Era: I was a farmer at the foot of Yaoling Mountain

Chapter 46: Sowing Hope
In the next few days, Fang Wei and his elder brother went to the valley to turn the soil, prepared some miscellaneous fertilizers and a large amount of wood ash, and then began to grow seedlings.

Sweet potatoes are grown using root tubers. As long as the temperature and humidity are suitable, there is basically no need to worry about this process.

After finishing the work in the valley, the next thing to do was to tidy up their own private plots. Within two days, the team's fields also needed to be plowed.

Wu Maosheng drove a few buffaloes to the paddy fields. Buffaloes are the main force for plowing the land. He didn't need to go to the fields to work, he just needed to take care of the buffaloes.

Fang Wei obtained 5 mu of experimental land and set up a breeding team. Five young people including Zheng Hu and Deng Yuanen were members of the team and obeyed his orders.

Zheng Xianfa gave priority to plowing the experimental fields and distributed sufficient fertilizers.

The young men are full of energy. No matter how difficult the situation is these days, every household will find a way to make some food.

The strong laborers in the family need to go out to work, and they won’t have the strength to work if they don’t eat enough.

Fang Wei dried the seeds that he had saved last year in the sun. On the one hand, this could disinfect and sterilize them, and on the other hand, it could also stimulate the activity of the seeds.

During this time, he and Fang Ping took some time to go to the valley. Taking advantage of the good weather, they watered the plants and pulled out some weeds.

The sweet potato seedlings have already emerged from the ground and will be ready for transplanting in a few days.

We grow all kinds of vegetables in our family's private plot, including cucumbers. After a winter of eating either potatoes or sweet potatoes, we've got to change up our taste, right?

Fang Wei had also plowed his own one mu of land and applied farmyard manure, and was just waiting for the seeds to arrive.

This morning.

After getting up, Fang Wei ran to the mountains and brought back two wild rabbits from the hunting area.

With the return of spring, all kinds of wild animals have become active. The traps he set in the hunting area have worked again, and he can eat fresh game again.

[Harvested prey, points +13, total points 229. ]

Spring is the season for sowing hope, but it is also the most difficult season when there is a shortage of food.

Last year's grain reserves were running low, and the summer harvest would have to wait until at least the end of June or early July. In the intervening months, they relied entirely on various vegetables and melons, which was why Fang Wei was so craving fresh meat.

After returning home, he handed the two rabbits to his sister-in-law and went directly to the experimental field.

"Huzi, let's soak the seeds today and plant them after they germinate."

The seeds need to be soaked, and the soaking process takes about 33 to 35 hours, but not more than 48 hours.

Soaking for too long will affect the germination of seeds.

Last year, only 18 kilograms of rice seeds were selected, which was enough for the 5 mu experimental field. The seeds belong to the indica type. At that time, indica rice was widely planted in the south, while japonica rice was mostly planted in the north.

After soaking and germination, there are still steps such as sowing, raising seedlings, and transplanting.

So farming is not easy, not to mention that farmers often do not have enough to eat.

Fang Weiyi was guiding Zheng Hu and others while working. This group of young people has made great progress from last year to this year. It is estimated that it will not be long before they become the "farming experts" of the team.

It's approaching noon.

Zheng Xianfa found Fang Wei with his hands behind his back and handed him a [package list].

"It was sent from Zhejiang. You can go to the commune to pick it up yourself."

Zheng Xianfa was quite puzzled, wondering if this guy knew anyone in Zhejiang.

The sender's address was very vague, with only a house number but no company name. I couldn't figure out what was going on.

"Thank you Captain!"

Fang Wei was very happy. Since the package had arrived, he had reason to believe that the package contained the seeds of "Nongken 58".

Sure enough, when he got the package back and showed it to Wu Maosheng, he found that there were not only several kilograms of seeds, but also a letter.

"The letter said that [Nongken 58] has made great progress in its technological research. The seeds he sent are high-quality varieties selected last year. I hope they can be of some help to us!"

Wu Maosheng's friend was so kind as to send him the unfinished seeds of [Nongken 58]. Fang Wei was overjoyed and quickly took them back.

However, there is no need to rush to plant these seeds. The experimental fields are very busy, and it will not be too late to plant them after they are done.

A few days passed quickly.

In a blink of an eye, it is Qingming Festival.

Early that morning, Fang Ping and his sister-in-law took the two little ones and Fang Wei to visit their parents' graves.

My parents’ grave is on the back mountain of the village, halfway up the mountain, and is covered with weeds.

The climate in the south is warm and all kinds of weeds grow fast. Every year when we visit the graves, we have to bring a sickle to cut the weeds.

The eldest brother talked a lot in front of the grave, and finally poured three cups of sweet potato wine on the ground before everyone turned around and went down the mountain.

After all these years, the sadness that should have been felt has already been felt. Fang Ping only hopes that the spirits of his parents in heaven will bless him and his two siblings, and that they will have a smooth life.

It was also from these two days that the team's large fields and experimental fields began to plant early rice.

As in previous years, men, women, young and old in the team all took part in the competition.

Women and semi-laborers helped, while strong laborers planted rice in the fields. The fields were filled with singing and laughter.

This year has started well, with several rains in early spring, which is very beneficial for agricultural production.

Fang Wei, Zheng Hu and others were full of enthusiasm. Zheng Xianfa originally planned to send two experienced members to help, but when he saw their skillful movements, he gave up the idea.

These young people learned a lot of useful knowledge from Fang Wei and Wu Maosheng, and doing farm work was actually easier.

"Third brother, do you think we can use machines to mechanize rice planting in the future?"

In order to encourage everyone, Fang Wei would paint a rosy picture for them from time to time.

In fact, it cannot be said to be empty talk. Agricultural mechanization is the trend of the future. Tractors, rice transplanters, combine harvesters, threshers, etc. will definitely be used in the future.

But this process is very long, and may take 20 to 30 years, or even longer.

"Of course! What I said will definitely come to pass. Speaking of which, let me test you: what are the benefits of centralized rice seedling cultivation?"

Fang Wei hopes that all his friends can make progress. It is unrealistic to ask everyone to study mathematics, physics and chemistry, but as farmers, they must definitely master more agricultural knowledge.

A few days ago, Fang Wei told everyone about the benefits of centralized seedling cultivation. I wonder if these guys have forgotten it.

At present, the local area has not yet achieved centralized seedling cultivation, and the farming methods are relatively backward. But this is precisely the easiest to change, so Fang Wei instilled this in Zheng Hu and others.

"Centralized seedling cultivation can reduce the risk of pests and diseases"

“Can increase production”

“It can improve labor efficiency.”

Zheng Hu and others began to answer at once, Fang Wei smiled and nodded, it seemed that everyone had memorized it carefully.

In fact, the biggest advantage of centralized seedling cultivation is that it realizes factoryization and intensification, which greatly saves labor and can significantly improve economic benefits.

However, it is currently impossible to meet high standards for materials and equipment, so we can only settle for the second best and carry out concentrated seedling cultivation in the open air in a location sheltered from the wind and facing the sun.

In the future, they could consider building “earthen greenhouses”, but this “seed” had already taken root in the hearts of Zheng Hu and others.

"You all said it well. It seems you have remembered it. Let's take a break. There will be food soon."

Fang Wei straightened up, looked up at the sky, and then called Zheng Hu and others to rest by the field.

After a while, Guan Chongyang came over with a basket of roasted potatoes and a bowl of diced bacon and steamed dried radish in the basket.

Everyone sat on the ground and started eating voraciously.

(End of this chapter)