Joe's Farming

However, Gu Heng's incident also reminded Qiao Yu of something.

Now there are more and more employees in the villa.

More and more people are getting married.

There will be more and more children.

It seems like it’s time to start a preschool.

There are not so many rules in preschool, and children don’t have to sit in the classroom all the time like in cram schools.

You can also play games with the children and teach them some words. More importantly, Hengzai will also be very happy.

But the most important thing right now is spring ploughing.

After the severe winter, the snow melted.

But the ground remained hard.

The land that could be plowed in two days in previous years now takes twice or even three times as long.

Gu Feng meant that we could wait until the weather gets warmer before we start farming.

But Qiao Yu insisted on finishing the plowing as soon as possible.

The earlier the seeds germinate, the earlier they bear fruit.

He is really a little worried about the weather this year.

Xie Changyu was also worried.

In winter, due to the heavy rain, some farmers in Taoyuan were affected, but the losses were small and negligible.

However, the snow disaster in Suining was more serious than two years ago. There were several cases of houses collapsing and people being killed due to the heavy snow.

So when Qiao Yu mentioned the possibility of a drought, Xie Changyu became concerned.

When Qiao Yu and Gu Feng were planting sugarcane themselves, Xie Changyu came to them in casual clothes.

"Brother Qiao, what good thing are you planting?"

Qiao Yu looked up and pointed at the sugar cane in the field: "Master, have you never eaten it? Planting sugar cane."

Xie Changyu smiled.

"I've eaten it, but isn't this a specialty of Nanzhou? Can we grow it in Taoyuan?"

Gu Feng pulled Qiao Yu up from the ground and stood next to Xie Changyu.

"How do you know if it will work if you don't try? Why did you come here today, sir?"

The three of them were very familiar with each other and were not formal with each other.

I just found a few rocks to sit on.

Bai Lan saw it from a distance and asked someone to serve tea quickly.

Xie Changyu waited until Qiao Yu and Gu Feng had had tea before explaining their purpose.

"Seeing that everyone is doing spring ploughing, every time I think of what Qiao Ge'er is worried about, I can't eat or sleep well.

The Imperial Astronomical Observatory also approved that the weather this year was abnormal and asked all provinces to prepare food in advance.

But this hasn’t been planted yet, so where will the food come from for backup?

That's why I came to you to ask if you have any ideas. "

Qiao Yu was a little surprised.

I didn't expect that Xie Changyu really took what I said to heart.

He glanced at Gu Feng, and Gu Feng held his hand tightly to show encouragement.

“My Lord, I do have some ideas.

But when it comes to implementation, it may encounter opposition, and I myself don’t even know if it will be useful.

Because I’ve never used it before.”

Xie Changyu heaved a sigh of relief upon hearing this, and said in a gentle voice: "Just tell me."

“The first thing to solve is the problem of drought and water shortage.

What I am thinking is that every village should build a reservoir from now on specifically for storing water.

Then don’t wait this year, start planting rice as early as possible to avoid the hottest time.

If this is done, production will definitely be affected, so not everyone may be willing to do so.

Our village started digging canals for irrigation last year. Adults can promote this method.

Otherwise, when there is a water shortage, everyone will have to carry water for irrigation, which is unrealistic.”

Xie Changyu nodded as he listened.

"Reservoirs, digging canals, I get it."

Qiao Yu finally added: "In case the water in the reservoir runs out and the canal dries up, we need to dig for groundwater... well, that is, dig a well. I think it's better to dig in advance."

Gu Feng said, "We only have a well in the villa, which may not be enough."

Qiao Yu nodded: "We have many springs in Taoyuan, so there should be no shortage of water underground, as long as we dig enough wells. I think we can be prepared for any eventuality.

Finally, here is what I said, and some of you may object.

When planting crops this year, try to plant drought-resistant crops.

Don’t plant crops like sorghum, millet, beans, corn, potatoes, etc. unless they are close to a water source.

This is what Brother Gu and I planned. "

Xie Changyu nodded: "Yes, thank you. I will go back and ask them to draw up a charter."

Just as Xie Changyu was about to stand up, Qiao Yu stopped him and said, "Master Xie, I heard that the snowstorm in Suining was more serious than the previous two years. If there is another drought this year, there will probably be an influx of refugees. You..."

Xie Changyu said seriously: "I will prepare in advance."

Qiao Yu nodded, stood up with Gu Feng, and watched Xie Changyu leave.

After Xie Changyu left Shangtian Village, he went to Suining.

Then he went to the provincial capital with the magistrate of Suining County.

Not long after, the state government encouraged people to stop growing rice and instead grow other drought-resistant crops.

Qiao Yu knew that it was the result of Xie Changyu's hard work.

It’s a pity that even though it’s said above, people below don’t have to follow it.

