Chapter 35: Transforming Dry Fields into Paddy Fields

Tong Chuxue realized that after finishing the Three-Character Classic, she could recognize ninety percent of the characters. The remaining ten percent were often flowery, literary expressions, and even if she did not recognize them, it hardly affected her understanding of the actual meaning.

As for the rest, she was, after all, a university graduate; there was no need to relearn many things.

However, had she seen things clearly just now? She seemed to have caught a look of disappointment on Luo Hui'an’s face.

Not wishing to dwell on this topic, Tong Chuxue turned the conversation to Luo Hui'an, "What about you? Xiaofeng has gone to school, aren't you going?"

Luo Hui'an gave a dim smile. "Although our Luo family is considered one of the families that can afford to eat in Qingshan Village, we have high income but even higher expenses. Studying at a private tutor's home only requires a bit of silver and tuition, but if one were to go to an academy, there are additional costs for food and lodging, which are far greater than those of a private tutor."

"But that Yao Tianyuan..."

She had heard the Yao family was not wealthy either, yet they still managed to cover the expenses for a student in town.

"The Yao family has long been deep in debt; it’s just that Yao Tianyuan is unaware of it," Luo Hui'an said calmly.

How did Luo Hui'an know something even Yao Tianyuan didn't? Tong Chuxue looked at him, her eyes filled with confusion.

"I heard it from my mother. For years, in order for Yao Tianyuan to finish his studies, the whole family has been tightening their belts. Every time tuition was due, the Yao family would borrow money everywhere. Those people were willing to lend it because they believed Yao Tianyuan would surely succeed in the future, but in reality, the Yao family has long been burdened with debt," Luo Hui'an explained patiently.

It was all too difficult, Tong Chuxue couldn't help but sigh. Under such circumstances, the number of rural youths who could pass the imperial examinations and enter the officialdom was truly rare.

Since the Luo family had helped her during her most difficult times, she decided that if she found any good opportunities in the future, she would bring the Luo family along.

Through their few interactions, Tong Chuxue had discovered that the third branch of the Luo family held a status far inferior to the first and second branches. Old Madam Luo treated her grandson Luo Hui'an as if he were dispensable, and while her attitude toward Xiaofeng was slightly better, it could hardly be called favorable. As for Luo Huiqing, being a girl, she was treated as if she didn't exist at all.

When she left the Luo house, the sky had already darkened.

Seeing Tong Chuxue return, Xu Jinniang, who was cooking dinner, asked hurriedly, "How did it go?"

"Mother, I’ve settled everything with the Luo family. The three of them will come over tomorrow to help us convert the fields, and I’ve also secured the seeds." Tong Chuxue walked into the kitchen and dipped a large ladle of water from the vat. This water was fetched daily from the village's public well and had a hint of sweetness; she had to admit, the well water was truly refreshing.

"That's good. Actually, if you ask me, there's no need to rush the conversion, since the seedlings won't sprout for a while anyway." Xu Jinniang remarked. Other families had paddy fields where they could raise seedlings, but their only acre of land was still being converted.

"I’ve already thought about that. There’s plenty of wasteland next to our place, so I’ll have them clear a patch tomorrow, and we’ll raise the seedlings in the dry field." Tong Chuxue placed the purchased seeds into the kitchen cabinet.

"A dry field?" Xu Jinniang stopped what she was doing and asked in surprise, "Can seedlings grow in a dry field? Will they survive when transplanted?"

Whether they would survive wasn't up to the seedlings, Tong Chuxue thought to herself, though she couldn't explain that to Xu Jinniang.

"It will work, and the seedlings grown in dry fields actually yield more," Tong Chuxue said.

"Where did you hear that? I’ve been farming for so many years and have never heard of such a method." Xu Jinniang remained skeptical. In all her years in Qingshan Village, she had never seen anyone raise seedlings in a dry field.

"Mother, just wait and see. Our rice paddies will definitely grow better than anyone else's," Tong Chuxue said with great confidence.

The next morning, the three Luo brothers arrived on time.

Converting a dry field into a paddy field was a laborious task—difficult in some ways, and simple in others. The three men first plowed Tong Chuxue's land thoroughly, then built irrigation and drainage channels and constructed ridges. The entire process took about three or four days.

But it wasn't over yet. Because Tong Chuxue's field was some distance from the water source, they had to dig a trench to channel the water over.

Tong Chuxue settled the wages as agreed, at thirty wen per day. The men were all happy to receive their pay, except for the third brother, Luo Changhua, who looked somewhat uneasy.

After seeing them off, Tong Chuxue prepared to check the growth of her seedlings, but she was stopped by Luo Changhua, who had returned.

"Is something wrong, Uncle Luo?"

Luo Changhua held the money. "This was just a favor between neighbors; how can I take your money? Take it back. The two of you are living on your own, you surely need the money."

Tong Chuxue hadn't expected Luo Changhua to return the money. "Uncle Luo, we agreed on wages; how can I take it back now?"

"But it was just a helping hand. I don't feel right taking this money," Luo Changhua said, looking troubled.

Most of the third branch of the Luo family were honest people. Being kind often meant being taken advantage of, Tong Chuxue mused.

"Uncle, I promised a daily wage of thirty wen in front of Grandmother. Now the eldest and second brothers have turned their money over to the communal fund, but you haven't. If you say you returned it to me, will Grandmother believe you?" Tong Chuxue asked.

Old Madam Luo certainly wouldn't believe it, a fact Luo Changhua understood better than Tong Chuxue.

He had no choice but to accept the wages, even if he didn't want to.

"Uncle, even brothers must settle accounts clearly. You worked for us, and we cannot let you work for nothing. Besides, if we hired someone else, we would have to pay them too, right?"

After a few words of persuasion, combined with his knowledge of Old Madam Luo's character, Luo Changhua sighed and reluctantly accepted the money.

Once she had persuaded Luo Changhua to leave, Tong Chuxue went to check on the progress of the rice seedlings.

Generally, rice germination takes a long time, anywhere from one to two months, but this batch of seeds had been modified by Tong Chuxue's wood-element ability, so the growth period was significantly shortened.

Furthermore, Tong Chuxue discovered that the era she was in had an exceptionally long summer. Normally, a summer lasts two or three months, but here it seemed to last about five, which meant that rice could be grown for three consecutive seasons.

When she told Xu Jinniang she was raising seedlings, Xu Jinniang probably thought she was planting the last crop of the year, but Tong Chuxue's plan was to catch the second harvest.

Just as she expected, the rice seedlings had already sprouted. Although they were only as tall as a palm, it didn't matter; as they continued to grow, they would soon reach a normal height.

However, these seedlings were growing so well that they might attract attention. Tong Chuxue decided that once they were transplanted into the paddy, she would guide the wood-element energy attached to the rice plants to keep their growth rate normal, while allowing the yield to increase appropriately.