the rice field, and indeed he did not see the sprouts of the rice that had been dropped before. Although these few plants were wasted, fortunately, he gained a lot of experience by planting this crop.

The magical land gives him great reliance and allows him to create as much as he likes.

This crude paddy field can indeed grow rice. In the modern world, it is impossible to grow rice without fertilizing. Now, without any fertilizers and pesticides, you only need to pay attention to the water in the field to match the growth of the rice, and the magical land will grow the rice. The growth cycle is shortened to three to four weeks.

In this way, he can harvest the grain faster and eat rice, but he has not yet figured out how to remove the ears, and there is no place to store the grain.

The more you think about the things you have to do, the more you think about it.

These things will have to be put aside until after the bricks are fired and the house is built. After all, when the weather gets warmer in spring, it will be the time to sow rice. Now the only thing that needs his full attention is his vegetable plot.

When he came together today, he saw that the rapeseeds sown five days ago had all sprouted. He finally relaxed after worrying for several days, so he looked at the newly opened vegetable fields and wheat fields, his eyes as soft as looking at the new life. The old mother of her son is happy and looking forward to it.

The seeds Li Erlang bought include several other vegetable seeds, including flax seeds, spinach seeds, cowpeas, lettuce seeds and broad beans. The rest are fruit seeds.

Just as Ji Qingyue was busy, the courtyard door rang, and there was a sudden noise in the Li family yard, as if someone was coming.

"Ah, grandma! Grandma! I'm back!" A homesick woman shouted in the yard after entering the house. Seeing that there was no one in the yard, she immediately walked to the main house.

When the people in the room heard the movement, they immediately came out and said noisily: "Zhenniang! We are discussing when you and Liang Lang will return! I guess it will be before lunch, and we really have a good idea!"

Li Zhenniang's cloak to keep out the cold flew with the hem as she walked quickly, and her fiery temper was very similar to Li Aniang's. She stretched out her hand to hold Grandma Li's hands, and shouted to Ah Weng, Grandma, who was also about to come out: "Ah, Grandma, you are not wearing thick clothes, so don't come out, and don't come out with me, sister-in-law, either. Wait until we put down our things." Go in, don’t let you get cold!”

Li Zhenniang's husband Luo Liangcheng was carrying two burdens, which were covered with coarse cloth so that passers-by could not see clearly when they arrived. Luo Liangcheng smiled honestly: "Ah, grandma, wait for us for a moment! Mother-in-law! Zhenniang and I brought some things over and put them in the kitchen for cooking!"

Li Aniang led Li Zhenniang to follow her to the kitchen, and laughed angrily: "What else should I bring home? Don't bring food next time! There is no shortage at home!"

Li Zhenniang waved her hands carelessly: "It's not something valuable. If we come back for four or five days, it's hard for the two of us to just take everything and eat all the food from my parents' family!"

Li Erlang and Li Jinniang followed them out and didn't care when they heard what their sister said. They sweetly asked Li Zhenniang and her brother-in-law to eat as much as they wanted. They looked up and saw Luo Liangcheng taking out a few sticks covered in mud from the basket. Li Erlang picked it up and looked at it: "Brother-in-law, is this lotus root?"

Luo Liangcheng smiled proudly, took them out and put them on the stove: "Last month we went to the host's relatives' house in Beijing to collect lotus roots. After we finished the work, the host rewarded me with a few kilograms. A few days ago we just When you come back, I will bring some to taste with my mother-in-law."

Li Aniang was surprised when she saw the lotus roots. In winter, not to mention fresh vegetables, even dehydrated and sun-dried vegetables are very precious. These mud-covered lotus roots are now seasonal vegetables in the south. In the north, they are used by rich people. Expensive food just bought.

"Mr. Liang, you'd better take this lotus root back! It's not easy to pick, so why don't the in-laws keep it for the New Year's Eve dishes? I can't even make it if it's given to me!"

Luo Liangcheng insisted on staying: "My mother-in-law has left most of it. This is what she asked me to use to try it with you. Mother-in-law, please don't refuse!"

Li Aniang couldn't help but accept the lotus root with a smile: "I'll go find out tomorrow how to cook this delicious lotus root!"

Li Zhenniang took out the other things and said, "Mom, keep it. I'll make it for Sanlang and Shilang when he comes back from vacation. There are also daddy and eldest brother."

Aunt Li quietly glanced at Li Erlang who was helping to tidy up, and slowly responded: "Hey!"

Li Erlang touched the lotus roots covered with mud and could see that Luo Liangcheng had carefully preserved the lotus roots. A cluster of small sharp tips grew out of each lotus root segment. He held up the lotus root section, pointed at the tip of the bud and asked, "Mom, can you give me this lotus root with buds?"