After all, no one has the ability to predict the future.

The reason why Qiao Yu's suggestion was adopted was that the imperial court had an approval document from the Imperial Observatory.

But the common people don’t recognize this.

Not to mention the other counties in Qingzhou.

Even not all the villagers in Shangtian Village followed Qiao Yu's advice.

Fortunately, potatoes are very popular in Ueda Village.

Every household grows some to a greater or lesser extent.

A crop can be planted in three months, so Qiao Yu is not worried that they will starve.

What he is concerned about now is whether the sugarcane planted yesterday can sprout.

He has never grown sugarcane, but the planting method for this plant that uses stems as seeds should be similar.

Qiao Yu kept a batch of sturdy sugarcanes as seedlings. There are buds on the sugarcane stems. He first cut the sugarcane into knots to ensure that there are 2-3 buds on each section of the sugarcane stem.

Then, dig shallow trenches like digging a canal, place the seedlings flat in the trenches with the buds facing upwards, and then cover with soil and compact it.

Sugarcane generally takes 10-12 months to mature.

But since it was Qiao Yu’s first time planting, he would take a look from time to time.

Check to see if any sprouts have appeared or if any grass has grown.

Gu Feng knew that this was the case every time he planted a new crop, so he always accompanied him to see it.

Of course, little Gu Heng also came along, but he was bored watching his daddy planting sugarcane.

As for going to the fields, she was too shy to go and wanted to go play with Yaoyao and Xiaoyi.

Li Xin was busy preparing his next storyline.

He and Ling Lie were about to start building their house. He wanted to earn more money so he could make the house look nice.

Ling Lie felt so distressed when he saw him writing hard under the lamp every night.

Knowing that this guy is soft-hearted, she seduces Li Xin in different ways every night.

Li Xin always took the bait, and finally had to agree to Ling Lie not staying up late every night.

Otherwise he either has a headache or pain somewhere else.

As for Xu Yuan, without Qiao Yu's reminder, he began to arrange for the people in the village to dig canals and build reservoirs.

The same goes for Qiao Yu's family. Because there is a mountain spring at home, Qiao Yu and Gu Feng have never thought about digging a well.

But this time, just in case, I still have to dig one.

-

Digging a well requires professional craftsmen.

Although Gu Feng and Dazhuang are very strong, they have no advantage in finding wellheads and working in deep pits.

And the tools don’t work either.

But during this period, the county provided subsidies and the whole county was digging wells.

I wanted to find a vacant well-digging team, but I couldn't find one.

Qiao Yu had no choice but to put the matter aside.

Start to promote the chili pepper seedlings.

There are also transplanted lemon trees.

The chili pepper sapling that Anren gave me had a warm winter next to the kitchen. Now its branches and leaves have grown bigger, and the chili peppers are turning red every day.

Qiao Yu carefully peeled out the chili seeds, dried them, and then used a wet towel to germinate them.

When it sprouts, transplant it into a pot.

When it grows to the height of a palm, transplant it into the ground.

This cycle was repeated over and over again, and finally an acre of land was planted.

Because except for the area where we dig wild vegetables, the rest of the mountain land at home has basically been reclaimed in the past two years.

The number of long-term workers in Qiao Yu's family has also increased from a few to more than a dozen.

The soil on the mountain is not fertile, so Qiao Yu usually grows some beans and melons.

And because there are fruit trees, the spacing cannot be too dense.

In previous years, because Qiao Yu liked to eat peanuts, he planted more peanuts.

This year, we planted more soybeans, cowpeas, and squash, which are crops that have low soil requirements and are relatively high-yielding.

Not long after sowing, the long-awaited spring rain came.

But unlike before when it rained continuously for several days, this time it only rained intermittently for three days and then was over.

The villagers became anxious and started digging canals and reservoirs without the village chief's mobilization.

Qiao Yu took the three little ones and Gu Heng, who were on a ten-day holiday, to the mountains to dig wild vegetables.

Every time at this time, Qiao Yu feels that nature is so magical.

It can be said that countless delicious foods can appear in the mountains almost overnight.

It is simply a gift from nature.

The three little ones have become able to skillfully recognize various wild vegetables and pick them according to their preferences.

Gu Heng took the small shovel that Gu Feng had customized for him and dug whatever he thought looked good.

After playing for a while, the little guy squatted on the ground and was picked up by Gu Feng who was quick to act.

"Baby, the ground is still wet."

Gu Feng had no choice but to pat his butt.

Fortunately it didn't get much wet.

"whee."

Gu Heng hugged his father's neck: "Hengzi is tired."

Qiao Yu said coldly: "If you are tired, go back by yourself. I still have to look for Xiangchun."

When Gu Heng heard about Chinese toon, he immediately became energetic again: "Okay, okay. Chinese toon fried eggs, I love it! Daddy, put me down, I'll go find it."

