Sister Han is good at farming

Zhou Zheng stroked his three-inch short beard and pondered for a while.

"That's a good idea, but it's not enough."

Ruan Qingqing thought about it, "What if it is in the form of an auction? And what about the structural diagram of the water wheel that can grind flour, hustle rice, and thresh rice?"

Zhou Zheng smiled, "You little guy is really good at hiding something."

"It's just the need for survival!" Ruan Qingqing didn't explain further.

"What a forced survival! You are someone who knows how to survive. As you wish, I will do my best to do this. Since I am a direct descendant of the Zhou family in Runan County, it is not difficult to use the power of the family to sell your drawings or objects for a good price. But I am not sure whether we can fight against this natural disaster and truly save the victims of this county from the water and fire."

Zhou Zheng sighed softly.

"Just do your best, sir. Isn't the purpose of life to have a clear conscience?"

"This is a matter of great importance. I will think about it carefully when I get home. But when can you draw me the structural diagrams of the water mill, the water pestle and the water wheel?"

“You can paint now.”

"You are quite straightforward! All right, I will get you a pen and paper."

As he said this, he took out writing brush, ink, paper and inkstone from the secret compartment of the carriage.

Although Ruan Qingqing found it a little difficult to use the brush, she was able to draw after wasting two pages of paper.

"Shut up!"

As the sound of horse hooves rose, Ruan Qingqing watched the carriage gradually go away.

"Daya, is it true that what you just told the county magistrate will last for three years?" Ruan Wantie still found it hard to believe.

"Dad, how dare I say such a thing carelessly. Just don't let this matter spread for the time being, so as not to cause panic among the people."

"This, this...how could this happen?" Ruan Wantie opened his mouth wide.

"Natural disasters are the most ruthless. Who can predict them? Dad, instead of being anxious and worried, why don't we do what we can right now?"

"Yes, turn the soil over and plant wheat!"

It took Ruan Wantie a long time to come to his senses and he immediately ran to the field.

"Dad, don't worry too much! As long as the county magistrate improves the nearby water conservancy projects, and we harvest next year's wheat, life will be difficult at best for a while, but it won't be so difficult that we'll starve to death." Ruan Qingqing was afraid that her father would be frightened, so she hurriedly comforted him.

"Your father and I know the truth, but this is a three-year drought, not just one or two months, and there are too many variables. Your father once heard from the storyteller in town that the three-year drought in Pingchuan County turned the people of Pingchuan County into neither human nor ghost. Cannibalism has become a common occurrence."

Ruan Wantie's voice was trembling.

"Dad, we are a little better off. At least we are guarding the Qianlong River and the surrounding deep mountains and old forests. We won't reach the end of the road." Ruan Qingqing sighed, "As the saying goes, as long as people are united, they can move mountains. Everyone should do what they can do now, and the damage caused by this disaster can be reduced."

Ruan Wantie lowered his head and thought carefully, "Well, I know what to do."

Although he said this, he was still trembling all over.

"Dad, it's getting late. Why don't we call mom and big brother home to eat and rest, and come back in the afternoon!"

"Oh, good!"

While the family was having lunch, Ruan Qingqing told everyone about the family's next arrangements.

"Mom and Dad, I think it will take another day to till the corn field. We will water the newly purchased five acres of land thoroughly before mid-August, and then till it again. In September, we will plant the wheat on the newly purchased five acres of land first.

In early October, we harvest late rice first, then sorghum and sweet potatoes. Next, we till the rice fields and plant the remaining five acres of wheat. We plant rapeseed on the newly reclaimed five acres of land. In this way, we will have both wheat and rapeseed oil next year. If we are too busy, we will hire help as much as possible, with the primary condition being not to delay the harvest. "

After hearing this, Ruan Wantie heaved a sigh of relief. "With ten acres of wheat and five acres of rapeseed, we will have enough food and oil for two to three years."

"In order to prevent others from having bad intentions, we still have to dig a cellar. It won't be done in the near future. After we have planted everything that needs to be planted and harvested everything that needs to be harvested, we will start digging."

Ruan Qingqing added.

"Yeah." Ruan Wantie and others nodded.

"You may be a little tired recently, and you need to keep up with the family. And everyone, please take care of your health and pay more attention to what you should do. Getting sick in a disaster year is a very difficult thing, but don't panic. We should find out and treat it early, and don't just bear it. Especially my second sister, you should pay more attention to my younger brothers and sisters at home."

"Yes, sis."

"It's already the end of July. From what Daya said, when the county magistrate requires us to serve in the autumn military service, we really won't be able to spare any manpower!" Wang said with a worried look on her face.

"The autumn service this year shouldn't be very long. The county magistrate will urge everyone to harvest and plant quickly, so there won't be much time to serve in the autumn service."

Ruan Qingqing guessed.

"Probably not. The reason why we are asked to serve in the autumn service in advance is mainly to build water conservancy projects and deliver the water from the Qianlong River to as many villages and towns as possible. Today in the carriage, didn't you, Daya, suggest that the county magistrate recruit workers to build water conservancy projects? If the county magistrate can recruit people, maybe this year's autumn service can be exempted."

Ruan Wantie analyzed.

"That's right! If it doesn't work out, we can provide some food and hire someone to do the work. In addition, the reason why I suggested that Grandpa take priority over the reservoir in Wudaoling is that I want to use the geographical advantages there to build a water mill downstream of the reservoir. Then we can use the force of the water drop to drive the stone mill and pestle to grind flour or pound rice."

"In this way, only we know how much food we have at home. And we don't have to borrow a mill or even spend money to grind flour or pound rice."

Ruan Wantie immediately thought of the interests involved.

"Well, we can also use this mill for the villagers and earn some pocket money. The most important thing is to prevent the grain in our village from being exposed."

"Then the method of increasing production should be spread. After all, increasing food production at this time means more guarantee for survival."

Ruan Wantie reacted immediately.

Ruan Qingqing smiled, "Dad, you can say whatever you want to say. It doesn't matter if you don't want to say it. But you should talk to everyone about the key points of wheat planting and the precautions of fertilizing. This is a great opportunity to unite the people in our village. After all, interests are the best way to gather people's hearts!"

"That's right, your father has thought of this too."

"Dad, are you still panicking now?" Ruan Qingqing asked with sparkling eyes.

"Don't panic, I feel much more at ease, and I am full of energy now!"