Li Zhenniang smiled and said: "Is it Erlang, you want to grow lotus roots? How can we have a pond to grow lotus roots here! But we can find a vat and try it. I saw that Lang Jun's master has a vat of lotus growing in his house!"

Li Erlang didn't argue and just continued to ask: "Then I'll ask, sister-in-law, I want this lotus root!"

"If you want it, you and I will be polite." Li Zhenniang scolded with a smile. She and Li Erlang were not much different in age. Before they got married, they were the siblings who had played together the longest. They had a very good relationship. He couldn't help but reveal his intimacy in his words: "Anyway, my husband and I have no objections. Ask my mother, this lotus root is also a pile of vegetables. My mother is the one who cooks it. Ask her if she agrees!"

Li Zhenniang knew at a glance that Li Erlang was having a conflict with A-Niang. His attitude towards A-Niang was very different, and the atmosphere between them was a bit stiff. For a while, she couldn't figure out what the conflict was, so she deliberately tried to make excuses for them. people.

Aniang Li thought for a while, nodded hesitantly, and asked Li Erlang to take it by himself.

"Thank you Auntie." Li Erlang happily picked up the lotus root sprouts. The things Luo Liangcheng brought had also been put away, so Auntie Li invited everyone into the room to chat.

The village where Li Zhenniang was married was some distance away from her natal family, and it would take two or three days to get back and forth by donkey cart, so she did not go back to her natal family many times a year. Because that location is to the south, there is more rain than Shangli Village, and the surrounding environment is naturally more beautiful than Shangli Village. Most of the villagers have sold their fields. The same goes for Luo Liangcheng’s family, who sold part of their land. Now They work for the landlords, gentry and nobles.

Luo Liangcheng and the others usually farm the land for their master's family, because the master's family has a relative who grows lotus roots in the capital, and they have to harvest the lotus roots after the autumn harvest. He is the eldest son of the family. When he married Li Zhenniang, he used the money from selling land. He sold dozens of acres of his own land to collect the bride price. Now he only has 30 acres of land left in the family, and he mainly grows corn to pay the grain tax.

Luo Liangcheng has a younger brother who is the same age as Li Erlang. He just acquired the territory this year, which temporarily alleviated the family's land difficulties.

This kind of turnover is actually nothing. The family mainly makes a living by working for the landlords and gentry, and just pays the grain tax on time. Four years later, Sanlang of the Luo family entered the account, leaving the family's relatively fertile farmland and selling the rest to collect the betrothal gift money for Erlang and Sanlang of the Luo family.

Li Zhenniang followed her father-in-law and Luo Liangcheng to plant and harvest lotus roots, covering dozens of acres of ponds, planting lotus roots in March and May, and harvesting lotus roots in October. It was very hard work, and the family fields were left to her mother-in-law and younger brothers. So she had no time to go back to her parents' home.

For lunch, Xu Qing and Li Aniang worked hard and cooked many dishes that Li Zhenniang used to love.

The lotus roots are stored in the cellar and will be tasted together when the family comes back.

After eating and drinking, Li Aniang and a group of women gathered together to whisper, while the remaining men left them alone.

Li Erlang didn't need to guess, he also knew what A Niang was going to say when he pulled A Jie.

Luo Liangcheng was two years older than Li Erlang, but he looked older than Li Erlang, but he had a good personality and treated Zhenniang well, so Li Erlang liked this brother-in-law. He took his brother-in-law to the study room and talked about some topics from time to time so as not to be left out in the cold.

Luo Liangcheng walked into the study, his eyes shining. His natural custom of worshiping culture and knowledge made him very envious of the Li family for having such a good study, with bookshelves full of books and paintings on the walls. He secretly vowed that if he and Zhenniang had a son in the future, he would definitely send him to school.

In Li Aniang's room, several women were sitting on the kang bed. There were some snacks on the table. They were eating snacks and chatting. Li Jinniang stayed in the corner, tying the knot in her hand, and did not participate in their chat. She just kept her ears open. listen.

"Zhenniang, are you making any noise?"

Li Zhenniang shook her head: "The cold last time still affected my body. I took medicine for a long time but it didn't work. Let's wait." Speaking of this, Li Zhenniang was helpless, "Originally, Lang Jun and I thought of letting nature take its course. But there was a person in the village who was close to my mother-in-law. It had only been two months since her new wife came into the house, and the news spread. My mother-in-law mentioned it every day when she came back, which made me feel bad..."

Grandma Li sighed and held Li Zhenniang's hand. It was still warm and cool after entering the room for a long time. No matter how much she covered it, she couldn't help but curse. "If the Luo family dares to gossip about you, you will scold them. If not, They were reluctant to let their second son go into the water. How could it be that you, a newly married bride, had to go to work and get cold and get the root of the disease..."