Gu Feng put him down.

Gu Heng started running up the mountain, and Qiao Xing immediately followed him: "Hengzi, run slower! Big brother will take you to find it."

Gu Xiaoxue and Gu Xiaoyan also followed.

Qiao Yu shook her head at Gu Feng: "You little brat is getting more and more naughty."

Gu Feng laughed cheerfully and said, "Children grow taller if they move more."

Qiao Yu raised his eyebrows. That’s true.

Qiao Yu dug half a basket of watercress and wild garlic, then stood up, patting his waist.

Gu Feng took the initiative to pick up the basket, then took her husband's hand and walked into the mountains to chase the children.

After walking for a while, there was no sign of the children.

Qiao Yu frowned slightly, and said with all her might: "Gu Heng! Xiao Xing! Where are you?"

“Where…where…where…”

The sound was so loud that it echoed throughout the mountains.

After a while, Qiao Xing's voice came from behind a small hill: "Dad, we are here."

Qiao Yu and Gu Feng hurried over.

I found Qiao Xing picking something from a small tree.

Gu Heng shouted from below: "Big brother is awesome! I want that claw, yes! That one!"

"Little Daddy, Daddy."

Gu Xiaoxue and Gu Xiaoyan obediently called for help.

Qiao Yu and Gu Feng looked carefully at what the "claws" Gu Heng was talking about.

The result is a bunch of black, dried-up pods.

The pods are obviously larger than those of soybeans, broad beans and other beans.

Even when dried, they still appear relatively large, and from a distance they do look like claws.

Qiao Xing picked two bunches and handed them to Gu Heng, but was stopped by Gu Feng.

Gu Feng said seriously: "I recognize this bean, it's poisonous!"

Qiao Yu narrowed his eyes: Beans can easily cause poisoning if they are not cooked.

So he asked, "Will it be poisonous if it is not cooked thoroughly?"

Gu Feng shook his head: "It's also poisonous even if it's cooked. Eating it will make you dizzy, vomit and have diarrhea. It's not even good for feeding pigs."

Gu Feng took a look at the beans growing alone here.

"So no one in the village grows this thing. I don't know how it got here. It must have grown wild."

There are still a lot of pods left on the dried vines, and it looks like the beans are particularly productive.

Toxic, large, and productive.

Qiao Yu suddenly thought of a plant known as the pufferfish of the plant world.

Could this be the legendary dragon claw bean? Dragon claw bean has a layer of fuzz on the skin when it is fresh, so it has many nice nicknames.

Dog paw beans, cat beans, and cat beans are all it.

The pods of dragon claw beans are thick and large, and have a pink texture. Qiao Yu was fortunate enough to have eaten them once while on a business trip in the southwest.

I bought two kilograms locally and sent it back home.

As a result, he was poisoned when he returned.

Maybe the reason he didn't eat much was that he just had symptoms of dizziness and drowsiness.

After checking, he found out that this thing must be cooked first, then peeled, and then soaked in running water for more than 24 hours before it can be eaten. It must be soaked like this before it can be eaten! ! After crossing over, he has never seen this thing once, thinking that this world does not exist.

Unexpectedly, he was disliked because everyone couldn't do it like him.

When Qiao Yu was checking, he remembered that these beans were very easy to grow. They could survive if they were sown on wasteland without the need for watering or fertilizing.

Moreover, dragon claw beans are very productive, with one plant producing more than 100 kilograms of fruit. Although they are slightly toxic to the human body, the water used to soak the beans can be used to water vegetables and has no effect.

The most important thing is that it’s really delicious!

When Qiao Yu recalls the glutinous texture of dragon claw bean powder, he wishes time could speed up to autumn so that he could have another meal of it.

It is delicious whether served cold, fried, or dried and stewed.

Seeing his husband's eyes light up, Gu Feng called out softly, "Qiao'er?"

Qiao Yu came back to her senses and smiled brightly at Gu Feng and the children: "Which Koi baby found this bean?"

Gu Heng raised his little chin proudly: "Daddy, it's me! Hehe."

Qiao Yu thought to herself, as expected.

Qiao Yu grabbed the dragon claw beans that Gu Feng was about to throw away and cleared out a basket to put them in.

Then she smiled at Gu Feng and said, "Husband, this is a good thing. Can you help me pick it all?"

Gu Feng's expression cracked a little: "Are you sure?"

Qiao Yu nodded: "Really, really."

Then Qiao Yu explained how to detoxify the dragon claw beans.

Gu Feng then started to pick them: "So that's why. It's quite troublesome to handle. No wonder no one eats them."

"Well, but once you taste it, I believe you will like this bean. Moreover, this bean is drought-resistant and high-yielding, and it is really suitable for planting this year. Maybe it is a gift from God specifically for us."