Li Zhenniang felt sorry for the old man: "Don't be angry, grandma. It was really urgent at that time and the master was pressing hard. I felt sorry for Mr. Lang who had to harvest lotus roots day and night, so I helped him for a few days. I didn't expect that the root cause of the disease would be found. I originally wanted to take care of myself at home." I have always been very good and can do any kind of work. I never thought that my body would be so valuable. Grandma, do you think I am a poor person who ended up in a noble body?" She tried to speak in a light tone, trying to make things easier for herself and her family: "Mother-in-law. Mother herself also knows why I couldn't get pregnant for so long. She dared to choke me if she dared to say anything. After all, my husband is on my side. She never asked me to go into the water when harvesting lotus roots this year..."

Li Aniang was anxious: "She still dares!"

"Hey, grandma, I feel much better now. I have finished taking the medicine. The doctor said that you just need to rest and let nature take its course. The child will come when it is due." Compared with the children, Li Zhenniang is more worried about growing grain. Question: "Mom, I heard from the master's servant that taxes will be raised after the new year..."

When it comes to raising taxes, the atmosphere in the room freezes for a moment. It hasn't been long since the last tax increase. Why is there another tax increase now?

Li Aniang's reaction was even greater, and Li Zhenniang held her back from jumping up from the kang. "Auntie also knows that the Luo family is different from ours. Now, not counting the 100 acres newly acquired by Jin Lang, our family only has 30 acres of fertile land. Every year after paying for the food, the family has to spend an extra amount of money to buy food. The food has not increased. The price is okay, but the last price increase scared us to death." Speaking of the last price increase, Li Zhenniang was still frightened, "Do you know what kind of land Jinlang received this time?"

Jinlang is Luo Jincheng, the second son of the Luo family.

Li Aniang guessed nonchalantly: "It can't be all Lu Tian...?"

"My mother-in-law guessed right. Jinlang was allotted open fields that had never been cultivated. Every acre of fertile land nearby was bought by wealthy families. The county government has not taken back the fertile land for a long time. How can we do this? Will we be allocated fertile farmland? Now all we have been given is open farmland..."

In the study, Luo Liangcheng also mentioned the tax increase. "We went south with my husband's family to pick lotus roots, and I heard my cousin's husband mention something. As you know, my cousin married a tax official from Ganzhou more than ten years ago. After her term of office expired, she returned to Beijing to report on her work. , and then the family stayed in Beijing. The host’s cousin took a fancy to a village with dozens of acres of ponds, and rented it to grow lotus roots. So every year we would follow the host’s family to the capital. On this trip, we heard a lot of news .”

The two people were talking in the study, and an invisible person was also paying attention silently. Ji Qingyue raised his ears when he heard the sound, and Luo Liangcheng didn't even notice that there was another audience.

"Is it possible that my brother-in-law knows the inside story about the recent soaring food prices?"

Luo Liangcheng shook his head: "It's not an inside story. My master's cousin is now a minor official in the Ministry of Household Affairs. I heard that they seem to be very busy recently."

Li Erlang looked like he was listening attentively, and Luo Liangcheng didn't show off: "My cousin is tired from official duties, and my cousin is also in a bad mood. I didn't see her this time, but it was my husband who came." The female maid next to my cousin, after asking around, found out that the host's cousin had a lot of things to do at home and was very busy every day, so she asked us to dig lotus roots by ourselves. The strangest thing is that the host's cousin doesn't plan to plant lotus roots in the coming year. The batch of lotus roots that was just harvested was half given away and half sold by the host’s cousin.”

"Why did you suddenly stop growing lotus roots? Lotus roots are a rare and valuable commodity in the north. Every time you come back from harvesting lotus roots, doesn't your family always bring thousands of kilograms of lotus roots back to Ganzhou to resell them? Why don't you do it?"

Luo Liangcheng didn't know the reason either: "I don't know either. The host family has never seen his cousin in person this time. When the hostess said this, the host family thought she was talking nonsense and got angry on the spot. But later that person Grandma took out the autographed letter from the host's cousin. After reading the letter, the host stopped quarreling and quickly asked us to collect the lotus roots. After that, she didn't mention taking the lotus roots back. The next day after collecting the lotus roots, the host took us back. We left the capital in a hurry. What frightened me the most was that not only did we get paid for this hard work, but the host’s cousin also gave each of us dozens of kilograms of lotus roots.”

It's so abnormal, as if they are in a hurry to take action and deal with it.

Lotus roots are in the north. Before selling them, do some research and speculate on the prices. Some people are willing to pay thousands of dollars per pound.

"And I also heard that many officials who privately rented ponds to grow lotus roots and sell them quietly withdrew..."

What happened to Chang'an? Why do you suddenly avoid lotus root so much?